Jiang Changyang looked at her with a smile but said nothing. Mudan felt somewhat uncomfortable under his gaze and hurriedly adjusted her clothing, asking, “What are you smiling at? Is something amiss?”
Jiang Changyang dismounted his horse and entered the carriage, embracing her as he whispered, “Nothing’s wrong. Everything is perfect. We can assess the situation when people arrive and decide then.” He hadn’t expected Mudan to learn to think, observe, and question more so quickly. Most importantly, although she was eager for the business deal, her first thought was of him. What could be more delightful than discovering you’re the most important person in your lover’s heart?
Unaware of the reason for his sudden affection, Mudan rested quietly in his embrace for a moment before pushing him away. “It’s too hot. We’re about to arrive at the Chuzhou Marquis’s mansion. If you mess up my makeup, people might think I’m disrespectful. Besides, if they see you with a horse but squeezing into the carriage with me, who knows what they’ll say.” The latter part was meant for Mama Lin, sitting outside. Though newlywed for only a few days, Mama Lin had already filled Mudan’s ears with countless tips on how to make her husband look good in public.
Jiang Changyang planted a quick kiss on her forehead, smiling as he left the carriage and remounted his horse. They encountered a traffic jam as they approached the Chuzhou Marquis’s mansion. Jiang Changyang sent someone to investigate and learned that a noble’s carriage had been bumped, and the offender was now being publicly whipped as punishment.
Jiang Changyang felt helpless. While such incidents weren’t common, they always caused a commotion when they occurred. There was nothing to be done; the road was thoroughly blocked, and it didn’t look like it would clear anytime soon. He called for Mudan to leave the carriage and walk with him, instructing the driver and a servant to wait with the carriage and follow once the road cleared.
A sizeable crowd had gathered to watch the spectacle. The person administering the punishment was merciless, bringing down the whip without hesitation, while the victim covered their head and face, wailing loudly. The so-called noble who had been bumped sat properly under an awning, smiling broadly, thoroughly engrossed in watching the beating. She occasionally pointed and commented to her maid, appearing particularly excited. It was none other than Princess Qinghua, whom they hadn’t seen in a long time.
She was no longer the voluptuous beauty who could confidently proclaim herself the most beautiful woman in the world even without makeup. Now, she was considerably thinner, though her appearance was several times more lavish and ornate. Mudan felt that something had been lost from her, never to return. For instance, that unparalleled pride and confidence that once emanated from her very bones now seemed artificial. Truly proud and confident women, Mudan thought, wouldn’t find joy in others’ suffering on a public street.
Due to Jiang Changyang’s height, Qinghua easily spotted him and Mudan. Seeing the two walking side by side, her recently acquired pleasure instantly soured. She lost all interest and, with a gloomy expression, ordered, “Let’s go.”
No one dared to disobey. The group hurriedly abandoned the poor beaten victim, dispersed the crowd, and once again lifted the sedan chair to continue forward.
Mudan and Jiang Changyang hadn’t walked far when Princess Qinghua’s entourage passed them. They watched helplessly as her sedan chair entered the Chuzhou Marquis’s mansion. The couple exchanged a rueful glance, feeling that luck was not on their side. Given the inevitable awkwardness of this encounter, should they still go in?
Jiang Changyang tilted his head slightly, gesturing for Mudan to walk forward boldly. “What are you afraid of? Should we avoid her every time we see her from now on? That’s nonsense. Let’s go! We’re not visiting her house.”
Upon entering, they found Pan Rong’s servant waiting outside as instructed. Seeing the couple arrive, he immediately led them to a waterside pavilion in the garden, repeatedly apologizing, “A guest arrived unexpectedly earlier, and we couldn’t turn them away. The young master ordered me to guide you to the waterside pavilion to cool off. He’ll join you as soon as he’s free.”
The couple understood that the unavoidable guest must be Princess Qinghua. Pan Rong was being considerate, trying to prevent an awkward encounter. Jiang Changyang smiled and said, “It’s no trouble. We could use some cooling off after our journey.”
After sitting in the pavilion for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they saw Madam Bai approaching in the distance, supporting Nieyu. Mudan immediately left Jiang Changyang’s side to greet Madam Bai, “The sun is so strong, and you’re in a delicate condition. You shouldn’t be running back and forth. It’s not good to tire yourself out.”
Madam Bai smiled, “I’m not that fragile. I walk several rounds every day, and you should be mindful of that in the future.”
Mudan blushed slightly and changed the subject, “Weren’t you said to have a guest? Don’t you need to attend to her? We’re family, so don’t worry about us. Where’s Ajing?”
“Ajing is taking a nap at his grandmother’s,” Madam Bai said, fanning herself vigorously with a silk fan. “Do you know who our guest is?”
Mudan nodded, “We saw her on our way here. Someone had bumped into her carriage, and she had them whipped in the street. Many people were watching, blocking the entrance to your mansion. I didn’t realize she was coming here. I remember that after she fell from her horse, she rarely went out. I’ve only encountered her twice since then.”
