The Eldest Daughter's Marrying into the Highest Royalty

  "Mother, aunt, Xiaojiao suddenly remembered that I haven't done the homework assigned by Yunfu teacher yet, so Xiaojiao went back first."

  After explaining the technique of that candle, Wenjiu thought it was time to retire with honor, so she brought up the matter of teaching as an excuse.

  The young lady of Ningping Houfu goes to a small courtyard in the garden every morning after paying respects, where she studies with an old husband.

  It's said to be learning, but in fact it's just recognizing characters and copying them, then adding books like "Nu Jie", "Nei Xun", "Nu Lun Yu" and "Nu Fan Jie Lu", which are very dry and monotonous.

  Despite this, it still makes many outsiders admire them, among whom are the Jiang and Yan families, because as merchants, they can't even recognize a few big characters.

  No doubt, this is indeed a good excuse. Jiang heard the words and immediately nodded with a smile, "Oh, that's it? Then I won't keep you, reading books can't be taken lightly!"

  Jiuzi got up, and Jiang indicated for Zhou Mama to send her off.

  But at this time, Yan Shi suddenly stood up, pulled her hand, and took off a jade bracelet from her wrist to give it to her.

  Of course, Wen Jiu's sister had to shirk responsibility.

  This bangle is moist and transparent, just looking at it shows that it's extremely valuable, and it's also something that Yan Shi holds close to her body, how could she dare accept it?

  She didn't accept it, and Mr. Yan didn't insist either. He just patted her hand, smiled and praised, "What a good kid!"

  "Alright, stop staring. Weren't you just laughing at me in your heart when I let her in earlier?" Jiang Shi said with a smile, teasing Yan Shi who was still staring straight at Wen Jiu's back.

  "Hmm... this child is indeed not bad, how come I didn't notice it before!" Yan Shi said with a smile, withdrawing her gaze.

  After hearing Yan's words, Jiang's lips immediately curled up, "It's been two years since I moved to the main courtyard, not only have I become more dignified, but also more transparent than before, it's actually a relief." The tone was full of pride.

  "This is all thanks to Sister's teachings; otherwise, following that aunt of hers would not have been so dignified." Madam Yan naturally chimed in with a timely compliment.

  "Where is it......" Jiang smiled with some pride, but instantly became gloomy again, "Tenth sister was also taught by me, yet she has a childish heart every day."

  "It's all right!" Mrs. Yan comforted her, then suddenly changed the subject, "Isn't Ninth Sister going to be thirteen after New Year?"

  "Sister-in-law, why are you asking this?" But these words made Jiang's expression suddenly change, and she became alert. "You can't be... but weren't you still talking about Fifth Sister and Eighth Sister the other day?"

  "Yes, compared to your family's Third Master, I'd rather have Brother Xing find a father-in-law who can hold his own. However, those two girls' temperaments are a bit off - Fifth Sister is arrogant and Eighth Sister is weak-willed, neither of whom can compare to this girl..."

  The fifth sister is the illegitimate daughter of Second Master Wen Chonghe, but she is a proud and arrogant person. She occasionally clashes with Second Madam Miao, who is equally proud and arrogant, causing some discord in the manor and providing gossip for others to discuss over tea and after meals.

  Wen Ba Jie, on the other hand, was the illegitimate daughter of Old Master Wen Chongjiang. She had lost her mother at a young age and was raised in the residence of Madame Zou, but she was weak-willed, timid, and soft-spoken.

  "What did Big Sister say?" Before she could finish, Jiang Shi's face had already turned cold, and she carefully looked out the window until she saw Zhou Mama's figure wearing a lake blue jacket, then said, "Although you're a concubine-born daughter, do you think that the young ladies of the Ningping Marquis' manor can be chosen by you? If Old Lady heard about this, who knows how angry she'd be? The Jiang family may be rich and noble, but they're still merchants; the Hou family may be empty and arrogant, but they're still a renowned aristocratic family."

  "Sister, what's going on?" Yan Shi said with a tone of embarrassment, "Isn't this just our sisterly chat? Xing Ge is already 18 years old after the New Year, but he still hasn't found a match. This marriage thing has been dragging on and on. And to make matters worse, Old Lady is eager to hold her great-grandchild in her arms. Ah, sister, you don't know how hard it is for me, how anxious I am..."

  As she spoke, Madame Yan's eyes reddened again and she pulled out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears.

  "Alright, alright, sister-in-law, don't be like this... I was wrong, don't worry, I will remember what happened to Xing Ge." Jiang saw the scene and immediately softened, quickly pulling Yan Shi to apologize.

  "Ah, it's not sister's fault, it's because of sister-in-law's overstepping." Madam Yan also said.

  The two of them chatted for a bit longer, and then Yan Shi also stood up to bid farewell to Jiang Shi.

  "Didn't you say you'd eaten already?" Jiang detained her.

  "I won't eat anymore, I need to hurry back. With this, your brother's illness might be cured by tomorrow." Yan Shi waved the half stick of colored candle left behind by Jiu Si'er at Jiang Shi and smiled.

  Seeing what was in Jiang's hand, Jiang also couldn't help but smile...

  At dusk, in a small three-bay wing of the westernmost building of the Wen family's estate—

  "...What do you call this...After messing around for half a day, the candles are all gone, and the girl won't take the bangle that Auntie gave her, and the trunk for Third Sister still hasn't been settled. In the end, nothing has been accomplished..."

  "Isn't it so, Qingtao? At least the young lady has won the favor of three husbands..."

  "Happiness is nothing you can eat!"

  "Alright, alright, there must be a reason why you're doing this..."

  Wen Jiu sat by the window, using the outside light to flip through a book on folk farming, her eyes grew sour from reading and she stood up to stretch, but just as she walked around the iron flower bird screen, the conversation between two little maidservants quietly entered her ears.

  Wen Jiu's sister couldn't help but smile slightly, and instead of going further out, she turned back, walked to the candle holder on the high table beside the bed, and lit the candles on it.

  A bright halo suddenly filled the room, and Wenjiu stood in front of the candle holder, staring blankly at the burning wick.

  "Is Ninth Sister in?" Just then, a respectful voice was heard from outside the door.

  "Oh, it's Zhao Mama! Come in quickly!" Qing Tao greeted the voice of the woman outside.

  "No, I'm here to deliver lunch to Ninth Miss, come..."

  "Mom came herself... Hmm, this, this... Mom didn't make a mistake, did she? This meal..." Qing An's surprised voice.

  "Heh heh, you two sisters hurry up and take it, this crystal pork knuckle was made by the kitchen at the request of Third Madam to entertain guests, but since the guests have left, Third Madam told me to bring it over to Ninth Young Miss to gnaw on."

  "Oh..."

  "The old slave is no longer needed, and will go elsewhere."

  "Girls, girls......" Qing Tao hastily ran in, "You quickly go take a look at today's dinner..."

  "Hey, Qingtao, what's the point of just eating?" But before she could finish speaking, Wenjiu sister waved her hand at her.

  Qing Tao was taken aback, and then her small face turned red.

  "Hehe......" Wen Jiu's sister had already started smiling, "Don't worry, everything will be fine, the most important thing is to have patience and a long-term vision."

  Qing Tao was taken aback again, and with a blush, she lowered her head.

  Wu Jiemei was right, after dinner, the third madam sent Cuiqiao over with some silver, saying it was for her to buy some accessories, but she understood that the real purpose was to help her out of a tight spot.

  This is also considered as returning peach for plum...

  ……

  Digression

  Guys, remember to collect it!