The fourth princess's face was ashen.
Seeing this, Lan'er could no longer hold back and rushed to Jiang Jiaojiao, kneeling down with a thud, "Please, Miss, save the princess."
"Lan'er—"
The fourth princess cried out in alarm to stop her.
Lan'er pleaded tearfully, "Princess, you can't keep this a secret any longer! He... he wants you dead!"
Before Jiang Jiaojiao could even ask...
Luo Shier jumped out, "Lan'er, tell me quickly, who is he?"
"Fourth Sister! Let Lan'er speak! Bullying you is bullying me and Jiao Jiao. He dared to poison you! We will not let him get away with this!"
Luo Twelve and the Fourth Princess were kindred spirits and as close as sisters, how could she tolerate it?
The twelfth young lady spoke up.
Lan'er immediately retorted, "It's the Northern Mongol King! These days, the Northern Mongol King has sent several paintings and letters. After receiving them, the princess has been restless day and night, unable to eat or sleep. When she finally falls asleep, she is awakened by nightmares. This servant advised the princess to summon the imperial physician, but the princess refused. Only the eldest young lady can save the princess!"
"I have been with the princess since I was a child. As long as the princess is well, I am willing to die."
Seeing the Fourth Princess's pale face filled with panic and despair, Lan'er knew the princess's worries and immediately swore to Jiang Jiaojiao, "Miss, this servant swears that the princess is innocent, she absolutely did not have any private dealings with the Prince of Beimeng, and she did not wrong the young master..."
"Fourth sister, is this how you see me and eldest brother?"
Jiang Jiaojiao looked at the Fourth Princess and said with regret, "Even if you had no contact with the King of Beimeng, we would still believe you if you replied to him and met him!"
"Jiaojiao..."
The fourth princess trembled, her voice instantly choked with emotion, unable to utter a word.
She felt uneasy and ashamed whenever she saw those paintings and letters, and dared not let anyone know.
It's really...unbearable to look at.
Seeing the Fourth Princess's shame and indignation, Jiang Jiaojiao instructed Lan'er, "Go and get the things. I want to see who's stirring up trouble."
Lan'er looked up and, seeing that the princess did not refuse, quickly got up and went downstairs.
Those things were hidden so well that only the two of them, master and servant, knew about them. Lan'er quickly brought over the scroll and the letter.
Upon seeing those items, the Fourth Princess's face turned deathly pale, her eyes filled with panic and overwhelming shame.
Jiang Jiaojiao took the item, but instead of opening it immediately, she smelled it before slowly opening it.
The scroll consists of three paintings, each more explicit than the last, with the last painting depicting a beautiful woman reclining drunk, her clothes half-undone.
Letters too.
At first, he only expressed his love and desire to marry her, but later he even said that he played with these paintings every day and was deeply in love with the Fourth Princess. His words even included filthy and disgusting phrases like "a dream of spring breeze".
The last letter also suggested meeting at a Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.
No wonder the Fourth Princess didn't dare let anyone know.
Luo Shier was already furious. Upon seeing the scroll and the letter, he wished he could rush over and beat up the Northern Mongol King, even though he probably couldn't win.
Jiang Jiaojiao rubbed the paint and writing on the scroll with her fingers to carefully distinguish them.
"What a vicious scheme!"
Jiang Jiaojiao threw the painting and letter away, saying, "The painting and ink are laced with poison. Too much of this poison will cause nightmares and mental confusion. This stuff was definitely not sent by the King of Northern Mongolia!"
"What--"
"What's wrong—"
Luo Twelve and the Fourth Princess both widened their eyes at the same time.
Jiang Jiaojiao explained, "This poison powder comes from southern Xinjiang. Southern Xinjiang and northern Mongolia are worlds apart."
"this--"
The fourth princess was terrified.
Luo Shier glared angrily, her tiger-like eyes wide open. "Who—who wants to harm Fourth Sister!"
"We'll find out tonight whether it's a human or a ghost."
Jiang Jiaojiao took out a medicine bottle and sprinkled the powder inside onto the painting and the letter.
Then, they picked up the scroll and the letter again, thinking, "Since someone is going to make a move against Fourth Sister, let's lure them out!"
...
Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.
As night falls and the lanterns are lit, the palace is brightly lit, filled with melodious music. Inside the hall, a dazzling array of delicacies and fine wines are laid out.
Inside the palace, on the dragon throne on the steps, the Yellow Emperor was beaming with joy. To his left was the Empress, and to his right were Consort Xi and Consort Zhang.
Below the steps.
