After listening to her, Jiang Fei set down her wine cup. “So what are you trying to say? Don’t beat around the bush. If you have something to say, speak plainly. Are you suggesting I inquired about the County Princess just to stage a rescue after causing harm, all to claim credit?”
Zhou Ruolan sneered, “I never said that. Why would Second Miss Jiang take it so personally?”
“Then what does Miss Zhou mean?” Jiang Fei met her gaze steadily without deference or arrogance. “I’m new here and unfamiliar with the County Princess, so I asked the maid to avoid any unintended offense. Is there a problem with that?”
Zhou Ruolan was momentarily speechless, then feigned innocence. “I never said there was a problem. I just found it strange—why did you leave right after the County Princess? Why was it the County Princess who fell? And why were you the one to rescue her?”
Jiang Fei smiled faintly, responding unhurriedly, “Speaking of coincidences, I find it strange too.”
Zhou Ruolan suddenly had a bad feeling.
Jiang Fei continued, “So many people walked around the lotus pond—why was it the County Princess who fell? Did the young ladies ahead have such sharp eyes that they precisely avoided the pearls while walking?”
Jiang Fei felt relieved she hadn’t worn the pearl headdress given by Yao Shi.
In the book, when Jiang Rulin attended the flower appreciation banquet, the County Princess slipped on pearls, fell into the water, and suffered a miscarriage. Coincidentally, Jiang Rulin’s pearl headdress was missing several pearls at the time.
“Heh.” Zhou Ruolan laughed. “You admit it! You must have deliberately thrown the pearls to make the County Princess fall, then rescue her.”
“Admit what?”
“You knew the County Princess slipped on pearls—how did you know? This is a confession without coercion!”
“By your logic, since you also knew, doesn’t that make you a suspect too?”
Zhou Ruolan was enraged. “Someone checked the ground afterward—of course I knew about the pearls.”
“I have eyes and happened to see the pearls glinting,” Jiang Fei said. “But there’s one thing I’d like to ask Miss Zhou: since those walking ahead didn’t fall, the pearls must have appeared later. Since I was walking behind the County Princess, how could I have thrown the pearls in front of her without anyone noticing?”
Zhou Ruolan was stumped by her question but seized on one point. “If you saw them, why didn’t you warn the County Princess?”
Jiang Fei didn’t answer, only gazed at her profoundly.
Just as Zhou Ruolan prepared to press her advantage, Anping County Princess gently coughed.
“She did warn me.”
At these words, Zhou Ruolan’s face stiffened.
Anping County Princess set down her teacup, her gaze sweeping coolly over Zhou Ruolan. “Rufei did remind me to watch my step, but I had already stepped on the pearls by then.”
Zhou Ruolan’s face instantly turned pale, her handkerchief twisting unconsciously in her hands. “Your Highness, please understand—I only raised these suspicions out of concern for you. After all, your esteemed person cannot afford the slightest mishap.”
“Enough.” Anping County Princess’s voice was soft but carried undeniable authority. “Today is a flower appreciation banquet. We shouldn’t discuss such unpleasant matters. I know what happened. Let the banquet begin.”
The matter had been laid bare. Zhou Ruolan had thoroughly offended people yet gained no advantage.
The atmosphere finally warmed up. Everyone could act, each more skilled than the last, pretending as if nothing had happened.
By afternoon, the temperature had risen so high that the flowers in the courtyard began to wilt, and the flower appreciation banquet came to an end.
When the banquet concluded, Anping County Princess specifically asked Jiang Fei to stay behind. “I happen to be heading to the southern city. Rufei, why not accompany me?”
To be honest, Jiang Rufei’s rescue of Anping County Princess wasn’t out of pure benevolence. As the saying goes, “Having connections at court makes things easier.” Building good relationships with the nobility might prove useful in the future.
Jiang Fei boarded the County Princess’s carriage. Different individuals’ carriages followed specific regulations, and Anping County Princess’s carriage was exceptionally spacious, easily accommodating four or five people.
She suspected that the County Princess hadn’t invited her aboard merely because they were going the same way and had long prepared herself.
