Before the New Year's Eve, everyone in the Wang Mansion was busy, but this busyness had nothing to do with Jiang Wanru. On that day, when she returned to her room, she only saw a brand new four-legged table inside. She stretched out her frozen red hands and gently touched the new table. On the smooth tabletop, expensive flowers were blooming, vividly lifelike as if they were freshly picked, making her touch them again and again.

  Exquisite painting skills, attracted Jiang Wanru's attention. She sighed and called Jiyuan over, the two of them lifted the table up together, she squatted down, just as the snow light outside the window reflected, admiring the tabletop. The queen and the two attendants beside her, without announcement, suddenly burst into the room. Happened to see her in this exaggerated squatting posture. The queen's expression changed greatly, while the two attendants behind her, immediately stopped at the door, with a hesitant expression.

  Ji Yan lightly pulled Jiang Wanru, who had already entered the painting, and only then did she pull her out of the artistic conception. Jiang Wanru looked up to see Wang Fei, immediately stood up and paid respects: "Wang Fei is well." Wang Fei's cold eyes stared at her without letting go, after Jiang Wanru finished paying respects, Ji Yan pulled her to put the table back in its original position. Wang Fei was so angry that she clenched her fists tightly, inside the room, for a moment, everyone didn't dare breathe loudly, even the person who came over to serve tea lowered their eyes and stood at the door.

  Jiang Wanru arranged the table and smiled, saying: "Your Highness, this painting on the table is exquisite and really attracts people's attention. So I didn't hear the servants announce your arrival." The princess snorted coldly, sat down at the table, glanced at the fresh flowers on the table, then looked up at Jiang Wanru standing beside the table, and said sarcastically: "I never thought that Miss Jiang, who has never entered the clan school for a day, would appreciate painting. It seems to me that you are admiring the gold used in the painting."

  Jiang Wanru listened to the queen's words and carefully examined the painting on the table. She nodded and said, "No wonder that golden flower is so fresh and vibrant, like it's flaunting its beauty. It turns out it was painted with gold powder. The queen has a good eye for detail, able to see through the true nature of the painting at a glance." The two maids who had been standing by the door came in and stood beside the queen, one of them reached out and gently pinched the queen's shoulder, speaking softly, "Master, you've always been magnanimous, there's no need to get angry with such petty people."

  The queen's expression softened, and the idle servant woman walked over to the door to take over the tea set. She poured a cup of hot tea in front of the queen and smiled: "Master, you drink a mouthful. Warm up your body." She raised her head to Jiang Wanru standing there and said: "Third young master's wife. The weather is so cold, the queen specially came to care about you, you should know how to be grateful." Jiang Wanru had always understood that people under the same roof could not afford to raise their heads. She smiled and bowed to the queen, saying: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

  The princess put down the cup in her hand and looked at her, asking directly: "I gave you two maidservants, why didn't you keep them by your side to use? Instead, you borrowed the hands of Third Young Master to directly refuse my kindness." Jiang Wan heard this and was shocked. She stared at the princess and said: "Third Young Master said they were people given to him by Your Highness. I didn't dare take what belonged to others. At that time when Third Young Master was dealing with them, I even advised him to let them follow Ming Yu and Ming Zhuo to learn from them. These two can be witnesses for me."

  The queen thought of the two maids who had returned, her heart burning with anger. Lian Hao had become increasingly indifferent to Ming Yu and Ming Tuo over the years, and his study was no longer allowed to be entered by those two at will. The queen, like a loving mother, wanted to stretch out her hands to protect her children tightly. But Lian Hao's wings were getting harder and harder, gradually leaving her protective circle. She felt both proud and a sense of loss that she couldn't express.

  She looked at the two maids beside her, who were usually lively and lovely, and on a whim, she gave them to Lianhao as a gift when he came to pay his respects. The queen thought this was a good idea, thinking that even if Lianhao didn't fancy those two girls, he would still keep them by Jiang Wan's side, giving face to his mother. But who would have thought that not long after, Lianhao's steward would send the two maids back. The two maids knelt before her, crying pitifully as they recounted what had happened.

  The princess was furious that her son had no children, thinking that her own son's vision had always been good, and these two maids were not worthy of his attention. She was extremely angry with Jiang Wanruo, a maid she had given to him, who had openly refused to accept him. She rushed over in anger, entered the courtyard, signaled the servants not to announce her, and burst into Jiang Wanruo's room, only to see her indecent behavior.

  The princess heard Jiang Wanru's words and didn't speak for a long time. Jiang Wanru couldn't lower her eyes like usual, or the princess would think she was guilty. She could only gaze at the princess with an even expression. She carefully examined the princess and couldn't help but sigh that time had been exceptionally kind to her. A woman who already had grandchildren still had such a bright and beautiful aura, without any hint of decline. Her high bun was adorned with cloud-shaped gold hairpins on both sides, and a silk flower with golden threads was pinned to the front of her hair. She wore a rose-purple robe with large, blooming flowers embroidered on it.

