Jiang Yunjiao followed Lu Baimei out of the palace, looking utterly dejected. Only when the carriage drove out of the palace gates did her anxiety begin to ease.
Looking at her daughter's pale face and holding her cold hand, Lu Baimei felt both heartache and disappointment. Her tone was full of anger at her daughter's lack of ambition: "Yun Jiao, I told you long ago not to try to make a move on Xie Yizhi! Why won't you listen?"
I almost lost my life today, have you learned your lesson yet?
Jiang Yunjiao's tears fell like beads from a broken string.
She bit her lip, her voice trembling with grievance and helplessness, and choked out, "Mother, I really didn't! It wasn't me! I... I was framed!"
It was only at this moment that Jiang Yunjiao belatedly realized that she had been set up.
She recalled the scene at the flower viewing banquet, when she saw Xie Yizhi leave his seat alone, so she followed him out under the pretext of going to the washroom.
She hadn't gone far when a young maidservant bumped into her. Perhaps it was in that instant that the purse in her pocket was switched.
However, she had embroidered the purse herself and had never shown it to anyone else, not even Lu Baimei. If that was the case, how could the other person have made an identical purse?
Something's not right! Jiang Yunjiao's heart skipped a beat as she recalled a detail.
She did show the purse to others; it was at Zuiyue Tower, where she and Yao Shiyu were showing off the purse she had sewn herself.
Yao Shiyu smiled and encouraged her, saying that if she could give this purse to Xie Yizhi, Xie Yizhi would definitely like it.
At that time, Jiang Yunjiao had no suspicion of Yao Shiyu and even brought up the matter of her coming-of-age ceremony with her.
She said she had also given Xie Yizhi a purse, but unfortunately Xie Yizhi did not accept it.
Yao Shiyu smiled and comforted her, saying that Xie Yizhi was just shy in front of Jiang Muyan.
At the time, Jiang Yunjiao believed it to be true, her eyes shining, and she asked excitedly, "Really? Will His Highness Prince Yi definitely accept it? Then I'll put my favorite jasmine flowers in my purse when I get back, so he'll remember my scent!"
At that time, Yao Shiyu smiled and cheered her on, saying repeatedly, "Of course, only a lady of noble birth like Yun Jiao is worthy of His Highness Prince Yi."
As for Jiang Luoluo? She's nothing but a shrew who got dumped at her engagement; how can she compare to Yun Jiao?
Thinking of this, Jiang Yunjiao's tears evaporated with anger, replaced by a chilling coldness.
Her face instantly darkened, and she cried out in a shrill voice, "It's Yao Shiyu! She's the only one who saw the purse I embroidered! She's the one who ruined me!"
Lu Baimei sighed helplessly, shook her head and said, "Yun Jiao, what's done is done. What's the use of saying anything now?"
Xie Yizhi has already ordered you to leave the capital. The only way now is to ask your cousin, the Imperial Concubine, for help.
If she's willing to step in, there might still be room for maneuver in this matter.
"Okay, Mother, let's go find Cousin Guifei right now!" Upon hearing this, Jiang Yunjiao grasped at a lifeline, and a look of joy instantly appeared on her face. She hurriedly wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.
Lu Baimei sighed softly, then instructed the coachman, "Turn the horse around and return to the palace."
However, she wasn't entirely confident. Consort Lu claimed to be unwell and had even been unable to attend today's flower-viewing banquet.
I wonder if I'll be turned away when I go there.
For a moment, the mother and daughter each had their own thoughts. The carriage rolled along the long street and slowly drove towards the depths of the palace.
After the flower viewing party ended, Lu Anrou held Yao Shiyu's hand and said with a face full of gratitude, "Shiyu, thanks to your help today, otherwise I really don't know how I would have ended this."
Yao Shiyu smiled gently, raised her hand to lightly touch her slightly flushed cheeks, and said casually, "Your Highness is too kind. It is my honor to be able to share your burdens!"
Lu Anrou's gaze fell on her flushed cheeks. Thinking that she had indeed been a bit too rough with her emotions just now, she couldn't help but feel a little apologetic.
She said softly, "Shiyu, don't worry, I will take care of the matter of becoming the commander of the Golden Guard that I promised you in the next few days."
Yao Shiyu's eyes lit up and she couldn't help but smile. The slap she received today was well worth it.
Today, framing Jiang Yunjiao for everything is truly a brilliant plan to kill two birds with one stone.
Firstly, it avenged her being scolded by Lu Baimei on her wedding day; secondly, it made Lu Anrou trust her more.
As long as Lu Anrou relies on him enough, she will become an extremely sharp blade in his hands, ready to be used at his disposal at any time.
After bidding farewell to Lu Anrou with satisfaction, Yao Shiyu boarded the carriage to the Gu family residence.
Inside the carriage, Gu Boyuan looked gloomy, his brows furrowed. Seeing this, Yao Shiyu considerately moved closer to him and softly asked, "Brother Boyuan, what's wrong?"
Gu Boyuan sighed, his brows still furrowed: "Shiyu, I've been back in the capital for some time now, but the Emperor still hasn't shown any intention of letting me return to Yunchuan."
I hold no official position in the capital; this situation cannot continue indefinitely.
Yao Shiyu took his arm, her gaze gentle yet firm: "Brother Boyuan, don't worry, you'll soon be in a high position with a bright future."
Gu Boyuan turned his head slightly and noticed the faint red mark on Yao Shiyu's face. He was taken aback and frowned as he asked, "Shiyu, what happened to your face?"
Yao Shiyu smiled, took out a bottle of ointment from her sleeve and handed it to him, gently comforting him, "It's alright, Brother Boyuan, don't worry."
Then, in a coquettish tone, she said, "Come on, Brother Boyuan, help me wipe it off, it won't hurt anymore after you wipe it off."
Gu Boyuan took the ointment and carefully applied it to her.
His movements were gentle, but his eyes were filled with complex emotions: guilt, self-blame, and a hint of unconcealed unease.
In fact, his worry just now was not because he was unemployed, but because he learned that Jiang Luoluo had accepted Xie Yizhi's marriage proposal.
The thought of Jiang Luoluo becoming Princess Yi's wife was like a knife twisting in his heart.
If I had Xie Yizhi's illustrious background and immense power, how could I let Jiang Luoluo be taken away by someone else?
But now, looking at Yao Shiyu's slightly swollen cheeks, Gu Boyuan felt a mix of emotions.
He sighed softly and asked in a complicated tone, "Shiyu, you just said that I will soon have an official position. Did you make some kind of deal with Lu Anrou in private?"
Yao Shiyu gently leaned into his arms, her voice filled with a sweet determination: "Brother Boyuan, I'm willing to do anything for you."
Gu Boyuan closed the ointment and held Yao Shiyu tightly in his arms.
Yes, the woman he went to great lengths to marry is now completely devoted to him. Why should he ask for anything else?
Jiang Luoluo is in the past; he should let go and cherish the person in front of him.
But why can't I let go?
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