As Jiang Zhiyu was lost in thought, she noticed Xiao Yanchen suddenly staring intently at her.
“What are you looking at?” Jiang Zhiyu asked, a sense of unease creeping in.
Xiao Yanchen’s gaze… something felt very off!
Xiao Yanchen didn’t answer, but instead took a step closer to Jiang Zhiyu.
In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of her.
“I’ve discovered that you are the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Zhongyong’s household. The Marquis and his wife, in order to ensure Jiang Jingshu’s smooth entry into the palace through the imperial concubine selection, mistakenly identified you as their cousin. You willingly endure such injustice?”
Jiang Zhiyu’s face was full of innocence and confusion. “Injustice? I don’t feel injustice at all! This is the Marquis’s household!”
The Marquis’s household?
Xiao Yanchen sneered inwardly.
The eldest daughter of the prestigious Shennong Jiang clan, adored by countless people across the land, possessing the power to revive the dead and heal the wounded, even Emperor Zhaoming couldn’t grant her an audience—would she possibly deign to look down on a mere marquis’s household?
He didn’t believe a single word Jiang Zhiyu had just said!
Before Xiao Yanchen could speak again, Jiang Zhiyu took a step towards him.
The two were now only a hand’s width apart.
Jiang Zhiyu looked up at Xiao Yanchen with a bright smile, “Your Highness, not only do I save you once a month, but I also just promised to keep your secret. Logically and morally, you shouldn’t be ungrateful, should you? It’s best if Your Highness doesn’t interfere in my affairs. What do you say, Your Highness?”
Xiao Yanchen was the infamous Prince Chen, whose reputation was infamous throughout the capital. Even powerful officials trembled before him, let alone dared to threaten or provoke him.
But now, Jiang Zhiyu was simply looking at him with a smile, the threat unmistakable.
Others didn’t know what the two were saying, nor could they sense the power struggle between them.
From afar, only the two could be seen standing face to face under the tree, their shadows cast by the branches and leaves.
One wore a black robe, the other a green shirt.
Suddenly, a gust of wind arose, causing Jiang Zhiyu’s green hair ribbon to flutter in the breeze.
The girl’s face was delicate and beautiful, her expression lively, her large eyes seemingly filled with stars, so dazzling that one dared not look directly at them.
The man, though expressionless, had a handsome face that made up for it all.
His dark eyes were fixed on the girl, looking exceptionally focused and serious.
Just looking at them, one could only feel that the two were a perfect match, a match made in heaven.
“Your Majesty, look! Isn’t that the young lady from the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion? Why is she standing with Prince Chen?” Lady Ping’an covered her mouth with her handkerchief and exclaimed softly, as if afraid of disturbing Xiao Yanchen.
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager immediately looked in the direction Lady Ping’an was pointing.
The moment she saw clearly, the Empress Dowager’s eyes lit up.
The two of them standing together looked surprisingly well-matched!
She had never considered this possibility before, mainly because she was afraid that A-Yu would look down on A-Chen.
After all, A-Chen’s reputation was…
well, not only was it bad, but he also always had a cold face, couldn’t say anything nice, and didn’t know how to make a girl happy.
But now, the two of them standing together looked so perfect together!
The Empress Dowager’s eyes flickered, and various ideas were already popping into her mind.
Ruan Qingwu also looked over there.
When she saw Xiao Yanchen staring intently at Jiang Zhiyu, she almost tore the handkerchief in her hands to shreds.
Her father was the Grand Tutor of the court, a high-ranking official of the first rank.
Whether in terms of status, appearance, or temperament, she and Prince Chen were a perfect match.
In recent years, she had also tried to curry favor with Prince Chen through various channels and methods.
But Prince Chen had never given any response, and had never even given her a second glance.
Jiang Zhiyu was merely a cousin of the Marquis of Zhongyong, from a humble background in the mountains. She lacked all manners, etiquette, knowledge, and talent. What right did she have to stand with Prince Chen?
Judging by her worthless smile, she probably longed to climb into Prince Chen’s bed.
Ruan Qingwu’s eyes grew increasingly sinister, filled with malice.
“Is this cousin meeting Prince Chen for the first time? She’s already standing alone with him, talking to him. Country bumpkins, they just don’t know the rules!”
“Your Majesty, this cousin seems to have become arrogant because you value her a little more. She even dares to covet Prince Chen! You can’t ignore this! Otherwise, who knows what she might do!”
Ruan Qingwu spoke so much, but received no response from the Empress Dowager.
She quickly looked at the Empress Dowager, only to see her staring blankly into the distance with a strange expression she couldn’t understand.
Ruan Qingwu refused to give up and gritted her teeth, speaking again.
“Your Majesty the Empress Dowager?”
“Should I help you bring that young lady back?”
The Empress Dowager was in a good mood, and being interrupted repeatedly made her somewhat displeased.
When she understood what Ruan Qingwu was saying, her face turned even colder.
“Are you the Empress Dowager or am I the Empress Dowager? Are you telling me what to do?”
Ruan Qingwu was startled, her face instantly turning pale, and she immediately knelt down. “Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, please forgive me, I didn’t mean it, I just… I just…”
“I know exactly what you’re thinking. Don’t think that just because I’m old, I can be easily fooled by a little girl like you and used as a pawn. Who are you? Aunt Sun, take her and hand her over to her mother. Send her back to her residence now, have her copy the ‘Women’s Virtues’ a hundred times, and return her in three days.”
