Jiu Wu and Qingxian exchanged glances and then shook their heads.
“We were invited here. We thought it was at Your Highness’s request.”
“What?” Huaiyu widened her eyes. “It’s already scary enough for me to venture into this dragon’s den alone. Why would I bring you all along?”
Jiang Xuanjin coughed lightly beside her.
Li Huaiyu paused and quickly corrected herself, “I mean, it’s not proper to bring guests to someone else’s house. The Jiang residence is such a strict place…”
“Lord, Madam,” the steward interrupted with a smile, bowing slightly, “Dinner is ready. Please, everyone, come inside.”
Closing her mouth, Huaiyu glanced at them, hesitated for a moment, then tugged on Jiang Xuanjin’s sleeve and walked inside.
The dining room was full of people, with Old Master Jiang seated at the head. His eyes flicked to the door, and when he saw Li Huaiyu enter, he quickly straightened up. Jiang Chong and Jiang Shen smiled and called out, “Third Brother, Sister-in-law, come sit. You two gentlemen, please sit as well.”
Two gentlemen? Huaiyu raised an eyebrow, looked behind her, and confirmed they were referring to Jiu Wu and Qingxian. She let out a surprised “huh.” Jiang Xuanjin pressed her hand, signaling her to stay quiet.
Jiu Wu and Qingxian awkwardly took their seats, looking puzzled. Huaiyu sat between Jiu Wu and Jiang Xuanjin, then looked up at Old Master Jiang.
His face was as stern as ever, and he stared at the table full of dishes, as if he wanted to say something. Huaiyu knew the Jiang family rule of not speaking during meals, so he would speak before they started eating. She patiently waited to see what he would say.
Finally, Old Master Jiang spoke in a deep voice, “I heard from Xuanjin that you like to eat meat.”
“Hmm?” Li Huaiyu was a bit taken aback. She followed his gaze to the table, which was laden with chicken, duck, pork, beef, lamb, and fish, cooked in various ways—fried, roasted, boiled, and stewed. The sight and aroma were mouthwatering.
But what did he mean by that? Did he prepare all this just for her?
“The cook here may not be as skilled as those in the palace, but they’re quite good. You should try it,” Old Master Jiang continued, his confidence waning as he looked away. “If none of it suits your taste, I’ll have the kitchen prepare a couple more dishes.”
It’s like preparing for a battle, only to find someone handing you a bouquet instead. The contrast was so stark that Li Huaiyu raised an eyebrow in surprise. She glanced at the old man, then at the faces of the Jiang family members, and began to understand.
Jiang Xuanjin was puzzled. “Father, what is this about?”
Didn’t he used to dislike her intensely? Especially after learning she was the Princess of Danyang, he had scolded him often in Ziyang. How had his attitude changed so drastically in just a few months?
Old Master Jiang cleared his throat awkwardly, unable to explain himself, so he glared at Jiang Shen.
Jiang Shen understood and quickly smiled. “What else could it be? Now that everyone has safely returned to the capital, it’s time for a family reunion. I heard Third Brother took back the divorce letter, so Your Highness is still part of the Jiang family. It’s only natural for Father to care.”
Jiang Xuanjin didn’t believe it. “Father acknowledges her as part of the Jiang family?”
“Why wouldn’t he? There was some prejudice against the Princess before, but now that the misunderstandings are cleared, and Third Brother is so fond of the Princess, she is naturally still our daughter-in-law.”
Li Huaiyu squeezed Jiang Xuanjin’s hand. He turned to her, and she whispered, “Does your father know about the little troublemaker and the little rascal?”
Jiang Xuanjin shook his head. “I’ve arranged for it to be kept secret. He shouldn’t know.”
Then why was his attitude so good? Huaiyu glanced at the people in front of her, thought for a moment, and asked, “Is the old master thanking me for saving you last time?”
Old Master Jiang lowered his eyes. “You could say that.”
Saving them? Jiang Xuanjin was confused. “When did this happen?”
“While you were on the campaign,” Li Huaiyu said, seeing the awkward atmosphere. “I anticipated Liu Yunlie would target the Jiang family, so I sent Lin Sihai to Ziyang in advance and managed to save them. The old master must be grateful, hence the hospitality today.”
