However, Zhuang Qingru and Jin Qiaozhen did not see Jiang Changning, and Xiulan came out to deal with them, "The girl went to Zhou's house to pay respect to Zhou's mother."
"Then let's come again tomorrow. Tell cousin Ning to wait for me at home." Zhuang Qingru said.
"If Aunt Zhuang has anything to say, you can tell me and I will help pass it on. If it's nothing important, Aunt Zhuang should not come over. My girl will not see outsiders."
Xiulan looked at Jin Qiaozhen standing next to Zhuang Qingru and knew what Zhuang Qingru was planning. That was why she refused to let them see Jiang Changning and make things difficult for Jiang Changning.
"Bastard, you girl, you are so brave!" Zhuang Qingru scolded angrily.
Xiulan said calmly, "Show him off."
After saying that, he no longer paid attention to Zhuang Qingru and turned away.
"Stop right there." Zhuang Qingru shouted loudly.
Several strong women stopped her and said, "Mrs. Zhuang, please come in."
Zhuang Qingru didn't want to argue with the servants, so he had to leave Jiang's house first.
"Cousin Ru, what should we do now?" Jin Qiaozhen never expected this to be the case.
"Wait, I don't believe she won't come back." Zhuang Qingru said gritting his teeth.
It was a scorching July day, and even though the carriage was in the shade, it was still hard to breathe.
After waiting for a quarter of an hour, both of them had red faces and were sweating profusely.
Zhuang Qingru had to say: "Let's come again tomorrow."
Jin Qiaozhen didn't say anything. She felt that she would not be able to see Jiang Changning tomorrow.
As she expected, she came three times in a row but failed to see anyone. Jin Qiaozhen realized that it was her aunt's idea to make her a concubine.
Jin Qiaozhen refused to follow Zhuang Qingru to Jiang's house again, "This won't work, cousin Ru, let's find someone else."
Wu and Zhuang Qingru were furious when their plan failed.
Unfortunately, this matter was known to Zou.
Zou ran to Old Lady Zhuang and applied Wu's eye drops.
Old Madam Zhuang called Wu over and scolded her, "You are a fool who is always causing trouble but can't do anything good."
Wu was scolded so badly that she couldn't even raise her head, and she didn't dare to defend herself.
No matter what internal conflicts the Zhuang family has, it has nothing to do with Jiang Changning.
On the first day of August, someone knocked on the door of Jiang's house.
Knowing that it was the eunuch who came to read out the Empress Dowager's decree, Jiang Changning showed a mocking smile on his lips. What was supposed to come would eventually come.
The Empress Dowager conferred the title of Princess of Chun'an County on Jiang Changning, and Chun'an County was located in Hangzhou.
Jiang Changning raised her eyebrows. The empress dowager was quite generous. She actually conferred her the title of a county lady with real salary instead of just a title.
"Such a big sweet date, aren't you afraid that it will choke me to death?" Jiang Changning lowered his eyes and looked at the gold embroidery on the county lady's dress, with a faint sarcastic sneer on his lips.
"Congratulations, young lady. No, you should call her County Lady." Several maids said happily.
"What county princess? Just keep calling me young lady. I'm used to it." Jiang Changning turned and walked towards the inner courtyard.
Several maids looked at each other and quickly asked someone to move the incense table away.
Jiang Changning was conferred the title of County Princess. All prefectures in the capital received the news and had different reactions.
Song Yirou was the most disdainful, "She is just an orphan, how can she be worthy of it."
The Concubine Dowager of Prince Jin, who was trimming the branches, put down her scissors and said disdainfully: "Even if she is given the title of Princess, she is not worthy of my son."
The mourning concubine Qiao, who was looking through the account book, sneered, "The Empress Dowager really knows how to give her face."
Chen Yi sighed: "What a lucky life."
Mrs. Wu was complaining to Old Madam Zhuang, "That day, the old lady should have been tougher and not let Miss Ning move out."
Old Madam Zhuang rolled her eyes at her and said, "With people from Prince Jin's Mansion here, you are really tough."
