“My lady, you want to go to Wumiao?” Aman exclaimed in shock, covering her mouth.

Aqiao was even more confused, tugging Aman’s sleeve and asking, “Where is Wumiao?”

Aman spoke excitedly, her words coming out rapidly: “Wumiao is in the south, a tribe at the border between our Great Zhou and South Lan. There, women are even more revered than men. I’ve heard they can freely choose their husbands…”

Aqiao’s expression turned peculiar.

Why did she detect excitement in Aman’s tone? Could it be that this girl not only wouldn’t stop their mistress but might even urge her to pack quickly?

Considering it highly likely, Aqiao, with a pale face, tried to dissuade, “My lady, Wumiao is so far from the capital. You can’t go there; it’s too dangerous.”

“I’ve already decided,” Jiang Si said calmly.

Once she made up her mind, she wouldn’t dawdle. Bringing her second brother back to the capital couldn’t be delayed. If they acted quickly, they might even return for the New Year.

Seeing Jiang Si’s resolve, Aqiao’s face grew even paler. She anxiously said, “My lady, you’re a princess consort. Don’t you need the Emperor and Empress’s permission to go south?”

Jiang Si shook her head. “It’s not convenient to mention this to the Emperor and Empress.”

The two maids looked perplexed.

Aman couldn’t help but ask, “Why can’t we tell them?”

Facing her two trusted maids, Jiang Si had nothing to hide. She explained, “I’ve been entrusted to go to Wumiao on an errand. I can’t travel as the Princess Consort of Prince Yan.”

This was something she had discussed with Elder Hua.

Since they were to impersonate the Holy Maiden, they couldn’t let anyone know that the Princess Consort of Prince Yan had gone south.

From Emperor Jingming’s perspective, it might be acceptable for his son to travel south discreetly on business, but it wouldn’t do for his daughter-in-law to follow suit. If Jiang Si were to come up with an excuse to seek the Emperor’s permission, he might allow her to travel south, but he would never let her conceal her identity. The entourage of a Prince Consort couldn’t be reduced.

The Wumiao people weren’t fools. If she arrived with such pomp and circumstance, the risk of being exposed while impersonating the Holy Maiden would greatly increase. If that happened, she wouldn’t be able to confidently bring her second brother back.

For Jiang Si, impersonating the Holy Maiden once in exchange for her second brother’s return was a fair trade. If she succeeded and the other party tried to deceive her, then the bond from her previous life with the Wumiao Grand Elder would end there, and she could act freely in the future.

“But if you leave secretly, what if the nobles from the palace come looking for you? The New Year is approaching…” Aqiao was very uneasy, feeling desperate as she realized how determined her mistress was.

She used to be on edge when her mistress went out at night, but now, thinking back, that was nothing compared to this.

“I’ll make a trip to the palace and find an excuse to seclude myself starting tomorrow. After I leave, your job is to provide cover. Anyone who comes looking for me, whether from inside or outside the mansion, turn them all away.”

Aman was taken aback. “My lady, you’re not taking us with you?”

Jiang Si smiled helplessly. “What would I take you for? If I’m absent for a long time, it might arouse suspicion. If you disappear too, it would be even more suspicious.”

Aman immediately looked dejected.

Aqiao, however, breathed a sigh of relief.

Since she couldn’t change her mistress’s decision, at least Aman would stay behind to help her cope. She feared she couldn’t handle it alone and might ruin her mistress’s grand plan.

Early the next morning, Jiang Si went to the palace to seek an audience with the Empress.

Upon seeing Jiang Si, the Empress spoke warmly, “With Prince Yan away from the mansion, if you encounter any difficulties, feel free to come to the palace and tell me.”

“Thank you for your concern, Mother Empress. There is one matter,” Jiang Si hadn’t expected the Empress to be so considerate, which conveniently allowed her to bring up the topic.

The Empress’s smile froze slightly, thinking to herself that she was just being polite, but the Princess Consort of Prince Yan took her up on it without hesitation.

After a moment, the Empress asked with a smile, “What is it?”

