Doble preludio

Chapter 1 The Melody Ends, the Scholar Returns

"Ah—" A shrill scream shattered the silence of the night, and the Spring Warm Pavilion instantly erupted in chaos as the embroidered golden peony curtains were swiftly pulled open.

Zhu Chuan was startled to see Jiang Yuan's pale face. He quickly reached out and patted her back to comfort the trembling Jiang Yuan. Turning his head, he saw the maids standing helplessly behind him and immediately became angry: "What are you all standing there like idiots for? Hurry up and inform the madam to invite Doctor Wang!"

Jiang Yuan had lost count of how many times she had been awakened by nightmares. Ever since she woke up again, the scene of her jumping off Guanyun Pavilion had been playing out in her dreams again and again, like a nightmare that would never end.

A breeze, carrying a slight chill, blew through the window cracks, and her emotions gradually calmed down with Zhu Chuan's repeated reassurances.

"How is A-Yuan?" An anxious female voice accompanied by rapid footsteps sounded outside the door. She had just calmed her breathing when the door was pushed open. Zhu Chuan quickly got up to make way, and Madam Jiang walked quickly to the bedside. Seeing that Jiang Yuan was alright, she breathed a sigh of relief, slowly sat on the bed, and took the wet handkerchief from Bi Fan's hand, gently wiping Jiang Yuan's forehead. "Weren't you feeling better yesterday? Why did you have a nightmare again tonight?"

Madam Jiang was not asking Jiang Yuan about this.

Zhu Chuan stood to one side, exchanged a glance with Bi Fan, and said softly, "Today, this servant accompanied Miss out for some fresh air. When we passed by the South Courtyard, the Second Miss's cat accidentally fell from a tree, which must have startled Miss."

"Hmph." Madam Jiang snorted coldly, her voice not loud but icy cold, making one's heart chill. "I've spoiled that girl too much."

Lady Jiang was the eldest daughter of Zhou Pingzheng, the prefect of Huaizhou. She was well-versed in literature from a young age and married Jiang Zhongsi, the son of the Prefect of Jingzhao, at the age of sixteen. This marriage now seems like a match made in heaven, but her mother was quite dissatisfied with it in her early years. Although Lady Jiang's background was not as noble as that of a lady from a family with a long history of nobility, she should still have married the eldest son or grandson of an official.

Although Jiang Zhongsi was appointed as a Gentleman Attendant at a young age, his status as an illegitimate child was a source of worry for his mother. However, his maternal grandfather admired him greatly. His mother was proud and married off to an illegitimate son at a young age, which made her feel inferior to the legitimate daughters in the circle. In her husband's family, she was also inferior to her sisters-in-law from the legitimate line. As a result, she had a rift with her father in her early years, which allowed Aunt Zhao to take advantage of the situation.

However, Jiang Yuan had to admit that his maternal grandfather had a keen eye for talent. Although his father was born out of wedlock, he was indeed a man of great talent. In just over ten years, he rose from a fifth-rank Yellow Gate Attendant to a second-rank Left Fengyi. Of course, his wife's family also played a part in this. His father's official career was smooth sailing, but the inner quarters of the household were not peaceful.

Jiang Yuan knew that her mother hated the concubines in the mansion, especially her second sister, Jiang Zhi, who was born out of wedlock. Now that she was lying on her sickbed, she would inevitably suffer the consequences from Concubine Zhao and this sister.

Madam Jiang then pulled Jiang Yuan aside for a private chat. From her words, Jiang Yuan knew that Jiang Zhi and Aunt Zhao were likely to be punished by his mother. If it were the Jiang Yuan of yesteryear, he would probably have already been thinking of ways to advise his mother.

But now.

Jiang Yuan felt a slight headache and irritability. The initial shock and joy upon waking were gradually overshadowed by a chill in her heart as time passed.

Seeing that she still looked listless, Madam Jiang sighed, pulled the quilt up a little higher, gently covered the bottom of the quilt for her, fed her some tea, and then got up to leave. "Yuan'er, sleep for a while longer."

"Mm," Jiang Yuan responded softly, closing her eyes the moment the bed curtains were lowered.

The eighth year of Zheng'an.

The eighth year of Zheng'an.

April rain comes suddenly, and the night that was just peaceful is now filled with fine drizzle. Jiang Yuan closed her eyes and listened to the pattering sound of raindrops falling outside the window. If only it could have started sooner.

If it had been any earlier, she certainly wouldn't have gone to Guilong Temple to offer incense, and even if she had, she definitely wouldn't have saved Song Yansi.

Or, kill him before he becomes too powerful.

Unfortunately, she arrived too late.

Song Yanji, the name she wished she could devour and drink the blood of in her past life, was once the man of her dreams, her beloved husband. So much so that later, their affections faded and they grew to the point of mutual loathing, which she did not fail to regret.

In the later years of Jiang Yuan's life, she and Song Yanji became irreconcilable enemies, to the point of life or death. Song Yanji almost wiped out Jiang Yuan's entire family, while Jiang Yuan was not idle either. She caused Song Yanji's offspring to wither away and stirred up the previous dynasty into chaos. It seems that if she had not died, his empire would have ended up in her hands in the end.

