Huailin had been recuperating for many days due to an injured arm, yet this person, who was not only injured in the arm but also had a wound on his shoulder that had even burst open at one point, still wanted to enter the palace as if nothing were wrong?
Li Huaiyu had already raised her hand to the back of his neck, contemplating whether to simply knock him out and take him away.
Jiang Xuanjin sighed, reached out, and tugged at her sleeve. “Just go and come back quickly.”
His tone was soft, but he was quite stubborn. After speaking, he released her, nodded to Yun Lanqing, and walked out.
Yun Lanqing stood there in a daze, moving aside to let him pass. She glanced at the imperial edict in her hand, then at his handsome back, feeling a bit lost.
“Why is this person as stubborn as a mule?”
“Hmm?” He turned his head.
Madam Jun, Bai Shi, met his gaze. “Doesn’t he seem like one? A mule knows to turn back after three pulls, but look at him; he doesn’t listen to any persuasion!”
The tone was becoming increasingly familiar.
Yun Lanqing stopped looking at Jiang Xuanjin and carefully examined the Madam in front of her, pondering, “Have I seen you somewhere before, Madam?”
“Of course,” Huaiyu smiled. “At the Jiang family wedding and in the tea hall of the Tingwei Mansion, weren’t you there?”
“No,” Yun Lanqing shook her head, her gaze deepening as she looked at her. “Long before that.”
So perceptive? Huaiyu raised an eyebrow, blinked, and smiled, “Then I don’t remember. Please, do go ahead.”
Yun Lanqing fell silent. Since she had denied it, he could not press further, but the doubt in his heart lingered. He couldn’t help but scrutinize her a few more times.
Where had he seen her before? That familiar feeling…
To enter the palace, one had to take a carriage and then walk. Jiang Xuanjin had just changed the dressing on his wounds, but by the time he stood before the Emperor, the white bandages were already soaked red.
“Your Majesty?” Li Huailin was startled when he saw him and quickly instructed the palace attendants, “Hurry, help him over!”
“Your Majesty.” Jiang Xuanjin frowned as he glanced at the dragon couch. “It’s against etiquette.”
“There’s no one else here; you sit first!” Leaning on the soft pillow, Li Huailin looked at him with concern and asked, “Why aren’t you taking care of your injuries? Why did you come to the palace?”
Jiang Xuanjin glanced at the eunuch standing beside him.
Li Huailin turned his head. “Everyone, leave.”
Normally, at least one guard would remain by the Emperor’s side for protection, but since he was here, Li Huailin directly sent everyone away and had the main hall door closed.
“Is there a major incident?” he asked.
Jiang Xuanjin shook his head. “I entered the palace today just to ask for a favor from Your Majesty.”
“What favor?”
“The servants from Feiyun Palace were mostly imprisoned for their crimes,” Jiang Xuanjin said. “I wish to ask Your Majesty for a favor to pardon them.”
Li Huailin was taken aback, looking at him in disbelief. “Pardon the people from Feiyun Palace?”
When they were imprisoned, Jiang Xuanjin had supported the proposal from Prime Minister Qi, so how could he now come asking for a pardon?
“The Princess of Danyang is guilty, but they are innocent.” Meeting his astonished gaze, Jiang Xuanjin explained calmly, “A general amnesty would show Your Majesty’s magnanimity and alleviate the resentment accumulated in the prisons, achieving two goals with one action.”
Li Huailin thought for a moment and said, “The servants of Feiyun Palace indeed have no major crimes. Since Your Majesty has spoken, I naturally wish to release them… but why have you suddenly brought this up?”
Why? It was naturally because Liu Yunlie had acted too directly this time, making him acutely aware that something was amiss. Liu Yunlie did not want him to assist the remnants of Danyang, nor did he want him to interfere in the old case of Sima Xu. However, judging by recent events, the remnants he helped seemed to be in the right, while those Liu Yunlie supported were clearly in the wrong and quite absurdly so.
In that case, since he was suppressing the investigation into Sima Xu’s old case, should he continue to investigate?
Yes! If someone wanted to obstruct him, he would simply release all the servants from Feiyun Palace, thoroughly stirring the waters! This was a decision he made upon seeing the imperial edict, but he could not say so in front of the Emperor.
“Your Majesty’s recent assassination attempt has caused me great concern,” Jiang Xuanjin said, lowering his gaze. “With the imperial edict posted, there are many discussions among the people, and there will inevitably be words saying Your Majesty has lost the hearts of the people. Naturally, we must find a way to suppress this. After much thought, I believe a general amnesty is the best course.”
A pardon was not something to be given lightly; death row inmates could not be released. It was clear that the group from Feiyun Palace was suitable, as they were numerous and their charges were baseless.
Li Huailin nodded, suddenly sighing, “If only the Crown Princess were still here, Your Majesty would be so gentle.”
Jiang Xuanjin paused. “Am I not gentle enough with the Crown Princess?”
Li Huailin looked at him with a complex expression. “Every time you meet her, it ends in discord.”
