Chapter 72 Leveraging Power... Things have come to this... Jiang Zhuoying pinched herself...

Now that things have come to this... Jiang Zhuoying pinched the web of her hand, nodded slightly, and deliberately lowered her voice: "So this is His Highness the Second Prince."

Fu Ce was slightly taken aback, and was about to ask her what was wrong with her throat.

But Jiang Zhuoying had already quickly descended the road with the maid beside her, brushing past the hem of his clothes.

The young girl remained composed, striving to maintain her calm demeanor. She gave a slight curtsy, her manners impeccable.

"Your subject is Jiang Zhuoying. I never expected to have the honor of meeting Your Highness today. In my haste, I have not been able to fulfill my proper etiquette. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."

She did not remove her veil, and her demeanor remained graceful and dignified.

Qi Fan was momentarily dazed.

Ah Zhuo?

Has he encountered every woman in the world named Azhuo?

Apart from her voice, this woman's figure was almost identical to hers.

The man's cold and distant gaze deepened, revealing a scrutinizing look.

"Take off the veil," he said in a deep voice.

It wasn't a tone that suggested negotiation.

Jiang Zhuoying pursed her lips, and a layer of cold sweat instantly seeped out on her back.

She slowly clenched her hands, then coughed twice, her voice strained: "Cough cough cough, I have caught a cold, and my appearance is rather unsightly today. I am truly sorry for my rudeness, and I hope Your Highness will forgive me."

The atmosphere became rather awkward for a moment. Chu Yixin looked at the slender girl in front of her and couldn't help but frown.

No wonder the master was so rude; this second young lady of the Duke's mansion is really suspicious.

Fu Ce finally realized something belatedly, glanced at Jiang Zhuoying, and then raised his hand to give Qi Fan a serious suggestion.

"Your Highness, it's crowded and noisy here. Let's go upstairs instead."

The man's gaze was as dark as ink, and he remained fixed on the veiled girl in front of him, unwilling to leave.

His piercing gaze was like two tangible blades, cutting open her veil and seeing through her from head to toe.

The atmosphere was heavy and tense, as if a storm was brewing.

Jiang Zhuoying lowered her head, feeling her chest pounding wildly. If this continued, she might faint right there.

“Your Highness, A-Zhuo is just a young girl, and she is timid. She has only recently returned to Luoyang from the manor outside the city. I’m afraid she can’t withstand your authority.”

As expected of a friendship since childhood, Jiang Zhuoying thanked Fu Ce in her heart.

She went along with him, her voice trembling, "Then this humble woman will take her leave now, so as not to disturb your gathering any longer... cough cough."

Xiangxing and Xiangyue each supported one side of her, and the three of them slowly walked out.

Let her go, let her go.

Don't keep her here, don't keep her here!

Jiang Zhuoying had already stepped out of the threshold, and the carriage was waiting not far away. She let out a soft breath and almost subconsciously looked back.

But his eyes met those jet-black ones...

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Jiang Zhuoying had already boarded the carriage. Inside, the calming sandalwood incense was burning, and her heart rate had long since returned to normal.

But the scene from just now kept replaying in my mind uncontrollably—

The tall, upright man turned his head to the side, his eyebrows were low, his nose was straight, his jaw was sharp and well-defined, and his thin lips were slightly pursed.

With that veil covering his eyes, she couldn't see his gaze clearly, but she could tell that his eye sockets were deeper and his eyes were somewhat dark.

Have you been so busy lately?

Indeed, based on what she heard at Yuanbao Tower, she must have been busy exposing the Consort's past misdeeds.

...

The carriage swayed and rattled back to the Duke of Rui's mansion.

Jiang Zhuoying knew that Fu Ce was in a panic and wanted to ask for an imperial decree to grant them marriage, but she did not expect it to happen so quickly.

The next morning, his attendant casually brought a message to Jiang Zhuoying, saying that his young master had gone to the palace to request an imperial decree the day before, which enraged the emperor, who then punished him with thirty strokes of the cane.

Jiang Zhuoying: "..."

She tentatively asked in a soft voice, "Now that I've received this beating, what is His Majesty's intention?"

"His Majesty said that our young master is muddle-headed, and if this matter is brought up again, he will be stripped of his title as young master."

Jiang Zhuoying: "..."

He glanced at the servant who had been sent to deliver the message; he seemed composed and showed no sign of panic.

"So what are your young master's plans next?"

"The young master is adamant that he only wants to marry Miss Jiang. This morning, our Duke has already gone to the palace."

The servant relayed all of this to her truthfully.

Jiang Zhuoying choked slightly, suddenly unsure of what to say.

She sighed softly: "He doesn't have any messages for me to pass on to Jiang Ying?"

The servant shook his head: "The young master said that he would take full responsibility for all of this, and it has nothing to do with Miss Jiang. Miss Jiang knows nothing about it."

Jiang Zhuoying opened her lips: "..."

Jiang Ying didn't know, but she did!

"What if he dies?"

Chang Sui: "..."

He glanced up at Jiang Zhuoying's face and keenly noticed that the second young lady was clearly displeased.

After carefully considering his words, he replied earnestly, "Second Miss, please don't worry, our young master is confident."

"It's just a little physical pain. As the young master said, it's nothing to worry about."

Jiang Zhuoying: "..."

She knew, of course, that the current Duke of Zhenguo only had one legitimate son, and he cherished him dearly.

I heard that when the Duke of Zhenguo wanted to send Fu Ce to the army for training, the Duke's wife was the first to object. At that time, the Duke was very reluctant and went to great lengths to persuade her.

Nowadays, even if the Duke of Zhenguo wanted to make him suffer, the Duchess of Zhenguo probably wouldn't agree.