Sure enough, shortly after the carriage departed from the Liu residence, Anping County Princess spoke with a grave expression, “You need not fear. I trust you, and I know today’s incident was no accident.”
Jiang Fei looked at the County Princess, “Does Your Ladyship have any leads?”
Anping County Princess shook her head, “Only suspicions for now.”
Jiang Fei pondered for a moment before saying, “I have a theory. If I speak out of turn, I beg Your Ladyship’s forgiveness.”
“I know you’re a good girl. Speak freely.”
“That path was the only route to the banquet hall,” Jiang Fei analyzed seriously. “Many people had passed through earlier. If the pearls had been there all along, it seems unlikely that no one noticed or slipped on them.”
Anping County Princess nodded thoughtfully, signaling her to continue.
“That leaves only one possibility: the pearls were dropped shortly before Your Ladyship reached that spot.”
The County Princess picked up her train of thought, “The few people walking ahead of me are all suspects. I’ll have someone investigate this matter.”
Noticing Jiang Fei’s concerned expression, she smiled faintly, “Don’t worry about me. This is commonplace. Being part of the imperial family, I’ve seen such things often.”
Jiang Fei hadn’t expected the County Princess to be so perceptive. “Your Ladyship should still exercise caution.”
Anping County Princess accompanied Jiang Fei all the way to the Jiang residence gates. As Jiang Fei alighted from the carriage, she hesitated before offering a reminder.
“I noticed Your Ladyship didn’t eat much at the banquet. It seemed your appetite was poor.”
Anping County Princess replied, “The weather has been hot lately. It’s been like this for a while now. It’s nothing serious.”
Jiang Fei hesitated momentarily, “Could it be… pregnancy? When my mother was carrying my fifth brother, she also couldn’t eat anything all day.”
This reminder suddenly made Anping County Princess realize her monthly courses had been delayed this month.
A flicker of joy arose in her heart, though she dared not show it too openly, fearing yet another disappointment.
When Yao Shi received word of the County Princess’s visit and rushed out with her attendants to welcome her, she only saw the dust stirred up by the departing carriage.
“How ill-mannered! Why didn’t you invite the County Princess inside?” Yao Shi complained disappointedly.
As Jiang Fei ascended the steps, she replied, “The County Princess wasn’t feeling well. I couldn’t insist she stay.”
Yao Shi turned back awkwardly, suspicion in her voice, “How did you end up returning with the County Princess?”
Jiang Fei briefly recounted the events at the Liu residence, omitting her encounter with Wei Mingzhen.
Yao Shi listened with growing alarm. Fortunately, Jiang Rufei hadn’t worn that pearl headdress, or this matter wouldn’t have been easily explained.
After all, this involved the eldest daughter of the Grand Princess, a member of the imperial family.
Seeing that the County Princess had personally escorted Jiang Rufei home, Yao Shi assumed she held her in high regard. When she tried to probe indirectly, Jiang Fei vaguely redirected the conversation.
Unexpectedly, the very next day, Anping County Princess sent generous gifts to express gratitude for Jiang Rufei’s rescue.
Both Yao Shi and Jiang Rulin were present, their eyes covetously fixed on the gifts displayed on the table.
The imperial relatives were truly imperial relatives—casually gifting such rare items as gold-inlaid glass bangles, Hetian jade pendants, along with daily necessities like premium Shu brocade and jade pillows.
Jiang Rulin was green with envy.
Had it not been for the mishap during the affair-exposing incident last time, she would have been the one married into the Dingyuan Marquis Manor, she would have been invited to the flower appreciation banquet, she would have been the one to rescue the princess, and all these things should have been hers!
Yao Shi couldn’t put down the jade pillow, caressing it over and over. The jade was warm, smooth, and pure white, cool and silky to the touch, and even the carving was of the finest craftsmanship.
“This is truly a rare treasure,” Yao Shi examined the jade pillow repeatedly, hinting, “It’s perfect for hot weather. Lately, with so many matters at home, I’ve been so busy that my back and waist ache.”