Chapter 167 Another Troublesome Incident

Jiang Fenghua handed over the matters outside the palace to Princess Yu, and then asked Hongxiu to inform Lin Yu to secretly assist Princess Yu before preparing to return to the palace.

Jiang Fenghua's carriage was stopped halfway there. Lin Yu appeared in front of her, winking her big eyes, "Since the princess has left the palace, why didn't she say she would come to see me?"

Jiang Fenghua smiled and said, "Long time no see, Manager Lin, please get in the car!"

Lin Yu easily boarded the carriage and squeezed down next to Jiang Fenghua. Lianye and Aoxue also sat inside the carriage. Fortunately, the carriage was big enough that it wasn't crowded for four people.

They hadn't seen each other for several months. Lin Yu had also gone on a long trip for business and had just returned. She looked at Ao Xue and knew that she must be the female guard that Prince Heng had sent to protect the princess. She was quite well-behaved and pretty.

In fact, Ao Xue is a year older than Lin Yu. However, Lin Yu grew up in the entertainment industry and has been in business for many years, so she is more experienced in her dealings and dresses in a more mature style.

She asked affectionately, "What's your name, little sister?" Ao Xue was dressed in a close-fitting outfit, her body lean yet strong.

Seeing that she didn't look very old, Aoxue said coldly, "My name is Aoxue, not little sister." She disliked being called little sister, as it made her seem weak.

"Oh, you've got quite a temper." Lin Yu raised her red lips and reached out to touch Ao Xue's cheek. "But I like it. If you have nowhere to go in the future, come to Yichunlou or Xiangyalou to find me. I'll take you in and treat you to the best food and drinks."

Ao Xue was caught off guard by being teased by a woman, and the woman's behavior even had the air of a prostitute. She looked at her with disgust, wondering how the princess could know such a woman.

She deliberately moved to sit further away.

Seeing her expression, Lin Yu smiled and said, "My name is Lin Yu, which means bird in the forest. Although I was born into the world of dust, I am not dusty."

Aoxue glanced at her but didn't say a word. Lin Yu continued, "It just means chattering. Asking me to stay silent is worse than asking me to die, so please don't mind, Aoxue." She was a businesswoman and had frequented brothels since childhood, so she naturally had a silver tongue.

Aoxue said, "I am eighteen years old this year, born in February, and my surname is Qin. Aoxue is the name my master gave me, so how old is Miss Lin Yu?" This implied that it was still uncertain who the younger sister was.

Lin Yu was speechless. Ao Xue was indeed older than her. She stretched out her hand and said, "You are older than me. I am seventeen years old. My birthday is the third day of the twelfth lunar month. My surname is Lin."

Lin Yuqi didn't know what month she was born in, nor did she know who her parents were. She chose the third day of the twelfth lunar month because that was the day she met Jiang Fenghua. For her, it was the day she was reborn. Lin Yu was the name Jiang Fenghua gave her.

"Are you an orphan?" Ao Xue asked her, feeling a strange sense of familiarity upon first seeing Lin Yu.

"No, I have family." In her heart, Jiang Fenghua was her family, as were Lianye and Hongxiu. They had all treated her very well, so how could she be an orphan?

Ao Xue didn't speak because she had a younger sister who was kidnapped when she was three years old. If her sister were still alive, she would be seventeen years old this year.

Jiang Fenghua and Ao Xue explained, "Manager Lin and I are quite close friends. She often donates money and goods to Jishantang. She is a true philanthropist."

"It's lunchtime now. The philanthropist is treating you to dinner today. You can go back after dinner." Lin Yu told the driver to take the car to Xiangya Restaurant. She hadn't eaten with her in a long time. Since her marriage, they rarely even had the chance to meet.

Lianye said, "This servant also misses the dishes from Xiangyalou."

Jiang Fenghua smiled and said, "Then I'll trouble Manager Lin to spend the money."

After finishing our meal and leaving the restaurant, it was already dark. The Prince's carriages were already parked in front of the restaurant. The weather was getting colder and colder, and there weren't many people on the road.

Lin Yu said, "It's so late, I'll take you back. I'll have the restaurant's guards accompany you."

Jiang Fenghua went straight to Jishan Hall after leaving the palace. Apart from the coachman from the Prince's Mansion, she did not bring any other guards. When Lin Yu offered to escort her, she did not refuse.

The group boarded the carriage, chatting and laughing, unaware that a pair of cold eyes were watching them from behind. A grotesque smile played on his lips as he thought he was sure he could set a trap for Jiang Fenghua this time.

Because of Su Xuan, Li Cheng and Ji Chen got mixed up again. They had forgotten the pain of the past and only wanted revenge for being framed at the Zhang Mansion. Although Ji Chen had no evidence, the first person he thought of was Jiang Fenghua.

Li Cheng was naturally unwilling to accept Zhang Yumo's successful marriage, especially since it was so humiliating. He just couldn't accept it.

Li Cheng said, "I hope you won't disappoint me this time." He didn't want to get involved in his plot to harm the Princess Consort of Heng and implicate the Li family. He just wanted to see the Zhang family get their comeuppance. Because of Zhang Yumo, he had lost all face and was beaten twice for no reason. He couldn't go on this expedition with the Prince of Heng because he was seriously injured at home.

"Young Master Li, please trust me again. This time, I will definitely not let you down."

"I only met with you because of General Su Xuan. Otherwise, you know what would have happened..." He had been wronged by Ji Chen. If Ji Chen hadn't begged him to come to him, he would have beaten him up to vent his anger.

"I know, Lord Li is very busy with official duties." He understood that the son of the Minister of War was someone General Su Xuan also wanted to win over.

He sensed the allure of power from them; as long as he helped the Su family get rid of Jiang Fenghua and made Su Tingwan the Princess Consort of Heng, he would have everything in the future.

This time, he refused to believe he couldn't kill Jiang Fenghua.

-

The carriage had only gone halfway when it heard shouts outside. Upon closer listening, it became clear that there was a fire.

Jiang Fenghua lifted the curtain of the car window and saw a surge of people running in one direction.

"I heard there was a fire in the south of the city, and the fire was quite big. I don't know which house was burned down."

"I heard it was the Duke of Zhang's mansion, and the fire was quite big."

People were discussing it animatedly.

Upon hearing the words "Duke Zhang," Jiang Fenghua said, "Lianye, go and ask him what exactly happened."

Soon, Lianye returned, her eyes filled with anxiety. "Everyone is saying that the Duke Zhang's mansion is on fire. So many people have gone to see it, and there is indeed thick smoke rising from the south of the city. Could it really be the Duke Zhang's mansion that's on fire?"

"Let's go take a look!" Jiang Fenghua said in a deep voice. Now that the Duke of Zhang's mansion and the Jiang family are related, she hoped that it wasn't really something bad that happened to the Zhang family.

If it really is something that happened to the Zhang family...

Jiang Fenghua had a bad feeling and said to Lin Yu, "Have your people report to the government and find Yang Zheng, the commander of the Five Cities Garrison, and ask him to send troops to the South City to maintain order. So many people are running to one place, and it's getting dark. I'm afraid something might happen."

Lin Yu immediately sent someone to the yamen (government office).