Chapter 382

Oh no, to be precise, it was being 'invited' by Song Ze yi.

At that moment, Mu Youyu was curled up on the sofa in the Duke's Mansion's rear hall, a sketchbook spread before her, and she hadn't put pen to paper for a while.

Nuomi was curled up on the rug by her feet, sleeping soundly.

Jiang Liangjin sat beside her, holding a sketch analysis book, appearing to flip through it, but in fact every few seconds he would lift his eyes to look at her.

Mu Youyu eventually noticed that sticky gaze, turned her head, and said, 'A Jin, you're holding the book upside down.'

Jiang Liangjin turned the book right-side up without changing his expression, his voice unnaturally warm, and began to make excuses: 'I'm practicing reverse reading, learning more techniques so I can keep up with your drawing thoughts.'

'Do you think I'm a two-year-old?'

And yet he claims he wants to learn sketching from her, not serious at all!

Jiang Liangjin, afraid she'd be upset, quickly replied: 'Two years and 189 months.'

Mu Youyu's little mood eased, she was amused by him, and just as she was about to speak, the door was gently pushed open from outside.

Song Ze yi walked in, followed by a man; as they entered, the man's shoulder was pressed, his steps staggered, full of the awkwardness of being forcibly 'invited'.

That man was about sixty, wearing an exquisite dark gray overcoat; when he approached her, Song Ze yi pushed him, causing him to stagger again.

He was precisely the head of the Lai Li Kan family, the Lai Li Kan Earl, and also a long-standing friend of the Y Guo old nobility, with the deepest ties to the Wei Wei Ka family.

Mu Youyu straightened her body, which had been leaning against her childhood friend beside her; Jiang Liangjin casually closed his book and shifted slightly toward her.

The earl's gaze swept over the two of them, finally settling on Mu Youyu's face, a flicker of complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

Heavens, wasn't she in M Guo? How did she suddenly come to Y Guo? No wonder Song Ze yi intercepted him on the pretext of discussing important matters, all the way 'escorting' him here.

Having composed himself, the earl bowed and performed a standard noble salute: 'Your Highness Princess Mingxi.'

I had seen him before as a child, and moreover, a few days ago Jiang Liangjin had already given her the Lai Li Kan family's materials and the earl's photo to look at.

Mu Youyu recognized the person before her at a glance and immediately stood up: 'Earl Lai Li Kan.'

The Lai Li Kan Earl straightened up, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment, then after a long while he softly sighed, 'Truly alike.'

Mu Youyu blinked and said, 'Earl, who do you say I resemble?'

'Like the duchess…' the earl's tone rose with distant reminiscence, 'when I was young.'

Upon hearing this, Mu Youyu's lips curled into a smile that revealed no emotion, and she asked, 'Earl, did you know my grandmother?'

Why didn't my grandmother ever mention it back then?

'More than just knowing.' The earl gave a wry smile, 'When she married the Wei Wei Ka duke, I even went to drink the wedding wine.'

Jiang Liangjin sensed something.

Mu Youyu let out an 'oh,' asked no further, remaining neither arrogant nor hasty.

Seeing her so composed, the earl felt his heart sink even more, knowing he could not avoid today, so he bluntly said in a solemn tone, 'Your Highness, I have come today specifically to apologize.'

Along the way he had already heard Song Ze yi's words, knowing why he had been pressed over; fortunately it was the princess, for if he had faced Young Master Ai Luoxiu or Princess Xun Li, the pressure would have been truly great.

Mu Youyu's eyes showed no ripple, 'Apologize?'

'Yes.' The earl's tone sank a bit, 'My Lai Li Kan family has produced an unworthy descendant who secretly colluded with old forces, intending harm to the Wei Wei Ka family; as the head of the family, I bear responsibility for lax discipline.'

Mu Youyu said nothing, merely watching him silently.

Jiang Liangjin stood to the side, his eyes assessing.

Being observed by the two made the earl feel slightly uneasy, yet he maintained his composure: 'Your Highness, rest assured, that unworthy descendant has already been locked up by me, to be dealt with as the Wei Wei Ka family sees fit.'

Song Ze yi inwardly sneered, yet he was putting on a show, using one person to take the blame to preserve the entire Lai Li Kan family.

Mu Youyu lightly raised her brow, her tone light: 'Just locking him up?'

'No!' the earl hastily replied, trying to show his handling was just, 'According to Lai Li Kan family rules, colluding with foreign enemies and intending harm to allied families warrants expulsion from the clan and lifelong imprisonment.'

Jiang Liangjin didn't understand why he denied Youbao; it wasn't just a matter of locking him up.

'Oh?' Mu Youyu immediately responded, 'Earl, your handling is quite fair.'

Just as the earl let out a breath of relief, she lightly added, 'But my brother might not be satisfied.'

The earl's face twitched slightly, 'Young Master Ai Luoxiu?'

'Yes.' Mu Youyu lifted her face, eyes innocent, 'My brother said those people almost hurt me; he's furious and also heartbroken.'

Mu Xin would naturally never say such a thing.

Song Ze yi secretly gave a thumbs-up to the young lady! That's how it is—use the young master more to scare people!

The Duke's Mansion held a gathering today, and they had hard-won captured the earl from the party.

The earl suppressed his inner fear, lowered his posture, and said, 'Then… what does Young Master Ai Luoxiu intend to do with him?'

Who in all of Y Guo doesn't know what kind of temperament Ai Luoxiu·Wei Wei Ka has?

Heir to the Wei Wei Ka Duke's mansion, childhood friend of Princess Xun Li, he is decisive in his methods, never shows mercy to enemies, and outside rumors say he dotes on his sister to the point of being lawless.

Whoever dares to move his sister, he might just dig up their ancestors' graves.

By then Princess Xun Li will only help him, plus the neighboring Prince Qing An! And if the duchess finds out… the people of the three states joining forces, even an old noble house would struggle to resist.

Mu Youyu didn't answer directly, but turned to look at Jiang Liangjin, 'A Jin, what did my brother say, again?'

Jiang Liangjin responded in unison: 'Xin ge said, first see what you want to do, then look at the earl's attitude.'

The earl fully realized that this little princess was actually sharp; she was probing him.

He gave a light cough, then spoke solemnly: 'Your Highness, Young Master Ai Luoxiu, I swear on my family's honor that I will certainly give the Wei Wei Ka family an explanation for this.'

Mu Youyu's eyes flashed, 'Since the earl calls me princess, he surely knows I am not only a miss of the Wei Wei Ka family but also bear the identity of Mingxi·Si Er Wen; how would Y Guo punish conspiracy to harm a princess?'

She left it at that, 'Since the earl has already locked the person up, let him handle this matter; I believe he will give us a satisfactory answer.'

The earl looked at her, a flicker of complex emotion passing through his eyes.

The princess, though young in age, speaks and acts without a flaw.

Having given him face and spoken clearly, the person you've locked up—how to deal with it, we're watching; the royal family will certainly intervene.

The earl bowed, 'Thank you, Your Highness, for your understanding.'

Mu Youyu waved her hand, "Count, no need for excessive courtesy, please have a seat."

The Count took the seat beside him, Song Ze stepped to the side and stood with his hands lowered.

Jiang Liangjin turned her gaze toward him.

The Count broke the silence, his tone admiring: "You must be Young Master Jiang, right? I've long heard of your name."

Jiang Liangjin nodded, "Count, you flatter me."

The Count looked at him, admiring: "Young Master Jiang is talented at a young age, and he is quite a match for the Princess."