The Supporting Female Character Enters the Game, the Crazy Crown Prince Slowly Falls Deeply in Love - Chapter 77

A flicker of disappointment crossed the Duchess of Rongguo’s eyes, but she quickly forced a smile. “You are indeed thoughtful, but…” she hesitated. “I’m afraid Yuyao can’t wait much longer. She has always adored His Majesty, and now that she’s confined, I don’t know how heartbroken she must be.”

“I understand,” Madam Shen stood up. “Madam, please rest assured, as soon as I have any news, I will inform you immediately.”

The Duchess of Rongguo reluctantly nodded, then spoke a few more words of gratitude before taking her leave.

“Ya’er, go see the Duchess out.”

Jiang Yao nodded and stood up, escorting the Duchess of Rongguo toward the gate.

The autumn wind blew, bringing with it a scent of osmanthus. The faint aroma of bitter sandalwood from the Duchess of Rongguo drifted in the air.

“I heard from my troublesome son that the Third Young Miss is about to become engaged to Yunian?” the Duchess of Rongguo asked conversationally as they walked out.

Jiang Yao’s heart skipped a beat, but she kept her expression neutral, only lowering her head. “The matter is entirely up to my parents to decide.”

The Duchess of Rongguo chuckled softly. “That boy, Yunian, I’ve watched him grow up since he returned to the capital in his teens. While he may seem unapproachable on the surface, deep down…” She paused, then continued, “…he is the most loyal and values sentiment deeply.”

“Take my own troublesome son, for instance. He doesn’t even listen to his older brother, only to his Brother Nian.”

Jiang Yao followed up with a question. “How did the two Young Masters get acquainted with Young Master Xie?”

“It’s a bitter story,” the Duchess of Rongguo sighed. “When he first returned to the capital, his personality was very withdrawn, and he locked himself in the manor all day. It was only my troublesome boy, who never learns his lesson, who heard he was back from Shuobei. He insisted on dragging him out every day, and that’s how he slowly cheered up a bit.”

Jiang Yao nodded, listening quietly, lost in her own thoughts.

As she saw the Duchess of Rongguo off at the manor gate, a clear male voice suddenly rang out: “Mother.”

Jiang Yao felt the voice was familiar and instinctively looked up. She saw a young gentleman in a moon-white brocade robe dismount from his horse and walk toward them.

He was handsome and refined, with the demeanor of a noble young master in every move. This was the Heir of the Rongguo Duke’s Manor, Jiang Qingyan.

Jiang Yao was startled. She had seen this person from inside her carriage that day.

However, her mind wasn’t focused on the two of them at the time. She hadn’t expected them to be the two Young Masters of the Rongguo Duke’s Manor.

Jiang Qingyan noticed the young lady standing next to his mother only after walking closer. A trace of surprise flashed in his eyes, then quickly returned to normal. “This is…”

“This is the Third Young Miss Jiang,” the Duchess of Rongguo remembered something and introduced her. “Her mother is of the same clan as I, so she can be counted as your cousin.”

Jiang Qingyan nodded slightly. “Cousin Jiang, hello.”

Jiang Yao blushed. Yes, she was a cousin, but one without any blood relation.

However, she couldn’t offend the Duchess of Rongguo, so she hesitantly called out, “C-Cousin, hello.”

Jiang Qingyan’s gaze lingered on Jiang Yao’s face for a moment, then quickly moved away. “Mother, why are you here?”

The Duchess of Rongguo sighed. “It’s all because I’m worried about your sister. And you, riding your horse, where are you headed? Where is your younger brother? Did he sneak out again?”

She shot off several questions in rapid succession. Jiang Qingyan chuckled softly and replied slowly, “Mother, don’t worry. My younger brother is at the manor studying. I made an appointment with Xie Yunian and was just going to find him.”

“Xingye is at the manor studying?” The Duchess of Rongguo frowned slightly, seeming doubtful.

“You’re going to find Yunian? You children, all day long…” She trailed off, glancing at Jiang Yao beside her, and changed the subject. “Forget it, go ahead. Just remember to come back early, and don’t cause trouble. The last time you went hunting…”

Jiang Qingyan smiled and agreed. “Mother, don’t worry. Your son knows his limits.”

With that, he flipped onto his horse, his movements smooth and practiced.

The Duchess of Rongguo sighed, watching Jiang Qingyan gallop away before she could finish her sentence.

“Did Cousin… go hunting last time?” Jiang Yao asked from the side.

“Indeed,” the Duchess of Rongguo sighed. “These children, they lose all sense of propriety when they go wild.”

Thinking of something, she reassured Jiang Yao. “Don’t worry. Yunian is a fortunate child and will certainly recover his memory.”

Jiang Yao nodded obediently, watching the Duchess of Rongguo board her carriage.

Only after the carriage departed did she let out a long breath.

This world is truly small.

East City Hunting Grounds.

When Jiang Qingyan arrived, Xie Yunian was practicing archery.

He wore a dark red brocade robe, the cuffs embroidered with subtle silver thread patterns that caught the sunlight with a faint shimmer.

“Whoosh—”

Xie Yunian notched an arrow, drew the bow, his movements fluid and precise. The arrow flew through the air and hit the bullseye dead center.

“Excellent shot!” Jiang Qingyan praised softly.

Xie Yunian seemed to sense his presence and turned his head.

“Young Master Jiang,” Xie Yunian put down his longbow. “You’re here.”

Jiang Qingyan dismounted, his black boots stepping onto the soft grass. Hearing the address “Young Master,” the smile on his lips deepened.

“Still pretending?”

Xie Yunian narrowed his eyes, his expression normal. “…You guessed it?”

Jiang Qingyan’s eyes flashed slightly. “I wasn’t sure before, but I am now.”

Xie Yunian shot another arrow outward, the sound of the arrow slicing through the air sharp and piercing. “When?”

Jiang Qingyan chuckled softly. “I have Xingye to thank. Last time at the Xuan Yang Marquis’s birthday banquet, I listened to him prattle on for half an hour about how you two met and got to know each other. You looked like you wanted to kill him.”

Xie Yunian’s grip on the longbow tightened slightly.

Jiang Xingye is a chatterbox. He’s known that since he was fifteen.

At the Xuan Yang Marquis’s birthday banquet last time, that boy, Jiang Xingye, talked about everything from how they met in the capital to how they went hunting together. After that, he started talking about his preferences, even mentioning his favorite restaurant’s drunken crab.

“So,” Xie Yunian turned around. “Does he know now?”

“He doesn’t know yet,” Jiang Qingyan meticulously adjusted his cuff. “You’ll have to wait if you want to beat him.”

He is his own little brother, after all.

Jiang Qingyan thought for a moment and added, “Remember to go easy on him.”

Xie Yunian sneered. “Don’t worry, he won’t die.”

That boy, Jiang Xingye, was tough. At most, he would be confined to bed for half a month.

“Alright,” Jiang Qingyan put away his smile, his gaze becoming serious. “Why are you doing this?”

Xie Yunian stared at the bullseye in the distance, silent for a moment. “Some things must come to a resolution.”

Jiang Qingyan didn’t press further, just softly said “Hmm,” and then asked, “Is my sister’s confinement related to this matter?”

“Yes,” Xie Yunian answered simply. “But don’t worry, it won’t be for too long.”

Jiang Qingyan nodded.

Their relationship had always been this way. What needed to be said would be said; they never asked about what shouldn’t be asked.

Jiang Qingyan asked again, “Is there anything you need my help with?”