Because she practiced diligently for most of the night, the next day, Jiang Zhihui received praise from two nannies who said she had made rapid progress and was a promising talent.
Therefore, Jiang Zhihui glanced smugly at Jiang Segu, who was sitting to her right.
Jiang Segu pretended not to see it.
Perhaps because of the praise from the two nannies, Jiang Zhihui studied very diligently all morning. However, as noon approached, Jiang Zhihui, who hadn't eaten for two meals, felt dizzy from hunger. As a result, she lost her footing and almost fell off the long wooden stake she was practicing on!
A chill ran through her, and she instinctively looked at Granny Qi, who was in charge of supervising her.
Granny Qi looked at her sternly and said in a rigid voice, "Please, Fifth Miss, try again!"
Jiang Zhihui dared not say anything, and could only get up from the initial bow and start all over again.
About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Jing's mother suddenly arrived!
She didn't dare to approach and disturb them, so she could only stand at the door and wait.
When Granny Qi saw Mama Jing arrive so abruptly, she frowned instinctively. But she couldn't just leave her standing there, so she gave Granny Zhang a look, signaling her to keep an eye on Jiang Zhihui as well, before walking over to Mama Jing.
"I didn't know Madam Jing was here. Does the Crown Prince's wife have any instructions?"
Madam Jing replied with a smile, "It is our two young ladies who have come to visit. Since it is rare for the two young ladies to return to the manor, the First Madam wanted to invite the young ladies to dine together, so she sent this old servant to come and greet the two nannies."
"If that's the case, I'll stop the young ladies right now and have them go with Madam Jing!"
Just as Madam Jing was about to say, "The two nannies are so considerate," Granny Qi added, "However, the eldest young lady cannot leave!"
Jing's mother's smile immediately vanished.
The two aunts ostensibly came to wish the old lady a happy birthday, but every year they would only arrive close to the day. The reason they came so early this year was because they heard that the eldest daughter had caught the emperor's eye, so they came eagerly to get closer to her.
But judging from Granny Qi's attitude, there was no room for negotiation. How was she going to go back and explain herself?
Granny Qi didn't care how Madam Jing explained herself, and urged, "If Madam Jing has nothing else to do, then take the five girls and leave. Don't delay the eldest daughter's etiquette lessons. If the Emperor blames us, we servants can't bear the consequences!"
Well, they've even brought up the Emperor; what can she possibly do?
Jing's mother had no choice but to leave with Jiang Shaohui and the others.
Jiang Zhihui was so hungry that her chest was sticking to her back, and she was even walking unsteadily. Jiang Segu couldn't bear to see this, so he went forward and took her arm.
Jiang Zhihui leaned half her weight on Jiang Segu, intending to complain, but suddenly realized that her three older sisters were in front of her. She turned her head sharply and saw that it was Jiang Segu who was supporting her. She straightened her back and tried to pull her arm away.
"Jiang Segu, what are you doing? Let go of me! It's so hot, isn't it hot holding me like this?!"
"I only helped you because I saw that Fifth Sister was tired and I was afraid you would fall!"
"Tch, who wants your kindness! I'm not tired at all, just let go!"
He spoke forcefully, but he lacked the strength to pull his arm out, and his steps were unsteady.
Seeing this, Jiang Segu didn't argue with her and went along with her words: "Yes, yes, Fifth Sister isn't tired, it's me who's tired. I want to take this opportunity to lean on Sixth Sister and rest for a while, okay!"
Jiang Zhihui raised her chin and said impatiently, "I'll let you off this time since you're a few hours younger than me!"
Jiang Youhui, who was following behind them, looked at the two of them with her eyes full of confusion!
As soon as they left the Kohodo Hall, the first snowflakes came to greet them.
Jiang Segu seized the opportunity and released his grip.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Zhihui, having gained an advantage, acted innocent and instead lectured Jiang Segu.
"Sixth Sister, you can't do this! You've only been learning etiquette for half a day, and you can't even keep up? There's still an afternoon to go. You need to go back and rest properly, so you don't embarrass yourself in front of the two nannies this afternoon!"
Jiang Segu was speechless.
"Fifth Sister, you should take care of yourself first! You must eat more for lunch later, so you don't have the strength to walk!"
After saying that, he led Qiaohe away!
Jiang Youhui followed closely behind and whispered, "Fifth Sister's personality is really unpleasant. Sixth Sister clearly helped her, and instead of being grateful, she even said something sarcastic to Fifth Sister!"
"That's just the kind of person she is, just ignore her!"
The group followed Jing's mother to Zhaotaiyuan.
Everyone greeted the two aunts.
However, the two didn't even exchange pleasantries, and went straight to asking Jing's mother, "Where's Yuan Niang? Why didn't she come?"
"In response to the two young ladies, the two nannies said that the eldest young lady is destined to enter the palace. If she does not learn the proper etiquette and manners, and offends the Emperor, it will be their fault!"
“Learning manners won’t take much longer, and besides, people need to eat while learning manners!” Aunt Jiang said, standing up. “Mother, I will go and fetch Yuan Niang myself!”
Aunt Jiang, not to be outdone, retorted, "I'll go too!"
Jiang Segu curled his lips in disbelief. He hadn't seen his two great-aunts for a year, which was truly astonishing!
If she remembered correctly, the two aunts were always very proud and arrogant whenever they came back.
After all, their second uncle and father did not share the same mother, so it was understandable that they were indifferent to them. However, their eldest uncle and father were siblings from the same mother, and their two great-aunts always looked down on the eldest son's family whenever they came back!
Now, this fawning attitude is truly despicable!
Not only did Jiang Segu look down on them, but Old Madam Jiang also disliked them very much.
"Since that's the case, then you may all go! Let the palace maids see the manners of the ladies of our Marquis's mansion!"
Madam Jiang spoke in a flat tone, without the slightest hint of sarcasm, but anyone could hear the irony in her words!
Aunt Jiang and Aunt Jiang immediately felt embarrassed, a hint of awkwardness flashing across their faces.
"I'll stay and talk to Mother. You go ahead, eldest sister!"
Grandma Jiang cursed Grandma Jiang the Second in her heart for being cunning, and then sat down. "I'll see Yuan Niang sooner or later, so I'm not in a hurry! Mother looks even healthier than I have in a year!"
"It's not just that I'm healthy and strong, I'm even jealous of my mother's full head of black hair! Mother, you have to tell me what kind of secret remedy you used!"
Under the teasing of the two aunts, Old Madam Jiang naturally couldn't let them lose face in front of the younger generation, so she said some polite words to them!
Standing in the lower hall, Jiang Zhihui stared intently at the pastries on the table next to Old Madam Jiang.
But she didn't dare to go forward and take it; she could only keep swallowing.
The sound was so loud that Jiang Segu could not ignore it, and he couldn't help but feel suspicious.
Why is Fifth Sister so hungry?
Just then, Jiang Segu noticed that someone was watching her.
Jiang Segu glanced around and finally noticed that the person looking at her was the young man sitting in the second chair to the right of Second Aunt Jiang...
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