At 3 p.m., the Zhuang Juyue sisters saw the guests off.
After returning to the Zhuang family, the girls went to see Mrs. Zhuang first. Zhuang Qingmei said excitedly, "Madam, we met the King of Jin."
"Why would Prince Jin go to that mansion?" Old Lady Zhuang asked in surprise.
"I heard from Sister Yue that it was Brother Zhao who invited King Jin here," Zhuang Qingmei replied.
"Oh, Zhao'er has made great progress." Old Mrs. Zhuang said calmly.
"Brother Zhao is so awesome, he even managed to invite Prince Jin..." Zhuang Qingmei kept praising Zhuang Gongzhao.
"The old lady is tired, girls please go back." Mrs. Dong interrupted her.
The girls stood up and left.
After leaving the courtyard, Zhuang Qingyan glanced at Zhuang Qingmei and said, "People are stupid but don't know it."
Zhuang Qingmei lowered her head to hide the flash of pride in her eyes, and pouted her lips, as if she was unwilling, but did not dare to argue with her elder sister. She followed her to the large courtyard of the second house.
Zhuang Qingyu and Zhuang Qingchan also went to the large courtyard of the main house, while Jiang Changning took the maid back to his own courtyard.
After walking a distance, Fu Cui whispered, "When the old lady heard that Prince Jin was invited by Young Master Zhao, her face changed. The fifth lady has no sense at all and is still saying that Young Master Zhao is amazing."
"She did it on purpose." Jiang Changning smiled faintly.
"Why do you want to deliberately make the old lady angry?" Fu Cui was puzzled.
Shu Fei glanced at her and said, "Use your brain and think about it."
"If I had thought of it, I wouldn't ask." Fu Cui pouted.
"You have a long head just to look taller." Shu Fei said to her in a disparaging way.
Fu Cui replied, "If I had no head, wouldn't you be afraid of me?"
"You're just good at talking." Shu Fei reached out and pinched her face lightly.
Fu Cui ran to the other side of Jiang Changning and complained, "Girl, look at this guy. He can't win the argument, so he hits him."
Jiang Changning smiled, "I will not get involved in your personal grudges, please solve them on your own."
The master and servant chatted and laughed, thus diverting the previous question.
On the other side, Mrs. Zhuang watched the girls leave in silence, sighed quietly, and said, "It would be nice if Brother Wen was still here."
Mrs. Dong's expression was a little gloomy. Of course it would be good if the eldest young master was still around, but the eldest young master is no longer here!
She took the beauty hammer from the maid, winked at her to leave, and took her place on the stool to massage Old Madam Zhuang's legs. "Old Madam, the Third Young Master and the Fourth Young Master are also good."
Old Madam Zhuang values legitimate children over illegitimate children, so there is no need to mention the second and fifth young masters who were born out of wedlock.
"Next year will be the year for the big competition. I hope the two brothers can do well." Old Mrs. Zhuang has high hopes for her children and grandchildren, but unfortunately, things don't always go as planned.
"The third and fourth young masters will surely win the first prize." Mrs. Dong said flatteringly.
Old Madam Zhuang sat up and said, "I'm going to burn some incense for the Buddha."
In the main room of the east wing, Mrs. Zhuang turned it into a Buddhist temple, where she enshrined the Bodhisattva Guanyin, whom she had brought back from Xiangguo Temple.
In the evening, Jiang Changning packed up and was about to go out to Old Lady Zhuang's yard.
Caijuan, the maidservant beside Wu, came over and said, "Cousin, you must have been tired from going out to visit guests today. You don't have to walk back and forth. Just stay in the yard and eat."
Jiang Changning smiled as usual and said, "Okay."
Xiulan sent Cai Juan out, and after a while she came in and said, "Master Ke Si wants to have dinner with the old lady."
Jiang Changning smiled without surprise. Wu did everything she could to prevent her from having too much contact with Zhuang Jike.
This is also one of the reasons why there are rumors that she is weak and sickly among the bankers.
