“Miss, it’s so late, and it’s raining outside. The Empress Dowager just asked you to stay at Yongshou Palace tonight, so we should stay.” The maid Chun Tao held a dark-colored ribbed umbrella, trying her best to hold it towards Jiang Min, while she herself got soaked.
Jiang Min said coldly, "What do you know, little girl? My affair with the Emperor is still far from settled. If I shamelessly spend the night in the palace like this, and something goes wrong, my reputation will be ruined."
Chun Tao nodded as if she understood, and said, "Miss is so thoughtful. No wonder the Empress Dowager always praises you for being clever and quick-witted."
Jiang Min was originally a snobbish and arrogant person. Women like her usually know best what they want.
Having been pampered since childhood, she was used to being arrogant and haughty. That innate sense of superiority made her look down on those with worse conditions than her, and even... she looked down on some young masters from wealthy families who were in similar circumstances to her.
Jiang Min was somewhat flattered to be chosen by the Empress Dowager, and she was naturally delighted.
To be able to marry the emperor of Northern Liang is a stroke of good fortune that no other woman could ever dream of.
But this joy did not last long.
From the moment Jiang Min first met Xiao Heye at Yongshou Palace, her thoughts underwent a subtle change.
Emperor Zhou Tingyue was a gentle and refined gentleman. He was dignified and composed, and seemed to remain calm and unperturbed at all times.
And what about Xiao Heye?
He is domineering and has an unpredictable personality. His arrogant and ruthless nature always gives people a sense of coldness and aloofness, keeping them at arm's length.
Every time Jiang Min encountered him, she felt a sense of frustration at being ignored.
But whether it's looks or personality, Jiang Min seems to prefer a strong man like Xiao Heye.
Although Xiao Heye was a eunuch...
Every time Jiang Min thinks about this, she feels like she's been tricked by fate.
She didn't want to think about anything related to that eunuch anymore, but deep down she couldn't help but recall the way Xiao Heye had carefully peeled shrimp for another woman on the Shangsi Festival...
He was so focused that he ignored the noisy surroundings; his eyes were only on the plate of shrimp and... that woman.
Jiang Min even began to feel jealous of Su Tiyue, who was pampered by the eunuchs...
"Miss, Miss?" Chun Tao called her twice when she saw that she was lost in thought.
Jiang Min snapped out of her daze, her eyes still filled with disappointment: "What's wrong?"
Chuntao said, "The main road ahead is under renovation and seems to be impassable. Miss, we can only take a detour through the side road and then exit the palace through Huichang Gate."
Jiang Min hummed in agreement, then followed Chun Tao toward Huichang Gate.
The rain wasn't heavy, but it was late at night, and there were hardly any people on either the palace road or the path in front of us.
As the two were about to reach the end of the path, they saw a person's back.
The woman was dressed in a white gauze dress and held a watercolor-style oil-paper umbrella in her hand.
From afar, Jiang Min felt the figure was somewhat familiar, but she wasn't sure if it was the person she was thinking of. So she immediately stopped and grabbed Chun Tao, who was about to walk forward.
Chun Tao looked bewildered and was about to ask a question when Jiang Min covered her mouth.
"Shh—don't make a sound." Jiang Min's voice was very soft, as if she was afraid of being discovered, and she spoke furtively.
Of course, the person walking towards Yuhua Pavilion ahead also seemed to be acting suspiciously.
Jiang Min gave Chun Tao a wink, signaling her to be quiet and walk as quietly as possible.
And so, the two of them secretly followed that white figure for a short distance.
Until the figure in white reached the doorway of the attic and put away the umbrella in its hand.
Jiang Min hid behind the wall and saw someone open the door. The light shining from inside fell on the face of the person in white standing in the doorway. Only then could she make out the person's face...
It really was her... the woman who could make Master Xiao peel shrimp for him.
Jiang Min learned of her identity from Consort Wan.
Listening to the Rain Pavilion, Su Tiyue.
After confirming her identity, Jiang Min became even more curious... Why would she sneak here so late at night instead of staying at Tingyu Tower?
Driven by curiosity, Jiang Min told Chun Tao to wait for her where she was, and she tiptoed around to the side window of Yuhua Pavilion...
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