Jiang Lingyao closed her eyes lightly, recalling all the details of what happened yesterday. Finally, she opened her beautiful eyes and said firmly, "He hates me."
Jiang Lingyao hated Duan Nanqi herself, and didn't care that her new husband didn't like her. Instead, she wondered, "If he really hated me and didn't want to get close to me, why did he put on such a gentle face yesterday?"
Xingyun stood beside her, peeling the new oranges that the maid had just brought to her.
"Miss, maybe the aunt is angry today, that's why he is so rude. Yesterday I saw that the aunt was already fascinated by you."
Jiang Lingyao rested her pointed chin loosely on her right hand and waved her round fan intermittently: "No, he doesn't seem angry."
Jiang Lingyao was curious about all the strange things about Duan Nanqi, but this curiosity was not enough to make her test him again. The result was that her efforts today could not easily destroy the peace of her marriage.
"He's right. It's actually best for each of us to live our own lives and not interfere with each other."
Jiang Lingyao raised her lips, smiling brightly and carefreely: "You really touched my heart."
Since Third Master Duan was angry and refused to be a "loving couple" with her, Jiang Lingyao didn't have to endure it. After she leisurely ate the new oranges and drank a bowl of jasmine tea, she asked Xingyun and others to invite Uncle Zhong, the manager of Xinghuang Garden.
Uncle Zhong is now about fifty years old. It is said that he used to be a servant of Duan Nanqi's father. Now he takes care of Duan Nanqi's chores in Xinghuang Garden.
Uncle Zhong's hair was gray, his body was thin, and his face was a little pale. He did not look very healthy.
Even though he knew that Duan Nanqi and she already lived in separate rooms, Uncle Zhong was still very polite: "Young Madam, what can I do for you?"
Jiang Lingyao watched him coughing as he spoke, and couldn't help but frown slightly. She said gently, "Uncle Zhong, if you feel unwell, you can call a doctor at Xinghuangyuan. Even a minor illness can harm your body, so you can't delay it."
Uncle Zhong didn't expect that she would care about him first, and a slight smile appeared on his face: "Alas, it's my fault. I caught a cold these few days and got some rheumatism. It's nothing serious, Madam, please don't worry about me."
Jiang Lingyao then said, "I brought some nourishing ginseng from home. I'll have Xingyun pack some for you later. You can boil some in water and drink it on weekdays. It's just right for replenishing your qi and blood."
Uncle Zhong knew it was difficult to refuse, so he said, "Thank you, Madam."
Jiang Lingyao then said, "Uncle Zhong, I brought a lot of old things from home. Although this new house is nice, I'm not used to it. I wonder if I can replace it with my old things?"
Uncle Zhong said hurriedly, "Young Madam, just give me your instructions. I will call a few servants and maids over and make sure everything is ready for you today."
Jiang Lingyao smiled happily upon hearing this: "Okay."
Although Jiang Lingyao was a concubine's daughter of the Marquis of Anding, her biological mother died after giving birth to her. She grew up with her stepmother, who treated her as her own daughter. The old uncle also liked this smart and cheerful granddaughter, so she had a lot of dowry when she got married.
Compared to him, Duan Nanqi, who has no maternal family and whose father died early, seems a little poorer.
If His Majesty the Emperor had not liked him very much and rewarded him with so many useful things, the bridal chamber would not have been so magnificent.
Let’s talk about Jiang Lingyao. Just looking at the 108 loads of dowry, it took her a whole day to move it to the Yongping Marquis’ Mansion.
Soon, Uncle Zhong came over with three or four tall and strong servants and five maids.
Jiang Lingyao walked around the bridal chamber with her hands behind her back, and then began to instruct: "Take these two boxes out, and put out the huanghuali wardrobe I brought. Yes, put it here."
"One hanger is not enough. Put another one here so that you can put more clothes."
"I need to put two footstools here. I want to place a bamboo plant here. Do you have any at home?"
