In early March, as the peach blossoms were about to bloom, Xie Jiayan received an invitation from Princess Jingwu, who said that a flower-viewing banquet was being held at the princess's residence and invited her to a chat.
"Which other families are there?" Xie Jiayan asked, holding the invitation.
"I've inquired, and the servant who delivered the invitation said he'll have to make another trip to the Wu residence later," Bao Yun quickly replied, inwardly sweating with relief. Luckily, she had asked the servant a couple more questions.
"Haha, I see. Since the princess is being so kind, we shouldn't leave empty-handed." Xie Jiayan smiled. "Go and deliver that set of gold-threaded and jade-decorated glass cups to the princess's residence."
"Yes," Baoyun replied.
"Wait, take a box of my newly blended money-attracting incense and give it to Princess Jingwu." Xie Jiayan spoke again, leaning back on the couch with a red fur-lined soft pillow beside her. "The box with added tea leaves."
Bao Yun nodded in agreement, but for some reason, the three corpses flashed through her mind again. The moment she stepped out of the room, her throat felt a little dry.
Miss's actions could be considered a provocation.
Chapter 66 Better to be prepared
That day, Jiang Yuan and Rong An were playing with Cheng Yu reciting his lessons at the mansion when a letter arrived from the palace. The eunuch who delivered the letter smiled and presented the letter to Jiang Yuan with both hands, saying, "The Empress Dowager said that this banquet is being held tomorrow to welcome Princess Jingwu."
Without lingering any longer, Jiang Yuan gave a signal, and Zhu Chuan escorted the eunuch out of the hall. Zhu Chuan walked slowly, and only after entering the long corridor did he casually slip two large silver ingots into the eunuch's hand. The eunuch subtly weighed them in his hand, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepened. "The Lady of the Marquis thinks too highly of me."
"This decree was issued rather hastily. I wonder if my lady has anything to prepare?" Zhu Chuan asked tactfully.
The silver ingot in his hand was substantial enough, and the other party was the wife of a marquis. Although the eunuch was close to Zhu Chuan, he still kept his voice quite low. "It was the Seventh Prince who came to the palace today. He invited most of the noble ladies from various families. Madam, you don't need to worry."
Inside the hall, Rong An looked at the vermilion and gold characters on the seal in her hand and felt uneasy. "Didn't the princess just invite all the ladies and young misses of Lin'an a few days ago? Why does she still need to hold a party in the palace?"
Jiang Yuan shook her head and did not answer her, but instead tapped the document that had been sent along with the imperial decree.
"Madam." After waiting a while, Zhu Chuan rushed in and said with a sigh, "The decree was requested by Princess Jingwu, and most of the people invited are officials with official ranks."
"A few days ago, I heard that His Highness invited Miss Xie to a banquet at the manor." The news was brought by Zhang Xiang when she went out with Lin Mama to buy cosmetics; she was best at finding out these kinds of things.
"When Zhang Xiang left, it was Chen Shi (7-9 AM), which is considered early," Zhu Chuan recalled.
"Azure Sail".
“Madam.” When Bi Fan saw Jiang Yuan calling her, she quickly stepped forward.
"Go to Princess Yijia's residence and deliver some things to Qingping." Jiang Yuan tapped the tablet in her hand, "and also inform her that I have received the Empress Dowager's tablet and will be entering the palace tomorrow."
Although Qingping holds the title of County Princess, it's easy to tell from her words that Awu looks down on her. If even she were to receive a summons and be invited to the palace…
Jiang Yuan's eyes turned slightly cold. Ah Wu was going to use all the methods she had used to deal with Xie Jiayan in her previous life on her.
"It would be great if Qingping could go too, at least my cousin-in-law would have a companion." Rong'an looked at Bifan, who was hurrying off to choose gifts with the red boat, and was still a little worried. "However, in two months, it will be Qingping's wedding with Lord Feng. I'm afraid the Empress Dowager will not let her enter the palace at this critical juncture."
Jiang Yuan had lost the mood to coax Cheng Yu. Although Cheng Yu was small, he was very clever. Seeing that his mother and cousin's faces had lost their previous joy, he stopped making a fuss and just called Luo Nuan to carry him to the bed to read the book. Occasionally, his little head would peek out from behind the beaded curtain to look at Jiang Yuan.
Bi Fan was extremely efficient. An hour later, she returned from the Princess's residence to the Marquis of Anguo's residence without any delay.
