Chapter 86 I'm Here to Help You (Part 3)
The trip to the imperial palace was a dull one for most people, especially the ministers. They were forbidden from drinking and reveling in the emperor's presence, nor from visiting prostitutes or listening to music, nor from gambling. They sat idle in their offices, picking their feet and whispering to each other about the gossip they had heard in Ming Xiao Palace that day.
This matter involved Pei Xingju, a favorite of the emperor, and he was particularly excited about his scandal. So, it spread from the officials in the court, reaching the emperor's ears, and down to the guards and servants, until everyone knew about it.
The women were even worse.
"Didn't they say that Zhuang Wan seduced Master Pei? Why does it sound like the opposite?"
"Yes, I heard that Miss Zhuang asked to go, but Master Pei refused."
"But I saw them flirting with each other in the Bihu Palace that day. It's not like what the rumors say."
After a while, a noblewoman sourly concluded, "It turns out it wasn't Zhuang Wan who was persistently pursuing Master Pei, but rather Master Pei's deep love for her. Really...what's so good about Zhuang Wan? Besides that face, I don't see any other redeeming qualities."
"that is!"
"that is!"
Everyone gave the order and agreed.
Liang Yixin was admiring the flowers in the yard. She heard these words through the wall and felt complicated.
After a while, the maid came over and said, "Miss, you made it difficult for me to find you. Why did you come here alone?"
"What do you want me for?"
"The Empress Dowager sent someone to invite the young lady to dine at Changtai Palace..." The maidservant lowered her voice, "She said the Emperor is also here."
Upon hearing this, Liang Yixin became a little annoyed: "Just say I'm not feeling well and will go accompany my aunt tomorrow."
"Miss, you've already used this excuse once. Did you forget it when you first came to the palace?"
Liang Yixin pursed her lips and sighed helplessly: "Forget it, then go, so as not to make my aunt angry."
She turned and walked out of the Moon Gate, with her maid chasing after her: "Miss, are you leaving just like that? Without dressing up?"
Liang Yixin was dressed in plain clothes, with only a jade plum blossom hairpin on her head and no makeup on her face.
"Why should I dress up?" Her face suddenly darkened. "Why should you interfere in my affairs?"
The maidservant hurriedly bowed and apologized.
Liang Yixin stopped looking at the maid and turned to leave.
Unexpectedly, he met Liang Jinxian in the corridor.
Liang Jinxian is now the commander of the imperial guards, primarily responsible for protecting the emperor's palace. He was discussing something with a few people when he saw Liang Yixin approaching from a distance. He waved his subordinates away, "You go."
Liang Yixin stepped forward and bowed, "Brother."
Seriously speaking, Liang Jinxian and Liang Yixin, though siblings, didn't share a deep bond. Liang Jinxian's mother was a captive from Changguo, barely a concubine in the Xinguo manor. From birth, he was considered the Liang family's lowest illegitimate child. Meanwhile, Liang Yixin, legitimately born from the Xinguo wife's womb and the only legitimate heir, grew up surrounded by the lap of the stars, enjoying a privileged background and unparalleled love.
Before the age of fourteen, Liang Jinxian had barely met Liang Yixin. Later, when he was raised by the Duke's wife, the two became closer, calling each other brother and sister. However, over the years, their interactions were limited. Liang Yixin was withdrawn and quiet, and Liang Jinxian and his half-sister had little in common. Their blood relationship was weak, and even when they met, they simply nodded in greeting.
Liang Jinxian asked, "Going to the Queen Mother?"
Liang Yixin: "Yes, my aunt asked me to go over and have dinner with her."
"Go ahead," Liang Jinxian nodded, "Give my brother's regards to the Queen Mother."
"good."
After a brief greeting, the two said goodbye.
Liang Jinxian watched Liang Yixin leave out of the corner of his eye, and after a moment, he snapped his fingers behind him.
A man came over quickly: "My Lord."