One of the older servants looked capable, so she stepped forward and said with a smile, "Yes, Madam, tell me first. I'll go to the backyard to get it later. If it's not there, I can ask someone to buy it."
Jiang Lingyao was satisfied: "Very good."
She had to change every step she took. In order to make the bridal chamber suit her own preferences, she didn't even have a proper lunch. After a quick meal, she continued with the arrangements.
Before dinner, Jiang Lingyao looked at the newly decorated bedroom and finally smiled: "Very good, you have worked hard, Xingyun, enjoy."
The maid named Ji Ma led the others to thank Jiang Lingyao, and before leaving, she winked and said, "Young Madam, if you want to eat or use anything in the future, just tell me, and I will definitely get it for you."
Jiang Lingyao smiled again: "Okay, got it. I'll take note of Mama Ji's name."
After everyone had left, Jiang Lingyao kicked off her embroidered shoes and lay down softly on the familiar silk quilt.
"Finally it's done. I'm so tired."
Xingyun asked Tingyu to massage her legs, saying, "After today's work, you can relax tomorrow. I'll call for more water later. Miss, you can go to bed early after taking a bath."
Jiang Lingyao closed her eyes slightly and hummed, which was considered as her agreement.
After dinner, Jiang Lingyao took a comfortable bath, and then sat on the imperial concubine's couch, played leaf games with Tong Yun and others for a while, just like she usually did at home, and then went to bed early.
She always ate well and slept well. As soon as she lay down on the bed, she quickly fell into a sweet dream in the familiar smell of Suhe.
But this good dream didn't last too long. It seemed like I had just slept for an hour or two when I heard a familiar voice beside my ear: "Miss, Su Ning is here."
Jiang Lingyao suddenly opened her eyes and sat up, without a trace of fatigue in her eyes.
Xingyun opened the curtain, and outside a slender figure stood quietly beside the bed: "Sir, there is a case."
Jiang Lingyao nodded without saying anything more. Xingyun quickly took out Yaqing's nightgown and helped her change into it while taking out her dressing box.
The nightgown had narrow sleeves and fitted legs, and a round-necked, straight-legged top, which made her walk very agile. After putting it on, she immediately looked slimmer, taller, more capable and more agile.
Jiang Lingyao tied all her long hair into a plain blue headband, then sat in front of the makeup mirror, took out an eyebrow pencil, and drew a stroke on her eyebrows. Without the gaudy makeup, her face looked more handsome.
If you don't look carefully, you would think that she is the same person as Jiang Lingyao, who is always charming and seductive, with a head full of pearls and jade, and silk and satin.
Even if they look at it carefully, most people don't believe it.
After all, everyone in the capital knew what kind of person Miss Jiang Liu was.
Jiang Lingyao changed her clothes and said to the visitor, "Su Ning, let's go."
The visitor was named Shen Suning, a deputy specially assigned to her by the governor of Shuntian Prefecture, and also her junior sister. She was agile, skilled in martial arts, and very smart.
Shen Suning came forward, put her arm around Jiang Lingyao's waist, and led her to the window.
It was already night, and the entire Yongping Marquis Mansion was silent. Apart from the early chirping of cicadas, there was no other sound.
At this moment, the study room on the first floor was also pitch black, and Duan Nanqi should have fallen asleep.
Shen Suning whispered, "Sir, I checked when I came here, and there are no masters around."
Jiang Lingyao was relieved: "Okay, go quickly and come back quickly."
So Shen Suning picked her up and flew out of the second-floor window. With just a leap, they reached the roof and ran towards Liulifang almost silently.
After the two of them left the Yongping Marquis' Mansion, Shen Suning slowed down her pace, found the horses that had been tied up at the entrance of the alley, and rode with them: "My lord, at three o'clock in the morning, the night watchman passed by the Yuyong Prison. He didn't know why the door of the prison was wide open. He happened to take a look inside and saw a person hanged on the gilded pagoda that the Yuyong Prison was building. He quickly reported it to the authorities."
"At the time, he was on duty at a shop in three lanes near Liulifang, but the Jinyi Guards still got to know the news and have now entered the scene to conduct a thorough investigation."
