As soon as she pushed open the door, a teacup crashed to her feet. "You're quite the schemer, daring to even deceive your own father!"
Jiang Yuan trembled, wondering what she had done to anger her father. The maids and servants behind her had long been left outside the courtyard, and the only person serving her in the entire building was Rui'an, who had brought her there. She bit her lip and cautiously turned to look at Rui'an.
Meeting Jiang Yuan's gaze, Rui An shook his head almost imperceptibly, indicating that he was also unaware of the situation.
"Father." Unable to fight by force, Jiang Yuan had to outsmart him. She closed the door, stepped over the broken pieces on the ground, and slowly made her way to Jiang Zhongsi's side. Looking at the white bandages on his body, she cautiously asked, "Father, is it still in pain?"
Jiang Zhongsi felt a pang of heartache seeing her looking so pitiful. Jiang Yuan was his youngest child, and her personality was most like his, so he had spoiled her a bit since she was little. It wasn't a big deal for a daughter of an official to be raised to be a little willful and capricious. However, this daughter of his had become too headstrong. "Hmph, you're being good now. You weren't this well-behaved when you were causing trouble before."
"I truly had no idea." Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan knew that her father was referring to Meng Xizhi, and immediately shook her head vigorously. "I only took a liking to the potted green jade in his hand, and I had no idea who he was."
"So you know now?"
"Hmm." Jiang Yuan twisted the handkerchief between her fingers. "My daughter had no idea she would cause such a big trouble."
After a moment of silence, Jiang Zhongsi continued, "Did you give the fish-mermaid you said you lost to General Song?"
"Yes." Jiang Yuan, seeing that she couldn't hide it any longer, readily admitted it.
"You silly girl, how did you get involved with those two?" Jiang Zhongsi was so angry that he had no strength left. "That Meng guy once injured the Prince of Fei'an, and Song Yanji found him in the Jiang residence. It's such a coincidence, I don't believe it."
In his previous life, Li Sheng was not injured in the battle of Jingzhou, so Jiang Yuan naturally did not know that he had been assassinated by Meng Xizhi, and he could not have expected that Song Yanji would find a handle against him. He could only silently look at the embroidered handkerchief in his hand.
“Ah Yuan, your father knows you are thoughtful and have many ideas. I usually let you have your way with small things, but you are still a girl. You don’t know how treacherous people are in this world until you enter the court. Those two are not good people. If you really get involved in trouble, it will not be good for you or the Jiang family.” Jiang Zhongsi said seriously, as if he would not tolerate Jiang Yuan’s jokes.
"Your daughter knows she was wrong." In the candlelight, Jiang Zhongsi could not see her expression. Jiang Yuan lowered her head. "I will never let Father worry again."
Yes, she couldn't have any more contact with Song Yanji. She couldn't, dared not, and didn't want to repeat the same mistake. She couldn't win against him.
"It's good that you know." Jiang Zhongsi frowned slightly. Song Yanji was using Meng Xizhi's matter to harass him. Although he meant no harm, it was still a thorn in his side. He also felt that the man was too cunning. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a little irritated. "Fine, you can go now."
Jiang Yuan wanted to say something, but seeing her father's solemn expression, she thought for a moment, then simply nodded and left.
On the way back, Jiang Yuan kept thinking about something. Seeing that she was lost in thought, Zhu Chuan slowed down, afraid that she might stumble on the dark road, and moved the lantern further inside. Jiang Yuan followed behind Zhu Chuan, and the green embroidered cotton-padded jacket came into view. Zhu Chuan was not tall, and in the dim light, she looked petite and lovely.
The entire courtyard seemed to have fallen asleep, with only the sound of their footsteps audible. Zhu Chuan, Bi Fan, Zhang Xiang, and Luo Nuan had grown up with her since childhood, and she had personally taken care of all the maids, nannies, cooks, and servants in the courtyard. There shouldn't be any problems.