In the past, whether in court or the harem, it wouldn’t take two sentences before the Emperor would start with cold sarcasm, and the Crown Princess was not a soft character; she would immediately retort, and the two would argue in front of him.
Jiang Xuanjin seemed to recall the past, frowning. “We were not compatible.”
“The Crown Princess was a very gentle person,” Li Huailin said earnestly.
Jiang Xuanjin couldn’t help but laugh. “Gentle? If she were gentle, wouldn’t the water in Luohua River flow backward?”
“Don’t you believe it?” Li Huailin mumbled. “I’ve thought since I was young that if Your Majesty could get along well with the Crown Princess, perhaps a bond could have formed.”
“Thank you for your kind intentions, Your Majesty,” Jiang Xuanjin shook his head. “I am not worthy of such fortune.”
A bond with a woman who was merely a concubine? It would be better to maintain the twisted fate of the four foolish members of the Bai family.
“Achoo—”
One of the four foolish members of the Bai family was pouring tea for Yun Lanqing when he suddenly sneezed loudly, shaking the beams of the room.
“Excuse me.” Covering his mouth and nose with a handkerchief, Huaiyu muttered in confusion, “Who is talking bad about me behind my back?”
Yun Lanqing looked at her with a complex expression, increasingly feeling that she looked familiar, even the way she sneezed seemed familiar. But with so many servants around, he couldn’t ask anything and could only rub his forehead and think carefully.
“Since you can come to announce the edict, you must be quite trusted by His Majesty,” she said, putting down the teapot and smiling at her.
Yun Lanqing came back to her senses and cupped her hands in response, “I dare not claim such a thing; I just happened to have a business to attend to and took on this task.”
Speaking of His Majesty’s trust, he felt a bit uncomfortable. After returning from a successful mission to a neighboring country, his annual salary should have been raised by two thousand stones, but for some reason, the promotion order had been delayed, and he had been holding the title of ceremonial official for two months.
“Your Excellency seems troubled?” she smiled gently. “Those in the court must face various difficulties. Fortunately, Luohua River is close to the palace walls; every day after court, you can take a few steps to the riverbank to relax.”
This sounded like casual concern, and Yun Lanqing responded casually without thinking much of it.
Two hours after Jiang Xuanjin entered the palace, he returned and first received the edict to express his gratitude. Yun Lanqing delivered the imperial edict and had no reason to delay further, so she bowed and left the Jiang residence.
“Sit down.” Looking at Jiang Xuanjin, Huaiyu’s previous hospitable smile disappeared completely. With her hands on her hips and her brows furrowed, she looked fierce.
Jiang Xuanjin pursed his lips and lowered his head. “My wound hurts.”
Huaiyu was both angry and amused. “Why didn’t you say it hurt when you entered the palace? Now you know it hurts?”
“I had serious business to attend to in the palace.”
“What serious business requires you to say it now?”
“If I delay a day, the matter will be delayed a day.”
“Alright, alright.” Huaiyu waved her hand. “I can’t argue with you; let’s see your wound first!”
Taking the opportunity, she brought the medicine and watched as the Madam scolded while removing the Emperor’s clothing. “Do you think you’re made of steel? Look, you’re all bleeding again! If you keep this up, you’ll end up with scars like me! What’s the use of applying more medicine? With your ability to mess around, this wound won’t scab over in a month, and I’ll take your surname!”
With a muffled grunt, Jiang Xuanjin said, “You already share my surname.”
After marriage, a woman takes her husband’s surname, and thus she is Bai Jiang.
Huaiyu rolled her eyes and said fiercely, “Be honest!”
After changing the dressing and rewrapping the bandages, Huaiyu led him into the inner chamber, twisting a handkerchief to wipe his face. “From tomorrow, you’ll stay home to recuperate for half a month; don’t run around.”
Grabbing her wrist, Jiang Xuanjin shook his head. “I’m afraid that won’t do.”
“What do you mean?” Huaiyu glared at him. “Is there no one left in the court to do their job? You still have to be loyal to the country even with an injury?”
“Not…”
“Then don’t say anything else.” Waving her hand, Huaiyu said, “I will always watch over you; no matter who comes or what they say, it’s useless!”
Cheng Xu felt quite gratified to hear this. In the past, when the Emperor attended court while ill, no one could say a word to him. Now, however, the Madam was scolding him left and right. He didn’t even speak up, and it seemed he would be obedient for a while.
He should have married the Madam years ago!
Li Huaiyu pressed the handkerchief against Jiang Xuanjin’s face, applying considerable force, leaving two red marks on his originally pale face.
Jiang Xuanjin didn’t dodge, his dark eyes glistening as he looked at her.
Huaiyu, still angry, couldn’t help but smile. After staring at him for a while, she suddenly hugged him tightly, rubbing her chin against the top of his head and stomping her feet, “Why are you so adorable?”
The servants standing in the room stumbled in surprise.
Any compliment for Jiang Xuanjin would do, but adorable…? Glancing at the suddenly darkened face of the person being hugged, Cheng Xu shivered and shook his head.
Only the Madam dared to say such things.
