Xiuzhu’s inner worries completely vanished at this moment.
She had been overthinking.
“Miss, I found out that the eldest young master will return to the mansion tomorrow.”
“Then we’ll go out to Chang’an Street tomorrow to welcome him and take the opportunity to explore Shengjing City,” Jiang Wantang said with a smile.
“Great, great!”
Xiuzhu’s eyes lit up, but the next moment, as if remembering something, they dimmed again.
“I also saw Jiang Wanfu’s personal maid, Qiao’er, sneaking out through the back gate. She’s probably up to no good.”
Jiang Wantang reached out and patted her head, sincerely praising, “Our Xiuzhu is becoming more and more capable!”
Like her, Xiuzhu was someone without a family. Because she knew some martial arts, she was later bought by Jiang Huaizhou from a slave trader and sent to the manor to take care of her.
Xiuzhu anxiously said, “Miss! Aren’t you worried?”
“Worried about what? Worried that she wants to harm me?” Jiang Wantang smiled indifferently. “It’s fine. She doesn’t want me to have it easy, but who’s to say I’ll let her have it easy?”
Since her elder brother is about to return, then Xiao Jingheng should also be back…
It was the third month of spring, with clear skies for days on end.
When Xiuzhu woke up early in the morning, she saw Jiang Wantang already dressed and sitting gracefully in the courtyard, sipping tea. Her makeup was exquisite and vibrant, truly resembling a young lady from a prestigious family.
She was initially surprised, but when she saw the four maids in the courtyard and the table full of delicate pastries, she instantly understood.
Her young lady was now the legitimate second daughter of the Xiangfu, and she could not be treated poorly.
The two of them left the mansion after breakfast.
Chang’an Street in Jingcheng was the most prosperous street in Dasheng.
The street was bustling with crowds, shops lining both sides, and the clamor of voices and vendors’ calls filled the air.
Jiang Wantang took Xiuzhu to a clothing shop on the street. When they entered, they were two young girls; when they left, they had transformed into two young gentlemen.
Jiang Wantang wore a dark blue robe and held a folding fan, looking every bit the elegant and noble young master.
Xiuzhu straightened her flattened chest and said uncomfortably, “Miss, why are we dressing as men?”
“To avoid unnecessary trouble,” Jiang Wantang replied calmly.
The two of them swaggered down the street, strolling and exploring, when suddenly a commotion arose from the far end of the street.
“The Emperor has returned to the capital! Clear the way for the imperial carriage! All commoners, step aside quickly!”
Rows of imperial guards clad in armor and holding golden halberds poured into the city, clearing a path along both sides of the street.
A leading imperial guard commander repeatedly shouted to the crowd, “The Emperor has returned to the capital! Clear the way for the imperial carriage! All commoners, step aside quickly!”
As the imperial guards advanced, the commoners on both sides of the street knelt and bowed to the ground.
“Quick! Kneel down! Don’t look around!” an old man hurriedly pulled his grandson beside him to kneel, covering the child’s eyes.
Someone in the crowd, unafraid of death, shouted, “The Tyrant has returned to the capital!”
“Kneel down! Kneel down quickly!”
The crowd began to panic, and the surrounding commoners whispered among themselves.
“Is it that Tyrant of our Dasheng Dynasty, the one who exterminated over a dozen clans right after ascending the throne?!”
“If not him, then who else!”
“Heavens, didn’t he just go to Foguang Temple to pray for the nation’s blessings? Why has he suddenly returned? Could something big be about to happen in the capital again?”
“Are you foolish? Of course, it’s for the upcoming imperial consort selection!”
“That is the Imperial Selection where daughters of officials and nobles enter the palace to participate! In just a few days, the list of beauties reported from various regions has already exceeded three thousand!”
“I heard that the Tyrant, in his youth, once admired a woman. Unable to win her heart, he kept the empress’s position vacant for her sake, leaving the six palaces as mere decorations…”
“Hey, that rumor is outdated. Nowadays, His Majesty’s favorite is that cold-faced and impartial Dali Siqing.”
