As Yujin and Jiang Zhan exited the imperial palace, Jiang Zhan hesitated and asked in a low voice, “Why didn’t you mention to the Emperor today about someone trying to harm me with an arrow?”
Yujin glanced at the golden tiles and vermilion walls gleaming in the sunlight, and replied softly, “There’s no rush. We’ll bring it up the next time we enter the palace.”
Having been away for so long and finally returning, he hadn’t seen his precious daughter in quite some time. He needed to go home first. If he were to bring up the matter now, it would cause a commotion and delay his return.
Seeing Yujin’s inscrutable expression, Jiang Zhan thought to himself that the Prince must have a foolproof plan, so he said nothing more.
At the intersection, Yujin, leading his horse, said, “I’ll return to the Prince’s Mansion first, then bring Asi to the Earl’s Mansion with me.”
Once the news of Jiang Zhan’s “resurrection” spread, not just his sister, but all relatives would come to visit.
Hearing this, Jiang Zhan quickly said, “I’ll go with you to the Prince’s Mansion. It’s a good chance to see my niece.”
Although Yujin found a certain someone quite bothersome, he nodded in agreement. There was no way he could prevent an uncle from seeing his niece.
The two men rode swiftly to the Yan Prince’s Mansion.
As soon as they stepped through the gates, cheers erupted and spread inward from the entrance: “The Prince has returned!”
Especially Nanny Ji, who happened to be heading out on an errand, was so overjoyed that her voice cracked as she ran at full speed.
Jiang Zhan was shocked by the sight and looked at Yujin in surprise, “Your Highness, you certainly have won the hearts of your household staff.”
Yujin stroked his chin, his eyes flickering, “Indeed, I’ve always been good at winning people over.”
Was that Nanny Ji who had just shouted so loudly and run so quickly?
How had the stern, serious, and nagging Nanny Ji he remembered become like this after just one trip away?
With these thoughts, Yujin quickened his pace.
Nanny Ji, running too hastily, collided with the Chief Steward, who was hurrying out upon hearing of the Prince’s return.
The Chief Steward frowned and admonished her gravely, “Nanny Ji, even if the Prince has returned, you shouldn’t lose your composure like this. At your age, how can you behave like a young maid—”
“What do you know!” Nanny Ji shoved the old Chief Steward aside and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
It took the Chief Steward a moment to recover, stamping his foot and sighing deeply, “The customs of the Prince’s Mansion are declining day by day!”
How could the once-proper Nanny Ji have become like this? It must be the bad influence of the Princess Consort!
As Yujin approached, he saw the white-bearded old man stamping his foot and lamenting. He frowned and said, “What is the Chief Steward sighing about? It’s one thing to say customs are declining, but why drag the Prince’s Mansion into it?”
The Chief Steward was rendered speechless, not daring to voice his true thoughts.
The Prince dared to ask. The capital’s customs were fine; he was lamenting the decline within the Prince’s Mansion itself!
Nanny Ji ran towards Yuhe Court, equally fuming inside.
That old tortoise of a Chief Steward had the nerve to lecture her? Did that old fool know how much pressure she had been under alone? She had been terrified that the old man would die of shock if he learned the truth, so she had endured it all by herself. And now the old fool had the gall to put on airs and scold her.
She could tolerate being called impatient, but how dare he comment on her age?
Bah! That old man’s face had so many wrinkles it could trap mosquitoes, yet he had the nerve to call her old!
Fueled by anger, Nanny Ji arrived at Yuhe Court without even breaking a sweat. She called out shrilly, “Aman, Aqiao, the Prince has returned!”
Aman and Aqiao exchanged glances, then looked at the disheveled old nanny. Suddenly, they felt a pang of guilt.
Only four people in the Prince’s Mansion knew the truth: Aqiao, Aman, and Hongxian were Jiang Si’s confidantes, while Nanny Ji had been unwittingly dragged into the situation.
Seeing Nanny Ji so excited, the two maids understood immediately. The old nanny thought the Princess Consort, who had sneaked away, had finally returned, so she no longer needed to worry. Her excitement wasn’t for the Prince but for the Princess Consort.
In reality, the Princess Consort had returned yesterday, but they hadn’t informed Nanny Ji…
Seeing no reaction from the two girls, Nanny Ji repeated, “The Prince has returned!”
Aqiao quickly put on a look of joyful surprise, “The Prince is back? That’s wonderful! I’ll go inform the Princess Consort right away!”
Aman, unable to feign as convincingly as Aqiao, asked, “Did the Prince return alone?”
“Of course not—” Nanny Ji paused mid-sentence, “No, there was someone else with the Prince—”
A young man about the same age as the Prince, equally handsome, walking side by side with him. Who could that young man be? He looked oddly familiar—familiar?
Suddenly, Nanny Ji remembered. Her face turned as white as paper, her body trembling like a leaf.
Aman was startled by her reaction and quickly supported her, “Nanny Ji, what’s wrong?”
Nanny Ji’s lips were pale as she stammered, “Young Master Jiang, the Second Young Master—”
At that moment, Jiang Si had already walked out quickly. She grabbed Nanny Ji’s wrist and asked excitedly, “What did you say?”
Nanny Ji’s voice seemed to have been suddenly cut off, her eyes bulging as she stared at Jiang Si.
Jiang Si was waiting for Nanny Ji to announce that her brother had come along, so she could continue the next act. She softened her tone and said, “Don’t be nervous, Nanny. Take your time.”
“Prin-Princess Consort?” Nanny Ji pointed at Jiang Si, “You—”
Jiang Si gave Nanny Ji a gentle smile, “What about me?”
Nanny Ji snapped back to reality with a start: only the real Princess Consort could smile like that, not her gentle and obedient elder sister.
“Nanny, what made you so flustered just now?”
Nanny Ji suppressed her shock at Jiang Si’s sudden appearance and spoke of the even more surprising news, “The Prince has returned with Second Young Master Jiang—”
Jiang Si had already quickly walked out of Yuhe Court.
Nanny Ji grabbed Aqiao, who was walking last, and asked, “Aqiao, what’s going on?”
Aqiao blinked innocently, “What do you mean, Nanny?”
Nanny Ji lowered her voice and asked, “When did the Princess Consort return? Wasn’t it the eldest young lady of the Jiang family pretending to be her before?”
Aqiao frowned, “What are you talking about, Nanny? The Princess Consort has been praying for the Prince in the small Buddha hall all this time.”
As Aqiao hurried to catch up with the others, Nanny Ji was left staring in disbelief.
She finally realized that all the maids around the Princess Consort were clever foxes, and she was the only fool…
“Asi, I’m back,” Yujin quickened his pace when he saw Jiang Si, pulling her into his embrace.
Jiang Zhan rolled his eyes in annoyance.
Logically, since he had “returned from the dead,” his fourth sister should have been overcome with emotion and hugged him first to maintain the act.
Seeing the couple still embracing, Jiang Zhan coughed to remind them of his presence.
Jiang Si forcefully pushed Yujin away and rushed towards Jiang Zhan, “Second Brother, I’m so glad you’re alright—”
Before she could reach Jiang Zhan, Yujin pulled her back.
“Asi, don’t get too excited. Let’s go inside and talk calmly.” Yujin smiled as he led Jiang Si into the room, inwardly sneering.
That Jiang Zhan was becoming more and more shameless. A simple gesture would have sufficed, did he think he could use this opportunity to embrace his wife?
As Prince Yujin was grumbling to himself, a yellow and black figure darted out from the side and leaped onto Jiang Si.