Jiang Yuan was somewhat unwilling. Why was she so foolish back then? She died before she could kill Song Yanji.

Hate is like fragrant grass, cut down and it grows back. She murmured these words, which finally turned into a sigh.

In the eleventh year of Zheng'an, the Prince of Fei'an rebelled, and his army marched directly from Moze into Lin'an.

Although Lin'an is under the emperor's nose, it is uncertain how long the emperor can remain on the throne. For a time, the people of Lin'an were filled with anxiety, and there were more rumors than in the six border prefectures that were engulfed in war. In short, this year was not peaceful.

The grapevines in the northwest corner of Chunnuan Pavilion grew exceptionally well, almost covering half of the courtyard. Jiang Yuan loved to cool off under the shade of the vines in the summer, so he instructed people to set up a rattan bed under the vines.

That day, Jiang Yuan lay lazily on the rattan bed in the small courtyard. Zhu Chuan stood beside her, gently fanning her. Bi Fan carefully peeled grapes for her, and the crystal-clear flesh was removed and placed in a silver dish. A silver spoon and a carved lacquer teacup were placed on the table. The fruit tea made with candied oranges emitted a faint fragrance. Jade Dew Frost, Eight Treasure Cake, and Osmanthus Square Pastry were arranged in several small dishes.

She had already ordered her servants to clear away the green bamboo and rocks in the courtyard and dig a pond. Now, in early summer, the lotus flowers in the pond have opened up tiny buds.

When Jiang Yuan was a young lady, she never liked flowers and plants, finding them too vulgar. Later, she married Song Yanji, and after he ascended the throne, he became increasingly busy. Even when he came to the harem, Jiang Yuan always heard him talking about his other wives. Over time, Jiang Yuan fell in love with these mundane things and wasted her time among the flowers and plants in the backyard of Cangfeng Palace, seeking solace in the swaying shadows of the garden.

In the past two years, Jiang Yuan has moved almost all the flower seeds of Nanliang to Chunnuan Pavilion. Asarum, Angelica, Juglans regia, and Ipomoea quamoclit bloom in all four seasons.

Suddenly, a servant in the front yard poked his head into the yard and waved to Luo Nuan, who was closest to him.

"Miss." After a while, Luo Nuan ran to Jiang Yuan's side, bent down and said, "Chang Gui just came over and said that as soon as Master entered the courtyard, he was invited away by Emerald, who is by the Second Miss's side."

Her second older sister.

Jiang Yuan reached out and picked up a pastry, her little finger slightly raised. The pastry, glistening with glitter, was brought to her lips. She took a small bite, finding it sweet and delicious. She immediately narrowed her eyes and said, "Zhu Chuan, have the kitchen prepare some easy-to-eat tea snacks. I'm afraid Father will be calling me soon."

The story begins a few days ago at Yuanbao Pavilion. As the largest jewelry store in Lin'an City, Yuanbao Pavilion recently received a new batch of jewelry, said to be the best in Southern Liang. Jiang Yuan, out of curiosity, also went to take a look. But what kind of place is Lin'an? It's right under the emperor's nose, and the city is teeming with noble families. One princess picked up a couple of pieces, another imperial concubine took a couple, and by the time it was Jiang Yuan's turn, there wasn't much left.

In her previous life, during the years when Jiang Yuan was empress, she squandered Song Yanji's national treasury with extravagant and wasteful spending, including precious jade, gold nuggets, and pearls.

Looking at these pieces of jewelry that others had left over, I really couldn't muster any interest, so I casually picked a few rather ordinary-looking pieces and gave them to the head maids in my room when I got back to the mansion.

Unfortunately, when Bifan paid her respects to her mother this morning, the gold filigree beaded hairpin she was wearing was the same style as Jiang Zhi's. This was outrageous! Jiang Zhi was so angry that her eyes turned red on the spot. When she returned to Xiangsang Courtyard, she didn't stay idle either, causing a huge commotion. Everyone in the mansion knew that the Second Miss had been wronged by her.

This incident terrified Bifan. Firstly, she was afraid that the second young lady would cause trouble, and secondly, she was afraid that the maids and servants in the courtyard would gossip. She dared not wear the flower hairpin again and carefully put it in the box.

"Miss," Bi Fan said, still peeling grapes, hesitating, "How about I go apologize to the Second Miss? That would be..."

“She doesn’t want you to apologize.” Jiang Yuan continued to squint, the force of the fan was just right, the breeze gently brushing across her face, quite refreshing. “She wants me, Miss, to apologize to her.”

“Miss…” Bi Fan’s voice sounded somewhat aggrieved. Before she could finish speaking, Jiang Yuan’s voice rang in her ears.

"She's dreaming."

Bi Fan stared blankly for a moment, then lowered her head and stopped talking. Seeing that the grapes had been peeled, she reached for the bright red lychees.

Less than an hour later, news came from Xiangsang Courtyard that the master had gone to his study.

Jiang Yuan called for someone to bring the tea set, and then wiped his hands with a wet cloth before brewing the tea.

Jiang Yuan's tea-brewing

……