However, compared to before, Jiang Xuanjin had indeed become much gentler. The aura that kept people at a distance had faded, and his gaze was no longer cold. The rough servants who came in to serve water and tea occasionally dared to exchange a few words with him.
This change was not only noticed by the people in Moju but also by the Jiang family. Jiang Shen even went out to write poetry and couldn’t help but sigh, “Heroes find it hard to resist the charms of beautiful women. A cold hero? No problem, as long as the beauty is warm.”
As a result, articles lamenting the hero and the beauty began to circulate in the streets and alleys.
Let them spread it; even if they wrote her as a captivating enchantress, Li Huaiyu didn’t think it was a big deal. After all, these people had previously written about her in pieces like “The Wolf and the Leopard” and “The Disaster to the Country,” so compared to that, being called an enchantress was a good term.
However, unexpectedly, someone took these writings seriously and came to seek justice.
“Xuanjin.” Liu Yunlie frowned. “The amnesty from His Majesty was your idea?”
Jiang Xuanjin leaned against the bedside, not raising his head as he revised official documents. “Is it inappropriate?”
“In what way is it appropriate?” Liu Yunlie couldn’t understand. “Why would you do such a thing? Are you truly blinded by beauty as the rumors say?”
Without pausing his brush, Jiang Xuanjin replied calmly, “I have my judgment.”
What judgment? Those palace servants were small characters; if they were all released in a frenzy, who could guarantee they wouldn’t say anything reckless?
Liu Yunlie was furious. “Recently, when I spoke with Prime Minister Qi about you, I felt you were being manipulated. The previous matters were understandable; you had a sense of justice and wanted to discuss right and wrong. But this amnesty is completely reckless!”
Pausing his brush, Jiang Xuanjin finally looked up at him. “Are you afraid of something?”
“What do I have to be afraid of?” Liu Yunlie frowned.
“If you’re not afraid, why did you come to find me specifically about this?” Jiang Xuanjin said. “You think I’m being manipulated, and I think you’re different from before. As long as it’s not the wrong thing, why do you oppose it?”
Liu Yunlie was momentarily speechless, his brows furrowing. “I never expected there would be a day when you and I would walk different paths.”
“I have not turned back; the paths are different, perhaps your perspective has changed.”
“You are being deceived without realizing it!” Liu Yunlie said. “Since you reopened the investigation into Sima Xu’s old case, you have already turned down a different path, going in the opposite direction from us! Xuanjin, have you ever thought about why, after the wedding, you have slowly been seen as standing with the remnants of Danyang?”
Jiang Xuanjin was slightly taken aback, frowning.
This was something he hadn’t considered. He knew in his heart whether he stood with the remnants of Danyang; it was about discussing matters, not people.
But… from the moment Xu Xian and others sat at the wedding banquet, it seemed he had been branded with the mark of the Danyang remnants. His investigation into the old case, the downfall of Li Fengxing, the transfer of Liang Sixian, and his rescue of Xu Xian… all these actions deepened that mark.
What was going on?
“As a friend, I’ll remind you once more.” Liu Yunlie looked at him deeply. “The Princess of Danyang is cunning and ruthless; even though she has passed away, she may have left behind many schemes to deal with you. Your wife, who is acquainted with Lu Jingxing and allowed Xu Xian and others to sit at the banquet, should be treated with caution.”
Jiang Xuanjin’s expression darkened. “You have overstepped.”
“I knew you would be unhappy to hear about her,” Liu Yunlie shook his head. “But think carefully; the bystander sees clearly.”
After saying this, he stood up, bowed, and walked out.
Huaiyu was supervising the cook making nourishing soup. When it was ready and she returned, she felt the main room was gloomy.
“What’s wrong?” She walked to the bedside, placed the tray down, and asked while ladling soup, “Did Lord Liu upset you again?”
“No.” Lowering his eyes, Jiang Xuanjin concealed his expression and said softly, “My wound has been hurting; it’s a bit annoying.”
Upon hearing this, Huaiyu put down the spoon, pointed at his wound, and seriously threatened, “You’re not allowed to hurt! Look how annoyed my husband is!”
Jiang Xuanjin: “…” He couldn’t hold back and let out a low laugh, covering his eyes as he laughed for a while, the dark clouds in his heart gradually dispersing.
“Hey, you look so good when you smile; why don’t you smile more?” Huaiyu stared at him with a twinkle in her eye and sighed, “What a waste!”
Pressing down the corners of his mouth, Jiang Xuanjin glanced at her. “With your way of speaking, you should be telling stories at a teahouse; that would be a waste.”
“That’s different.” Huaiyu raised her chin. “I only say good things to you; I wouldn’t do it for anyone else, even if they paid me!”
Her serious tone and the sincerity in her apricot eyes made Jiang Xuanjin stare for a moment, and his heart softened.
Xu Xian and the others attended the banquet for Lu Jingxing’s sake; Li Fengxing deserved his punishment, and Xu Xian was someone he willingly saved. As for Liang Sixian… it could only be said to be a coincidence, as she was the one who changed the papers. At most, she only said the handwriting looked familiar.
