Chapter 11 It's not polite for you to follow me before the chess pieces are finished
After discussing the meeting with Yuan Ling, the courtyard became quiet again. Cui Yiluo sat under the flower stand, holding a book in her right hand and continued reading. Suddenly, she saw a person walking in from the gate.
Cui Yiluo looked surprised: "Cousin?"
He seemed to have come straight to her yard after court, without even changing out of his official robe. This was the second time she saw him in a purple robe. Even in such a strong color, his temperament was still cold and aloof, but instead added a bit of nobility.
His face was expressionless, and perhaps because he was wearing an official robe, he exuded a more intimidating aura than usual.
Cui Yiluo couldn't figure out his purpose. "Why are you here, cousin? Lilan, go make me some Junshan Yinzhen tea." She smiled and said, "I heard that my cousin loves it, so I asked my aunt for some more."
Jiang Yunjin's eyes were as calm as a lake, and he was not moved by her concern. He said calmly, "I do, but it's not necessary. I'll leave after I've said that."
Lilan understood the hint and retreated, leaving only the two of them in the courtyard.
Cui Yiluo's moist eyes flashed with anticipation: "Cousin, what do you want to tell me?"
"His Majesty has ordered you to accompany Xiashou."
Cui Yiluo was stunned for a moment. She had originally planned to go with her aunt to the summer hunt. After all, although Jiang Yunjin was the most outstanding among her choices, he was also the most difficult to get. She had to prepare a backup plan for herself. Even if she had to kill Cheng Feng in the end, it would be beneficial to establish good relations with the aristocratic families.
But after considering what happened to Eunuch Xu at the Lotus Banquet, she decided to give up this summer hunt after weighing the pros and cons.
Cui Yiluo's smile faded. "Why would His Majesty specifically ask me to accompany you?"
Jiang Yunjin relayed the emperor's words: "His Majesty heard that you rescued Miss Xie yesterday and has granted you a special reward."
Is it really that simple? Cui Yiluo secretly peeked at Jiang Yunjin's expression. He clearly had other guesses, but he refused to speak out.
Cui Yiluo bit her lip and said, "Cousin, can I claim to be sick?"
There was a hint of solemnity in Jiang Yunjin's dark eyes. "I'm afraid it won't work."
The emperor personally ordered that if she pretended to be sick too deliberately, she would have to go on the summer hunt.
Cui Yiluo's thoughts turned to another thought: "Cousin, the summer hunts are very mixed, and they are in open mountains and forests. Wouldn't it be more convenient for Eunuch Xu and his men to take action?"
Her voice suddenly softened, with a hint of pleading: "Can I follow you then?"
"Eunuch Xu is not on the accompanying list this time."
Cui Yiluo was slightly stunned. Eunuch Xu wasn't here? He must have been replaced because he was afraid she'd realize it was Eunuch Xu who pushed her into the water.
He then added, "It's not proper for you to follow me."
It's etiquette again.
Cui Yiluo sneered in her heart and was about to fight for it again, but she heard him say, "I sent someone to follow you secretly."
There was a hint of helplessness in his tone, as if he had no intention of telling her about the arrangements he had made long ago. Telling her now was simply to get rid of her as soon as possible.
That’s all, just okay.
Cui Yiluo smiled gratefully: "Thank you, cousin."
It is extremely difficult to ask him, who has been following etiquette and morality since childhood and never made mistakes, to throw off the constraints of etiquette and morality.
However, Jiang Zhaoyue once revealed that he had done something extraordinary that violated ethics and morals. If it happened once, there would be a second time.
"Cousin, will you stay in the mansion today?"
"What's up?"
As if afraid of being overheard, Cui Yiluo took a step closer and lowered her voice to make it sound softer, creating a sense of ambiguity in the atmosphere.
"My cousin held me in the slippery mud for so long yesterday. If he gets hurt, I'm really to blame. So I stewed some tonic..."
Jiang Yunjin's Adam's apple moved slightly, and he interrupted her directly: "No need, I'm leaving first."
