The two walked side by side in silence. After nearly half the journey, Song Yansi slowly spoke, "I wonder what A-Yuan said to your father-in-law?"
The white letter lay quietly in Jiang Zhongsi's sleeve, but his face remained calm and composed. "What could it be? It's just a young girl's sentimentality, nagging me, her father."
After saying that, he quickened his pace.
“Father-in-law.” Song Yansi stepped forward and blocked his way, his gaze meeting Jiang Zhongsi’s. “What I meant by ‘discuss’ is that I have something here that you would like.”
"Oh?" Jiang Zhongsi had to admit that he admired Song Yansi quite a bit. However, while being clever was good, being too clever made him instinctively wary. Regarding the marriage to Jiang Yuan, the more he thought about it, the more he felt there was something wrong, but he just couldn't see through it.
"My brother-in-law must be twenty-three this year."
Upon hearing him mention Jiang Li, Jiang Zhongsi stopped and looked Song Yansi up and down.
“At my brother-in-law’s age, if he doesn’t achieve any political success, I’m afraid he won’t meet your expectations.” A meaningful smile appeared on Song Yanji’s lips as he said softly, “If you don’t get involved in the Qi’an matter, I will find a way to get you to go with me.”
Jiang Zhongsi was greatly alarmed. His hand, hidden in his sleeve, tightened abruptly. Jiang Yuan's letter had mentioned Qi'an. Although Qi'an was currently a hot potato, wealth and power often lurked in danger. Jiang Zhongsi was a complete opportunist; a high position without power was never his ambition. If the floods and plagues in Qi'an could be controlled, it would take at least three years, or at least a year. Even if his own career was ruined afterward, it would still somewhat benefit his son's official career.
“My brother-in-law’s official rank is very low. To avoid suspicion, you and your son cannot go together.” Song Yanji changed the subject. “Besides, it would be good if this matter succeeded, but if something goes wrong, your situation will be difficult.”
Jiang Zhongsi sneered, "My son-in-law seems quite confident."
“Absolutely foolproof.” Song Yanji ignored his sarcasm, stepped back to make way for him, and said, “I am certain of victory, while Lord Taishan is seeking victory through peril.”
After taking a few steps, Jiang Zhongsi suddenly stopped and turned to look at Song Yansi. He stood behind him, his eyes clear, his smile as perfect as ever. Jiang Zhongsi was unsure whether marrying Jiang Yuan to him was a blessing or a curse. After a long while, he reluctantly asked, "Do you really think this is a good thing?"
"I will certainly live up to Lord Taishan's expectations."
"Madam, it's time to take your medicine." Inside the Song residence, Bi Fan held a small, carved white porcelain bowl, which emitted a strong bitter smell. Seeing that Jiang Yuan had gulped it down, she quickly took two candied fruits and watched her put them in her mouth.
"It's so bitter!" Jiang Yuan's face scrunched up like a bun. If she hadn't personally reviewed the prescription, she would have suspected that the doctor had some kind of irreconcilable hatred for her, adding whatever bitterness he could find.
"Madam, how much longer do we have to take this medicine?" Seeing that Jiang Yuan had been taking medicine non-stop since she entered the manor, Bi Fan was somewhat anxious. If it was only three to five months, that would be fine, but if it went on for a long time and there was still no sign of pregnancy, it would be difficult to explain, after all, Song Yansi was almost twenty years old.
"Don't worry, I'm just taking good care of my health." Jiang Yuan patted her belly. Her body hadn't fully developed yet, and if she got pregnant too early, childbirth would be difficult. Besides, Song Yanji wouldn't let her get pregnant so soon.
What does it matter to her if the Song family line dies out? Jiang Yuan's lips curled slightly. But this time, if she can't give birth, no one else can either. Even if they do give birth, they can only have her as their mother.
I wonder how things are going now.
"Master." Zhu Chuan's call interrupted Jiang Yuan's thoughts.
Song Yansi stood there with his back to the light, dressed in a light blue-green robe. He had changed into his court attire before coming to her.
Jiang Yuan couldn't see his expression clearly, but she narrowed her eyes and smiled slightly at him, "I just happened to want to play chess, would you like to join me?"
Song Yansi nodded and straddled her, casually picking up a plum and stuffing it into Jiang Yuan's mouth. Jiang Yuan frowned at the sourness.
"This stuff is so sour, it tastes awful."
"You served such a terrible meal."
Jiang Yuan took several sips of tea to mask the sour taste in her mouth, then rubbed her cheek and said, "It's good enough that it looks nice, why does it have to be eaten?"
