Although she didn't know the real reason, Princess Wei's affection for her wasn't fake.

The two of them chatted for a while in Songtao Court. Seeing that it was about time, Chu Lian brought Princess Duanjia to Old Matriarch He's Qingxi Hall.

Just as they arrived at the entrance of Qingxi Hall, they heard the sounds of women chatting inside.

Princess Duanjia glanced inside curiously and tugged on Chu Lian's sleeve. "There seem to be many young girls inside."

Chu Lian's eyes were crafty as she covered her mouth and laughed. "Princess, didn't you see Second Brother today?

I'm afraid that grandmother is taking this opportunity to find a girl for him! "

Ah?

He Changjue wanted to find a girl?

For some reason, Princess Duanjia didn't feel happy when she heard this news.

Chu Lian thought that Princess Duanjia didn't know the reason, so she explained.

"Princess, you don't know this, but Second Brother doesn't come home easily. Even Grandmother can't do anything about it. But as the legitimate son of Count Jing 'an, he can't stay unmarried forever. So he used Mother's birthday to ask a few of his close friends to bring their daughters over."

He Changjue was already twenty-four years old. Unmarried at this age was already considered an old leftover man in Shengjing.

However, Count Jing 'an had a high reputation and was of high status. Moreover, He Changjue served in the Dragon Guards, so his character and appearance weren't bad. Even though he was older, many of the madams of the aristocratic families still had their eyes on him.

So there were actually quite a few madams and young misses who came today.

Later on, when it was time to celebrate Countess Jing 'an's birthday, she would let these dainty noble ladies meet He Erlang.

Princess Duanjia had heard about the He family's second son a long time ago, but the two of them had never met before. When she heard about such a strange thing, she only treated it as a joke. Now that Chu Lian had exposed it, she suddenly felt upset.

Was He Erlang really going to choose a wife?

Chu Lian pulled Princess Duanjia into the courtyard and headed for the greenhouse.

Chu Lian had originally married into Count Jing 'an's estate because of the "strange" reputation of a lady from the Duke of Ying's estate. After that, she made a name for herself at Marquis Ding Yuan's estate and was immediately conferred the title of Jinyi Village Lord by His Majesty. Now, she also had the Guilin Restaurant, which was raking in money every day.

Originally, any one of these things could be talked about enthusiastically for a long time, but now, all of them happened to one person, and one after another. This group of noble matrons and ladies around Old Matriarch He had long wanted to see this Jinyi Xiangjun, who seemed to have turned on a cheat after marriage.

This girl used to be an insignificant lady from a third-rate aristocratic family. How did she become a dazzling light source in the blink of an eye? No one could ignore her.

When Chu Lian and Princess Duanjia appeared in the warm room, everyone's eyes fell on them in unison.

Chu Lian and Princess Duanjia's figures were extremely similar, but they were dressed differently. However, both of their small faces were equally pure and beautiful. If it weren't for the fact that their hair styles and clothes were different, this group of people really wouldn't be able to tell who was Princess Duanjia and who was Count Jing 'an's third mistress.

Everyone was slightly surprised to see Chu Lian wearing a silver pink dress embroidered with the pattern of a happy birthday.

No one would have thought that the Jinyi Xiangjun, who had already evolved into a nine-headed, six-armed figure in their hearts, would actually look like this.

That young and tender face still had a bit of baby fat on it. Her face was delicate and white, as if water could be squeezed out of it.

There was only a little bit of peach-colored rouge on her pink lips. The corners of her mouth naturally curved up slightly. Even the most ordinary expression seemed like she was smiling at someone. The most surprising thing was that pair of almond-shaped eyes.

The water was so clear that it seemed to be able to clearly reflect everything in the water.

Some of the older madams put their hands to their foreheads. They couldn't accept the huge difference from what they had expected. This … this Jinyi Xiangjun, who had been rumored to be so powerful, was just a delicate and adorable young lady!

After Chu Lian bowed, she was extremely puzzled. She tilted her head and the corners of her eyes twitched. Why did she feel that the madams and young ladies around her were looking at her strangely?

Princess Duanjia's status in the capital was not like that of an ordinary princess. Now that Chu Lian was by her side, these noble madams and young ladies who had come to attend the birthday banquet naturally rushed to talk to Chu Lian and Princess Duanjia.

In addition, Chu Lian had a small courtyard behind Guilin Restaurant that was specially rented out to the wealthy. Many of the ladies who had a craving for good food wanted to ask about the situation of the small courtyard, hoping that they could use this opportunity to get Chu Lian to do them a favor.

Nowadays, in Shengjing's high society, regardless of whether it was a female guest or a male guest, as long as they were able to treat someone to a meal at Guilin Restaurant, it was something even more prestigious than treating someone at Yue Hong Lou.

The madams and young ladies all surrounded the two of them. The center of the conversation also faintly shifted towards them. This caused Madam Zou, who was originally flattered by everyone, to have a twisted expression.

Matriarch He, on the other hand, was very happy. The Prince of Wei didn't participate in court politics and was also the Emperor's biological brother. Now that Princess Duanjia was on good terms with her third granddaughter-in-law, it also meant that Duke Jing 'an's estate was on good terms with the Prince of Wei's estate. This was an extremely good thing.

