(Lian Hao) looked at Jiang Wan with a startled and alert expression, but his face gradually relaxed. He gazed at Jiang Wan calmly and said: "Tomorrow is Grandmother's birthday, I will prepare a gift for you. There are many guests in the mansion, your parents and brother's wife from the Jiang family will all come to celebrate, tomorrow..." Lian Hao looked at Jiang Wan who was lowering her head with a calm expression, but he couldn't bring himself to say those words that would make her warmly entertain their relatives.

  The dowry given by the Jiang family to Jiang Wanru was only displayed on the day of the wedding, allowing the people of the capital to take a glance, saving face for both families. On the day of the return visit, the Wang family returned all of Jiang Wanru's unopened dowry boxes. At that time, the Wang family steward who handled the matter was worried that after the handover, unfavorable rumors about the Wang family would appear, so he asked the Jiang family steward to carefully check and record each item, including the hairpiece worn by Jiang Wanru on her wedding day. The Wang family steward later sighed and said: "The Jiang family sent over so much dowry, but Third Young Master's wife returned it all, without even keeping the hairpiece given by the Jiang family. Third Young Master's wife has backbone."

  Because they knew about this, even the people in the Wang's household had some concerns about Jiang Wanruo and didn't dare to be too presumptuous. The Wang's household agreed to return Jiang Wanruo's dowry, thinking that it was only a three-year marriage period and didn't want to gain a reputation for being greedy for the bride's dowry. However, no one expected that the Jiang family would treat Jiang Wanruo with such ruthlessness. In nearly a year, no one from the Jiang family had come to visit Jiang Wanruo. Normally, when there was something going on in the Wang's household, people from the Jiang family would come to offer congratulations and exchange pleasantries between relatives. But the people who came only mentioned "Madam Chengzi" and never once brought up Jiang Wanruo.

  Lian Hao gazed at the woman in front of him, thinking about how heartless her family was towards her and not knowing how to finish what he wanted to say. Seeing her sitting calmly in front of him, so gentle and composed, he suddenly remembered some things. He recalled that after sending away Shu Yu and Shu Xiang, one day Lian Ang had casually said to him: "Wooden Head, you did a good job this time. Those two maids looked decent on the surface, but who would have thought they were such goods behind your back. Your sister-in-law was afraid you'd make a mistake and keep those troublemakers."

  She said, 'That woman usually looks gentle and obedient, but unexpectedly, after provoking her, she is also a daring and unyielding woman.' You never bother to interact with her, and it falls into the eyes of those who are paying attention. It's naturally not good for her. Thinking about it, her life is pitiful, and no one in the Jiang family cares about her. However, looking at how she treats the people who came with her as dowry, she can be considered a person who values relationships. She is afraid that those two families will suffer grievances, so she is willing to arrange for them to live outside and set them free."

  Jiang Wan had been waiting quietly for a long time, but she didn't hear Lian Hao finish his sentence. She raised her curious eyes and saw that Lian Hao's face was full of knots. She thought about the half-sentence he hadn't finished saying, and a shallow bitter intention floated onto her face. She knew that in the eyes of the people in the Wang Fu, she was still a temporarily useful pawn. When Lian Hao looked at her with his straight eyes, she lowered her head again, hiding the injustice and helplessness in her eyes. Lian Hao looked at Jiang Wan and said: "Tomorrow, you will follow Second Madam as usual and watch her actions. Tomorrow the Emperor will arrive, and there will be many people in the Fu, so you should pay more attention to yourself and not provoke anyone who shouldn't be provoked."

  Lian Hao stood up while talking, listening to Jiang Wanru's soft response of "yes". He stopped and turned his head to stare at her, saying: "You're a woman, in the future when you have time, learn more about needlework. You don't need to be as skilled as Erniang, but at least know how to do some things. And there's also the matter of recognizing characters and writing. In the future, I'll come over personally to teach you when I have time. I don't want to hear people outside say that you're a stupid woman who can't do anything."

  After Lian Hua left, Jiang Wanru sat at the edge of the table in a daze. Ji Yan smiled and entered the room, saying to Jiang Wanru: "Miss, the things were received by the wife of the young master, and her personal maid came to the door of the courtyard to deliver the reward to me. The young master's wife said thank you for your kindness." When Jiang Wanru heard what Ji Yan said, she beckoned her to come closer, and suddenly stretched out her hand to pinch Ji Yan's hand hard, asking: "Does it hurt?" Ji Yan looked at Jiang Wanru with a wronged expression and said: "It hurts. Miss, what did I do wrong? Why are you pinching me so hard?"

  Jiang Wanru heard Ji Yan's words and shook her head, asking again: "You didn't do anything wrong. Ji Yan, just now the Third Young Master, did he come into my room?" Ji Yan heard Jiang Wanru's words and automatically took a few steps back, nodding his head to say: "When I entered the courtyard, the several sisters waiting outside told me with happy faces that the Young Master had sat with you for a while, and they could hear his voice talking to you from outside. The Young Master even instructed them to take good care of you when he left. Miss, is it because of this that you're overly delighted?" Ji Yan looked at Jiang Wanru's expression, which clearly wasn't one of delight.

  Ji Yan started to worry, even the elegant appearance of Third Young Master was very attractive to women's eyes. She wasn't attracted because from young till now, she had always liked Mu Gen's down-to-earth nature and knew that someone like her could be with someone as capable as Mu Gen was a great blessing. However, Miss had never paid attention to any man before. Now Third Young Master, such a handsome man, appeared in front of her and said a few sweet words to her, would Miss not be blinded by him?

