When Jiyuan returned, the scene in the courtyard had already subsided. The people who saw Jiyuan couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, and one by one, they revealed warm smiles on their faces. Jiyuan walked into the room with a suspicious expression, looking at Jiang Wanting sitting at her desk writing as usual. She relaxed and smiled, saying: "Miss, my brother and Mugen said 'everything is fine, we'll come to the right side door tomorrow morning.'". Jiang Wanting nodded after hearing this, saying: "Tomorrow morning, you go wait for them by the right side door."

  Ji Yan smiled and nodded, looking at Jiang Wanru who had stopped writing. He said with a smile: "Miss, today the street is very lively. I saw that there were more people entering the fabric store than usual." Jiang Wanru heard this and laughed, saying: "It's already the festival season, so the fabric store will be busy. After everything is settled tomorrow, your parents can go to the fabric store to help out." Ji Yan was delighted when he heard this, saying: "My mother told me last time that she felt suffocated staying in the Yu family's separate courtyard. The people in that courtyard always kept an eye on their every move, so she and her sister could only stay in their room."

  Jiang Wanru was hearing this for the first time, and she exclaimed in surprise: "Then where are your father and my grandfather, and what's going on with them?" Ji Yan saw that the conversation had already started, so he spoke straightforwardly: "Miss, they originally told me to keep it from you, saying that you have a lot on your mind right now and shouldn't think about them anymore. My father and Mugen Uncle are indeed being forced to do hard labor. They keep saying 'they're people of the Yu family'." Jiang Wanru heard Ji Yan's words and let out a soft sigh: "It's alright, tomorrow they'll be able to leave that place."

  Ji Yan saw Jiang Wanru listening to her words, and didn't seem to care. She asked in surprise: "Miss, aren't you angry about what they said?" Jiang Wanru smiled and shook her head lightly, saying: "They are indeed people of the Yu family. Auntie is already gone. Before she left, she originally wanted to return the Yu family's other courtyard, but I suddenly went to see her, and her heart softened, so she handed the other courtyard over to me. The Yu family's other courtyard will eventually be returned." Ji Yan heard these words and couldn't bear to hold back tears.

  She looked at Jiang Wan and said, "Miss, you're not as good as me. You got married, but the Jiang family didn't even give you a dowry." The dowry sent by the Jiang family was returned on the day of the return visit. The three boxes of dowry that Madam Jiang had promised to give were also refused by Jiang Wan due to her dismissive tone. Now, she no longer has any dealings with the Jiang family, while the Jiang family and the Lian Wangfu still have frequent interactions.

  Jiang Wanru stood up and walked over to Jiyuan's side. She said in a low voice, "Don't cry, this isn't our own place." Jiyuan quickly wiped her face clean and looked up at Jiang Wanru, saying, "Miss, Brother and Muguang said that 'behind the two shops, there are rooms left for us.' During New Year's, married-out daughters return to their mothers. Which shop's back room do you want to live in? We'll go live in that one too. At night, the streets will be lively, and Brother and the others will accompany us out to take a stroll."

  Jiang Wanmu nodded and then shook her head. She said to Jiyuan, "We can go, but we can't stay overnight there. The two shops have a relationship with me now, and it's not convenient for outsiders to know about it, which will affect the business of the shop." Jiang Wanmu thought for a moment and suddenly laughed, saying, "Now let's see how much importance Shuxiang and Shuyuan, these two maidservants, hold in Lian Shao's heart. I hope they are important enough to make Lian Shao expel me from the Lian Wangfu gate. The days spent in this palace are really depressing for me."

  Ji Yan listened to Jiang Wan's words, her face showing a strange and indescribable expression. She was happy for a moment, then sad, and then confused again. But she quickly regained her composure. She looked at Jiang Wan and said: "Miss, no matter what, I'll stay with you." Jiang Wan glanced at her after hearing this, and in a soft voice recounted the events that had just occurred, sighing as she spoke: "Neither the Jiang family nor the Lian royal family has ever given me an escape route. Now that your two families are free, I can finally put down my heaviest burden. I don't have to be afraid anymore, and I don't have to worry about dragging you down."

  Even the people of the Wang estate, when they first met Jiang Wanruo, did not give her the gifts that should be given to a new person. Although the prince's wife came to visit Jiang Wanruo every month, she still treated her as an uninteresting guest. The prince's wife wanted to win a good reputation for the Wang estate, while Jiang Wanruo just wanted to spend three years in prison quietly and wait until no one paid attention to her before living the life she wanted freely. They each had their own needs, so they could get along peacefully.

  Miss, I've heard that the two of them are close to Ming Yu and Ming Tou. Ming Yu and Ming Tou treat them extremely well, so this matter may not be as easy to resolve as you think." Jiang Wanmu never believed that Ming Yu and Ming Tou were as close as they seemed on the surface, like sisters. They smiled at everyone in the courtyard, sometimes even greeting Jiang Wanmu with exaggerated respect, speaking to her with extreme deference.

  Jiang Wan gave a glance at Ji Yan and said, "No matter what, they fell into my hands today. If I let them go and spread the word, then in the future, everyone in this courtyard will be able to trample on us. My greatest requirement for the Lian Wang Fu is that we two can live out our days peacefully. As for other things, I have no requirements. They have already committed a crime against me, so naturally, I demand results. If it's possible to leave the Lian Wang Fu early, there are some things that although cannot be arranged in time, but leaving early is better than leaving late."