Cui Yiluo wasn't surprised either. She blinked her long eyelashes, a hint of grievance spilling over her face. "But my cousin has helped me so much. Besides my aunt's family, he's the only one who's been helping me. How can I not thank him?"
Only? Is he really the only one?
Jiang Yunjin slowly opened his mouth: "My cousin is indeed sincere, but it is not necessary."
Cui Yiluo didn't know why his face suddenly turned cold, and she felt that there was something else behind his words, but she couldn't figure out what was wrong with her just now.
Before she could figure it out, she heard him speak again, his low voice carrying a strong sense of oppression, "Don't mention what happened yesterday anymore."
His attitude suddenly changed so suddenly that Cui Yiluo was completely baffled, but she still replied, "Yiluo understands."
The man nodded slightly, turned around and left neatly. It seemed that if he had not been ordered by the emperor to bring a message to her, he would never have set foot in her yard.
Cui Yiluo watched his back disappear indifferently, then sat back under the flower stand and continued to flip through the book with a calm and relaxed attitude, as if nothing had happened just now.
Lilan came back in only after seeing Jiang Yunjin leave completely.
"When did the young lady say she wanted to stew some tonic? Do you want me to tell the kitchen?"
Cui Yiluo's fingertips slid across the pages of the book, and her voice was calm: "No need, it's just a casual remark. He won't eat my food."
-
Summer hunting is not only a hunting and entertainment, but also an important means for the emperor to contact his ministers. As a close minister of the emperor, Jiang Yunjin became more and more busy as the summer hunting was approaching, leaving home early and returning late every day. Although Cui Yiluo's foot injury had healed, Madam Jiang still specially exempted her from the evening greetings.
For several days, she hadn't seen Jiang Yunjin.
In the blink of an eye, it was time for the summer hunt. The wind was gentle and pleasant that day, the evening clouds were level for thousands of miles, the lush green stretched endlessly, the scorching sun beat down on the sandy land, and the horses' hooves kicked up a cloud of dust for thousands of miles.
It took about two or three hours to travel from the capital to Yueshan. The emperor and empress's carriages were in the front, escorted by the Yunyi Guards and the Imperial Guards. The other gentlemen mostly rode horses, while the female members of the family rode in carriages.
It was not as hot in the mountains as in Beijing. There was a slight coolness in the air, and it seemed like a comfortable and pleasant journey.
Cui Yiluo sat with Lan Hui. Lan Hui's husband, Jiang Wen, Cui Yiluo's uncle, was the Minister of Revenue, so their carriages were closer to the front.
Jiang Zhaoyue and Lan Hui had accompanied the team on the two annual hunting trips, and the journey had long lost its novelty. This was Cui Yiluo's first time accompanying the team, but she hardly glanced out the window along the way.
She looked thoughtfully at the back wall of the carriage. Behind a wooden wall was a tightly tied box. Yuan Ling's washed and neatly folded clothes were placed inside.
The clothes had been washed two days ago, and just before she hitched her carriage to leave the house, she suddenly changed her mind.
At dusk, the large group of people arrived at the Yueshan camp.
The hunt officially started on the second day, and we will rest today.
The arrangement of the tents was also very particular. Cui Yiluo was naturally arranged with Lan Hui's family, while the tents of important officials such as Jiang Yunjin were arranged near the emperor.
When Lilan reported the layout of the tents, Cui Yiluo simply replied, "I understand."
Not long after, the palace servants brought in dinner. Summer hunting meals were very different from those on ordinary days. Although the hunt officially began tomorrow, the palace servants who had gone up the mountain had already caught some prey, roasting them over a blazing fire with sharp golden blades.
The meat sent to Jiang Wen's room was rabbit meat and mutton, which was very fresh and fragrant. Jiang Zhaoyue kept praising the food while eating it, and declared that he would catch more prey than his brother Jiang Mingxun tomorrow. He also made an appointment with Cui Yiluo to go hunting together.
Cui Yiluo had never hunted before, nor had she often roasted meat, so she saved some for later use. It was already dusk when she returned to her tent after dinner. She opened the curtains to see Lilan pacing anxiously.