“That’s all she’s good at – bullying the weak and fearing the strong,” Madam Bai said disdainfully, quickly entering the pavilion and lowering her voice. “You’re not the only one who didn’t expect it; I didn’t either. She came to ask me if I knew anything about Maya’s situation.” Seeing Mudan and Jiang Changyang’s awkward expressions, she quickly added, “It’s fine. She thinks Liu Chang redeemed Maya for Pan Rong. But instead of asking me directly, she pretended to kindly remind me. Pan Rong got upset and is arguing with her now. I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I pretended to feel unwell and came to keep you company.”
It turns out that Princess Qinghua had heard about Maya for a long time but had been skillfully avoided by the clever Maya on several occasions, leaving her frustrated. When she suddenly heard that Pan Rong had redeemed Maya, she thought it strange, given how close Pan Rong and Madam Bai had become recently. She suspected it was a cover for Liu Chang. However, she had no evidence, and the Chuzhou Marquis’s mansion wasn’t a place where she could act recklessly like Liu Chang’s private residence. If she came barging in without cause, she’d likely end up worse off than last time. After much thought, she came up with the idea to use Madam Bai to drive Maya away, allowing her to swoop in afterward.
So the person she came to see wasn’t Pan Rong, but Madam Bai. However, after just a few words, Pan Rong came in from outside and accused her of being jealous of others’ happiness because of her misfortune. Princess Qinghua was furious, and the two began arguing, trading barbs with neither willing to back down.
Jiang Changyang stood up and bowed to Madam Bai, “We’ve caused you trouble. We should just tell them directly that I redeemed Maya.”
Madam Bai, in a good mood, replied, “Why so formal? Pan Rong has already sent someone to fetch Liu Chang. Since you’ve come all this way, we’ll prepare a good meal and have a nice chat after they leave.”
Jiang Changyang said, “Since we’re here, we’ll certainly stay for the meal. However, we plan to take Maya back with us. Could we trouble you to send someone to inform Maya to pack her things?”
Madam Bai frowned slightly, “You want to take her back now? That doesn’t seem appropriate.”
Mudan and Jiang Changyang exchanged a glance and smiled helplessly, realizing that everyone knew about yesterday’s events.
Madam Bai said decisively, “If you want to take her back, now is not the time. Wait a few days, and I’ll have someone discreetly send her over.”
Suddenly, Princess Qinghua’s voice rang out from afar, “Bai Axin! You’re a woman too. We used to drink tea and laugh together. What have I ever done to offend you? How does my discomfort benefit you? Be careful of karma!”
Everyone was startled and looked towards the sound. They saw Princess Qinghua, her face flushed with anger, limping quickly along the garden path supported by a maid. Behind her followed Pan Rong, fuming but unable to do anything about her.
Madam Bai looked at her calmly, saying nothing, with an expression that suggested she couldn’t be bothered to argue with someone who wouldn’t understand anyway. Mudan, hearing Princess Qinghua’s words, found them intolerable and was about to speak, but Madam Bai secretly gripped her hand, signaling her not to interfere. She whispered, “This doesn’t concern you. She’s targeting me.”
Pan Rong, utterly exasperated, blurted out, “If you keep talking nonsense, don’t blame me for forgetting our past friendship! How many times do I have to tell you, it has nothing to do with Liu Shu? Can’t you understand simple words?”
Princess Qinghua was beside herself with anger. Spotting Jiang Changyang and Mudan standing nearby, she felt a mix of anger, hatred, and embarrassment. She closed her mouth tightly, unable to say a word. She stood there for a moment, unsure whether to approach or leave, as leaving would make it seem like she was afraid of Mudan. After a brief pause, she slowly put on a smile and walked over, looking at Mudan and saying, “Isn’t this Danniang? What brings you here?”
Mudan smiled and replied, “Just visiting friends.”
Princess Qinghua struggled to maintain her composure as she walked into the pavilion and sat down. Her gaze moved back and forth between Jiang Changyang and Mudan. With the air of a victor, she said maliciously, “I heard about your joyous occasion. I wanted to send a congratulatory gift, but Shu said it wouldn’t be appropriate, so I didn’t. If you don’t mind, I could send one another day? I hope this time you’ll have harmony between the qin and se and a long-lasting union.”
At this point, Mudan was certain that Princess Qinghua had become completely unhinged, clearly needing to find balance and confidence everywhere. Just as she was about to speak, Jiang Changyang interjected seriously, “Thank you for your kind intentions, Princess. However, one should seek good omens in all things, and congratulatory gifts aren’t to be accepted carelessly. Perhaps you should keep your gift for your use.”
Pan Rong burst out laughing. Princess Qinghua opened her mouth, then closed it again, seeing the amused expressions on everyone’s faces. She finally realized she had become a laughingstock in their eyes. Furious and heartbroken, she sat silently for a moment before letting out a cold laugh and storming off.
Pan Rong sighed, “This is terrible. We’ve all offended her now. Who knows what kind of revenge she’ll plot against us when she gets back.” Then, bumping Jiang Changyang’s shoulder, she added, “Jiang Dalang, I don’t care what you say, you owe my family a big favor.”