Chapter 85 Chapter 85 June 21st...

On June 21st, Jiang Wan got up very early.

The Spring Banquet would not begin until noon, and according to the agreement, the carriage from the Wenyuan Marquis's residence would come to pick her up at three quarters past four.

Jiang Wan had planned to sleep a little longer, but perhaps because she was used to getting up early or because something was on her mind, she woke up at daybreak.

I opened the window and looked downstairs. The street was sparsely populated. The breakfast stall on the street had just been set up, and the girl selling tofu pudding had just taken the big bucket of tofu pudding off the food cart.

Unable to sleep, Jiang Wan simply got dressed and went downstairs to buy a bowl of tofu pudding.

As soon as he came back, he saw Jiang An leaning against the carved railing of the second-floor corridor, lost in thought. Jiang Wan walked over and patted him on the back: "Why are you up so early?"

Jiang An turned around and forced a smile: "It's hot, I can't sleep."

Jiang Wan looked at his brother. There were dark circles under his eyes, and the beard he had shaved two days ago had grown back considerably. The summer clothes he had been tailor-made for him before coming to Beijing were now too loose on him, and the sleeves fluttered in the wind. Even his profile revealed a hint of melancholy.

Ever since that night at the Marquis of Jing'an's mansion, when his sweetheart was imprisoned in the palace and his sister, whom he had doted on since childhood, had barely escaped death, she turned around and started a more dangerous plan... Jiang An hadn't slept for three nights.

He was fine during the busy days, but in the quiet of night, he couldn't help but think about the thrilling incident on the 18th, and silently blame himself. As a brother, he watched his sister in danger; as a lover, he saw his beloved suffer, but he could not help, and could only wait outside the palace for others to rescue her.

Jiang Wan punched the wall hard, using all his strength. The sound was quite loud and his hand was covered in red.

It was early in the morning, and if they continued like this, they would wake up the other guests. To avoid being complained about, Jiang Wan quickly pulled her brother to sit in her room.

She brewed some tea and set the kettle on the stove, saying comfortingly, "The plan has been rehearsed over and over again, and every detail has been considered. My entry into the palace will allow me to better control the situation, and it's a pleasant surprise. Although Wanrong is imprisoned in the palace, she's under the Empress's care and won't suffer. We'll be able to overturn the case and reunite soon, don't worry."

Jiang An frowned and said softly, "But today is the most dangerous day. I'm always worried about you being alone."

"How can you be alone?" Jiang Wan said softly, "Aren't Wen Shen... and Lord Shen here?"

Hearing the subtle difference in the address, Jiang An's eyes became even more confused: "Yes... my sister, I can't accompany her myself, and have to let others take care of her... Little sister, you said that when we were in Xiaofangpan City, shouldn't I have stopped you from interacting with him?"

"Brother." Jiang Wan held his hands with both hands and looked straight into his eyes:

"During exile, you saved your clothes and rations for me. When we first arrived at the border, you worked odd jobs from dawn to dusk to support the family. When I offended the Huang family with my business, you stood up for me. When I didn't have money to hire a clerk, you helped me with odd jobs. When I opened a chain of stores, you worked tirelessly to run it, making Qingjiangju what it is today. When I was determined to overturn the verdict, you and mother braved the danger to accompany me back to the capital."

Jiang Wan spoke these words slowly and solemnly, and with every word, Jiang An's eyes brightened a little.

"Brother, you are my only brother, and no one can replace you." After saying this, she felt the other person's fingertips trembling violently, and then her whole body was hugged by Jiang An.

"Sister, my dear sister." Jiang An hugged her, and his tense muscles gradually relaxed. After a few seconds, he let her go.

"Are you feeling better?" Jiang Wan sat down and tore open the box of tofu pudding.

"Yeah." Jiang An seemed much more relaxed, and said with a half-smile, "However, why did you wake up so early? You even spilled the tea leaves when you were making tea just now. Are you nervous?"

Jiang An pointed to the few pieces of tea leaves left on the table and asked, "Are you afraid that your plan won't succeed?"

"Don't underestimate me," Jiang Wan laughed and punched him. "When have I ever been afraid? It's just that I've never met the Empress, and I don't know if this last-minute gift will suit her."

After a pause, she swallowed two mouthfuls of tofu pudding and said, "It would be great if I could also be crowned an imperial merchant and obtain permission to operate in the Western Regions."

Jiang An stretched out his finger and poked her head: "The more you try to hide it, the more obvious it becomes. I think you are not afraid of the Queen, but your elder sister who is well-informed. His mother died when he was young, and an elder sister is like a mother..."

Jiang Wan was furious and casually grabbed the empty tofu pudding box and threw it at his face: "I see you're in a good mood, but your skin is itchy. While it's still early, go catch up on your sleep."

Jiang An laughed heartily: "Then I won't bother you with your hair, makeup, and dressing up—"

Before the tofu pudding box flew over again, he slipped away as fast as he could.

Watching Jiang An sneak out, Jiang Wan couldn't help but laugh, feeling relieved. She remembered that when the original owner was in a bad mood as a child, Jiang An would make such a fuss, making the original owner forget most of her troubles.

What she hadn't expected was how quickly her brother's attitude had changed. Six months ago, when Wen Shen had first taken her back to the Jiang family cottage, her brother had looked murderous, repeatedly nagging her to stop talking to other men. Only six months had passed, and the first one had practically disappeared. Perhaps it was because Wen Shen had really helped her so much since arriving in Lin'an.

Jiang Wan ate some more pastries, and while eating, he went over the recent clues in his mind. He then went through the system mall and added all the affordable and useful products to the shopping cart, classifying them for future use.

