"Steward Yan, coming down here again is to be Young Master Yan's page, not to make enemies. If I offend someone who has offended the King of Northern Territory, will I still have a chance to survive?"
Xue Zining was stunned and couldn't help but say, "The King of Northern Territory is not an unreasonable person. How could he remember lowly servants like you just because of a Miss Jiang?"
"You go if you want, I'm not going."
"Alright, I'll try," Xue Zining said.
Steward Yan was slightly taken aback and asked, "You are willing?"
"Since I'm entering the Yan manor, only Young Master Yan is the master. As his page, I must know how to refuse anyone my master doesn't want to see on his behalf."
Steward Yan clapped his hands and said, "Well said. As servants, we must resolve our master's worries."
"But... but that's someone from the King of Northern Territory."
"If you can make Miss Jiang leave, then you will undoubtedly be the Young Master's page," Steward Yan said.
Upon hearing this, Xue Zining's heart rejoiced. He bowed and said, "Alright."
Arriving outside the door, Xue Zining saw the woman at the entrance. Indeed, she was a beauty.
"Miss, the people from the Yan manor are so rude! They haven't invited you in after so long. I'll definitely report back to the King and let him properly deal with this Young Master Yan. How dare he ignore the King's own sister." The little maidservant felt indignant on behalf of Jiang Yu Li.
Jiang Yu Li was not angry. "They didn't say they wouldn't let me in, just that they needed to report. Why are you so angry?"
The little maidservant retorted, "Miss, how can you be like this? They clearly..."
"Enough, don't give others a chance to mock us. Besides, I came in a hurry and didn't send a formal invitation beforehand. It's only proper to wait. We absolutely cannot lose our manners just because my cousin is the King of Northern Territory. The one above is watching, you know?"
The little maidservant was about to say more when Jiang Yu Li glanced at her, and she reluctantly shut her mouth.
Xue Zining then walked to the entrance and bowed, saying, "Miss Jiang, I apologize. My young master is currently inconvenient to receive guests."
"Why?" The maidservant beside Jiang Yu Li grew angry, her tone quite sharp.
Xue Zining looked up at Jiang Yu Li and said, "Miss Jiang, you should know that my young master rarely sees outsiders, let alone women."
"Who are you calling an outsider?" The little maidservant was furious, exclaiming, "Is this how your Yan manor treats guests?"
"Guests should prepare and send their invitation cards in advance. May I ask if Miss Jiang has one?"
"You..." The little maidservant couldn't answer.
Jiang Yu Li glanced at her and said, "It was my oversight. Xiao Huan, let's go."
"Miss, you can't back down like this! You have the King to back you up..."
"So Miss Jiang is relying on the King's influence? Then I, a mere subordinate, cannot afford to offend you. I will go invite my young master." Xue Zining said, making as if to enter the manor.
Xiao Huan heard this and said smugly, "You only realize that now? Let me tell you, my King treats Miss very well. If he knew Miss was wronged at the Yan manor, he would personally seek retribution."
"Xiao Huan, be quiet," Jiang Yu Li said.
Xiao Huan retorted, "Miss, I'm not wrong."
Jiang Yu Li ignored Xiao Huan and looked at Xue Zining, saying, "Please do not disturb Young Master Yan. Today was my oversight; I will send an invitation in the future."
With that, Jiang Yu Li said to Xiao Huan, "Aren't you leaving yet?"
Xiao Huan puffed up in anger. "Miss, you are truly too kind. If you told the King..."
"Xiao Huan, the King is good to us, but it's out of gratitude for our parents taking him in back then. However, this gratitude will eventually fade. When that day comes, how will we fare? Xiao Huan, don't take this kindness for granted. He is no longer the Jiang Yu Sheng of the past; he is Xue Zi Xuan, the King of Northern Territory, with royal blood in his veins."
Xiao Huan was startled and said, "Miss..."
"Let's go. Remember what I said," Jiang Yu Li said.
Xiao Huan nodded. "Your servant understands."
As Jiang Yu Li had just entered the King of Northern Territory's manor, a servant approached and said, "Miss, the King requests your presence."
"Alright, I'll be there right away," Jiang Yu Li replied.
Arriving at the study, Jiang Yu Li curtsied and said, "Your Highness."
Jiang Yu Li felt someone approach and help her up. "Sister, why be so formal? I've told you that you don't need to pay respects to me."
Jiang Yu Li said, "Your Highness, propriety must be upheld. This is the royal manor."
Upon hearing this, Xue Zi Xuan sighed, "I knew my sister would be so distant towards me, which is why I was hesitant to bring you here earlier..."
"Your Highness, you have already repaid the Jiang family with great kindness; it is more than enough."
"Not enough. No amount can compensate for the kindness the Jiang family showed me."
"Your Highness, it is already enough. Any more will only make Father and Mother fearful."
Xue Zi Xuan sighed and said, "Alright, did my sister go to the Yan manor today?"
Jiang Yu Li nodded. "Yes."
Xue Zi Xuan nodded. "Young Master Yan is a good candidate."
"Good candidate for what? Didn't he still make Miss suffer a closed-door reception?"
"Xiao Huan." Jiang Yu Li hurriedly interrupted Xiao Huan's words.
But it was too late. Xue Zi Xuan had heard clearly. "What do you mean? The Yan manor didn't let you in?"
"Your Highness, it was my oversight; I did not send a formal invitation beforehand."
"Does my sister, the King of Northern Territory's sister, need any invitation to go anywhere? Xiao Huan, you tell me."
Xiao Huan nodded, completely ignoring Jiang Yu Li's gaze, and recounted the events at the Yan manor's entrance verbatim. She concluded by saying, "Your Highness, the people at the Yan manor were too rude."
"Your Highness, it wasn't as bad as Xiao Huan described. Please don't listen to her," Jiang Yu Li quickly explained.
Xue Zi Xuan's expression remained unreadable as he said, "Sister, why didn't you tell me you suffered such a great grievance?"
"Miss didn't allow me to say," Xiao Huan interjected.
Xue Zi Xuan said, "I am taking care of this matter. Someone, go and summon Young Master Yan here."
"Your Highness, what Xiao Huan said is not as serious. Xiao Huan was merely exaggerating."
"Sister, you go down and rest. I will handle all of this," Xue Zi Xuan said.
Jiang Yu Li nodded, curtsied, and said, "Alright, I will go down now."
Exiting the study, Xiao Huan said smugly, "I knew the King would stand up for Miss and get justice."
"Xiao Huan, tomorrow you will accompany Mother back home!" Jiang Yu Li said calmly.
Xiao Huan shivered all over and said, "Miss, are you driving me away? Did I do something wrong? Please don't send me away!"
"I have already given instructions not to touch you, and there is no need for you to stay," Jiang Yu Li said calmly.
Xiao Huan fell to her knees with a thud and pleaded, "Miss, your servant knows she was wrong. I beg you not to send me away."
How could the Jiang family compare to the King of Northern Territory's manor? Which of the elder servants in the Jiang family didn't envy her before?
If she returned now, wouldn't she be laughed to death? She absolutely could not go back.
"Miss, please let your servant stay. Your servant will never speak carelessly again," Xiao Huan begged, crying.
"Don't let it happen again." Jiang Yu Li said.
Xiao Huan breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, she wasn't driven away by Miss.