Chapter 103
Butler Zhao saw the duke seriously flipping the book with a gratified and satisfied face. It's not in vain that he found all these books. In the future, the duke won't create a silly incident like the heart problem incident.
Xie Qi looked on with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. The duke actually looked at those unqualified books with such seriousness. The tall and big image of Duke Ding in his heart cracked a bit.
Who would know that the book Duke Ding was reading, "Official Lady and Handsome Husband", was talking about the story of a daughter of an official daring to love and hate and chase a poor but handsome guy.
This made Duke Ding thought of his little lady who dared to flirt and his lips curved a little.
The little lady must have read the book.
Duke Ding suddenly became interested in the novels and he read them with an attitude to study.
This could be said as luck.
If Duke Ding read another book, "Du Second Son Monopolize Queen of Flowers", he won't be this serious or read it with an attitude to learn.
He might even throw these books to the trash can.
A burn of incense later, Duke Ding had read the whole book and put it on the table as he descended into thoughts with a grave expression, as if he was thinking about life.
Xie Qi stealthily looked at the cover of the book Duke Ding read and silently heaved a sigh of relief. So it was a normal book, no wonder the duke had no reaction.
A moment later, Duke Ding Xie Heng's voice rang in the silent room.
"Xie Qi, from tomorrow on, send a basket of fresh fruits to Jiang fourth miss everyday."
He gave a basket everyday, it was more than the handsome guy in the novel by a lot. The little lady would be happier when she received the fresh fruits he sent.
Duke Ding Xie Heng thought happily.
Xie Qi immediately accepted the order respectfully. Butler Zhao was happy in his heart. The duke took the initiative to send Jiang fourth miss fruits. This was the start of enlightenment. He suddenly felt that it was the right action to find those books.
He would be better in the future.
When he left the main courtyard, Butler Zhao felt that the wind carried his feet. His mood was very good.
.....
When she arrived back at Changning Count Residence, Jiang Ningbao had not released a breath before an old servant came to report.
Old Madam Jiang wanted to meet her.
Jiang Ningbao could only lead a bunch of servants to Golden Longevity Hall and let them standby by the door. Jiang Ningbao tidied herself and lifted her skirt as she stepped in the hall.
The atmosphere in the hall was oppressive and the servants in the hall all lowered their head, not daring to breathe too loudly. They all trembled with fear.
The face of Old Madam Jiang who was sitting on the high chair was dark. The servant by her side, Hong Xing, also had no smile on her face.
Jiang Ningbao's eyes flashed with suspicion. Could something happen in Changning Count Residence? But when she arrived, the servants all did their jobs and it was not like something happened. She thought it over as she stepped forward and greeted Old Madam Jiang.
"Greeting grandmother!"
Old Madam Jiang restrained her gaze and her sharp eyes stared at Jiang Ningbao's face fixedly. She spoke coldly, "Fourth girl, your oldest uncle suddenly fainted at noon during lunch."
Jiang Ningbao finally felt something and her face revealed a shocked and disbelieving expression, "Grandmother, this.....is this true?"
"I've invited a few great doctors but they did not find anything strange."
Old Madam Jiang thought of the nightmare the fourth granddaughter spoke of a few days ago. She thought of how the girl said that her oldest uncle was squeezed by a big snake and fainted.
In her heart, she regretted not sending Madam Zhang's nephew, Zhang Zhan, back to Dongping Count Residence earlier. Now, it was too late to say anything. Her oldest son suddenly fainted and the doctors could not find out the cause.
Old Madam Jiang finally panicked.
Between her son and her daughter-in-law's nephew, Old Madam Jiang chose her son, of course. Then she thought that her son was restrained by Zhang Zhan and she even agreed to let her fourth granddaughter take her to Queen Rui's flower admiring banquet.
Once he climbed to a higher tree, she would be a laughingstock.
Old Madam Jiang almost vomited blood from anger.
Chapter 104
Jiang Ningbao laughed in her heart. Oldest uncle also had days like this. A pity that the time her oldest uncle fainted was not long. Suddenly fainting and suddenly waking up, the novel only wrote a few lines about it. Jiang Ningbao also did not know why. Perhaps there was a provocation, but her pair of beautiful eyes revealed a trace of fear, "Grandmother, then won't this say that Sir Zhang, he.....he....."
"Shut up." Old Madam Jiang bellowed with a sinking face. At the same time, she gestured for the servants in the hall to get out, only leaving her trusted servant, Hong Xing.
"Fourth girl, in the nightmare you had, did you really not see when your oldest uncle will wake up?" Old Madam Jiang stared at Jiang Ningbao's expression and her gaze flashed when she saw the embedded night pearl on the golden hairpin.
It's actually a night pearl.
Duke Ding really was generous.
Once she thought that his granddaughter was Duke Ding's fiancee, Old Madam Jiang's face softened a lot.
Jiang Ningbao shook with a scared expression, "No, granddaughter only saw the big snake turning into Sir Zhang and was scared and woke up. Grandmother, don't worry. The sky will help ones who are worthy. Oldest uncle will wake up."
