Yu Jin waited outside the inner city, watching a figure in a scarlet cloak trimmed with snow fox fur approach from afar. A smile tugged at his lips as he strode forward to meet them.
As Jiang Si drew near, she gave him a gentle smile. “I thought you’d be here before me.”
Yu Jin glanced at the palace maid before taking Jiang Si’s hand. “Let’s go.”
They walked forward, hand in hand.
The palace maid who had accompanied them turned back toward Ci’ning Palace, thinking to herself: Prince Yan and his Princess Consort truly love each other deeply. No wonder the Princess Consort won’t humble herself before Princess Rongyang.
Though the palace maid couldn’t hear the verbal sparring between Jiang Si and Princess Rongyang, she could sense the tension between them.
She couldn’t help discussing it with her fellow maid who had escorted Jiang Si. The other maid sighed in agreement: “Indeed. Look at Prince Qi’s wife – she not only avoids confrontation with Princess Rongyang but walks as if measured by a ruler, cautious to her very bones.”
The two maids exchanged glances, somehow no longer envying Prince Qi’s wife.
They’d heard that after becoming pregnant, Prince Qi’s wife had actively arranged for four concubines for her husband…
In the carriage heading home, Yu Jin asked Jiang Si, “Did the Empress Dowager give you trouble?”
Jiang Si leaned against the carriage wall, smiling. “Someone as proper as the Empress Dowager would at most reproach me with words. I have thick skin – I can handle any verbal attack.”
Yu Jin chuckled and stroked her cheek. “What nonsense are you talking?”
Jiang Si leaned closer, listening to his steady heartbeat, feeling utterly at peace.
Yu Jin brought up Palace Matron Duo’s matter: “Let’s withdraw our people from watching the Wu Miao grandmother and grandchild. Father Emperor will surely send people to investigate immediately. It would only cause trouble if we remain involved.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Jiang Si nodded, then asked, “Have you thought of a way to restore the reputation damaged by Cousin Dou, as you promised Father Emperor within three days?”
“What do you think of this?” Yu Jin whispered his plan in her ear.
In the Imperial Study, Emperor Jingming irritably tapped the table. “Pan Hai, summon Han Ran.”
When Han Ran entered the study and saw the Emperor’s expressionless face, his heart quavered. Since learning of His Majesty’s cuckoldry, he had lived with the pessimistic feeling that he might be silenced at any moment – life was truly difficult…
Looking at the respectful Commander of the Imperial Guards, Emperor Jingming felt a surge of irritation. He felt Han Ran hadn’t been this deferential before… Was he being pitied?
Both ruler and subject were lost in their thoughts, creating a moment of awkward atmosphere.
Pan Hai secretly signaled to Han Ran, wondering why someone usually so shrewd now seemed somewhat foolish. Ah, it must be because he had witnessed His Majesty being cuckolded and still felt uncomfortable about it.
How muddleheaded – in such situations, the best approach was to act completely natural, making His Majesty feel you’d forgotten the whole affair.
Han Ran returned Pan Hai’s look, thinking privately: What would a eunuch understand…
Pan Hai rolled up his sleeves. If His Majesty hadn’t been present, he would have fought that Han fellow!
“Han Ran, there’s a small shop run by Wu Miao people on West Market Street. I want to know their situation, but don’t alert them.”
Hearing the Emperor discuss official business, Han Ran immediately agreed.
“Also, investigate Prince Yan’s wife’s cousin’s other misdeeds.”
Han Ran acknowledged again.
“You may withdraw.”
After Han Ran left, Emperor Jingming turned to Pan Hai: “Do you think the lead Prince Yan found is reliable?”
Pan Hai hesitated before responding, “Your servant thinks Prince Yan’s words have some merit.”
He sighed inwardly: It seemed His Majesty still refused to accept any connection between the troublemaker and the Empress Dowager.
But at this moment, as someone who had accompanied His Majesty for many years and thought only of his interests, he couldn’t let his awareness of the Emperor’s preferences interfere with important matters.
That person was too frightening – instigating Imperial Consort Yang and the Crown Prince’s affair was a doubly devastating blow to His Majesty, truly vicious.
“Then investigate it, but don’t startle them. Report to me first whatever you discover.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Emperor Jingming, unwilling to dwell on depressing matters, changed the subject: “How do you think Prince Yan will restore his damaged reputation?”
Pan Hai looked troubled: “Your servant can’t imagine how.”
“Neither can I,” Emperor Jingming smiled.
They would have to wait and see – at least it would provide some entertainment.
When Jiang Si and Yu Jin returned to Prince Yan’s residence, it was already getting late. Yu Jin intended to stay for dinner, but Jiang Si sent him away.
“I want to talk with Cousin Dou first.”
If not for their pleasant interactions these past few days, Jiang Si wouldn’t have bothered with this extra step. Even when her second brother had acted so outrageously, she thought he deserved to spend a few years in prison – let alone a distant relative.
After her previous life experiences, she had learned not to care about people who weren’t worth caring about.
“Alright, I’ll go arrange that matter then,” Yu Jin departed.
Soon after, A’Qiao reported: “My Lady, Miss Dou has arrived.”
Dou Shuwan entered, removing her heavy coat and shaking off snowflakes before handing it to the maid at the door.
“It’s snowing again outside? Cousin, please sit,” Jiang Si glanced toward the window.
The window paper was pasted tightly, obscuring the view outside.
This was the downside of winter – one couldn’t keep windows open all day.
Dou Shuwan sat down, smiling: “Yes, snow suddenly started falling again.”
She fell silent after speaking.
With her intelligence, Dou Shuwan sensed something unusual about being summoned at this time.
Jiang Si appreciated Dou Shuwan’s cleverness.
Speaking with intelligent people requires fewer words.
“Are you still in contact with your brother?”
Dou Shuwan looked at Jiang Si, her body momentarily tensing.
Had her brother done something terrible?
Before this thought could fully form, Jiang Si said: “Your brother has committed a crime.”
Dou Shuwan’s eyebrows shot up as she blurted out: “What did he do?”
After Jiang Si briefly explained the situation, she looked at Dou Shuwan and asked: “Tell me what you think, Cousin.”
Dou Shuwan had already turned bright red with shame. As she opened her mouth, overwhelming grief welled up, bringing tears to her eyes.
Why was it so difficult to live properly, to live like a human being?
At the Earl’s mansion, others thought the Fourth Miss was formidable and difficult to get along with, but she found interacting with the Fourth Miss utterly comfortable.
There was no need for excessive compromise or scheming. On the contrary, the simpler things were, the more pleasant their relationship became.
Why couldn’t they bear to see her live a few days of peace?
Jiang Si was still waiting for Dou Shuwan’s answer.
She wasn’t indiscriminately kind – if Dou Shuwan insisted on protecting her worthless brother, Jiang Si could understand, but would keep her distance from then on. Finding a reliable husband for Dou Shuwan soon would be the extent of her obligation.
People like Cousin Dou were like a muddy swamp – hoping for improvement was impossible, and getting involved would only drag one down into the mire with no escape.