Mei Xiang’s mind was filled with endless ways to torment others.
And the target of their torment was naturally herself, imprisoned in the dilapidated courtyard of the Marquis’s estate.
Jiang Yu watched Mei Xiang for a long time before finally saying, “Very well.”
Just as a look of pleasant surprise began to appear on Mei Xiang’s face, Jiang Yu added, “As long as you burn these incense sticks for three full days, I will spare you.”
Her expression immediately froze.
Mei Xiang looked up, somewhat apprehensively, and asked, “As long as I do as you say… will you really spare me, Young Lady?”
Jiang Yu nodded. “I always keep my word.”
After struggling for a moment, Mei Xiang finally nodded. “Alright…”
Jiang Yu watched coldly as Mei Xiang’s eyes revealed the same ruthless determination as in her previous life.
Indeed, people could not easily change.
Jiang Yu’s smile grew even gentler. “I await your good news.”
Even though Jiang Yu was smiling and her tone was gentle, Mei Xiang inexplicably shuddered.
Early the next morning.
When Jiang Wei woke up, Lady Miao was sitting by her bedside, looking somewhat haggard.
She was surprised. “Mother, why are you here?”
Lady Miao was momentarily stunned, but seeing Jiang Wei’s oblivious expression, it seemed she did not remember her frenzied state from the previous night.
“Mother? What’s wrong?”
After a brief moment of thought, Lady Miao decided to keep it from her. “It’s nothing. I was just worried about you, so I came to check on you.”
Jiang Wei felt that the pain from the wound on her hand had lessened. “Mother, there’s no need to worry. I feel much better.”
Hearing this, Lady Miao frowned slightly. Yesterday, the wound she had scratched had reopened, so why was she saying she felt better today…
“Madam! Madam!”
The voice of Lady Miao’s personal maid, Nanny Fang, came from outside the door.
Soon after, Nanny Fang rushed in, panting heavily.
Lady Miao frowned. “What happened? Why the panic!”
She felt increasingly unsettled. How could there be so much unrest day after day!
Before she could catch her breath, Nanny Fang anxiously said, “Madam, someone from the Princess’s estate has come!”
Lady Miao stood up in shock. “The Princess’s estate?”
“Yes, they’ve already arrived in the reception hall.”
Lady Miao’s heart skipped a beat.
Wasn’t Jiang Yu just a chance encounter with the Princess, not someone she was close to?
Could it be that the Princess valued Jiang Yu highly and had already heard about yesterday’s incident?
Thinking of this, Lady Miao couldn’t help but feel flustered.
“Wei’er, could it be that the Princess already knows about yesterday’s incident and has come to stand up for Jiang Yu?”
Jiang Wei steadied her emotions. The Princess was noble and unlikely to make a fuss over such a trivial matter.
She looked at Lady Miao. “Mother, don’t panic. There must be something unusual about this. Don’t notify Jiang Yu for now. You go meet the people from the Princess’s estate and find out why they’ve come.”
Jiang Wei had always found it strange. How could a dignified Imperial Princess take a liking to someone as useless as Jiang Yu?
But what happened at Lingquan Temple had been too sudden.
She hadn’t had time to think it through carefully, and after returning home, Lan Xiang had gone mad.
Now, upon further reflection, this matter was far from simple.
Lady Miao thought her reasoning was sound and quickly rose, instructing someone to inform Jiang Huaiyi before hurrying to the reception hall with Nanny Fang.
The person who came from the Princess’s estate was a refined young maid, the same one who had accompanied the Princess to Lingquan Temple last time, named Qing Zhi.
Behind her stood two stern Imperial Guards.
Seeing Lady Miao and Nanny Fang approach, Qing Zhi’s expression was haughty, and she frowned tightly. “I said I came to see the Eldest Young Lady. There’s no need for irrelevant people to come.”
Such blunt words left both of their faces stiff with embarrassment.
Yet Lady Miao had no choice but to endure it. Even if she were given eight hundred times the courage, she wouldn’t dare provoke anyone from the Princess’s side.
