Completely ignoring Li Chengyun's astonished gaze, the Crown Prince continued his tirade.
"Pei Yanzhi is a real scoundrel! He has the county princess and still dares to take a concubine."
"Does he really think he can do whatever he wants just because he has his father's backing?"
"You ignorant fool!"
"I will impeach him tomorrow! Who does he think he is, daring to make our county princess suffer such injustice!"
After scolding Pei Yanzhi, he said to Li Chengyun, "Fourth brother, you should get closer to the county princess. Although she is Consort Rong's adopted daughter, she is not surnamed Li and is a step away from us. If she can marry you, we will be one family. That would be a blessing for our Li royal family. Don't you think so?"
Li Chengyun: "..."
"Fourth brother, did you hear what your second brother said?" Seeing Li Chengyun standing there blankly without saying a word, the Crown Prince suppressed his temper and asked again.
Li Chengyun: "..."
I heard you!
Jiang Shuwan was completely unaware of this.
It was just a little trick to avoid affecting my business, but I didn't expect it to attract so many people who coveted me.
Li Chengyun was one thing, but that scoundrel was always hanging around in front of her, and he was never up to any good. She never expected that the eldest prince, Li Chengyou, would also start to have bad ideas.
Over the next few days, Jiang Shuwan felt the care and love from Li Chengbao, Consort Gao, the Crown Prince, and the Empress.
Despite the sweltering heat, bringing her food and drink was a small matter; countless rare and precious treasures were presented to her.
Jiang Shuwan dared not take any of these hot potatoes.
However, her life is getting better and better. The things that were smashed on Donglai Street were replaced by people the next day.
Even high-ranking officials and wealthy ladies in Beijing no longer resist the business on Donglai Street; they continue to shop and indulge in their desires.
When she attends tea parties, no one deliberately targets her anymore.
Throughout the court and the inner palace, regardless of gender or who they are, everyone fawns over her.
Of course, Pei Yanzhi was still impeached by the court officials for his involvement in the land reform, and even some censors brought up his instigation of the old emperor to build a luxurious palace.
The old Marquis was also having a hard time, as noble families, relatives of the emperor, and other powerful figures all wanted to find fault with him.
For a time, the old Marquis became increasingly cautious in his duties.
As for Jiang Shuwan, ever since the three generals' mansions appeared, the court and the harem seem to treat Jiang Shuwan and Pei Yanzhi as two separate families.
Pei Yanzhi should continue to hate, and Princess Jinzhu should continue to be praised.
Jiang Shuwan's life improved, and as a result, her father's popularity in the court also improved, unlike before when he was ostracized by everyone.
Therefore, Jiang's father called Jiang Shuwan back and wrote her name into the family genealogy in front of the clan members.
"A married daughter is like water spilled from a bowl!"
"What kind of married daughter is written into her maternal family's ancestral genealogy! Aren't the genealogies of marquises' mansions and the royal family large enough for her to write in?"
"Dad is really something. He always acts like he's trying to gain fame and fortune, and the way he fawns over Jiang Shuwan makes people think that Jiang Shuwan is his father!"
Jiang Yao, who had been called back to attend the ceremony, was so angry that she gritted her teeth. "If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have come back!"
Madam Song, lying on the chaise longue fanning herself, glanced at her upon hearing this.
"I think you're just jealous. I told you to get closer to her a long time ago. If you had listened to me, she would have put your name on the list the moment she asked."
"It's just being added to the family genealogy, it's not a big deal, do you think I care?" Jiang Yao rolled her eyes. "What she can do, I can do too."
Hearing this, Madam Song immediately perked up. "What are you planning to do? I heard you've been getting quite close to the Crown Princess lately. Don't blame me for not reminding you, our Jiang family is a small and insignificant family, we can't withstand any hardship."
"……knew!"
Jiang Yao nodded, but a sharp glint flashed in her eyes as soon as she stepped outside.
"Everyone says Jiang Shuwan is capable, but I'm determined to outdo her."
As Jiang Yao returned to the Earl's mansion, she was greeted by a maidservant serving her longevity noodles, and only then did she remember that it was her birthday.
I still remember my last birthday, which I spent with Yulang...
Staring at the longevity noodles, Jiang Yao felt a pang of heartache. The maid quickly said, "Miss, these noodles were sent by the young master."
"Really?" Jiang Yao's eyes flashed with surprise.
Since the last time she and Pei Lingyu had argued at the Jiang family's house, they hadn't spoken a word to each other. Unexpectedly, he still remembered her birthday.
"Yulang..."
"My beloved..."
Clutching the purse at her waist, Jiang Yao's fingers trembled with excitement, and tears welled in her eyes.
The purse contained the love poems Pei Lingyu had written for her, but Xiao Taohong had torn them to shreds.
Later, I couldn't resist collecting the fragments and piecing the love poem back together, which I kept in my purse and never let go of.
"I'm going to see Yulang."
As Jiang Yao spoke, she started to walk out, but the eldest maid quickly pulled her back.
"My lady, you look travel-worn. Let me help you dress up. Tonight is the fifteenth of the lunar month, a night of beautiful flowers and a full moon. We must not waste this auspicious day."
After the eldest girl finished speaking, the other girls laughed and looked at Jiang Yao with amusement.
"You little brat, your mouth is so slippery, I'll beat you to death!" Jiang Yao playfully slapped the girl twice.
In the end, she obediently let the maids push her to sit down at the dressing table.
The maids used all their strength and spent a full hour dressing her up to make her look stunning.
Jiang Yao looked at herself in the mirror with amazement. Her silky black hair was carefully styled into an elaborate and exquisite bun, with a gold hairpin inlaid with rubies dangling from it. The hairpin swayed gently with her movements, shimmering with dazzling light.
Her face was fair, her skin as delicate as white jade, her eyebrows like distant mountains, and her slightly upturned eyes revealed a natural charm. Her watery eyes were full of affection, and her radiant gaze seemed to be able to captivate people's hearts.
The red lip rouge applied to her lips was also carefully prepared by the maids, making her lips look as delicate and luscious as a blooming rose.
She looks much the same as when she got married.
She hadn't dressed like this in a long time.
Staring at herself in the mirror, Jiang Yao was slightly lost in thought.
"Isn't it too strong?"
"This is nothing."
The maids laughed and carried two more boxes of clothes for her to try on.
Finally, I chose a flowing, dark-patterned brocade palace dress. The brocade used in the dress was made of the latest trendy fabric, which shimmered with a dreamlike light under the lamp, as if the clouds in the sky had been woven into the dress.
With every movement, her skirt fluttered like ripples on water, each sway seemingly accompanied by a thousand beautiful flowers.
The addition of a thin red gauze overlay made her look both glamorous and mysterious, as if she were a peerless beauty who had stepped out of an ancient painting.
"Is this a new dress made this summer? Didn't the Madam say that the household income has been low lately and that no new clothes are being made?"
Jiang Yao said with delight, as she stroked the brocade material with great affection, finding it extremely comfortable.
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