Danyang was indeed full of schemes, but how could she be so powerful as to plot against him even after her death? Moreover, when she died, she had no connection with Bai Zhuji, so it was impossible to link them together.
Shaking his head, Jiang Xuanjin looked at the soup in her hand. “You’re quite diligent today?”
Huaiyu smiled. “You should try it first?”
He opened his mouth to taste the soup she offered and nodded. “It’s better than the last time.”
Of course, the Jiang family’s cook was better than the Bai family’s. Huaiyu chuckled, “I made some extra and sent a bowl to my father; it’s close enough.”
That’s quite filial. Jiang Xuanjin thought for a moment. “Your father seems to still be investigating that gambling house.”
“Isn’t that so?” Huaiyu sighed. “I don’t know what’s so good to investigate; it’s just some black accounts.”
“Investigating for so long… the amount in those black accounts must be considerable.”
“What if it’s considerable?” she said disdainfully. “Can they trace the money from the gambling house?”
Generally speaking, it couldn’t be traced, which is why it was called “black accounts.” However, if the amount was too large and matched a case with existing records, it could be traced back.
Thinking of this, Jiang Xuanjin recalled Li Fengxing, who had accepted a huge bribe, with many of the ill-gotten gains being of unknown origin. If that gambling house had his backing…
After thinking for a moment, he instructed Cheng Xu beside him, “Go find out who the owner of the sealed gambling house had frequent dealings with in the past.”
“Yes.” Cheng Xu complied.
Huaiyu looked at him with a confused expression, feeding him soup as she watched him finish a bowl. Unable to help herself, she squeezed the spoon and said, “You’re really lucky to have such a virtuous wife like me!”
Coughing lightly, Jiang Xuanjin glanced at her in disdain. “Is it common to praise oneself?”
“If I don’t praise myself, then you should praise me!” Huaiyu pouted, feeling a bit wrong. “I treat you so well, and you’ve never praised me!”
“How should I praise you?” Jiang Xuanjin asked. “I don’t like to lie.”
Huaiyu glared at him. “If you don’t praise me, you’re just going to pick on me? Next time you want soup, you can make it yourself!”
After saying that, she picked up the bowl and left.
Jiang Xuanjin felt quite innocent, watching her figure disappear outside the door, muttering softly, “What a temper.”
Cheng Xu couldn’t help but laugh.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Xuanjin turned his head. “Are you happy to see my wife angry with me?”
Quickly shaking his head, Cheng Xu said, “I just think… you should occasionally say something nice; girls like to hear good words.”
Jiang Xuanjin sneered. “Just because she likes to hear it, I have to say it? Look at her; there’s nothing about her that deserves my praise.”
Cheng Xu fell silent. Cheng Xu’s experience in serving taught him that, aside from the Madam, it was best not to argue with the Emperor.
“Master.” Lingxiu returned after delivering the soup, bringing a letter for her.
Huaiyu took it, glancing at it. It was written by Lu Jingxing in cursive, and only she could recognize it. After a quick scan, she tore the letter and walked toward the back room of the main building.
Knowing that there had been many recent matters and that Moju often had visitors, Qingsi had been obediently staying in her room, and her injuries had been mostly healed by Lingxiu’s care.
Letting Lingxiu guard the door, Huaiyu quietly asked Qingsi, “How is it?”
Qingsi nodded. “The arrangements of the dark guards have been thoroughly understood. If you have any orders, I can sneak out of Moju under the cover of night.”
Finally, the time had come. Huaiyu let out a long sigh of relief. Qingsi’s skills were even better than those of the previous Danyang; her recovery meant that she finally had eyes, ears, and hands, and she didn’t have to worry too much about her safety.
However, if she could bring her along openly, that would be even better.
Thinking for a moment, Huaiyu said, “Lu Jingxing sent word that Jiang Xuanjin has released the people from Feiyun Palace. He intends to investigate Sima Xu’s old case, so you should hold your position and wait for my orders.”
“Yes.” Qingsi nodded, glancing at her thin face, frowning. “Take care of yourself.”
“Don’t worry; I’m doing well.” Clenching her fist, Li Huaiyu smiled, “And I’ll get better and better.”
Jiang Xuanjin was already helping her eliminate treacherous officials and clear her name step by step. With such an ally, it was truly reassuring, and she slept particularly soundly.
She had a premonition that the case of Sima Xu would soon be resolved.
The next day, Huaiyu said she wanted to go to the market early in the morning.
Jiang Xuanjin was still recuperating and naturally couldn’t go out. He looked at her with displeasure. “Do you have to go?”
“Look!” She pitifully pointed to the broken string of Buddhist beads and said, “I need to re-string them; these were a gift from you.”
He had worn them for so long without issue, yet she managed to break them? Jiang Xuanjin was even more displeased, his brows furrowing, and his thin lips pressed tightly together.
Li Huaiyu quickly hugged his arm. “I didn’t do it on purpose; it was fine all along, and it just broke on its own! I cherish the things you gave me; I didn’t lose a single bead; I just need to find someone to re-string them.”
“Let Youfeng accompany you.”
