As Jiang Segu expected, Wan Tianci rushed towards her like a rabbit as soon as she left Huayangxuan.
"Jiang Segu, otherwise I won't leave this time. I'll stay and study with my brother-in-law so he won't be fooled by Liang Shaojie's few words!"
"Don't you need to take the imperial examination? I remember Grandfather Wan had high hopes for you, hoping you would win first place!"
Wan Tianci waved his hand dismissively, saying with great arrogance, "I just don't want to show off, otherwise becoming the top scholar in Kaiping would be a piece of cake!"
"Then I wish Brother Wan all the best in reaching the top of the list!"
As he spoke, he gave Wan Tianci a proper bow.
Startled, Wan Tianci took a step back and asked warily, "Jiang Segu, what kind of bad idea are you up to now?"
"I don't understand what you're saying, Brother Wan."
"Hurry up and get back to normal, stop being so coy and pretentious!"
Jiang Segu actually bowed to him; he was genuinely afraid of shortening his lifespan!
He remembered that when Jiang Segu wanted to tease him when he was a child, he would always act so politely.
"Brother Wan, but my bow wasn't performed correctly. Let me bow again!"
As she spoke, she gave Wan Tianci a graceful bow.
"Don't move! What exactly do you want to do!"
Seeing his cautious and uneasy demeanor, Jiang Segu had a mischievous thought.
"Brother Wan, you look terrible. Are you ill? I'll have Qiaolian go find a doctor for you! There's a doctor in the capital who specializes in treating difficult and complicated illnesses. He has a family-inherited acupuncture technique. Why don't we have him take a look at you?"
Wan Tianci felt like he was walking barefoot on broken porcelain, and he hopped away, yelling, "Jiang Segu, don't even think about letting anyone turn me into a hedgehog again!"
When Wan Tianci was ten years old, Jiang Segu tricked him into going to the clinic because he offended Liang Shaojie with his words. Jiang Segu had him treated with acupuncture and ended up turning him into a hedgehog. He also stole his clothes and sent Disheng and the apprentice doctor away.
Despite his young age, he was extremely proud and could not tolerate being seen in such a disheveled state. He stayed in the clinic all day until the clinic closed for the night. When the apprentice came to clean the room, he saw Wan Tianci with his silver needles gleaming like torture boards.
Under his insistence, he allowed the young apprentice to remove the needles for him, and only after stripping the apprentice of his clothes was he allowed to return to the Marquis's residence. Because the acupuncture session lasted too long and the apprentice's needle removal technique was incorrect, Wan Tianci was bedridden for quite some time due to discomfort.
Logically speaking, he and Jiang Segu are natural enemies, and there is absolutely no possibility that they would get along!
But fate was blind to him, and he was born with a rebellious nature. He felt disgusted by delicate and gentle girls and instead set his sights on the villain Jiang Segu!
It's true that every wicked person has their own wicked counterpart; one thing can subdue another!
Jiang Segu couldn't help but chuckle as he imagined someone being pricked like a hedgehog, lying in the clinic for a whole day, returning to the Marquis's mansion in clothes smaller than his own, and being mistaken for a beggar by the gatekeeper who was about to chase him away with a stick.
Seeing that she was in a good mood, Qiaolian couldn't help but ask, "Does Miss really no longer want to stop the young master from associating with Young Master Liang?"
Jiang Segu's smile vanished as soon as Liang Shaojie was mentioned.
“It’s better to guide than to block. Besides, I have my own ways to keep my brother from associating with Liang Shaojie!”
Qiaolian looked at Jiangsegu with a puzzled expression, wanting to ask the reason. At this moment, Qiaohe walked over from a distance.
“Miss, I learned from Miao’er in the Fifth Miss’s courtyard that last night the First Madam forbade the Fifth Miss from having dinner because she hadn’t learned proper manners.”
This morning, without the Madam's permission, no one in the courtyard dared to go to the main kitchen to get the Fifth Young Lady's breakfast!
No wonder Fifth Sister looked so listless today.
However, this was ultimately a matter concerning the eldest branch of the family, and she, as a junior member of the third branch, could not interfere!
Fortunately, my fifth sister was able to enjoy her lunch to her heart's content today!
***
Noon.
The two nannies were reasonable enough to allow Jiang Chuhui to have lunch with the two young ladies.
"Oh my goodness, it's been more than half a year since I last saw you! Yuan Niang looks more like a fairy than a celestial being! Come here and let your aunt take a good look at you!"
Second Aunt Jiang stepped forward and took Jiang Chuhui's hand, her eyes full of affection, and said, "Good Yuanniang, you truly deserve to be the eldest daughter of my Marquis's mansion! Your demeanor is something that others can't possibly imitate!"
"My two aunts are too kind. My cousins are far more talented than I can ever hope to match!"
Not to be outdone, Aunt Jiang stood up, walked to Jiang Chuhui, took off her bracelet, and put it on Jiang Chuhui's wrist.
"This bracelet was a gift from my husband's family when I got married. Unlike other bracelets that feel cold in winter, this one makes you feel warm and cozy. I'm giving it to you now!"
Before Jiang Chuhui could refuse, Second Aunt Jiang took a hairpin from her hair and stuck it into Jiang Chuhui's head.
"My second aunt is not as wealthy as your eldest aunt. I don't have anything good to offer, except for this hairpin, which was given to me by your grandmother when my second aunt got married. I'm giving it to you now in the hope that you can share in the good fortune of me and your grandmother and have children for His Majesty!"
Grandma Jiang glared at Grandma Jiang, who didn't seem to care and was about to say something more when she was interrupted by Madam Jiang.
"Mother, elder sisters, the meal is ready. Shall we wait for Father to return so we can eat together, or shall we eat first?"
"Let's not wait any longer! Let's begin the feast!"
With a wave of her hand, Old Madam Jiang finally got to eat, even though Jiang Zhihui was so hungry that her eyes had lost all light.
Everyone else was saying this, but her chopsticks never stopped for a moment.
Aunt Jiang's youngest daughter, Zhu Qingyou, couldn't help but tease, "Fifth cousin, why are you eating so fast? No one's taking it from you! You really don't seem to have learned manners from the palace maids!"
Zhu Qingyou spoke without thinking and had no ill intentions.
Because they felt it would be lively to gather together, and because Aunt Jiang Da and Aunt Jiang Er wanted to get closer to Jiang Chuhui, they did not eat at separate tables; all of them, more than a dozen people, sat at one large round table to eat.
Originally, Madam Jiang's attention was focused on greeting her two aunts and she hadn't paid attention to Jiang Zhihui, but as soon as Zhu Qingyou said this, her gaze shot straight at her like a sharp sword.
Jiang Zhihui, who was biting into a chicken leg, swallowed a mouthful of chicken meat without chewing it, and almost choked to death on the spot!
Fortunately, Jiang Segu served her chicken soup in time, but she drank it too quickly and choked several times.
Seeing that Madam Jiang's face was growing increasingly gloomy, Jiang Segu quickly stood up. "Grandmother, it's too hot for me to eat, so my fifth sister and I will go downstairs first!"
"You can't not eat this! I'll have the kitchen prepare something light and delicious and send it to you later!"
This allowed her to leave the room.
Logically speaking, when elders visit, the younger generation should not leave the table early, as this is very impolite!
But since Jiang Segu had obtained the approval of Old Madam Jiang, even if Jiang's eldest and second aunts were dissatisfied, they had no choice!
"Please enjoy your meal, my aunts. I'll take my leave now!"
Speechless after being choked, Jiang Zhihui could only bow in apology...
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