Chapter 24 (Revised)
Jiang Wei Qiu got into the carriage and sat down, asking Jiang Yingyue where she came from.
When Jiang Yingyue mentioned that she had returned from the Duke of Yingguo's residence, Jiang Weiqiu gave a vague laugh. "Since you went to congratulate the eldest daughter of the Shi family, why did you ask me to inform the Crown Prince about the selection of the Crown Princess?"
Jiang Yingyue's eyes lit up: "You already said it?"
Jiang Weiqiu nodded, squinting his eyes at Jiang Yingyue, and raised his voice: "What you're doing is not a good thing, is it? If the second daughter of the Shi family knew you were behind this, she might break off all ties with you."
"Yuanyuan is not that kind of person." Jiang Yingyue's pair of bright black eyes were like crescent moons, and two dimples appeared on her lips. "Besides, my meeting with Princess Pingyang did not mean I had any feelings for the Crown Prince."
This remark ignited Jiang Weiqiu's gossipy spirit, and he pricked up his ears, waiting for his sister's information: "I'm all ears, and I'd like to hear the details."
Jiang Yingyue's smile gradually faded: "Second brother, you once said that people's expressions and words can lie, but their eyes are very difficult to tell lies."
Jiang Weiqiu was stunned.
That year, Jiang Yingyue was six years old and entered the palace school.
Those who could enter the palace to study were either rich or noble. Not only were they relatives of the royal family, but they were also the sons of high-ranking officials and ministers who were eligible to enroll.
When Jiang Weiqiu was studying, his father's official position was not high, so he studied hard for a year and was admitted to Bailu Academy. When Jiang Yingyue reached the age to enter private school, their father had already served as the Minister of the Central Secretariat and was deeply trusted by the emperor, so Jiang Yingyue was able to enter the palace school.
But Jiang Yingyue, who had been raised in the palm of her family's hand since she was a child, was not able to adapt to the environment of the palace school at first. At that time, she always looked at those "friends" who came up to her on their own initiative with confusion, and could not tell whether they really wanted to make friends with her.
So during that period, the distressed Xiao Jiang girl always looked unhappy every time she came home from school.
After Jiang Wei Qiu noticed the changes in his sister, he took the initiative to ask about Gong Xue's life. Jiang Yingyue was not embarrassed and frowned as she expressed her confusion.
After carefully listening to his sister's doubts, the young Jiang Weiqiu pondered for a long time before saying, "A person's words and expressions can be deceptive, but their eyes are hard to lie. If you're not sure why they approach you, just look into their eyes more often."
Ten years had passed, but Jiang Weiqiu was surprised that his sister still remembered him.
He didn't expect that his sister cared so much about what he had said.
Jiang Wei Qiu was so happy that the corners of his mouth widened wider and wider.
Not noticing that her brother was already lost in thought, Jiang Yingyue sighed rather melancholy, "She herself may not even realize that the loneliness in her eyes cannot be concealed."
"You never like to meddle in other people's affairs." Jiang Weiqiu came back to his senses. "Why are you so concerned about His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Princess Pingyang this time?"
"That's because Ah Lu specifically told me to take good care of Princess Pingyang before she left."
Jiang Weiqiu raised his eyebrows high, and his face was full of expression saying "I don't believe it, don't try to fool me."
"Is that really all? Isn't it crossing the line to even take care of your love life?"
Her brother's question actually made Jiang Yingyue's cheeks flush lightly, her eyes flickered, and her words became less confident and more guilty.
Speaking of this matter, Jiang Yingyue also has selfish motives.
Although their Jiang family remained neutral on the issue of the crown prince, her second brother later entered the palace to accompany the prince, and until today he works in the Eastern Palace as the prince's tutor. She felt that in the eyes of outsiders, the Jiang family was already a branch of the prince, so she also wanted to do something to make the relationship between the Jiang family and the Eastern Palace closer, so that the prince could trust her second brother more.
Secondly, she had recently arranged a marriage with Sanlang, who worked for the Minister of Personnel. With the tacit consent of their parents, they had met several times and were relatively satisfied with each other. Her own relationship was going smoothly, so she thought she was an expert and wanted to match the Crown Prince with Princess Pingyang. She felt that marriage should at least be based on mutual affection. If the Crown Prince clearly had feelings for Princess Pingyang but turned around and married Sister Wanwan, wouldn't that be unfair to Sister Wanwan?
Faced with Jiang Weiqiu's constant questioning, Jiang Yingyue had no choice but to reveal her naive thoughts.
Jiang Weiqiu laughed, reached out and gently stroked his sister's forehead, his eyes gentle and soft: "Ying'er has really grown up. She knows that her brother's life is not easy and she cares so much about him."
Jiang Yingyue pursed her lips tightly, wondering if the rather helpless expression on her brother's face meant something different. Could it be that she had done something wrong?