Ruan Qingwu wanted to beg for mercy, but Aunt Sun had already walked to her side and supported her arm.
“Miss Ruan, the Empress Dowager has issued an imperial decree; you should thank her.”
Feeling the strength on her arm, Ruan Qingwu dared not say anything more and quickly thanked her.
Disciplining Ruan Qingwu served as a warning to the others, and they immediately became obedient.
Seeing that they were all silent, the Empress Dowager decided to take a closer look.
However, upon looking again, she saw only Jiang Zhiyu standing there; Xiao Yanchen was nowhere to be seen.
The Empress Dowager, “…”
The Empress Dowager’s bad mood was immediately apparent on her face.
She wanted to make everyone present copy the “Women’s Virtues” a hundred times!
However, the Empress Dowager was, after all, the Empress Dowager, and quickly suppressed her thoughts.
Punishing these people at this time would only make them hate A-Yu, needlessly causing A-Yu inconvenience; there was no need for that!
Jiang Zhiyu was unaware of what had just happened. She returned to the Empress Dowager’s side and chatted and laughed with her for a few more minutes.
The time was almost up, and the flower-viewing banquet was over.
Despite her deep reluctance, the Empress Dowager had no choice but to allow Jiang Zhiyu to leave the palace.
However, she had many gifts prepared, filling two carriages, which accompanied Jiang Zhiyu to the Marquis of Zhongyong’s residence.
When Shen Lu saw that Jiang Zhiyu was staying in the guest courtyard, his eyes flashed.
The Marquis of Zhongyong’s residence actually allowed Miss Jiang to stay in the guest courtyard!
They dared to let the Empress Dowager’s savior stay in the guest courtyard!
Once back in the palace, he would definitely report this to the Empress Dowager! No sooner
had Shen Lu left than Chunfa, a maid from the main courtyard, arrived.
“Miss, Madam has sent someone over!”
Jiang Zhiyu hadn’t even had a chance to sit down!
But after thinking for a moment, she stood up and followed Chunfa to the main courtyard.
As soon as she entered the room, Fan Suwan greeted her with a smile, warmly taking Jiang Zhiyu’s hand and leading her to a seat.
“Zhiyu, the Empress Dowager seems to like you very much! What did she say to you after she took you away? Why were you talking with Prince Chen today? What were you talking about?”
Seeing Fan Suwan’s expectant eyes, Jiang Zhiyu smiled before even answering.
“The Empress Dowager asked me what I did at home, what I ate, what I wore, and what I used to live with. She even asked me to stay in the palace with her for a while, but I refused.”
Hearing that Jiang Zhiyu had actually refused the Empress Dowager, Fan Suwan’s heart jumped.
What was Jiang Zhiyu’s status?
How dare she directly refuse the Empress Dowager?
But then she thought, Jiang Zhiyu’s personality was unpredictable, and she wasn’t good with words.
If she really stayed in the palace with the Empress Dowager, she might offend her at any time.
Then, it might implicate the Marquis of Zhongyong’s family.
Thinking this way, Jiang Zhiyu’s refusal of the Empress Dowager was actually a good thing.
At least she had some self-awareness!
Fan Suwan thought to herself, but didn’t show it on her face. She continued to ask, “What about Prince Chen? What was he saying to you? Did he…?”
Jiang Zhiyu looked puzzled. “What did he say to me?”
“Nothing.” Fan Suwan shook her head. “You haven’t told me yet. What was Prince Chen saying to you?”
“Prince Chen said that I should keep my thoughts to myself in front of the Empress Dowager and not be disrespectful to her.”
“That’s all?” Fan Suwan persisted.
“That’s all!”
Jiang Zhiyu blinked strangely.
“Aunt, what’s wrong with you? Why are you asking such strange questions? One minute you’re asking the Empress Dowager, the next you’re asking Prince Chen, or else—”
“No, or else!” Fan Suwan quickly interrupted Jiang Zhiyu.
She was afraid that Jiang Zhiyu would say something like, “Or else we should invite the Empress Dowager and Prince Chen over to ask them…”
Just thinking about it made Fan Suwan’s heart race.
Just as Fan Suwan was about to give Jiang Zhiyu some instructions, a commotion suddenly broke out outside.
Soon, Jiang Jibai walked in angrily.
“Mother!”
Fan Suwan immediately stood up. “Ji Bai, what’s wrong with you?”
Jiang Ji Bai stared straight at Fan Suwan. “Mother, why did you make my elder sister dance like that in public today?” ”
Didn’t the Empress Dowager say that your elder sister should showcase her talents? There were other people dancing in public besides your cousin!” ”
But the only one dressed like that and dancing like that was my elder sister! My elder sister is now the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion, representing the face of the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion. How could she do this!
And the Emperor even compared her to a dancer in public. Isn’t this trampling the face of the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion on the ground? Mother! What were you and Father thinking? How could you let my elder sister do something so self-degrading!
If this gets out, what will others think of the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion? And what will they think of my elder sister?”
Although Jiang Ji Bai was only a fifteen-year-old boy and not as strong and sturdy as Jiang Zhenzhou, who had practiced martial arts for many years, his voice was powerful and resounding when he got angry.
Hearing this series of accusations, Fan Suwan was not only stunned but also deeply distressed.
“Ji Bai, you—”