Spring Banquet

// The future daughter-in-law of the Jiang family

Madam Bai couldn’t quite grasp the situation. She knew what Bai Zhuji looked like when she went crazy, so she wanted to get her away first to avoid displeasing Prince Ziyang. But what happened? This person unexpectedly regained her sanity?

Moreover, not only did she regain her sanity, but her temperament also changed?

Staring at her for a while, Madam Bai finally regained some composure and, carrying the demeanor of the mistress, said, “Even if you’re not crazy anymore, you don’t have the right to speak in front of Prince Ziyang. You should quickly step aside!”

Li Huaiyu raised an eyebrow and replied, “Prince Ziyang came to the Bai Mansion for me, why should I leave?”

Not only did she refuse to leave, but she also held onto Jiang Xuanjin’s arm tightly!

Madam Bai was startled, glancing at her reckless action, feeling a bit anxious as she looked towards Jiang Xuanjin. Rumor has it that Prince Ziyang has a bad temper. Being offended like this, he might unleash his fury.

However, Jiang Xuanjin remained motionless, with a calm expression. Feeling the weight on his arm, he merely glanced at her.

“Stand properly.”

“I won’t!” Huaiyu acted stubbornly, “Can’t you see how fierce she is? If I let go of her, she’ll definitely lock me up in the woodshed!”

“With your temperament, you do deserve to be locked up.”

“Ugh, if I suffer, won’t you be the one feeling sorry?”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Jiang Xuanjin’s face darkened.

Li Huaiyu hugged his arm even tighter, smiling mischievously, “You better save your energy. Your face is as pale as paper. Come, let’s go to the tea room.” With that, she half-dragged, half-supported him forward.

Jiang Xuanjin’s body was stiff, “Let go.”

“I already said I won’t let go. Stop saying useless things.”

“…”

Madam Bai stood still in place, and all the servants were dumbfounded. It was only after the two of them had entered the tea room that she remembered and said to the person behind her, “Quickly inform Master, tell him that something major has happened at home, and ask him to come back quickly!”

“‘Yes!” the servant responded and hurried off.

In the tea room.

Li Huaiyu pushed Jiang Xuanjin into the grand master chair with a claw-like grip, then poured him a cup of tea and brought it to his lips with a beaming smile. “Your lips are so parched, moisturize them quickly.”

Jiang Xuanjin didn’t appreciate the gesture. “I can do it myself.”

“Don’t be silly, drink properly.” She scolded him playfully, glancing at him with a shy expression. “There are so many people watching outside!”

Jiang Xuanjin was somewhat incredulous. “You even know that people are watching?”

Was it appropriate to feed him tea while being observed by others?

Li Huaiyu sighed and forcefully put the teacup into his hand, smiling affectionately. “You’re really too easily embarrassed.”

Jiang Xuanjin: “…” If only it weren’t a crime to kill someone, he would immediately send her to the afterlife!

Madam Bai followed and stepped into the tea room, hesitating as she said, “Apologies for the delay, Your Highness… I wonder how Your Highness ended up with Zhuji?”

Jiang Xuanjin replied, “It was a fortunate coincidence. We ran into each other on the street.”

What a lie! Just look at how familiar these two look, as if they’ve known each other for several years.

Madam Bai was full of suspicion, but she didn’t dare express it on her face. Instead, she smiled and said, “That’s truly fortunate. The mansion has been worried because Zhuji went missing. Your Majesty bringing her back is a favor to our White Mansion.”

As she spoke, she knelt down and paid her respects. “Please stay a while longer, Your Highness, and we will thank Master in person when he returns.”

“Madam Bai is too kind.” Holding the teacup, Jiang Xuanjin lowered his eyes slightly and said, “Fourth Miss is, after all, the future daughter-in-law of the Jiang family. It is within my responsibility to bring her back.”

Upon hearing this, Li Huaiyu was startled in place. “What?”

What future daughter-in-law of the Jiang family?

Glancing at her, Jiang Xuanjin smiled somewhat mockingly. “Fourth Miss, don’t you remember? The Jiang and Bai families arranged a marriage over a decade ago. When you turn eighteen, you are to marry Jiang Yan, the eldest son of the Jiang family.”

Huh? There’s such a thing? Huaiyu was taken aback.

She had heard of Jiang Yan before, the only son of the eldest brother of the Jiang family and the senior nephew of Jiang Xuanjin. It was said that he had extraordinary talent and was quite arrogant. He had always been cherished by Jiang’s old lady and, at the age of only seventeen, had already held an official position in the court.

In terms of Bai Zhuji’s identity, this was indeed a remarkable marriage. But the problem was, Li Huaiyu had finally been given another chance at life. Did that mean she had to embark on the path of being a wife and mother?

After pondering for a moment, she looked pitifully at Jiang Xuanjin and said, “I really don’t remember.”

“Is that so?” Jiang Xuanjin placed down the teacup, and his jawline tightened slightly as he looked at her with a hint of anger.

“Oh, don’t be angry.” Huaiyu hurriedly appeased him. “Didn’t this lady say it? I was delirious before, and now that I’ve regained consciousness, I don’t remember anything. In my eyes and in my heart, there is only you. Who knew there would be such a marriage with someone else?”

Jiang Xuanjin sneered and was about to speak when someone strode in from outside.

“Outrageous!”

A furious shout that deafened the ears.

Li Huaiyu was frightened, her legs went weak, and she almost couldn’t stand. Puzzled, she turned her head and saw an old man with a white beard wearing a crimson official robe standing in front of her, and he slapped her without hesitation.

“Smack!”

The action was swift, the sound was loud. Before Huaiyu could react, she felt her mind explode with a ‘boom’, her entire face went numb, and a taste of blood filled her mouth instantly.

“Official Bai.” Jiang Xuanjin’s face slightly changed as he stood up.

“Greetings, Your Highness.” Bai Dezhong’s face turned ashen, and without even looking at Jiang Xuanjin, he bowed to him, his eyes still fixed on Huaiyu, filled with boundless anger.

“When did my Bai family produce such an insolent and shameless daughter!”

Huaiyu was dazed for a moment. When she heard the voice, she spat out a mouthful of blood and looked at the person in front of her with a furrowed brow. “You want to hit me without any reason or logic?”

“Reason?” Bai Dezhong was so angry that his beard trembled. “You failed to observe the proper etiquette in front of His Highness, and you speak nothing but impure words! Our Bai family, a scholarly family, has accumulated our reputation for generations, and today it is all being ruined by you!”

According to the kinship between the two families, Bai Zhuji would have to address Jiang Xuangin as ‘Uncle’ in the future, but what did she say? What was clearly in her eyes and heart? Thinking of those words, Bai Dezhong’s anger flared up again, and he slapped her again.

“My lord!” Madam Bai and the surrounding servants exclaimed in shock.

Huaiyu frowned as she looked at Bai Dezhong. She clenched her fist and then released it.

Forget it. She was living through another person’s body; she couldn’t just go and hit the person’s father. Bai Dezhong was such an old-fashioned person. She would consider it as filial piety on behalf of Bai Zhuji.

Closing her eyes, she prepared herself to receive this slap.

However, just as the palm wind was about to reach her, her arm suddenly tightened. Someone reached out and forcefully pulled her back two steps, narrowly avoiding the slap as it passed by, causing a gust of wind.

“Your Highness?” Bai Dezhong was astonished.