After everything was over, a few quiet days finally passed.
Su Yuan returned to the academy the next day, while Su Yaoyao was confined by Zheng Rui, crying and throwing tantrums in the courtyard every day.
Because Zheng Rui had fallen out of favor, Su Yaoyao was also no longer welcome. If it weren’t for Su Yuan still being around, the Fusheng Residence would probably have been doomed.
After this incident, the servants began speculating whether the Shan Shu Mansion might get a new lady of the house in the future.
Zhou Jianyue was young, beautiful, generous, and came from a decent background her father was a fifth-rank official with real power in hand.
If she were to bear Su Huai a child… even Su Yuan might not be irreplaceable.
But these were all just their conjectures; whatever would actually happen in the future was not for them to decide.
The little maid Chun’er, who had delivered notes to Grandma Zhou, was offered by Su Lingqing a generous sum to leave, but Chun’er absolutely refused.
Su Lingqing’s appearance that day completely won Chun’er over.
Although she was just a lowly servant, having someone looking out for her in the Fusheng Residence was better than nothing.
Su Lingqing instructed her that no matter what happened, she must find a way to preserve her life first before doing anything else.
Hearing this, Chun’er was even more touched!
…
Early that morning, the wind and snow howled, dressing the entire Shengjing City in a silver-white coat.
Su Lingqing sat in the carriage, holding a warm Junshan Silver Needle in her hands.
This time, she was still heading to the black market in the west, but she no longer had to suffer by riding a horse.
The cold today could literally crack a face.
The previous night, she had received a message via a flying crow. The beautiful crow had landed right at her window, instantly revealing its owner.
After all, no one would put a pure gold collar on a crow, inlaid with luxurious agate.
The crow tilted its head and even turned its body so that Su Lingqing could see the message tube strapped to its leg.
Taking out the letter and quickly reading it, Su Lingqing’s pupils instinctively contracted.
It seemed necessary for her to make a trip first thing tomorrow morning.
So, braving the wind and snow, Su Lingqing hurried along the way.
When she arrived at the black market, a young man waving a folding fan smiled and greeted her.
Seeing the fan in his hand, Su Lingqing almost couldn’t control her expression.
In all her two lifetimes, she had never seen anyone using a fan in such weather.
As they walked, he began to introduce himself: “Miss Su, hello. My name is He Kang. You can call me Brother Kang it sounds nicer.”
“If you keep talking, you’ll scare her away,” Wen Chong came from the side and pushed He Kang aside.
“Please forgive him, Miss Su. He speaks without thinking,” Wen Chong said.
He Kang was immediately displeased. “Ah, Wen Chong, you you you…”
Su Lingqing smiled. “It’s fine. Young Master He is quite amusing. Thank you for your hospitality.”
With that, she turned and entered the house.
He Kang jabbed Wen Chong with his elbow. “Are you crazy? Flirting is none of your business!”
Wen Chong jabbed back. “Flirting and aiming at the Little Jiang Prince? I think you’re the crazy one!”
He Kang blinked. “Huh? You mean them…? That can’t be!”
Wen Chong rolled his eyes, too lazy to argue with an idiot.
Su Lingqing removed her heavy cloak and sat quietly on the small couch, waiting.
Ever since taking the pill given by Jiang Ciyan last time, her body had grown stronger day by day, and her hands and feet were no longer so cold.
As she was thinking, a voice came from the doorway.
A handsome young man with a warm smile entered, wearing an official uniform under his dark red cloak.
Su Lingqing immediately stood and bowed respectfully. “Your humble servant, Su Lingqing, pays respects to His Highness, the Regent Prince.”
Hearing this, Jiang Ciyan laughed, almost choking: “Miss Lingqing, you are amusing. Last time we met, you were all business, cold and distant. This time you seem a lot more restrained.”
Su Lingqing lowered her head. “Last time, I was too hasty and lost my manners. The Little Jiang Prince was gracious not to blame me.”
Jiang Ciyan came forward and sat opposite her. “I am not gracious.”
“Ah?” Su Lingqing was stunned by his answer.
Seeing her reaction, Jiang Ciyan couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.
His smiling eyes were gentle and warm, always putting people at ease.
“It’s nothing, I was teasing you. I wore the official uniform so you wouldn’t be too anxious it wasn’t meant to intimidate you.”
Hearing his explanation, Su Lingqing could only nod silently.
The two then got down to business.
“The snowstorm today is terrible. It must have been difficult for you to make the trip,” Jiang Ciyan personally poured her a cup of hot tea.
Seeing this, Su Lingqing’s knuckles turned white, an unusual tension appearing.
Not from shyness, but from unease.
She simply couldn’t understand Jiang Ciyan no one could.
“Thank you for understanding, Little Jiang Prince. The flying crow message said you had already found one of them and even investigated some clues about my mother. I could not help but be anxious,” she said.
Jiang Ciyan, pondering, replied, “Looks like if it weren’t so late last night, Miss Lingqing would have come directly.”
After speaking, he clapped his hands, and soon Wen Chong led in a tall woman.
Having likely reached some agreement, the scarred woman showed no emotion upon entering, already knowing someone was looking for her.
She first bowed properly to Jiang Ciyan, then turned to the nearby girl. Her otherwise cold eyes flickered with a hint of amazement.
Su Lingqing clenched her fists tightly!
She had finally… seen Li Ziyun again.
In her previous life, Li Ziyun was extraordinary.
Her appearance was unremarkable, even disfigured in earlier years, yet she became, apart from Su Lingqing, the person Zhao Mingcheng trusted and favored most.
At that time, Su Lingqing had guessed that Li Ziyun’s intelligence and strategy surpassed others, far beyond any strategist.
Even if she weren’t that clever, she must have had other outstanding qualities.
Though in this life Su Lingqing was confident she could rely on herself to gradually defeat Zhao Mingcheng and exact revenge, she now had to investigate the truth behind her mother’s death, prevent harm from Zheng Rui and Su Yaoyao, and prepare meticulous plans in advance to avoid being forced into a marriage substitution by Su Huai again.
All these overlapping concerns were exhausting and prone to mistakes.
Bringing Li Ziyun into her fold early if she could help, great; if not, it didn’t matter.
What Su Lingqing needed was to prevent Zhao Mingcheng from gaining Li Ziyun again, adding another important ally for himself!
Normally, even knowing everything in advance, Su Lingqing wouldn’t dare openly seek out Li Ziyun it would be too obvious.
But if she wasn’t mistaken, Li Ziyun had no affection for Zhao Mingcheng.
Her closeness to him was for another purpose!
What that purpose was, Su Lingqing had yet to figure out.
Before the others could converse, He Kang put away his fan, his expression slightly serious, and entered the room without further announcement.
“Little Jiang Prince, Su Yaoyao has arrived. She has gathered a crowd outside the black market, making a scene, saying she wants to take Miss Su back. And they say…”
“Say what?”
“They say Miss Su came here to… secretly meet a man!”