The Imperial Academy.
The gathering was drawing to a close, and some people who had other commitments left early.
Zheng Ruier stood at the door with red eyes, waiting for her family's carriage to arrive.
Two maids, Shuiyu and Shuikui, carefully accompanied and coaxed her.
Just then, a carriage stopped in front of the three of them. Shuiyu complained, "Whose carriage is this? How inconsiderate! Let's go wait over there."
A wave of grievance welled up in Zheng Ruier's heart—her mother said she would arrange more gatherings for her, but her family, without any official background, would only be bullied if they came. The people from the Xuanping Marquis's mansion were going too far, and now they were even bullying people like this in the carriage!
Just then, the car window that had been parked in front of her was pushed open, revealing a woman's beautiful and dignified face. "Rui'er, it really is you! Chuyu just said she thought she saw you. Eh? Why are you crying? Chuyu, hurry up and get out of here to help Miss Biao up."
"Yes, young mistress." Chu Yu and Chu Xue went down and pulled the crying Zheng Ruier up without saying a word.
Zheng Ruier half-heartedly went along with it, but didn't resist, because she didn't want to be humiliated. If she couldn't get revenge herself, she would find a way to let someone else get revenge.
Shuiyu and Shuikui were both stunned. Miss got into the young mistress's carriage? Would she ever go home?
Jiang Yinjin looked out the car window again and said to the two maids, "Here's what we'll do. One of you come up, and the other go back to the manor to tell them that Miss Biao has been picked up by me, and that Aunt shouldn't worry. I'll comfort Miss Biao, and later I'll make sure she's safely back at the manor."
Seeing that their young mistress had been dragged into the carriage, Shuiyu and Shuikui had no choice but to accept it. In the end, Shuiyu got into the Marquis's carriage, while Shuikui waited for her own carriage to go back and report the news.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
Yuelaiju.
The Jiang family were frequent guests at Yuelaiju, often gathering with friends there. Jiang Yinjin also often drank tea there with several daughters of officials.
When the waiter saw that she was the young lady of Minister Jiang's family and the young mistress of the Marquis of Anning's mansion, he hurriedly and warmly entertained her and arranged a nice private room for her.
Jiang Yinjin smiled, took Zheng Ruier's arm, and entered the restaurant.
At this moment, Zheng Ruier even forgot her sadness!
It should be noted that Yuelai Residence mainly entertains officials; it rarely entertains even wealthy merchants without official connections, let alone ordinary families.
This was her first time entering the house, and the thought that she originally had the opportunity to become the young mistress of the Marquis of Anning's mansion made her feel even more aggrieved.
Of course... she knew she couldn't compare to Jiang Yinjin, but at least she could be a concubine! Now she couldn't even be a concubine, all because of that skinny girl! That damned skinny girl!
Soon, everyone entered the private room.
The waiter served fragrant tea, along with exquisite tea snacks and seasonal fruits.
After everything was settled, Jiang Yinjin asked in a very kind tone, "Why is Ruier crying? Was it because the Scholar's Mansion did not treat you well? If they wronged you, I will help you seek an explanation."
Zheng Ruier burst into tears again, and then recounted in detail the words that the second young mistress of the Xuanping Marquis's mansion had used to provoke and ridicule her.
"I didn't offend her, so why did she say that about me? What does it matter to the Marquis of Xuanping's family whether I marry my cousin or not? That person is a mad dog! A mad dog!"
Jiang Yinjin recalled Zhou's jealous expression, and then saw Zheng Ruier cursing Zhou as a mad dog, and almost burst out laughing.
She hurriedly covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, cleared her throat, and said, "This is not your fault; you are also a victim."
Zheng Ruier hurriedly asked, "What exactly happened? I know that the Xuanping Marquis's Mansion and the Anning Marquis's Mansion don't get along, but they used to keep to themselves and even greet each other when they met. Why are they suddenly cursing at each other now?"
Jiang Yinjin then recounted how Huo Rang, the second young master of the Xuanping Marquis's mansion, had sent someone to frame Bai Shizi, but after the truth was discovered, he was proven wrong, and the Xuanping Marquis's wife, along with Huo Rang and his wife Zhou, came to apologize.
“I think the Zhou family’s behavior might be related to one thing.” Jiang Yinjin hesitated, then shook her head. “No, there’s no evidence for that matter, so we can’t jump to conclusions.”
Zheng Ruier hurriedly asked, "What is it? Please, Sister Jiang, you must tell me! I won't tell anyone! I just want to hear it, I'm so angry!"
Chu Yu and Chu Xue exchanged a furtive glance, thinking to themselves—with Miss Biao's mindset, she still wants to marry into the Marquis's mansion? Let alone the Marquis's mansion, even in their Jiang family, she would probably be completely suppressed by her sisters-in-law.
Jiang Yinjin sighed softly, "Since you insist on asking, then I'll tell you. But let me make this clear beforehand: there's no evidence for anything, and I'm not responsible for what I'm saying. If you want, just take it as a joke and don't take it seriously."
"Yes, yes, I don't mean it! Sister Jiang, please tell me quickly."
A sinister glint flashed in Jiang Yinjin's eyes. "It's like this. When the people from the Marquis of Xuanping's residence came, the young master said that Consort Shen had a headache and therefore did not come out to greet the guests. Later, when the madam wanted to call a doctor, the young master said that Consort Shen had simply not slept well the night before. In that case, it would be inappropriate for her not to show herself when the guests arrived."
I then smoothed things over for the lady, saying that by now, Aunt Shen should have rested enough, and I would send someone to call her.
Because the original plan was to go to the garden after leaving the main hall in the front yard, I had someone tell Aunt Shen to go directly to the garden at the appointed time, so as not to go to the front hall and find it empty.
When we all arrived at the garden, we didn't see Consort Shen, but only the second young master of the Marquis of Xuanping's mansion.
Zheng Ruier asked in confusion, "Second Young Master? Shouldn't the Second Young Master be with you?"
"He was there at first, but then I guessed that the second young master didn't want to listen to the women's chatter, so he found a pretext to go out for some fresh air, and I didn't expect him to go to the garden."
"This..." Zheng Ruier didn't understand, "What does this have to do with Aunt Shen?"
Jiang Yinjin sighed, "This matter is complicated. Concubine Shen, who should have arrived at the garden earlier, was not there, while Huo Rang, who shouldn't have been there, was. Also, when Concubine Shen arrived late, Huo Rang's eyes were fixed on Concubine Shen's face. We all noticed it, even the Lady of Xuanping Marquis coughed frequently as a hint."
Zheng Ruier was taken aback. "Could it be that they met in the garden before? Or that there are some things that outsiders don't know?"
“This…” Jiang Yinjin bit her lip with a troubled expression, as if struggling with a contradiction, and then whispered, “Logically, I shouldn’t tell you these things, but you are the victim in this matter, and if I don’t tell you, you will be truly wronged.”
Later, a servant came to report that he had seen Consort Shen and Young Master Huo Rang in the garden, and that the two seemed... somewhat intimate, but Consort Shen immediately ran away. When I learned of this, I kept it to myself and didn't let Mother know. You mustn't tell anyone either, otherwise both of us will incur the Heir Apparent's wrath.”
"Yes, yes, Sister Jiang, don't worry, I definitely won't say anything," Zheng Ruier nodded vigorously. Of course, she wouldn't dare to say anything; she absolutely couldn't displease her cousin!
"Sister Jiang, tell me the truth, is it because the Second Young Master has taken a fancy to Chen Mianmian that Zhou Shi humiliated me in public?"
"This..." Jiang Yinjin didn't say it, thinking to herself—isn't it obvious?
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