Jiang Si’s face turned pale, her rouge-colored lips losing some of their color as she twisted her handkerchief and said, “Last night, I had a dream where Prince Yan was in danger…”

The Empress reached out to pat her hand. “You’re just overthinking because you care about him.”

Jiang Si forced a smile. “But Mother Empress knows that some of my inexplicable abilities seem to come from dreams…”

The Empress’s eyelid twitched, unsure of Jiang Si’s meaning.

“After I woke up, the more I thought about it, the more worried I became. I don’t know how Prince Yan is doing now.”

The Empress laughed dryly. “Since you’re so worried, why don’t you write a family letter and have it sent to the south by express messenger?”

Jiang Si’s handkerchief had been twisted into a rope. “Even if Prince Yan truly encountered trouble, he wouldn’t tell me in a letter…”

The Empress grew nervous.

Surely the Princess Consort of Prince Yan wouldn’t ask her to tell the Emperor that she wanted to go south to find Prince Yan?

Seeing that she had frightened the Empress enough, Jiang Si bit her lip and said, “Mother Empress, I’d like to set up a Buddha hall in the mansion. From now on, I’ll read scriptures and pray for blessings daily, praying for Prince Yan’s safe return.”

The Empress’s heart immediately settled.

So it was just about setting up a small Buddha hall.

The Princess Consort of Prince Yan was truly a considerate person. This hardly warranted coming to the palace to tell her, causing her unnecessary alarm.

She owed the Princess Consort a favor. If Jiang Si had insisted on going south to find Prince Yan, she would have had to help by speaking to the Emperor.

“If the Princess Consort feels this will put her mind at ease, then do so.”

Jiang Si looked ashamed. “If I do this, I won’t be able to come to the palace often to pay my respects to Mother Empress.”

Hearing Jiang Si say this, the Empress felt very pleased as if drinking ice water on a hot summer day.

No wonder the Princess Consort of Prince Yan was in her good graces. Among all the princesses consort, only she was capable and sensible.

“Your father Emperor and I are not people who care about these formalities. You just focus on devoutly reading scriptures and praying for Prince Yan. When Prince Yan returns, you can come to the palace together.”

Jiang Si looked moved. “Thank you for your understanding, Mother Empress. As for Father Emperor—”

“If the Emperor asks, I’ll mention it to him.”

The Emperor wasn’t that idle; there was no need to specifically report that his daughter-in-law was secluding herself to read scriptures.

With the Empress’s words, Jiang Si smiled slightly. “Then I won’t disturb Mother Empress any further.”

The Empress chided gently, “I’d rather you came more often. When Fuqing learns you were here, she’ll be disappointed she missed you.”

“Has Thirteenth Sister gone to Cining Palace again?”

“Yes, the Empress Dowager is increasingly attached to Fuqing and Fourteenth. She can hardly be without those two girls now.” As the Empress said this, it wasn’t clear whether she was pleased or worried.

She was pleased that they had gained the Empress Dowager’s favor, which would greatly benefit her daughters’ futures. But she was worried that now she had less time to see her daughters herself, which made her feel uneasy.

Jiang Si chatted idly with the Empress for a while before heading back to the mansion.

“Aqiao, call Nanny Ji here.”

Shortly after, Nanny Ji followed Aqiao in. “May I ask why the Princess Consort has summoned this old servant?”

“I’m preparing to go south to find the Prince. I’ll have to trouble you to take care of the internal affairs of the Prince’s mansion.”

“What?” Nanny Ji’s voice rose in pitch.

Jiang Si frowned. “Nanny, keep your voice down. I plan to go quietly.”

Nanny Ji’s vision blurred, and she struggled to stand, holding onto Aqiao’s arm. “Princess Consort, you can’t act rashly. What if the Emperor and Empress find out?”

“I’ve just returned from Kunning Palace.”

Nanny Ji looked incredulous. “The Empress agreed to your request?”

Jiang Si smiled slightly. “I told the Empress I would be secluding myself to read scriptures.”

With a thud, Nanny Ji collapsed to the ground.