Reborn Spoiled Girl Tames the Regent

Chapter 157 The Future Princess Wants to Drive Jiang Mian Away

Jiang Mian turned around and saw Wen Yin walking gracefully towards her.

With a perfectly measured smile on his face, his steps were neither hurried nor slow, and his expression was elegant, showing no trace of the dejection that followed Wen's downfall.

Rong'er muttered under her breath, "What an ingrate! Duke Wen is her uncle-in-law, and that smug look on his face..."

"Rong'er," Jiang Wan whispered, gesturing for her to shut up.

Rong'er stepped aside.

Wen Yin happened to walk closer, stopped, and said a few words to the nanny.

"Thank you for guiding me, Granny. Although the Wen family is no longer alive, I do not wish to tarnish the reputation of the Prince's Mansion. I will be careful in my words and deeds in the future and not let others say a word against me. Please take good care of me, Granny."

His words were spoken with gentle tenderness and consideration, even tinged with sorrow.

The old woman nodded and said, "I will definitely keep these words in mind."

The servants around her sighed, all feeling that this third young lady was sensible and understanding.

Only Jiang Mian knew that Wen Yin was adept at using weakness as armor, retreating as a means of advancement.

The caution and prudence we exercise now may well be laying the foundation for gaining legitimacy in the future.

She subtly withdrew her gaze, but Wen Yin turned to look at her.

"Miss Jiang, it's been a long time. How have you been?"

Jiang Wan nodded with a smile: "Thank you for your concern, Miss San. I've been doing well lately. But you, the Wen family case is quite serious. I imagine you must be heartbroken."

Wen Yin's lips stiffened for a moment, then she sighed, "Thank you for your understanding, Miss Jiang. I was raised in the Wen family since I was a child. It seemed like I was living in luxury, but in reality, I was walking on thin ice. If I had known earlier that there was corruption in the family, I would have exposed it sooner."

"I was indeed heartbroken and remorseful some time ago, and thought that only death could prove my innocence." He paused for a moment, then added, "But the Empress Dowager, mindful of my parents' sacrifice for the country and pitying my loneliness, spared my life."

Jiang Wan raised an eyebrow: "It must be that your parents are watching over you from heaven. This is also Miss Wen's good fortune."

The word "blessing" sounds gentle, but it is actually sarcastic.

Wen Yin's smile faded slightly, but she remained composed: "Miss Jiang has been staying at your residence for quite some time now, so you must be more familiar with this place than I am. Why don't we address each other as sisters from now on? When you return to the General's Mansion, our two families will visit each other more often, so it will be more intimate to address each other that way."

The old woman standing nearby sensed the unspoken meaning and secretly glanced at Jiang Mian.

This clearly means that Jiang Mian is not a member of the Prince's household, not now, and never will be.

Jiang Mian felt inexplicably angry, a surge of anger welling up inside her.

She replied coldly, "I'm afraid that's inappropriate. I'm only half a year older than you, and I'd be taking advantage of you for no reason."

"It doesn't matter, it's just a form of address after all."

Wen Yin wasn't annoyed. Watching her keep pouring tea, she said, "Miss Jiang, you've been fiddling with the tea set. Aren't you going to pour me a cup?"

"Okay."

Jiang Mian gracefully lifted the teapot, gently poured the tea, and then slowly handed out the teacup.

Wen Yin was about to take it when Jiang Wan turned her hand and handed it to her behind her back.

"Granny, you've had a long day. Please have some tea."

The old woman was taken aback, then took the gift and thanked her repeatedly, saying, "Thank you, Miss Jiang."

Before Wen Yin could react, Jiang Wan poured another cup and handed it to Rong'er beside her: "You have one too."

Rong'er accepted the tea with a beaming smile: "Thank you, Miss Jiang! Miss Jiang's tea gets more fragrant the longer it's brewed; I've been craving it since this morning!"

Wen Yin's smile froze on her face.

Jiang Mian seemed oblivious, lifting the teapot to add a third cup, but there was hardly any tea left, only half a cup dripping out, with a few broken leaves floating on top.

"Oh dear, the tea is gone. If Miss is thirsty, the well water in the courtyard is sweet; shall I send someone to fetch a pot?"

