After her mind was read, the spoiled brat became the darling of the whole group.

Xie Jiaojiao, who was standing to the side, also turned her gaze to Xie Xing, a smile on her face.

Yesterday, she took the time to cultivate a good relationship with Xie Mingzhu, the precious daughter of the Xie family, and also tested Xie Mingzhu's attitude towards Xie Xing.

How strange.

The beloved daughter of the Xie family, on whom they had always pinned their hopes to become the future Crown Princess, was extremely wary of this real heiress whom everyone in the Xie family disliked.

“Prince Jin?” Xie Xing looked up at Old Madam Xie and said, “Prince Jin is a good person.”

"They took great care of me."

Madam Xie frowned slightly.

This was not the answer she wanted.

If Prince Jin truly loves Xiao Wu, he should find a way to make her annul her engagement with the Third Prince.

The wedding is just around the corner...

Madam Xie paused abruptly, her cloudy pupils trembling.

With the wedding date fast approaching, not only has Xie Xing's engagement with the Third Prince not been called off, but Mingzhu's engagement with the Fourth Prince is also still in effect.

Madam Xie felt a sudden headache.

She reached up and rubbed her temples, saying, "I've already explained the other principles to you. From now on, come here every day at Chenshi (7-9 AM), and I'll have the nanny teach you manners."

"Do you know how to read account books?" Old Madam Xie asked Xie Xing.

"You need to learn how to be a court official, a bookkeeper, and a steward."

"I think your mother has taught you enough about manners. You've missed out on more than ten years of instruction, so your talents and literary skills naturally can't compare to Mingzhu's. From now on, you'll come with me to learn how to read accounts."

"I will tell you about what happens in the inner quarters of the house slowly."

Xie Xing's eyes sparkled as she thanked her, saying, "Thank you, Grandmother. I know how to read accounts."

Madam Xie glanced at Xie Xing in surprise.

During the time she was practicing vegetarianism and chanting Buddhist scriptures, she did inquire about Xie Xing's situation from Xie Ansheng. The replies she received either said that Xie Xing was incapable of taking on important responsibilities or was only fit to be a decorative figure, but they did not mention that Xie Xing could handle accounts.

"Did your mother teach you?" asked Madam Xie.

Xie Xing shook his head and said, "It was at my old home that my mother and brother taught me."

Xie Xing was right.

The Song family was a declining clan. Their ancestors had resigned from their official posts and retired to their hometown. After that, no one from the Song family became famous, and the family remained impoverished, relying on farming and weaving until Song Qingyang's generation when things gradually improved.

Song Qingyang is a young genius who passed the imperial examination twice and is favored by many important figures.

The second brother, Song Chao, is a business prodigy. He went out to find ways to make money and has not returned yet, only sending a considerable sum of money from time to time. The third brother, Song Yang, joined the army after Xie Xing left the Song family.

They did teach the original owner how to read accounts, but the original owner didn't absorb much of it.

As for Xie Xing, with the original owner's memories, plus her genius brain from her previous life and the secret study she had done during these past few months, checking accounts was a piece of cake for her.

"I wonder what your father and mother have been doing in this mansion." Old Madam Xie frowned and scolded the Xie couple.

He doesn't even know anything about his own daughter.

"I own a cosmetics shop. Go check the accounts tomorrow and let me see how far you've gone," said Madam Xie calmly.

Xie Xing replied, "Yes."

"Go down."

Madam Xie waved her hand impatiently.

Xie Xing obediently stepped back.

Seeing this, Xie Jiaojiao said to Madam Xie, "Grandmother, let me talk to my sister for a bit and get to know her better."

Madam Xie hummed in agreement.

With many daughters in the household, each with their own thoughts, it was not that Old Madam Xie couldn't see through Xie Jiaojiao's intentions.

Xie Jiaojiao has reached the age to get married, and her purpose in coming to Shengjing is to find a powerful and wealthy family to marry into so that she can have a good marriage.