Seeing that there was still an hour left before the agreed time, Jiang Wan changed her clothes and put on her makeup, checked the gift box that Manager Zhou had sent her yesterday, and went downstairs to wait for the carriage from the Wenyuan Earl's Mansion.

At three quarters past nine, Jiang Wan boarded the carriage and drove with Hua Qingzhi to the Zhou Palace in the center of Lin'an City.

When they arrived at the palace gate, Hua Qingzhi got off the carriage and handed the invitation to the guard for inspection.

There were strict rules for riding in sedan chairs within the palace. Only concubines of the rank of Noble Consort or above, women of the third rank or above, and women of the title of County Lady or above were permitted to ride. Sedan chairs of different ranks were designed differently. For a young lady from an aristocratic family without a title or rank like Hua Qingzhi, she could only enter the palace on foot with two maids.

Since one of the maids was given to Jiang Wan, Hua Qingzhi entered the palace with only one maid. When they reached the inner gate, a maid was waiting to guide them to Kunning Palace.

The maid who led the way looked unfamiliar and should be younger than Hua Qingzhi. She knelt down and bowed to Hua Qingzhi, then said sweetly, "Miss Hua, please follow me."

Hua Qingzhi turned around and looked at Jiang Wan. Just as she was about to catch up, she heard a deep and very attractive male voice.

"Wait a minute!"

A young man in a white robe strode over from the end of the Gong Road. The material of the white robe was extremely fine, and the lapels and sleeves were embroidered with gorgeous gold threads. The corners of the robe were embroidered with Bai Ze patterns, which made the handsome young man look extraordinary, as if he were an immortal who had descended to earth.

Jiang Wan blinked. As a maid, she should have lowered her head respectfully, but she couldn't help but glance a few more times.

He is usually used to wearing simple clothes, so it is rare to see him dressed so coquettishly.

Wen Shen bowed in a polite manner and said, "Miss Hua, many ladies of high rank have already arrived for the Hundred Flowers Banquet today. Going through the main entrance is a long way off, and they'll have to attend various social events. I'm going to see my sister, so why don't I lead the way? It'll be faster to go through the side door."

Jiang Wan was startled when he heard this, thinking there had been a change in the plan, and quickly tugged at Hua Qingzhi's sleeve, signaling her to agree. Hua Qingzhi, however, assumed this was a pre-arranged agreement, and followed Wen Shen carelessly, not asking a single question.

Jiang Wan was in a state of panic. He wanted to ask what was wrong, but because Hua Qingzhi was present, he couldn't speak.

Wen Shen, who was leading the way, seemed to sense something and suddenly turned around and said without hesitation, "Don't worry."

Hua Qingzhi: "Ah?"

Jiang Wan knew these words were directed at her, and she breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a great deal more at ease. She kept her head down, but her eyebrows couldn't help but curve.

Facing Hua Qingzhi who had a puzzled look on her face, Wen Shen just smiled politely, slowed down his pace and continued walking forward.

After turning two corners, they arrived at the left side gate of Kunning Palace. The palace's main path was monotonous, with red walls and yellow tiles. Looking up, they could only see a narrow strip of skylight. Jiang Wan walked along the path, feeling inexplicably depressed and lonely. The distance was only three or four hundred steps, but it felt like three or four years.

Entering from the side door, one faces a lotus pond. Across the pond is the venue for the Hundred Flowers Banquet, where one can vaguely see a group of elegantly dressed people.

Jiang Wan looked around and spotted a few lines of writing in the corner of the inner palace wall. A closer look revealed a poem about lotus flowers. While lacking the profound talent of Li Bai and Du Fu, the writing was well-rhymed and had a strong artistic conception, likely at the level of a top-ranked Jinshi.

But what she admired even more was the handwriting of this unknown poet. Although it was a poem about flowers, the writing was not as graceful and soft as that of the Lin'an literati. Instead, it was vigorous and powerful, tough and resolute, with a sense of heroic spirit.

"Do you like this poem very much?" Wen Shen asked casually when he saw Jiang Wan pausing in front of the poem.

"The poem is good, but what's even more outstanding is the handwriting." Jiang Wan said with admiration, "It's magnificent, with great openness and closeness. He is a man with great ambitions."

After she finished speaking, there was no response from behind her for a long time. She felt that the atmosphere was a little strange and turned around to look in confusion.

Wen Shen stared at her thoughtfully. Hua Qingzhi covered her mouth and chuckled. Her expression was hard to describe, like the look on the girls' faces watching idol dramas in their previous lives.

"This poem was written by Master Wen six years ago," Hua Qingzhi said. "His writing style is indeed different from that of ordinary people. Master Wen, it seems you have found a soulmate."

Jiang Wan recalled that Wen Shen had written the plaque for the Jiang family shop when it was first renovated. His handwriting was very similar to the poem, though the strokes were more restrained and rounded, not as childish as the one before him.

No wonder she felt so familiar with it. Last year, the original owner attended a Hundred Flowers Banquet with He Wanrong and had seen this poem before. But the original owner's memory was fuzzy, so she didn't recall it.

What did the original owner say at that time?

Jiang Wan recalled it carefully, then suddenly raised his head and wanted to explain, but his tongue was tied.

Wen Shen withdrew his gaze, smiled slightly, and changed the subject: "Around this pond is the Hundred Flowers Banquet. There are many women there, so I won't go there."

Jiang Wan bowed nervously and said goodbye, watching Wen Shen enter from the side hall.

At this time last year, the original owner had snorted disdainfully at this poem, calling him "a reckless person with no respect for rules." I wonder if this remark reached him. If he had, then her praise of his calligraphy just now might have caught his attention.

He didn't seem to care. I hope he doesn't know what happened last year.