“When A-Nian said she wouldn’t marry yesterday, she was firm and resolute. If you are truly determined to marry no one but her, then clear away all the obstacles as quickly as possible and have a heart-to-heart talk with her. Grandmother cherishes her like her own heart and soul; even if you try to use the weight of the Pei family to pressure her, the old lady might not necessarily agree to this match.”
“I know.”
Pei Zisu had lived through two lifetimes; there was no situation he hadn’t seen.
In his previous life, he hadn’t dared to take that first step because he was concerned about his own precarious status. But later, at a palace banquet, he had watched closely as the Heir proved to be less than attentive to her. He could even see the helplessness and melancholy hidden beneath her makeup, and in that moment, Pei Zisu felt a deep regret.
He had originally intended to make arrangements to “steal” her away upon his return, but he unexpectedly died in that meticulously planned assassination. In a daze, his soul had drifted for an unknown amount of time.
He had watched with his own eyes as his clan splintered, saw his father die out of blind loyalty, and saw his younger siblings become helpless pawns in that catastrophe, manipulated by others. He even saw the woman he treasured die of illness in a lonely corner of a courtyard, unnoticed and unmourned. Naturally, he was filled with grief and indignation.
Therefore, since he had been given the chance to live again, he would absolutely not allow those nightmares to recur this time!
A flash of ruthlessness and dark intensity crossed his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. When he looked back at Wang Kuan, his gaze had softened considerably.
“Let’s go. We still have to pay our respects to the old lady.”
“Right, right! If you hadn’t said anything, I would have almost forgotten.”
Pei Zisu glanced at him and couldn’t help but tease, “How old are you that you forget things so easily? I think you really should change environments to gain some experience. Staying in Xijing every day is simply eroding your willpower.”
“You say that, but it was because I listened to you that my father went to the Directorate of Waterways first thing this morning to corner someone. I don’t know the result yet, but from the look of things, I suspect I’ll be leaving with you when you head back to Han Prefecture.”
As the second cousin, Wang Kuan, said this, there was a trace of tearless despair in his voice.
He was born and raised in Xijing. Over the years, the furthest he had gone was to the outskirts for hunting; he had never set foot anywhere further. Naturally, the sudden thought of leaving made him feel reluctant.
“Gaining some experience while you’re young will do you good. Don’t overthink it.”
Because Pei Zisu knew that something major was about to happen at the Court of Imperial Guards, leaving early would allow his second cousin to avoid that disaster. It would save him from being implicated and receiving a senseless flogging, which could be considered a small token of his affection as a cousin.
However, he couldn’t just say these things out loud. Thus, Pei Zisu patted him on the shoulder, and the two of them headed toward the Yuhua Courtyard where the old lady resided.
On the other side, Jiang Shiyuan, who was already in her carriage, was quietly composing her thoughts.
The old Emperor did not have many children—only three princes and four princesses—but in terms of who was most favored, even the Crown Prince could not be compared to Princess Qinghuan.
Consequently, her princess manor was situated right next to the Prince Chun’s Manor.
This location had once been the old Emperor’s private residence before he ascended the throne. Since Princess Qinghuan’s birth, it had been undergoing continuous renovations. By the time she was old enough to leave the palace and establish her own household, the old Emperor had bestowed upon her many wealthy fiefs. Thus, everyone in Xijing knew the Princess’s manor was overflowing with wealth; naturally, the estate itself was a grand display of gold-leafed and painted magnificence.
Stepping off the carriage, Jiang Shiyuan saw a kind-looking nanny waiting at the manor gates. Upon seeing her, Jiang Shiyuan beamed and stepped forward respectfully.
“Nanny Shen, why have you come out?”
“The Princess originally intended to meet with you privately today, but she was suddenly visited by the Princess Consort of Chun from next door, who brought the Heir’s Consort with her. The Princess thought it might be uncomfortable for you two to meet, so she specifically sent this old servant out to wait. Let us go to the Hidden Emerald Hall and sit for a while. Once the business over there is finished, the Princess will naturally come to find you.”
“I see. Then I shall trouble Nanny Shen to lead the way.”
“This way, Eldest Miss.”
