Jiang Yanting kept calculating in her mind. She had gone to so much trouble to persuade Yang Jing'e to test the Emperor and Empress to find out if His Majesty would focus on the harem anytime soon. She had finally come up with such a plan, but it had been seen through before it even began. "Go see her."
"Miss, you can't go!" Xiaoqiao exclaimed, clutching the bundle, her eyes wide with shock. "You know what Madam Xie is like!"
"What else can we do?" Jiang Yanting looked at the package in her arms, trying her best to suppress her anger. "If she dared to send these things, she must know everything. If others find out, we're all finished!"
"Miss..." Xiaoqiao hugged the things tightly, as if afraid that others would see. Madam Xie's actions were trying to drive her young lady to her death!
"Don't be afraid, I want to see what that poisonous woman really wants!"
Chapter 79 Each with their own thoughts
With hurried steps, Jiang Yanting wore a deep purple palace dress with red embroidery, the heavy purple fabric accented with red embroidery, understated yet luxurious. Her hair was styled in a rigid peony bun, which completely concealed her delicate beauty, making her look much older than her age.
March Lake is shaped like the moon. Every night, when the crescent moon hangs high in the sky, its shadow falls perfectly in the center of the lake, hence the name March. She brought only a small companion with her to this appointment. When she arrived at March Lake, Xie Jiayan was already drinking tea in the pavilion.
This place was chosen by Xie Jiayan. March Lake is not large, with only a small pavilion in the center. The pavilion itself is also small, with a roof of emerald green glazed tiles, trimmed with yellow and red, and the beams under the eaves decorated with small silver swirling patterns. The four vermilion pillars are adorned with fine gold wire. Inside, there is only a set of tables and chairs carved from Taihu stones. Apart from the two people drinking together, there is no room for anyone else.
When Baoyun saw Jiang Yanting from afar, she immediately ran off to deliver the message to Xie Jiayan.
As the light gauze swayed slightly, Jiang Yanting saw Xie Jiayan sitting alone in the pavilion, with his two trusted maids cleverly guarding the side of the bridge they had to pass by. She couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
With a slight lift of her hand, Jiang Yanting gestured for Xiaoqiao to stay as well, while she herself slowed her pace, her fingertips brushing against the stone lions carved on the bridge, strolling slowly as if admiring the beautiful scenery of the lake.
"Jiang Chongyi's outfit really took a lot of effort. If I hadn't seen her a few times with Princess Jingwu back then, I really wouldn't recognize her now." Xie Jiayan's fingers were stained with bright red nail polish, and her snow-white cheeks were made even brighter by the rouge. Only her upturned eyebrows showed a sharpness that did not belong to her age.
"Madam, please speak frankly." Jiang Yanting naturally knew that Xie Jiayan hadn't come to have tea and enjoy the scenery with her. "How much do you know?"
"No more, no less." Xie Jiayan smiled brightly, dipped her finger in tea and wrote on the table. Seeing that Jiang Yanting's face gradually darkened as she wrote more and more, she kindly added, "All of it."
Jiang Yanting suddenly grabbed Xie Jiayan's arm, her fingertips turning white from the force. She tried to keep her voice down, looking at Xie Jiayan's unchanging expression, and gritted her teeth, saying, "What exactly do you want? If something happens to our Jiang family, your Xie family will lose a powerful ally. What good will that do you?"
"How could I bear to let anything happen to you, or to the Jiang family?" Xie Jiayan pried open Jiang Yanting's fingers, one by one, which were tightly gripping her wrist. "I'm saving Jiang Chongyi."
"You threaten me with those things and dare to call it saving me?" Jiang Yanting wasn't stupid. She sneered as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world.
"I just want Chongyi to do something for me." Xie Jiayan reached out and grabbed Jiang Yanting by the collar, pulling her in front of him. His eyes were cold, and his lips parted slightly as he carefully explained his plan to her.
Jiang Yanting's squinting eyes widened into saucers, then turned into incredulous horror. "Xie Jiayan, you're a complete madwoman!" She shoved her away, her trembling hand pointing at the woman before her. How could there be such a person in the world? Did she even know what she was doing? "If you want to die, go die yourself, don't drag me down with you!"
"Chongyi, you should think this through." Xie Jiayan wasn't flustered by the push, but just covered her mouth and laughed. "Otherwise, there really wouldn't be a Jiang Chongyi in this world. As for the Jiang family, tsk tsk tsk..."