"What's going on?"
Lilan came forward and handed the folded letter to Cui Yiluo, "Miss, this is from Cheng Yuanwailang. He wants to meet you by the east stream at 3:00 PM tomorrow."
Cheng Feng's son Cheng Yi served as a deputy minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
Cui Yiluo didn't even open the letter and handed it directly back to Lilan, "No."
After saying this, he calmly sat down on the rosewood couch.
"But..." Li Lan's face tightened as she recalled what Cheng Yi had said. "Mr. Cheng said that if you don't go, he'll reveal the truth about Cheng Jiancheng's burns. Your reputation will be ruined, and you won't even be able to marry into the Cheng family."
Cui Yiluo kept pouring tea and nodded calmly to show that she understood.
Li Lan was stunned. "Miss, why aren't you worried at all? What if he really spreads the news that he added drugs to the tea?"
Cui Yiluo chuckled: "When did we add the medicine? What medicine did we add? Does he have any proof?"
Lilan paused.
"Lilan, this is just a trick. You don't trust Uncle Sui's medicine skills enough. He's using this to manipulate me so that I won't compete with him for Cheng Feng's property after I marry him. Or maybe he wants to work with me to help his father get through to the next level so he doesn't have to worry about it."
After all, Cheng Feng is a playboy outside. Even if Cui Yiluo is not around, a younger brother might appear one day.
Short-sighted and ignorant.
Li Lan was startled by this speculation. After she recovered, she said, "Miss, then we won't go tomorrow?"
Cui Yiluo slowly brought the teacup to her lips and asked, "When Cheng Yi sent someone over, did anyone else see it?"
Lilan thought for a moment and shook her head. "No, dinner had already started a while ago and everyone was eating in their tent."
Cui Yiluo took a sip of tea and said slowly: "In that case, tell Cheng Yi that I will go."
"Ah?" Lilan exclaimed.
The teacup made a very slight crisp sound when placed on the small table.
Cui Yiluo looked at the flickering candlelight in the pale blue tea and continued, "A palace maid will arrive with a fruit tray soon. Spend some silver to keep the secret, change into her clothes, and then leave. Keep out of sight. Don't let anyone see you. Also, tell Yuan Ling to meet him at Houqilin in the west at 3 p.m. tomorrow. Tell him to thank him for the last time and that I will return his outer robe tomorrow. Remember not to let anyone see you either."
Li Lan was puzzled: "Miss, if you want to use Lord Yuan as a witness, why do you want to avoid people? Shouldn't you be able to see it?"
Cui Yiluo's eyes were deep: "If not, how can we lure the snake out of its hole?"
The next day.
The mountain mist slowly dissipated. Cui Yiluo changed into the riding clothes sent by Lan Hui, and with a vigorous and energetic hand, she headed for the place she had agreed to meet with Jiang Zhaoyue yesterday.
On the large open space beside the camp, the few people Jiang Zhaoyue had invited were already waiting there, and they had asked someone to lead the horses out.
Cui Yiluo greeted everyone in turn.
When it was Xie Xiyun's turn, she bowed gratefully and solemnly: "Miss Cui, thank you so much for last time. If it weren't for you, I would have perished in the lake. I have been confined at home to recuperate these days, so I haven't come to thank you. Please forgive my impoliteness."
Cui Yiluo quickly stepped forward to help her up. "Thank you for your kind words, young lady. I'm flattered that your mother has come with so many gifts."
Xie Xiyun did not come in person because he was bedridden, but the Xie family had a strict family tradition and thorough etiquette. On the second day of the lotus banquet, Xie Xiyun's mother, Mrs. Xie, came to express her gratitude with several boxes of gifts.
Xie Xiyun asked cautiously, "Do you like those things?"
Cui Yiluo understood, "Of course, especially the white jade tea set with peony paintings."
In fact, Cui Yiluo's real favorite flower is Forsythia, but she claims to like Peony. Xie Xiyun must have asked Jiang Zhaoyue before specially choosing this set of tea sets.
