"Your handkerchief..." Huaping asked very tactfully, "Does it have any markings? Or is it the work of one of your younger sisters?"
An Ran shook her head and said, "Jin Ping bought it from the pavilion. I thought it was unique, so I kept a piece."
Hua Ping breathed a sigh of relief.
Since it can be bought outside, even if someone finds it, they won't be able to find any fault with it.
“Ninth Miss, I find the matter of Miss Lan losing her jade pendant quite suspicious.” Huaping frowned and said, “Along the way, I haven’t heard anything fall to the ground, nor have I seen anything conspicuous. Has the jade pendant really disappeared?”
An Ran was also unsure about this matter.
“We only have suspicions, we haven’t gotten any evidence.” An Ran also felt that Yun Lan was doing this on purpose. She raised an eyebrow and said, “There’s something I’d like you to keep an eye out for.”
The painting screen god became serious.
"Please speak."
"Go and find out what kind of contact Li Shi has had with Consort Li recently? And what kind of contact Consort Li has had with Yunlan? Count the maids and servants in their respective courtyards." An Ran decided to start with them. She instructed Hua Ping, "Don't tell Third Sister yet. I will tell Third Sister myself when the time is right."
Knowing her daughter's temperament, Huaping went along with Anran and decided not to say anything for the time being.
"You must inquire discreetly, without letting them notice," An Ran said. "Especially Consort Li. If you don't have a suitable person to find out what's going on in her courtyard, don't act rashly. If you don't know, then you don't know."
Speaking solely of Consort Li, she has no conflict with An Ran. However, Consort Li is Li's aunt, and Li is raising the eldest son of a concubine who may represent the future of the Prince Yi's mansion. If she is Li's enemy, then she is naturally Consort Li's enemy as well.
Even if Consort Li's courtyard was completely secure, the same wasn't true of Madam Li's courtyard. It takes two to tango; it's impossible that Consort Li was the only one planning everything while Madam Li knew nothing. Since Madam Li was involved, it would be much easier to gather information by infiltrating her inner circle.
“I’ve got it.” Huaping, realizing that she had been there for quite some time, stood up and said, “Miss, please rest. I’m going back now.”
An Ran nodded and had Qing Xing deliver the painted screen.
Lady Li, Consort Li, Yunlan —
An Ran's expression gradually darkened, her eyes and brows filled with coldness.
She almost fell into their trap this time. Although she hadn't yet figured out how they were trying to frame her, she couldn't just let it go. She needed to think carefully about what to do.
An Ran was confident that the person they chose was definitely not Chen Qian. She understood Chen Qian; she knew his composed demeanor at that moment wasn't an act, and that she had likely just happened to run into him. Even if Ding Shi and Consort Li had dealings, Consort Li wouldn't have allowed Chen Qian to handle such an important matter.
An Ran thought of that handkerchief again.
Hopefully, that was their first and last meeting.
******
Embroidery Courtyard.
After returning home, Yunlan spoke a few words with Yunfang and Yunrui in the courtyard before going back to her room.
Even as she sat down at the dressing table, her heart was still in her throat. She hadn't completed the task Consort Li had entrusted to her, and An Jiu seemed to have grown suspicious of her as well—
However, An Jiu did not point it out to her face, so Yun Fang had no choice but to put on a brave face and pretend that nothing had happened.
"Dou Xue, come here." Yun Lan instructed the head maid beside her in a low voice. "Take advantage of the fact that there are fewer people around now and go see Consort Li."
Douxue agreed and went. Yunlan changed into her everyday clothes, but she wasn't in the mood to rest. She picked up a collection of poems, but after opening it, she found she couldn't concentrate on a single word. She was worried; she was even a little scared.
Although An Jiu was only the Crown Prince's half-sister, she was deeply loved by the Crown Prince. Was An Jiu really here to be her elder brother's concubine? Thinking of the secret that Consort Li had once revealed to her, Yun Lan couldn't help but waver.
An San Niang had been married into the Marquis's household as the Crown Prince's wife for over four years, and she knew San Niang quite well. San Niang was straightforward and had a strong sense of right and wrong; she wasn't pretentious or good at putting on a show. In the four years since their marriage, apart from San Niang's miscarriage, there had been no further news from her second elder brother's harem.
It's clear she wasn't a virtuous or generous woman.
But if An Jiu wasn't there to become a concubine, why did Consort Li and Lady Li both scheme against her? Even though An Jiu was Third Sister's sister, she had no connection with the Prince Yi's mansion.
Yunlan had doubts in her heart at the time, but she couldn't say "no" in front of Consort Li.
In the Prince's mansion, the only person she could turn to for help was Consort Li! She was merely a concubine's daughter, of low status and unfavored. The Princess had two legitimate sons, and clearly favored Yunfang more than any of the concubine's daughters. Even Consort Han's daughter, Yunrui, was more favored by the Princess than she was. Third Sister, being the Princess's daughter-in-law, naturally preferred Yunfang and Yunrui even more!
Yunrui has Consort Han helping her plan for the future, and Yunfang has the Princess Consort thinking about her. But what about her? Who is helping her plan?
She was already fifteen, but her marriage was still undecided. Although she didn't show it on her face, she was extremely anxious. If the princess married her off carelessly and poorly, her whole life would be ruined!
Her aunt was of no help whatsoever, so she had to find a way herself. Therefore, she chose Consort Li, who was childless but deeply favored. If Consort Li could speak on her behalf, the princess would have to give her some face.
From then on, Yunlan would spend as much time as possible with Consort Li, even if her stepmother disapproved. She didn't care about that. If she didn't plan for herself, her life would be over.
Consort Li accepted her advances.
This time, Consort Li had something to ask her, and asked her to take An Jiu to the depths of the Stele Forest, near the southeast corner, when she went to Qixia Temple, and to leave An Jiu there alone.
When An Ran appeared with the strange man, she was told to shout loudly to attract their attention.
Upon hearing her words, Yunlan's heart sank. What deep-seated hatred did An Jiu have against Consort Li that Consort Li would want to ruin An Jiu's innocence?
Perhaps in an attempt to recruit her, Consort Li said that the Marquis of Nan'an's mansion had sent An Jiu over, ostensibly to accompany the Third Sister, but in reality to become the Crown Prince's concubine, so as to compete with Li, who had given birth to the eldest son of a concubine.
Consort Li was Li Yiniang's aunt, so naturally she favored her niece. Seeing that An Jiu was greatly favored by the Crown Prince and his wife, and that the Princess Consort tacitly approved of it, she devised a wicked plan.
Yunlan couldn't say no.
If she refused, she would offend not only Consort Li but also Aunt Li. Aunt Li had a son born out of wedlock, while Third Sister's belly showed no signs of pregnancy... After she got married, she would still have to rely on her maternal family...
Therefore, even though Yun Lan knew it was a despicable thing to do, she still gritted her teeth and agreed.
She clearly led An Jiu there, but something went wrong and An Jiu returned unharmed, accompanied only by her maid Qing Xing.
Yunlan was extremely flustered.