"Have you thought about what would happen if things were exposed?" Jiang Yanting wished she could pry open Xie Jiayan's brain to see what was inside. She tried to soften her tone as much as possible, "If you let me go, we can pretend this never happened, wouldn't that be a happy ending for everyone!"
"Everyone's happy? Who's happy?" Xie Jiayan wondered. Letting them go didn't make her happy at all.
A gentle breeze swept across the lake, and Jiang Yanting's heart sank lower and lower with Xie Jiayan's words, as if she had fallen into an ice cave in the dead of winter.
"Only the section from Zuojia Village to Lin County is left to be completed." In the past few days, Song Yanji has been using various means to force many officials to donate silver. The national treasury is not full, and it cannot devote all its resources to the construction of the Mei River. It can only try to obtain more silver from other places.
Jiang Yuan nodded, then reached out and picked up a black piece from the board and handed it to him, before turning around and placing the white piece elsewhere, thus openly and legitimately taking back his move!
Looking at the chessboard, Song Yansi chuckled even more, "This is the third one."
"We agreed beforehand that you would give way to me." This was something that had been discussed from the beginning, and Jiang Yuan didn't think there was anything wrong with it.
"But how can you give someone a handicap after you've already made your move?"
"Let me try." Jiang Yuan reached out and placed a white piece in the corner of the chessboard. She considered herself to be a good player, but she just happened to run into Song Yanji and lost more often than she won. The few games she did win were when he was not paying attention. "I want to see just how much you can beat me."
Jiang Yuan rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the menacing black and white pieces on the chessboard. She was determined to thoroughly understand all of his moves in this game.
Song Yansi glanced at the chessboard with his fingertips, then at Jiang Yuan, whose brow was slightly furrowed. He raised a lip and placed a black piece in front of her. Since she wanted to see it, he would let her see it.
The game was in progress when He Qian's voice rang out from the outer hall, "Your Majesty, Consort Jiang just sent someone to say that she has something to report to Your Majesty."
"Let her talk about it tomorrow."
He Qian was silent for a moment, then said, "Chongyi said it concerns the ICBC issue in Meihe."
Jiang Yuan's eyebrows twitched slightly. She casually tossed the chess piece into the chess jar, and stroked her hair, saying, "I'm not playing anymore, I'm too tired today."
"Does A-Yuan want me to go over there?" Song Yanji arranged the chess pieces, and placed the jade into the jar, making a crisp clinking sound.
"Don't you want to go?" Jiang Yuan said, as if he hadn't thought about it himself. He rested his chin on his hand and watched him methodically put the chess pieces into the jar. This trip might completely solve the major problem of Meihe.
Moreover, as for Jiang Yanting... seeing Song Yansi get up, Jiang Yuan didn't call anyone to serve him, but only helped him tidy up his robes slightly.
"Does Ayuan believe me?" Song Yansi suddenly grasped her fingertips and asked.
"I believe you." He rarely looked so serious, his eyes fixed on her without blinking. Jiang Yuan smiled, touched the jade pendant hanging from his waist, and nodded.
As Song Yansi disappeared outside the hall in the dim candlelight, that thought flashed through Jiang Yuan's mind again. Before she could even think about it, she forcefully suppressed it. She couldn't think about it. The person in front of her was very good, very good to her, and very good to the Jiang family. She didn't even want to think about that absurd idea.
As Song Yansi stepped into Suyun Palace, a sweet fragrance mixed with the aroma of wine wafted into his nostrils. His brow twitched slightly, and he immediately understood—it was today. Thinking this, his face returned to its usual gentle smile.
"Your Majesty, may you be well." Jiang Yanting slowly bowed, her white peony-patterned gauze trailing on the ground, her hair hanging low with only a jade hairpin in her hair, and two strands of hair falling down her cheeks, making her even more beautiful and charming.
"Rise." Song Yansi nodded slightly, and the person kneeling on the ground grasped the hem of her skirt and stood up in response. "I heard that Chongyi wants to talk to me about the Meihe River?"
“Indeed, Your Majesty, please.” Jiang Yanting waved her sleeve lightly and led him into the inner hall. The fragrance inside was even stronger. He Qian saw wine and several dishes on the table. He went up and whispered to Song Yansi. When he saw Song Yansi nod, he picked up a little of each dish and put it in his mouth.
The wine was fine, so he left the inner hall and waited in the outer hall. Jiang Yanting was lively and witty. While secretly agreeing to a lot of money regarding the Meihe incident, she coaxed Song Yanji to drink cup after cup until his steps became unsteady, then she asked someone to turn off the lights.