The hand warmer in her arms was still very hot. Jiang Yuan stroked the patterns on the wall of the warmer, her brows furrowed. Based on her understanding of Song Yanji, the eyeliner was definitely in her courtyard.
"Has the person returned to the courtyard?"
"I just went to bed." The man hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but add, "Does Miss know?"
Song Yansi stood by the window, slowly turning the walnut in his hand. Jiang Yuan's incredulous expression flashed before his eyes again, and he couldn't help but smile. Jiang Yuan was such a clever person; as long as he revealed the slightest flaw, she could unravel the truth. "I didn't know it was you for now," Song Yansi added, ignoring the shocked look in the eyes of the person behind him. "If I don't call you in the future, you don't need to come."
"Yes." The door was gently closed. Song Yansi maintained his previous posture, his thin lips slightly pursed, and his moon-white robe shimmered faintly in the moonlight.
Suddenly, he slammed the antique he was holding onto the ground, making a screeching sound in the quiet night as it shattered into pieces. His handsome jawline snapped into a line, and his dark eyes swirled with unsettling emotions.
"Jiang Yuan." He uttered the name softly, his voice filled with an indescribable emotion.
On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, a day auspicious for all things, without the need to avoid any ominous signs, Prince Li Sheng of Fei'an ascended the throne and became emperor, with the reign title Kangwu.
The weather was still bitterly cold that day, but fortunately, the heavy snow that had fallen for three days suddenly stopped, and the sun, which had not been seen for a long time, reappeared in the sky. Li Sheng led his officials in a grand enthronement ceremony in the newly renovated imperial city.
Lin'an hadn't been this lively in a long time. More than five hundred bronze bells, carved with dragons, stretched for over a mile. A thousand large drums were also present, and a band of singers playing the drums lined both sides, their sounds reverberating throughout the entire city. The Northern Expeditionary Army had also entered the city; their armor, reflected in the snow, appeared even more resolute and imposing, stretching for several miles.
The sun was shining brightly after the rain, and Song Yansi squinted as he looked at Li Sheng in the distance.
He wore a dark fur coat embroidered with auspicious clouds, with long dragons weaving through them, and twelve tassels hanging down neatly. Song Yanji watched without blinking as Li Sheng ascended the twenty-four white jade steps and sat down on the throne surrounded by two enormous golden dragons.
Following the civil and military officials, they slowly bowed. The marble floor was smooth as new, showing no trace of the palace massacre. Song Yanji smiled, his forehead pressed against the stone surface, offering a distant bow. His brand-new ceremonial robe was pressed beneath him, the wide sleeves concealing his expression. He heard the voice emanating from his throat, familiar yet so strange, as if he had called out countless times, "May Your Majesty enjoy longevity and peace."
Cheers surged forth, like waves crashing against the rocks on the shore, one after another, surging and boundless.
Tens of thousands of ordinary people were naturally not entitled to witness this grand celebration, and could only stand huddled together below the city walls. The shouts from inside the palace resonated throughout the entire city of Lin'an: "Long live the Emperor!" The shouts rose and fell like thunder in spring, deafening and echoing in the air for a long time. The shouts from the city walls and those below merged into a thunderous roar, resounding throughout the clear and bright Han sky.
Looking at the thousands of people kneeling at his feet, Li Sheng felt a surge of passion in his chest. After ten years of planning and three years of bloody battles, he had finally realized his dream of unifying the world and becoming the sole king of this country.
Chapter 9: Fate in Disarray
"Heh." A soft chuckle escaped Song Yansi's lips. The sound was so faint that it still drew curious glances from those around him.
Song Yanji looked at Li Sheng on the high platform, then met that curious gaze, and smiled brightly, "Brother Xiuyuan, the new emperor is mighty and benevolent, and the people are blessed."
Feng Xiuyuan was taken aback, then smiled and said, "That's how it is."
As for Jiang Yuan, she naturally stayed at home and didn't dare to go out. She had seen the new emperor's ascension to the throne and the officials paying homage once, so it wasn't surprising the second time. Besides, Jiang Yuan in her previous life had not only seen it, but also experienced it.
