Chapter 358: Chapter 336, Master’s Attitude_1
Watching Madam Jiang and Jiang Wanying surrounded by various Madams and young ladies at the center, Daohua’s eyes flickered.
Indeed, worthy of being the maternal family of the Empress Dowager and the Empress, wherever they go, the procession is grand. It was like this during the last Dragon Boat Festival, and it’s the same now.
This is the supremacy of imperial power!
“Yuanyao, Shiyu, why are you sitting in the corner, making me come over so early.”
Daohua was sharing interesting stories she had heard recently with Dong Yuanyao and the others when Jiang Wanying suddenly came over with several girls.
Upon arriving, she started chatting warmly with Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu.
To those unaware, they might think they were very close.
Daohua, watching from the side, saw clearly that Dong Yuanyao’s face was filled with a radiant smile, but as soon as Jiang Wanying turned her head, she secretly rolled her eyes.
Su Shiyu kept a light smile on her face, but her words were clearly disingenuous.
Although both were impatient, they had to chat with Jiang Wanying and Zhou Xuan, making sure not to reveal their true feelings.
The young ladies from families with lesser standing were echoing from the side, acting as a backdrop.
“How exhausting!”
Daohua whispered to Zhou Jingwan.
Zhou Jingwan nodded in agreement immediately, “Sister Dong and Sister Su are so pitiable.”
Daohua also felt sympathy for them in her heart.
There was no helping it, out of all the young ladies present, their families had the best lineage.
Because Jingwan’s biological father was no longer an official, even though her grandfather was the former Grand Secretary and her uncle a Vice Minister in the Ministry of Personnel, Jiang Wanying just gave a cursory nod.
As for Daohua, the daughter of a fourth-rank official, she didn’t even receive a glance, probably expecting her to take the initiative and greet her.
Indeed, as Daohua thought, Jiang Wanying was waiting for Daohua to greet her first.
Since arriving in Zhongzhou, to get to know Brother Yangyang better, she had investigated his past few years thoroughly.
While the news was superficial, it allowed her to know that in recent years Brother Yangyang mainly established relations with the Dong, Zhou, Su, and Yan families in Zhongzhou. Naturally, she paid more attention to these families.
What was somewhat frustrating for her was that these families all had beautiful young ladies close to Brother Yangyang’s age, each quite attractive.
Having already met Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu at various family banquets in the provincial capital, she was familiar with the Dong and Su Families. However, she knew nothing about the young ladies of the Yan and Zhou Families.
While chatting and laughing with Dong Yuanyao and the others, Jiang Wanying occasionally looked over at Zhou Jingwan and Daohua.
With every look, she couldn’t help but frown.
She realized that among these families close to Brother Yangyang, not only were the young ladies good-looking, but each also had its distinctive trait.
Dong Yuanyao, lively and radiant; Su Shiyu, gentle as water; Zhou Jingwan, charming and adorable; Yan Yiyi, spirited and ethereal with her eyes sparkling with a brilliant light, which she noticed on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival.
These four, even among the young ladies of Beijing, could certainly hold their own.
Seeing Daohua occupied with chatting and laughing with Zhou Jingwan, not taking the initiative to greet her, Jiang Wanying couldn’t hide her irritation and had to start the conversation with a smile, “Is this Miss Yan?”
Daohua nodded and smiled back, “Miss Jiang.”
Jiang Wanying took a few steps toward Daohua, “I’m truly sorry about what happened during the Dragon Boat Festival. Rui Zhu, who just returned to serve Brother Yangyang, was not well-informed and neglected Miss Yan and your cousin. I made sure to discipline her properly when I got back.”
Disciplining Xiao Yeyang’s maid, what’s that to you?
Daohua glanced at Dong Yuanyao, who was making faces at her, and smiled faintly, “Miss Jiang is too serious, it was just a trivial matter, I’ve long forgotten about it.”
Jiang Wanying laughed, “If you’re not angry, then I’m relieved. Yangyang, being a man, might inevitably neglect some minor things, but that’s not his intention.”
