(Jiang Wanru) The day before the wedding, Jiang Wanru arrived at Tea House Yi Pin accompanied by Fang Zheng and Mu Gen. The shopkeeper greeted them with a warm smile and arranged for Fang Zheng and Mu Gen to sit in a corner of the main hall, while Jiang Wanru went upstairs to the private room as usual. She pushed open the door and saw Chu Xiao and his wife, who were withdrawing their gaze from the window. Chu Xiao stared at her thoughtfully, while Chu Yang smiled and stood up to welcome her.

  She looked at Jiang Wanru sitting down across from her, then gazed at her and said: "Little Lazy, you haven't come out to see us for some time, are you getting married soon? Is your family being strict with you? My brother-in-law and I have been worried about you, thinking of adding to your dowry, adding our congratulations. We were worried that we wouldn't be able to see you before your wedding, so we had the shopkeeper think of a way to invite you out today. Unexpectedly, he has some skills, and was actually able to come up with a way to invite you. Later, I will heavily reward him."

  Jiang Wanru came out, busy with her own affairs. Every few days, she would come to the Tea House Yipin and turn around, like Chu Xiao's husband and wife were alone in a private room, she would come up to greet them. Like this time, more than ten days without coming to the Tea House Yipin, it can be said that it is a rare thing. She smiled and said: "I thank Brother Yi and Sister-in-law for their kindness. At home, they didn't bother me much, but I thought about my own things too much, every day busy with nonsense. Tomorrow is my wedding day, Brother Yi and Sister-in-law didn't mention wanting to see me, I would also come out to say hello to you."

  Chu Xiao's husband and wife listened to Jiang Wanru talking about her own marriage, seeing that there was not a hint of shyness on her face, nor any joy, as if she were talking about someone else's good news. Chu Xiao's couple looked at each other, each secretly sighing in their hearts. Chu Xiao opened his mouth to persuade: "Xiao Lan, you are an intelligent person, once this marriage is settled, he will be your closest person. The two of you will understand and live together harmoniously. There will definitely be a beautiful day." Jiang Wanru listened to these words, only smiling faintly and nodding.

  Chu Yang was a woman with a delicate heart. She observed Jiang Wanru's expression and smiled, saying: "Little lazy one, tomorrow is the wedding day of the young master of the Lian Wang Fu. Your family has also arranged for you to get married on this day. It seems that they still have good intentions towards you." Jiang Wanru heard these words and knew that Chu Xiao and his wife had kept their promise over the years, not letting anyone investigate her background. She smiled at Chu Yang and said: "Thank you, brother and sister-in-law, for your kind words. Tomorrow will definitely be a great day. After getting married, I will follow the rules of my husband's family."

  Chu Xiao's husband and wife, upon hearing Jiang Wanru's words of advice, smiled on their faces. Chu Yangshi smiled at Jiang Wanru and said: "My husband and I are going to the Lian King's mansion tomorrow to celebrate, after which we have other things to attend to at home, so we will be away for a while. You've just gotten married, it'll be a while before you can come out again. My husband and I haven't asked about your wedding date, but we've been thinking about your marriage in our hearts. This time, we brought three pieces of jewelry from the palace as gifts specifically for you. If there are people who appreciate goods in your husband's family, they will surely look at you with admiration."

  And if you have something to discuss, when you can't find anyone, take out one thing and let people ask for it at the West Street Chu Mansion. Regardless of whether I or your sworn brother are in the mansion or not. The people of the Chu Mansion will pay attention to your affairs after seeing it." Jiang Wanru heard this and was stunned. She had an idea, knowing that Chu Xiao's family background must be extraordinary, but she never expected that his family was the mother's family of the current empress. Jiang Wanru's change in expression naturally fell into Chu Xiao's eyes.

  Chu Xiao looked at her and said, "Xiao Lan, when we swore brotherhood that day, we only spoke of our bond, without regard for each other's family background or personal history. It is the same now; I am the fourth son of the Chu family. Our friendship will not be hindered by this. Your sister-in-law revealed our identities because she thought your temperament was too gentle and worried that you would suffer in your husband's household. If, by any chance, your natal family is unreliable, at least you can still think of us as a support."

  Jiang Wanru blinked hard and smiled at the Chu Xiao couple, "Thank you for your kind intentions, brother and sister-in-law. With both of your good wishes, I think that after I enter the husband's household, as long as I behave myself and do my duty, I will definitely be able to live in peace. After a few years, I will probably also be able to laugh and talk with you about my past." Jiang Wanru did not explicitly mention her own past, but still revealed that she would treat the Chu Xiao couple with candor in the future, it's just that for now, there were a hundred reasons why she couldn't speak out.

  Chu Xiao glared at her and said, "Xiao Lan, you're thinking too much." Jiang Wanmu looked at the couple and suddenly stood up, facing them with a deep bow. "Xiao Lan has relied on Brother Yi and Sister-in-law for many years," she said. "I don't know how to express my gratitude, but I can only say that although my family background is not something I can openly talk about, please believe me, I will never implicate you." Chu Yang hastily pulled Jiang Wanmu back down into her seat before returning to her own position.

  Chu Xiao gazed at Jiang Wanru and said in a deep voice, "Your heart is too heavy, and if you carry this burden for too long, it may harm your body. Alas, there are some things that you should let go of. From now on, if there's anything you need help with, come find us. As long as it's not something that goes against the law or morality, we'll figure out a way to make it happen for you." Jiang Wanru's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she smiled lightly, saying, "Brother, I've been waiting for you to say these words. However, I'm not at liberty to speak about it now, but in half a year's time, I'll need your help with something. Hehe, I remember how well you and your wife treated me; if it becomes difficult then, just be honest with me."