Although her affection was fake, her feelings were genuine. To be honest, it wasn't entirely her intention to "get involved" at that time.
She might not be able to bear Xie Xiyun's sincerity.
Xie Xiyun smiled, a pair of dimples on her lips faintly visible: "As long as you like it."
After this incident, Xie Xiyun lost a lot of weight and looked a little depressed. Even though he was smiling at this moment, there was still a cloud in his eyes.
Yang Jingling also noticed it, "Xiyun, you don't look well. Are you not fully recovered yet? Why don't you go back and rest today?"
Xie Xiyun shook her head. "Didn't you check my pulse? I'm fine. I'm just a little tired from the long journey yesterday."
Yang Jingling frowned and was about to persuade him again when she suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves and the jingling of neck bells not far away.
Following the sound, I saw Xiao Ying wearing a crimson riding suit, carrying a delicate and small horn bow on her back, and riding a snow-white pony with a quiver hanging on its back. She was about to head into the woods.
At her side walked a handsome man, his black riding coat embroidered with intricate python patterns in gold thread. A purple-gold crown tied around his hair caught the glaring sunlight. He was handsome, unlike the other men, who had a resolute demeanor. His eyes were dark, like deep pools, and the blazing light reflected in them was faintly chilling.
The two also noticed Cui Yiluo and the others. Xiao Ying pulled the horse over first, and the man behind her glanced at them and followed.
Cui Yiluo and the others bowed: "Greetings to His Highness the Fifth Prince and Princess Hejia."
He has noble manners and is with Xiao Ying. They look about the same, so he is obviously Xiao Ying's brother from the same mother, the fifth prince Xiao Zheng.
The two of them rode their horses at a trot, and when they were only a few steps away, Xiao Ying seemed to remember something, her face wrinkled in confusion, she pulled the reins, and stopped a few steps away from the crowd.
Xiao Zheng glanced at him lightly and reined in his horse.
Cui Yiluo noticed that the corners of his lips curled up slightly.
Xiao Zheng was very perceptive and with a slight turn of his eyes, he met her gaze.
Cui Yiluo still maintained the posture of saluting, with half of her face hanging in the dark, and she only raised her eyes to look at him. Xiao Zheng sat upright on the horse's back, looking down with a cold and arrogant look, as if he looked at the few people as ants.
He raised his eyebrows slightly playfully.
Xiao Ying, on the other side, didn't notice the two people's little movements. "Excuse me. Miss Cui, where are you planning to go?"
Cui Yiluo retracted her gaze and put on a charming smile, "Your Highness, we are planning to go hunting in the forest. Would you like to join us?"
Xiao Ying opened her lips, but her expression suddenly froze: "I have an appointment with my brother to go north, so I won't be going with you."
Cui Yiluo smiled, as if she couldn't hear the refusal in Xiao Ying's words, and continued, "Then, Your Highness, are you free this afternoon? I'd like to invite Your Highness to go fishing with me in the east stream."
Xiao Ying rarely fished, and she was about to nod when her brother suddenly gave her a sharp look. She changed her words in an instant: "Never mind. I'm not an expert at fishing. Miss Cui, you should go by yourself."
The invitation was rejected, but Cui Yiluo still had a smile on her face: "Yes."
"Sister, let's go."
Xiao Zheng spoke slowly, pulled the reins and turned the horse towards the woods.
Xiao Ying said "Oh", but her expression could not hide her disappointment.
It wasn't until the two of them left with their servants that Jiang Zhaoyue couldn't help but ask, "Cousin, when did we make the fishing appointment?"
Cui Yiluo explained, "Cousin, I heard that the crucian carp by the stream were plump and delicious, so I got excited and didn't have time to tell you."
Jiang Zhaoyue and the others all thought she was greedy and couldn't sit still. Only Yang Jingling said sternly, "Yiluo, remember to be careful this afternoon. Bring more servants with you. If you need anything, come to us."
Cui Yiluo responded seriously: "I will."
It was Cui Yiluo’s first time hunting, but surprisingly she got quite a lot, which also amazed Jiang Zhaoyue and others.