Uh…
Daohua paused, feeling somewhat speechless in her heart.
What did Jiang Wanying mean by that?
Whether she was angry or not, what did it have to do with her, and why did she need to be concerned?
Xiao Yeyang didn’t care about the small stuff, was she saying that her issues were trivial, and he didn’t take her seriously?
What was all of this about?
Seeing Daohua’s confused look, Jiang Wanying laughed, and without continuing the conversation, turned to address the other ladies, “Let’s not stand here any longer, let’s go and take our seats, have some tea, and listen to the opera. Yangyang specifically instructed me to take good care of all of you.”
Watching Jiang Wanying being surrounded and led away by the young ladies from other families, Zhou Jingwan curled her lips, “What kind of person does she think she is, mentioning the Little Prince in every sentence, as if no one knows they are close.”
Dong Yuanyao snorted with laughter, “Madam Jiang entertains the ladies, and Jiang Wanying entertains us. Look at them acting as if they are the hosts.”
Zhou Jingwan, seeing Daohua staring in that direction, shook her arm, “Are you okay? Look, don’t take it to heart, they are just putting on a show, I understand this more than anyone else. If you don’t believe me, just ask Yuanyao and the others.”
Daohua suppressed the displeasure in her heart and smiled lightly, “Why should I care? Whether it’s a show or sincerity, it has nothing to do with me.”
Zhou Jingwan eyed Daohua carefully, “But why do I sense a bit of anger in your words?”
Daohua retorted immediately, “Of course, wouldn’t you be annoyed if you were bitten by a dog for no reason?”
Upon hearing this, Dong Yuanyao burst out laughing, “That’s bluntly put. I’m telling you, these days Shiyu and I have been so bothered by her.”
“Every time we meet at a banquet, she insists on talking to us, always mentioning the Little Prince, making me frightened to even see her.”
Su Shiyu also followed with a wry smile.
Daohua, “Alright, let’s not talk about these unpleasant things. Let’s go sit over there.”
…
Meanwhile, in a courtyard behind the other houses, Guo Ruomei was drinking tea while listening to Mei Xue talk about the situation with the womenfolk.
It was her son’s birthday, and naturally, she had to be present to oversee the event. Though it wasn’t appropriate for her to show her face, she indeed needed to keep an eye on things personally.
Mei Xue expressed indignation, “This Jiang Family is really shameless. As soon as they arrive in Zhongzhou, they openly claim that the Little Prince and Miss Jiang grew up together in the Taihou Palace. Now all over Zhongzhou, people are saying they have a childhood friendship.”
“Now, at our family’s other residence, they are even behaving as if they are the hosts. It’s truly nauseating.”
Guo Ruomei’s face showed sarcasm, “They don’t care about their daughter’s reputation, so why should we get upset?”
Mei Xue was somewhat worried, “But the Little Prince is sixteen this year, and with the Jiang Family spreading such rumors, who would dare to propose a marriage to him?”
Guo Ruomei wasn’t in a hurry and smiled lightly, “Yangyang is only sixteen, there’s no rush. After all, we’re choosing a person to accompany him for a lifetime; we have to pick someone he likes.”
Mei Xue nodded and then asked, “Madam, what do you think the Little Prince feels about Miss Jiang? Recently, he accompanied her to see a doctor and even went to the wharf to receive her today.”
Guo Ruomei sighed, “It’s my fault. I didn’t protect him when he was small, and he suffered so much. When everyone in the Imperial Palace was shunning him, Jiang Wanying was the only one who would talk to him. The child is sentimental; he surely has some feelings for Jiang Wanying.”
“But that’s about it. I heard from Ang Yi who just returned that Yangyang is becoming very impatient with the Jiang Family and Zhou Xuan.”
Mei Xue immediately commented, “It’s all because the Jiang Family lacks restraint. They’ve been so spoiled in Beijing that they think the Little Prince should spoil them too.”
Guo Ruomei, “Let them be. Once Yangyang has worn away the little sentiment he has in his heart, that will be the end of it.”