Her tone was calm, her smile gentle, yet it concealed an unyielding sharpness.

Wen Yin lowered her eyelashes, her fingertips tightly clenched inside her sleeve.

When has anyone ever dared to play tricks on her like this before? This Jiang Mian is really pushing her luck!

Although she no longer has the support of the Wen family, with the Empress Dowager's edict here, the position of Princess of Beiqin will be hers sooner or later!

She's just the legitimate daughter of a general's family. What right does she have to act so presumptuously in front of her?

She scoffed and said, "Miss Jiang, with your manners, anyone who didn't know better would think you were a princess. Have you been staying here so long that you think you're the mistress of this mansion?"

The atmosphere immediately froze upon hearing this.

Rong'er's expression changed, and the nanny coughed lightly, trying to smooth things over.

Jiang Mian, however, did not get angry. She simply put down her teacup gently, slowly raised her eyes, and quietly looked at her.

“I live here and have never dreamed of the position of princess. But the third young lady has only been in the manor for a short time, and she is already in a hurry to set up rules and divide her territory before even settling down. It is obvious to others who cares more about this position.

"you--!"

Wen Yin's anger finally surged, and her tone suddenly turned cold: "What right do you have to talk to me like that? You're just a temporary refuge here because you lost your home, yet you pretend to be close to the prince. I'm afraid you've already got other ideas in mind!"

Jiang Mian remained calm and composed: "I did indeed come to stay temporarily, but unfortunately, the Prince insists on not letting me leave. If he really has any ulterior motives, I'm afraid I'll have to ask him first, don't you think?"

Wen Yin scoffed, "The Prince won't let you leave? You really think highly of yourself..."

The words had barely left his lips when a deep male voice suddenly came from outside the hall, its tone as cold as iron—

"Indeed, it was I who forbade her to leave."

A figure in a long black robe emerged slowly from the shadows of the eaves. Xiao Hengzhi's eyes were deep and his expression was indifferent. His steps were unhurried.

Everyone in the hall quickly stood up and bowed.

"I've met the prince."

He stood firmly beside Jiang Mian, his eyes fixed straight ahead, and said with a slight parting of his thin lips, "If Jiang Mian wants to stay, then she may stay. Anyone who is unhappy can return to the palace and ask the Empress Dowager to make other arrangements."

Wen Yin's expression changed several times, but she maintained her composure.

If she wanted to stay in the Prince's mansion, she had to please Xiao Hengzhi.

She slowly took out a letter with a red border and a gold seal from her sleeve, her voice trembling slightly: "I was rude just now, please forgive me, Your Highness. I entered the residence today on the Empress Dowager's orders—"

She held the letter high: "Now that the Wen family has been raided, the Empress Dowager pities my loneliness and has ordered me to stay in the Prince's mansion to recuperate. If Your Highness is not pleased, you might as well go to the palace in person to refuse the Empress Dowager... Yin'er has always been a sensible person."

Her hands trembled slightly, hoping to win Xiao Heng's pity with this pitiful posture.

But clearly, he didn't have the habit of showing tenderness to women.

"Are you implying that I should disobey the Empress Dowager's decree and be branded as a rebellious prince?"

Wen Yin trembled with fear at his imposing presence: "No, that's not what I meant, Your Highness has misunderstood..."

"Enough." Xiao Hengzhi's tone was polite but distant. "I can keep you here for the sake of the Empress Dowager, but if you don't want to be forcibly kicked out, you'd better behave yourself."

Wen Yin lowered her head and curtsied, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Everyone in the Prince's mansion was waiting for the Prince's signal to settle Wen Yin, but Xiao Hengzhi just stood there.

It wasn't until the old nanny stepped forward to greet him: "Your Highness, shall we send the Third Miss to stay temporarily in the West Wing?"

He then nodded slightly: "Mm."

Wen Yin maintained her docile demeanor and left with the nanny.

Jiang Mian stood aside, feeling as if an inexplicable dullness had passed through her heart.

He was the one who made the decisions in the Prince of Beiqin's residence. If he hadn't given his approval, would the Empress Dowager have forced Wen Yin into the residence?

His coldness towards Wen Yingu at this moment made it seem as if he was forced into it.

How utterly hypocritical!