The exchange between the two ended in a rather ‘harmonious’ atmosphere. Before Xie Changlin could kick Jiang Wan out, she had already nimbly scampered away.
The box of tea cakes remained on the table, wrapped in a faint green hue, the air filled with an indistinguishable tea fragrance.
After a long while, Xie Changlin reached out expressionlessly, picked up a piece, and slowly brought it to his lips.
When the young eunuch came to clear the table, only specks of green powder remained in the box.
As soon as Jiang Wan returned to Eternal Joy Palace, Qiaoqiao brought over the unfinished tasks, adding nervously, “Your Majesty, perhaps… we shouldn’t go looking for that Lord of a Thousand Years anymore. Didn’t the master also say…”
Before she could finish, the palace maid Huixiang entered. “Your Majesty, the Ceremonial Directorate has sent over some excellent burn ointment.”
Upon hearing this, a smile slowly spread across Jiang Wan’s face, the light in her eyes impossible to conceal. “Come, Qiaoqiao, apply the ointment for me!”
In truth, she had already applied medicine when she was first burned in the morning. But since Xie Changlin had sent it, what harm was there in applying it again?
Qiaoqiao sighed and swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue.
Just as the ointment touched her skin, Jiang Wan suddenly withdrew her hand. “Wait! This is a perfect opportunity!”
She snatched the ointment from Qiaoqiao and hurriedly dashed toward the direction of the Qu Palace.
Qiaoqiao: “…”
Who could rein her in? Where was the dignity befitting an empress in her mistress? She hadn’t even managed to act the part for two days!
Jiang Wan, solely focused on making her presence known, paid no mind to what her little maid was thinking. She rushed all the way, only to see a palace consort dressed as a young girl crouching behind a rockery in the imperial garden, crying.
Mourning shouldn’t be done in broad daylight like this…
She walked over and peeked her head around. “Who are you? Why are you crying here?”
The girl looked up in fright, her eyes brimming with tears, staring blankly at Jiang Wan. “I…”
Jiang Wan’s attire for visiting Xie Changlin was understated and delicate, so those who hadn’t seen her before likely wouldn’t associate her with the empress.
The young palace consort wiped her tears and sobbed, “I am Cairen Chu, who just entered the palace yesterday. I can’t find my way back, and I couldn’t help but cry…”
Jiang Wan: “…”
She was truly at a loss for words today.
The girl before her seemed timid, but her appearance was utterly adorable. Jiang Wan felt no aversion; instead, in a good mood, she felt the urge to tease her. She gave her real name. “Oh, I’m Tiao Tiao, working in Eternal Joy Palace. Which palace do you reside in? Don’t you have a maid with you?”
“Yuehua Palace. My maid was punished by Consort Ning to wash clothes. Wuwuwu, I’m so useless, I couldn’t protect her…”
Cairen Chu gazed at the bright-eyed girl before her, her crying momentarily distracted.
Even the maids in Eternal Joy Palace were this stunning? Then the empress must be a celestial beauty!
“……” Jiang Wan turned to Qiaoqiao. “First, escort Cairen Chu back.”
Qiaoqiao nearly bowed in acknowledgment but was naturally stopped by Jiang Wan, who smiled at Cairen Chu. “Come visit me in Eternal Joy Palace when you have time!”
Cairen Chu nodded eagerly, looking at Jiang Wan as if she were a savior. “Thank you, both sisters! You are truly kind!”
Jiang Wan found it somewhat amusing. Who had sent such an innocent little thing into the palace? Hadn’t she been taught the ways of palace intrigue? How would she survive in the palace in the future?
“Lord of a Thousand Years, the previous court has already descended into chaos. If you don’t step in to take charge soon, Chancellor Jiang might…”
Hearing Li Dequan’s voice, Jiang Wan looked toward the sound and saw Xie Changlin heading toward Qian’an Hall with a few young eunuchs.
She put away the ointment, lifted her skirt, and hurried after them. “Your Eminence! Are you going to see the Emperor? May I come along?”
Li Dequan and Rong Qing paused to bow, but the lord ahead didn’t even turn his head.
Taking his silence as consent, Jiang Wan followed closely beside Xie Changlin. When her steps couldn’t keep up, she broke into a jog, panting heavily, her small face flushed red.
Long legs really are something, huh…
Perhaps her commotion was a bit too loud, as Xie Changlin finally glanced at her. “Are all the people in Eternal Joy Palace dead?”
“No… I insisted on coming out by myself.”
He acted as if he hadn’t heard. “Rong Qing, later, drag out all the useless ones from Eternal Joy Palace and have them executed.”
“No, no, no! Your Eminence! I really did rush out on my own and forbade them from following!” Jiang Wan was so frightened her face turned pale and red alternately. Without thinking further, she tiptoed slightly to lean closer to his ear. “I was in a hurry to find Your Eminence. You really can’t blame them. Please don’t take your anger out on innocent people.”
“Innocent?” Xie Changlin scoffed lightly but said nothing more.
Jiang Wan glanced uneasily at Rong Qing, her eyes filled with questions: ‘What does your lord mean by this?’
Rong Qing looked at her and subtly shook his head: ‘They won’t be killed.’
He was also somewhat astonished. Having followed Xie Changlin for nearly four years, he had never seen him change his mind once he decided to kill someone. And as for those people from Qian’an Hall the other day surviving—Rong Qing truly hadn’t expected that.
When Li Dequan told him it was because the young empress had put in a word that led to this outcome, Rong Qing’s surprise was no less than if he’d seen a ghost.
The young empress is impressive. Having appeared only a few days ago, she has already made Xie Changlin, with his bloodthirsty and murderous nature, hold back twice.
When the group arrived at Qian’an Hall, a crowd of ministers was already waiting outside, each wearing a deeply troubled expression.
Jiang Wenshan stared at Jiang Wan, who had come with Xie Changlin, momentarily stunned. Then he frowned, his face turning cold.
Great, this damned eunuch villain! What does he intend by bringing Wan’er here at this time?
Angry as he was, he still led the others in bowing to the empress.
Jiang Wan felt slightly guilty. If she had known these people were also here, she wouldn’t have come…
It almost felt like being caught in the act by her old father. Jiang Wenshan’s earlier gaze made her feel as if needles were pricking her back.
“Seal Keeper! Why wasn’t the Emperor’s poisoning announced publicly?” Yang Zuoling stepped forward indignantly, stopping Xie Changlin as he was about to enter.
Jiang Wan shuddered. So it really was poisoning.
Xie Changlin’s tone was lazy, as if he didn’t regard these people at all. “He’s not dead yet. What’s all the fuss about?”
“You concealed such a major incident?” Yang Zuoling gritted his teeth. “The Emperor being poisoned is no small matter. Shouldn’t the Seal Keeper give everyone an explanation?”
Xie Changlin let out a ‘tsk’ sound, turned around, and looked at them indifferently. “What explanation do I need to give you? How the Emperor was poisoned—I suspect some among you know better than I do.”
After saying this, his gaze fixed on Jiang Wenshan, a faint smile on his lips. “Isn’t that right, Chancellor Jiang?”
Yang Shilang instinctively glanced at Jiang Wenshan, but Jiang Wenshan remained unmoved, his expression unchanged. “The Emperor was poisoned right under the Seal Keeper’s watch. You must still give the court an explanation.”
“You really know how to cause trouble for our family, you old thing.”
Jiang Wenshan ignored him, motioned slightly for Jiang Wan to go back, then strode toward the hall.