Jiang Henian's heart pounded like thunder.
Lu Huai had guessed it!
He knew she wanted to use this matter to reap the benefits of a fisherman's quarrel, so he was forcing her to agree to join forces for revenge!
If she didn't agree, would she and the entire Jijiu Residence be treated as enemies by Lu Huai?
If she did agree, who was to say this wasn't a pirate ship?
Jiang Henian took a deep breath, rapidly analyzing the situation before her.
Lu Huai was cunning to the point of being almost supernatural, and he was also a powerful minister revered and feared by all in the court. If she agreed to cooperate, with his abilities, it shouldn't take long, and there shouldn't be any unexpected complications.
Moreover, with Lu Huai as a protective umbrella, should anything ever come to light in the future, it would provide an extra layer of security for the Jiang family.
"What does Your Highness require of me?"
Seeing that Jiang Henian had agreed, the expression on Lu Huai's face seemed to soften somewhat.
"Quite obedient, after all."
Jiang Henian's mind suddenly went "boom," and her entire body froze on the spot.
He did it on purpose—he must have done it on purpose!
Those words were only spoken last night, so why say them again today?
Seeing Jiang Henian's face flush all the way to her ears, Lu Huai seemed to only then realize what he had just said.
Only heaven knew—he truly hadn't meant it.
Even he himself didn't know why he kept using the word "obedient" to describe her, again and again.
Lu Huai coughed lightly twice to mask his own discomfort at that moment.
"Do as you see fit. Make Su Ruo turn against the Crown Prince. Since Lu Huan wants to use the Su family to restrain me, he should know the consequences he'll have to bear once things go wrong."
Jiang Henian nodded woodenly, then belatedly realized she should have made something clear with Lu Huai in advance.
"Your Highness, although I've agreed to this cooperation, I am but a young woman of the inner chambers with shallow knowledge and limited abilities. There may not be much I can do in this matter."
The carriage stopped at the entrance of an alley. As Lu Huai was about to step down, he casually left behind a single remark.
"I never underestimate anyone with schemes in their heart. Man or woman—equally not to be taken lightly."
Lu Huai's words made Jiang Henian furrow her brows.
Rumors all said that His Highness the Prince of Huai held the court in the palm of his hand, stirring up storms, and that it was only because the Emperor cherished their brotherly bond that he hadn't punished him.
But the label of "treacherous minister" had thus been carved onto Lu Huai's name.
Yet where others couldn't see clearly, Jiang Henian could perceive a measure of Lu Huai's true nature.
Whether in her past life or this one, she could always sense that Lu Huai carried within him a righteous spirit capable of looking down upon the world.
Setting aside all matters of reputation, of the things he had done, which one wasn't a good deed benefiting the nation and its people? And yet in the end, he was branded with the name of a treacherous minister.
Jiang Henian gazed at the carriage curtain swaying once more, feeling as though she had seen some things more clearly, and yet as though she knew nothing at all.
Even by the time she returned home, she still hadn't fully processed the fact that she had actually agreed to cooperate with Lu Huai.
As she crossed the corridor, Jiang Yu glanced at Qingju approaching from the opposite direction. "Is it prepared?"
Qingju nodded with red-rimmed eyes. "It's prepared."
Jiang Henian nodded expressionlessly and led Qingju toward her own courtyard.
On the table in her room was the medicinal decoction Qingju had prepared.
Without so much as a furrow of her brow, Jiang Henian picked up the bowl and drank it all in a few gulps.
Qingju watched her young mistress's unwavering resolve, her heart aching so much that tears streamed down her face.
That was a contraceptive decoction…
She had already learned last night of what had happened to her young mistress in the Donggong. Beyond the heartache, there was more of a helpless fury.
Her young mistress, so young, had borne so much humiliation alone, and still had to pretend she knew nothing!
Those damned bastards—why must they be so cruel!
"Have the dregs been disposed of?"
Qingju wiped her tears dry and nodded seriously. "All cleaned up. You needn't worry, miss."
Jiang Henian nodded. "Is Grandfather in the study?"