Someone exclaimed in shock: “Is that really true? I thought it was just baseless gossip circulating among the people?”
“What baseless gossip? Many have witnessed it with their own eyes. During morning court, the Dali Siqing would come directly from the Emperor’s bedchamber, still wearing his court robes…”
“What? The current Emperor and the Dali Siqing? A homosexual preference?!”
“This… this…”
“Could it be that he was somehow provoked and started favoring men?”
“Who knows?”
“No wonder the empress’s position has remained vacant and the six palaces are like decorations. But then why did he suddenly start this grand Imperial Selection?”
“What’s the big deal? Since ancient times, emperors have been fickle. Not to mention women, even if he chose men, who would dare say a word?”
“What love is there to speak of? There’s simply too much to love!”
“Exactly, someone as cold-hearted and ruthless as the Tyrant—how could he possibly fall in love with anyone?”
“……”
Jiang Wantang, pulling Xiuzhu along, knelt on the street with the crowd.
In her previous life, she had returned too late and missed the scene of Ji Wuyuan’s procession returning to the palace.
Soon, the noisy street fell silent as the people knelt and bowed in unison.
The imperial carriage slowly appeared. Emperor Ji Wuyuan sat upright in the lavishly decorated imperial chariot, dressed in a black robe woven with golden dragon patterns. He rested his head on one hand, eyes closed as if dozing.
The imperial chariot was pulled by eight magnificent horses, their hooves echoing on the stone-paved road. A group of palace maids and eunuchs, dressed in splendid attire and holding feather fans, stood around the chariot.
A pearl curtain concealed the Emperor, and the people dared not—nor could they clearly—see his true appearance.
But Jiang Wantang knew exactly what kind of celestial beauty that young Emperor behind the pearl curtain possessed.
After all, he was the man for whom Jiang Wanfu, after just one glance, abandoned her childhood bond of over a decade with Xiao Jingheng and resolutely entered the palace.
The Tyrant, Ji Wuyuan!
A celestial appearance, but the heart of a demon.
Ji Wuyuan ascended the throne at a young age and was a true tyrant.
Yet he was extremely cunning; no one in the court dared defy him, and no one did not fear him.
Because those who defied him were all killed.
It was rumored that before his ascension, he murdered his father and brothers, bathing the Golden Dragon Hall in blood, terrifying the court officials.
Such a cold-blooded, ruthless, and cruel Emperor—no wonder Jiang Zhixu was so unwilling to let Jiang Wanfu enter the palace.
Thinking of the rumors about him she had just overheard in the crowd…
In truth, not all of them were unfounded.
For example, in his youth, Ji Wuyuan had once admired a woman in his heart but failed to win her affection.
Even now, Jiang Wantang found it hard to believe that such a man could have a woman he loved.
But the fact was, in her previous life, until her death, Ji Wuyuan’s empress position remained vacant, the six palaces were without favor, and that Dali Siqing enjoyed immense imperial favor.
However, wasn’t the rumor about his homosexual preference just a baseless tale? Could it actually be true?
So, why did he suddenly go to such great lengths to hold an Imperial Selection?
If the Tyrant truly favored men as the rumors said, things would become much more difficult.
Competing with a group of women was one thing, but having to compete with men as well?!
Jiang Wantang gazed at the imperial carriage before her, lost in thought without realizing it.
All around was silent as a grave. A gentle breeze swept by, and the crisp sound of pearls and jade colliding on the imperial carriage was startlingly clear.
Ji Wuyuan, seated within the carriage, opened his eyes at that moment, casting a sharp glance in her direction.
It was the gaze of one in a high position—looking down upon ants, cold and detached, tinged with disdain.
A touch of contempt, two parts indifference, three parts mockery, and four parts nonchalance…
In this world, nothing was more supreme than imperial power.
And what she coveted was precisely his authority.
Jiang Wantang inadvertently met his gaze…
In her peach-blossom eyes, which often held a spring-like warmth, there was only detachment.
In an instant, she lowered her gaze.
What she did not know was that, behind the pearl curtain, the emperor curled his lips slightly, his gaze toward her now carrying a hint of amusement.