Jiang Si couldn’t understand how Elder Hua knew that the woman who suddenly appeared in the small shop that day was the Princess Consort of Yan, given that Elder Hua and Matron Duo hadn’t met a second time.
Hearing Jiang Si’s words, Elder Hua replied calmly, “Just as the Princess Consort has many questions she’s unwilling to answer, this is a question I don’t wish to answer.”
Jiang Si smiled, “In that case, I won’t force the issue. Elder Hua, please come with me back to the prince’s mansion.”
Elder Hua didn’t move.
Jiang Si raised an eyebrow, “Does Elder Hua expect me to just follow you south like this?”
Elder Hua hesitated for a moment, then raised her hand to adjust her hood, which conveniently covered the upper half of her face, making it impossible to see her eyes.
“Let’s go,” came the old, cold voice.
Jiang Si turned and walked out first.
Seeing Jiang Si come out, Aman immediately brightened, “Mistress—”
Jiang Si shook her head slightly, “No need for many words, let’s return to the mansion first.”
Long Dan, seeing Elder Hua come out afterward, placed his hand on his sword hilt.
“Long Dan, there’s no need to make things difficult for her. She’ll return to the prince’s mansion with me.”
“Princess Consort, but she—”
Aman glared at Long Dan, “That’s enough. Our mistress’s word is final. Don’t say anything more.”
Long Dan was left speechless, touching his nose and thinking to himself, “Who am I being so careful for? This little girl simply doesn’t appreciate good intentions.”
Outside the temple, apart from the people Long Dan had brought, there were only Lu Chuchu, Madam Xiu, and three attendants. As for the servant who had led the way, he had been sent back at the foot of the mountain.
This way, there was no need to worry about Elder Hua’s whereabouts being leaked.
Jiang Si instructed, “Long Dan, send someone to Mei Garden to call Aqiao and the others back. We’ll return directly to the prince’s mansion.”
Although she had made up her mind to travel south with Elder Hua, it wasn’t a matter of leaving immediately. There were too many things to arrange and plan.
As they returned to the city, Lu Chuchu said, “Princess Consort, I’ll take Madam Xiu and the others back to Lu Sheng Xiang.”
Looking at the exhausted expression on Madam Xiu’s face, Jiang Si felt apologetic, “Madam Xiu has suffered. I’ll arrange for two guards to go over later, specifically responsible for the safety of everyone at Lu Sheng Xiang.”
After bidding farewell to Lu Chuchu and the others, Jiang Si hurried back to the prince’s mansion, instructing Aman to arrange a guest room for Elder Hua before going to see her daughter.
Not having seen her mother for half a day, Ahuan’s little mouth quivered and she became upset as soon as she saw Jiang Si.
At six months old, little Ahuan had already begun to feel attached to her mother.
Seeing this, Jiang Si’s heart ached. She quickly took her daughter from the wet nurse’s arms to comfort her.
In her mother’s embrace, smelling the familiar scent, Ahuan smiled, showing her newly emerged tooth. Soon after, she fell asleep.
“Princess Consort, let this servant hold the little Miss. She’s gotten heavier recently,” the wet nurse reached out to take the child.
“There’s no need to change hands,” Jiang Si carefully placed Ahuan on the bed, watching over her for a while until the child was sound asleep before leaving.
Stepping out of the room, the biting cold wind cut across her face like a knife.
It was the twelfth lunar month, the coldest time of the year. If she were to travel south, she likely wouldn’t be able to return for some time.
Would Ahuan cry?
Or by the time she returned, would her daughter no longer remember her mother?
Thinking of this, Jiang Si’s heart ached more than if it had been cut by a knife.
Elder Hua waited in the guest room, her heart also in turmoil.
What if the other side changed her mind?
She was still a fugitive. How could she be sure the Princess Consort of Yan wouldn’t simply hand her over to the Jin Lin Guards?
Some risks were unavoidable for Jiang Si, and the same was true for Elder Hua.