When Lan Hui heard that she was going to the stream to fish, she gave her some instructions and personally helped her pack her protective gear.
After lunch, in order to avoid being discovered, Cui Yiluo set out to head east, and only turned her horse's head towards Hou Qilin when she could no longer see anyone.
As the daylight drifted by, it was nearing dusk. The shadows of the trees in the arborvitae forest stretched long across the sand, entwining the woman's slender figure with the shadows. The twilight gilded her profile. Suddenly, another shadow appeared on the ground, a man's, strong and majestic.
"Miss Cui is looking for me."
Cui Yiluo turned to look at the person who came and handed over the wooden box in her hand.
The rosewood exuded a faint fragrance, and the box was intricately carved with floral and bird designs. Yuan Ling took a quick glance and took it.
"Miss Cui sent someone to meet me in secret. Is it not just to return the robe?"
"Commander Yuan is intelligent and wise, so he should know why I'm here."
Yuan Ling smiled, "How can Miss Cui be so sure that I will help you?"
Cui Yiluo looked him in the eye calmly. "If you don't help me, I don't think I'll ever have the chance to return the robe to you, right?"
Their eyes met, and Yuan Ling's smile gradually faded and his expression straightened.
"Miss Cui is truly intelligent. How about making a deal with Yuan?"
This move played into Cui Yiluo's hands. With interests involved, she didn't have to worry about him not helping her. She nodded slightly, motioning for Yuan Ling to continue.
Yuan Ling fiddled with the tassel of the sword at his waist with one hand and said nonchalantly, "The drug you put on the dagger is quite effective. Give me the recipe and I will keep it a secret for you."
He lowered his voice and said, "I will never let your cousin know, nor will I let anyone else know."
"I didn't make the medicine, but I can give you a few packets. Whether you can imitate the formula depends on your ability, Master Yuan."
Yuan Ling lowered his eyebrows slightly, obviously dissatisfied: "Tell me who made the medicine."
Cui Yiluo sneered: "Master Yuan, I promised the pharmacist to keep it a secret. Are you asking me to be an unjust person?"
"When has Miss Cui ever observed propriety? If she had, Cheng Feng and Cheng Jiancheng would not have claimed illness and not come to this hunting trip."
Cui Yiluo's expression changed slightly, "You're investigating me?"
Yuan Ling's expression was sharp, like a blade being unsheathed. "Yun Yiwei has all the answers, and since they want to make a deal, they naturally need to know the other party's details. But don't worry, Miss Cui, even the palace physician wouldn't be able to detect any traces of drugs. I was just lucky to have some understanding of Miss Cui, so I guessed right."
Cui Yiluo's face turned cold, and the few polite and gentle things she had shown towards Yuan Ling completely disappeared. She said in a cold voice, "I can't go back on my word. I can only give you a few packets of medicine. Do you want them or not?"
Yuan Ling stared at her face intently. Cui Yiluo raised her eyes and looked at him, neither of them giving in.
After a few breaths, Yuan Ling raised his lips and smiled, "After returning to the capital, send someone to deliver it to the Yuan Mansion."
This was agreed, and Cui Yiluo secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "I hope Lord Yuan will keep his promise. The palace has an order that the guards cannot make private transactions with others. This is a mutually beneficial deal between Lord Yuan and me, and we each get what we need."
This was a blatant threat. Yuan Ling looked at her meaningfully, "Relationships based on interests are the most enduring. Isn't that right, Miss Cui?"
He was about to leave, carrying the rosewood box containing his robes, but his expression suddenly froze. His eyes, like those of a hawk, caught Cui Yiluo's, and he said with a half-smile:
"Who have you recruited for me?"
The author has something to say:
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My cousin will be here soon. He will flash [sunglasses]
The next chapter will be published at 9am on Saturday. It will be updated every other day this week. There are plenty of manuscripts in stock!
My dears, please collect it. You need to save it to enter v [poor]
"Thousands of miles of evening clouds flatten" comes from Wang Wei's "Watching Hunting"
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