Jiang Lingyao's face darkened slightly, and she asked, "Which department will take over?"
Shen Suning lowered her voice and said, "Beizhen Fusi Dongsifang."
Jiang Lingyao frowned: "How could it be such a coincidence? But since the Imperial Guard has taken over, Lord Yao has also fought for this case?"
Shen Suning said: "It was not Lord Yao who argued, but Gu Chang made a public announcement, asking the Jinyiwei and Shuntianfu to cooperate in the investigation."
Jiang Lingyao was a little surprised: "It has alarmed Mr. Gu? Then doesn't His Majesty also know about it?"
Shen Suning said, "You will know when you arrive."
Jiang Lingyao didn't ask any more questions. After a moment, Shen Suning brought Jiang Lingyao to the front of the Liulifang Yuyong Prison.
The Yuyong Supervisor was supposed to be one of the twenty-four supervisors in the inner court, but because there were craftsmen working there, it was not located in the inner court. Instead, a piece of land was cleared in the Liuli Square and it was surrounded by a high fence.
The two men rode their horses all the way to the alley in front of Yuyong Prison, then dismounted. Jiang Lingyao straightened his cuffs, took out his badge and hung it around his waist.
Then she led Shen Suning out quickly, until they arrived in front of Yu Yongjian.
In a case involving the Imperial Guard, there were captains guarding the door. When they saw the uninvited guest, a young captain shouted, "Who is it?"
Jiang Lingyao's face was grim. She frowned and stepped forward quickly, waving her badge in front of the captain.
"Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate, my last name is Qiao, you can call me Lord Qiao."
The woman had a tidy face and spoke in a firm tone, neither humble nor arrogant. The Shuntian Prefecture Procurator was of the sixth rank, much higher than the rank of the Jinyiwei Captain, so when the Captain saw her, he had to call her "Admiral".
The captain was obviously dazed and didn't know what to do. He hadn't expected that there would be a female prosecutor in Shuntian Prefecture who was so tough.
But the Jinyiwei were always domineering. No matter who the person was, as long as they didn't know him, they wouldn't let him pass.
The young captain immediately raised his head and said, "The Jinyi Guard is handling a case. No one else is allowed to enter."
Jiang Lingyao was not angry, she just looked up at the sky and looked at him calmly.
"One, two."
She counted slowly, and in front of the captain's astonished eyes, when she counted to three, the door of the prison suddenly opened from the inside.
A round, chubby figure appeared in front of everyone.
Lord Yao of Shuntian Prefecture wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "This is an official from Shuntian Prefecture. I have been ordered to investigate the case. Please come in."
The prefect of Shuntian came in person to pick him up, and even though the captain was reluctant, he still let him go.
"Master Yao, we are just following orders, and we are not trying to make things difficult for you."
Lord Yao smiled calmly and said in a peacemaking manner, "I know, I know, so am I not here to pick you up?"
When everyone bypassed the captain and entered the Yuyong Prison, Jiang Lingyao's eyes flashed and he saw several red figures disappearing behind the gilded pagoda.
One of them was tall, strong and slender, with a fair face that glowed under the light, instantly attracting Jiang Lingyao's attention.
Jiang Lingyao narrowed her eyes slightly, because the distance was too far and the light was too dim, so she couldn't see the real face clearly.
Lord Yao did not give her a chance to be distracted. He stretched out his lotus-ribbon-like finger and pointed to the top of the pagoda.
The lights flickered, the gold glittered, and drops of blood flowed down the solemn and dignified face of the Buddha, just like a tear flowing from the corner of His eye.
Above the Buddha's dome, a bloody man was hanging on the top of the pagoda.
A square was inserted across his neck, like a nail, nailing him to the pagoda.
The dead man's eyes were glaring, as if he was terrified by the sudden approach of life and death, or as if he was between life and death, and he could see the empty Yanluo Palace clearly at a glance.
But no one in Yanluo Palace responded.
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