Reborn Spoiled Girl Tames the Regent

Chapter 33 Are women outside really that good?

"without......"

Jiang Li had barely uttered a single word when Aunt Wan interrupted her.

"I didn't see his face clearly. Young Master Xie was sitting in the carriage and only greeted me from the side."

"How does it look? Are you satisfied, Aunt? It's said that no one has ever seen the true face of Young Master Xie." Jiang Wan asked jokingly.

Aunt Wan raised her voice and said proudly, "Of course it's excellent. Her temperament is as outstanding as the rumors say, and her appearance is absolutely stunning!"

She spoke with obvious pride, and Jiang Wan covered her mouth and chuckled, "Elder sister is truly blessed. I wonder if the wedding date has been set?"

Jiang Li looked up and said coldly, "It's the seventh day. If you don't want to come, you don't have to force yourself."

Jiang Wan's smile grew even brighter: "How could I not come? I couldn't wait for such a lively scene."

She really wanted to see Jiang Li's expression when she saw Xie Cen.

......

Everyone was preoccupied with their own thoughts during the meal, and it wasn't until the very last bite that Jiang Wan realized Xiao Hengzhi hadn't come.

She was a little puzzled. She walked down the corridor and saw Ruiju. She asked, "Where is Xiao Hengzhi?"

"Reporting to Second Miss, Young Master Xiao just went out, without saying where he went."

Jiang Man nodded, guessing that he had gone to find that spoiled girl.

"They're so impatient, they haven't even eaten."

She murmured softly.

Approaching, she saw Ruiju cleaning alone in Xiao Hengzhi's room. As if remembering something, she went in and asked, "I remember there was a maid named Ruilan who came with you. Where is she? I haven't seen her."

"Second Miss, you may not know this, but a few months ago, Ruilan injured her hand for some reason and couldn't do any work, so the nanny let her go."

"I see."

Jiang Mian nodded and casually glanced at Xiao Hengzhi's room. It was much more spacious than the one he had stayed in before, but he had few belongings, so it seemed rather empty.

Just as she was about to leave, Ruiju picked up the bedding and headed towards the laundry room.

As she walked past the eaves, she saw an indigo ribbon slip out of the bedding. She picked it up and saw that it was a woman's belt, woven from silk with tassels hanging down.

Jiang Mian opened her mouth, her mind immediately filled with all sorts of stories about men and women falling in love, and then she chuckled.

This is either a token of love or an intimate garment.

"They even brought it home; that shows how much they care."

She gripped her belt, growing angrier the more she thought about it, feeling utterly humiliated.

Is it really that much that other women make him lose his appetite?

Could it be that when he saved her in his past life, he was also keeping another one outside?

She stomped her foot and stormed off to Jiang Xun's study.

The flowers outside smell so good, let's go pick them!

She doesn't even want this marriage proposal!

She walked to the study door and stood outside.

"Father!"

"Father, I have something urgent to tell you!"

Jiang Mian knocked on the door and shouted loudly.

No sound came from the study.

"Second Miss, Master went to the Marquis of Pingnan's residence this afternoon and hasn't returned yet," came the reply from the servant beside Jiang Xun.

Jiang Mian could only return to her room dejectedly.

She tossed the belt onto the table, crossed her arms, turned her head and saw herself in the mirror. Her appearance, while not stunning, was still quite attractive.

Are those pampered ladies outside really that good? Do they outshine her, the legitimate daughter of a general's family?

Why didn't I discover in my past life that Xiao Hengzhi was such a greedy person who always wanted more than he had!

She slammed her fist on the table, her anger rising.

Just as he was feeling sullen, he suddenly heard a commotion in the courtyard.

Upon opening the door, Jiang Li saw Consort Wan leading Lady Xie in the courtyard, with several large trunks placed at their feet. Several maids followed behind her, all with smiles on their faces, and quickly went to greet them.

In no time, the maids carried the boxes into the house, making the courtyard quite lively.

Jiang Mian glanced at the large boxes, and after seeing what was inside, she chuckled softly: "Brocade."

In her past life, when she received these brocades, she was as happy as Jiang Li, but she only found out after she married into the family that these brocades were the kind of fabric worn by concubines and mistresses in the Marquis's mansion, while proper ladies used Xiangyun yarn.

She glanced coldly at Jiang Li, and their eyes met.

Jiang Li looked at her smugly, but she rolled her eyes and thought to herself: The more joyful they are now, the more grief they will feel later.