"Miss." Xiaoqiao carefully helped Song Yansi to the bed and winked at her. He Qian was right outside, so this voice couldn't be faked.
"Xiaoqiao, stay here and serve us." Jiang Yanting nodded, her voice as sweet as a crisp autumn pear. Then she immediately lowered her voice and said to Xiaoqiao, "We'll be relying on the two of us, mistress and servant, in a little while."
What a terrible thing to do!
The culprit behind all of this was that wicked woman, Xie Jiayan! Xiaoqiao was filled with hatred, but had no choice but to follow Jiang Yanting to bed. Her mistress was no longer a virgin, so it was impossible for her to actually have anything happen with the awake Song Yansi. Otherwise, if she didn't bleed, they would both be finished. Besides… Xiaoqiao gritted her teeth; now, she had no choice but to try anything, even if it seemed hopeless!
The man loved listening to opera, and Jiang Yanting, in order to please him, had secretly learned a few lines from the female lead. Now, she could imitate a male voice quite well. It was just a pity that Xiaoqiao was, after all, a virgin, and her voice inevitably sounded a bit unreal. But in the current situation, she couldn't care less about that.
Jiang Yanting's body was bruised from pinching herself, and she couldn't sleep. She had to keep up the act. The smell of the sedative kept getting into her nostrils. When she felt that the time was about right, she collapsed next to Song Yansi and fell into a deep sleep.
Xiaoqiao quickly got off the bed, curled up into a ball, and rested one arm on the footstool.
The water droplets in the water clock dripped down, their sound becoming all the more distinct in the eerily quiet night. It wasn't until the first light of dawn the next day that He Qian's voice rang out again on time, "Your Majesty, it's time to get up."
Song Yansi slowly opened his eyes, looking at the unfamiliar room with a moment of confusion, before regaining his usual clarity. He pressed his forehead, the veins on it throbbing. He turned to look at Jiang Yanting, who was far away from him, his expression complicated. How much had she ordered this time?
"Your Majesty," Jiang Yanting called out softly, her eyelashes trembling slightly.
Song Yansi immediately adopted a gentle demeanor, smiling at her as he looked at the bruises on her arm and asked softly, "Does it still hurt?"
Jiang Yanting's face instantly flushed red, and she shook her head shyly.
"I still have to attend the morning court session. Please rest for a while longer." Seeing that she was about to get up, Song Yanji quickly stopped her and told the maid to change her clothes as he did so. "Don't forget what you promised me yesterday."
"I understand."
Song Yanji didn't ride in a carriage, but strolled along. Since it was early, He Qian wasn't in a hurry either, and followed closely behind him. They paused slightly, and Song Yanji beckoned with two fingers. He Qian quickly ran to his side and asked, "Did you remember last night?"
"Not yet." He Qian smiled, his eyes crinkling into crescents. "Usually, we have to wait until His Majesty finishes court before filling out the register."
"Since it's not filled in, then there's no need to fill it in again," Song Yanji said, his expression unreadable.
If this isn't recorded, it could lead to complications if she becomes pregnant with the emperor's child! He Qian pondered Song Yanji's thoughts, and after a long pause, couldn't help but ask, "Should we send some medicine?"
“No need.” A strange smile suddenly appeared on Song Yansi’s lips, but it vanished in an instant.
He Qian blinked repeatedly, wondering if he was already getting old and his eyesight was failing at his age.
"His Majesty stayed in Jiang Chongyi's Palace all night last night." Zhang Xiang had already found out about the situation. She had beads of sweat on her nose and was sternly telling Jiang Yuan as she bent over, "The palace servants in Suyun Palace were so lively this morning, it was like New Year's!"
"Pah, vixen!" Bi Fan stood listening nearby, about to add a few words, when she suddenly remembered that Song Yanji was now the emperor of a country, and this was the harem, not a general's mansion. The words stuck in her throat were swallowed back down.
Chapter 80 A Battle in Secret
The fact that Song Yanji spent the night in Suyun Palace was like a pebble thrown into the calm palace, creating ripples.
The other palace masters followed suit, but Song Yanji pretended not to see it. He spent most of his time in Chang Le Palace on official business, and even Jiang Yuan rarely saw him.
"It seems things won't work out with Lord Fu." Xu An had been receiving messages from Qi'an for the past few days. Although Fu Zhengyan had a tight grip on Qi'an, Xie Shengping was not going to do nothing. Not to mention the officials he had placed around him, they were all trying to check and balance him.
