Chapter 12

  Two housekeepers, accompanied by the maids, emerged from the side room with ledgers in hand and entered the main room. Everyone's eyes fell on Lian Hua and Jiang Wanru sitting at the table. They seemed slightly hesitant. Jiang Wanru looked up at Ji Yan, who nodded almost imperceptibly. She turned to Lian Hua and said, "Third Master, I've never rewarded anyone in this household before. Now that I'm about to leave, I'd like to ask the two housekeepers to reward those who have served me diligently over the past three years on my behalf."

  Jiang Wanru understood the implication of the queen's confidante's words, and she gazed at the woman with a faint expression, saying: "Thank you for your kind reminder, Your Highness." After the woman left, when Jiyu entered the room to count the remaining gold beans, Jiang Wanru softly reminded her: "Miss, these beans were originally brought in as rewards. If we take them out again for personal use or to give to others, I would feel somewhat uneasy about it. It's better to reward the people in the courtyard instead; over the past three years, most of them have not looked down on us."

  Jiang Wanru took the package of golden beans from Ji Yan's hands and immediately handed it over to the two housekeepers, smiling as she said: "There are big and small, hollow and solid golden beans inside. Please help me distribute them. As the host, this is my last act of kindness." Lian Hao heard Jiang Wanru's words and slightly furrowed his brow, signaling the housekeepers to take over. He then spoke to Jiang Wanru in front of everyone: "Wanru, I didn't like your last sentence. Mountains and rivers will meet again, roads will turn again, you and they will have another encounter."

  Jiang Wanmu smiled and looked at her, saying: "You two usually take care of the housework, so I should be the one to reward you with golden beans. However, thinking about it, I don't have much time to waste, so I'll let you divide them among yourselves. You'd better hurry up and carefully check the items in the room. I hope that after you've finished checking, I can leave this house at ease. In the future, whether we meet again or not, I hope everyone will be well."

  The housekeeper and the maids went to the small hall, listening to them reporting the names of the items outside. Lian Hao glanced at Jiang Wanyu, who had turned her head, and leaned in with a smile, saying in a low voice: "Wanyu, after a few days, I'll take you to meet a lady, she's kind and generous, a good elder. If you two can get along well, maybe there will be many...". A loud noise came from the courtyard, someone loudly announced "Third Master, Third Madam, King Wang and Queen Wang invite you to go to the grand hall."

  Lianhao and Jiang Wanting walked out of the courtyard gate, with Jiyuan following behind them carrying a small bundle. As soon as the gate closed, it shut off the prying eyes of the people in the courtyard. Jiang Wanting slowed down her pace slightly, turning back to gaze at the closed gate. Under Jiyuan's worried gaze, she smiled calmly and turned back around. From now on, she would be walking on the grand highway, why should she linger over the scenery on that small winding path of the past?

  He said solemnly, "Wan Mu, the three-year deadline is a day that was agreed upon by the three families early on, and there's no way to force a change. They're not eager for you to leave the Wang Fu, they just love to watch the excitement. My family and I had already discussed this before our engagement, and this time, we'll listen to them. In the future, when I get married, the choice of my wife will definitely be decided by me." Jiang Wan Mu nodded calmly, but she was quite skeptical about Lian Hua's ability to choose his own wife in the future. If the people in the Wang Fu really followed his heart on this matter, the whole house wouldn't have been so festive and lively just a while ago.

  The young master's wife looked at Jiang Wanru, looking at her calm and composed expression. She stretched out her hand to gently hold onto her arm and said in a low voice: "If you have any matters in the future, you can send someone to pass on a message to me. If there is anything I can help you with, I will definitely do my best to assist you." Jiang Wanru smiled and nodded, saying: "Thank you." The early passing of Yu Xi had already made her no longer believe in the sincerity between women in this era. However, she still smiled and accepted the young master's wife's kind intentions. She added another sentence: "For these three years in the Wang Fu, thank you for taking care of me."

  Lian Hao had already paid his respects to the four people at the main seat when Jiang Wanru slowly walked forward, her eyes scanning the people on both sides. She saw Jiang An and his father sitting at the same table, their gazes sweeping over her indifferently before they began talking in hushed tones. Next to them, a middle-aged man with furrowed brows was staring at her, while a young man looked at her with curiosity. Jiang Wanru had already realized that these were the famous Yu family members she had heard of but never met.

  The old queen's face changed, and Jiang Wanru calmly raised her head to look at the old queen. She smiled lightly and said: "Old queen, don't worry. Once I leave the palace, I am no longer a person of the palace. Even if I want to lose face, it will only be my own face that is lost. I have self-awareness and do not dare to climb high on the steps of the palace." Lian Hao heard Jiang Wanru's words and turned his head to look at her, letting out a light hum. When he saw the queen about to speak, he smiled and said: "Mother, this should be left for each person to say with good intentions, and she will naturally appreciate your kindness. But if we continue like this, I'm afraid someone will have to stay in the palace today."

  Jiang Wanru took a step back, not wanting to make the people of the Wang Fu remember her stubbornness. Lian Hao went forward and spoke with the officials, who looked at Jiang Wanru and handed her a document, saying in a low voice: "It's a divorce paper, roughly saying that she is being divorced due to having no children." Jiang Wanru's eyes quickly scanned the document, indeed as the official had said, behind many beautiful words, there was only one reason, being divorced for not having children.

  Cat pounces on Chinese