Chapter 14 It was my fault, Your Highness, please don't blame others. Jiang Zhuoying suddenly closed her eyes...

Jiang Zhuoying immediately shut her mouth, only winking playfully.

“Ahem, when your servant came looking for me yesterday, the clinic was closed, but he insisted on inviting me to come outside the city.”

“I dared not come alone, so my husband accompanied me.”

Jiang Zhuoying nodded knowingly. So that's how it is. Women do need to be more careful when going out at night.

Liu Zhiyou smiled at her again: "In that case, you should rest well. We'll meet again someday."

Jiang Zhuoying smiled back at her: "Okay, take care, Ayou."

...

Qi Fan personally escorted Gu Yunci out of the main room.

Gu Yunci was the heir apparent of Prince Shen and was serving as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice at the time.

"Then I will return to the city with Ayou."

"Um."

"Tsk, that girl really has nothing to do with you?"

Qi Fanqing glanced at him sharply: "It has nothing to do with us."

The man in front of her touched his nose, and then, hearing the noise, turned his head and beckoned: "Ayou, come here quickly. Haven't you been wanting to see Zhuozhuo for a long time?"

Liu Zhiyou stepped forward to greet Qi Fan, and said with a smile, "What a coincidence."

"What a coincidence?" Gu Yunci raised an eyebrow, seemingly puzzled.

Liu Zhiyou looked at him: "Coincidentally, the name is also the same as the name of the girl in Your Highness's room."

"A-Zhuo?" Qi Fan's eyes were slightly closed, his brows furrowed.

Gu Yunci looked at him with some surprise: "You don't even know her name?"

How could they let this girl live in the main room without even knowing her name?

The man glanced at him, then nodded to Liu Zhiyou: "Please, both of you."

After saying this, he turned and left with his hands behind his back.

*

Jiang Zhuoying took out some Jade Skin Cream from the narrow-mouthed bottle and tried applying some to the back of her hand.

It wasn't that she didn't trust the female doctor, but having experienced the 'false smallpox' incident, she had to be more cautious in the future.

If this Jade Skin Cream is not suitable for her skin type, and she applies too much at once, wouldn't that cause unpredictable consequences?

After she tidied herself up, she sat back down on the edge of the couch.

The second prince is a cold and aloof person, and he doesn't seem willing to let her stay. If she wants to stay here for a long time, she'll have to think of a way.

Just as I thought of this, there was a knock on the door.

Then came that easily recognizable high-pitched voice: "Miss, are you free? If it's convenient, please let me know, and I'll come in right away."

Jiang Zhuoying was stunned for a moment, and with just a slight turn of her head, she met the beautiful oval face reflected in the bronze mirror.

And her hair, which she had just styled.

After a moment's thought, she removed the hairpin from her head, and her hair immediately fell loose.

Her black hair reached her hips, making her appear more haggard and pale than before.

Jiang Zhuoying stood up and said in a soft voice, "Is that Eunuch Chu? This servant is coming right away."

She got up to open the door, and standing there was Chu Yixin.

She gave a slight curtsy: "Is Your Highness looking for me, sir? Has His Highness given any instructions?"

Chu Yixin twitched the corners of her mouth, a smile playing on her lips, but her eyes quickly scanned her from head to toe.

The master just sent him to check on this young lady. If she is well, then he will send her back.

But the girl looked pale and frail, as if she wasn't fully recovered.

Jiang Zhuoying held her breath. If she wasn't mistaken, this Eunuch Chu was probably here to kick people out.

She curtsied and stood up, but then suddenly stumbled and almost fell.

"Oh dear, young lady, you're still not well. Why bother with all this formality? Please sit down and rest."

Chu Yixin reached out to help the person, and then immediately dismissed her previous thought.

Jiang Zhuoying was helped by the arm and slowly walked to the armchair to sit down.

She looked sickly and weak, and gave Chu Yixin a weak smile, saying in a barely audible voice, "Thank you, Eunuch Chu. May I ask what brings you here to see me?"

Chu Yixin pondered for a moment, then lowered her voice and whispered.

"The young lady saved Zhuozhuo, and His Highness bestowed many gifts upon her. I've come to inform him that I will deliver those gifts over shortly."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhuoying stood up again: "This servant thanks Your Highness for the reward, but..."

"This is nothing more than a small favor, something I should do. I have no right to accept these rewards."

Chu Yixin disagreed with this and quietly advised, "Miss, you are kind-hearted, but since you saved Zhuozhuo, you are a benefactor of my Second Prince's residence."

benefactor?

Jiang Zhuoying's eyes flickered slightly; she had a plan...

“Eunuch Chu, since that’s the case, this servant should go and thank His Highness the Second Prince.”

It's perfectly normal to accept a gift and then go to express gratitude.

She needs to meet the Second Prince in person to have any room to maneuver.

What I fear most is that the Second Prince will not show up again, and I will be sent back immediately, then there will be no way to deal with it.

She has already revealed her true identity, and if she were to meet him again as Miss Jiang from the Duke of Rui's mansion, she would find it difficult to explain these things.

Chu Yixin nodded hesitantly.

The girl is right; having received the reward, one should indeed express gratitude.

Although this girl's background is somewhat strange, she seems to have a gentle temperament.

"Then I will lead the young lady to express my gratitude?"

Jiang Zhuoying nodded repeatedly: "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Chu."

...

Jiang Zhuoying followed her to the study in the courtyard.

The astringent scent of sandalwood in the room became even stronger, and she finally understood where the Second Prince's fragrance came from.