“No need.” Huaiyu waved her hand. “I’m just passing by the ready-made clothing store; it’s inconvenient for a man to follow. Lingxiu can go with me.”
With a huff, Jiang Xuanjin turned his head to look at the bed, ignoring her.
Huaiyu couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction, pecking a kiss on his face before lifting her skirt and running out.
Jiang Xuanjin angrily called out, “Youfeng!”
Youfeng jumped. “M-Master? If the Madam doesn’t allow me to follow, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to go.”
“Who told you to follow?” he snapped. “She’s leaving in such a hurry without taking any silver; you take it to her.”
“…”
What kind of situation was this, being angry while sending someone with silver? Youfeng was both amused and helpless. He complied with Jiang Xuanjin’s words, took the silver from the nearby cabinet, and chased after her.
Without the Madam, Moju instantly fell silent, and a few servants squatted at the door, whispering, “I used to think the Emperor didn’t like women, but who would have thought…”
“Previously, the court was unstable, and the Emperor was focused on the country; how could he have time for anything else? Now that the young emperor is in power, our Emperor can finally take a breather.”
“Yeah, if it were up to me, one wife would be too few. With our Emperor’s status, he should have three or four wives; he can’t lose to the second son!”
This sentiment resonated well, and a figure walking over smiled as he stuffed two money bags into their hands.
The servants were taken aback, looking back in confusion, only to see a girl in a dark floral silk dress standing in front of them. “Please convey that the legitimate daughter of the Yi family wishes to see the Emperor.”
With a beautiful face, the girl startled the people at the door. One quick-thinking servant hurriedly said, “Miss, please wait!”
The Madam had just left, and now a girl had come to see the Emperor? As the servants ran inside, they slapped their faces. Hey, could it be that their words had come true?
Jiang Xuanjin was in a foul mood, revising official documents when he heard the report of a visitor. His expression instantly returned to its usual calm. “Lower the curtain; let her in.”
The gauze curtain was lowered, and someone entered with the servants, immediately bowing. “This humble girl, Yi Su, greets the Emperor.”
“What is it?”
“My father offended the Emperor some time ago and feels deeply uneasy, but he was acting under orders and could not come to apologize, so today he entrusted me to visit the Emperor.”
Frowning and thinking for a moment, Jiang Xuanjin asked, “Who is your father?”
“Zhonglangjiang of the Hubei Army, Yi Yang.” The girl spoke confidently, her voice loud and clear, carrying a hint of a smile.
Outside, Cheng Xu couldn’t help but glance at her.
Yi Su knelt and bowed, but her eyes were not honest as they peeked behind the curtain. She had admired Jiang Xuanjin for a long time and had previously felt hopeless about entering the Jiang residence, which had saddened her for a while, even making her stay in a temple for several months. Now that she had returned, hearing that Jiang Xuanjin had married and had become even more charming made her quite surprised.
What ability did the Fourth Miss Bai have to captivate Jiang Xuanjin?
She had inquired thoroughly, even bribing the servants of the Bai and Jiang families, and finally learned the secret—Jiang Xuanjin liked proactive girls!
If he liked someone else, Yi Su wouldn’t have come today. But if being proactive could move this person, why should she lose to the Fourth Miss Bai? Wasn’t it just about being bolder and having thicker skin? She could do that!
So, after introducing herself, Yi Su continued, “I heard that the Emperor is injured, so I specially brought the healing medicine, Yuling Ointment.”
The room fell silent, and Cheng Xu stepped forward, understanding the situation. “Thank you for your kind intentions, Miss; I will take it for you.”
Holding the ointment box, Yi Su pulled her hand back, frowning at him. “This ointment is difficult to apply; giving it to the Emperor without knowing how to use it wouldn’t be helpful. It’s better to let me go in and explain it to the Emperor in person.”
As she spoke, she directly reached out to lift the gauze curtain separating them.
To be honest, this kind of behavior was something Cheng Xu had seen many times with Bai Zhuji, and he thought he had gotten used to it. However, upon seeing it now, he realized that while it was acceptable for the Madam to do so, it was quite rude for others.
Jiang Xuanjin’s face darkened as he coldly stared at the person who entered, scolding, “Get out!”
Yi Su was startled. Just a moment ago, she had been full of confidence, but with his icy gaze, all her courage deflated. “I-I just wanted to tell the Emperor about this medicine…”
“Cheng Xu, see her out!”
“Yes, Miss, please.”
Yi Su was dumbfounded, feeling a bit at a loss. This was different from what others had said; hadn’t they said that Jiang Xuanjin had become gentler and no longer kept people at a distance? Hadn’t they said that no matter how much the Fourth Miss Bai caused a ruckus, he wouldn’t be angry? She had merely lifted the curtain to come in; why was he chasing her away?
“Your Majesty!” Seeing the situation was not good, Yi Su immediately knelt, ignoring Cheng Xu’s attempts to escort her out, and pleaded, “It was my offense; please don’t be angry! I came to apologize, and if I fail to do so and anger the Emperor, I will surely be beaten to death by my father when I return!”
As she spoke, she looked at him with a pitiful expression.
