Soon, everyone connected to the case began to link together in Pei Zisu’s mind.
The King of Han’s memorial regarding the Huai River levee repairs had been submitted six months ago. Because the snowfall had been unusual, experienced officials predicted that torrential rains in July and August would cause the water levels to surge. Thus, they requested early repairs to the levees to ensure the people’s safety.
Luzhou was a region dense with iron mines, so the order for the levee-repair iron ingots had been sent there long ago. The King of Han had even specifically sent word to Luzhou, urging them to act quickly. He never expected that despite all precautions, someone would actually dare to tamper with the very materials meant to save lives. This realization made Pei Zisu’s teeth itch with hatred.
They fought to the death on the battlefield—was it not to protect the magnificent rivers and mountains behind them and the innocent commoners who lived there?
Yet these officials utterly disregarded the lives of the people, using such inferior goods to pad their own pockets. If these ingots were actually used, the outcome for the levee’s stability was obvious. When the time came, the money would be spent and the levees “repaired,” but once the floods rose, the people would still drown. Every single piece of this conspiracy was clearly aimed at Han Prefecture.
In his previous life, when he died, the riverbanks had not yet breached.
However, just a few months later, Han Prefecture suffered a catastrophe. Perhaps because he had lost his life in the Huai River, his soul had lingered there for a long time, witnessing firsthand how difficult life became for the displaced commoners downstream. This was why Pei Zisu was investigating the matter in secret.
It was not hard to imagine that the person behind this was either the overtly ambitious Prince Yi or corrupt officials in Luzhou. Regardless of who it was, they deserved to pay for their actions.
Pei Zisu silently closed the chest before him and slipped away into the darkness. When he left, even the lock remained undamaged, and the surrounding residents continued to sleep soundly.
The next day, the sky was bright with drifting clouds.
When Jiang Shiyuan rose, she heard the sound of busy footsteps outside. She sat up and glanced at the sky; it was already broad daylight. Remembering her appointment with Princess Qinghuan, she called out to the exterior room.
“Liuhua.”
“I am here, Miss.”
Liuhua pushed open the door and lifted the curtain. She was already prepared, carrying a bronze basin which she set upon a stand. She wrung out a cloth and handed it to Jiang Shiyuan, saying with a smile, “Ever since the eldest Miss returned to the Marquis’s manor, you seem to sleep much more soundly than you do at home.”
“That’s true. I barely woke up last night,” Jiang Shiyuan replied with a smile. Her body was particularly sensitive to heat, so this room in the Marquis’s manor had been specially modified for her.
Behind the eaves, there was a specially built “Self-Raining Pavilion.” During the summer, water would continuously fall like rain to lower the room’s temperature. Inside, there were also cooling fans. Consequently, this room was several times cooler than the outside world, though the cost of its construction was exorbitant.
The Wen-Yuan Marquis’s manor had spared no effort in creating this for her.
The Jiang family, on the other hand, had only recently moved from Xuzhou and lacked both the wealth and the craftsmen. They could only plant more trees around her courtyard, but since they weren’t fully grown, they couldn’t yet provide a canopy over the entire house. Naturally, Jiang Shiyuan did not live as comfortably there as she did at the Marquis’s manor.
After a simple wash, the maid Lüluo brought out a set of loose-fitting clothes. They were comfortable for summer but a bit too casual. Jiang Shiyuan glanced at them and spoke.
“Have you forgotten my meeting with the Princess today? Wearing this would be improper. Go and fetch that lavender-purple long skirt with silver-threaded hibiscus patterns that my aunt recently made for me. Also, find that gold-plated silver hair-pin set with South Red Agate in the ‘Butterfly Chasing Flowers’ design. If I am too plain, the Princess will tease me again.”
“Miss is right to be thoughtful. I will go at once.”
Once the clothes were on and her hair was secured with the pins, the originally “clear water lily” Jiang Shiyuan was instantly transformed into a fairy among flowers. The hair-pins, in particular, were vibrant and elegant, serving as the perfect finishing touch to her entire ensemble.
After eating a few bites of the light dishes that had been brought in, Jiang Shiyuan set down her chopsticks. Her appetite was generally small, so Liuhua did not press her further. Instead, she brought mint water for her to rinse her mouth and began to apply her makeup.
Jiang Shiyuan had an excellent natural complexion, so there was no need for heavy brow-drawing or eye makeup. She only needed a light dusting of powder to cover her natural paleness. For her lips, she used the new “Bud Red” honey from the Yanyu Shop. Just a tiny bit, diluted with clear water and applied, would last for half a day without fading and would look increasingly natural.
After checking her reflection in the bronze mirror and ensuring everything was in order, Jiang Shiyuan finally headed out.
She first went to Old Lady Wang’s Yuhua Courtyard to pay her respects. After explaining that she was going to the Princess’s manor today, the Old Lady had Steward Qing prepare a carriage and assigned several servants skilled in martial arts to accompany her before feeling at ease letting her leave.
To her surprise, as Jiang Shiyuan reached the covered corridor of the front hall, she ran into Pei Zisu.
Today, he wasn’t dressed as eye-catchingly as he had been at yesterday’s banquet. He wore a “harrier-crest purple” belted, round-collar brocade robe embroidered with silver silk “Wan” patterns. At first glance, his outfit actually matched Jiang Shiyuan’s long skirt.
Standing beside him was the second cousin, Wang Kuan, who always loved a good spectacle. He stepped forward to tease them.
“The way you two are dressed today is truly eye-opening! I was wondering why Zisu, who never wears this color, picked it today… so that’s why.”
Wang Kuan’s gaze shifted back and forth between the two of them, making Pei Zisu let out a light chuckle. His already captivating “peach blossom eyes” turned upward slightly as he looked at Jiang Shiyuan with a clear, bright gaze—only to be interrupted by the slight furrow of her brow.
“Is it so early in the morning that Second Cousin has already started speaking like he’s drunk?”
He spread his hands innocently and said no more. Yesterday, he had been worried that this cousin-pair might not have a chance at a good match; seeing them run into each other today, he naturally wanted to drop a few hints. He hadn’t expected to annoy his cousin, so he decided it was best to shut his mouth.
Pei Zisu looked at the specially dressed Jiang Shiyuan, his eyes full of admiration. He then asked, “Is A-Nian leaving the manor?”
“Yes. Princess Qinghuan invited me over to keep her company.”
“Oh? What a coincidence. I also received an invitation from the Princess’s manor yesterday. It seems we can travel together.”
Jiang Shiyuan looked at Pei Zisu with a hint of confusion. When did he and Princess Qinghuan become so close? Why didn’t she know about this?
But since he had an invitation, she couldn’t say much. She simply gave a slight bow and said, “Cousin Pei will likely be riding a horse, while I will be in a carriage. Although we are heading the same way, men and women should keep their distance. Entering the Princess’s manor together might invite gossip. It’s better if we go one after the other. Judging by your direction, you are likely going to pay your respects to Grandmother. I shall take my leave first. Please.”
With that, Jiang Shiyuan departed with Liuhua and Lüluo.
Her steps remained steady, showing no sign of “fleeing in a panic.” She truly lived up to being raised personally by Old Lady Wang. Only after she had passed through the circular gate and disappeared from sight did the second cousin, Wang Kuan, lean in to speak.