Fourth girl did not hide anything.
Old Madam Jiang's face became darker and her heart became more panicked and angry. If her son did not wake up, the position of Changning Count would fall on her oldest grandson. Between her son and grandson, her son was closer and more filial. Her grandson leaned more on his mother, Madam Zhang.
Once she thought of Madam Zhang, she immediately thought of Monk Gao in Clear Water Temple. Old Madam Jiang's body shook. Her son fainted so suddenly and the doctors could not find the reason, this was obviously the doing of an evil entity.
"Hong Xing, quick, quickly prepare the carriage to send the oldest master to Clear Water Temple."
Jiang Ningbao saw Old Madam Jiang's face suddenly changing and anxiously sending her oldest uncle to Clear Water Temple. She immediately understood that Old Madam Jiang thought that the oldest uncle was bothered by an unclean thing.
"Fourth girl, you should go back."
Old Madam Jiang ordered Hong Xing and turned to look at this granddaughter. She waved her hand to let her leave, not even asking the three people who went with her to Queen Rui's flower admiring banquet.
It was obvious that Changning Count fainting made Old Madam Jiang unable to care about other things.
Going back to her own courtyard, Jiang Ningbao sat on the soft couch as she sipped her tea. Her mouth curved up and she exuded a happy aura.
Around fifteen minutes later, Jiang Ningbao, who had toured King Rui Residence's flower garden, felt sleepy and she yawned as she laid on the soft couch to take a short rest.
Chun Xi and Chun Le took a thin blanket and put it over their lady, and then they left with light steps.
Around an hour later, Jiang Ningbao opened her eyes and put aside the blanket. She looked spirited and healthy.
Chun Xi heard the movement in the room and took the fruits she had prepared as she entered the room. She put the fruits on the table and told her lady the shocking news.
"Lady, fifth lady and second young master have returned to the residence. I heard that Sir Zhang rescued a second legal daughter of the vice leader of the Ministry of Civil Personnel who was schemed by a concubine born sister. It seems that Sir Zhang would be the vice leader's son-in-law."
Jiang Ningbao ate a strawberry and her eyes flashed with surprise, "Zhang Zhan ruined the innocence of the second legal daughter of the vice leader?"
Chun Xi hesitated and said, "Should be. Lady, the news had spread. The second legal daughter of the vice leader of the Minister of Civil Personnel was given that kind of medicine by the concubine sister and coincidentally, Sir Zhang met her and immediately carried her to search for Queen Rui."
They had hugged, so there was no innocence.
Jiang Ningbao was surprised. Zhang Zhan would be that lucky.....but this guy was full of schemes. He acted as a gentleman and carried the lady who was given that kind of medicine to search for Queen Rui.
This was better than ruining the lady's innocence on spot and the vice leader would look at Zhang Zhan in a new light.
The news spread, Jiang Ningbao guessed, must be because when Zhang Zhan carried the lady to search for Queen Rui, he purposely took the long and crowdy road and let many people see it.
Zhang Zhan had a good calculation.
"I heard that after the second young master knew, he was very angry and ruined his room after he went back." Chun Xi was smiling when she said this. This second young master kept on trying to flirt with noble ladies in the flower admiring banquet but everyone ignored him. They took another road when they saw him.
After knowing Sir Zhang Zhan got a chance to rise up, he must be furious in his heart.
"Could it be that he does not know that the oldest uncle is not unconscious and still had the mood to ruin his room?" Jiang Ningbao's mouth twitched. This second male cousin's head was not that good.
Could it be that after studying so many books, he got broken?
Chun Xi shook her head, "This servant does not know this. But the old madam called the second young master to Golden Longevity Hall to be scolded."
Chapter 105
Jiang Ningbao could not help but laugh and ate another strawberry. She thought that Old Madam Jiang would surely be so infuriated that she vomited blood. Old Madam Jiang let her take Zhang Zhan this morning, who knew that Zhang Zhan would be lucky to save the second legal daughter of the vice leader of the Ministry of Civil Personnel and her second male cousin got nothing, wasting the opportunity of attending the flower admiring banquet.
Vice leader of the Ministry of Civil Personnel.....In the book, this person chose a side but in secret, he went and sought refuge with King Qin's government official.
If Zhang Zhan married the second daughter of the vice leader of the Ministry of Civil Personnel, won't that be equal to standing on King Qin's side? King Qin was the next emperor Yang Shuqing chose.
That's right. Chose.
Yang Shuqing was a reborn woman and she knew what would happen in the future. She felt that she could support King Qin to sit on that throne.
Jiang Ningbao's eyes were slightly curved.
It seemed that she had to get Qianyuan Emperor's diagnosis fast and cured the emperor's body soon. As long as the emperor did not die early and had children, those King Qin and King Jin won't have any chance.
Yang Shuqing's plans would also be for nothing.
Thinking like this, Jiang Ningbao wrote a letter to her big brother Jiang Jin so that no one would use the matter of her oldest uncle fainting to make things difficult for him.
