Inside the Prime Minister's residence, Jiang Wan was happily dressing up Xi Tao and Xi Guo. Xi Tao's head was adorned with hairpins she had bought on the street, weighing her down. Xi Tao looked troubled as she asked,
"Miss, does this look good? If Xi Tao is dressed like this, I'll definitely be laughed at."
Jiang Wan laughed heartily and replied seriously, "I want to dress you both beautifully. Only by putting them all on can we see which one suits you best!"
Hearing Jiang Wan's words, Xi Tao finally relaxed and continued to cooperate.
"Alright, Miss, hurry and choose. My head is so heavy."
Jiang Wan said, "Okay," as she continued to put hairpins in Xi Tao's hair.
Xi Guo quickly stopped Jiang Wan's hand, looking imploring.
"Miss, could you finish my makeup first? If someone comes over later, how can this servant face them?"
Jiang Wan saw that Xi Guo's eyebrows were drawn as black as charcoal, and the rouge on her cheeks occupied her entire face, making her face as red as a date. It was very comical. Jiang Wan was urged to hurry and quickly replied.
"Okay, okay, okay, then I'll finish your makeup first, but I clearly did it according to how you usually dress me. Why is it so different? Hahaha..."
Xi Guo's face was twisted left and right by Jiang Wan's hands, and Jiang Wan couldn't help but laugh again. Xi Guo was embarrassed by Jiang Wan's laughter, and her cheeks became even redder.
"Miss, you're still teasing me."
Jiang Wan suppressed her laughter and comforted Xi Guo.
"Okay, I won't laugh. I will definitely learn how to do make-up properly another day, and then I'll make you both beautiful. If you find a husband because of it, I will marry you off."
Xi Tao and Xi Guo were shocked when they heard that Jiang Wan wanted to marry them off.
"We won't get married, we want to stay with Miss forever."
Just as Jiang Wan was about to speak, Cao the Butler's voice came from the door.
"The master wants the young lady to go to the tea hall."
Jiang Wan's mood instantly soured.
"Did he say what it's about?"
Cao the Butler replied, "The Regent King has brought the betrothal gifts. Young lady, you should hurry over."
Jiang Wan frowned and asked, "The Regent King? Is it Gu Chen?"
"Indeed."
Jiang Wan thought, When did Gu Chen become the Regent King? Seeing him arrive on horseback today, he must have just returned to the capital and been given the title. Seeing that Jiang Wan still hadn't come out, Cao the Butler urged her.
"Please, miss, come now."
Xi Tao and Xi Guo frowned, looking ashamed.
"Miss, how can we go like this?"
Jiang Wan looked at them and smiled again, but she really couldn't show herself in this state.
"You two don't need to go. Clean this up."
Xi Tao and Xi Guo breathed a sigh of relief and immediately replied, "Yes."
Jiang Wan followed Cao the Butler to the tea room. Gu Chen was sitting in the main seat. Father Jiang and Madam Liu were sitting in the guest seats below. Jiang Nianzhu and her brother, Jiang Nianze, were waiting beside Father Jiang and Madam Liu. This was a truly intimidating scene. Jiang Wan entered and first greeted them.
"Wan has seen the Regent King, and Father, Mother."
Father Jiang, seeing Gu Chen there, put on a look of a loving father.
"Wan'er, there's no need for formalities. The Regent King is here today to present the betrothal gifts."
After he finished speaking, he pointed towards the ten or so boxes of betrothal gifts, large and small. Gu Chen saw a hint of assessment in Jiang Wan's eyes.
Jiang Nianzhu watched as Jiang Wan showed no sign of refusal, and then, with a veiled tone, said, "Sister is truly fortunate; she's about to be married. If you have anything you want to say, Sister, you can speak with the King in detail. I believe the King will understand."
Jiang Nianzhu's words caused Gu Chen to feel a sense of doubt.
"What does the Second Miss Jiang mean?"
Jiang Nianzhu pretended to be afraid to reveal anything and looked at Jiang Wan, stammering, "This... I dare not speak without Sister's permission."
Jiang Wan, watching Jiang Nianzhu's actions, naturally knew she had no good intentions.
"Just answer whatever the Regent King asks, sister."
Jiang Nianzhu stepped forward, bowing to Gu Chen with worry etched on her face.
"Regent King, please do not marry my elder sister."
Father Jiang immediately scolded, fearing he'd anger Gu Chen.
"What are you saying? How dare you speak nonsense in front of the Regent King? Get back!"
Madam Liu, standing to the side, also kept giving Jiang Nianzhu meaningful glances, signaling her not to be reckless.