"He is. The old master encountered a servant sent by the Donggong at the gate today. This servant personally saw that servant slip a letter to the old master."
Jiang Henian's heart gave a jolt. Sensing trouble, she hurried toward the study.
By the time she reached the study door, slightly out of breath, she could clearly hear the conversation within.
"The Crown Prince intends to establish Nian'er as his Side Consort. What do you think of this matter?"
After a moment of silence, Jiang Lingyun's voice rang out.
"Grandfather, if this had happened in the past, I would have thought Nian'er would be willing."
"But from yesterday's conversation, Nian'er's attitude toward the Crown Prince is clearly different from before. I'm afraid she may not be willing."
Jiang Bai's voice seemed to carry a trace of weariness. "I may only be a Jijiu of the third rank, but I have never involved myself in the factional struggles of the court."
"This time, the Crown Prince's apparent intention to establish Henian as his Side Consort is in truth a means of forcing our Jiang family to make a choice."
Jiang Henian suddenly pushed open the door. "Grandfather, then don't agree to him!"
The grandfather and grandson in the study were both stunned, staring at the person who had hurried in, momentarily speechless.
"Nian'er, weren't you supposed to be at the tea gathering in the Donggong? Why are you back so early?"
Qingju ignored the question entirely. After closing the study door, she stood guard at the entrance without moving an inch.
Jiang Henian made no attempt to hide anything. She knelt straight down on the ground.
Seeing Jiang Henian prostrate herself with such a grand gesture, Jiang Bai and Jiang Lingyun both rose to their feet at once.
"Nian'er, why… why are you performing such a grand salute?!"
Jiang Lingyun quickly rushed to Jiang Henian's side and helped her up from the ground.
"The weather is cold. What if your knees catch a chill?"
Jiang Henian did not insist on staying kneeling. She rose obediently, then turned her gaze back to the elder seated at the desk.
"Grandfather, I heard everything you and eldest brother were just discussing."
Jiang Henian looked seriously at Jiang Bai. "Grandfather, this granddaughter does not wish to marry the Crown Prince as a Side Consort—not even as the Crown Princess!"
Jiang Bai studied his granddaughter carefully, as if trying to confirm whether her words were truly sincere.
"Henian, if you become a Side Consort in the Donggong, you are guaranteed wealth and honor. Are you certain you do not wish for this?"
No matter how much Jiang Bai approved of Jiang Henian's decision in his heart, he still needed to confirm whether the child truly did not want it, or whether she was resisting because of the rules he himself had established.
Jiang Henian's tone was utterly resolute: "Grandfather, this granddaughter does not wish it!"
"Whether or not the Crown Prince remains the Crown Prince, he will never be a suitable match for this granddaughter!"
And after marrying him, there would not only be no wealth and honor—there would be disaster that could wipe out the entire family!
"Furthermore, if Henian were to marry the Crown Prince, Grandfather would be forced to take sides, and from then on would never again be able to act according to your own conscience!"
"Calculated this way, marrying the Crown Prince brings a hundred harms and not a single benefit. Henian earnestly begs Grandfather to decline the Crown Prince's goodwill."
Jiang Henian knew that if it were anyone else, Lu Huan would have long since sought an Imperial Edict to directly decree the marriage.
But when it came to her grandfather, Lu Huan did not dare.
Because Emperor Ming had benefited greatly from her grandfather in the past, and had even received guidance from him during the darkest period of his life.
For this reason, Emperor Ming held great respect for her grandfather. If Lu Huan rashly petitioned for an edict, he would surely be refused. That was why he chose to send a letter in advance—it was also a means of applying pressure.
Jiang Bai's eyes were filled with admiration for Jiang Henian's words.
"For someone so young to think of all this is truly rare."
"Since you are unwilling, then Grandfather will do everything in his power to decline this marriage for you. I will not let you worry any further."
Jiang Bai's words allowed Jiang Henian to breathe a sigh of relief, but they did not fully ease Jiang Lingyun's mind.
"But Grandfather, what if the Crown Prince insists on making Nian'er his Side Consort? What do we do then?"