After this day, rumors spread through the Hanlin Academy that Vice Minister of Revenue Jiang Boyou and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince Xie Wei had quarreled over an examination answer sheet from the palace examination, apparently involving matters of ethical principles and moral codes. That Vice Minister Jiang, who had always been good-natured toward others, turned ashen-faced and even let out two cold laughs toward Xie Wei rather indignantly, saying something like “How preposterous, how preposterous!” before storming off with a flourish of his sleeves.

No one thought anything else of it.

After all, how could Grand Tutor Xie, someone as pure as the moon and breeze with such upright character, possibly have anything to do with “ethical principles and moral codes”?

But after Jiang Boyou’s unpleasant conversation with Xie Wei ended in discord, a cloud of gloom settled in his heart. He vaguely felt that having his daughter catch the eye of such a person in a high position of power was definitely not a good thing. Moreover, the speed at which Xie Wei’s demeanor changed before and after was so fast it almost made him wonder if this person was the same Xie Ju’an he had known before.

After much consideration, he sought out Jiang Xuening for a conversation that very day upon returning home.

After coming to her senses that afternoon, Jiang Xuening had already begun instructing her maids to take inventory of her current possessions, and had written back to You Fangying, planning to depart for Shu this very month. Jiang Boyou’s summons came at just the right time.

In the study, Chang Zhuo, who served at Jiang Boyou’s side, brought in tea and then withdrew.

Only father and daughter remained in the room.

Jiang Boyou deliberated for a moment before speaking: “Ningning, your elder sister’s marriage has now been settled, just waiting for the wedding in a couple days. I’ve noticed that since you returned from your palace studies, you don’t seem to enjoy going out much. Among the young masters of the noble and distinguished families throughout the capital—aside from that rather disgraceful Young Master Dingfei—I wonder if there are any who catch your eye? It’s time for the family to make some plans for you as well.”

Indeed, now that she’d reached a certain age, the family was starting to worry about her marriage.

Jiang Xuening picked up her teacup, lowering her head to see only her own eyes and the rippling light beneath them reflected in the cup. The first face that emerged in her mind was cold and solemn, yet it brought her no tender affection—rather, there was a hidden sharp pain.

Her hand trembled slightly, and she slowly set down the teacup.

Observing her expression, Jiang Boyou quickly added: “Father isn’t in a rush to betroth you to anyone. If you get along well with that Young Master Dingfei, and if he can change his dissolute, cynical ways, and if you truly like him, it’s not impossible…”

Jiang Xuening couldn’t help but laugh: “Father worries too much. I have no interest in this person.”

Jiang Boyou breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that if she liked that Xiao Dingfei, it would probably be even worse than Xie Wei!

He continued asking: “So you do have someone you’re interested in?”

Naturally, there was someone.

It was just a pity that the person she was interested in didn’t seem to be interested in her.

Jiang Xuening felt she shouldn’t engage with this topic at all, so she simply didn’t respond. Instead, she stated quite directly: “Father, your daughter currently has no desire to discuss marriage. Affairs in the capital are troublesome, so this month I plan to go to Shu to clear my mind.”

“Nonsense!”

This shocked Jiang Boyou considerably. His eyes widened as he could hardly believe what he was hearing.

“You’re a young lady—why would you travel all the way to distant Shu?”

Jiang Xuening had known from the start that things wouldn’t go so smoothly. After all, an unmarried young lady wanting to travel far from home on her own sounded utterly absurd.

She wasn’t surprised by Jiang Boyou’s reaction.

But since she dared to bring it up, she naturally had her preparations.

She continued calmly: “During the recent heated discussions in the capital about the Grand Princess’s marriage alliance, your daughter was involved behind the scenes. The suggestion to have Xiao Shu take the Princess’s place in the marriage alliance was also my idea.”

Jiang Boyou stood up in horror: “What did you say?!”

He knocked over his teacup.

But Jiang Xuening wasn’t finished. She added: “On the day of the Princess’s marriage alliance, the reason I was so delayed in returning was because I was plotting to substitute one person for another, and had planned to ambush the marriage alliance party midway. It’s only because Her Highness was unwilling that the plan didn’t succeed.”

“…”

This time Jiang Boyou was completely speechless.

Any one of these matters, if exposed, would be treasonous acts warranting execution!

Jiang Boyou had only thought his daughter was a bit playful, a bit troublesome, but only among young people. How could he have imagined that she had a hand in the recent storms?

His entire understanding was overturned, and he couldn’t react at all.