"Who knows whether it's real or not? Maybe it's fake." Mrs. Wu said stubbornly.
"Let me see if you can pretend to be one." Old Mrs. Zhuang said unhappily.
Mrs. Wu was silent, and Mrs. Zou pursed her lips and smiled, "Old lady, my cousin is now the county lady, should we prepare a gift?"
Mrs. Zhuang thought for a moment and said, "It's time to prepare a gift. You go and deliver the gift to the second son's family."
"Yes, old lady." Zou glanced at Wu proudly.
But when they returned to the courtyard, the ignorant Zhuang Nianyun asked her, "Mom, can we go see our cousin?"
"We'll meet again if we have the chance in the future." Liao looked out the window. Perhaps she could still rely on Jiang Changning to let her take her daughter away from the banker's house.
In the afternoon, Zou went to Nanmen Street with a gift.
Since Zhuang Qingru is of the same generation as him, Jiang Changning can just refuse to see him.
Zou was the elder after all, so Jiang Changning couldn't refuse her. "Why is the Second Madam here?"
"The old lady has been missing the cousin all the time. Ever since the cousin moved out, the old lady has lost her appetite, so she sent me to see the cousin specially." Zou said affectionately.
"Thank you for your concern, ma'am. I'm fine." Jiang Changning said with a faint smile.
"If there is anything, just send someone to inform them. Although your second uncle and third brother are not of much use, they can still help run errands." Zou said with a smile.
Jiang Changning smiled and didn't respond to her.
"The family was not aware that Qingru brought her cousin here. It was all the eldest wife's own decision." Zou explained.
"I went to Zhou's house those days and didn't see Cousin Ru, so I don't know about this." Jiang Changning said calmly.
Sentences here and there, Zou tried her best to express her and the Zhuang family's concern for Jiang Changning.
Jiang Changning was polite and responded perfunctorily.
The next day, the newly crowned Princess Chun'an entered the palace to express her gratitude wearing brand new Princess Chun'an attire.
At the palace gate, Jiang Changning met Prince Jin.
When Prince Jin saw Jiang Changning getting off the carriage, the corners of his lips curled up.
When Jiang Changning wears elegant clothes, she gives people a sense of elegance and transcendence.
When wearing pink clothes, you will look cute and lovely.
Today she was wearing a slightly heavy bright red county lady's dress, which made her look very dignified and elegant.
This made King Jin very much looking forward to seeing Jiang Changning wearing her wedding dress.
"County Princess." Prince Jin greeted with a smile, his eyes fell on Jiang Changning's bun. She was not wearing the Ruyi hairpin today.
Jiang Changning bent his knees slightly, "Your Majesty."
"Go to the palace to express your gratitude?"
"yes."
"Please, County Lady."
"Your Majesty, please."
There is no priority for ladies in this era. If she dares to walk in front of Prince Jin, it would be an act of usurpation.
Prince Jin walked towards the corridor leading into the palace, and Jiang Changning lagged behind him half a step and walked with him.
"I kept Chunlai and the others without your consent. You won't blame me for being nosy, right?" asked the King of Jin.
"Your Highness means well. The house is full of women. Leaving them here can intimidate outsiders. I should thank Your Highness." Jiang Changning said with a faint smile.
King Jin stopped and looked back, "You really want to thank me?"
Jiang Changning raised his eyes and looked at him, "I really want to thank you."
King Jin raised his leg and walked forward, "Please treat me to a meal."
"Ah?" Jiang Changning was stunned.
King Jin said hesitantly: "Then I will treat you to a meal."
Jiang Changning smiled, "Although I haven't received the county lady's salary yet, I still have money to treat the prince to a meal."
When they arrived at the inner gate of the palace, Prince Jin stepped forward on the sedan chair and said, "Please remember, County Lady, you owe me a meal."
"I won't forget Chun'an." Jiang Changning bowed.
After the Prince of Jin's sedan chair had gone a short distance, Jiang Changning got on her sedan chair and headed for Fushou Palace.
Note: Before the young county lady received her salary, she was blackmailed for a meal.
(End of this chapter)