"How is it?" The tea beside Jiang Yuan was slightly cold. Zhu Chuan wanted to go forward and replace it for her, but she raised her hand to refuse.
“I received the invitation from the palace, saying it was sent to me separately.” Bi Fan said, panting. “When I arrived, the county princess was struggling with her decision at home. As soon as she heard that you were going too, she told me everything.”
Several kinds of fine tea and fruit were laid out on the table. Luo Nuan's voice, along with Cheng Yu's question, came softly from inside the tent. Jiang Yuan's eyes swept over the maids in front of her without leaving a trace. Among them were Song Yanji's people. That person hadn't been touched all these years, so she hadn't been able to catch him. Now that it was time to use him at this critical juncture.
Even a noblewoman of her rank could only bring two maids when entering the palace. She had tested Zhang Xiang in the matter of Qi'an, almost catching Song Yanji off guard; Bi Fan wasn't one to keep secrets. Zhu Chuan… Jiang Yuan's half-closed eyes flickered slightly. In her past life, Zhu Chuan had been beaten to death by Xie Jiayan in the Yuanluan Palace while trying to save her; and Luo Nuan had died in the Song family's inner quarters during the years she went to Shuobei.
She didn't want to doubt any of these people, but the fact was that Song Yanji's spies were indeed among them. For the past few years, Jiang Yuan had been puzzled: the four maids had grown up with her since childhood, so how did he win that person's heart, and why did he plant spies around her?
"Zhu Chuan and Luo Nuan will accompany me to the palace tomorrow," Jiang Yuan said calmly, having composed herself.
The next morning, just as dawn broke, Song Yansi had left the mansion when Jiang Yuan rose to dress. She wore a deep red silk robe with wide sleeves, the collar of which was a foot high and adorned with three buttons, a dark blue jacket with cloud and brocade patterns, gold pendants, and a loose, pleated skirt that trailed slightly on the ground. Dressed in jeweled hairpins and formal attire, she maintained the proper appearance of a noblewoman. After finishing her preparations, she examined herself in the mirror before saying, "This will do."
Zhu Chuan helped her into the carriage. Behind the carriage, besides a few servants, were Zuo Shuang and Feng Du, whom Jiang Zhongsi had previously sent off.
"My lord, should we inform the people in the palace?" Xu An stood by the wall, watching the carriages and horses gradually disappear into the distance, and said to the person beside him, "I have a feeling that this trip to the palace is not peaceful."
"No need, don't disturb her." Song Yansi leaned against the gray bricks. Jiang Yuan had only briefly mentioned this matter to him last night, and she seemed quite confident. If he were to act rashly, it might ruin her plans. However... Song Yansi thought for a moment and changed his mind, "Forget it, let's have someone keep an eye on her from a distance, so she doesn't get hurt. But remember, she must not be touched."
Xu An pursed his lips, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and then quickly turned around to deliver the message to the people in the palace.
Jiang Yuan alighted from her carriage at the palace gate, accompanied only by Zhu Chuan and Luo Nuan, and followed the eunuch who came to greet her into the palace. After taking only a few steps, she noticed that the eunuch was about to lead her to the left, and Jiang Yuan sensed something was amiss. She stopped and smiled, saying that she had made an appointment with Princess Qingping to go with her to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager.
"If the Lady of the Marquis doesn't go soon, it will be too late." The eunuch was getting anxious when he saw her stop and not move.
"Father-in-law, please don't deceive me." Jiang Yuan smiled and covered his lips with a handkerchief, his eyes narrowing into crescent moons. "I haven't seen any other ladies along the way."
"What can we do if she doesn't leave!" At the corner of the palace wall, the Lady of the Imperial Household nudged the woman beside her. Her husband had just been promoted to Imperial Household, and she absolutely could not allow him to be disliked because of her.
"Go ahead," the woman in the green dress nudged her.
"I feel a little uneasy," Lady Zhan said, biting her red lips. "Why must we wait until she leaves before we proceed?"
"What are you afraid of? His Highness only said that we should just run into her at the palace gate." The woman in the green dress shook her arm. "If all else fails, you can walk with her for a while first, and then lie and say you have a stomachache before coming to find me."
"Madam of the State." After hesitating for a long time, Madam Zhan Shi finally mustered up the courage to go forward and act as if she had just met Jiang Yuan. Because Jiang Yuan was wearing formal attire, she was surprised and bowed. "I am the wife of Zhan Shi Lin Huan. I never expected to have the honor of meeting you here, Madam."