She forced a smile and said, “Please don’t be angry, Your Excellency. I’ve already sent someone to fetch her. It’s just that my niece lost her parents at a young age, so her temperament is naturally a bit lax. She certainly didn’t mean to show disrespect. I’ll go and hurry her along right away.”
Qing Zhi frowned and said, “She certainly puts on quite the airs. Make it quick—I’m in a hurry to return to the Princess’s residence and report back.”
Lady Miao turned to Nanny Fang and instructed, “Yes, yes, Nanny Fang, go and hurry her along. Don’t keep His Excellency waiting.”
As she spoke, she gave Nanny Fang a meaningful glance.
Understanding the hint, the nanny bowed and withdrew.
Lady Miao ordered fine tea to be served and personally handed it to Qing Zhi. “May I ask why Your Excellency is looking for Jiang Yu? Has she been disrespectful and offended Her Highness the Princess?”
Qing Zhi couldn’t be bothered to deal with them. “I’m only here to retrieve something for the Princess.”
Beyond that, she said nothing more.
Outside the door, Jiang Wei overheard the words “retrieve something” and began to ponder carefully.
The Princess was noble and esteemed—what could she possibly lack?
The only thing Jiang Yu could possibly give the Princess was one item: the Snow Dragon Pearl!
She retreated with Mei Xiang, stopping in the rear garden.
Only now did she understand how Jiang Yu had managed to get the Princess to stand up for her.
Jiang Wei sneered coldly. “That wretched Jiang Yu, thinking she can use the Snow Dragon Pearl to curry favor with the Princess—what a dream!”
She turned to Mei Xiang and whispered, “Go to Jiang Yu’s private storeroom and fetch the Snow Dragon Pearl that Eldest Brother sent back two months ago.”
That fool Jiang Yu had long ago handed over the key to her private storeroom to Mother.
And now, the key was in her hands.
Upon hearing this, Mei Xiang’s eyes widened slightly, her hands trembling involuntarily. Hesitantly, she said, “Young Lady, but if we can’t produce the item, what if the Princess blames our household?”
Jiang Yu waved her hand dismissively. “What would a lowly servant like you understand? Just do as you’re told.”
Since Princess Yong’an and Jiang Yu had a private arrangement, the Princess certainly wouldn’t make a public spectacle of punishing them.
If Jiang Yu failed to produce the treasure, the Princess would only be angry at Jiang Yu for breaking her promise and refusing to offer the treasure.
By then, when the second branch of the family presented the Snow Dragon Pearl, the Princess wouldn’t blame them but would instead look upon the second branch with favor.
Scolded, Mei Xiang lowered her head. “Yes, this servant will go right away.”
In Hibiscus Courtyard.
Jiang Yu was sitting before her dressing table, arranging her hair.
Today, she wore a set of red robes. The vibrant color didn’t diminish her in the slightest; instead, it accentuated her fair skin, making it appear even more translucent and her features even more delicate and charming.
Beneath the dazzling red outer garment was a layer of black inner robes, which tempered the frivolity of the bright color. While still radiant, it subtly conveyed a sense of restraint.
After inserting a golden hairpin into her hair, she lowered her gaze to Mei Xiang, who was kneeling on the floor.
“Since she sent you to steal it, yet you came to tell me—aren’t you afraid you won’t be able to report back to her?”
Mei Xiang kept her head bowed. “Since this servant has pledged loyalty to the Eldest Young Lady, I should naturally serve you.”
Jiang Yu chuckled.
“Since you’re so loyal, I won’t make things difficult for you. Nanny Gui.”
Nanny Gui brought over a box and opened it in front of Mei Xiang.
Inside lay a pearl the size of a baby’s fist, its surface as clear as frozen ice, with what seemed like swirling cold mist within.
Mei Xiang was somewhat stunned. “Eldest Young Lady, this…”
She truly hadn’t expected Jiang Yu to actually give her the Snow Dragon Pearl.
Jiang Yu rose and said calmly, “Take this back and report your task as completed.”
Mei Xiang did not quite understand her thoughts: "But Eldest Young Lady, if I take the Snow Dragon Pearl, how will you explain it to the envoy?"