"You are all such greedy little cats!" Zhu Jiayi said, looking at the little ones with a helpless smile, her face filled with affection.
"Yue'er, give these little greedy cats each a piece of silver silk candy. Look how eager they are," she said to her sister-in-law.
After seeing her sister-in-law nod, her gaze returned to the four little ones.
"You can only have this one piece of silver silk candy each. After this, no more. Firstly, we'll be eating soon, and secondly, eating too much candy is bad for your teeth," Zhu Jiayi said gently but sternly.
The four little ones nodded obediently. Upon receiving the silver silk candy from Huangfu Yue, they happily began to eat.
"Sister-in-law, you have a piece of silver silk candy too." Huangfu Yue took another piece from the paper bag and handed it to Zhu Jiayi before taking one for herself.
She also wanted to eat silver silk candy.
"This silver silk candy is truly delicious, just as Xi'er said before," Zhu Jiayi praised.
Huangfu Yue was about to nod when voices were heard from outside…
"Guard Jiang, you're here."
"Are the Old Madam, the eldest miss, and the other masters in the house?" Jiang Shangyun asked.
"Yes, they are."
"Jiang Shangyun has arrived," Zhu Jiayi said, looking at her sister-in-law.
"He's probably here to call us for lunch," Huangfu Yue said.
Jiang Shangyun went to Zheng Taifei's chambers. Two minutes after he entered, Zheng Taifei sent out all the servants from her room to summon everyone in the mansion to her chambers.
The mansion had dozens of people, so it was naturally impossible for them all to fit into her room. Only the masters entered the room, while the servants stood outside.
"I wonder what business Grandmother has calling us here?" Zhu Jiayi whispered to her sister-in-law beside her, her voice filled with curiosity.
Huangfu Yue shook her head, indicating she didn't know. She observed the three unfamiliar men following behind Jiang Shangyun.
So, Jiang Shangyun hadn't come alone but with three strangers. She wondered who these three strangers were and what their purpose was.
"Masters, these three are from the Xilin Tailor Shop. They are all renowned tailors in Xilin. I've invited them here to take your measurements for new clothes. Your mourning clothes are dirty, and you need to have new mourning clothes made for changing," Jiang Shangyun announced.
So, they were tailors! A flicker of realization crossed Huangfu Yue's eyes. She really hadn't expected this!
The others hadn't expected it either, and surprise showed on their faces.
They never imagined that Jiang Shangyun would think to invite people to make them new mourning clothes for easy changing.
"Guard Jiang, you are very thoughtful," Zheng Taifei said, looking at Jiang Shangyun with a look of approval.
Given the current circumstances, she herself hadn't thought about them only having one set of mourning clothes and the inconvenience of not being able to change them, but Jiang Shangyun had thought of it. He was truly considerate.
"Regardless of status, each person will have three sets of new mourning clothes made. I will pay for it," Huangfu Yue said generously.
Although Jiang Shangyun had invited the tailors, they couldn't let him pay for the clothes.
"No need. The Xilin Tailor Shop is my family's business. There's no need to pay," Jiang Shangyun said, shaking his head.
"Even if it's your family's business, you still have to buy the fabric, which costs money. We can't let you lose money. We must pay for the clothes, otherwise, we'd feel too embarrassed to wear them…
When the clothes are made, calculate the cost, and I'll give you the money," Huangfu Yue insisted on paying.
"Really, no need… More than a hundred sets of clothes won't cost much. If Miss insists on giving me money, it would make me, Jiang, appear stingy, unable to even afford to gift over a hundred sets of clothes," Jiang Shangyun insisted on refusing.
Huangfu Yue was about to speak again, to persuade him to accept the money, when Zheng Taifei spoke…
"Guard Jiang's intentions are good, let him send them. Don't let his kindness go to waste."
Huangfu Yue was a little surprised. Zheng Taifei wasn't someone who liked to take advantage of others. She glanced at Zheng Taifei and then understood, nodding her head.
"Then thank you, Guard Jiang," Huangfu Yue said, looking at Jiang Shangyun with a slight smile.
Earlier, when she looked at her grandmother, she had given her a knowing look.
"You're too kind, Miss. Please don't thank this humble servant. I am not worthy of your thanks. Your thanks would be a great burden upon me," Jiang Shangyun said, his expression one of flattered surprise.
The tailors beside them watched Jiang Shangyun with astonishment, their eyes filled with disbelief and intense curiosity.
Why was Young Master Jiang so… almost subservient to these women? What were their identities?
Seeing that they were all exceptionally beautiful and possessed elegant demeanors, they appeared to be of noble birth.
They were all dressed in mourning attire, and it was unclear whose passing they were mourning. They were collectively observing a period of mourning.
"Take the measurements for the ladies, young masters, and young ladies," Jiang Shangyun said to the tailors, instructing them.
"Yes," the tailors immediately stepped forward.
"Measure my grandmother and my sisters-in-law first. After them, measure me and my nephews and nieces, and then go outside to measure the servants," Huangfu Yue instructed the tailors.
"Yes," the tailors immediately agreed.
The three tailors first took the measurements for Zheng Taifei, Zhu Jiayi, and Xu Yuqing. Xu Yuqing wore a displeased expression, her face set in a scowl.
She actually wanted to refuse, to say she didn't want to wear mourning clothes and didn't need her measurements taken for them. However, remembering the poison Huangfu Yue had in her body, she dared not.
She feared that if she refused, Huangfu Yue would not give her the antidote… It was all Jiang Shangyun's fault!
He was really looking for trouble, thinking of inviting tailors to make new mourning clothes for them. Didn't he see that she hated wearing mourning clothes!
Among the people in the Dai Dynasty's mansion, only she wasn't wearing mourning clothes. Even a fool could tell that she disliked wearing mourning clothes.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became… Damnable Jiang Shangyun, how detestable!
Jiang Shangyun sensed Xu Yuqing's resentful glare. Initially, he was a little puzzled as to why she was glaring at him with such resentment, but he soon understood and rolled his eyes internally, unable to bear it.
Stupid woman! Truly pig-headed!
Jiang Shangyun pretended not to notice her resentment, not even glancing at her, deliberately ignoring her.
Huangfu Yue and the others also sensed Xu Yuqing's displeasure. Noticing her furious glare at Jiang Shangyun and her resentment towards him, Huangfu Yue was alright, but Zheng Taifei's expression turned somewhat grim, her gaze as cold as ice.
Did wearing mourning clothes make her so unhappy and miserable!
That bitch!
Her unwillingness to wear mourning clothes implied that she had no feelings for the deceased second grandson!
She was completely unwilling to mourn for him…
She had noticed it before, but now, seeing Jiang Shangyun invite tailors to make mourning clothes for them, and her refusal, Zheng Taifei finally understood completely.
She was even more heartless towards the second grandson than she had imagined!
The second grandson had treated her well during his lifetime…
On the matter of mourning clothes, she was even worse than Jiang Shangyun, an outsider.
Jiang Shangyun thought of inviting tailors to take their measurements for new mourning clothes. Although it was clearly an attempt to please her, he at least had the thought. This thoughtfulness was far superior to Xu Yuqing's!
She could not tolerate this woman any longer!
Her mind had changed!