Hearing this, Jiang Ling was secretly delighted. Suppressing her excitement, she pretended to be troubled and said to A-Shu, "This... how about... let's just forget it, you seem so troubled!"
Ah Shu pouted: "Oh, you've really piqued my interest. Promise me you won't tell anyone!"
As she spoke, A-Shu started shaking Jiang Ling's arm again, acting like a spoiled little girl.
Jiang Ling's lips twitched. She glanced at A-Shu, who was full of expectation, and stroked her chin, pretending to think. She said to A-Shu, "Alright, I promise I won't tell anyone! Can you tell me now?"
Upon hearing this, A-Shu smiled broadly. She leaned close to Jiang Ling's ear and whispered, "This bracelet was bestowed upon me by the current Emperor!"
Jiang Ling had anticipated this outcome, but she still deliberately feigned a terrified expression with wide eyes and an open mouth.
She hurriedly got up and tried to kneel down, pretending to be naive and unsophisticated, hoping to make Ah Shu completely lower her guard.
As she expected, when Ah Shu saw Jiang Ling about to kneel, she immediately helped Jiang Ling up and tugged at Jiang Ling's sleeve, whispering, "Oh dear sister, dear sister, what are you doing? If you do this, we'll become estranged!"
As she spoke, Ah Shu deliberately pretended to be angry, putting her hands on her hips and pouting.
Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Jiang Ling immediately pretended to be flustered and sat awkwardly to the side, deliberately showing that she was restless.
As expected, A-Shu was drawn to Jiang Ling's action. Her previously upturned lips immediately drooped, and she pouted as she looked at Jiang Ling, complaining, "If I had known it would turn out like this, I wouldn't have said anything! Now we're even more distant!"
"Miss Shu, I..."
"Oh, Miss Shu! Honestly, I knew I shouldn't have told you!" A-Shu was completely annoyed by Jiang Ling.
She raised her eyebrows and pouted, looking very unhappy.
"But...I...I didn't expect your identity..." Jiang Ling continued to pretend to be timid and hesitant.
"Oh dear, dear sister, please don't be like this! This is Shengjing, and everyone here has some official position or something! You'll get used to it! Besides, I really like you because you're so loyal!" A-Shu said, putting her arm around Jiang Ling's shoulder.
Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Jiang Ling stopped pretending. She nodded cautiously and tentatively asked, "Do you really still want me to continue being your good older sister?"
"Oh dear sister, if you're still dwelling on this, then I'm really not happy! You can pay for a complete stranger, so why can't I acknowledge such a kind sister as my sister?" A-Shu patted Jiang Ling on the back and said.
Jiang Ling nodded and continued cautiously, "Well... alright then, thank you, Ashu, for not looking down on me!"
"Hmph, dear sister, if you're really being too polite, I'm really angry!" A-Shu said, hands on her hips and frowning.
Then, A-Shu gestured for the waiter to come over and ordered some specialty tea snacks, as well as a pot of Biluochun tea.
Before long, eight exquisitely presented tea snacks were brought over by the waiter in a square food box.
Each of these tea snacks is beautifully presented and looks incredibly appetizing.
"Good sister, try this. This is the most famous 'eight small dishes' in this shop. It tastes really good!" As she spoke, A-Shu picked up a white dumpling-shaped pastry and took a small bite.
Seeing this, Jiang Ling also picked up a piece of white, petal-shaped pastry decorated with tiny red dots.
"Hmm? Jujube flower cake?" The outer crust was very crispy. Jiang Ling only took a small bite and the crust melted in her mouth. Then, the rich jujube flavor and the faint brown sugar flavor gradually emerged. Jiang Ling's first reaction was that this tasted the same as the jujube flower cake she ate in modern times.
"How is it? My dear sister, isn't it pretty good? But let me tell you, the Emperor recently bestowed some osmanthus rice cake upon us, and the taste was absolutely divine. How about..." At this point, Ah Shu glanced at the azure sky outside the window and continued to Jiang Ling, "How about, my dear sister, you come home with me? I'll let you try that osmanthus rice cake?"
Jiang Ling chuckled upon hearing this. It was just as she had imagined. Just moments ago, Jiang Ling was thinking about how to get closer to A Shu, and now A Shu herself had suggested that Jiang Ling go home with her.
"Alright, alright, good sister, let's go! Anyway, my parents aren't here, and my older brother is nowhere to be found. I'm so bored staying in the mansion all day. How about this, you can move to my place instead of staying here? What do you say?" While Jiang Ling was thinking about how to answer A-Shu, A-Shu had already taken action. She simply grabbed Jiang Ling and dragged her towards the door before Jiang Ling could refuse.
Jiang Ling smiled faintly and remained silent, letting A-Shu hold her back. Chun Chan, who was beside her, wanted to remind A-Shu, but thinking of A-Shu's appearance earlier, she could only shrink her neck and pray that the master, madam, and young master would not punish them, the servants, if they saw this scene.
Shengjing is a really big place. Even Jiang Ling, sitting in the carriage, could feel it. At this speed, it could usually circle Pingxi County or Guangping County. However, the carriage didn't seem to be stopping.
Ah Shu happened to be sitting opposite Jiang Ling, so Jiang Ling couldn't very well lift the curtain and look outside.
After an unknown amount of time, just as Jiang Ling was beginning to feel drowsy, the carriage suddenly stopped.
A-Shu dismounted from the carriage with practiced ease, lifting the curtain to beckon Jiang Ling to get down quickly.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ling followed closely behind, but when she saw the words on the plaque, she couldn't help but frown – the Third Prince's Residence.
The Third Prince? Su Shunhe? No, no, he should be called He Shunsu. Could it be that the eldest brother this little girl is talking about is that bastard?
Thinking of this, Jiang Ling's expression darkened even more, but A-Shu beside her did not notice at all. She enthusiastically grabbed Jiang Ling's hand and walked towards the Third Prince's mansion.
I have to admit, the Third Prince's house is really impressive, much more impressive than my own three-courtyard house.
Pushing open the vermilion gate, you are greeted by a large courtyard. Passing through the courtyard, you will find a rockery and stream, followed by a pond covered with lotus leaves. Crossing a small blue bridge, you will walk through several deep alleys and paths, entering from both sides of various antique houses. The main halls are exquisitely carved and architecturally magnificent.
A-Shu, pulling Jiang Ling by the hand, led her through a winding path to a spot further back. Pointing to a large door, she said, "This is my boudoir! Dear sister, wait here for me a moment, I'll tell the kitchen to heat up some osmanthus rice cake for you!"
After saying that, A-Shu pushed open the door and gestured for Jiang Ling to come in, sit down, and wait for her.
Jiang Ling cautiously walked into the room and looked around. The sandalwood chair with its intricate carvings exuded a gentle femininity. Near the window, there were some Xuan paper papers on a rosewood table and several calligraphy brushes on an inkstone.
Turning my head, I saw the young lady's dressing table, on which sat a bronze mirror with a diamond pattern and a beautifully carved red lacquer jewelry box. A light pink gauze curtain hung on the sandalwood bed frame, giving the whole room an elegant yet luxurious feel.
As Jiang Ling was stunned, the door behind her slowly opened, and a figure walked in from outside.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
