Jiang Yuzhu was visibly taken aback. Then, looking aggrieved, she said, "Eldest sister, what do you mean? If I'm not your younger sister, who else could I be?"
"I don't remember what my younger sister looks like. I'm just asking casually." Jiang Zhao's eyes swept over Jiang Yuzhu from head to toe. She nodded thoughtfully and said, "You're right, younger sister."
"Compared to you, I do look rather shabby. After all, over the years, father and mother have doted on you so much. Naturally, I can't compare to you."
Hearing this, Jiang Yuzhu waved her hands repeatedly, and her eyes reddened involuntarily. "Eldest sister has been away from home for many years and suffered a lot outside. It's my thoughtlessness." Jiang Yuzhu glanced at her own clothes. "This dress was specially made by mother for me by a embroiderer a few days ago. It's the most fashionable style in the capital."
"If eldest sister doesn't mind, you can wear mine first."
Jiang Zhao stared at Jiang Yuzhu with a half-smile. If she wore Jiang Yuzhu's dress now, He Shi would surely skin her alive later. "That would be too much trouble."
"Sister is so poor that she's practically penniless. Why don't you, younger sister, just give me something more practical?" As she said this, Jiang Zhao reached out her hand towards Jiang Yuzhu.
Jiang Yuzhu was stunned for a moment. She seemed to have never expected Jiang Zhao to be so brazen as to directly ask her for money.
She was just hesitating to take off the bracelet on her wrist when she heard a familiar voice from behind. "Yuer, come here!"
Hearing Jiang Zhong's voice, Jiang Yuzhu immediately stopped and lifted her skirt to run towards Jiang Zhong. "Eldest brother!"
Before Jiang Zhao could even say hello, Jiang Zhong gave her a sideways glance, then turned around and led Jiang Yuzhu into the Pine and Crane Hall, completely ignoring her.
Even Peilan behind Jiang Zhao was confused.
The eldest young lady had just returned home yesterday. She hadn't offended the eldest young master, had she?
Jiang Zhao didn't care. She took a quick look at Jiang Zhong. If she wasn't mistaken, Jiang Zhong must have picked up some bad habits.
Jiang Zhong and Jiang Zhao entered the hall one after another.
Jiang Zhong felt annoyed just seeing Jiang Zhao. It seemed his mother was right. This girl was just bad luck!
Otherwise, why did he lose all his money last night right after she returned home? He had almost been stripped of his clothes!
It was all because of this Jiang Zhao!
Jiang Zhao served tea to the old lady Jiang politely and paid her respects.
"Good child, get up quickly." The old lady Jiang looked kind, and her complexion seemed much better than a few days ago.
Sitting below the old lady Jiang were the Marquis and his wife of Ningyuan.
Beside the Marquis and his wife were Jiang Zhong, Jiang Lanzhi, Jiang Yuzhu, and the concubine-born Jiang Qingrong.
On the other side were Jiang Changfeng and his wife, as well as their eldest son, Jiang Yunxi.
In Jiang Yunxi's arms was a chubby little girl who looked about five or six years old. She was the youngest daughter of the second branch, Jiang Yuyao.
Except for Jiang Changlin and Jiang Qinian, who was in poor health and was excused from paying respects, everyone was finally present.
Looking at all these younger generations, the old lady Jiang was truly happy. But as she was smiling, a hint of sadness appeared on her face.
"How wonderful it is. Now that Zhaojie'er has also come back. If only Changlin were here too, our big family would truly be reunited." If her Changlin were still alive, he would surely be married and have children by now.
Jiang Zhao glanced outside. Jiang Changlin was standing right there.
Wasn't this a kind of reunion?
When the old lady Jiang mentioned Jiang Changlin, the atmosphere in the room suddenly froze.
Wang Shi clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction. "Oh, mother. It's not that your daughter-in-law is saying this, but everyone came here happily early in the morning to pay respects to you. Why do you have to mention the second brother again?"
"The second brother had a short life and passed away early. But instead of enjoying this happy family gathering right in front of you, why do you always dwell on those sad things?"
Jiang Changfeng was afraid of his wife and didn't dare to say a word. But Jiang Lanzhi couldn't stand to see his grandmother being wronged.
Just as he was about to speak, the Marquis of Ningyuan gave him a look and stopped him.
Seeing this, Jiang Changlin outside slowly floated in. He stood straight behind Wang Shi and stared at her menacingly.
Wang Shi only felt a chill on the back of her neck and unconsciously touched it.
The old lady Jiang sighed and didn't want to argue with Wang Shi.
This morning's ceremony of paying respects ended unhappily.