  Ji Yan smiled and said, "If we can leave the Lian Wang Fu early, Miss, think about how to spend this festival?" Jiang Wanru saw the joy on her face and saw her wiping the water marks on the table with her hand. She lightly reminded her, "I think Young Master Lian will send those two maids away, he won't let me leave the Lian Wang Fu at this time." Ji Yan turned to look at Jiang Wanru, saying in disbelief, "Miss, I heard them say that Young Master Lian likes those two girls very much, he definitely won't bear to send them away."

  Lian Hao hasn't come to the yard since the day after his wedding. But Shu Xiang and Shu Yu can see him every day, so their feelings for each other naturally deepen. Jiang Wanmu leans in close to Ji Yan and whispers: "Ji Yan, this is the Wang estate. What kind of relationship is between master and servant? I'm also considered a necessary face for the Wang estate now. If I stake my reputation on getting a fair outcome, what will happen in the end depends on Lian Shao's decision. Lian Shao, now that he knows the truth, will definitely send Ming Yu and Ming Tou to help them plead their case.

  "You're too soft, one moment you'll be standing behind me with your teeth clenched, head bowed and not daring to look up, just listening to what I say and do." Jiang Wanmu glanced at Ji Yan who had been following her since they left the Jiang household. In the Jiang household, Jiang Wanmu was a fool and an illegitimate daughter who didn't dare to fight back, so she never had to deal with these kinds of struggles. Ji Yan had always managed to preserve her true nature. She was much more gentle than the people in the Wang household. But after hearing this, Ji Yan said: "Miss, I won't be soft-hearted, they're trying to trample on your head while I'm not around. If I were still soft-hearted, that would make me a fool."

  Jiang Wanmu gazed at the auspicious words in front of her, never expecting that she too would have a moment's chance to grow. She smiled and nodded, saying: "Alright. You watch how things go for now. We must conduct ourselves with more propriety, we can't lose face." As Jiang Wanmu spoke, she listened intently to the sounds in the courtyard, raising her eyes to signal to Jixian. Jixian then laughed loudly, saying: "Miss, I just passed by the entrance of the great hall, and looking towards the great hall, it's bustling with people coming and going."

  Jiang Wanru sat down at the table, her voice clearly filled with amusement as she said, "Oh, you're not going to stop there and watch the commotion for a while, are you?" Two soft voices came from outside the room, "Madam, Mingyu is requesting an audience." Meanwhile, inside the room, Jiyu was arguing, "Miss, how can you say that? I only stopped for a moment, and I'll be right back." Jiang Wanru chuckled lightly, teasing her by saying, "Yes, 'a moment' to Jiyu means 'a while'."

  Mingyu and Mingtou exchanged a glance outside the room, then Mingyu knocked gently on the door. Mingtou called out, "Madam, Mingtou and Mingyu have come to request an audience." Jiang Wenyu nodded slightly at Jiyan's words, and Jiyan smiled, saying, "Mingtou young lady, Mingyu young lady, please wait for a moment." After several muffled sounds came from inside the room, Jiang Wenyu finally spoke up calmly, "Jiyan, please let the two ladies in." Jiyan smiled and replied with an affirmative.

  After Mingyu and Mingtou entered the room, they saw Jiang Wanru sitting at the table, looking cold and calm. Thinking of the laughter they had just heard outside, the two were momentarily stunned. Jiang Wanru glanced at them, standing below, not speaking, thinking to herself, her expression immediately turning unpleasant. She said coldly, "Do you two ladies have business with me?" Mingyu and Mingtou quickly snapped out of it, smiling as they paid their respects to Jiang Wanru. Mingtou smiled and said, "Madam's elegant demeanor has left us two momentarily stunned."

  Ming Yu followed beside her, echoing: "We haven't come to pay our respects to the mistress for some time. This time we came over and saw that the mistress's elegant and quiet demeanor has become even more refined. We two are unsophisticated people who have never seen the world, and for a moment we were stunned into silence. Please forgive us two shallow people." The two immediately bowed again, and Jiang Wan heard their words, saying lightly: "Get up." The two still bowed with their heads lowered, and Jiang Wan signaled to Ji Yan to come forward and support them.

  Ji Yan stepped forward to support the two women, who still insisted on their behavior. Ji Yan smiled lightly and said: "Miss has always been kind-hearted, since she became the mistress of the Wang family, she naturally treated you all with kindness. The two young ladies' behavior today is intended to frame our miss as unrighteous. You want outsiders to see this and think that our miss, who didn't eat vinegar before, now pours vinegar on the two of you. If Miss wanted to lose her temper, she wouldn't wait until now to scold you, so please get up. Even if everyone in this courtyard is a witness, there are still many understanding people outside the Wang family."

  Ji Yan has always been gentle and mild, rarely having an outburst like today. Ming Yu and Ming Tuo's faces turned red as they immediately stood up, looking at Jiang Wanlin with unclear expressions.

  Thank you to book friend Xiao Ye Saya for gifting 100 starting points, thank you to book friend Lan Ye Xing Zhu for gifting 99 starting points. I will work hard, thank you for your support! (If you like this work, welcome to Qidian () to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)

  Hard study