Jiang Xuanjin leaned against the bed, holding a document halfway through, glancing at her without saying a word.
Yi Su steeled herself and continued, “I have admired the Emperor for a long time; I do not seek the Emperor’s favor, but I hope for your compassion and that you will not chase me away. I will certainly apologize properly and will not overstep again!”
Just as she was speaking, another servant came in to report, “Your Majesty, the young lady from the Liang family wishes to see you.”
Another one? Jiang Xuanjin was somewhat surprised. In the past, these young ladies would never have dared to enter Moju; what was going on today?
Glancing at the person on the floor, he relaxed his expression and said, “Get up.”
Yi Su quickly stood up, nervously clutching her handkerchief.
“Go sit in the side hall.” Jiang Xuanjin instructed.
The side hall? Yi Su glanced at him but didn’t dare to argue further, reluctantly following him. Just as she sat down, the young lady from the Liang family was also invited in.
Seeing her, Yi Su felt much more at ease. At least she had met the Emperor and spoken to him, while this newcomer hadn’t even stepped into the main room.
“What are you doing here?” Liang Ruyin frowned as she entered, eyeing Yi Su warily.
Yi Su chuckled lightly. “The early bird catches the worm; if you wake up late, there’s nothing to eat.”
“What do you mean? Did you see the Emperor?”
“Of course.”
Liang Ruyin felt annoyed. She had initially doubted the news and planned to find an excuse to come and test it out. If it didn’t work out, that was fine, but who would have thought she would be beaten to the punch?
No, she had to think of a way!
In the main room, Jiang Xuanjin was lost in thought, staring at the document in his hand, when he suddenly asked Cheng Xu, “What’s going on outside?”
Cheng Xu found the article that had arrived at the residence a few days ago and carefully handed it to him. “It’s this.”
After taking it and glancing at it, Jiang Xuanjin frowned. “Who came up with this? ‘The Beauty’s Barrier’? Doesn’t she know she’s not a beauty?”
Cheng Xu replied, “The Madam has seen it too; she said it was well written.”
Well written? They were lamenting that this “hero” would be delayed by that “beauty.” How could he not be angry? His heart was truly big.
After reading through it, Jiang Xuanjin asked, “What does this have to do with those people outside?”
“This article has spread throughout half of the capital. Those young ladies from noble families are likely feeling unwilling and want to give you… a few more barriers.”
Jiang Xuanjin impatiently pinched the official document, raising his hand to throw it away.
However, halfway through, he paused, lowered his gaze, and thought seriously. His eyes suddenly brightened.
“Your Majesty,” a servant came in to report, “the young lady from the Qi family has also arrived.”
Cheng Xu quickly signaled him to stop, fearing it would provoke the Emperor’s anger. However, the person on the bed listened and said, “That’s good; invite them all in.”
What? Cheng Xu was startled. “Invite them all in?”
“Even those in the side hall; let’s have tea.”
The servant complied, and Cheng Xu stood by the bed, trembling as he asked, “What if the Madam suddenly returns?”
“Then let her come in and have tea together,” Jiang Xuanjin said seriously. “Is that not allowed?”
It was allowed, but… Cheng Xu looked up at the beams, anxiously wondering if this house could withstand the Madam’s wrath.
Li Huaiyu had her plans in mind. Going to the market to re-string beads was just a ruse; she would soon return to the residence.
Lingxiu asked, “Aren’t you going to look at the ready-made clothes?”
Huaiyu replied, “I’ll save that for tomorrow.”
“Ah? Are you going out again tomorrow?”
“Of course.” She stroked her chin and smiled. “The more I go out, the more accustomed I become.”
If she thought of something, she couldn’t just go out and raise suspicion, right? Everything had to be done very naturally under Jiang Xuanjin’s watchful eyes. She had already planned to go out on the third day to coordinate with Lu Jingxing’s actions.
Thinking of the opportunity to bring Qingsi to her side, Huaiyu smiled happily, her steps light as she returned.
However, when she pushed open the door to the main room, her smile froze on her face.
The room was filled with noble young ladies sitting upright. Hearing the noise, they all turned to look at the door, their gazes burning, making her shiver.
“Madam Jun, may you be well.” The young lady from the Qi family was always the most polite, standing up to bow to her.
With her leading the way, all the ladies stood up, respectfully kneeling and singing in sweet voices, “Madam, may you be well.”
Stepping outside to check the plaque and then back inside to look at the room’s arrangement, Li Huaiyu murmured, “Did I take a wrong turn? I meant to return to Moju’s main building, so how did I end up in the harem?”
Cheng Xu came out from the inner room, stiffly bowing to her. “Madam.”
“You’re here too?” Huaiyu blinked. “So I didn’t take a wrong turn?”
“Yes.”
So why were there so many young ladies in the main building of Moju? Li Huaiyu couldn’t figure it out and lifted her skirt to walk toward the inner room.
Jiang Xuanjin was sitting on the bed, reading documents. His long, fair fingers lightly tapped on the pages, looking extremely handsome. Hearing the footsteps, he turned his head and calmly said, “You returned quite quickly.”