Jiang Xuening calmly analyzed the pros and cons for him: “Xiao Shu is crystal clear about this matter. Now that she’s in the palace as the newly favored Consort Xian, who knows how many methods of revenge she’s plotting against me. If your daughter remains in the capital—first, who knows how many more outrageous things I might do; second, my unruly words and deeds may implicate my elder sister, who has become the secondary consort of Prince Linzi; third, if Xiao Shu keeps watching for revenge against me, it may not fail to implicate the family. In this case, it would be better to leave the capital for a period of time to avoid this disaster. Those in the capital who don’t see me for a long time will naturally gradually forget. I’ve also heard that Tianfu is blessed with outstanding people and beautiful scenery. If your daughter goes to Shu and reforms herself completely, naturally no one will know how domineering I was in the capital. Perhaps I might even find you a good son-in-law. Please consider this, Father.”

Though in truth, whether Jiang Boyou agreed or not made no difference to her.

If he agreed, naturally all travel arrangements would be simple. If he didn’t agree, at worst it would be like You Fangying in her previous life—she could secretly run away. As for travel permits and such, Zhou Yinzhi could handle them. Moreover, compared to You Fangying in her previous life, she had even more silver in hand and wouldn’t be in the slightest difficulty.

Jiang Boyou’s first reaction was anger.

But once Jiang Xuening finished speaking, his fury actually subsided.

It wasn’t that he was convinced by Jiang Xuening’s somewhat forced reasoning, but rather he thought of Xie Wei. His second daughter had wandered outside for many years, and after returning to the capital, it was indeed his failure to raise her properly—he already owed her a great deal. If she had no feelings for Xie Wei, but Xie Wei wanted to take her by force, he absolutely should not stand by and watch. However, he knew Xie Ju’an’s capabilities better than most. If Jiang Xuening remained in the capital, the situation didn’t look optimistic.

In this light, going to Shu might not be impossible.

Though the mountains were high and roads far, and the place remote, at least it would avoid all these troubles in the capital, and would place her beyond Xie Wei’s reach. The risk of falling into the evil reputation of “teacher-student ethical disorder” would naturally be eliminated as well.

He frowned and thought for a long while, finally sighing and asking: “Your mind is made up?”

Hearing this, Jiang Xuening knew the matter was settled.

She stated firmly: “That’s correct.”

Jiang Boyou then said: “Let me think it over and see what the situation in Shu is actually like. Even if you’re to go, the family must make some arrangements first.”

Jiang Xuening rose and curtsied: “Thank you, Father.”

The conversation originally intended to sound out his daughter’s preferences for discussing marriage prospects thus came to an abrupt halt due to Jiang Xuening’s sudden proposal to leave the capital.

Jiang Boyou naturally opened his records to examine the situation in Shu.

Jiang Xuening withdrew from the study and returned to her own room.

The maids had brought out all her valuable possessions, as Jiang Xuening had instructed that afternoon that she would be traveling soon, and some valuable items would be inconvenient to carry and should all be taken to pawn.

However, when they found that celadon jade bracelet from the makeup case, Tang’er and Lian’er hesitated.

Neither of them knew where this bracelet came from, nor was it a particularly valuable item, yet it had always been kept by Jiang Xuening at the very bottom of her makeup case. Moreover, last year, the reason Wang Xingjia had been punished by the young lady and fallen into great misfortune was because of this bracelet.

After some whispering between them, they didn’t dare place this bracelet among the items to be pawned, but instead set it aside in a small box and placed it on the desk.

So when Jiang Xuening returned and looked up, she immediately noticed it.

Lian’er quickly came over to explain: “We found it in the makeup case just now. Neither this servant nor Tang’er dared to handle it without permission, so we wanted to ask how you would like to dispose of it?”

Hetian celadon jade, with warm jade coloring and fine, smooth texture, like washing waves.

Jiang Xuening picked it up, feeling somewhat dazed.

Neither Tang’er nor Lian’er dared to speak.

After quite a while, Jiang Xuening suddenly asked: “When is Shen Jie getting married again?”

Everyone else called him “His Highness Prince Linzi.” At the sudden mention of “Shen Jie,” the two maids didn’t react at first, but then broke out in a cold sweat over Jiang Xuening’s boldness. They replied: “This month, the eighteenth—there are only a couple days left. Will you be attending, Miss?”

Jiang Xuening placed the jade bracelet back in the box.

But something like the desolation left by wind scattering clouds seemed to pass through the depths of her eyes as she slowly said: “I should still go and see.”