A group of dancers danced gracefully, dressed in gorgeous costumes. Their figures were slender and their steps were light, like fairies descending to earth. Their dance was beautiful and their movements were fluid, captivating the audience.
The music was melodious and pleasant to listen to.
The guests were seated on both sides, with the imperial concubines and noblewomen on one side, including the virtuous concubine, the good concubine, the gentle concubine, the virtuous concubine, the noble concubine, and the concubine Mei. Behind them were the noble consorts, concubines, noble ladies, beauties, and talented ladies, and the wives of noble ladies of the first to fifth ranks, as well as the wives of princes and earls, all sitting side by side...
On the other side were princes and princesses, princes and princesses, princesses and their husbands, court officials and their families.
The people sat down in order of rank and status. The table was filled with all kinds of delicacies, fine dishes and wines, which exuded an enticing aroma and made people's mouths water.
The hall was filled with exquisite and luxurious ornaments, brightly lit, and exquisitely decorated. Palace maids and eunuchs bustled about, clinking glasses and laughing and chatting.
"Hahaha... The Imperial Concubine's gift is very much to my liking. This cold noodle dish is refreshing and delicious!"
The emperor put down his golden chopsticks and praised the gesture.
Envy, jealousy, and hatred all turned to the magnificent Consort Xi.
The empress's nail guards left a red mark on her palm, and the sinister look in her eyes almost broke through her dignified mask. She had sought out a long-lost inheritor of double-sided embroidery and spent three whole months embroidering a landscape and horse painting, but it was no match for a bowl of noodles!
Consort Zhang glanced disdainfully at the longsword beside the emperor, which was inlaid with eighty-one gems. She was right to have the foresight to prepare this flashy but impractical sword.
He is not worthy of the precious swords in her palace.
After the Empress and Imperial Concubine presented their gifts, the other concubines also began to present their gifts or perform their arts.
Then came the princes and dukes.
The princes were all the same; none of them stood out.
The second prince presented an auspicious object, a white celestial deer with markings between its eyebrows resembling a spirit eye.
"Your Majesty's sight of this celestial deer is all thanks to the benevolent rule of Your Majesty that moved Heaven. Long live Your Majesty!"
Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!
The emperor was overjoyed when he shouted "Long live the emperor!" three times, and his gaze toward the second prince was no longer cold towards him as it had been in the past few days.
The second prince was smug, his eyes sweeping over the fifth and seventh princes with a provocative glint.
"His Majesty--"
Consort Zhang stood up, clapped her hands, and a magnificent, pure white steed, without a single blemish, was brought in. "This is a fine steed that the Third Prince found in the Northwest. He specially brought it to the capital to present to His Majesty, wishing His Majesty a long and prosperous life..."
Wow—what a beautiful foal!
Consort Xi exclaimed in surprise, her eyes sparkling. Women are utterly powerless against such beautiful creatures. The Yellow Emperor smiled and nodded, "The third son's filial piety is commendable."
"My beloved consort likes it? I will bestow this fine steed upon her. After she safely gives birth to the imperial heir, how about we go on a journey together?"
The emperor smiled as he looked at the imperial concubine, his eyes filled with doting affection and anticipation.
Chen Jin'er nodded repeatedly in gratitude.
Consort Zhang wasn't angry. She had already figured out what to do with the horse that the third prince was sending back to the capital. In any case, it wouldn't be difficult for that little bitch Jiang Xue to get away with it.
Below the stage, Jiang Jiaojiao stood beside her grandmother and mother, her eyes showing a hint of surprise as she looked at the white horse.
This horse... was Jiang Xue's mount in her past life.
Jiang Jiaojiao's gaze fell on Jiang Xue, who was dressed in a gentle palace dress, behind the Fifth Prince. Next to the Fifth Prince sat a woman with a dignified posture, a serious face, and a meticulous demeanor.
She is the Fifth Prince's wife who just entered the household a few days ago.
One of the four great talented women of Kyoto, daughter of Wu Yong, a Hanlin scholar, she was plain-looking but talented enough to be a teacher.
Upon noticing Jiang Xue staring intently at the white steed, his brow furrowed and his eyes sharpened. Jiang Xue was so frightened that she quickly lowered her head and dared not look again.
"If Aunt Jiang is tired, she may return to the manor first."
The Fifth Prince's wife spoke calmly, and the Fifth Prince immediately frowned and said, "No need."
The Fifth Prince's Consort, composed and dignified, said without a trace of joy or sorrow, "It is Your Highness's turn to present your gift."
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