With a sprig of winter plum blossom in her hand, she swung on the swing in the yard wrapped in a thick cotton-padded coat. Bifan pushed her on the swing while nagging, "In such cold weather, why don't you stay indoors instead of letting the cold wind blow in the yard? What if you catch a cold? Miss's health is already weak..." Jiang Yuan was exasperated and rolled her eyes inwardly.
She had sent a servant to wait at the gate of the mansion. As soon as the imperial edict entered the mansion, she could rush over immediately. She was afraid that her father would not even reach the main hall yet, so she would hide in the side room first. Although she was not qualified to receive the edict with her father, brothers, and mother, she could still eavesdrop.
Jiang Yuan rolled his eyes at Bi Fan and sighed inwardly. He hadn't noticed this maid in his previous life, but why was she so talkative in this one?
Jiang Yuan had forgotten that in her past life, as a young woman, she was either embroidering and practicing calligraphy or learning household management from her mother. Her talent and beauty were second to none, so the maids naturally dared not say anything in her presence. Later, she married Song Yanji and managed the household affairs in the general's mansion. She was decisive and efficient, and her concubines were completely under her thumb, unable to find fault with her. Then, she rose from general's wife to empress. In the harem and the court, power was deeply intertwined, and she became even more cautious, proceeding step by step. Her maids had long since become as still and undisturbed as a lake in late autumn. The later years of her life were filled with dramatic ups and downs; those hardships, even the most vibrant reeds, were worn down by time into hardened rocks.
She sat on the swing, swaying back and forth, her embroidered shoes dangling in mid-air.
As the sun began to set, not long after the news of her father's return was reported from the front yard, the imperial decree arrived. Everything was happening much faster than she had imagined. Jiang Yuan felt that eavesdropping should be done efficiently, so she only brought Luo Nuan with her.
Zhu Chuan is intelligent and steady, and Jiang Yuan trusts her the most to look after the courtyard. If her second sister comes, Zhu Chuan is also capable of dealing with her. Bi Fan is easily startled, and Jiang Yuan dares not take her with her at this time. As for Zhang Xiang, she is sweet-talking and outspoken, and has the most gossip in the surrounding area. Although Jiang Yuan does not plan to go out, she does not necessarily dislike gossip, so she sent her out of the mansion to gather information early in the morning.
Jiang Yuan's journey went exceptionally smoothly. Jiang Zhongsi and his wife were busy receiving the imperial decree and had no time to pay attention to her, so they turned a blind eye and let her sneak in.
Inside the side room, Jiang Yuan and Luo Nuan carefully crouched behind the curtain. Luo Nuan couldn't understand why her mistress was so impatient to eavesdrop on something she was going to find out sooner or later. She glanced at Jiang Yuan, who had a serious face and ears pricked up, blinked, and swallowed her words.
The voice of the old man who produced the Xuan paper sounded somewhat familiar. Jiang Yuan thought for a long time before realizing that this was Zhang Xiangui's godfather.
Thinking of Zhang Xiangui, Jiang Yuan rubbed her sore nose and couldn't help but feel a little envious. She wouldn't be going to the palace anymore, and she didn't know which master Xiangui would serve. However, Xiangui was smart and clever, and he would definitely be liked by the ladies. Maybe he would even be lucky enough to get a godson and have someone to see him off in his old age. At worst, he wouldn't be like in her previous life, following her to the very end, leaving not even a skeleton behind.
"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees." Eunuch Zhang's voice pulled Jiang Yuan back to reality. She quickly held her breath and pressed her ear to the curtain.
"Your Excellency is virtuous and honest, cultivating both inner and outer virtues. You are filial, friendly, loyal, trustworthy, respectful, frugal, and upright. Your exemplary conduct is commendable. Therefore, you are hereby granted the title of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, a rank of Second Grade. Your wife, Lady Jiang Zhou, is beautiful and graceful, respectful, frugal, kind, filial, and compassionate. She is therefore entitled to be posthumously granted the title of Lady, a rank of Second Grade. The imperial edict is hereby issued, and the purple imperial decree is here from afar."