Third Husband's wife looked like a lazy person, but she always did things to her liking.

Thus, when she saw the room full of people surrounding the two young ladies, she and Matriarch didn't stop them.

Madam Zou wanted to draw everyone's attention back, but she didn't dare to act rashly in front of Matriarch He. Right now, she could only grit her teeth and endure. However, her gaze towards Chu Lian was filled with jealousy and disgust.

However, this situation didn't continue for long. Matriarch He saw that it was about time and led everyone to Countess Jing 'an's courtyard.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw the heir, He Changqi, and the second son, He Changjue.

Everyone was well aware of this. When they entered the reception pavilion, the gazes of all the madams and noble ladies subtly swept in their direction.

Princess Duanjia walked beside Chu Lian and tilted her head slightly to glance in He Erlang's direction. However, she saw that this big fellow's head was slightly lowered and he didn't even lift his eyes. It was as if he was a statue.

Only then did Princess Duanjia's eyes show a trace of satisfaction that even she herself didn't notice.

Countess Jing 'an had already changed into a festive crimson dress with a red fox fur bikini on the outside.

She wore a turquoise headband on her head and lightly applied makeup, which lessened her usual sickly aura. The loose winter dress also concealed her thinness.

At a glance, she didn't look much different from a healthy noble lady.

All the madams and young ladies who were attending the birthday banquet came up one by one to congratulate Countess Jing 'an and present their gifts.

Knowing that Countess Jing 'an's health wouldn't last much longer, all of them were familiar with each other and were very tactful. They quickly presented their gifts to her.

At the end, it was the turn of the two daughters-in-law to congratulate her.

Madam Zou took out a hundred-year-old ginseng as expected, surprising everyone.

Countess Jing 'an took out Madam Zou's hand and patted it. "I've made Eldest Lang's wife spend so much!"

"Mother, as long as your health can recover, I'm willing to let you become a vegetarian and recite Buddhist scripture for three months, let alone a ginseng."

Countess Jing 'an smiled and rebuked her for wasting her own health.

The noble ladies sitting beside the matriarch and Countess Jing 'an all praised Madam Zou's filial piety.

Madam Zou lowered her head slightly. She looked embarrassed, but she was actually feeling more comfortable than anyone else.

This hundred-year-old ginseng had indeed cost her a few hundred taels of silver. She'd been feeling a bit pained at first, but now that she'd gained face in front of everyone, she felt that the money had been well spent.

Madam Zou was very pleased with herself. She couldn't help but look at Chu Lian. There was a hint of provocation and schadenfreude in her gaze.

With Madam Zou's ginseng as a starter, Chu Lian would lose face if she took out something that was too shabby. Madam Zou wanted to see how this' self-proclaimed smart 'third sister-in-law would react.

Chu Lian was talking to Royal Princess Duanjia in a low voice. She didn't notice Madam Zou's resentful gaze at all.

When she saw that it was her turn, she took the brocade box that Wenqing was holding and presented it to Countess Jing 'an.

"Mother, this set of jewelry is my congratulatory gift. I hope that Mother will like it."

A set of jewelry?

Huh?

How could the great Countess Jing 'an lack such a set of jewelry?

It looked like her third sister-in-law wasn't as smart as she'd imagined.

Countess Jing 'an didn't have much of an expression on her face. She accepted Chu Lian's gift with a smile and said amiably, "Sanlang's wife, I've troubled you too!"

Chu Lian was young to begin with. If it weren't for Matriarch He wanting to have a grandson, she might have stayed at home for another two years!

After they married, He Sanlang's attitude was strange. He didn't stay at home for more than a few days after they got married before he ran off to the Northern Territory without a word.

Not only did she not cry or make a fuss, but she was also kind and naive. She didn't resent Count Jing 'an's estate or alienate herself from her family because of this.

Countess Jing 'an already felt guilty, so when she saw that Chu Lian was young, she was naturally more lenient towards Chu Lian.

It didn't matter what the congratulatory gift was, as long as she had the thought, it was enough.

Chu Lian didn't want to be in the limelight anyway. Just as she was about to turn around and return to her seat, Madam Zou hurriedly shot a look at a young woman beside her.

The noblewoman took a step forward and smiled sweetly. "I really don't know what kind of jewelry Jinyi Village Lord is gifting. It can't be a reward from the palace, right? If Countess Jing 'an doesn't mind, would it be possible for you to show it to us?"

As expected, when the topic of jewelry was brought up, the noblewomen and young misses all became interested. Some of them craned their necks and started to make a ruckus, wanting to see Chu Lian's gift.

Countess Jing 'an didn't want to open it on the spot. She also thought that this was an ordinary gift from her youngest daughter-in-law. Just as she was hesitating, Madam Zou rolled her eyes and added fuel to the fire.

"Mother, third sister-in-law is just being filial. Aren't you going to let everyone take a look?"

Countess Jing 'an was put in a difficult position. She glanced at Chu Lian apologetically, then had her maidservant, Miaozhen, open Chu Lian's jewelry box.

Royal Princess Duanjia despised Madam Zou's petty behavior the most, so she didn't give her any face and rolled her eyes at her.

Madam Zou turned around and happened to meet Royal Princess Duanjia's gaze. Her face instantly turned red and white, and she almost fainted from anger.