"You're too kind." Jiang Yuan subtly looked her up and down, his gaze lingering for a moment on the plain handkerchief in her sleeve before quickly looking away. He smiled gently. "Would Madam Lin like to accompany me?"
"If Madam doesn't mind, that's wonderful," said Madam Zhan with a smile, though her fingers trembled slightly in her sleeve.
Flowers and grasses filled the ground, and white willows lined the slopes. The eunuch did not lead the two women along the main road, nor did he take the secluded paths. Instead, he chose a winding corridor. This path was beautiful and wide, but because it took a longer route to each palace than the other two, few palace servants chose it. It's likely that if Jiang Yuan hadn't been able to walk through the palace with her eyes closed, she probably wouldn't have suspected anything.
Jiang Yuan glanced at Madam Lin out of the corner of her eye. As she approached Su Yuan Garden, her pace slowed. Jiang Yuan noticed her slight pause and, before she could speak, she stumbled and fell halfway down. Madam Lin was startled and instinctively reached out to help her. Jiang Yuan inadvertently pulled the embroidered handkerchief from Madam Lin's sleeve.
"Oh dear," Jiang Yuan exclaimed softly.
"Is Madam alright?" Madam Zhan's heart was pounding in her throat.
"It's nothing." Jiang Yuan bent down and picked up the two handkerchiefs on the ground, holding one out to her. "I was rather careless with the lady's handkerchief."
"It's just a handkerchief." Lady Zhan was in a great turmoil at the moment, and without even looking at it, she put the handkerchief into her sleeve.
Why did Madam Lin stop just now?
Meeting Jiang Yuan's smiling eyes, Madam Zhan immediately clutched her lower abdomen and frowned slightly. "Perhaps I ate something bad this morning. Perhaps Madam should go ahead."
Jiang Yuan glanced around. "How can I leave my wife here alone?"
She wasn't allowed to bring a maid with her when she entered the palace this time, and the only person leading the way was a eunuch.
"How about I let Madam use the vermilion boat for now?" Jiang Yuan pointed to the vermilion boat beside him, seemingly considerate. "Vermilion boat, please stay with Madam."
Lady Zhan, disregarding everything else, nodded vigorously in agreement. Jiang Yuan patted her hand with a smile before continuing to follow the eunuch with Bi Fan.
Lady Zhan breathed a sigh of relief, then heard Zhu Chuan's soft voice from beside her, "Isn't Madam suffering from a stomachache?"
Unable to maintain her smile any longer, Madam Lin lowered her head and hurried back to where she had come from.
"husband…"
"The scenery here is quite unique."
After walking for a while, Luo Nuan also realized that something was wrong. She had just opened her mouth when Jiang Yuan interrupted her and stopped her. She swallowed the rest of her words.
Awu is a cautious person and would never cause any major trouble in the palace. This time, she probably just wanted to do Xie Jiayan a favor.
Jiang Yuan admired the surrounding scenery at every turn. Just as she reached the middle of Suyuan Garden, she saw the little eunuch who had led the way earlier dart into the middle of the artificial hill and disappear from sight.
"Madam!" Luo Nuan exclaimed in shock, and quickly took a step forward, her back instantly soaked with cold sweat.
"Don't worry, let's take it slow." Jiang Yuan chuckled to himself.
"Where is this lady going?" Suddenly, a man with a handsome face and a gentle demeanor emerged from behind the flowering tree in front of them. He waved a paper fan and addressed Jiang Yuan.
This face… Jiang Yuan’s eyes curved slightly as she took a step back. “The eunuch who led the way just now has somehow run away, leaving me here all alone. I don’t even know which way to go.”
"It must be fate that I met you, Madam. I was playing chess with some friends and was just looking for a quiet place to relax when I unexpectedly ran into you." As he spoke, he kept glancing at Jiang Yuan.
Luo Nuan was furious at the look in Jiang Yuan's eyes, but there were only two defenseless women in the courtyard. Luo Nuan looked up at Jiang Yuan and saw that she was smiling and probably had her own plans, so she tried her best to suppress her anger.
Jiang Yuan was a smart man, and seeing his state, he guessed seven or eight parts of the truth. "Why don't you point out the way and help me get out?"
