From the maid Xiaotao, Jiang Wodan learned the ins and outs.
The young man she saw in Jiang Woli's courtyard was Li Gusong, the eldest legitimate son of Marquis Anding, Li Ji.
At a chrysanthemum - viewing banquet a few months ago, he fell head - over - heels in love with Jiang Woli, who was widely recognized as the most beautiful woman in Yunjin.
A few days ago, he came specifically to stay at the Jiang Mansion for a while.
Jiang Woli was extremely beautiful. At just thirteen years old, she had grown into a stunning beauty. With her good family background, it was not strange for her to have young admirers around her.
However, he was the son of a marquis, good - looking, and his martial arts skills, cultivation, and knowledge were far beyond those of his peers. Moreover, he was so blatant and ostentatious in his pursuit.
Jiang Woli couldn't sit still any longer.
...Who on earth could sit still in such a situation?
Jiang Wodan asked herself. If it were her, she couldn't either.
The most crucial thing was that this Li Gusong had a cold and handsome appearance. Although he was not extremely stunning, he just suited her taste.
Alas, if only she could have returned a year earlier. Then she could have attended the chrysanthemum - viewing banquet and participated in the vote for the most beautiful woman in Yunjin.
After Li Gusong came to stay at the Jiang Mansion, Jiang Woli became even more restless.
Because Li Gusong was even more outstanding than expected.
He didn't have the airs of a young master, nor did he ever show the lecherous looks of other young masters.
Instead, he was polite, elegant, well - educated, and had a great bearing in dealing with people.
Jiang Woli was actually quite satisfied with Li Gusong in her heart, but she always put on airs and was extremely proud, never showing her feelings.
"Ugh, yuck," Jiang Wodan spat while peeling oranges. "This whole showing - or - not - showing business, what a cliché. I don't want to hear any more."
Xiaotao didn't understand what "cliché" meant. She scratched the back of her head, looking utterly confused.
Having got the gossip, Jiang Wodan was no longer curious and spent her days sleeping soundly in her own courtyard.
As the New Year was approaching, Li Gusong should have returned to the marquis's mansion for the New Year. So he came specifically to bid farewell to Jiang Xuyao.
At that time, Jiang Xuyao was having a meal in Tang Yuning's courtyard. And of course, accompanying Tang Yuning and Jiang Xuyao were Jiang Wodan and Jiang Chunfeng.
Jiang Wodan thought her chance to take revenge for the pebble incident had come. She quickly wrapped up a plate of osmanthus cakes. Before wrapping them, she sprinkled some croton powder on them. Then she greeted Li Gusong with a beaming smile.
"Little Marquis, our mansion may not have entertained you well these days. We've made you suffer. These are some good things I brought back from the Hundred - Flower Valley. You can enjoy them on your way. They'll definitely taste great."
A hint of teasing smile appeared in Li Gusong's deep eyes. "Since they are good things from the Hundred - Flower Valley, I naturally can't enjoy them alone."
Saying so, he unwrapped the osmanthus cakes again. "Uncle Jiang, Aunt Tang, Brother Jiang, you should also have a taste."
Jiang Wodan quickly pressed down Li Gusong's hand. "No, no, no. They are all for the little marquis. Don't be polite. Don't be polite."
Li Gusong still teased her. "Oh? Such good things all for me?"
Jiang Wodan decided to throw caution to the wind. "Yes, yes. Who told you that you're going to be my brother - in - law soon? We'll be family sooner or later."
Li Gusong was silent for a while.
His cold and handsome eyebrows returned to their usual aloofness. He withdrew his hand. "It's not settled yet. But as long as Uncle Jiang and Aunt Tang agree, when A Li comes of age..."
But everyone knew in their hearts that this agreement was just a matter of time, at most before Jiang Woli came of age.
After all, in the end, it was the Jiang Mansion that was climbing up to the marquis's mansion.
There was less than a year left.
Jiang Wodan suddenly felt a bit stuffy in her heart.
When she returned to her own courtyard, Xiaotao told her the latest gossip of the day. "When the little marquis left the mansion today, the second young lady promised him that if he could come out on top in the archery event of the hunt in half a year, she would decide on her own to become engaged to him."
Jiang Wodan smiled. She didn't know where Jiang Woli got her arrogance from. Just based on their family background, the Jiang family could never be the one in control.
Could beauty feed a person?
Yes.
But it couldn't help one achieve class leap. It could only make one a victim of politics. This was what her master said, and he said it was a philosophical truth.
...
Although Tang Xuelan was the main wife, Jiang Xuyao still went to Tang Yuning's place to stay up for the New Year.
The whole family sat together harmoniously for the New Year's Eve dinner. Jiang Wodan had a sweet tongue and made the whole family burst into laughter. The atmosphere was very lively.
After the New Year's Eve dinner, seeing that there was nothing else for her to do, Jiang Wodan planned to sneak out to the street to have fun.
But Jiang Chunfeng stopped her mysteriously. "Dandan, I heard that the little marquis has been ill these days. It seems to be due to diarrhea and it's quite serious. Do you want to go and see him?"
Jiang Wodan was puzzled. "If someone should go, it shouldn't be me, right? Big Brother should tell Jiang Woli."
But... if Li Gusong had diarrhea, was it because she put croton powder in the osmanthus cakes?
But she clearly remembered that she didn't put much. She just wanted to save a bit of face...
Jiang Chunfeng showed his protective side. "In Big Brother's heart, Jiang Woli is simply not worthy of the little marquis. She just has a good appearance."
Jiang Wodan was naturally touched by Jiang Chunfeng's words. But if she went to see Li Gusong secretly now, wouldn't it be like poaching Jiang Woli's corner?
However, if Li Gusong was really ill because of diarrhea, then it was her fault.
Her master had said that one should see things through to the end.
Jiang Wodan was in a dilemma and was still looking for an excuse not to go. "But today is New Year's Eve. The Marquis of Anding should stay up for the New Year with the little marquis, right?"
Jiang Chunfeng curled his lips. "Do you see Mom and Dad staying up for the New Year with us?"
Jiang Wodan thought for a while and shook her head seriously. "It's really a mouthful of good 'dog food'. I wasn't this full even after the New Year's Eve dinner."
"What... what food?"
After hesitating for a long time, Jiang Wodan still went to the Marquis of Anding's mansion.
Surprisingly, on New Year's Eve, there were hardly any lights on in the marquis's mansion, which should have been magnificent. It looked extremely desolate.
She found Li Gusong in the back garden of the marquis's mansion. He was practicing archery under a redwood tree in the back garden.
Jiang Wodan was a bit shocked. Was it really necessary for Li Gusong to practice archery day and night like this just for Jiang Woli's promise?
She felt a bit stuffy in her heart again.
Hearing the noise, Li Gusong turned around. "Is it A Li?"
Jiang Wodan was startled and subconsciously covered her face with a veil.
Her eyes were very similar to Jiang Woli's, and in the evening, the resemblance was extremely high.
Li Gusong craned his neck in this direction. "A Li?"
Jiang Wodan quickly pinched her throat. "You're so eager to see me? You guessed it was me right away."
Li Gusong walked over and smiled. "I recognize this."
He pointed at the forehead ornament on Jiang Wodan's head.
This forehead ornament was brought back by Jiang Xuyao from the northwest. He gave one to her and one to Jiang Woli. They looked the same from the front, but there were names written on the side that touched the forehead.
But just looking at it like this, one couldn't tell the difference.