"Thank you for your imperial grace, Your Majesty." Jiang Zhongsi bowed his head and, with his wife and children, bowed three times to Eunuch Zhang before accepting the imperial edict with both hands.
Having served Prince Fei'an for so many years, Eunuch Zhang was naturally a shrewd man. After announcing the decree, a smile immediately appeared on his face. His small eyes, perched on his round face, made him look less arrogant. He bowed and cupped his hands in a very friendly manner. "This humble servant congratulates Lord Jiang. Now that His Majesty has just ascended the throne, he has already shown great favor to you, Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. You will surely have a prosperous official career in the future. I hope that you will remember this humble servant when the time comes."
“You are mistaken, Eunuch Zhang. Thank you for making this trip today.” Jiang Zhongsi gave Zhang Rang a slight push and cleverly slipped two jade watermelons into his hand through his sleeve. The jade was a vibrant green with excellent translucency, and Zhang Rang knew at a glance that it was a rare and top-quality item.
Although he was a eunuch, he considered himself a refined man, so his tastes were naturally somewhat different. He usually loved to tinker with jade and emeralds. Jiang Zhongsi really catered to his tastes, so the smile on his face was inevitably more genuine. He glanced at the curtain on one side without making a sound and said with a smile, "How can you say it's hard work for such a joyous occasion? Now that the country is peaceful and prosperous, in a few days when the weather gets warmer, His Majesty will be choosing his concubines. At that time, I will inevitably have to travel around to celebrate this happy occasion."
Jiang Zhongsi remained expressionless. "Of course, of course."
Jiang Zhongsi's words neither indicated a commitment nor made a refusal, leaving Zhang Rang somewhat unsure of his meaning. Then he thought, since he had already spoken, he might as well consider it a favor. The eldest daughter of the Jiang family was now of marriageable age; if she didn't want to enter the palace, she should make plans early. If he intended to send her, as long as she was even slightly intelligent, he could secretly help her out. "Then I'll take my leave."
On one side, a large group of officials from the government office were seeing Zhang Rang off, while on the other side, Jiang Yuan stood there in a daze in the inner room. Luo Nuan thought she was worried, so she carefully tugged at Jiang Yuan's sleeve, "Miss, don't be afraid, the magistrate will certainly not send you to the palace."
"Hmm." She wasn't worried about her father entering the palace, but what surprised her was his official position. How could he be the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat? On the surface, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat was a second-rank official with great prestige, but in the end, he had no real power. He was only handling some documents from the Imperial Household Department. It seemed like a promotion in name only, but it was actually a demotion in reality.
Jiang Yuan carefully twirled her long black hair. In her previous life, her father had rendered meritorious service in protecting the emperor, but he was not trusted by the Prince of Fei'an. As soon as Li Sheng ascended the throne, her father was sent to Sishui to serve as a regional governor. Sishui was remote and the people were fierce and difficult to tame, but her father was good at managing them. In just a few years, he had taken control of the military power of the region. The Sishui army he trained was exceptionally fierce, and later they became famous in the Battle of Henghe against the State of Wei.
With the emperor far away and the capital in the sky, by the time Li Sheng realized that his father had become a major threat, it was too late. When he tried to transfer him to the capital, he found that the entire Sishui region had been fortified with an impenetrable wall, making it impossible for anyone to get in. Whenever a new governor arrived, there would be a significant riot, which annoyed Li Sheng to no end. Even on his deathbed, he did not stop thinking about it. It was precisely because of his father's abilities that Jiang Yuan dared to act arrogantly in Lin'an in his previous life.
Thinking of this, Jiang Yuan felt a little relieved. Let him be demoted in secret. As long as he doesn't become arrogant and self-important like in his previous life and lives a peaceful life, he won't offend Song Yanji and make him want to kill him.
