The Supporting Female Character Enters the Game, the Crazy Crown Prince Slowly Falls Deeply in Love - Chapter 62

Jiang Yao did not sleep peacefully.

She dreamt that she was standing in a dense fog, completely alone, with the sound of the wind howling in her ears, as if countless whispers were echoing around her.

She tried to walk forward, but found herself restrained in place by an invisible force.

Suddenly, a deep voice, carrying a hint of coldness, came from the depths of the abyss, “Jiang Yao, why did you deceive me?”

She whipped her head around, meeting Xie Yunian’s deep-set eyes; his gaze was icy and devoid of any warmth.

Jiang Yao’s heart trembled. She abruptly woke up, a layer of cold sweat beading on her forehead.

She sat up, gasping for breath, her heart pounding like a drum.

“It’s all fake, dreams are the opposite…” Jiang Yao softly reassured herself, trying to calm her inner panic.

Light footsteps approached the door, followed by Chunlan’s clear voice: “Miss, are you awake? The Eldest Young Miss asked you to come over.”

Jiang Yao froze. She finally remembered what she had forgotten last night!

She had actually forgotten to tell her elder sister that she was with Xie Yunian!

She had been too tired and slightly drunk, and had collapsed into bed upon returning, forgetting the matter entirely.

“This is terrible, terrible…” Jiang Yao muttered under her breath, a wave of regret washing over her.

She had left the house with her elder sister last night, and her sudden disappearance must have worried her greatly.

Jiang Yao hurriedly got up and quickly changed her clothes.

Xiachen noticed her pale complexion and couldn’t help but ask, “Miss, are you alright? You look unwell.”

Jiang Yao forced a smile, waved her hand, and said, “I’m fine. Let’s go find my elder sister. Remember to bring the things on the table.”

She might as well bring the prize from the riddle game to her elder sister.

Along the way, Jiang Yao’s steps became slower and slower. Her heart was a wreck, and she even began to wonder if she should find an excuse to hide for a while and wait until her elder sister’s anger subsided before seeing her.

But then she thought, if she deliberately hid, it would probably only make her elder sister angrier.

Jiang Ying’s door was slightly ajar, and a faint scent of tea wafted from inside.

Jiang Yao took a deep breath and gently knocked on the door. “Elder Sister?”

“Come in,” Jiang Ying’s voice came from inside, her tone calm, revealing neither pleasure nor displeasure.

Jiang Yao pushed the door open and saw Jiang Ying sitting on the soft couch by the window, intensely focused on something she held in her hand.

Upon seeing Jiang Yao enter, she merely gave her a brief glance.

This is bad. She looks quite upset.

Jiang Yao’s heart grew more anxious. She cautiously walked over and sat down opposite Jiang Ying. “Elder Sister, I didn’t mean to leave without saying goodbye. It was just an emergency at the time…”

Seeing her flustered appearance, Jiang Ying couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “If I had waited for you to tell me, I’m afraid I would have reported it to the officials long ago.”

After discovering Jiang Yao was missing last night, she had been instantly consumed by anxiety.

She first dispatched people around her and Xiao Wuheng to search nearby, and then told Dongling to rush back to the manor to report the news, fearing that some accident had befallen Jiang Yao.

Just as she was about to report it to the authorities, Dongling rushed back.

She said that before she even reached the manor, she had run into Chunlan, who had been looking for them, and said that Jiang Yao was with Young Master Xie. Only then did Jiang Ying finally let down her guard.

Seeing that her elder sister was not blaming her, Jiang Yao felt another pang of guilt. “Elder Sister… I’m sorry for making you worry.”

Jiang Ying gently patted the back of her hand. “Your elder sister is not blaming you. Our Ya’er is a young woman now, and naturally has her own thoughts, but you must always protect yourself, and you must tell your elder sister if anything happens.”

“I understand, Elder Sister,” Jiang Yao immediately replied, sighing slightly in relief.

Jiang Ying nodded, then her expression turned serious, and she changed the subject. “I called you here for another matter.”

