In the evening, Jiang Wanru returned from outside and stood at the gate of the courtyard, looking at the newly painted gate and smelling the pungent smell of the remaining paint. She raised her head to look at the big red flower on top of the gate, with red silk hanging on both sides of the gate, and a small red flower tied at each corner, adding a touch of cleverness. Jiyuan came out of the courtyard and smiled at Jiang Wanru, saying: "Miss, please go into the courtyard first, the gate has just been painted with new paint, the smell is heavy, it's too suffocating."

  Jiang Wanru walked into the courtyard, looking at the still familiar door of her house, and let out a gentle sigh. She said to Ji Yan who was following behind her: "It's good that the door hasn't been repainted, I can finally have a good night's sleep tonight." Ji Yan heard this and couldn't help but smile, saying: "It's still Old Mother Mugen who knows you well, Miss. The people sent by the mistress originally said they were going to repaint all the doors with new paint. But Old Mother told them 'Miss has sensitive skin and can't stand the smell of paint'."

  Jiang Wanmu smiled slightly, she only had a few days to stay in this courtyard. No matter how well the paint was applied, the smell couldn't be hidden, and it would be a torment for those who stayed in the courtyard often. Jiang Wanmu walked with Ji Yan towards the room, the gentle breeze in the courtyard brushed against her sweaty face. She turned back to look at the much quieter courtyard and asked: "Ji Yan, where are your parents?"

  Ji Yan smiled and curtsied, saying: "Congratulations, miss. They followed Aunt Jiang to see your dowry, they've been gone for a while." Jiang Wanru didn't show any surprise after hearing this, she just smiled at her and said: "Why didn't you go with them?" Ji Yan straightened up her small face and said: "The paint on the courtyard gate is not dry yet, the gate can't be closed. And I have to wait for miss to come back." Jiang Wanru looked at her serious little face and whispered: "Is it because your mother didn't let you go with them?"

  Ji Yan's true nature was exposed by Jiang Wanru, and her face turned red with rage. She stomped her foot and shouted at Jiang Wanru: "Miss! I'm not that kind of person!" Jiang Wanru smiled lightly and entered the room, closing the door behind her. Ji Yan's shouting could still be heard from outside. After entering the room, Jiang Wanru thought about the three years she would spend in the palace, and her eyes became gloomy and hard to decipher. Her hand gently swept across the table, taking in the simple furnishings of the room. She let out a long sigh, as if releasing a pent-up breath from her chest.

  At this time, Xiao Jiang's family was walking towards the courtyard of Jiang Wanru. As she walked closer, she could smell the scent of new paint. She covered her nose with her hand. When she reached the open gate of the courtyard, she looked inside and saw Jiyuan standing in the courtyard, using both hands to fan himself vigorously. Jiyuan's amusing appearance was especially endearing to Xiao Jiang's eyes.

  She couldn't help but stand at the gate of the yard, letting out a light laugh. Ji Yan heard the noise at the gate and saw Xiao Jiang's back, with joy in her eyes, she smiled and quickly welcomed her to the gate. "Hello, Auntie Xiao Jiang." Xiao Jiang looked at her and nodded, saying: "Ji Yan, is your young mistress at home?" Ji Yan nodded and said: "Yes, does Auntie Xiao Jiang have something to find my mistress about? Where are my father, mother, and Uncle Mu Gen?" As she spoke, she glanced behind Xiao Jiang's back with a small head. Xiao Jiang listened to her words, looked at her deeply, and sighed, saying: "Ji Yan, you will follow your young mistress into the Wang Fu, that place is not like the Jiang family, in the future, when doing things and speaking, you can't just follow your nature."

  Ji Yan glanced at Xiaojiang's house and knew that she still had some affection for herself, so she would remind herself in this way. She looked at Xiaojiang's house with a grateful face and said softly: "Auntie Xiaojiang, the young lady is easy-going and has never managed me before. There are some things that need to be reminded by Auntie Xiaojiang, so I can have a clear conscience. Thank you, Auntie Xiaojiang, hehe, I didn't expect others to look down on someone from the Jiang family who made mistakes and lost themselves." Ji Yan said this while bowing to Xiaojiang's house.

  Xiao Jiang's family looked at the clever and capable her, sighed and said: "Ji Yan, you and your family are all emotional and righteous, that's why in such a situation, you still don't want to abandon Third Miss, insisting on following her out of the Jiang family. Alas, looking at your cleverness, I have nothing much to advise, only seven words for you: 'Be cautious with words, be cautious with actions, keep secrets.' Your whole family just needs to remember these few words, and with your loyalty to Third Miss, if she's intelligent, from now on will surely reuse your family."

  Ji Yan carefully remembered the seven words given by Xiao Jiang's family, and nodded with a happy face: "Thank you, Auntie Xiao Jiang, for teaching me. Our whole family will follow the rules of the Wang Fu and do things properly, there won't be any bad places." Xiao Jiang's family glanced at Ji Yan, who was still staring at her, and sighed softly, saying: "You quickly go and inform Third Miss, the mistress has called her over to talk about something." She looked at Ji Yan's unwavering gaze, smiled and said again: "Your parents and the others are following Lin, the steward, to discuss Third Miss's dowry." Ji Yan nodded in relief, looked up at the sky, and asked again: "Auntie Xiao Jiang, should I follow Miss over to see the mistress?"

