These two hours completely made Jiang Yunxu realize the disparity of power. She looked at the dozens of guards, feeling utterly helpless.
Above her, Nanny Lin’s mocking and fierce gaze bore down, as if wishing to pierce several holes through her body.
This look made Jiang Yunxu sense something was wrong.
The next second, Nanny Lin pulled out a long, thin rattan from somewhere and, without a word, lashed it fiercely across Jiang Yunxu’s back.
“Wangfei, your posture is incorrect!”
Smack! Another strike: “Wangfei clearly has no respect for the Prince, daring to show contempt on your face.”
Jiang Yunxu grunted, raising her eyes to glare at Nanny Lin. Just as she was about to lose her temper, she heard Tuan Ge’er’s crying from behind.
The crying dispelled her anger. Her face tightened, and suddenly a fierce smile bloomed on her lips as her gaze fell on Nanny Lin’s other hand.
Frightened, Nanny Lin stepped back, instinctively hiding her other hand behind her waist. Gnashing her teeth in anger, she said, “Wangfei, I will never forget the grudge of my severed hand!”
With that, Nanny Lin turned and left.
Jiang Yunxu truly knelt for two hours before the guards finally withdrew. Hong Qiao was the first to help her up, bending down to massage her knees. “Mistress, you’ve suffered.”
“I’m fine.”
Back in the room, she applied some bruise-relieving ointment to her knees and drank a bag of glucose, feeling much better.
As for the wounds on her back, they were extremely fine but painful, densely scattered like needle pricks.
This meant the bamboo rod in Nanny Lin’s hand had been specially treated.
“Mistress, I’ll chop off that old hag’s other hand tonight,” Hong Qiao said.
Jiang Yunxu glanced at Tuan Ge’er playing in Hong Fei’s arms and shook her head. “We’re living under someone else’s roof. If we truly anger them, we won’t gain any benefits. Let’s keep this debt for now.”
What she needed to do now was quickly expand her own influence.
The banknotes Chu Xuanzhi gave her might very well be a hot potato; she still had to rely on herself.
The top priority was to make money.
No sooner said than done. After a simple tidy-up and changing into her outfit, Jiang Yunxu, having just been punished, figured the despicable couple wouldn’t come looking for trouble for a while. So, she took Hong Qiao and slipped away through the back door, climbing over the wall.
Standing on the bustling street, Jiang Yunxu experienced the local customs of Lingzhouguo for the first time. Stalls lined both sides of the road, selling food, drinks, and entertainment.
Jiang Yunxu patted her stomach and found a wonton shop to sit down. Ordering two bowls of wontons, she turned to Hong Qiao and asked, “What’s the most profitable business under the emperor’s feet?”
“Of course, it’s the brothels. There are two major brothels here, extremely luxurious, with many customers every day.”
Be a madam?
Jiang Yunxu’s mind conjured an image of herself wearing exaggerated clothing, holding a whip, viciously forcing innocent women into submission.
No, that wouldn’t do. Such a morally corrupt deed was beyond her.
“What else?”
“Medical clinics, restaurants, and treasure appraisal.”
Soon, two bowls of wontons were served. The waiter, overhearing their conversation, smiled and said, “And then there’s women’s cosmetics and powders. Tsk tsk, that’s where the real money goes.”
Hearing this, Jiang Yunxu immediately became interested. No matter the era, women’s money was always the easiest to earn.
Especially under the emperor’s feet, where the powerful and noble gathered, wealthy noblewomen were never in short supply.
Jiang Yunxu already had an idea in mind. After eating the last wonton, she wiped her mouth and said, “Hong Qiao, settle the bill!”
“Yes.”
After strolling around the streets for a while, Jiang Yunxu purchased some essential supplies and took the opportunity to see what kind of cosmetics were available in Jingcheng.
Since she had transmigrated, she had never seen any cosmetics belonging to the original host. Thinking about it carefully, it made sense—with so many scars on her face, what good would applying makeup do?
Just as she was lost in thought, a carriage came galloping at high speed, overturning several street stalls and heading straight toward her. Amid the panicked crowd, Hong Qiao was pushed aside, shouting, “Master!”
The next second, Jiang Yunxu felt someone wrap an arm around her waist and lift her into the air. For the first time, she experienced what it felt like to fly.