"All civil and military officials, come from Yimen." Song Yanji held the shovel, the plain silk being consumed by the weak flames. The Xie family was a large and intricate tree, where a single move could affect the whole. After decades of deployment, the local officials had become an intricate network, making this position above ten thousand people seem like standing on the edge of a cliff. Song Yanji casually put the lid on the stove, and the flames were immediately suppressed. "Many ancient rulers lived deep in the palace, unaware of the suffering of the common people. It's time for them to go out and see the world."
But what about Lin'an?
"You stay." Qi'an's matter can't be delayed any longer; he wants to personally cut this rotten flesh completely. "Listen to A-Yuan in everything."
“In case Lord Xie…” Xu An began, but then understood Song Yansi’s meaning, “You mean…”
"Just ensure safety, don't make it too obvious." Song Yanji looked at the vermilion plaque hanging in Chang Le Palace with his hands behind his back. "If we want this peaceful world, we must eliminate its ills, extinguish its desires, and cut off its roots."
Song Yanji's trip was decided in haste, but his words were irrefutable: "Only by seeing things firsthand and knowing them accurately can I avoid being laughed at by the world for not recognizing people."
"Has something happened?" Jiang Yuan was incredibly perceptive; even without saying a word, he sensed a hint of danger.
“Someone wanted to take this opportunity to cripple me, so I plucked their wings first.” Song Yanji reached out and took Jiang Yuan’s arm as they walked. The weather was getting cooler, and the flowers and plants in the Hundred Flowers Garden were gradually withering, making it look somewhat desolate. The palace servants didn’t follow too closely. Halfway there, Song Yanji stopped and casually picked a blooming autumn plum blossom and tied it in her hair. The beauty was as vibrant as the plum blossom. “When I go out this time, you must be careful in everything you do.”
"You too." The palace was rife with danger, and the situation outside was even more treacherous. Jiang Yuan took his hand in return, her icy fingertips warming his palm. Her son, her family, and herself were all on Song Yanji's shoulders. He absolutely could not be allowed to get into trouble.
"Don't worry." Song Yansi patted the back of her hand. "I've been raising a personal bodyguard for so many years, and I haven't just been doing this for nothing."
"Zhong Li." Song Yansi had just taken a step when Jiang Yuan grabbed her clothes. Under the flowering tree, her expression was complicated, and many words were stuck in her throat. The man in front of her was no longer the emperor full of ruthlessness in her memory. She was stunned for a long time before taking a step forward and hugging him, but she didn't know what to say.
It wasn't until she stood truly beside Song Yansi, gazing upon this vast land, that she realized how precarious this land was, and how difficult every step this man took was; one wrong step could lead to utter ruin.
"Silly girl." Song Yansi put one arm around Jiang Yuan's waist and tapped her nose with the other, laughing brightly and cheerfully, as if he had seen her in a dream.
On the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, Song Yanji left Lin'an. Jiang Yuan watched the raindrops falling wildly from the eaves. The sky was misty, with fine rain mingling. The elders said that encountering wind and rain on a journey symbolized good weather and auspicious signs.
"Miss." The smell of medicine mixed with a lot of fragrance in Suyun Palace created a strange smell. Xiaoqiao put down the medicine bowl, held Jiang Yanting, whose face was pale, and kept crying. When would this end? "The child can't stay."
They knew perfectly well that this child was most likely beyond saving, and now, with the medicine hanging in her belly, Jiang Yanting's face was frighteningly pale. She picked up the bowl of medicine, tilted her head back, and drank it down abruptly. The thick, dark medicine flowed down the corner of her mouth, leaving a mark on her snow-white skin.
"Chongyi, our mistress has come to see you." Baoyun's clear voice rang out from outside the hall.
"Miss!" Her small eyes widened in surprise. "What's she doing here again?!"
"Let that bitch in." Jiang Yanting gritted her teeth. Her usually bright eyes were now lifeless, and there were dark circles under her eyes.
Xie Jiayan frowned as she stepped inside, covering her nose in disgust. "What's that smell in Jiang Chongyi's palace? It's really strange."
"What are you doing here again!" Jiang Yanting glared at her.
"What am I doing here?" Xie Jiayan stepped forward with small steps, looking down at Jiang Yanting. His fingertips gently traced her belly, and his smile made Jiang Yanting's scalp tingle. "I came to see if Chongyi's baby is still there."
“I’ve been taking the medicine you sent, but I’m not sure if this poor child will even survive until birth.” What mother doesn’t want her child to live a good life? But the longer this child lives, the more worried and uneasy she becomes.