Seeing that the elders had all left, Jiang Yuyao, who had been sitting quietly on Jiang Yunxi's lap, started to make a fuss.
"Fourth brother, put me down! I want to get down!" Jiang Yuyao wriggled her little body constantly, and her little face turned red.
Jiang Yunxi was also worried about hurting his younger sister. His father would surely beat him to death if he did. So he had no choice but to let go.
Jiang Yuyao ran over to Jiang Lanzhi with small steps. Looking up at him sweetly, she said, "Second brother, will you take Yaoyao to see the fairy?"
"Fairy?" Jiang Lanzhi was confused. He squatted down to look at Jiang Yuyao at eye level. "Be good, Yaoyao. Fairies are all in the sky."
Jiang Yuyao pouted her little mouth and said angrily, "Second brother is lying. The fairy is right there!"
Jiang Lanzhi looked in the direction of Jiang Yuyao's little finger and immediately understood.
It turned out that the fairy in Jiang Yuyao's mouth was Jiang Zhao.
Children were naturally curious. Seeing a new sister in the family who was so beautiful, she had taken Jiang Zhao for a fairy.
Jiang Yuyao was timid, so she had been pestering her fourth brother to take her to see. But Jiang Yunxi refused. So she had no choice but to come to find the kind second brother.
Just as Jiang Lanzhi was about to agree, Jiang Yunxi closed his folding fan and quickly tried to stop him. "What are you looking at? You're not allowed to go. Stay still!"
Seeing this, Jiang Yuyao immediately hid behind Jiang Lanzhi. "Why can't I look? Eldest sister isn't a bad person."
Jiang Yunxi tapped Jiang Yuyao's little head with his folding fan. "What do you know, girl?"
"Your eldest sister is willful and unruly. She's not only wild but also bad luck. Stay away from her."
Yesterday when Jiang Zhao had just returned home, he had been curious too. He had wanted to go and take a look, but his mother had stopped him, saying that Jiang Zhao was extremely strange.
Just now, his eldest brother had also quietly told him that Jiang Zhao was bad luck and that he should stay away from her.
Although he was a well-known playboy in the capital, he had always admired the older brothers from his uncle's family. Since his eldest brother said that Jiang Zhao was bad, then she must be bad!
Jiang Yuyao pouted her mouth so much that it could hang an oil bottle. She shook Jiang Lanzhi's sleeve.
She didn't understand what her fourth brother meant. She only knew that her eldest sister was even more beautiful than Sister Yuzhu.
Jiang Lanzhi stroked Jiang Yuyao's little head comfortingly. "Second brother will take you to see your eldest sister now."
"But remember, she's your eldest sister, not a fairy. Do you understand?"
Hearing this, Jiang Yunxi twitched the corner of his mouth. His second brother was good in every way, but he was just too pedantic.
Wasn't it okay to protect a child's innocence?
"Second brother, don't take Yaoyao there..."
Jiang Lanzhi stood up and fixed his eyes on Jiang Yunxi. "Zhao'er is a part of our Jiang family. What's wrong with Yaoyao wanting to visit her eldest sister?"
"If aunt is unhappy after she finds out, I'll take the responsibility." Jiang Lanzhi's gentle tone turned serious. "As for you, you're already a grown man, but you never think about making progress. You just fool around all day long."
"Now you've even learned to gossip and stir up trouble. Grandmother's greatest wish is for our family to be harmonious and prosperous. When has she ever taught us to fight against each other and be indifferent to family affection?"
Jiang Yunxi silently lowered his head and didn't say a word. He obediently listened to Jiang Lanzhi's lecture.
Although he had a rebellious personality, he had always been in awe of his second brother.
Only the siblings knew that among the older brothers, the second brother, Jiang Lanzhi, was the most difficult to get along with and talk to.
The eldest brother, Jiang Zhong, seemed unfriendly on the surface, but in fact, he was the easiest to talk to.
Mainly because he wasn't very smart. You could just fool him.
But Jiang Lanzhi was different. It wasn't just because he hadn't grown up in the Marquis's Mansion.
Jiang Lanzhi looked gentle and polite, but in fact, he was very aloof. There was a kind of coldness and estrangement deep in his bones.
Moreover, he had heard a little about his second brother's deeds from his friends. So his friends had privately called his second brother a hypocrite.
Since Jiang Lanzhi had returned home, Jiang Yunxi had been punished by him many times.
Jiang Yunxi could only watch helplessly as Jiang Lanzhi led Jiang Yuyao away.
Before leaving, Jiang Yuyao didn't forget to make a face at Jiang Yunxi.
Jiang Yunxi raised his hand as if to hit her, which scared Jiang Yuyao into quickly tightening her grip on Jiang Lanzhi's hand.