After court today, Song Yanji declined all invitations to banquets, feeling it necessary to have a talk with the young woman before him.
Chapter 20 Exchange of Interests
Jiang Yuan was quite proficient in the black and white chess pieces, especially in the days before his death, when he used them as a daily pastime.
Song Yansi played chess with composure, his style always revealing the outcome of each move, while Jiang Yuan was decisive and ruthless, always aiming to destroy before establishing. One was skilled in strategic deployment, the other swift and decisive in killing. Jiang Yuan had no intention of hiding her strength; after all, she couldn't conceal anything from the cunning Song Yansi.
The game of chess lasted for more than an hour and still had no winner.
Just as Jiang Yuan placed a white piece on the board, Song Yansi placed a black piece next to it. Instantly, a draw almost turned into a dead end for Jiang Yuan.
"I lost." Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Jiang Yuan didn't linger. It was just a game of chess; she could afford to lose.
Song Yansi casually tossed down a few black pieces, disrupting the chessboard on the table. "A-Yuan's chess skills are superb, but she's too hasty in placing her pieces."
Bi Fan, who was serving them, found it quite boring that the two of them had only a few chess pieces and had been playing for so long. She naturally couldn't see the fierce battle they were fighting on the chessboard. Now that they had stopped, she quickly brought out two cups of Eight Treasure Tea, "Master, Madam, please have some tea."
This tea has been brewed for a long time, and as soon as the lid is lifted, a wonderful aroma wafts out.
Song Yansi leaned back on the soft couch, holding a teacup in his hand but not in a hurry to drink it. "A while ago, there was a major flood in Meihe. Did you know about that?"
Knowing full well the answer, Jiang Yuan smiled and said, "Of course I know this matter has become such a big fuss."
At the beginning of the month, Qi'an suffered a flood of the worst in fifty years, resulting in countless deaths and injuries. Adding to the chaos, rumors circulated that the current emperor was not ordained by Heaven. The floods were severe, refugees fled, bandits rose up everywhere, and before the breach in the Mei River could be plugged, many small villages had already experienced outbreaks of plague.
Prefect Guan Shuyi even sent troops to seal off the village, intending to burn it all down. Logically, burning down a few small villages infected with plague for the sake of the people is nothing new; it's not a big deal. Even if Li Sheng knew, he would have turned a blind eye. The mistake was that Guan Shuyi acted without informing Lin'an about the plague, and moreover, he didn't do it cleanly, leaking word beforehand.
Deciding they were doomed either way, the besieged villagers were desperate and acted recklessly. Surprisingly, they actually managed to wound a squad of soldiers and escape. By the time Guan Shuyi received the news and rushed over, the village was already deserted. Where the infected villager had gone was unknown; if he had indeed infiltrated Qi'an City, that would be a huge problem. Seeing that the truth was about to be revealed, Guan Shuyi hurriedly sent word.
Li Sheng was furious. If the matter of Qi'an hadn't been so urgent, and the court officials hadn't pleaded for leniency, Guan Shuyi would likely have faced more than just a demotion. However, this would have left the position of prefect of Qi'an vacant. At this juncture, the court was completely silent; no one was willing to take on this hot potato.
"What are your thoughts?" Song Yansi asked, seemingly unintentionally.
Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow and gave a wink. The maids bowed and retreated.
In her memory, the plague in Qi'an came swiftly but would not last long. Soon, the divine physician, the Fifth Master, would appear in Qi'an, and her father would be able to reap the benefits if he went there now.
The room fell silent again. Jiang Yuan said calmly, "Don't you already know? Why are you asking me?"
Song Yansi was clearly dissatisfied with her attitude. Jiang Yuan lowered her head and placed the chessboard in front of her. This "what can you do about it?" attitude was even more irritating to Song Yansi. He reached out and lifted her chin. Their eyes met. Song Yansi's eyebrows curved slightly, but there was not much of a smile. "I like women to be intelligent, not just clever."
"That's a pity." Jiang Yuan's chin was lifted by him, and the more she looked at his face, the more annoyed she felt. Her smile inevitably carried a hint of sarcasm. "At least these little tricks let me know that Zhang Xiang is not one of yours, and in the end, you compromised on the Qi An matter, didn't you?"
Zhang Xiang and Luo Nuan didn't stay with Jiang Yuan until the end in their previous lives. Even though they grew up together, they couldn't compare to Zhu Chuan and Bi Fan, who risked their lives for her. Therefore, she only informed Zhang Xiang when sending the letter. If she were Song Yanji's spy, the letter would have been leaked last night, so as not to catch Song Yanji off guard.