  Ji Yan thought back to when she first entered the courtyard, seeing Ming Yu and Ming Tou, who were inquiring about the situation with people outside. After seeing her, those two faces, which were forcibly smiling, rarely welcomed her warmly and said: "Ji Yan, from now on, please often speak well of us sisters in front of the mistress." Ji Yan thought of this and immediately became tense.

  She leaned in close to Jiang Wan and whispered, "Miss, we only have a little over two years before we can leave the Wang estate. The young master is more handsome than most men, you mustn't be blinded by his good looks. By his side are Misses Mingyu and Mingtong, as beautiful as flowers. In the future, with Third Master's abilities and appearance, he will welcome even more beauties." Jiang Wan heard her words and smiled, looking at her with a raised face, saying in a soft voice, "You're worried that I'll be enchanted by his good looks and forget my priorities? I was just startled by what he said, thinking I had just woken up from a dream. Now that I think about it, it's probably just him speaking nonsense due to a momentary lapse of reason."

  Ji Yan's eyes widened in shock as she stared at Jiang Wanru. Jiang Wanru stood up, thinking about Lian Hua's words, and her body trembled involuntarily several times. She thought for a moment before asking Ji Yan in a low voice, "Ji Yan, don't you think it's strange when someone suddenly becomes nice to you? Third Young Master actually told me that he would personally teach me to recognize characters and write, and let me learn needlework. Do you think this is something he would say?" Ji Yan was shocked by these words, her mouth temporarily unable to close as she vigorously shook her head at Jiang Wanru.

  Jiang Wanmu looked at her with the same frightened expression, and smiled lightly, saying: "Forget it, maybe I'm thinking too much. Maybe this is just someone's casual remark, and I took it seriously. If people find out, they'll laugh at me for being unable to handle things." After a long time, Jiyan finally spoke up, saying: "Miss, you can already read and write characters. If he really wants to teach, what will we do then?" Jiang Wanmu smiled and glanced at her, saying: "It's still the same, I'll learn to recognize characters, and you'll help me with writing. However, for needlework, I want to study it carefully, after all, I need to make clothes for myself in the future."

  Jiang Wanru and Jiyen thought about Lianhao's words carefully, and both of them felt that it was just a polite remark, not to be taken seriously. Jiang Wanru remembered that Lianhao had come specifically to explain tomorrow's matters, and immediately said to Jiyen: "Jiyen, tomorrow you will follow behind me, and observe the maid beside the second lady. Remember, when kowtowing to the emperor, your head cannot be raised. We are not allowed to look directly at members of the royal family." Jiyen nodded solemnly, saying: "Miss, I remember, I won't raise my head."

  In Lian Ang's study, Lian Ang arranged tasks for his two younger brothers. As the three sat chatting, Lian Ang said to Lian Xuan: "Second brother, your sister-in-law is now pregnant, and there are many things to do in the mansion tomorrow. You must pay attention to it." Lian Hao, who was on the side, immediately followed up with Lian Xuan, saying: "Second brother, those who are capable should work harder. Tomorrow, let Second Sister take care of that foolish woman, don't let her humiliate me." Lian Xuan listened and slapped his younger brother's shoulder, saying: "Wooden head, now outsiders all know she's not foolish, they say our mansion is a virtuous household where fools can become intelligent people.

  "Your second aunt said that although she doesn't talk much, she's actually quite clever. With her by your side, you can rest assured and she'll even lend a hand when needed. Don't call her stupid in front of others, it's not good to hear." Lian Hao thought about the woman with her head lowered and felt that his second aunt was indeed a kind person, in her eyes, there were no people who weren't clever. Lian Ang smiled and shook his head at Lian Xuan, who was still trying to persuade him: "Don't bother talking to him anymore, he won't listen. He thinks he's handsome and extremely intelligent, proficient in music, chess, books, and painting, and that there are few women in the world who can match up to him, so of course he looks down on that Jiang family woman who hasn't even attended clan school."

  Lian Hao listened to Lian Ang's words and said with a hint of embarrassment: "Big brother, don't tease me, my skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting are just for fun, how can they compare to yours and second brother's? Last time you mentioned it to me, I thought about it carefully and felt that this marriage was something I agreed to personally, so I shouldn't always blame her for not being as good as others. From now on, I will treat her better in the Wang household. Hehe, when I have free time, I will teach her to recognize characters and write, if she can learn and is a bit clever, I will also teach her how to play chess."

  Lian Ang felt a bit off upon hearing this, how his own younger brother's words seemed to imply that he was trying to cultivate a wife. He glanced at Lian Xuan, who had a similarly shocked expression, and chuckled as he said to Lian Hao: "Wooden Head, aren't you always wanting to beat the Chu family? I heard that Chu Xiao's martial arts skills are quite impressive. Last time in the military camp, didn't Chu younger brother defeat you? I heard he's related to the Chu family by marriage. You should focus on training hard, this year you'll definitely be able to surpass Chu younger brother."

  Lian Xuan laughed after hearing, stood up and hugged Lian Hao's shoulder saying: "Younger brother, second brother believes in you, as long as you put your heart into it, you will definitely defeat Chu Xiao Di. As for teaching the Jiang family girl to recognize characters and write, this matter doesn't need to be rushed, wait until you are truly free, then slowly do it."

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  Hard study