Chapter 140 Follow Me into the Palace
Jiang Zhiyu nodded with tears in her eyes: "Grandfather, Yu'er will definitely live up to your expectations."
After the ceremony, guests came forward to congratulate her, and Jiang Zhiyu responded with a smile. However, she felt an indescribable fatigue in her heart. She quietly retreated to the corner and looked at her mother, Xu, with a hint of helplessness in her eyes.
Xu noticed something was wrong with Jiang Zhiyu, so she walked over and asked in a low voice, "Yu'er, are you okay?"
"Mother, I...I'm just a little tired." Jiang Zhiyu forced a smile.
Xu patted Jiang Zhiyu's shoulder gently: "If you are tired, take a rest. I am here."
Jiang Zhiyu looked at his mother and felt a warm feeling in his heart.
As night fell, the coming-of-age ceremony gradually came to an end. Jiang Zhiyu returned to her room and shed her fatigue. She looked at herself in the mirror, and a hint of determination flashed in her eyes.
"Jiang Zhiyu, from now on, you have to work hard for your family, for your mother, and even more for yourself," she said to herself.
……
Jiang Shuyuan stared at the vermilion gate with a complicated look. The struggle in her heart was like the spring breeze before her eyes, blowing the swaying willow branches in front of the Jiang Mansion. She was an illegitimate daughter, and the embarrassment of her identity made her feel caught in a dilemma inside and outside the Jiang Mansion. Just as she was hesitating, Jiang Zhiyu, the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, slowly walked out.
Jiang Zhiyu was wearing a light blue Luo skirt with exquisite peony embroidery on it. She walked lightly, like a fairy in spring. Her face was delicate, her eyebrows were picturesque, and her bright eyes seemed to be able to see through people's hearts. She looked at Jiang Shuyuan, and a hint of complex emotions flashed in her eyes, but she soon regained her composure.
"Sister Shuyuan, you're here." Jiang Zhiyu's voice was gentle but polite.
Jiang Shuyuan nodded slightly, trying to make her tone sound natural: "Sister, I'm here."
The conversation between the two was polite and distant, as if they were strangers to each other. Jiang Zhiyu turned around and walked towards the gate of Jiang Mansion, followed closely by Jiang Shuyuan.
"The elders in the mansion are waiting for you, please go in first." Jiang Zhiyu turned around and said to Jiang Shuyuan, with a barely perceptible concern in his tone.
Jiang Shuyuan smiled slightly, but the smile seemed a little forced: "I understand, sister."
The two walked into the Jiang Mansion, which was decorated with lights and full of joy. The elders of the Jiang Mansion had already been waiting in the living room, and when they saw Jiang Zhiyu and Jiang Shuyuan, they all stood up to greet them.
"Zhi Yu, Shu Yuan, you are here." The old lady of the Jiang Mansion sat in the first seat, her eyes kind and expectant.
Jiang Zhiyu and Jiang Shuyuan bowed to the old lady and sat down. The atmosphere in the living room suddenly became lively, and everyone talked, but Jiang Zhiyu and Jiang Shuyuan remained silent.
After a while, the old lady suddenly said, "Zhiyu, Shuyuan, you two sisters haven't been together for a long time. Today is a good opportunity for you to have a good chat."
Jiang Zhiyu smiled slightly and nodded, while Jiang Shuyuan lowered her head, wondering what she was thinking.
After chatting about family matters for a while, Jiang Zhiyu suddenly turned around and said to Jiang Shuyuan, "Sister Shuyuan, I heard that you are living well outside. Do you have any plans?"
Jiang Shuyuan raised her head with a firm look in her eyes: "I want to study, learn poetry and increase my knowledge."
Jiang Zhiyu's eyes flashed with appreciation, and she smiled and said, "Okay, that's a good thing. If you want, I can help you."
Jiang Shuyuan smiled slightly, feeling warm in her heart: "Thank you, sister. I will study hard."
The atmosphere in the living room gradually became harmonious, but Jiang Shuyuan always felt an indescribable barrier in her heart.
Although she and Jiang Zhiyu have the same father but different mothers, there is always an insurmountable gap between them.
As night fell, the lights in Jiang's house were bright. Jiang Zhiyu and Jiang Shuyuan returned to the courtyard where they lived together. The moonlight sprinkled in the courtyard, and the two stood side by side under the moonlight, as if they had returned to their childhood.
"Sister, do you think things between us can really be like when we were little?" Jiang Shuyuan suddenly asked.
Jiang Zhiyu smiled slightly, her eyes full of tenderness: "Shuyuan, no matter how much distance there is between us, we are always sisters. As long as we are willing, nothing is impossible."
Jiang Shuyuan's eyes flashed with a gleam, and she held Jiang Zhiyu's hand tightly: "Sister, I will work hard to make you proud of me."
……
Inside the Jiang Mansion, the lights were bright, and the whole courtyard was filled with laughter. Old Master Jiang sat in the main seat, looking at his daughter-in-law, Xu, with a smile on his face. Xu was wearing a gorgeous dress, and her brows were dignified and virtuous. She bowed gently and whispered, "Dad, as long as you are satisfied, this is what we should do."
Old Master Jiang nodded, picked up the teacup in his hand, took a sip, and said, "You did a great job in Zhiyu's coming-of-age ceremony this time. I watched her grow up step by step, and now she has become a graceful young lady."
Mrs. Xu smiled slightly and said, "Yes, Zhiyu has been smart and beautiful since she was a child. She is the treasure of our Jiang family. Today is her big day, so of course we have to celebrate it in a grand manner."
As they were talking, Jiang Zhiyu came out from behind the screen. She was wearing a red dress and pearls on her head, which made her look particularly beautiful. She bowed to Mr. Jiang and Mrs. Xu and said, "Grandpa, mother, the coming-of-age ceremony is over. Thank you for your kindness in raising me."
Old Master Jiang laughed and said, "Zhi Yu, you are already a grown-up girl. You must work harder in the future to bring honor to the Jiang family."
Xu patted Jiang Zhiyu's hand gently and said, "Zhiyu, remember, no matter where you go, you must remember that you are a member of the Jiang family. You must understand etiquette and be responsible."
Jiang Zhiyu nodded and said, "My granddaughter will remember this in her heart."
At this time, a servant came in, holding a letter in his hand, and said, "Master, this is a letter from outside."
Mr. Jiang took the letter, opened it, and his expression suddenly became solemn. He tapped the table lightly and said, "I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you with this matter, Xu."
Xu was slightly stunned and asked, "Dad, what's the matter?"
Old Master Jiang sighed and said, "This is a letter from the court. The letter said that the emperor has been unwell recently and has been slack in government affairs. The power around the prince is gradually growing, and I am afraid something unexpected will happen."
Xu suddenly became nervous and asked, "Then what should we do?"
Old Master Jiang pondered for a moment and said, "We can't just sit back and watch this matter. Zhiyu, you will come with me to the palace tomorrow to meet the emperor and see if you can get some information."
Jiang Zhiyu was slightly stunned, then nodded firmly and said, "Granddaughter obeys your command."
The next morning, Mr. Jiang and Jiang Zhiyu entered the palace together. They came to the imperial study and saw that the emperor looked pale and listless. Mr. Jiang knelt down and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."
The emperor waved his hand gently and said, "Lord Jiang, please stand up. You have come at the right time. I have been feeling unwell recently and have been slack in government affairs. I would like to ask you to help me deal with it temporarily."
Mr. Jiang hurriedly said, "I obey your order."