When it's afternoon, Manager Yao sent a batch of medicinal materials.
The side west courtyard was covered tightly by Jiang Ningbao's people and it was difficult for others to get information.
Jiang Ningbao had no intention of keeping secret about her act of brewing wine this time and she brewed wine in front of Chun Xi and Chun Le. There were many ways to brew medicinal wine and flower wine and brewing wine was normal. The steps were also very simple.
Around an hour later, Jiang Ningbao sealed the big earthen jugs and put them in the wine cellar to keep for around a month before it could be drunk.
Chun Xi was composed but Chun Le's face was filled with surprise. She could also brew some simple medicinal wines and after knowing that the medicinal wines her lady brewed had mystical effects, she thought there was some secret to it. But now, she saw the ways and steps of brewing medicinal wine had no special difference. How could it make such wines with mystical effects?
Chun Le was bewildered.
"This is the lady's special ability." Chun Xi heard Chun Le's unconscious mutter and could not help but speak proudly.
"Lady is amazing."
Chun Le was enlightened. No wonder the lady would brew wine in front of them, so it was a special ability only the lady had. The lady must be a lucky person cared for by the sky.
Chun Le's heart became more loyal to the lady and more respectful.
Jiang Ningbao heard the two servant girls' conversation and laughed in her heart. Chun Le was Manager Yao's daughter and her mouth was tight. She was not afraid that Chun Le could tell others of her ability.
After brewing a few jugs of medicinal wine, Jiang Ningbao went to take a bath spiritedly.
"Lady, Sir Zhang tidied his things and left the count residence." Chun Xi made fragrant tea for her lady and told this news to her lady happily.
Jiang Ningbao who had just taken a bath carelessly tied her hair and her whole body leaned on the soft couch as she read through the book. Hearing Chin Xi's words, she smiled slightly.
"Sir Zhang must be thinking to go back and prepare betrothal gifts."
"Second daughter of the Ministry of Civil Personnel's vice leader. Sir Zhang really climbed high."
Jiang Ningbao revealed a meaningful smile.
The better Zhang Zhan's future prospects were, the more Old Mada Jiang regretted in her heart. Madam Zhang, this pit that dug her son, won't be getting anything good.
Madam Zhang's good days were coming to an end.
Nearing night, the news of Changning Count suddenly fainting could no longer be suppressed and it spread out.
If it was before, no one would pay attention to a small count residence with no prospect. But Changning Count Residence was lucky to have the fourth miss from the second branch who got a marriage decree from the emperor and would marry into Duke Ding Residence, becoming Duchess Ding. They could not help but pay attention.
Jiang Ningbao knew that the news of her oldest uncle fainting had spread out and she did not care about it. Oldest uncle would only faint for a few days and would wake up later. But after she went out the courtyard, her face still revealed a worried expression.
The count suddenly fainting made the servants scared but with Old Madam Jiang taking charge, Changning Count Residence was still as usual, only the dinner at night became lighter.
This night, Changning Count Residence's first branch fell into panic.
Jiang Ningbao had a good night's sleep.
On the second day, Jiang Ningbao received a basket of fresh fruits Duke Ding Xie Heng sent. There were still water droplets on the fruits and it was obvious that they were just picked from the hamlet.
"Xie Qi, this is specially sent by the duke for me?"
Jiang Ningbao looked at the fresh fruits in the big basket and her heart felt a little sweet. Her soft face was full of pleasant surprise. This was the first time the duke sent her something.
She did not think that it would be a big basket of fresh fruits. The duke was really humble, the thing he sent was different from others.
Xie Qi nodded respectfully.
"Right, the master also said that from today on, he will send you a basket of fresh fruits everyday." Xie Qi honestly conveyed Duke Ding Xie Heng's words.
Jiang Ningbao: "....."
A basket was a pleasant surprise but a basket everyday made Jiang Ningbao muddled. She could not help but went through her memories with Duke Ding. What did she do that gave the duke the wrong impression that she was a foodie?
A big basket everyday, how could she eat them all?
If she gave her servants, won't this be stepping on the duke's kind intention?
"Xie Qi, tell the duke to not send more in the future. I cannot finish them all by myself and would make the duke's kind intention go in vain." Jiang Ningbao immediately spoke.
Xie Qi: "....."
Finished, the duke tried to be clever but ended in a blunder. Jiang fourth miss did not seem to like these fruits.
Xie Qi went back to report to the duke with unsettled emotions.
Duke Ding Xie Heng heard Xie Qi's report and his brows knitted. His handsome face flashed with astonishment. He obviously did it like the handsome guy in the book and he also sent all the fruits the little lady would eat. Why was the reaction of the little lady and the official's daughter different?
Where did he make a mistake?
Duke Ding Xie Heng seriously flipped "Official Lady and Handsome Husband"once more.
He confirmed that his method was not wrong.
Perhaps the little lady was embarrassed and spoke words with the opposite meaning.
Duke Ding Xie Heng thought that he found the reason and ordered Xie Qi to keep on sending the little lady a basket of fruits.
Xie Qi: "....."