Jiang Yan certainly didn’t recognize her. The last time he had seen Bai Zhuji was four years ago, and besides, everyone knew Bai Zhuji had been mentally unstable for years, whereas the girl he saw just now showed no signs of such instability.
Jiang Chong looked at his son with a complex expression. For some reason, he kept the invitation without saying anything.
So Jiang Yan spent two hours entertaining guests. Not seeing Miss Bai arrive put him in a very good mood. He even hummed a tune as he made his way to change clothes.
“Yan’er.” Passing by the corridor, Jiang Yan was stopped by someone.
He turned around and smiled, running over to the figure standing by the pond. “Uncle!”
Jiang Xuanjin had a cloak draped over him, still not fully recovered from his illness, but he was mostly back to his old self. He glanced at Jiang Yan with ink-black eyes and frowned slightly. “Miss Bai didn’t come?”
Jiang Yan immediately straightened up and replied firmly, “Uncle, I did send the invitation. If you don’t believe me, you can go to the Bai residence to confirm.”
Regardless of when it was sent, it was sent!
After giving him a brief look, Jiang Xuanjin waved his hand. “We’re about to pay respects. Go change your clothes first.”
“Yes!” Jiang Yan responded and hurriedly turned to leave.
Jiang Xuanjin stared at the ripples on the surface of the pond, lost in thought.
He had anticipated that the Bai family might not bring her, so he had Jiang Yan send the invitation separately. He hadn’t expected her not to come at all. With this turn of events, the marriage between her and Jiang Yan might truly be ruined.
Oh well, a woman like Bai Zhuji was not a good choice for a niece-in-law anyway. He had only tried to fulfill his deceased sister-in-law’s wish. Since it couldn’t be fulfilled, then so be it.
With a sudden realization, his heart felt lighter. Relaxing his brows, Jiang Xuanjin turned to head towards the front courtyard. But as soon as he turned, a gust of wind hit him head-on.
“At last, caught you!” A familiar scent enveloped him. The newcomer was quite bold, bypassing the bystanders and unabashedly wrapping their arms around his waist. Their tone was both sticky and clingy. “I’ve missed you so much!”
His face darkened, and Jiang Xuanjin pushed them away without hesitation. “Impudent!”
Li Huaiyu stepped back a couple of paces, unfazed by his resistance. She raised her head, smiling so widely that her eyebrows almost disappeared. “Haven’t seen each other for two days, don’t you miss me?”
Jiang Xuanjin regarded her with cold eyes.
“Oh, just greeting you, what’s with the rush?” Huaiyu blinked, then twirled her dress in front of him, asking cheerfully, “Do you like it?”
Only now did Jiang Xuanjin notice the stark difference in her appearance from before, adorned with valuable jewelry all over and wearing this particular dress…
His gaze fell on the pattern on her skirt, and his expression turned grave. “Peonies.”
“Hmm?” Li Huaiyu raised an eyebrow, following his gaze to her skirt. “What’s wrong with peonies? This pattern is of the finest peonies from the Yaochi Spring Dawn, the most prestigious!”
Jiang Xuanjin frowned, his expression quite peculiar. After a moment of silence, he uttered, “Truly ugly.”
Her face fell, Huaiyu said, “I searched everywhere just to find you, hoping to hear a compliment, and yet you’re so disagreeable!”
The person in front of him smirked coldly. “If I’m so disagreeable, then don’t like me.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he almost bit his tongue.
He must be out of his mind. He had only been dealing with this person for a few days, yet he was already behaving shamelessly like her. What nonsense was he speaking? Liking or not liking someone!
But Li Huaiyu found it amusing. She covered her mouth with her sleeve and giggled incessantly, her eyes teasing. “I don’t care, I’ve taken a liking to you!”
With a clenched jaw, Jiang Xuanjin turned away without a word.
“Hey, hey!” Huaiyu hurried to catch up. “Where are you going?”
“If I remember correctly, this is the Jiang family’s rear courtyard,” the person ahead said irritably. “Even if the visitor is a guest, entering without invitation is still impolite.”
Scratching her ear, Huaiyu remarked, “I’ve been impolite more than once, haven’t you gotten used to it yet?”
…
Continuing forward, past the Moon Gate was the front courtyard, where the lively sounds could already be heard faintly. Jiang Xuanjin halted his steps, casting a cold glance over his shoulder. “Leave.”
Huaiyu looked at him innocently. “If you’re here, where do you want me to go?”
“Anywhere but with me.”
After all, she was still technically Yan’er’s fiancee. It wouldn’t look good if people saw her clinging to him like this.
Huaiyu pouted pitifully. “The Jiang Mansion is so big. I’ll get lost if I wander off. What if I lose my way and need you to rescue me?”
“Dream on!” Jiang Xuanjin brushed past the Moon Gate.
Huaiyu remained motionless, her watery eyes turning solemn the moment he turned away. Once he had completely disappeared beyond the Moon Gate, she breathed a sigh of relief and immediately turned to continue towards the rear courtyard.
Today seemed to be the most relaxed time for the guards in the Jiang Mansion’s rear courtyard. The front courtyard was bustling with people and activities, and all the servants were busy there. Apart from a few guards stationed at the Moon Gate, there was no one else to be seen in the rear courtyard.
So, she crouched low and followed the directions given by Lu Jing, stealthily making her way to Jiang Xuanjin’s living quarters. Glancing at the guards at the door, Huaiyu patiently took a detour, quietly scaling the wall and slipping inside.
As the sun rose higher, the Jiang Mansion became increasingly lively. The front courtyard was filled with people chatting and mingling.
Lu Jing smiled as he bid farewell to the twentieth person trying to get close to him, casually glancing in the direction of the main hall.
Jiang Xuanjin was dressed in a dark amber-colored brocade robe, intricately embroidered with silver threads depicting flying cranes from afar and lush silver bamboo up close. It was truly exquisite.
However, unlike his attire, Lord Ziyang himself was rather dull and uninteresting. No matter who approached him or what they said, he always maintained his calm demeanor, nodding politely. Even when Miss Qi, known as the top lady of the capital, came to pay her respects, he barely spared her a glance.
Lu Jing couldn’t help but wonder if there was something wrong with this person.
Just as he was thinking, Li Huaiyu returned. Walking up beside him with hands clasped, Huaiyu smiled gracefully, then gritted her teeth and whispered, “Damn it, the guards at that damn residence are stricter than the ones at my old palace!”
She had thought the guards outside were lax, assuming she could sneak in for a look. But as soon as she approached Jiang Xuanjin’s residence, she startled the hidden guards, forcing her to flee in panic, nearly tripping and falling on the way.
It was infuriating!
Lu Jing chuckled, handing her a cup of tea. “Why the rush? It’s still early.”
Taking a sip of the tea he offered, Huaiyu casually glanced up, only to meet Jiang Xuanjin’s gaze.
As their eyes met, she immediately threw him a dazzling smile—heeheehee!
But Jiang Xuanjin’s mildly amused expression froze, and he glanced away from her with evident disdain.
“Hmm?” Lu Jing noticed and exclaimed in surprise, “So there are other expressions on this person’s face!”
What other expressions? Hearing this, Huaiyu quickly covered her face with her sleeve. “Want to see if I can make him see red? Or maybe purple? It’s a possibility!”