Whether it was Jiang Yuan's rebirth that disrupted her destiny or not, this life was quite different, filled with unknowns and unpredictability. Li Sheng was assassinated during his uprising, she met Meng Xizhi ten years earlier, Song Yanji was no longer the arrogant young man who looked down on her, and Jiang Zhongsi did not become a regional commander.
“Zhong Li.” Inside Chenyang Palace, Li Sheng was dressed in black robes, with dragons on his sleeves weaving through auspicious clouds. His deep purple outer robe accentuated his sharp features. Sunlight streamed through the window and fell on him. He couldn’t hide his joy. “I never imagined that one day I could ascend this throne.”
“You are now His Majesty.” Song Yansi stood beside him, his voice calm and unhurried. “This is all ordained by Heaven.”
"Haha, what a wonderful destiny!" Song Yanji's words clearly pleased Li Sheng, who laughed out loud and stared at Song Yanji, saying, "Now that the position of Right General is vacant, I wonder if Zhongli is interested."
Song Yanji shook his head. “I have grown up in Your Majesty’s presence since childhood and have not achieved much. To be appointed as a lieutenant upon entering the court is already a great favor. The position of right general must be filled by someone with military prowess.”
"You're good in every way, except you're too cautious." Though he said this, Li Sheng was clearly quite satisfied with his attitude. "Is there anything Zhong Li wants?"
Song Yansi lifted his robe and knelt on one knee. He looked up and met Li Sheng's gaze. "Your Majesty treats me very well. I ask for nothing more."
"Rise quickly. I was just having a casual chat with you, why are you kneeling?" Li Sheng gently patted his elbow. "You've had a busy day, go back to your residence and rest early."
"Your humble servant takes his leave."
The moment he turned around, Li Sheng's smile froze on his lips. Song Yanji had practically grown up by his side. Although young, he was deep in thought and meticulous in his actions. Li Sheng had been amazed by Song Yanji's wisdom more than once when he was conquering the world. However, now that he was sitting on the throne, Song Yanji's intelligence and talent made him somewhat uneasy.
All of this ultimately stemmed from his lack of a son. Li Sheng didn't consider himself a gentleman who only loved the country and not the women; on the contrary, he had many wives and concubines, and several of them were daughters. He had even thought that one day when he ascended the throne, he would simply marry Song Yanji to a princess. This would firstly cut off Song Yanji's career and bring him into his own hands, and secondly, it would eliminate a major threat when Song Yanji had a son in the future.
During the Battle of Jingzhou, Song Yanji risked his life to shield him from a sword, but this completely shattered his hopes for the throne, turning a pillar of the state who was devoted to his lord into a leisurely prince consort. If this had actually happened, how many people would have been heartbroken?
Now that he has just ascended the throne, the most important thing he cannot do without is to win the hearts and minds of the people.
Behind him, Li Sheng's gaze was deep. Song Yansi seemed unaware. He stepped out of Chenyang Palace, his eyes piercing through the sunlight and sweeping across the azure sky. The moment the palace gates closed, a trace of contempt flashed quickly in the depths of his eyes. His fingers caressed the jade pendant hanging at his waist. It was smooth as a bead, without a single pattern. He suddenly thought of that ruthless woman.
Chapter 10 Princess Qingping
"Miss, what do you think of this outfit?" Zhang Xiang shook out a new dress from the trunk, her little face flushed from the light red fabric.
Jiang Yuan sat at the four-immortal table, resting her chin on her hand, a jujube still dangling from her mouth. "Can't we just not go?"
“This invitation was personally sent by the Princess of Qingping. If you don’t go, wouldn’t that be a clear disrespect to the princess?” Bi Fan gently massaged her shoulders from behind, the pressure just right, making Jiang Yuan groan comfortably.
“I have no dealings with the county princess, so why would she think of inviting me to the banquet?” Jiang Yuan tossed another date into his mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and pointed to the clothes in Zhang Xiang’s hand, saying somewhat vaguely, “Change into something simpler, this color hurts my eyes.”