Chu Xuanzhi happened to be discussing matters in a tavern when he caught sight of this scene. Without a second thought, he put on a half-mask and rescued Jiang Yunxu.
It all happened in an instant. The carriage swept past her, leaving Jiang Yunxu stunned. Only when her feet touched the ground did she finally snap back to reality.
This scene reminded her of the car accident in the modern world where her best friend had died right before her eyes, which was why she had frozen in the moment.
“Are… are you alright?” Seeing her terrified expression and pale face, Chu Xuanzhi softened his tone. “It’s all right now.”
Jiang Yunxu swallowed hard. She recognized Chu Xuanzhi at first glance and took two steps back, glancing at his legs and then at the surrounding crowd. Holding back some words, she bowed and said, “Thank you, sir, for saving me.”
Only when Chu Xuanzhi saw that she seemed fine did he step back to create some distance.
“Goodness, whose carriage is that? Galloping recklessly through the streets and nearly hurting someone!”
“Who else could it be? It looks like Princess Qing.”
Squinting as she watched the carriage disappear into the distance, Jiang Yunxu heard someone nearby say, “Nine times out of ten, she’s heading to Sanwangfu to seek medical help. You should hurry back.”
Without questioning Chu Xuanzhi’s words, Jiang Yunxu immediately found Hong Qiao. “Let’s return to the Wangfu.”
Before leaving, she waved to Chu Xuanzhi.
Chu Xuanzhi narrowed his eyes. Behind him, Yin Feng whispered, “Master, that was far too dangerous just now. Your injuries have only just started to heal…”
When his master had flown out to rescue her, Yin Feng had been terrified, unable to intervene in time.
“If she died, I wouldn’t survive either. Saving her was saving myself.”
Though Chu Xuanzhi said this, a strange feeling lingered in his heart. He had acted without hesitation, rescuing her almost instinctively.
…
Jiang Yunxu climbed over the wall back into the courtyard. As expected, it was quiet inside. She instructed Hong Fei, “No matter what noises you hear later, don’t come out.”
“Yes.”
After making all the arrangements, she asked, “Do you know what kind of background Princess Qing has?”
Hong Qiao nodded. “Prince Qing is highly favored, and Princess Qing comes from a noble family. She’s in her early thirties and is quite a prominent figure in Jingcheng.”
“Which faction does Princess Qing belong to?”
“She’s aligned with the Empress Dowager. Prince Qing is the Empress Dowager’s son.”
After clarifying the relationships, Jiang Yunxu had a plan in mind. She quickly took out the cosmetics she had bought that day and applied a highly realistic injured makeup look. Her face, neck, and arms—any visible areas—were covered in bruises and swelling. One eye was nearly swollen shut, and especially on her arms, the wounds looked deep enough to reveal bone.
Hong Qiao was utterly stunned.
Can wounds be drawn?
Jiang Yunxu whispered a few instructions into Hong Qiao’s ear, and Hong Qiao nodded: “Rest assured, mistress, this servant understands.”
At that moment, Princess Qing anxiously stepped down from the carriage and hurried into the residence. Hearing that Princess Qing had arrived, Chu Youqi personally went out to greet her: “Auntie, what brings you here?”
A trace of disdain flashed across Princess Qing’s dignified and elegant face, her seductive red lips curling into a smile: “I apologize for the abrupt disturbance today, San Wangye, please don’t mind.”
“Not at all.”
Before Chu Youqi could speak, Princess Qing glanced around and raised an eyebrow, asking: “Why isn’t Wangfei here to greet me?”
“Wangfei has caught a slight chill and is unable to come. Please forgive her, Auntie Princess Qing.” Jiang Yan’er arrived gracefully, her face adorned with a gentle smile, her every gesture exuding the demeanor of a proper mistress.
Princess Qing’s gaze fell upon Jiang Yan’er. If the other party weren’t the daughter of the prime minister, she wouldn’t have bothered with a single word today, as it would lower her own status.
But now, Princess Qing forced a smile and offered a few compliments: “This must be Jiang Cefei, indeed a beauty. San Wangye is truly fortunate.”
“You flatter me, Auntie.”
After welcoming the guest into the residence, Jiang Yan’er had the finest tea served. However, Princess Qing seemed somewhat distracted and asked: “How serious is Wangfei’s illness?”