"What's going on with Zhuang Wan?" he asked casually.
"Your Highness," the secret guard replied, "As the rumors say, Miss Zhuang had a conflict with Lord Pei and asked to leave, but Lord Pei refused. He also said..."
"Um?"
The secret guard looked strange: "He also said that Miss Zhuang must pay back all the money she spent on food, clothing and other necessities at his house before he would let her go."
After hearing this, Liang Jinxian was stunned for a moment, and then his shoulders trembled with laughter.
"I didn't expect that even Pei Xingju would be at his wit's end."
.
Zhuang Wan was depressed all night and even dreamed of picking up a knife to chop Pei Xingju, so she woke up exhausted the next day.
After breakfast, she took out the account book that was full of crosses, locked herself in the room and concentrated on revising it. She even refused when Princess Wu Jing came to call her to play.
Following Pei Xingju's request, she recalculated everything carefully and her handwriting was neat, revealing her determination to leave.
Things never happen three times, Zhuang Wan thought. Pei Xingju was just looking for trouble to delay time, but it would be pointless to make trouble again after the matter had gone through two rounds.
Sure enough, when this revised account book was sent to Pei Xingju, Pei Xingju did not look at it.
The servant who was serving him had even prepared a red brush and asked him, "Are you not going to review the work, sir?"
Pei Xingju glanced at the account book and threw it away irritably: "No need."
Zhuang Wan was in no hurry to wait for Pei Xingju's reply. The most important thing was to raise the money. After deducting the jade Pei Xingju had given her and the clothes she had on hand that she couldn't take away, the total compensation she had to pay was six hundred taels of silver.
Where can I get six hundred taels?
Just when I was dozing off, someone gave me a pillow.
In the afternoon, Zhuang Wan, having nothing better to do after dinner, went to the Bihu Palace to feed the fish. She sat in the pavilion, surrounded by colorful koi carp vying for food. A handful of food was thrown down, and they eagerly grabbed it, their mouths wide open, full of delight.
After a while, someone on the opposite side chuckled: "Miss Zhuang is in such a refined mood!"
As soon as she heard the lazy and seductive voice, Zhuang Wan knew who it was.
Liang Jinxian, dressed in a moon-white robe and waving a folding fan, looked as elegant as ever. He walked around the white marble bridge and entered the pavilion, but was stopped by Lixia.
"Hey...old friends are reminiscing about the past, sister Guard, please don't be so serious." Liang Jinxian pushed Lixia away with his folding fan.
It seemed like they were blocking and pushing each other easily, but they secretly exchanged two moves, and Lixia was pushed aside.
Liang Jinxian walked in, lifted his robe and sat opposite Zhuang Wan in a showy manner.
Zhuang Wan: "What can I talk about with you?"
"That's wrong. No matter where we meet, we are still old friends. Let alone the fact that we met at the palace, just based on our previous relationship..."
Zhuang Wan glanced at Lixia, turned around and glared at him, warning him not to talk nonsense.
Last time, he'd said in the teahouse that he and the original body had been intimate. Afterward, Zhuang Wan thought about it for a long time and decided that Liang Jinxian must have been trying to scare her. The original body was timid and cowardly, and had a submissive nature. How could she have dared to do such a thing?
Therefore, I really don't have a good impression of Liang Jinxian at the moment.
Liang Jinxian smiled, opened his folding fan, and ordered from a distance: "Xichang, take the person away."
Zhuang Wan was bewildered, wondering who he was going to take away. But the next moment, a man appeared out of nowhere and fought with Lixia, and led Lixia away in a few moves.
Zhuang Wan: “…”
"What on earth do you want to tell me?"
"Don't be so heartless," Liang Jinxian said with a charming smile on his face, "I missed you and came to see you."
Zhuang Wan rolled her eyes.
Liang Jinxian laughed out loud.
After laughing, he said seriously: "Actually, I'm here to help you."
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