As for the Qi'an matter, his father volunteered to go to the local area for disaster relief, which clearly pleased Li Sheng. Nothing would make him feel more at ease and satisfied than a second-rank Minister of the Imperial Secretariat with limited power. At that time, if Song Yanji wanted to insert himself, he would only be able to submit to his father. Song Yanji should know his father's methods, and it would be extremely difficult to make any underhanded moves under his nose.
At the very least, Song Yansi had to bring her brother along. She knew her father better than anyone else; Jiang Zhongsi would never do it without an exchange of benefits.
The room was filled with the aroma of tea. Song Yansi stared intently at Jiang Yuan. He knew she was clever and shrewd, but he never expected her to dare to interfere and disrupt his game. She had set a trap for him, and he just couldn't escape it.
Jiang Yuan's eyebrows twitched slightly. She reached out and pushed his arm away, carefully asking, "If I had told you in advance, would you have needed anyone from my Jiang family?"
"No." Song Yansi didn't hide anything from her. Simply put, apart from his own people, Song Yansi didn't want anyone else to be involved in his plans.
"I knew you wouldn't do that," Jiang Yuan said, sitting down beside him and leaning over him. Song Yanji could only smell the faint scent of Ye Hansu on her body. "You see, in the end, it was still your people who went. You know my brother isn't the kind of person who can achieve great things, but he's a reliable person. I naturally hope that my brother can find a position that suits him."
Jiang Yuan's fingertips traced his cheek, leaving a trail of icy coldness. His thick black hair was held back by a small jade hairpin, with a few stray strands falling around his ears.
Song Yanji was slightly surprised by Jiang Yuan's bluntness, but quickly regained his composure. She was truly impolite. If he hadn't rushed ahead of Jiang Zhongsi, he probably would have been tricked by her long ago.
"Ah Yuan is quite the schemer," Song Yansi said with a smile, tapping her forehead. His voice was so gentle it could melt your heart, with a hint of seduction. "Why do you insist on going to Qi'an?"
"Fortune favors the bold." She smiled gently and uttered these words softly.
Jiang Yuan was certainly not foolish enough to tell Song Yansi that she also knew about a large hidden natural iron ore mine in Qi'an. This was Song Yansi's secret, and Jiang Yuan knew very well that if she dared to reveal even the slightest hint of it, Song Yansi would kill her without hesitation.
Qi'an, that's Song Yanji's armory! For the next few years, Fu Zhengyan will stay there, guarding that unknown treasure for him.
There's also Yu Huai'an from Jingzhou, Wang Yuancheng from Langhuan Prefecture, and later Song Yanji will find an opportunity to get involved with Ge Zhentang from Pinghu. Jiang Yuan feels a chill every time he thinks about these things. Qi'an produces iron ore, and Pinghu is the granary of a country. Taking Jingzhou is like holding the throat of Southern Liang. There's also Wang Yuancheng's 200,000-strong army in Langhuan Prefecture. And Song Yanji's family are wealthy merchants in Southern Liang, richer than a country.
Although Sishui in his previous life was not a major threat, it was thoroughly dealt with by Jiang Zhongsi and was as solid as an iron barrel. For Song Yanji, it was a tough nut to crack. No wonder he went to so much trouble to make Song Yanji so infatuated with him.
He had a plan for every step he took, and Jiang Yuan dared not and could not disrupt it. She didn't even know when Song Yanji had conceived the idea of rebellion; perhaps it was now, or perhaps it would be soon. Having lived for so many years, she knew best when to stop while she was ahead. But she also needed to cling to Song Yanji's shoulders while she still had value, to make her footing even more secure. Even if she couldn't stand shoulder to shoulder with him, she couldn't put herself in a position of certain defeat. She wanted to ensure the Jiang family's foothold in the court. So that when Song Yanji wanted to abandon her in the future, he would have to think twice.
Song Yansi looked at Jiang Yuan with a half-smile, "If it's just about wealth and status, I can give it to you, but I'm afraid you're too greedy."
"When have I ever been greedy?" Jiang Yuan's eyes darted around, a playful jab followed by a gentle leap that landed perfectly in Song Yanji's arms. Their breaths mingled, and meeting Song Yanji's sharp gaze, she decided to curry favor, whispering mysteriously, "Do you know that Lord Lou has a beautiful concubine named Yun Huan? She's incredibly charming and alluring." As if she'd seen her with her own eyes, Jiang Yuan automatically replaced the "vixen" and "little slut" that Lady Lou had described with more respectable terms. However, Jiang Yuan's tone shifted, "She does resemble Consort Wei from the late Emperor's palace somewhat."