As she spoke, she picked up an invitation from the side and handed it to Jiang Yao.

Jiang Yao took the invitation and, looking down, was immediately surprised.

The crest of the Regent King’s Manor was conspicuously printed on the invitation.

She looked up at Jiang Ying, somewhat incredulously. “This is… an invitation from the Regent King’s Manor?”

What is going on here!

Jiang Ying nodded. “Precisely. The Regent King’s Consort is hosting a Chrysanthemum Viewing Banquet three days from now, inviting the Jiang family’s female dependents to attend.”

She felt a little strange. The Regent King’s Consort had never had any dealings with the Jiang family before. She only remembered that the Consort had vouched for Jiang Yao at the Xuan Yang Marquis Manor last time. “Ya’er, did you say something to the Consort at the Xuan Yang Marquis Manor last time?”

“It was just a brief encounter. We didn’t even exchange two sentences,” Jiang Yao frowned slightly, feeling a hidden sense of unease.

She had gone to great lengths to avoid the Regent King, so why would she receive an invitation from the Regent King’s Consort?

Was this truly the intention of the Regent King’s Consort, or… the intention of the Regent King?

Jiang Yao remembered the original owner’s fate and shivered abruptly.

“Elder Sister, this… can we not go?”

She spoke in a low voice, a hint of hesitation in her tone.

Jiang Ying noticed her expression and said gently, “If you do not wish to go, your elder sister will find an excuse to decline on your behalf.”

Although she did not know why Ya’er looked afraid, it was just a Chrysanthemum Viewing Banquet, and there was no harm in feigning illness to avoid it.

Jiang Yao raised her head, a flash of struggle in her eyes.

Now that the Emperor had publicly fainted at the Mid-Autumn Banquet, political turmoil was brewing in the court, and the Regent King’s power was at its peak. If the Jiang family were to offend him at a time like this, the consequences would be unimaginable.

She lowered her head and looked at the invitation in her hand, her fingertips tightening slightly. After much deliberation, she finally spoke, “Elder Sister, I think I will go after all. I can’t keep hiding at home.”

Jiang Ying was taken aback, wondering why she had suddenly changed her mind. “There is no need to force yourself if you do not want to go.”

Jiang Yao shook her head, offering a strained smile. “It’s not that I don’t want to go; I just heard that the Regent King is ruthless, so I am a little nervous.”

Jiang Ying reached out and gently stroked her hair. “Don’t be nervous. Your elder sister will be there, too.”

Three days later.

As Jiang Yao reached the manor gate, she saw Jiang Zhen standing beside the carriage.

She paused for a moment and walked up, surprised. “Second Sister?”

Jiang Zhen’s health had always been poor. She usually stayed mostly within the manor, and Jiang Yao rarely saw her go out, so she assumed she would not attend today’s Chrysanthemum Viewing Banquet.

She hadn’t expected…

Jiang Zhen heard Jiang Yao’s voice and smiled faintly, seemingly seeing her confusion. “I am uncommonly in good spirits today, so I thought I would join in the excitement.”

Jiang Yao nodded, not saying much more.

Jiang Zhen was indeed in a good mood today; even the corners of her eyes and brows carried a subtle, fleeting smile.

Recalling what she had seen at the dinner table last time, Jiang Yao subconsciously surveyed her.

Jiang Zhen was wearing a light blue dress today, with a silver-threaded embroidered cloak draped over her shoulders. She had also applied rouge to her face, making her look much more vibrant than usual.

“Let’s go. If we delay any longer, I’m afraid we will be late,” Jiang Ying lifted the carriage curtain and spoke to the two of them.

Once the three of them were seated, the carriage slowly set off in the direction of the Regent King’s Manor.

Jiang Yao couldn’t help but secretly observe Jiang Zhen.

She wondered if it was just her imagination, but she felt that Jiang Zhen was looking forward to going to the Regent King’s Manor.

But…

Jiang Yao frowned. She couldn’t recall the book mentioning any involvement between Jiang Zhen and the Regent King’s Manor.