As Elder Hua was feeling anxious, Jiang Si pushed open the door, “I’ve kept Elder Hua waiting.”
Elder Hua stood up and exchanged polite greetings.
The two sat facing each other. After the maid had served tea and withdrawn, they entered into a state of conversation.
“Why is my second brother in Wumiao?”
“A candidate for Holy Maiden from our tribe went out and rescued a severely injured man. When the man was revived and revealed his identity, we learned he was the second young master of the East Peace Earl’s mansion, the Princess Consort of Yan’s elder brother.”
Jiang Si raised her eyebrows slightly, her tone unreadable, “So, Wumiao has saved my second brother’s life?”
“It was just a coincidence.”
Jiang Si pursed her lips, inwardly scoffing coldly.
Elder Hua thought she was from Da Zhou and knew little about Wumiao, not realizing that in her previous life, she had lived among the Wumiao people.
In Wumiao, women were revered, and those who could become candidates for Holy Maiden were even more noble. They rarely left the tribe. Even if they did go out, they wouldn’t casually bring back a man.
Could it be that the candidate for Holy Maiden was moved by her second brother’s good looks?
Although she didn’t rule out this possibility, Jiang Si was skeptical of Elder Hua’s words.
She didn’t reveal her thoughts on her face, only furrowing her brows slightly, saying with some hesitation, “My second brother’s name is on the list of fallen soldiers of Da Zhou, yet Elder Hua says he’s still alive. To be honest, a single pouch isn’t enough to convince me…”
“There’s also this,” Elder Hua took out another object and handed it to Jiang Si.
It was a shoe.
Jiang Si’s eyes flickered slightly, and she exclaimed, “The shoes I made for my second brother are also with you?”
Elder Hua was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly smiled, “The Princess Consort is indeed cautious. These shoes are indeed your brother’s, but they weren’t made by you, Princess Consort. They were made by your elder sister. These are your brother’s own words.”
Jiang Si also smiled, “Such an important matter naturally requires caution. Now I believe my brother is still alive.”
Inwardly, however, she gritted her teeth, thinking that if her second brother had told these people such things, she would give him a good scolding when they met.
For now, of course, she wouldn’t fully trust the other party’s words.
The pouch her second brother wore was her gift, and the shoes he wore were made by their elder sister. Although these were private matters, outsiders could know about them.
Seeing Jiang Si speak this way, Elder Hua’s smile became more relaxed.
It must be said that the Princess Consort of Yan was quite difficult to deal with, being so cautious. No wonder she had almost been fooled earlier, thinking the real Holy Maiden had come to the capital. If it wasn’t for later—
As Elder Hua was thinking, the person opposite her suddenly turned cold.
Jiang Si put down her teacup on the table with a clang, her tone icy, “Although I temporarily believe Elder Hua’s words, I have one unpleasant thing to say upfront.”
“Please speak, Princess Consort.”
“If I find out this is all for nothing, don’t blame me for destroying Wumiao—”
“How dare you!” Elder Hua blurted out, her face turning pale.
Even the Emperor of Da Zhou wouldn’t dare to say such things. How could a mere princess consort dare to threaten like this?
At this moment, Elder Hua was indeed angered by Jiang Si’s arrogance and insolence.
Jiang Si, however, smiled brightly, “That’s why I’m saying the unpleasant things upfront. Of course, for me, it would be best if everything turns out well for all of us.”
Elder Hua stared at that face, identical to the Holy Maiden’s yet so changeable, suddenly feeling a bit lost.
This time, taking such a risk, would they get what they wanted?
Jiang Si had been observing Elder Hua’s expressions all along, noticing the subtle changes in her countenance, and understanding in her heart.
This trip to Wumiao would likely be easy to go but difficult to leave, certainly not as simple as the other party claimed.
Yet she said straightforwardly, “Elder Hua, please rest well. We’ll set out tomorrow.”