  Chu Yang's wife smiled lightly and said to Chu Xiao, "Xiao Lan has always been casual in front of us, but this time she was so polite, I was wondering if she had something on her mind. Look, it turns out I was right, she did have something to ask for, but it won't be revealed until half a year later. I see that she has the same temperament as you, always keeping people in suspense. Just like when you first told me about Xiao Lan, I had to wait half a year before meeting her."

  Jiang Wanru listened to Chu Yang's half-joking words and glanced at Chu Xiao, whose eyes had a hidden smile. Chu Xiao thought for a moment and couldn't help but laugh out loud, saying to the two of them: "I think Xiaolan learned this from your sister. She once seriously told me that she would only tell me something after six months. But when I asked her what it was six months later, she thought for a long time and said 'I don't remember'."

  Jiang Wanwan couldn't help but laugh lightly, her face filled with a smile as she gazed at Chu Yangshi, who was staring at Chu Xiao. The person in question seemed to have not noticed and continued speaking with a smile: "Little Lazy, I've agreed to your request. Just don't forget about it half a year later, or you'll be like your sister-in-law, always forgetting." Jiang Wanwan looked at Chu Xiao with a smile and said: "Brother, I will remember that matter clearly. Because if Brother doesn't help me, no one else can." Jiang Wanwan thought to herself about her plans for half a year later, wondering if the Chu couple would still treat her so well when they discovered her true identity.

  Chu Yang saw Jiang Wanru's worried look, reached behind her back and took out two small coarse cloth packages, placed them on the table, and said to Jiang Wanru: "Little lazy one, your sworn brother is steady in his actions. You are also measured in your actions, with a kind heart. Even if there's something you need help with, it won't be anything big. Your sworn brother understands your temperament, that's why he agreed to do that thing for you. Don't worry too much, just relax. Tomorrow, after the events unfold, you'll still have to carefully accept the matters of your husband's household." Jiang Wanru thought about entering the Wang Fu tomorrow, her life and death completely in the hands of the people from the Wang Fu.

  Madam Chu saw herself bringing up Jiang Wanru's husband's family, and in return got her bitter face. She glanced at Chu Xiao, saw him slightly shaking his head, then smiled and pointed to the two small packages on the table, saying to Jiang Wanru: "Here, these are our gifts for you as a dowry, I'm worried that they're too eye-catching, attracting attention from your family members, so we specially wrapped them in coarse cloth. Remember to let someone close to you help you collect and bring them into your husband's house. You have some valuable items on you, and can be more at peace." Jiang Wanru did not decline their kindness, but instead nodded repeatedly.

  Chu Yang opened one of the packages in the middle, inside which were three red brocade boxes. Chu Yang opened each of the three boxes. Inside were hair crowns, one made of jade with simple jade leaves on top; one was a gold and jade crown with an open flower pattern; and one was a wooden hair crown, its style unusually plain, looking like a flat surface with some stripes. These three hair crowns caught Jiang Wanru's eye, and although they looked simple at first glance, upon closer inspection, she found them to be full of subtle charm.

  Chu Yang smiled and glanced at Jiang Wan's joyful face, she stretched out her hand to gently touch the wooden crown, and the wooden crown immediately emitted a refreshing fragrance. Jiang Wan stared wide-eyed at the wooden crown. Chu Yang withdrew her hand, put the three hair crowns back in the box, and looked up at Jiang Wan to introduce: "These three are palace treasures. The most precious one is the wooden crown, which can calm people's minds. On that day, these three were registered in the palace. A few days ago, I went to the palace with my elder sister-in-law, and we specially sought an audience with the Empress Dowager to ask for her kindness, and she graciously bestowed these three items upon you."

  Jiang Wanru knew that the things in the palace were precious, but she had never thought that there would be so many twists and turns. For a moment, she felt ashamed to accept it, looking at Chu Yangshi and saying: "Sister, thank you for helping me understand Madame Chu's intentions. However, this gift is too heavy, I don't deserve it." Chu Yangshi heard her words, glanced at Chu Xiao, saw him nodding, then softly said: "A while ago, two nobles were angry with each other. The people around them couldn't think of a solution. Later, they thought of the painting you gave us last time, and we presented it to them, winning over the hearts of the two nobles. Since these three things are rewards for you, just accept them."

  Jiang Wanru still felt a bit uneasy, looking at Chu Xiao and saying: "Brother Yi, if I accidentally lose these three things in the future, would that be considered a serious mistake?" Chu Xiao glanced at her and said: "Since it's an accident, there's no need to talk about making a big mistake. You can just take them, these three things are not obviously marked as palace items, so even if you use them normally, they won't cause any trouble."

  Jiang Wanru couldn't help but laugh, looking at the two of them and saying: "In that case, I'll take these three treasures. As for the other package, you don't need to give it to me, it's really too much, I would feel uneasy in my heart." Chu Yangzi glared at her and said: "You have to take both packages. This is what I prepared as a dowry for you." As she spoke, she opened the other package, revealing several sachets inside. She pulled open one sachet after another, revealing small gold beans inside. Jiang Wanru was shocked, staring at her with her mouth agape for half a day.

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  Hard study