"Of course, of course." Upon hearing this, the man looked at Jiang Yuan with a displeased expression. He quickly stepped forward, and the faint scent of rush pith wafted into her nostrils. He spoke to her for a while before pointing to the left and saying, "Madam, just follow this road out, turn left, and go straight."
"Thank you, sir." Jiang Yuan deliberately slowed his pace.
"You lecherous scoundrel," Luo Nuan muttered hatefully as she followed Jiang Yuan away.
"So that's what A-Wu was up to." Stepping out of Su Yuan, Jiang Yuan turned her head to look at the empty garden, sneered, and strode to the right.
"Madam," Luo Nuan called out, and the man said to take the left-hand path.
"We have to get ahead of Madam Lin." The winding path on the right leads directly to the main road, and we might actually run into Madam Lin. She quickened her pace slightly and thought to herself, "This face does resemble that Duan family's son to some extent, but a pheasant is a pheasant, and it can never become a phoenix."
Jiang Yuan calculated the time, and when he arrived, he happened to run into Madam Lin at a rather secluded corner of the corridor pavilion.
"Isn't Madam suffering from a stomachache?" Jiang Yuan gracefully lifted her robe and stepped onto the stairs, while Madam Zhan's expression was as if she had seen a ghost.
The woman in the green dress was very anxious. When she saw Lady Zhan Shi in the distance, she wanted to come over, but when she got closer and saw Jiang Yuan, she stopped in her tracks. She thought to herself that this matter had nothing to do with her, so she turned around and went into the palace first.
"Huh? Where's my gold pendant?" Jiang Yuan straightened his clothes and casually touched his waist. Suddenly, his brows furrowed. After searching for a while, he anxiously said to Madam Zhan, "Madam, please go inside first. I actually left my gold pendant on the road."
Zhu Chuan had been following the Lady of the Imperial Household Department and was unaware of what had happened. When she realized that the golden pendant bestowed by the Emperor had been lost, she was extremely anxious and sweating profusely.
Jiang Yuan didn't say anything, but led the red boat and green sails to search the side.
"Madam, she's gone in." Luo Nuan said after seeing the figure quickly enter the hall without stopping.
"What happened?" Jiang Yuan straightened up, and Zhu Chuan quickly stepped forward to help her, looking at Luo Nuan and asking. Luo Nuan had no choice but to pick out the important things to tell Zhu Chuan, and the more she talked, the angrier she became, which frightened Zhu Chuan so much that his face turned pale. "What should we do?"
"Let's play along." Jiang Yuan walked a few steps along the palace path, then casually pointed to a few eunuchs who followed her to the path leading to Suyuan Garden, telling them that she had lost her jade pendant and asking them to help her find it.
"Did you bring the scented dew I asked you to bring?" Jiang Yuan really couldn't stand the smell of rush pith on her clothes.
"I brought it." Zhu Chuan always carried it with him, and when he saw Jiang Yuan asking for it, he immediately took it out.
Jiang Yuan poured more of the fragrant dew into her palm. The scent of Ye Hansu immediately overpowered the faint fragrance of rush pith on her clothes. After lingering outside for a while, she estimated that it was about time before pretending to have found the jade pendant. The eunuchs who had helped her search for the pendant breathed a sigh of relief, but were also somewhat suspicious. Why would the Lady of Anguo Marquis take this route?
"This Lady of Anguo is far too late," the Empress Dowager said, holding her teacup with apparent displeasure.
When the woman in green saw the Empress Dowager asking, she quickly replied, "I met the Lady of Anguo Marquis at the palace gate when I came here."
"Oh?" Princess Jingwu asked, a hint of doubt in her voice. "But Yan Ting arrived long ago."
"The Lady of Anguo Marquis has arrived," the eunuch at the door announced.
Princess Jingwu glanced at the cups, a smile playing on her lips, saying nothing more. Now was not the time. Because of Song Yanji, she naturally dared not do anything to Jiang Yuan, but she could create various time and space discrepancies.
A-Wu was in a good mood all day. She didn't speak, and neither did Jiang Yuan, only exchanging a few words occasionally. The familiar scent of tea roses emanated from A-Wu. Even without Xie Jiayan, this fragrance constantly reminded her of her presence.
Jiang Yuan knew A-Wu's personality all too well. If A-Wu didn't like you, no matter what you said or did, it would be wrong, even if Jiang Yuan said things that A-Wu liked very much. As long as A-Wu didn't go too far, there was still room for maneuver between them.