She closed the door and went inside. She had barely sat down when someone came in, and the sound came from the doorway.

"What was that expression on your face just now, Second Sister? Were you jealous of me? Don't forget, you were the one who didn't want this marriage."

Jiang Wan raised her eyebrows: "So you knew too, this is something I didn't want."

"You!" Jiang Li was speechless for a moment, her fists clenched tightly. She was about to explode in anger, but then she suddenly stopped, a cold smile appearing on her lips. "Judging from your arrogant manner, could it be that your relationship with Xiao Hengzhi has soured, and you're feeling bad?"

Jiang Mian paused slightly.

Seeing her expression, Jiang Li burst into laughter, unable to hide her schadenfreude: "Judging from your expression, you already knew that Xiao Hengzhi frequented Zuiyin Tower? Tsk tsk tsk, I didn't expect you to like someone like that, really..."

After saying that, she covered her mouth and nose and looked Jiang Mian up and down with a look of disgust.

Jiang Mian asked in confusion, "Zuiyin Tower?"

"Yes, just now, on her way back, Auntie saw Xiao Hengzhi enter Zuiyin Tower. What kind of good people go into that kind of place of revelry and debauchery? But you and he really are a good match, no wonder Cong Shuang also..."

She cleared her throat as she spoke, then added, "Anyway, you're all the same kind of people."

After saying that, Jiang Li turned and left without waiting for Jiang Mian's response, her face full of mockery.

Jiang Mian didn't say anything more to her and began to recall what A-Yun had said when they were on the boat: the place the one-eyed man was going to take them to was Zuiyin Tower.

She had a gut feeling that Xiao Hengzhi's visit to Zuiyin Tower was not for drinking and having fun.

But could it be that the girl he likes is one of them?

After thinking for a while, Jiang Mian decided to go there herself.

As night fell, the capital city remained bustling with activity, despite the absence of a curfew.

A small river flows through the city, with an arched bridge connecting the two banks. The banks are brightly lit and teeming with tourists. The river reflects the bustling night market, creating a unique scene.

Sitting on the small boat, Jiang Mian casually asked the boatman, "Old man, do you know who owns the Drunken Sound Pavilion?"

The boatman gently pushed the water with his bamboo pole, his tone indifferent: "The owner of Zuiyin Tower? I heard... this month it's a woman."

"This month? Is there something different?"

A man nearby overheard this and interjected, "The owner of Zuiyin Tower changes every fifteenth of the month; this rule has been in place for many years."

Jiang Mian rested her chin on her hand, looking at the moon in the sky. It had just passed the fifteenth of the lunar month not long ago, and she figured that her employer had just changed.

What exactly is the background of this Drunken Sound Pavilion? It's so mysterious.

Those women said they went in voluntarily. What were they doing there?

Jiang Mian then asked, "Why does Zuiyin Tower change owners every month? And who is in charge of these changes? Are there any shady businesses going on there?"

The boatman smiled and shook his head, saying, "Young lady, these are things that an old man like me wouldn't know. But why are you asking about these things?"

Everyone on the boat looked at her.

A hint of nervousness flashed across Jiang Wan's face, followed by an embarrassed expression. She covered her face and said, "To tell you the truth, my husband has been leaving me there all day. I came here to find him."

Everyone had an "I see" look on their faces, and they started talking about it. They said that since he was always going there, he must have a lover.

Jiang Mian tucked her hair behind her ear and listened quietly.

The man then said, "But young lady, they don't accept female customers there. If you go there like this, you probably won't find one."

"No female customers? Is that a rule?"

No sooner had the words left her mouth than a woman beside her suddenly exclaimed angrily, "If he won't take female customers, we simply won't go in! What I hate most in my life is a heartless man! Don't worry, young lady, even if I have to shout, I'll make sure he comes out for you!"

The woman had strong arms and a loud voice; she was clearly someone who did manual labor. Her anger suggested she might have been wronged by a man in the past.

Jiang Mian didn't doubt that she could call out the person, but it was still a little embarrassing to do so in public.

She quickly waved her hand, "No, no, no need. Thank you, madam. I'll go another day."

"It's okay! Trust me, I'll make sure you see him!"

The small boat was about to dock, and walking up there led to the entrance of Zuiyin Tower.

The woman pulled her upstairs, leaving Jiang Mian with no way out. She was dragged along until they reached the entrance of Zuiyin Tower.