After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

Wang Dazhuang's soul eagerly crawled inside and stretched its limbs.

After a moment of adjustment, the first thing he did was rush to the bronze mirror in the room, look at himself from left to right, and even turn around in a circle.

"Master! Your body is in great shape! Your face is so handsome!" He happily touched his face, then suddenly remembered something, turned his head, and asked with a hint of flattery and expectation:

"Master, next time... next time could you please cut a face for me that looks like Young Master Xie? His face, tsk tsk, is truly a rare beauty! I love it!"

Jiang Dusheng didn't even look up when he heard this, his tone completely indifferent:

"Get to work quickly. Take him back to his room and cover him with the blankets. If anyone asks about your identity tomorrow, just say he's my newly hired guard."

"Yes, Master!" Wang Dazhuang quickly abandoned his thoughts of looking in the mirror.

He found a blanket, wrapped the unconscious Xiao Huan in it, and although his movements were a little stiff, he still managed to pick her up steadily and walk towards Xiao Huan's room.

The next day, sunlight streamed through the window, casting bright spots of light into the room.

Jiang Dusheng slept in late, a rare treat since returning to the Jiang residence.

Unfortunately, this tranquility did not last long.

A deliberately hushed voice came from outside the door, "The eldest young lady, the madam, and the second young lady are coming this way with their entourage."

Jiang Dusheng didn't even lift his eyelids, only lazily hummed in agreement, and lay on the couch for a while longer.

Hearing the noise outside the door, she slowly sat up.

She didn't call anyone in to wash up, nor did she even change out of her nightgown. She simply gathered her slightly disheveled long hair and said to the door, "Let them in."

The door was gently pushed open, and Song Suya walked in first, a gentle smile on her face.

Following closely behind, Jiang Wanqing had some dark circles under her eyes, clearly indicating that she hadn't slept well the night before. Her gaze towards Jiang Dusheng was filled with grievance.

Behind the two were several obsequious maids, each carrying an exquisite tray with neatly folded dresses and glittering jewelry.

Song Suya's gaze swept over Jiang Dusheng's unadorned face, her smile unchanged, her tone gentle:

"Dusheng, you're awake? Your mother came especially to bring you the clothes and jewelry you wore to the Empress's birthday banquet. Take a look, do you like them?"

Jiang Dusheng then raised his eyes and glanced indifferently at the trays.

The topmost dress was a vibrant, eye-catching peach pink, embroidered with intricate gold thread depicting intertwined daffodils, making it exceptionally gorgeous.

She frowned slightly and shook her head directly: "The color is too bright, I don't like it."

Song Suya's smile faltered slightly, then returned, her tone persuasive:

"Her Majesty the Empress's birthday banquet is a joyous occasion for all, and many talented young men will be in attendance. It would be fitting for young ladies to dress brightly and appear more spirited..."

"What's so good about it?" Jiang Dusheng interrupted her, his gaze fixed on her face. His tone was flat, yet like an ice pick, easily piercing the thin veil of feigned kinship. "So that... the ladies can take a look?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Song Suya's smile froze completely, and all the tactful words she had prepared stuck in her throat.

She came today intending to hint at the matter of her daughter's marriage, but having her intentions so directly exposed made her feel embarrassed and even more reluctant to speak.

Looking at her embarrassed expression, Jiang Dusheng felt no pleasure, but rather a hint of sarcasm.

She sighed softly, her voice lowered, as if speaking to herself: "I gave you all a chance."

Song Suya was taken aback, not understanding what she meant. "What opportunity?"

Jiang Dusheng didn't say anything more. When he raised his eyes again, his gaze was filled with a distant calm.

"Alright, I understand what you mean. Please leave."

She immediately told them to leave.

Jiang Wanqing, who was standing to the side, could no longer hold back. Seeing that her mother was speechless, she tugged hard at Song Suya's sleeve.

Seeing that Song Suya did not react, Jiang Wanqing stepped forward and questioned her:

"Sister! What kind of attitude is this? Mother meant well! And... why did you set up a fortune-telling stall outside yesterday? You not only disgraced the Jiang family, but you also ruined our reputation!"

"Why did you curse me and Brother Yanzhao! Saying we'd all die a horrible death! What are you up to?!"

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face like broken beads. She grew increasingly agitated, her voice becoming shrill:

"Are you... are you still thinking about Brother Yanzhao? You can't stand to see me doing well, that's why you're cursing us so viciously!"

This was the outlet for her pent-up grievances and speculations that she had been holding in all night.

Jiang Dusheng tilted his head slightly, raised his hand to rub his ears, which were a little uncomfortable from the sharp sound, and made no attempt to hide his impatience.

She looked at Jiang Wanqing, who was crying her eyes out, and there was no jealousy or anger in her eyes, only indifference as if she were looking at a stranger.

"I'm stating the facts," she said, her voice still flat, yet filled with certainty.

"He is not the right person for you. Your destinies are incompatible. If you force yourselves to be together, you will inevitably resent each other and it will be difficult to have a good ending. Believe it or not, it's up to you."

After saying that, she stopped looking at the two people who were standing there dumbfounded, got up, walked around the screen, and went to the back room to wash up.

Song Suya sat there, looking at Jiang Dusheng's profile, which was vaguely similar to her own when she was young, but now it was full of estrangement, making her feel a mix of emotions.

The lost years of time and the estrangement of family ties cannot be filled overnight or by a few fancy clothes and jewelry.

Her lips moved, as if she wanted to call out to Jiang Dusheng, to say something, but in the end, all her words turned into a heavy sigh and dissipated into the air.

"Mother! Look at her!" Jiang Wanqing stomped her foot in anger, tears streaming down her face as she looked at her mother.

Song Suya stood up and patted Jiang Wanqing's hand as a way of comforting her.

She raised her voice slightly, her tone becoming more insistent, as she spoke towards the faint sound of water behind the screen:

"Dusheng, your mother knows that you resent us and feel that we were heartless to send you to the temple back then."

"But now that you have returned, you are the eldest daughter of the Jiang family. The strange arts you have learned are detrimental to your reputation and will only invite criticism and trouble for yourself."

"Your parents are planning for you and are looking out for a stable marriage in advance. It's for your own good, so that you will have someone to rely on in the future."

She paused, her tone softening slightly, with a hint of concession: "If you really don't want to get married so early, you can stay at home for a few more years after the engagement."

"But the Empress's birthday banquet is approaching, and this is your first time appearing in front of the palace. You must not break the rules and regulations."

Behind the screen, there was only the sound of flowing water, and no response.

Song Suya waited a while longer, then finally sighed helplessly, "Put the things here for now, and think it over carefully."

"Later, Mother will have Zhao Mama come over and explain to you the etiquette and rules for attending banquets in the palace, as well as the important people you need to pay attention to."

After saying that, she gestured for the maids to place the tray on the table to the side, then pulled the still unwilling Jiang Wanqing and turned to leave the courtyard.

The door closed, and the room returned to silence, with only the faint sound of water and the birdsong gradually rising outside the window.