Song Yansi's expression gradually softened as Jiang Yuan continued, "I've only met her once. I heard she came from a brothel, but her overall demeanor is much better than those two in our household."
"How do you know what Wei Shuyi looks like?"
"I grew up in a circle of noble ladies, and I can never forget any of the beautiful young ladies in Lin'an."
Jiang Yuan's words were half true and half false. Song Yansi had discovered Wei Shuyi's affair back then. Even if she hadn't said anything, Song Yansi would have found out sooner or later in order to bring down Lou Zhe. She was simply bringing the time forward and using her prophecy to do him a favor.
To confirm that Yun Huan's fate had not changed, Jiang Yuan intentionally or unintentionally mentioned the concubines in the mansion at the ladies' gathering. Madam Lou hated Yun Huan intensely and naturally said many unpleasant things. Jiang Yuan only dared to mention this to Song Yansi after confirming it.
Song Yansi was indeed fast. Jiang Yuan had only told him in the morning, but by evening Yun Huan had been thoroughly investigated, with even the smallest details being thoroughly investigated.
Jiang Yuan stared at the several letters spread out on the table, somewhat astonished. "These are all?"
From leaving the palace to being secretly sent to a brothel, Lou Zhe even fabricated her background in a very convincing way. What should have been a quiet affair was almost completely uncovered by Song Yansi.
“He even dared to bring the deposed emperor’s concubines into his residence, let alone a concubine who had given birth to a prince.” Song Yansi tapped the paper, his words seemingly striking Jiang Yuan’s heart.
Chapter 21 I am not a good match
"Ah Yuan, tell me, why would you keep a woman burdened with the hatred of killing her son and murdering her husband by your side?" Song Yansi stared intently at Jiang Yuan, as if trying to see into her heart, his eyes filled with curiosity, confusion, and deep contempt.
Song Yanji didn't understand, and neither did Jiang Yuan. After a long silence, she murmured, "Perhaps...perhaps it's true love."
"Admiration?" Song Yansi shook his head and sneered, "Now, Lou Zhe is probably going to be ruined by these two words."
Jiang Yuan's hands trembled slightly in her sleeves. Despite the sweltering heat, she still felt cold.
Lou Zhe's matter was handled quickly. As an emperor, Li Sheng could not tolerate his close generals deceiving him for the sake of the deposed emperor's woman. This was a challenge to his authority.
On the night Lou Zhe was executed, Jiang Yuan begged Song Yansi to take her with her.
Madam Lou's insults continued unabated, while Yun Huan remained calm and quiet, as if she had seen through life and death. However, when facing Lou Zhe, she could not hide the hatred in her eyes. How could a woman truly submit to a man who had killed her child with his own hands?
Jiang Yuan was dressed in black. Under the lamplight, her expression was unpredictable. The man in front of her was intelligent and resolute. The only mistake he made, and the one thing he should never have done, was saving Wei Shuyi.
Is it worth it?
Jiang Yuan heard her own voice.
Lou Zhe was stunned. A few stubbles had grown on his chin. He knelt on the ground and looked up at Jiang Yuan. They seemed to be very close, yet very far apart.
He laughed out loud, his voice filled with relief. After a long while, he looked at Yun Huan, who was standing far away beside him, and said, "What can I do? There are countless people in the world, but I only have you for me."
The sound was very soft and quiet, but Jiang Yuan still heard it.
"kill!"
At his command, Jiang Yuan was plunged into darkness.
Song Yansi placed his palm over her eyes, his palm slightly itchy from the touch of her eyelashes. Jiang Yuan gripped his fingers tightly, her lips pressed into a straight line, but she didn't dare to pull her hand down for a long time.
In the darkness, she leaned against Song Yansi's chest, feeling the ebb and flow of life. His voice was extremely clear amidst the sounds of knives falling, "Past events are all like smoke, and debts are settled when a person dies."
Until the very end, Jiang Yuan never knew whether Yun Huan truly understood the man's heartfelt love for her. She could even imagine the scene when Lou Zhe first met Wei Shuyi—a chance encounter amidst the clash of swords and bloodshed that led to a lifetime of regret.
With Lou Zhe's downfall, the balance between the inner army and the imperial guards was instantly shattered. Li Sheng dared not wait any longer and quickly appointed Qu Si'an as the Physician. Qu Si'an was loyal, but his mind was not as sharp as Lou Zhe's. With just a few moves, Song Yanji naturally extended his reach into the inner palace.