Jiang Zhan had run over from somewhere, wearing his Imperial Guard uniform, looking vigorous and spirited.
“Fourth Sister, are you nervous?” Jiang Zhan asked with a smile, rubbing his reddened hands.
Jiang Si passed her hand warmer to Jiang Zhan, smiling. “I’m not nervous. Second Brother should return to his post quickly—it wouldn’t be good if someone saw you.”
Jiang Zhan looked oddly at the dainty hand warmer. “If someone saw a grown man like me carrying this, they’d laugh their teeth off.”
He returned the hand warmer and pulled out a paper package from his robes, passing it to Jiang Si. “Rose candy—they say eating something sweet brings good luck.”
Taking the package of rose candy, Jiang Si gave Jiang Zhan a brilliant smile. “Thank you, Second Brother. I’ll have good luck.”
She lowered the carriage curtain, and the carriage continued forward.
Jiang Zhan craned his neck to watch.
“Brother Jiang, was that your sister?” A hand clasped Jiang Zhan’s shoulder.
Jiang Zhan glanced at his fellow guard and said, “Yes, my sister.”
The young guard chuckled. “Would it be alright if I asked my parents to propose to your family?”
“Get lost!” Jiang Zhan glared at his colleague irritably.
“What’s wrong? It’s not like your sister could become a prince’s consort.” The young guard pouted.
If not for that fleeting glimpse of such beauty, he wouldn’t have had such thoughts—after all, the Earl of Dongping’s household wasn’t exactly a prestigious match.
Jiang Zhan walked back with a stern face. “Just don’t set your sights on my sister!”
He increasingly felt these looks-obsessed rascals couldn’t compare to Brother Yu Seven. He had already begun hoping for Fourth Sister and Brother Yu Seven to become a couple.
A-Man was left at the inner city gate while Jiang Si was led to the plum garden by a eunuch.
She wasn’t among the earliest arrivals—many noble ladies were already present when she reached the garden.
Jiang Si’s appearance caught the noble ladies by surprise, and they gathered in small groups to whisper among themselves.
“Which family is that newcomer in the light green cloak from? I’ve never seen her before?” Jiang Si’s beauty had caused anxiety among many noble ladies.
“Oh, that’s Fourth Miss of the Earl of Dongping’s household. I met her at the flower gathering at Marquis Yongchang’s mansion last year.”
“Earl of Dongping?” Upon hearing this background, many noble ladies’ eyes showed disdain.
Setting aside the Earl of Dongping’s status among the capital’s nobility, their household had recently gained quite a reputation—and not a favorable one.
How could a lady from such a family attend this kind of gathering?
“I wonder if they even checked the invitations properly. How did they let in any random cat or dog?” A young lady’s voice suddenly rang out, silencing the whispers.