Gu Chen's originally calm expression instantly darkened.
"Prime Minister Jiang, do not stop her. If she doesn't speak, this King will not forgive."
Jiang Nianzhu felt smug inside, but her face showed fear as she timidly replied, "Your Highness is unaware. My sister and King Shenquan have already promised each other their lives. But now, she is betrothed to you. She is in great pain, and afraid that refusing the marriage would implicate Father and anger His Majesty. However, my sister has always loved me. I couldn't bear to see her like this, so I dared to implore Your Highness. Please, Your Highness, understand."
Gu Chen clenched his hand, his eyes filled with a murderous coldness. He looked at Jiang Wan and said each word slowly, "Is that what she said?"
Madam Liu saw that Gu Chen seemed to be angry with Jiang Wan and immediately chimed in.
"Yes, Your Highness. What my daughter said is absolutely true."
Gu Chen's gaze swept over Madam Liu, as if he disliked her meddling.
"I didn't ask you."
Jiang Wan's voice was soft, like a gentle breeze soothing Gu Chen's increasingly violent heart.
"Your Highness, King Shenquan and I have never done anything inappropriate. I treat him like a brother, and there are no romantic feelings between us. On the day of the betrothal, my sister, Nianzhu, schemed with me to let me decline the marriage with Your Highness. But I refused outright. Is this true, Nianzhu?"
Jiang Nianzhu hadn't expected Jiang Wan to be so direct, and at this point, she could only continue to confuse the issue.
"It's true, but Zhuer knows that Sister's words don't match her heart."
Jiang Wan looked at Jiang Nianzhu's white lotus act, which was truly disgusting.
"Today on the street, King Shenquan was pestering me. If I truly liked King Shenquan, how could I have refused so decisively? While dodging, I almost bumped into the Regent King's horse. And yet, Sister kept saying that I promised King Shenquan the rest of my life. How laughable. Could it be that Sister doesn't want me to marry the Regent King, or does she want the King to dislike Wan'er?"
Jiang Nianzhu watched Jiang Wan refuse to admit anything, and she was helpless. She had originally wanted to expose the matter in front of the Regent King, and Jiang Wan would have been forced to admit it, using the opportunity to call off the engagement. She hadn't expected Jiang Wan to deny it. She had truly underestimated her. Jiang Nianzhu's cheeks were streaked with a few tears, and her voice was mournful as she feigned pity.
"It was Zhuer who overthought things. Please don't blame me, Your Highness, and Sister."
Gu Chen's face was filled with fury, as if he wanted to tear Jiang Nianzhu's filthy mouth apart.
"Stop your worthless tears. For Jiang Wan's sake, if there's a next time, I'll rip out your tongue. Get out."
Jiang Wan was also startled upon hearing this. She didn't know Gu Chen at all, so why would he consider her feelings? Shouldn't it be because of the Prime Minister?
Jiang Nianzhu was filled with hatred. No one had ever scolded her like this. She got up and ran out crying, thinking to herself, "You've all humiliated me, you will all die."
Seeing this scene, Father Jiang immediately tried to smooth things over.
"Your Highness, my daughter is ignorant. Please don't take offense, Your Highness. I will certainly educate her properly in the future."
Jiang Nianze, who hadn't spoken, also chimed in.
"I hope Your Highness will forgive Sister Nianzhu for Sister Wan'er's sake."
Gu Chen stood up, as if he hadn't heard what Prime Minister Jiang and Jiang Nianze said, and walked over to Jiang Wan.
"I will go with you to your residence to discuss the preparations for the wedding."
Jiang Wan didn't understand why Gu Chen was so enthusiastic about the marriage. Seeing that Prime Minister Jiang was also so afraid of Gu Chen, she could only respond helplessly, "Your Highness, please follow me."
The two of them walked to Jiang Wan's residence, one in front of the other. No one spoke along the way, and the atmosphere was very cold. Finally, Gu Chen broke the awkward silence.
"Why, you don't even have any maids following you when you go out?"
Jiang Wan thought, What's it to you whether I have maids or not? He really was nosy, but she replied obediently, "I told them to go do some things."
After Jiang Wan and Gu Chen entered the room, they saw Xi Tao and Xi Guo tidying up the mess Jiang Wan had left earlier. They hadn't even taken off the hairpins in their hair or washed the rouge off their faces.
Xi Tao and Xi Guo heard the movement behind them and turned around to see Jiang Wan and Gu Chen beside her. They immediately covered their faces and hair, and then remembered they hadn't performed their greeting, so they bowed their heads in embarrassment.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
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