The Supporting Female Character Enters the Game, the Crazy Crown Prince Slowly Falls Deeply in Love - Chapter 53

The moment Old Madam Jiang  finished speaking, the maids filed in, presenting exquisite dishes one by one and arranging them on the table.

Her gaze fell affectionately upon Jiang Yao and Jiang Ying, a touch of emotion in her eyes. She slowly began, “Ying’er and Yao’er have both grown into young women. Ying’er’s engagement was only recently settled, and it seems Yao’er’s will be decided soon as well.”

Madam Shen  smiled and agreed, “Yes, seeing them all finding their proper place makes my heart happy too.”

Jiang Ying  heard their words, and upon recalling something, her cheeks flushed slightly. She shyly lowered her head.

Jiang Yao widened her eyes at this sight. What did she miss? Why was her sister looking so shy? Jiang Yao was desperate to duck under the table and ask her sister.

Seeing their expressions, Old Madam Jiang couldn’t help but laugh, her tone slightly indulgent. “Look, Ying’er’s ears are completely red, yet Yao’er still doesn’t know shame!”

Seeing this, Jiang Yao quickly lowered her head to feign shyness, but her eyes darted around, subtly observing the activity opposite her.

What she saw now was even more surprising.

Madam Liu  picked up a piece of steamed perch with her chopsticks and gently placed it into Jiang Zhen’s  bowl. Not only that, but she also personally served Jiang Zhen soup. The two occasionally exchanged whispers, as intimate as a pair of biological mother and daughter, as if no previous rift had ever occurred between them.

This scene startled Jiang Yao. After returning from the previous banquet, worried that Madam Liu might do something drastic in her anger, she had sent Xiacan  to Madam Liu’s courtyard.

“When the First Madam returned, her face was ashen. She immediately smashed a teacup and scolded the Second Miss for being useless. But I don’t know what the Second Miss said to her, but the First Madam calmed down. She even ordered a bowl of calming soup to be made and sent to the Second Miss.”

Recalling what Xiacan had said upon her return, Jiang Yao’s gaze settled on Jiang Zhen. Jiang Zhen was wearing a light blue beizi (a type of vest or jacket) embroidered with butterfly patterns today, made of top-grade cloud brocade, with pearls adorning the lapels. Coupled with her somewhat pale complexion, she looked like a delicate, sickly beauty kept deep within the boudoir.

Jiang Yao recalled that Madam Liu seemed to have been this way when she saw the two of them a few days ago. Mother-daughter affection that hadn’t been cultivated in over ten years suddenly appeared after one heart-to-heart talk?

She’d sooner believe that Madam Liu has genuinely turned over a new leaf than that Jiang Zhen is actually Qin Shi Huang.

As she was thinking, she suddenly heard Madam Wei speak, “The Xie family is highly distinguished. If the marriage with Yao’er is truly finalized, Little Sister must not forget that you also have a niece related by blood.”

“Elder Sister, I…”

Before Madam Shen could finish, Madam Liu let out a light laugh, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes. She put down her chopsticks and said with feigned nonchalance, “What if the Xie family is distinguished? Xie Yunian has lost his memory now. How can he be considered a suitable match? On the contrary, our Zhen’er is destined to be…”

“Mother!” Jiang Zhen interrupted Madam Liu hastily. Her voice was soft but held a hint of panic. She subconsciously glanced at Jiang Yao, then quickly lowered her head, whispering, “This matter… cannot be rushed.” Jiang Zhen kept her head down, her ears flushed, behaving like a shy young lady.

“Yes, yes, yes,” a hint of triumph flashed in Madam Liu’s eyes. She reached out to smooth the stray hairs at Jiang Zhen’s temple. “Zhen’er is just too shy, this child.”

This entire scene fell into Jiang Yao’s eyes. Why was Jiang Zhen looking at her?

She raised her eyes, meeting Jiang Zhen’s gaze. Although it was only for an instant, she caught a flicker of panic in Jiang Zhen’s eyes, as if she were hiding some unspeakable secret—one that seemed related to her.

Jiang Yao’s heart skipped a beat. What were these two women planning?

After dinner, it was still early, and the group moved to the courtyard to enjoy the moon. The moonlight was like water, sprinkling onto the blue flagstones of the courtyard, reflecting a silvery white.

Just then, a voice suddenly sounded from outside. “Old Madam!”

Everyone’s eyes immediately turned in that direction. The young servant, faced with so many pairs of eyes, immediately fell silent, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead. He quickly ran to Old Madam Jiang and whispered a few words into her ear.

Old Madam Jiang’s expression changed, her brow furrowing deeply. Her gaze swept over the people in the courtyard, and she waved her hand, saying, “You all go back first.”

Seeing this, Madam Shen quickly smoothed things over. “Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. You don’t need to be confined to the manor. There’s a lantern festival in the streets outside. Why don’t you all go out for a stroll and enjoy the festivities?”

Old Madam Jiang nodded, her expression softening slightly. “That’s fine. Go on, all of you. Be careful.”

Jiang Yao recognized the young servant as the one who had been following Jiang Mingji in the morning. It seemed the Emperor had likely fainted. It was probably due to her earlier reminder that Jiang Mingji had the servant return with a message to put their minds at ease. After all, in the original book, the Jiang family had to wait until midnight for Jiang Mingji to return.

“…Sister, what are you looking at?” Jiang Yao asked softly, following Jiang Ying’s gaze, but she could only see the bustling crowds. There weren’t many entertainment options at this time, so the streets were incredibly crowded during festivals.

“It’s a shame the fifth brother has to leave for the academy tomorrow. Mother won’t let him come out,” Jiang Yao thought that children his age should be more lively.

“Nothing… Mmm.” Jiang Ying replied distractedly, her eyes frequently scanning the surroundings.

Since the streets were crowded today, the two hadn’t taken a carriage and were each wearing a veil on their head.

“Sister… don’t worry,” Jiang Yao opened her mouth, intending to comfort her by saying that Father would return tomorrow. A thought flashed through her mind, and she suddenly stopped speaking. She had originally thought Jiang Ying was worried about their father. But on second thought, Jiang Ying at this moment didn’t know the Emperor had fainted and that their father was trapped in the palace.

So, her behavior… could it be…?

“Miss Jiang!”

As if to confirm her suspicion, a gentle voice sounded from behind the two of them the very next second. Jiang Yao turned her head, looking at the person who had appeared before them seemingly out of nowhere. The man had a handsome, picturesque face. Who else could it be but Xiao Wuheng, the Prince of Jin?

Was this the bond between the male and female protagonists?

She looked at the two of them, slightly raising an eyebrow, and feigned surprise. “Oh my! Sister, did you have an appointment with His Highness the Prince of Jin?”

Hearing this, a look of panic flashed across Jiang Ying’s face, and her voice was a little vague. “N-No, it was a coincidence, just a coincidence.”

“Yes, yes, yes, a coincidence. But since we’ve met, why don’t we walk together?” Jiang Yao didn’t expose the two of them, just smiling and agreeing.

She observed the subtle interaction between Jiang Ying and the Prince of Jin and sighed inwardly. If the two could fall in love at this moment, at least for her sister, it wouldn’t be a blind marriage to a stranger. The emotional turmoil of the original plot hadn’t happened yet. Everything was still possible.

If only… the Emperor hadn’t died.

Jiang Yao was startled by her own thought. However, according to the original plot, the Prince of Jin should have been in the palace attending the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet at this time. Why would he be here?

And what about her, the third wheel?

Could her arrival have changed the course of the original plot?