“If I had known so many guests would come to the residence today, I wouldn’t have gone out.” Approaching his bedside, Huaiyu frowned. “Did they disturb you?”
Jiang Xuanjin shook his head. “They did not disturb me; each family’s young ladies are very quiet.”
“Then what are they doing here?” She looked surprised. “They’ve all entered the room; how can they not take the opportunity to disturb you?”
Jiang Xuanjin: “…” He finally understood where Yi Su had learned her behavior.
He shot her an annoyed glance and said, “They know I’m injured; they all came to pay their respects.”
“Oh…” Huaiyu scratched her hair. “Then let them finish their visit, right? Why haven’t they left yet?”
Jiang Xuanjin didn’t answer, only raised his eyes to look outside.
Seeing him look up, the outer room filled with soft gasps. The young ladies stood gracefully, their faces adorned with charming smiles, their sparkling eyes seemingly wanting to attach themselves to Jiang Xuanjin.
Huaiyu understood; it was rare for them to come. Who would want to leave, even if it meant just sitting quietly? But it was strange; these people had never been allowed in before, so why were they not only allowed in today but also sitting in the main room?
Glancing at Jiang Xuanjin, she pouted. Men loved beauty; with so many beauties presented to him, he had no reason to refuse them.
Feeling a bit uncomfortable, she didn’t show it at all, merely nodding and smiling teasingly, “It’s hardest to resist the favor of beautiful women!”
Jiang Xuanjin scrutinized her expression, seeing she did not react, and said, “Guests should be treated; you should entertain them.”
How to entertain them? Huaiyu pouted and stood up, waving her hand. “Ladies, please take a seat and enjoy some tea; I’ll have someone bring out some snacks.”
“Thank you, Madam.” The young ladies all responded, taking their seats, but their eyes remained fixed on the person in the inner room.
It felt as if she had hung a piece of meat in the inner room, and the hungry wolves outside were all staring at it. However, the wolves were the ones who had brought the meat in, so she had no way to be angry.
Clenching her fists, Huaiyu smiled as she went out to instruct Lingxiu to prepare snacks, thinking that out of sight would be out of mind, she might as well stay in the kitchen and play with some vegetable leaves.
After a while, no one returned, and Jiang Xuanjin in the main room looked at Cheng Xu in confusion.
Cheng Xu whispered, “The Madam went to the kitchen.”
What was she doing in the kitchen? She didn’t care about all these people? Jiang Xuanjin frowned, feeling slightly anxious.
Looking left and right, he finally waited for her to return, but she was enthusiastically serving snacks to the young ladies from various families, walking around the outer room before bringing a plate to the inner room and asking him, “Would you like to try some?”
Jiang Xuanjin said in a deep voice, “No need.”
“With so many girls here, you’re still throwing a tantrum?” Huaiyu raised an eyebrow.
With a huff, Jiang Xuanjin lowered the bed curtain. “I’m tired.”
Hearing this, the young ladies who had just picked up snacks all stood up, softly saying, “Your Majesty, please rest well; we won’t disturb you any longer.”
“We’ll come again another day.”
“Take care, Your Majesty.”
Huaiyu glanced sideways and saw them all kneeling and bowing as they left, each with their graceful demeanor. If they entered the palace like this to select a consort, they would surely be chosen one by one.
With a sneer, Huaiyu bit into a snack and asked the person on the bed, “Didn’t you say you didn’t like crowds?”
“They’re not noisy.”
Even if someone wanted to be noisy, they didn’t dare to speak up again.
Huaiyu nodded. “That’s true; they’re all dignified young ladies. The one in front is from the Qi family, right? I’ve often heard people praise her.”
“Hmm.” Jiang Xuanjin glanced at her. “My father wanted me to marry her when I was younger; that was the marriage he wanted to arrange.”
“That’s quite a match.” Huaiyu nodded seriously. “She looks like someone who understands propriety.”
A match? Jiang Xuanjin sneered. “Knowing propriety is not enough; one should learn more from others.”
Raising her brows, Li Huaiyu pressed down her anger. “Why are you speaking so harshly?”
“It’s a fact.”
“Even if it’s a fact, there’s no need to say it like that, right?” Huaiyu chuckled. “Good thing it’s me; if you had a different wife, saying this would lead to a quarrel.”
“Who else would dare to argue with me besides you?”
“I…” Trying to swallow her anger, Huaiyu tugged at the corners of her mouth. “I also won’t argue with you; it’s better to learn propriety from the young lady of the Qi family.”
Jiang Xuanjin felt stifled. Usually, this person looked acceptable when she smiled, but at that moment, she was still smiling, which was truly irritating! Even if she argued with him, it would be better than her current demeanor.
Not wanting to look at her any longer, he turned over and faced the wall.
This was the standard posture of the angry Jiang Xiaogongzhu. Usually, Li Huaiyu would say something nice to him, but today she was also feeling angry. No matter how she thought about it, it didn’t feel right. Seeing him ignore her, she didn’t bother to say another word and stood up to leave.
“Hey, Madam.” Cheng Xu hurriedly chased after her, following behind her and quietly asking, “Are you angry?”