Jiang Xuanjin frowned slightly. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It wasn’t a big deal. Why mention it?” Huaiyu shrugged, then turned to the old master. “I’m someone who likes to speak frankly, so don’t mind me—there’s no need to dwell on saving you. I only did it to ease Jiang Jie’s worries, not out of any particular kindness.”
If they weren’t the Jiang family, she wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to help. That was the truth.
Seeing her straightforwardness, the old master relaxed a bit. “You don’t hold a grudge against us?”
“How could I not?” Huaiyu chuckled. “I can still recite what you all said in Yinping. Want to hear it?”
Old Master Jiang waved his hand with a sigh. “No need. At the time… I was too impulsive. Hearing you were the Princess and seeing Xuanjin’s strange behavior, I lost my composure.”
“You said I entered the Jiang family to drag the whole family down,” Huaiyu mused, resting her chin on her hand. “You weren’t entirely wrong. I came to collect a debt, but I didn’t expect the debtor to give me his heart. So, in a way, you weren’t wrong.”
Seeing such a young girl being so candid, Old Master Jiang felt there was no need to be stubborn. “I wasn’t wrong about that, but I misspoke about Chancellor Sima.”
“Do you still think I killed Chancellor Sima?”
“Of course not.”
“Then that’s settled.” Clapping her hands, Huaiyu smiled. “Our accounts are clear.”
So simple? Old Master Jiang was surprised, about to praise her generosity, when she added, “After all, you didn’t say much at the time. It was the young master of the Jiang family who was the most vocal, saying things like—who would believe a gigolo living off a woman could fight corruption and punish evil?”
She turned her gaze to Jiang Yan, who had been silent, smiling coolly.
Jiang Yan: “…”
He had tried hard to pretend he didn’t exist, but she still remembered him.
Everyone at the table turned to look at him. Jiang Yan’s face reddened, and he gritted his teeth, stood up with his wine cup, and said, “I spoke out of turn back then. This cup is to apologize to you both.”
With that, he downed the cup in one go, surprising everyone. He drank every drop, then wiped his mouth and looked at Jiu Wu. “I was also at the battle on the outskirts of the capital. You saved me from encirclement. I’m ashamed. Please don’t take my previous foolish words to heart.”
Jiu Wu looked at him, trying to recall, and finally said, “On the battlefield, there are only allies and enemies, no personal ties. Saving our own is expected. Young Master, you speak too highly.”
The alcohol made Jiang Yan’s face even redder. He pursed his lips and said, “I admire my uncle.”
Jiang Xuanjin glanced at him. Li Huaiyu’s mouth twitched, and she instinctively hugged the arm of the man beside her. “What do you want?”
“Not that kind of like!” Jiang Yan was annoyed. “Uncle raised me. He knows everything, is capable of everything, and is an amazing person! I admire him, respect him, and want to be like him! So… so when you bullied him, I spoke without thinking.”
His uncle was like a god to him. How could he not be angry when his god was deceived and manipulated?
Huaiyu pursed her lips and asked, “Do you know you were wrong?”
“I… hic, I know I was wrong.”
“Do you still think the gigolos of Feiyun Palace live off women?”
“No, they’re all very capable,” Jiang Yan said, looking at Jiu Wu. “Their martial arts are impressive, and their hearts are even more so. They’re remarkable people.”
Nodding in satisfaction, Huaiyu asked Jiu Wu, “Do you forgive him?”
Jiu Wu glanced at Qingxian and whispered to her, “Are you going to hold a grudge against a child?”
Good point. Huaiyu smiled and said to Jiang Yan, “We’re clear too.”
“Really?” Jiang Yan was delighted and turned to Jiang Xuanjin. “Can I continue to follow Uncle? He hasn’t paid attention to me for months…”
“No,” Huaiyu said, hugging Jiang Xuanjin with a serious face. “Your uncle is mine now. He has no time for you.”
Jiang Yan was drunk, his eyes misty with a hint of grievance. He swayed and slurred, “How can that be…”
The Jiang family’s alcohol tolerance wasn’t great, was it? Huaiyu chuckled, watching Jiang Chong take Jiang Yan to a side room to sober up. She felt a weight lift from her heart.
“Aren’t you hungry?” she asked with a smile. “We’ve waited so long. I’m starving. Old Master, please start.”
Old Master Jiang was a bit distracted. Hearing her, he quickly picked up his chopsticks and took the first bite, prompting everyone else to start eating.
