Second Marriage

Translator: tarararawr

Editor: Larkspur

Chapter 26 Part 1

Xiao Youning returned to the Xiao Family’s Second Branch after lunch. The courtyard had been finalized with the middleman in the capital.

She was in a good mood with the freshly signed deed in her arms.

When she got out of the carriage, she found that the atmosphere in the residence was slightly different than before. The faces of the servants were full of joy and there seemed to be some good news.

Yuan Guo was also aware of it and looked around curiously. Then, she secretly whispered, “Is it possible that the Second Branch’s Young Master is going to be engaged?”

It’s neither early nor late during the day. The floor was also being swept when fallen leaves were not flying everywhere like in autumn.

Xiao Youning ignored it and indifferently said, “They can do whatever they want. We won’t be staying here for long.”

The middleman had made a fortune today and promised to ask all his acquaintances about a house. There should be news soon.

She did not want a large courtyard after all, but it was difficult to buy a courtyard with three rooms on the east side of the city where the nobles gathered. Two rooms was very expensive, but there would be no room for more servants to live in. If they looked for a place carefully, they would be able to find one. In the worst-case scenario, she could spend a little more money for a place.

As Xiao Youning thought, she slowly walked over to the guest courtyard where she lived and went up to the veranda. A steward happily caught up with her.

“Third Young Miss, wait a minute. Please wait a minute.”

The steward was in charge of the outer courtyard. Xiao Youning looked back and saw that he had something red in his hand.

When he approached, she saw that it was a red gilded invitation, and the gilded part had a large cluster of peonies.

She could tell at a glance that the sender of the invitation was either rich or noble.

The invitation followed her line of sight and was graciously handed to her by the steward.

“Third Young Miss, this is an invitation from the Eldest Princess Residence. There will be a flower banquet in the Princess Residence the day after tomorrow. She has invited you over for the banquet.”

The Eldest Princess Residence?

Xiao Youning took it but did not open it.

How many Eldest Princess Residences could there be in the capital? The Eldest Princess was the eldest sister of the Emperor.

But she had always been on bad terms with the Eldest Princess, not to mention that something had happened to her father and brother. Even if nothing had happened, the Eldest Princess would never send her an invitation. This was because Princess Huijing had always disliked her. As long as they were sitting at the same table, she would alway mock her.

Xiao Youning took the invitation and looked even more indifferent than before.

It was certainly not out of good intentions that this came to the door.

“Thank you, Steward.” She turned around with the invitation and was about to leave.

The steward’s smile became rigid. He failed to recover even after Yuan Guo took out a reward and gave it to him.

After she had taken several steps, the steward realized that he had nothing else to say and shouted to her slim figure, “Third Young Miss, the residences’ Young Master and Young Misses have also received the invitation, but you have your own.”

However, she walked between the shadows and did not look back. She did not say whether she was going or not, her attitude was really intriguing.

The steward was confused.

That was from the Eldest Princess Residence. Shouldn’t the Third Young Miss be happy?

If the Eldest Princess goes to the Emperor and puts in a good word for her, then she wouldn’t be implicated by her father and brother, right?

Yuan Guo had been with her for a long time, and knew that her mistress and Huijing did not get along. She frowned and anxiously said, “Young Miss, they must have some bad intentions! And how can the Eldest Princess think of us?”

“Yes, even my Yuan Guo knows there is a trick, so we definitely can’t go.” Xiao Youning tilted her head and smiled. She raised her hand to pinch her maid’s round face.

“Young Miss!” Yuan Guo hurried to avoid it.

It was obvious that she was older than the Young Miss, but she had always liked to tease her. Her brain sometimes did not understand.

Xiao Youning smiled again.

The scattered branches and leaves were over the veranda, and the sun sifted through the green leaves, shining on her smile and covering her with a soft light.

The girl’s bright smile was infectious, Yuan Guo touched her face and giggled. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the princess, we won’t go. Who can even make us go?”

Everything is fine as long as my Young Miss can smile and be happy all the time.

As Yuan Guo mused, she put her face forward. “Young Miss, I seem to have put on weight again recently, please pinch me.”

They laughed together. When Xiao Youning returned to the room, she threw the invitation aside. Her eyes curved from smiling when she took out the deed and looked at the signed name.