Such a matter as Fu Ce's request for an imperial decree to marry her would certainly not reach Jiang Ying's ears.

Jiang Zhuoying waved her hand, seeing off the attendant.

Xiangyue and Xiangxing accompanied her back. Xiangyue had been holding back for a long time, but finally couldn't help but say something.

"I never expected that Young Master Fu would be so infatuated. But what's the use of doing all this if Miss Jiang is completely unaware?"

Not only was it useless, Jiang Zhuoying thought to herself.

Now that Fu Ce has sided with the Second Prince and has dug up many absurd dirt on the Third Prince, he will inevitably fall out with the Imperial Concubine and his aunt sooner or later. Who knows how chaotic things will become in the future?

In fact, after what happened at the Third Prince's villa, she could see that Jiang Ying's feelings for Fu Ce went beyond the affection she had when they were children.

However... being in Jiang Ying's position is not easy.

Recalling her words of advice to her in the Third Prince's villa, Jiang Zhuoying was torn and conflicted.

Not to mention Fu Ce, even she will eventually break ties with her uncle and the others. When that happens, how will Jiang Ying get along with her?

Thinking this way, if Fu Ce had married Jiang Ying before these things happened, he could have minimized the impact of this turmoil on her.

She was happy to see this happen.

She had to help with this, which was a way of assisting Fu Ce, but it also saved Jiang Ying.

Having made up her mind, Jiang Zhuoying returned to the Osmanthus Courtyard and immediately received news of Wujiu.

According to Wujiu's investigation, his eldest uncle has been staying in his aunt's room recently. It turns out that this aunt was once his aunt's personal maid.

"I have heard that Lady Zhao is conspiring with those around her to expedite the marriage between the eldest daughter and the third prince..."

"absurd!"

Then came a muffled thud, the sound of a porcelain cup being smashed onto the thick carpet, and the room fell silent instantly.

Jiang Zhuoying trembled with anger: "How could she do such a thing against Jiang Ying's wishes?"

It seems the Imperial Concubine must have been desperate to come up with such a solution!

Xiangyue had already picked up the porcelain cup she had dropped, and even the usually eloquent Xiangyue was momentarily speechless.

Jiang Zhuoying had already written a letter to Jiang Ying, asking her to come see her secretly.

Although it's unclear how Jiang Ying managed to evade her aunt's notice, judging from her behavior at the Third Prince's villa, she must have her own methods.

...

At 9 PM, Jiang Ying, dressed in a maid's uniform, indeed arrived.

The two sat down on the soft couch, and Xiangyue and Xiangxing prepared tea before leaving on their own.

For the two of them, this was the first formal meeting in all these years since Jiang Zhuoying left the Duke's Mansion.

Jiang Ying still looked as dignified and elegant as ever, but she had lost a lot of weight compared to before.

Jiang Zhuoying was completely different from her; she was too beautiful and stunning, almost mesmerizing.

Compared to Jiang Ying, who was taught to be elegant and dignified from a young age, she was spoiled and pampered, and had little to do with the word "dignified".

Jiang Ying stared intently at her, her brows furrowing slightly: "Are you... alright?"

Jiang Zhuoying met her gaze: "And you?"

The girl opposite him tilted her head slightly, her tone somewhat dazed: "Compared to you, I am already quite fortunate."

Why did you save me?

"Ah Zhuo is joking. You and I are sisters. If I were in trouble, I believe you wouldn't abandon me. Besides... I was just giving you a little reminder."

Jiang Zhuoying wasn't going to beat around the bush anymore. She lowered her voice slightly and asked, "What do you know?"

Jiang Ying stiffened slightly, then gently shook her head.

“Even if you don’t tell me, I can still find out.” The girl paused slightly, then called out softly, “Aying.”

The girl sitting opposite her trembled and looked at her again: "Logically speaking, I have no face to see you."

Jiang Zhuoying lowered her eyes slightly: "I came to ask you a question: are you really willing to marry the Third Prince?"

Jiang Ying was slightly taken aback, and slowly frowned: "Who sent you to ask this?"

Her tone was somewhat tentative.

Jiang Zhuoying shook her head: "I only heard it by chance. The Third Prince is not the upright gentleman that is rumored. In fact... he is not a good match."

“A-Zhuo”.

Jiang Zhuoying was suddenly interrupted and looked at her.

"Did he send you to ask this?"

Jiang Zhuoying, just like she had done before, stiffened and gently shook her head.

Both girls were taken aback, exchanged a glance, and then almost simultaneously covered their lips and burst out laughing.

As if this opportunity had suddenly opened up a floodgate of conversation, Jiang Zhuoying took the opportunity to tell her about Fu Ce's current situation.

When Jiang Ying learned of this news, she remained calm and showed no surprise whatsoever.

Jiang Zhuoying was somewhat surprised. She leaned forward slightly and spoke the words she had been thinking about for a long time.

“Ah Ying? I know you’ve been well-versed in the ‘Admonitions for Women’ since you were little, and your uncles have also taught you to be a dignified young lady, but this marriage…”

"Of course I will not agree to this marriage."

Before she could finish speaking, Jiang Ying interrupted her.

Jiang Zhuoying froze, her pupils widening slightly, her originally charming peach blossom eyes almost turning into round eyes.

"A-Zhuo, in your eyes, am I really someone who strictly adheres to family precepts and obeys my parents' orders like a celestial jewel?"

The girl's petal-like lips murmured, and that was indeed what she was thinking.

In her mind, Jiang Ying was the most quintessential lady from a respectable family. From a young age, she was well-behaved, polite, and obedient. Even her father often mentioned Jiang Ying to teach her, saying that she was too unruly...

The girl sitting opposite her pinched her handkerchief, covered her mouth, and chuckled softly twice.

"I need to escape this cage, and I need Fu Ce's help."