In fact, Wu didn't need to treat her as an enemy. She really had no intention of having any romantic feelings for Zhuang Jike.
However, it was better this way, with Wu interfering, she could save herself the trouble.
"Only the eldest lady thinks it is a hot commodity. Who would care about it?" Fu Cui said with a pout.
"You don't care about him, but there are people who do. Jiawan treats him as a treasure." Fangju said with a smile.
The old nanny, who had been with the family for many years, saw that Jiawan's brows were loose, and knew that she was already Zhuang Jike's woman.
"That's true. Some people like rotten fish and shrimp, but some people dislike delicious food." Fu Cui said.
It’s just that some people obstruct it, while others facilitate it.
When Jiang Changning learned from Shu Fei that Old Madam Huang San bribed the maid to inquire about her preferences, he laughed angrily, "She really won't give up."
"A toad wants to eat swan flesh." Fu Cui said contemptuously.
"Shu Fei, let them send people to keep an eye on Old Madam Huang San and Zhuang Yaozong. If they dare to use dirty tricks, let them suffer the consequences." Jiang Changning ordered calmly.
"Yes, young lady." Shu Fei knelt down and accepted the order.
The next day, Jiang Changning, Zhuang Qingyu and Zhuang Qingyan were accompanying Old Madam Zhuang to visit the two aunts of the Zhuang family and ordered the servants to deliver the birthday gifts.
Both of the two aunts were born out of wedlock and married out of the capital. They seldom come back throughout the year.
At this time, a maid came in hurriedly and reported: "Madam, someone has come from the palace. The eldest lady asked you to take the girls to the second gate."
Someone is coming from the palace!
Old Lady Zhuang subconsciously looked at Jiang Changning. Was it the Queen Mother who sent someone to pick up this girl
Jiang Changning lowered his eyelids. This person must have been sent by the Queen Mother. What did he come here for
No need to guess too much, you will know when you go out.
The eunuch from the palace brought the things that the Queen Mother gave to Jiang Changning, and said to Jiang Changning: "The Queen Mother asked the young lady to go to the palace to play when she is free. The Queen Mother is thinking about the young lady."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness." Jiang Changning smiled calmly.
Most people would be ecstatic about the Queen Mother's favor.
But Jiang Changning was not happy but worried, as the Queen Mother did not seem to value the life-saving grace very much.
But he chose to act like this, it was obvious that he had something in mind for her.
What is the picture
How could she, an orphan girl without power, father or mother, make the Queen Mother...
Jiang Changning raised his hand and touched his face, ninety-nine percent of the time he was attracted by her beauty.
A beautiful but weak girl with no support is most suitable to be a chess piece.
This was something Jiang Changning had expected and he didn't find it difficult to accept.
Before the Queen Mother showed her fangs, she was her supporter.
All she has to do is to make use of her backers, accumulate enough capital, and work hard to transform from a chess piece to a chess player.
Her life is in her own hands, not in the hands of others!
"Girl, this smoke gauze is thin and breathable. It is very suitable for wearing as a midriff-baring garment in summer." Fu Cui said loudly.
"Then make two for me, and each of you can make one for the rest." Jiang Changning said generously.
"Thank you, young lady." Fu Cui smiled.
"You are a greedy girl. You want everything." Shu Fei gently twisted Fu Cui's waist.
Xiulan said, "Miss, this Yanluo gauze was given to you by the Empress Dowager. We, as slaves, cannot wear such fine material. It is beyond our control."
Fu Cui muttered, "You can't see it if you wear it inside."
"Aren't you going to wash?" The three maids glared at her at the same time.
"Who dares to spread what happened in the yard?" Jiang Changning said domineeringly.
"Girl, you spoil this girl too much. If you continue to spoil her, she will be very successful." Shu Fei said.
After the three maids jointly persuaded him, Jiang Changning had to withdraw his decision.
Fu Cui was not angry. She went to the side room with a smile to cut fabric to make a coat for Jiang Changning.
(End of this chapter)