The only two legitimate daughters in the household with whom he could befriend were Xie Mingzhu and Xie Xing.

Xie Mingzhu has a wide network of connections, making her a good person to curry favor with. However, Xie Xing's close relationship with Prince Jin during this period may also make him a good ally.

One Prince Jin is enough to surpass all of Xie Mingzhu's connections.

Of course, this is all predicated on Xie Xingzhen being able to speak to Prince Jin.

"Fifth sister!"

After leaving the old lady's courtyard, Xie Jiaojiao jogged to catch up with Xie Xing.

Xie Jiaojiao has a delicate appearance, with a graceful and slender figure. Her beautiful eyes look at Xie Xing with a gentle gaze: "I met you for the first time at Grandmother's today, and I could see that you were happy with me. It's not like the rumors say. I wonder if Fifth Sister could become friends with me?"

Xie Xing put her hands behind her back, her almond-shaped eyes filled with laughter: "Of course, cousin."

Xie Jiaojiao smiled gently. As she walked with Xie Xing, she asked casually, "May I call you Xing'er?"

"I heard you really dislike that seventh prince?"

Xie Jiaojiao didn't understand. Xie Xing was clearly an unfavored young lady in the General's Mansion, so how dare she provoke the Seventh Prince?

Yesterday, she chatted with Xie Mingzhu for a while and learned from Xie Mingzhu that Xie Xing not only made the Seventh Prince a target for arrows, but was also bitten back by the Seventh Prince. Furthermore, in front of many royal families, Xie Xing directly called the Seventh Prince a bastard.

Where did she get the guts?

If Xie Xing had felt a little guilty for bullying the Seventh Prince before, he felt no unease at all now that Xie Xing was speaking ill of Luo Hanfeng.

Her expression was very natural. "Everyone bullies him, and I want to bully him too."

After saying that, she looked at Xie Jiaojiao with her clear, unblurred eyes and asked, "Cousin, do you need a reason to dislike someone?"

"I'm just bad."

Xie Jiaojiao: "..."

This is the first time I've met someone who speaks ill of themselves with such self-righteousness.

Especially since this person has an innocent and kind face, and speaks such words in the voice of a naive young girl.

Xie Jiaojiao fell silent.

She tried to understand Xie Xing.

Then understand failure.

Xie Jiaojiao could only smile slightly, "Are you joking, little sister?"

Xie Xing shook his head: "No."

"However, my cousin knows quite a few daughters of prominent families, and even has Princess De'an as her close friend. Cousin, you can get closer to my cousin."

Xie Jiaojiao's smile was about to fade.

Xie Xing was practically ready to openly state her purpose and tell her, "I don't have what you want here. It'll be faster to go to Xie Mingzhu."

They didn't even bother with the pretense?

A hint of embarrassment and annoyance flashed across Xie Jiaojiao's eyes: "What does Fifth Sister mean by this?"

"Could it be that you look down on me?"

Xie Xing quickly shook her head and explained, "Cousin, please don't misunderstand."

Xie Xing glanced around, then called Caiyue away a bit, and pulled Xie Jiaojiao aside, whispering, "When I looked at my cousin, I felt that she was someone who could rival my sister."

Her appearance and speech are exactly the same as Xie Mingzhu's.

For someone as strict and intelligent as Madam Xie to keep Xie Jiaojiao by her side, her purpose must be to find her a good family.

Xie Xing could tell at a glance.

Xie Xing's face was serious and earnest: "Let me tell you the truth, my cousin. I don't have any connections. I even offended Princess De'an a while ago. I'm bound to be isolated in the circle of noble ladies in the capital."

"If my cousin were to be on good terms with me openly, she would be the same as me."

Xie Jiaojiao looked surprised.

She looked at Xie Xing in astonishment, her pink lips slightly parted, her expression complex: "Sister, you..."

You just blurted it out like that?