Nanny Shen was Princess Qinghuan’s most trusted confidante. Since following the Princess out of the palace, her word was law throughout the manor. There weren’t even ten people in all of Xijing whom she would personally greet at the gate, which showed just how welcomed Jiang Shiyuan was at the Princess’s manor.
The Hidden Emerald Hall was a water pavilion located in the inner courtyard.
Surrounded by water on three sides and shaded by lush greenery, it was the coolest spot in the manor. Because Princess Qinghuan knew that Jiang Shiyuan could not stand the smell of incense, she had arranged for various fruits to be placed there early on.
A fruity fragrance drifted through the cool air. When Jiang Shiyuan smelled it, her eyes curved into smiles. “The Princess is truly thoughtful.”
“Then please sit for a moment, Eldest Miss. This old servant will go and see if the Princess is finished yet.”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
Before leaving, Nanny Shen had someone bring over the Meishan Mist tea that Jiang Shiyuan enjoyed. That tea was extremely precious, costing a thousand gold pieces for a single ounce; only a place like the Princess’s manor would have it. Normally, Jiang Shiyuan wouldn’t be able to drink it elsewhere.
Taking a small sip, she found the flavor to be as ethereal and sweet as ever, without any heavy or thick aftertaste.
Looking out at the vibrant, dripping greenery, Jiang Shiyuan’s mood eased considerably. Leaning against the balustrade, she gazed out at the golden carp that appeared from time to time in the pond. She took some fish food from a maid and began to feed them.
She wasn’t bothered in the slightest by the arrival of the Princess Consort of Chun and the Heir’s Consort.
Inside the main hall of the inner manor.
Princess Qinghuan leaned back on a ruyi-style daybed, listening with boredom as the Princess Consort of Chun recounted those same old, trivial stories from the past. Though her expression remained neutral, she was growing rather annoyed.
If it weren’t for the fact that Prince Chun was her father’s biological brother and their manors were right next to each other, she wouldn’t have bothered to entertain the two women before her—especially the second Jiang Miss, who put on such an act of being placid and gentle. No, she should be called the Heir’s Consort now.
The Princess toyed with an eastern pearl the size of a green peach. Its luster was so radiant it seemed to compete with the brightness of spring, yet it paled slightly in comparison to her own long skirt made of pale moon-blue Kesi tapestry silk, embroidered with phoenixes and plum blossoms.
The fabric was woven by the Imperial Household Department. Not only were the edges of the skirt covered in embroidered plum blossoms, but vibrant phoenixes were rendered in various colored silks. Since the death of Empress Xianyi, the only person in the world permitted to use the phoenix motif was the Princess Qinghuan before them.
Even the Crown Princess would feel a twinge of envy seeing it, let alone the Princess Consort of Chun and the Heir’s Consort, Jiang Shijin. They didn’t stop praising Princess Qinghuan from head to toe, which only served to further dampen her interest. Finally, she spoke lazily.
“I hope Aunt will forgive me. I’ve been listening to you chat about these family matters all morning, and I’m quite tired. My Imperial Father has summoned me to the palace this afternoon to keep him company. If I lack energy and lose my composure before the Emperor, it would be quite bad.”
The Princess Consort of Chun, who had been all smiles, suddenly looked embarrassed.
The Princess’s habit of putting on grand airs as a junior in front of her elders added a layer of resentment to the Consort’s already envious heart. However, given how much Princess Qinghuan was favored, she could only suppress her anger. She forced a polite smile and said:
“Look at me—whenever I talk to you, I always lose track of the time. It’s about the hour when the manor’s affairs need to be assigned, so I won’t disturb you any longer, Qinghuan. Next time, I’ll bring some of those Nihuang cakes you like when I come to see you.”
“There’s no need for Aunt to be so polite. The cooks in the Princess’s manor are quite skilled as well. If I want Nihuang cakes, I can have them whenever I like. There’s no need to trouble the Heir’s Consort to wake up early and make them. I haven’t even touched a single bite of these; it would be quite a waste.”
Princess Qinghuan glanced at the Nihuang cakes in the food box that hadn’t even been taken out yet. The disdain on her face was unmistakably clear.
She did enjoy eating, yes, but it depended on who was sending the food. She knew exactly what Jiang Shijin was plotting, which only made the woman more loathsome in her eyes.