He had thought it would be difficult to make peace and had prepared many things. But with just a few words, did the girl let it go? Back in Yinping, she had been so angry.
He wanted to ask more, but with chopsticks in hand, he could only eat in silence, chewing and wondering if there was more to come.
Li Huaiyu happily picked at her food, wanting to talk to Jiang Xuanjin. But mindful of the Jiang family rule, she mischievously entwined her foot with his under the table.
Jiang Xuanjin’s body stiffened, and he frowned at her.
Eat properly, and stop fooling around!
Huaiyu blinked innocently: Your family doesn’t talk during meals. It’s so boring!
Even if it’s boring… Feeling her shoe gently brushing his ankle, Jiang Xuanjin’s face turned blue. Afraid of being noticed, he sat up straight, not daring to move.
Seeing this, the person beside him became bolder, elegantly eating while her actions under the table grew more audacious.
“What’s wrong, Third Brother?” Jiang Shen noticed something amiss and put down his chopsticks. “Why is your face red?”
Jiang Xuanjin also put down his chopsticks, pressing her leg with his hand, and said as if nothing had happened, “It’s nothing, just a bit warm.”
Jiang Shen nodded and continued eating. Li Huaiyu smiled triumphantly, like a cat that got the cream, her eyes sparkling.
After dinner, the steward approached her. “Madam, the Ink Residence is ready. The old master wishes for you to stay.”
Standing under the eaves, Huaiyu asked with a smile, “Does your old master genuinely like me, or is it for Jiang Jie’s sake?”
The steward glanced at the courtyard where the Lord of Ziyang was playing chess with Jiang Yan and sighed. “The old master is fond of the Lord, but this decision truly has nothing to do with him. He’s stubborn but reasonable, knowing he wronged you. He’s trying to make amends. You’ll see when you visit the Ink Residence.”
Huaiyu thought for a moment and asked Jiu Wu to inform Jiang Jie, then took Qingxian to the Ink Residence.
The main building of the Ink Residence had two floors. Since her wedding, she had been too lazy to climb stairs, so the first floor became her bedroom, and the upper floor was left unused. Entering, she saw no changes on the first floor, so she climbed to the second and was stunned by what she saw.
The once elegantly decorated room was now draped with pink curtains, with shiny glass beads hanging in the partitions. The furniture had been changed from yellow pear wood to redwood, and a large dressing table stood by the bed. The table was covered with dozens of pieces of jewelry, hairpins, and ornaments. The screen with bird and flower patterns was hung with many embroidered dresses in various colors, turning the room into a lady’s boudoir.
Li Huaiyu was dumbfounded. The steward whispered, “The old master loves daughters, but unfortunately, there were no young ladies in the family. He oversaw this arrangement, keeping it a secret from everyone.”
She couldn’t help but imagine the stern-faced Old Master Jiang arranging these pink items, and shivered, finding it both amusing and touching.
Even her Feiyun Palace wasn’t this extravagant.
Seeing the steward’s hopeful look, Huaiyu said, “Tell the old master I like it very much. Thank him for his thoughtfulness.”
The steward was delighted and bowed. “As long as Madam likes it, I’ll take my leave.”
Nodding as he left, Huaiyu smiled, sat on the pink satin bed, and bounced a couple of times.
Qingxian laughed. “Since when do you like this color?”
“Whether I like it or not, I must accept the gesture,” she said. “I used to think Old Master Jiang was difficult, but now I find him… quite endearing.”
Stubborn as he was, admitting his mistakes was rare among elders, who often believed they were never wrong. Even if they were, they’d find excuses to save face, never admitting it.
Jiang Xuanjin’s upright character owed much to Old Master Jiang.
Thinking it over, Huaiyu said, “Go to the palace and do something for me.”
Qingxian nodded in agreement.
So, as Old Master Jiang sat in the courtyard, gazing at the sunset, he heard the sound of a baby’s laughter.
Startled, he asked the steward, “What’s that noise?”
The steward cupped his hand to his ear, listening intently, then said, “If I’m not mistaken, it’s the sound of a baby, and it’s getting closer.”
With a complex expression, the old master patted his shoulder and pointed to Jiang Xuanjin and Li Huaiyu approaching with two swaddled babies.
No need to listen; they could see it directly!