Hearing Yao Jinshu's words, Yao Zhijie lost face. "Big sister, why are you saying these things out of the blue? It's embarrassing."
As he spoke, he glanced guiltily at Jiang Shuwan.
"You know how embarrassing you are? You were wailing and screaming like a baby when I was applying the medicine to you yesterday. You're a grown man, but you act like a little kid. It's time to find you a marriage partner and teach you a lesson."
Yao Jinshu said another word to him, but still gave him face and didn't talk about it anymore, only telling him to be careful when he walks.
Yao Zhijie took those words to heart. He glanced at Jiang Shuwan and then at his older sister, and said in a sarcastic tone, "The Ministry of Revenue is so busy, how can they have any free time?"
"What are you busy with? Collecting commercial taxes is something I, your humble servant, will handle. I think you're just making excuses. Before, it was Mother who went around looking for suitable partners for you, but you weren't satisfied with this one or that one. Do you really think you're so great, picking and choosing like this?"
"I didn't do that," Yao Zhijie protested, holding onto his sister's hand.
"Ha, how could I not know you? You seem easy to talk to, but you're actually the most difficult to deal with."
Yao Jinshu rolled her eyes at him, then looked at Jiang Shuwan beside her and suddenly remembered something. She whispered, "I heard that your Marquis's mansion has a fourth young lady. Although she is from the fourth branch of the family, she is exceptionally intelligent. She even helped the mansion with her medicine and was a kind-hearted girl."
"I wonder if she is engaged?" Because it was a taboo subject to discussing a young woman's marriage, Yao Jinshu kept her voice down.
But as soon as she mentioned the fourth young lady of the Marquis's mansion, Yao Zhijie immediately perked up and his eyes involuntarily turned to look at Jiang Shuwan.
Jiang Shuwan is currently in charge of managing the household affairs of the Marquis's residence, and she is responsible for handling most of the marriage arrangements for the family members.
Unaware of Yao Zhijie's longing gaze, Jiang Shuwan said softly, "Sister Jinshu is talking about my fourth sister, Shushu. Shushu is currently participating in a talent show."
Upon hearing that Pei Shushu was a candidate for the imperial concubine selection, Yao Jinshu shook her head regretfully. However, thinking that the final selection would be held in a few days, she cheered up, realizing that even if she wasn't chosen, she would still have a chance to get to know her.
Yao Zhijie thought the same way. He even knew more than Yao Jinshu. He knew that Pei Shushu's talent show was just a formality, but since nothing was settled, he was always worried.
Moreover, in Pei Shushu's eyes, he was just a thief, and she needed to find an opportunity to make things clear.
Thinking of the girl who tiptoed him to the back door, Yao Zhijie felt a touch of sweetness in his eyes, but when he looked at Jiang Shuwan beside him, he felt guilty again.
"What I have done this time is by no means gentlemanly."
For a moment, he felt tormented and distressed.
His gaze towards Jiang Shuwan was filled with admiration and respect.
It was Jiang Shuwan who started the commercial tax. In this day and age, there are very few people, let alone women, even men, who have such insight and the courage to speak to the emperor and make this happen.
"If he were a man, he would definitely be worthy of being a marquis or prime minister."
As he thought to himself, a surge of emotion welled up in Yao Zhijie's chest. Just like when he first learned that the business tax was related to Jiang Shuwan, his first reaction was to want to get to know her.
However.
"If he were a man, I would be willing to help him succeed; but as a woman, it's a pity."
The flames died down, his eyes flickered, but in the end, Yao Zhijie said nothing.
Jiang Shuwan finally had time to appreciate the royal villa that she hadn't had the chance to visit in her previous life.
In the cold weather of mid-January, snowflakes fluttered down, draping the royal villa in a pristine white cloak.
Looking into the distance, the vermilion walls stretch endlessly, their glazed tiles peeking out from under the blanket of white snow.
The main gate of the villa is tall and heavy, inlaid with pure gold rivets, and the stone lions on both sides are majestic.
Royal guards and palace maids were already waiting by the side. As soon as Jiang Shuwan got off the carriage, a palace maid immediately stepped forward to lead the way.
Upon entering the villa, one is greeted by a wide bluestone avenue. Pavilions and towers are scattered on both sides of the avenue, with exquisite flying eaves and brackets, carved beams and painted rafters, and vivid and eye-catching paintings that depict goddesses and goddesses.
The main hall is even more magnificent, with its golden roof shining brightly. The interior is spacious and bright, and the sandalwood pillars are carved with exquisite dragon and phoenix patterns, all of which demonstrate the nobility and majesty of the royal family.
There is also a huge screen embroidered with a scene of hundreds of flowers in full bloom. The exquisite double-sided embroidery technique is not only amazing, but also quite expensive.
This screen alone is worth at least ten thousand taels of silver.
"This is too extravagant."
Jiang Shuwan couldn't hide her surprise. She had visited the palace twice before and had taken a close look at it. In terms of luxurious palace architecture, it couldn't compare to this place.
Hearing this, Yao Jinshu quickly said, "Actually, the villa wasn't this luxurious before. It's just that I heard Princess Nan'an is hosting a banquet here, so the Ministry of Works ordered hundreds of craftsmen to work overtime to prepare it."
"The princess is so favored?" A look of surprise flashed in Jiang Shuwan's eyes.
"That's right. Princess Nan'an is the apple of His Majesty's eye. Any good food or clothing is sent to her first. Even the princesses born to the Empress and Consort Gao have to give her a wide berth."
“Some people joked before that if the princess were a man, the current crown prince might not be the crown prince.”
After speaking in a low voice, Yao Jinshu quickly comforted Jiang Shuwan, fearing she might be frightened, "I know what you're worried about. The princess did indeed have a crush on the prince before, but now that you're married, can the princess force you to divorce? Don't panic."
Jiang Shuwan: I'm not panicking.
Yao Zhijie: I'm a little panicked.
Yao Jinshu had no idea what the two people beside her were thinking, and continued to analyze, "Of course, the princess may make things difficult for you, but you can just bear with it. She is a princess and we are subjects. As the saying goes, taking a step back will open up a vast sky. Just bear with it and it will pass."
As Yao Jinshu spoke, she looked sincerely at Jiang Shuwan. Jiang Shuwan had also confronted those who had humiliated her at other banquets before, and from then on, she knew that Jiang Shuwan was not one to swallow her anger.
However, Princess Nan'an is the only daughter of Prince Pingnan, a true member of the royal family, and her status is not something they can offend.
"I understand, thank you for reminding me, Sister Jinshu."
Hearing Jiang Shuwan say this, Yao Jinshu finally breathed a sigh of relief. She was really afraid that Jiang Shuwan would be stubborn because of her young age.
Jiang Shuwan was not going to be stubborn; she was just curious about how Li Yuyan would make her move.
Is it about intimidating others with power, or finding another way?
The former needed to find a great Confucian scholar to debate the classics for her, while the latter had to deal with each move as it came; forbearance was out of the question.
Others might fear a princess who grew up in the palace, but she wasn't.
Unaware that Jiang Shuwan's ideas were completely different from his own, Yao Jinshu was still discussing some details of the banquet with Jiang Shuwan.
Jiang Shuwan also stared at the palace maids who were setting up the banquet.
At this moment, nearly forty seats had been arranged on the left and right sides of the huge main hall, with men and women sitting separately.
The palace maids, dressed in gorgeous palace attire, moved about among the crowd, carrying exquisite trays laden with fine wine and delicacies. Their steps were light and their figures graceful.
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