“The trees in the back courtyard need watering,” Huaiyu replied calmly. “Since your master doesn’t want to pay attention to me, I’ll go check on the trees.”
“You… aren’t angry?”
“What do I have to be angry about? Go persuade your master; he’s still injured; don’t let him get upset.”
Cheng Xu’s face fell, and he said helplessly, “Actually… if you get angry with him, he won’t be angry anymore.”
Hmm? Huaiyu frowned. “What kind of nonsense is that?”
Cheng Xu didn’t know how to explain, scratching his head. “You’ll understand if you go.”
Shaking her head, Huaiyu smiled without sincerity. “How could I bear to be angry with someone I like so much? You go back; let your master try the snacks made in the kitchen; they taste pretty good.”
After saying that, she squatted in front of the orange tree, no longer speaking.
Cheng Xu: “…”
The atmosphere in Moju became strange again.
The Madam clearly still spoke to the Emperor as usual, and the Emperor responded as well, but the two just wouldn’t look each other in the eye, as if they were both stubbornly holding their ground. The next morning, as soon as the sun rose, the Madam went out to stroll again, while the Emperor continued to allow the noble young ladies to enter the residence, letting them sit quietly in the outer room.
“Have you heard?” Yi Su met Liang Ruyin on her way to the Jiang residence and hurriedly pulled her aside. “I heard that after we left yesterday, the Emperor and the Madam had a falling out!”
Liang Ruyin shot her a disdainful glance and waved her hand, continuing to walk forward. “Wasn’t that something we could have predicted?”
Which wife would like a group of young ladies flaunting in front of her husband? It was normal for Madam Jun to feel jealous; it was a good thing they had a falling out. If the Emperor was unhappy, he might just neglect that jealous Madam and welcome others in!
She could think of this point, and the other young ladies naturally could too. So when they came to pay their respects today, they intentionally mentioned things like “jealousy disrupts the family,” and a jealous woman is guilty of the Seven Grounds for Dismissal.
Jiang Xuanjin’s face darkened upon hearing this.
Jealousy leads to the Seven Grounds for Dismissal? Who made that rule? He had always found Lu Jingxing displeasing; did that mean he should also be dismissed?
Absurd!
Seeing them getting more and more excited, Jiang Xuanjin finally lost his patience. “Shut up!”
The entire main room fell silent in an instant.
Picking up the document, he continued to read. As he flipped through it, he suddenly thought, did Bai Zhuji not commit any offenses because she knew that jealousy was one of the Seven Grounds for Dismissal?
The more he thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed, and Jiang Xuanjin’s mood improved considerably. When evening came and the room was empty, he casually said to her, “The Seven Grounds for Dismissal are truly absurd.”
Li Huaiyu was taken aback, asking in confusion, “What are the Seven Grounds for Dismissal?”
“…”
His gaze darkened, and Jiang Xuanjin sneered. “You haven’t learned your rules well.”
“Why are you blaming me again?” Huaiyu pouted, flopping onto the bed, feeling quite fatigued. “I walked a long way today, and my legs hurt!”
After speaking, seeing that he didn’t respond, she huffed, “I knew it; you’ve forgotten your old love for your new one, and you don’t care about me at all.”
“Care about you?” Jiang Xuanjin scoffed, his tone full of disdain.
Huaiyu turned over, burying her head. “Only see the new person smile; never hear the old person cry. Forget it, forget it; I’ll just care for myself and buy some jewelry tomorrow.”
Going again? Jiang Xuanjin said coldly, “You might as well stay on the street.”
Huaiyu chuckled, thinking that since it was the last day, she couldn’t be bothered to argue with him and instead prepared to gather her energy for tomorrow’s big show.
The noble young ladies who came to pay their respects to the Emperor noticed that since they could enter the gates of Moju, Jiang Xuanjin, and Madam Jun seemed to have grown distant. The first day, Madam Jun returned in an hour; the second day, it took her two hours, and today, they had sat for three hours, consuming countless snacks, yet they still hadn’t seen Madam Jun return to the residence.
Could it be… that they had quarreled severely, and Madam Jun didn’t want to return to see them?
Glancing at Jiang Xuanjin’s darkened face in the inner room, Yi Su felt that this was most likely the case. A person like the Emperor surely wouldn’t like jealous women; at this moment, he must be both disappointed and sad. They needed to comfort him!
The young ladies exchanged glances, considering how to speak up. They were afraid of being the first to speak but also worried that someone else would steal the spotlight and gain the Emperor’s attention, so they hesitated, not daring to step forward.
Just as someone finally mustered the courage to speak, calling out “Your Majesty,” Cheng Xu rushed in from outside, abruptly cutting off their words.
“Your Majesty!” He looked flustered as he entered the inner room, standing by the bed. “Something has happened!”
Jiang Xuanjin was in a bad mood and replied without looking up, “There are daily incidents in the court; is there any need to panic?”
“It’s not in the court.” Cheng Xu shook his head, swallowing hard. “It’s about the Madam.”
Jiang Xuanjin’s fingers stiffened around the document, slowly raising his head. “What did you say?”