The Double-Chapter 510 - 156: Marriage Matters_3

Madam Jiang the Elder did not receive an invitation, in fact, the Marquis Ningyuan’s Mansion really had no face to send an invitation to the Jiang Family. After all, it was Jiang Youyao who was initially engaged to Zhou Yanbang, had it not been for the disgrace Zhou Yanbang brought upon himself, the lady of the Zhou Family should have been Miss Jiang.

Although Madam Jiang the Elder did not receive an invitation, and had no intention of attending the ceremony, Jiang Yuanbai still secretly sent a few people to blend into the crowd of onlookers. It was probably to look for traces of Jiang Youyao, whose whereabouts were still unknown. If she was still in Yanjing City and a free woman, then Zhou Yanbang’s wedding day, an event Jiang Youyao had always dreamt of, was certainly something she would not miss.

Jiang Yuanbai thought, as long as Jiang Youyao showed up, he would be able to find her.

Upon hearing this news, Jiang Li just smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Even if Jiang Youyao really did go, it would just be humiliating herself.

Tonger was folding clothes and said, "Now that Miss Shen from the Shen family is to marry the Princely Heir of the Marquis Ningyuan’s Mansion, the fifth young lady must be furious. The fifth young lady has always been proud, and now that someone else becomes the wife and she the concubine, she must feel very aggrieved."

"She has long known the difference between wife and concubine," laughed Jiang Li, "But she believes that being a concubine to Zhou Yanbang is still better than being a wife to a commoner, so this was her own choice."

When Jiang Li was setting up the trap for Zhou Yanbang, she had asked Jiang Yue about this. If Jiang Yue had shown the slightest hesitation at that time, today’s situation would not have arisen. But Jiang Yue was determined to enter the Marquis Ningyuan’s Mansion, even if it meant being a concubine to Zhou Yanbang. Women like her, with a fair appearance, ordinary heritage, yet unsettlingly ambitious, striving to climb up the social ladder, were not unfamiliar to Jiang Li.

It was all one’s own karma.

"However, Third Master does look really frightening," Tonger thought for a moment and said, "Today when I went to the kitchen, I saw Third Master in the courtyard. Although Third Master and Old Master the Second weren’t very close to begin with, they were still on amicable terms. Usually, he would at least smile a little, but I don’t know since when, he has become distant. It couldn’t be that he was snubbed by Madam the Third, could it?"

Lady Yang had always been fierce, it was known to everyone in the mansion that each time Jiang Yuanxing was scolded by Lady Yang for being incompetent.

Hearing this, Jiang Li fell into deep thought.

Jiang Yuanxing was initially against Jiang Yue becoming a concubine for someone. Being a son born to a concubine himself, he knew the hardships all too well. However, since Jiang Yue was caught with Zhou Yanbang before everyone’s eyes, the damage was done. If she didn’t marry Zhou Yanbang, there might be no decent family willing to take her in the future, and her fate could be even worse than being Zhou Yanbang’s concubine.

Helplessly, Jiang Yuanxing eventually agreed to this matter. But it seemed that from that day on, Jiang Yuanxing became gloomier. He developed grievances against the first and second branches of the family and became even more distant and polite in his dealings, including his behavior towards Lady Yang, who remained fiercely unchanging. But Jiang Li believed that Lady Yang’s fierceness and smiles were different from those of Lady Lu. Lady Yang had hypocrisy and scheming in her bones.

Now that Shen Ruyun had married into the Zhou Family, Jiang Li could imagine that things must not be calm between Jiang Yue and Shen Yurong. Jiang Li also believed that Zhou Yanbang would most certainly not let things remain peaceful between these two women. The fact that the third branch maintained such composure made an unusual feeling arise in Jiang Li’s heart.

Something seemed amiss.

After thinking it over, she instructed Tonger, "Tonger, lately within the mansion, mingle more with the maids from the third branch, but don’t let it be known. Find out how the third branch differs from how they are on ordinary days."

"The third branch?" Tonger was somewhat surprised, after all, the third branch had never had much interaction with Jiang Li, and this inquiry seemed quite strange. However, knowing Jiang Li had her reasons for her actions, Tonger obediently nodded, "Your servant understands, miss, you can rest easy."

Jiang Li looked out the window, outside was quiet, a fine day, the sunlight warm and inviting, and looking at the sky, one seemed to be able to see the outside merrily beating drums and gongs, joyfully welcoming the bridal procession.

Somewhere within the Marquis Ningyuan’s Mansion, the situation was unknown.

Jiang Li smiled faintly and closed the window.

...

Marquis Ningyuan’s Mansion, today, was exceptionally lively.

The Heir of Marquis Ningyuan, Zhou Yanbang, was taking a wife, and there were not a few spectators. Among them, some naturally came because of their ties with the Marquis Ningyuan’s Mansion, but even more, were attracted by the bride’s side.

The bride’s older brother, who was currently the immensely favored Assistant Head Writer Shen Yurong, Lord Shen, and even if it was just to be on good terms with this young lord, there were many who attended the ceremony to show support to the bride.