“The current Emperor is quite deep, but is he a wise ruler? Character and ability are most important,” Chu Diangjiang said. He had been observing the Second Prince for some time. The prince was brave but not rash, sometimes lacking in strategy, but when his advisors presented various ideas, he remained unswayed and could choose the one most suitable for the current situation.
The Second Prince’s birth mother, Lady Li, was from a military family. Her appearance wasn’t particularly outstanding, and her stern personality lacked the gentle beauty of ordinary women. Combined with her lack of talent, the Emperor had never liked her. When Lady Li’s family was still in power, the Emperor grudgingly tolerated her. But once her family lost their military authority, he could barely stand to look at her, which meant the Second Prince had little chance to interact with his father as a child. Under Lady Li’s influence, the Second Prince preferred martial pursuits.
Chu Diangjiang explained all this to Anju. “I’ve also learned about Lady Li. She’s truly a remarkable woman. In the harem, she doesn’t compete for favor, nor does she compromise herself for the Emperor’s liking. She’s impressively steady in her actions. A child raised with such care by a woman of her character is bound to turn out well.”
If Lady Li had wanted to compete for favor, she could have raised her son to be what the Emperor liked. But she didn’t do that.
The Emperor disliked Lady Li, and she probably looked down on him as well.
“When the skin is gone, where will the fur be attached?” Chu Diangjiang sighed. “I thought I could detach myself from everything, but seeing the Song Dynasty in turmoil, I can’t help but want to wade into these troubled waters.”
Anju thought for a moment and said, “We’re still young. If we hide in the mountains for our entire lives, it might be a bit monotonous. Why not wade into the troubled waters first, and when the water clears, we can wash ourselves clean and return to tend sheep?”
Chu Diangjiang was deeply gratified by her words. He gripped her hand tightly and said, “My Ajiu is truly understanding.”
Anju replied honestly, “Actually, we’re so close that you don’t need to be insincere. In reality, I just wasn’t paying attention.”
“…”
The two walked silently through the snow until they reached Plum Blossom Village.
As evening fell, lanterns began to light up in Bianjing city. The snow-covered ground was bathed in a warm orange glow. The wind and snow were fierce, leaving the streets almost deserted.
At the Hua residence, a group of people walked quickly along a covered walkway. Two maids in light green jackets and skirts led the way, holding lanterns for a woman in red finery. Four maids in brown jackets and skirts followed behind.
No one spoke; only the rustle of clothes could be heard.
As they approached a turn, the woman in red finery saw another group of people coming from the opposite direction.
Minister Hua was busy with state affairs, and his mealtimes were irregular. Hua Rongtian was the same. The minister’s wife didn’t like noise, and the two daughters-in-law were sent by the Emperor, so she didn’t want to interact with them much. For convenience, everyone usually ate in their courtyards, only gathering as a family for dinner a few times a month.
“Stop, let’s wait for Sister-in-law,” the woman in red said, halting.
Mei Ruyan had only met this sister-in-law five or six times since marrying into the Hua family and hadn’t had a chance to talk to her. Hearing that she was not only a secret guard of the Crane Control Army but also a woman from the Mei family, and someone who could interact with Hua Rongtian, Mei Ruyan wanted to get to know her better.
On the other side, Mei Jiu saw them stop and suddenly slowed her pace. Since learning that Hua Rongjian had married Mei Ruyan, she had been trying to avoid meeting her. Fortunately, she usually liked to stay in her room, so she didn’t need to avoid her too deliberately. Now, seeing Mei Ruyan stop, Mei Jiu hesitated but realized she couldn’t avoid this encounter.
The two groups met at the turn.
Mei Ruyan bowed slightly, “Sister-in-law.”
Mei Jiu returned the gesture lightly, “Sister-in-law.”
They couldn’t help but size each other up. Mei Jiu looked at the familiar face before her but felt a sense of unfamiliarity. Mei Ruyan wore a red wide-sleeved satin jacket with silver-threaded embroidery of slender white plum branches, striking yet refreshingly elegant. She was more charming than before, but her gaze held a hint of coldness, unlike her former self who could flash a bright smile at anyone.
Fate was ironic. Years ago, when Mei Ruyan desperately tried to shed her courtesan image, her words and demeanor always carried a trace of that world. Now that she had come to terms with it, she finally possessed an air of nobility.
Mei Jiu wore a dark purple jacket and skirt with a cloak over it. Her face was fair, her eyes like autumn waters, and her nose and cheeks reddened by the cold, giving her a healthy glow.
This was the first time Mei Ruyan had carefully observed Mei Jiu’s current appearance. She indeed lived up to the Mei family’s reputation for producing beauties. Her lush beauty carried a hint of innocence, the kind of woman men would want to protect at first sight. What surprised Mei Ruyan more was that this woman had no trace of killing intent about her.
“It’s too cold outside, let’s hurry,” Mei Jiu spoke first, suppressing her emotional fluctuations.
“After you, Sister-in-law,” Mei Ruyan said.
Mei Jiu didn’t say more, just nodded slightly and walked through the arched doorway.
Her eyes narrowed slightly to block the wind and snow, and the corners of her lips turned up imperceptibly.
When Mei Jiu saw Mei Ruyan deliberately waiting for her, she felt quite anxious. But she was no longer the naive girl living under her mother’s wing. When responding, she didn’t reveal any signs of her inner turmoil.
At that moment, she suddenly felt incredibly relieved.
She thought to herself, so this is what it feels like to deceive others. No wonder so many people are intoxicated by “scheming.”