When the news reached Jiang Yunxu, she was curled up on a chair beneath the corridor, basking contentedly in the sun.
One piece was about the terrified reactions from the neighboring courtyard, which she listened to with great interest.
The other was about the downfall of Yi’an Bo Fu—a well-deserved fate. Before Jiang Yunxu could even rejoice, Hong Qiao couldn’t help but pour cold water on her mood: “Mistress, the steward just said that the Wangfu’s expenses are high, and from now on, whatever you need must be paid for with your own money.”
Throughout the entire Wangfu, only Linglong Pavilion was being targeted, and this order had just been issued. Clearly, it was Chu Youqi’s doing.
Jiang Yunxu rolled her eyes in anger. “How could such a petty and narrow-minded man have bewitched two daughters of the Jiang family?”
She truly couldn’t understand it. One after another, they were all blind. A man like this wasn’t even worth her time if he came begging.
“How much savings do we have left?”
Hong Qiao answered truthfully, “Less than three hundred taels.”
“What about including my dowry?”
“Mistress, your dowry is practically worthless—just a pile of scrap metal and broken pottery. The antiques and paintings are all fakes, and the crudest kind at that.”
Hong Qiao had already gone through Jiang Yunxu’s dowry, and it was truly unsightly. The silk and satin that looked decent on the surface crumbled at the slightest touch, and some of the medicinal herbs were moldy and unusable.
Jiang Yunxu sat up. From the original owner’s memories, she knew that her Mad Mother had come from Xiyu and had arrived with a lavish dowry that had been the envy of many. Moreover, the second branch of the family had previously invested in some profitable ventures.
And the entire second branch didn’t have many extravagant expenses—they didn’t indulge in drinking, gambling, or other vices.
As the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family’s second branch, how could she not even have a decent dowry?
Where had all the money gone?
“Mistress?” Hong Fei called out from inside the room.
Jiang Yunxu entered the room upon hearing her voice. Hong Fei pointed to an exquisite brocade box beside the pillow. “Mistress, I don’t know who left this here, but I saw it as soon as I opened my eyes this morning.”
Who could have delivered it without a sound?
It must have been Yin Feng.
She picked up the brocade box and opened it. Inside was a delicate, small dagger—the one she had used yesterday. She hadn’t examined it closely then, but now, holding it in her hand, it felt perfectly balanced. The dagger was adorned with beautiful gemstones, clearly of great value.
Beneath the dagger were several banknotes, totaling around thirty thousand taels.
“Mistress, this…”
Jiang Yunxu put away the dagger and handed the banknotes to Hong Qiao. “Use this to buy whatever we lack.”
“Yes.”
The two sisters tacitly refrained from asking further questions.
As for Chu Xuanzhi’s actions, Jiang Yunxu found them fairly satisfactory—at least he was a man of honor.
Unlike some people, who were nothing but ungrateful wolves!
Speak of the devil, and he appears. Chu Youqi and Jiang Yan’er arrived one after the other. Chu Youqi, his face ashen, ordered, “Search this place for This Prince!”
As soon as he spoke, dozens of sword-bearing guards began searching the courtyard. Jiang Yunxu stood beneath the corridor, watching coldly.
The courtyard was turned upside down, left in complete disarray.
The lead guard stepped forward to report, “Prince, there’s nothing in the courtyard.”
“How is that possible?” Jiang Yan’er exclaimed in surprise. Jiang Yunxu had no one around her—how could she have killed over a dozen highly skilled Anwei?
“Are you certain?” Chu Youqi frowned.
The guard replied, “Prince, we’ve practically dug three feet into the ground. There are indeed no outsiders here.”
Seeing the two of them looking so deflated, Jiang Yunxu couldn’t help but find it amusing. Leaning against a pillar, she sneered, “I’m afraid I’ve disappointed you, Prince. You didn’t find anything.”
“Don’t get too complacent! If This Prince finds out anything, I will not let you off lightly!”
Chu Youqi waved his hand, about to retreat, but was stopped by Hong Qiao.
“How dare you be so insolent, blocking the Prince’s way! Do you have no respect for your master?” Jiang Yan’er said with a sarcastic tone. “With the backing of someone from the palace, you even dare to disregard the Prince.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Chu Youqi grabbed Hong Qiao by the neck, tightening his grip. “How dare you! You lowly creature, relying on your master’s influence! Do you even know whose territory this is?”
Hong Qiao’s face turned red from suffocation.
“Chu Youqi, stop right there! Do you think this is a place you can come and go as you please?”
Jiang Yunxu was furious. She held a silver needle against Chu Youqi’s hand, and he cried out in pain, immediately releasing his grip.
“Jiang Yunxu, you actually injured This Prince for the sake of a servant?”
Chu Youqi widened his eyes in disbelief. Was this woman insane?
“Sister, have you lost your mind again? How could you hurt…”
“Shut up!” Jiang Yunxu angrily interrupted Jiang Yan’er, snapping, “When your master is speaking, what right does a mere concubine have to interrupt? You have no sense of propriety!”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan’er’s fair, delicate face immediately flushed with anger. The title of Cefei in Sanwangfu was a thorn in her heart, suffocating her. She looked utterly aggrieved.
Seeing the beauty in tears, Chu Youqi was the most heartbroken. He immediately pulled her into his embrace. “Yan’er, don’t bother with this madwoman. You will always be the best in This Prince’s heart.”
“How disgusting.” Jiang Yunxu rolled her eyes, utterly disgusted by the two of them being so affectionate regardless of the situation. She snapped, “Stop trying to assert yourselves here. You came today with your men and wrecked my courtyard for no reason. Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”
Jiang Yan’er peeked out from Chu Youqi’s embrace, her eyes red, and said, “Has Wangfei misunderstood? This is all part of the Wangfu. The Prince was only searching for assassins. Why should he explain himself to you?”
This time, it was Jiang Yunxu who was left speechless.
“The Prince is the master of this household, Wangfei. It is you who has forgotten your place,” Jiang Yan’er reminded her again.
Chu Youqi immediately chimed in, “That’s right. This Prince’s courtyard can be dealt with however This Prince sees fit.”
These two were truly shameless, especially Jiang Yan’er. She leaned forward and whispered, “It is only because the Prince is generous enough to allow you to keep an outsider in the Wangfu. Wangfei, don’t push your luck.”
Was she threatening her with Tuan Ge’er?
Chu Youqi clapped his hands, and dozens of armed guards stepped forward, each looking fierce and menacing. He declared, “Wangfei has overstepped her bounds and disrespected This Prince. She is to kneel in punishment for two hours. All of you will watch her. Not a single moment less!”
“Yes.”
Before Jiang Yunxu could react, Nanny Lin kicked her hard in the knee. Caught off guard, her body bent, and she fell heavily to the ground.
Nanny Lin sneered, “Wangfei, don’t think that just because you have a bit of cleverness, you can do as you please. An arm can never twist a leg.”
Meanwhile, Jiang Yan’er clutched her chest, pretending to be unwell, and was helped away by Chu Youqi, leaving only Nanny Lin to keep watch.
“Master!” Hong Qiao rushed forward.
Jiang Yunxu raised her hand to stop them. Clenching her fists tightly, she calmed herself down. Today, that scumbag and his shameless woman had taught her another lesson: relying on others is never as reliable as relying on oneself.
At the moment, she was indeed at a disadvantage. That despicable scoundrel had brought so many people to surround them—they were definitely no match!
Despicable!