  It turns out that the world also doesn't allow beautiful people to age easily, no wonder the king has been doting on her alone for many years. The queen probably understands that with her high status, she wouldn't bother entangling herself with someone as insignificant as Jiang Wanru. She stood up and coldly ordered: "Madam San will be resting and recuperating in the coming days, it's better if she stays in the house more often. Master San hasn't been home for many days, there are many messy things happening in this courtyard, let the servants clean it up properly. In the coming days, people in the courtyard, without important matters, are not allowed to leave the courtyard."

  When Lian Hao knew the password for Wang Fei's sealed courtyard, it was already during the New Year festival. On that day, after hearing Jiang Wan's words, he felt extremely stifled but couldn't express his emotions. He left the courtyard and went straight to Old Wang Fei's place, accompanying her in conversation, still feeling unrelieved, then directly headed to the camp. This time, until before the New Year, due to Lian Ang repeatedly urging him, he returned to the Wang Mansion. After returning, he never went back to the courtyard, and people in the mansion thought he knew about it, while Ming Yu and Ming Tou wouldn't mention the matter of Wang Fei's sealed courtyard to him.

  Jiang Wanru and Ji Yan were quite uneasy for the first two days due to being locked in the compound. However, after two days of confinement, a young servant named Fang Yuan from the right side door came directly to the entrance of the courtyard and told the person in charge: "Ji Yan's brother is outside and wants to speak with Ji Yan." The person in charge naturally did not allow anyone to enter or exit the compound, but she still kindly allowed Fang Yuan to help Ji Yan pass on a message. Ji Yan looked at Fang Yuan and said loudly in front of the person in charge: "Thank you, Brother Fang Yuan, for helping me deliver this message. Please tell my brother that Miss says 'On snowy days, we won't go out, so it's a good opportunity to make two more pairs of winter shoes.'"

  After Jiang Wanru and Jiyuan spread the news, they felt at ease, and their brows were relaxed. Anyway, similar to this life, they had been through many years, let alone this time with many people accompanying them. However, every time others in the yard looked at Jiyuan's carefree appearance, their eyes would directly stab her. Jiang Wanru stood under the eaves, facing countless measuring gazes, she was quite indifferent, smiling and pointing to the snowflakes floating in the sky, saying to Jiyuan: "This year's snow is denser than before. Such weather, not going out is a happy thing."

  It's almost time for the holiday, and everywhere in the Wang estate is bustling with people rushing to and fro. Only Lianhao's courtyard remains as quiet as ever. The princess has not given permission to leave, so the people in the courtyard can only work hard to sweep the grounds. In her room, Jiang Wan was doing needlework with Jixiang when she said, "I think the princess is just looking for an excuse to keep me from going out and seeing people." Jixiang looked up and asked, "Miss, will the princess let us go after the New Year?" Jiang Wan smiled and replied, "She will. This is actually a great opportunity for me, as I don't feel like dealing with all those guests who are so full of themselves."

  The most lively night in the palace, Lian Hao stood at the entrance of his own courtyard, gazing afar at the flickering candlelight inside. He could hear the voices coming from within, but they were just the servants exchanging greetings. When Lian Ang came over, he heard him muttering to himself under the snow-filled sky: "The courtyard is deep and serene, willow trees pile up smoke, curtains have no end." Lian Ang walked closer, clapped his hands in praise and said: "Wooden head, rarely do you come up with such a good phrase, but your melancholy runs too deep. What's the rest of it?"

  Lian Hao turned his head, and for the first time, there was a hint of worry on his face. He looked at Lian Ang with a bitter smile and shook his head, saying: "Big brother, that day, I only heard her say this one sentence. Originally wanted to ask her what came next, but then I heard her badmouthing me behind my back. Such a woman is not worth my trouble." Lian Ang listened to Lian Hao's words and immediately understood that the "her" in his words referred to Jiang Wanru. He carefully thought about this woman, only remembering that she was an exceptionally low-key person who always wanted to hide herself away.

  Lian Ang had heard from the Crown Prince's wife in private that the usually generous Princess Wang and the low-key Jiang Wan were like two people with a grudge from their past lives. The two times they met face-to-face, sparks would fly. Lian Ang was initially skeptical, as his mother had always been gentle and never easily got angry. Jiang Wan, who stayed in the palace, was not someone who would take extra steps easily. She was more obedient than many guests, and even when sending gifts, her maid only dared to wait outside the courtyard. Two people like this, without a conflict point, would absolutely not offend each other.

  Lian Ang glanced at Lian Hao, who was staring at the courtyard gate, and his eyebrows suddenly twitched several times. The queen treated all three of her sons well, but among them, she trusted Lian Hao, the eldest son, the most. However, she was closest to her youngest son, and she took extra care with him, sometimes wishing she could protect him completely in her arms. He suddenly realized some things, but didn't dare disturb Lian Hao, who was still in a daze.

  This time, he sincerely hoped that Lian Hua was just curious and smiled: "Wood, let's go. The whole family is waiting for you to set off fireworks. Your sister-in-law has already instructed the people below to send everything into the yard, and she will not neglect her. After a few days, when Mother is free, I will persuade her a few times. Let those in the yard come out early and have a good New Year's celebration."

  Recommend a good book: "Hong Xiu Tian Xiang" Book number: 2199833. Author: San Tan. One-sentence advertisement: A modern "embroiderer girl"'s ancient happiness.

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  Hard study