After saying that, she spat out the date pit and reached into the fruit plate again, but before she could touch it, Bifan snatched the plate from behind her. "Miss, eating too much of this amaranth can cause bloating. You still have to go to the Prince's Mansion later."
"The dates this winter are so sweet." Jiang Yuan reached for the empty hand and noticed that Bi Fan's face was scrunched up, looking rather dissatisfied. She could only smack her lips and point to a set of light yellow brocade dress that Zhang Xiang had placed on the bedside table, indicating that Zhang Xiang should help her change. "This one will do."
Princess Qingping was the only daughter of Princess Yijia and Li Sheng's niece. She was pampered from a young age, which made her somewhat arrogant and domineering. In her previous life, Jiang Yuan could also be described as willful and capricious, but she was at least a talented woman. She was fundamentally different from Qingping, a royal noblewoman who was ignorant and incompetent. She looked down on Li Qingping's vulgarity, and Li Qingping naturally looked down on her arrogance.
However, Jiang Yuan fell in love with Song Yanji and obtained an imperial decree to grant them a marriage, thus breaking up the marriage between the Song and Gu families and forcing Miss Gu to commit suicide by drowning. Song Qingping, on the other hand, was infatuated with He Tanhua and used any means necessary to force He Tanhua to divorce his wife and remarry. These two love stories, one after the other, caused quite a stir in Lin'an City at the time, becoming the talk of the town, and Jiang Yuan and Li Qingping were once the most talked-about figures.
However, Jiang Yuan was intelligent and resourceful. Although her forced marriage was not a very honorable thing, she was quite talented. After she got married, she managed the General's Mansion very well, and Song Yanji's official career was very successful. In addition, she was always proper in her dealings with people and was well-liked among the ladies. Over time, everyone forgot about the incident of forcing Miss Gu to her death, and she even gained a reputation for virtue.
As for Li Qingping, she was originally a county princess, but she was not very learned and was too arrogant. He Tanhua, on the other hand, loved to add fragrance to women's sleeves and was fond of romance. Naturally, he chose a wife who was quite talented. His divorced wife was his childhood sweetheart and cousin, and Madam He's own niece. The originally peaceful He family was turned into a mess by Qingping. Madam He naturally could not tolerate such a pretentious and arrogant person, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were in great turmoil.
These two people, who were inseparable in their hardships, ended up with one jumping off Guanyun Pavilion, while the other, Jiang Yuan seemed to remember, Li Qingping, died before Song Yanji became emperor.
Jiang Yuan couldn't help but sigh. Thinking about it, the two of them really did have a bit of a "sisterhood of hardship" feel to them.
Zhang Xiang was very skillful. She finished dressing and grooming in less than a quarter of an hour. Just as she finished applying her makeup, Zhu Chuan and Luo Nuan pushed over a bronze mirror as tall as a person. Bi Fan looked at Jiang Yuan in front of her and laughed in a clear, melodious voice like a nightingale, "Our young lady is really too beautiful. With just a little makeup, she is like a fairy."
The person in the mirror wore a long, light yellow brocade dress with a continuous floral pattern embroidered on the hem. A soft, moon-white gauze sash tied around her waist. A few white plum blossoms were embroidered on a light, smoky-colored gauze shirt with silver threads. Over this, she wore a begonia-patterned cloak embroidered with moon-colored satin. Her face was lightly powdered, her eyebrows were lightly touched up, and her lips were naturally red. Her long, black hair cascaded down to her slender waist, with only a few pearl flowers tucked into her hair bun.
Jiang Yuan looked calmly at herself in the mirror, and her reflection looked back at her. There was no fierceness about her, no premature gray hair. Her fingers lightly brushed across the mirror, and she murmured, "So good."
"Yes, it's really good." Seeing Jiang Yuan's satisfaction, Bi Fan quickly nudged the incense burner beside her. "You're so skillful. You can draw for me next time too."
Zhang Xiang reached out and poked Bi Fan's chubby cheeks. "Even if I paint you like a fairy, the moment you open your mouth, you'll be back to your original form!"