Upon entering the study, the Second Prince sat upright behind his desk, his expression cold, looking down at something.

At Chu Yixin's prompting, Jiang Zhuoying took a few steps forward, then lowered her head and slowly knelt down: "Your Highness, this servant has come to express my gratitude."

"Thank you?" The man's voice was slightly hoarse, perhaps because he hadn't spoken in a while.

"Indeed, according to what Eunuch Chu said, His Highness has bestowed many gifts upon me because of Zhuozhuo, and I have come here to express my gratitude."

Jiang Zhuoying paused again: "I just passed by the courtyard and saw that Zhuozhuo was doing well. I wonder if there has been any conclusion regarding that pond?"

The man put down the book in his hand, lowered his eyes slightly, and looked directly at the girl kneeling in the room.

Her black hair was like a surging tide, and she was so frail that she could hardly bear the weight of her clothes.

His voice regained its usual coldness: "There is indeed a problem with the pool water."

Having said all he could say, he didn't elaborate further, but instead changed the subject: "What makes you so skilled at raising carp? From whom did you learn it?"

Jiang Zhuoying lowered her head and softly recited the words she had prepared in her heart.

"This servant did not learn it from others; it was just an accidental discovery that I am extremely favored by the Red Carp, and I can also vaguely discern its intentions from its words and actions..."

This explanation is a bit far-fetched, but she had stayed on the red carp for a while before, which makes it even more far-fetched.

Therefore, Jiang Zhuoying remained calm and spoke in a gentle voice, recounting her story without caring whether the Second Prince truly believed her.

In short, it would have been fine if I hadn't asked, but when I did, this was her explanation.

The man did not press further about the matter, but instead asked, "Were you sent by Jiang Zheng's daughter?"

Jiang Zhuoying was slightly taken aback, then raised her head: "That's right, this servant was sent by Miss Jiang to deliver a thank-you gift."

She had a small, oval face, cherry lips, a pert nose, and a pale complexion.

Such a beautiful maid, who is also skilled at raising carp, what a coincidence!

The man narrowed his eyes slightly: "What is your name?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhuoying clenched her fists even tighter and said softly, "Your Highness, my name is Jiang Zhuo."

"Jiang in river, zhuo in scorching heat."

Upon hearing this, even Chu Yixin, who was standing beside the desk, changed her expression.

Burning?

The girl's appearance was too coincidental; not only the master, but even he couldn't help but be suspicious.

No wonder the master wanted to send her away as soon as possible.

"Yes, you may leave."

Jiang Zhuoying heard this, but remained kneeling on the spot, not making a move for a long time.

"Miss Jiang?" Chu Yixin called out to her.

Jiang Zhuoying suddenly bent over and prostrated herself: "This servant...this servant may not accept those rewards?"

"No reward?" the man repeated slowly, his tone slightly harsher. "Then what do you want?"

Jiang Zhuoying pursed her lips and clenched her fists: "Your Highness, as a member of the imperial family, if I ever encounter any difficulties in the future, I only wish that Your Highness would save my life."

Upon hearing this, a strange light flashed across Qi Fan's dark, deep eyes.

The room was completely silent, and no one made a sound. The astringent scent of agarwood seemed to grow even stronger.

"What have you done?"

Jiang Zhuoying breathed a slight sigh of relief; things were developing in the direction she had hoped for.

“Your Highness is wise. This servant was sent by Miss Jiang to deliver a thank-you gift to the Second Prince, but…”

"But the most important jade carving of the carp leaping over the dragon gate among the gifts has been smashed, and the whereabouts of the other treasures are unknown. This servant... this servant dares not go back."

Upon hearing this, the man glanced sideways at the man.

Chu Yixin immediately bowed and reported, "Master, this girl did bring quite a few gifts when she came yesterday, but they were all smashed at the door."

Jiang Zhuoying seized the opportunity to reply: "It was because this servant was timid. I was so frightened by the guards at Your Highness's door that I trembled all over and my fingertips twitched, causing those treasures to fall to the ground."

"It's all my fault, I'm so useless..."

Both the master and servant behind the desk looked at her.

Jiang Zhuoying knelt on the ground, tears welling up in her peach blossom eyes. She would occasionally raise her hand to wipe away her tears with her sleeve.

His face was full of panic, and the snow-white gauze around his neck was also very conspicuous.

The man seemed to finally notice the gauze. He frowned and recalled that when he saw her outside the door yesterday, the girl was kneeling on the ground in a similar manner.

But there didn't seem to be anything unsightly around the neck.

The piercing gaze felt almost tangible, and Jiang Zhuoying certainly felt it. As she wiped away her tears, she seemed to accidentally brush against her neck...

The next moment, a soft, pained voice rang out from the silent house.

The man paused for a moment, then finally asked the question.

What's wrong with your neck?

The girl obediently replied in a soft voice, "Your Highness, it was yesterday that I... I accidentally bumped into the guards' swords..."

"It's all my fault, Your Highness, please don't blame the guard."

If the guard's blade had been just an inch higher yesterday, she doesn't know if she would still be kneeling here now.

The thought sent a chill down her spine.

She didn't lie about what she just said; she just said it in a different way.

Chu Yixin quickly leaned down and whispered in her master's ear.

"Ahem, sir, the ones guarding the door yesterday were Xie Ling and Pei Yun. Xie Ling has already informed this servant that he thinks Miss Jiang is a spy sent by the Third Prince, and that she's using a honey trap..."

A note from the author:

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Our Yingbao is a master at feigning weakness~ [Pity][Pity][Pity]