"Ying'er, did you think of Princess Pingyang when you made this decision?"
Jiang Yingyue was stunned by these words. Her eyes were blank as she stared at Jiang Weiqiu, seemingly understanding but not quite understanding, as if waiting for his next words.
"The Crown Prince punished so many people to avenge Princess Pingyang, using ruthless tactics, even earning him chastisement from the Saint. Could it be that Princess Pingyang had no idea of his feelings for her?" Jiang Weiqiu patiently guided his sister's thoughts. "Yet she hasn't responded at all. Why do you think that is?"
Jiang Yingyue lowered her eyes and thought for a moment before speaking hesitantly, "Is it because... well, because there's no way to respond?"
"Do you still remember why Princess Pingyang came to the capital?"
"The Sage summoned the King of Chu to the capital to report on his duties. He refused, citing his age and frailty, and instead sent his son and the princess to represent him."
Jiang Yingyue answered this question quickly. When she finished speaking, she suddenly understood: "The prince and the princess are hostages sent to reassure the saint."
Jiang Weiqiu's lips curled up in a smile of relief and pride, feeling that she was truly worthy of being his sister, her responsiveness was remarkable. He then pressed on, "Then why did the King of Chu need the Saint to be at ease?"
After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Yingyue suddenly raised her eyes to look at Jiang Weiqiu, her slightly dilated pupils revealing a look of surprise: "Could it be that the King of Chu..." She hesitated, her voice unconsciously lowering as she thought of her own guess, "It can't be that he has rebellious intentions, right?"
Jiang Weiqiu smiled without saying anything, his dark eyes revealing his admiration for his little sister. His little sister was intelligent, and if she was taught, she would be able to analyze the political situation in the court in the future.
Thinking of this, Jiang Weiqiu couldn't help but feel regretful. What a pity, what a pity that Ying'er was a girl. In the future, she would be trapped in the inner house, a pampered canary, a caged bird.
Jiang Weiqiu's attitude said it all. Jiang Yingyue was in shock and couldn't believe her own guess. She wanted to verify it, but she couldn't ask Princess Pingyang in person if it was true.
"Princess Pingyang is a reasonable person, so she chose to avoid it. Why are you the foolish one, insisting on getting involved in this mess?" Jiang Weiqiu tapped his sister's forehead. "You only care about your own ideas and ignore hers. If something really goes wrong, how do you want her to cope?"
Jiang Yingyue realized her rash actions and regretted them greatly. Then, as if remembering something, she suddenly turned to look at Jiang Weiqiu: "If you know so much, why did you tell me this? Aren't you afraid of causing trouble?"
Jiang Weiqiu smiled faintly and said confidently: "I believe Your Highness will make the right choice."
As for what the right choice is, the answer is self-evident.
Jiang Yingyue sighed, "It seems that everything in this world is really about fate."
"Since you're talking about fate, I heard from my mother that you're going to Yuyin Temple to fulfill your vow in a few days?"
Jiang Yingyue nodded obediently: "Before, my mother went to pray for a smooth marriage for me. Now that the marriage with the Yang family is confirmed, my mother said that I must go to the gods and Buddhas in person to fulfill my wish."
"Then when you guys decide on a time, I'll go with you."
Jiang Weiqiu had been away from home for a year working for the Crown Prince. Now that he was home, he naturally had to show filial piety to his mother and act like an older brother to his sister.
Jiang Yingyue covered her lips and smiled: "Why, second brother is going to pray for a smooth marriage for himself too?"
The Jiang siblings joked all the way back to the mansion and didn't mention it anymore. They said that after Chu Canglang met the emperor about leaving the palace, they were worried that the emperor would not let them go easily, but they didn't expect the emperor to agree immediately, which surprised Chu Canglang.
However, the Chu family didn't think much of it. Leaving the palace quickly was the most important thing. Within two days, they had packed up their belongings and left the palace with a team of carriages and horses, heading towards the manor in the suburbs.
When she finally left the palace, Chu Miaomiao lifted the curtain and glanced in the direction of the East Palace with a faint smile on her lips.
"Anyway, thank you for taking care of me during this time." Chu Miaomiao murmured in her heart, "From now on, we will be far apart and will never meet again."
The moment she stepped out of the palace, Chu Miaomiao felt as if a thousand pounds of weight had been lifted from her shoulders, and her mood was no longer as heavy as it had been in the past few days.
From now on, she may never have the chance to enter the palace again, nor will she see Wei Zhen again.
She thanked Wei Zhen for his kindness and wished him a happy and harmonious life with the future Crown Princess.
From now on, she would no longer feel anxious because of this inexplicable romantic thought, and could start to seriously consider how she and her brother would escape if her father caused trouble.
The sky is big, the earth is big, but life is the greatest.
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