Watching Jiang Xiuyuan and Song Lian'er Bite Each Other Like Dogs

Jiang Xiuyuan felt a surge of joy. He knitted his brow and barked, "Go, tell Wenlu to crawl back here and help me find Jiang Lingyao!"

The little maidservant felt as if she had been granted a pardon; she fled in a panic to summon Wenlu.

Unable to completely suppress his elation, Jiang Xiuyuan forced his facial muscles to relax and had Wenlu support him toward the old matriarch's courtyard.

To his surprise, the courtyard was far from deserted. Maidservants bustled in and out, seemingly occupied with various tasks.

He frowned at the activity, paid it no mind, and said to a passing maid, "Is Mingzhu inside? I want to see her."

"Please wait a moment, First Young Master. The young lady is busy and I am unsure if she has the time to see you. I must go and announce you first."

Everyone in the old matriarch's courtyard was well aware of what these people had done to Jiang Lingyao, and consequently, they harbored no warm feelings toward anyone from the main household. Especially now—seeing Jiang Xiuyuan eagerly scurrying over the moment their young lady received an imperial marriage decree—they couldn't help but feel a deep sense of injustice on her behalf.

How utterly shameless these people were! First it was Jiang Xiushu, then Jiang Xiumo, and now even Jiang Xiusiyuan had shown up!

Hearing the maid's reply, Jiang Xiuyuan's face instantly darkened. It was only by forcefully reminding himself of his purpose that he managed to swallow his mounting rage.

She was merely a servant, yet she dared to treat him with such insolence! Had he not been unwell, he would have taught her a harsh lesson and had her sold out of the estate!

His face hardened with fury as he stared straight ahead into the inner rooms.

Suddenly, Song Lian'er materialized from somewhere. "Eldest Brother?"

Jiang Xiuyuan paused, turning to see her approaching. His anger receded slightly.

However, since his primary purpose today was to see Jiang Lingyao, his demeanor toward Song Lian'er remained rather aloof, as he feared displeasing Jiang Lingyao.

Seeing this, Song Lian'er felt a flare of resentment in her heart.

Every single member of the Jiang family had grown cold toward her simply because Jiang Lingyao had received an imperial marriage decree. She had not been treated with such indifference in a long time, and over the past few days, her agitation had grown to the point where she was losing her composure.

Why should this be? She was the destined transmigrated heroine of the heavens—was Jiang Lingyao even worthy of comparison?

Clenching her teeth, she softened her tone. "Are you here to see Younger Sister as well, Eldest Brother?"

Jiang Xiuyuan gave a cold grunt of affirmation. The thought that Song Lian'er would eventually become Pei Xingzhi's wife caused his expression to soften a fraction further. "Did you come to comfort her too?"

Comfort her?

Song Lian'er froze, a flicker of bewilderment crossing her eyes.

With his gaze fixed entirely on the courtyard, Jiang Xiuyuan failed to notice anything amiss about Song Lian'er.

Just as Jiang Lingyao approached, the two of them stood outside the courtyard and watched her.

"Grandmother will be taking her afternoon nap shortly. I must ask the two of you to return."

Her expression was frigid, and the look she cast them was laden with exhaustion and disgust.

Jiang Xiuyuan hurried forward. "Mingzhu, are you feeling heartbroken?"

He furrowed his brows, but mistaking her coldness for a mask to hide her grief, he spoke in a gentle tone: "Eldest Brother knows you are hurting inside. Would you like to come to my courtyard? I remember you always loved playing chess when you were troubled. I can keep you company."

Had he lost his mind?

"There is no need."

Jiang Lingyao couldn't be bothered to figure out what was going on in his head. With a mocking smile, she said, "Could it be that you've forgotten? It was you who once scolded me for lacking proper morals, declaring me unworthy of playing chess or touching such a noble pursuit."

Jiang Xiuyuan gritted his teeth, feigning a sorrowful expression. "That was merely Eldest Brother speaking in the heat of the moment. Everyone makes mistakes with their words. Mingzhu, Eldest Brother is apologizing to you today."

Annoyed, Jiang Lingyao frowned. "There is no need. Please leave."

As she made to close the door, Jiang Xiuyuan suddenly stepped forward to block it, speaking with earnest sincerity: "Mingzhu, Eldest Brother knows you are grieving because you cannot marry Prince Pei. Fortunately, Lian'er is here now."

"Lian'er, tell me—are you willing to let Mingzhu marry into the household alongside you?"

Utterly oblivious to the absurdity of his own words, Jiang Xiuyuan continued with growing excitement, "Mingzhu, Eldest Brother meant what he said: I have always had your best interests at heart. Originally, you were betrothed to Pei Xingzhi, but you lack the capacity to shoulder the position of the Pei family's matriarch, so you need Lian'er to assist you."

"Now that Lian'er has received an imperial marriage decree, Eldest Brother naturally wishes the best for you as well, and is willing to let you marry into the family alongside her."

Jiang Lingyao's expression chilled completely. She cast a cool glance at Song Lian'er, who wore a strained smile, and Jiang Xiuyuan, who was brimming with misplaced fervor. She let out a derisive scoff. "Why don't you ask Song Lian'er herself—whom is this imperial decree actually for?"

Nearby, Wenlu suddenly broke out in a cold sweat upon realizing that his master had completely misunderstood the situation. He dropped to his knees and shouted, "Master! The one who received the imperial decree is the Fifth Young Lady, not Miss Lian'er! The little maidservant just now was talking nonsense; this slave will go back right now and sell her off!"

What? The one granted the marriage was Jiang Lingyao?

Jiang Xiuyuan's face drained of all color. He turned his head sharply toward Song Lian'er in absolute disbelief.

If the bride wasn't Jiang Lingyao, hadn't he just made an utter fool of himself?!

His eyes flooded with sudden gloom. He gripped his hands so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and the smile vanished completely from his face.

Song Lian'er lowered her head in mortification, cursing Jiang Xiuyuan a thousand times over in her heart.

Idiot!

Both of them were grinding their teeth in suppressed fury. Jiang Lingyao, however, was no longer angry; she raised an eyebrow, watched the rage contorting their faces, and let out a silent sneer.