  Xiao Jiang's family servant nodded at her and said: "Your family's young lady always needs someone to serve by her side, so you naturally have to follow along." Ji Yan listened and bowed to her. Then she quickly ran to gently knock on Jiang Wanruo's door and said: "Miss, the madam is looking for you to talk, and also called me to follow and serve you. Miss, wait a moment, I'll go into my room to change into some clean clothes, and come out right away." She didn't wait for Jiang Wanruo to speak, and immediately quickly pushed open her own door. Jiang Wanruo came out of the room and heard the commotion from Ji Yan's room, so she slowly stopped in the courtyard, waiting for Ji Yan to change into clean clothes and come out.

  Ji Yan ran out of the room and saw Jiang Wanru in the courtyard. He stuck out his tongue at her with a mischievous grin, saying: "Miss, can you wait for me inside for a bit?" Jiang Wanru didn't say anything, but walked directly towards the gate of the courtyard. Ji Yan glanced at her once, then looked back at Jiang Wanru's wooden expression. She turned sideways to face Jiang Wanru as she was leaving the courtyard and said: "Third Miss, congratulations." Jiang Wanru raised an eyebrow at her, then turned her head to stare at the open courtyard gate, where Ji Yan stood with a troubled look on his face.

  Jiang Wanru walked over, tearing open the auspicious words on the gate. She stretched out her hand and forcefully closed the gate, and when it was closed, the auspicious words loudly shouted: "Miss, the newly painted door will not be preserved." Jiang Wanru glared at her and said: "Lock the door." The auspicious words immediately dared not to say another word, listening to her and locking the gate. Xiao Jiang's family looked back and forth at the master and servant, seeing that Jiang Wanru didn't even greet her or say a word, just humming a sound, and directly walked in front of her.

  Ji Yan locked the courtyard gate and turned back to see Xiao Jiang's family staring at Jiang Wanru's back, with an obvious look of displeasure. She smiled and stepped forward to explain to Xiao Jiang's family: "Auntie Xiao Jiang, it's hot weather, Miss doesn't like to talk." Jiang Wanru was already a short distance away from the two women, and Xiao Jiang's family looked at Ji Yan and said: "You don't need to make excuses for Third Miss. No matter what the weather is like, she's not someone who likes to talk. Ji Yan, you should think carefully, you can't follow the wrong master, this is a big deal that will affect your whole life. You still have time to regret it now, I'll help you go and speak with Madame, think of a way for your family to continue staying at the Jiang's house."

  Ji Yan listened to Xiao Jiang's words, lowered her eyes, and shook her head slightly: "I don't want to make things difficult for Auntie Xiao Jiang, nor do I want to go and make things difficult for the mistress. Miss, she just doesn't like to talk, but she has always been very good to me. In a few days, it will be Miss's wedding day, and I am willing to follow Miss by her side." Xiao Jiang's family glanced at Ji Yan, who was obedient, thought of their own master, and knew that Ji Yan's family and Mu Gen's family were willing to follow Jiang Wanru when she got married. She had a smile on her face, but there was obvious anger in her words: "Hmph, I'll wait and see, look at those two families' bitter faces after three years."

  The Xiaojiang family's silence was not good, and Jiyan didn't dare to persuade them again. After handing over the deed of the house to the Mugen family, everyone in the Jiang family, from top to bottom, had already shown their attitude towards these two families. The Xiaojiang family walked forward in silence, and Jiyan wanted to ask her some things, but seeing her distant expression, he suppressed his desire. Jiang Wanru stood at the gate of Jiang Dafu's courtyard, waiting for the Xiaojiang family and Jiyan to approach. She saw the gloomy expression on Xiaojiang's face, as well as Jiyan's helpless look.

  Jiang Wanruo said at the gate of Xiaojiang's courtyard, "Third Miss, may I go see Madame first to see if she is available to meet with you?" Jiang Wanruo remained silent after hearing this. Xiaojiang's family entered the yard on their own. Jiang Wanruo asked Jixian softly as he approached her side, "What did you say to her? Why is she so unhappy?" Jixian shook his head and said, "I didn't say anything. It's just that Madame Xiaojiang has a good heart and thinks more for us." After hearing Jixian's words, Jiang Wanruo knew that Xiaojiang's family had not given up on persuading Jixian's family to leave her side.

  The little servant girl from the Jiang family came out quickly and said to Jiang Wanruo and Ji Yan, who were standing at the gate of the courtyard: "Madam is free now, she wants to see you." Jiang Wanruo and Ji Yan followed behind the little servant girl, walking into the courtyard. Jiang Wanruo took a quick glance around the courtyard, which was spacious with various flowers in full bloom, filling the air with fragrance. The maidservants who were walking lightly looked up at Jiang Wanruo following behind the little servant girl, their eyes filled with surprise. However, they quickly regained their composure and curtsied to them before stepping aside.

  Jiang Wanru and Ji Yan followed the Xiao Jiang family into a room, which was decorated with luxurious embroidery, red tea flower wooden furniture, and near the corner of the door, there was also a tall floor vase. After entering, Xiao Jiang's servant went straight to the main seat where a woman in red clothes was sitting and drinking tea, and said to the elegant and noble woman: "Master, Third Miss has arrived." The woman put down her cup, raised her eyes to look at Jiang Wanru, and stared at her with sharp eyes, not missing any expression on her face.

  Jiang Wanru slightly raised her eyes to look at the woman in front of her, whose face had not lost any of its radiance despite the passage of time. She sat upright, shining brightly. Her eyes, however, seemed too profound due to her experiences and insights, making it clear that she was no longer innocent. The corners of her eyes, upon closer inspection, revealed faint fine lines. At first glance, Jiang Wanru thought the woman in front of her was still in her youthful prime. Time had indeed been kind to Madame Jiang, allowing her to remain beautiful. Under her mother's discerning gaze, Jiang Wanru calmly looked at her and softly called out, "Mother is well!"

  Hard study