Chapter 428 Full Moon

When Old Lady Lu saw the wife of Marquis Changxing and others smilingly surrounding Dou Zhao, she thought of Jiang Yan and glanced at the crowd, but she did not see Jiang Yan.

She whispered to Ruotong, who was serving her tea, "Why don't you see Miss Biao?"

Ruotong smiled and said, "My cousin was here just now. I'm afraid she left for something." As she spoke, she stretched her neck and looked around, but didn't see Jiang Yan, so she smiled and said, "Madam, do you want me to go look for my cousin?"

There were too many people and it was noisy. Maybe Jiang Yan had gone somewhere else.

Madam Lu smiled and said, "No need, I'm just asking."

As soon as she finished speaking, the fifth and sixth wives of the Dou family came over with smiles.

Old Madam Lu put the matter behind her and started chatting with the fifth and sixth wives of the Dou family.

Jiang Lizhu, who was standing next to Mrs. Lu, was cautious.

She didn't see Jiang Yan for a long time, and she couldn't help but feel a little worried. She even asked several maids, but they all said they didn't see him. She thought about it and quietly went to Bishuixuan.

Jiang Yan was sitting on the big kang next to the window doing embroidery. Seeing Jiang Lizhu coming to visit, she felt embarrassed and said, "I saw that my sister-in-law had taken care of everything and there was nothing for me to help with. I am also a person with shallow eyes. When there are so many people around, I can't speak clearly. I am afraid of embarrassing my brother and sister-in-law, so I hid here."

Jiang Lizhu couldn't help but sigh.

Fortunately, the Song family had few descendants and the side branches were separated out early, otherwise, given Jiang Yan's temper, the relatives would have been eaten up without leaving even a bone.

She advised: "How many people are born not to be afraid of strangers? The more people you meet, the better it will be. You don't even know that Old Madam Lu just asked you about it!"

Jiang Yan lowered his head, sewing quickly, but said nothing.

As the two of them were not familiar with each other, Jiang Lizhu could not persuade them any further and stood up to say goodbye.

Jiang Yan liked Jiang Lizhu very much. Seeing her disappointed expression, he was anxious. He pulled Jiang Lizhu's sleeve and said, "Sister-in-law lifted me up. I'm not someone who doesn't know how to be lifted up. It's just that they all like to stare at me. I, I... I am a person who cannot stand the light... My brother and sister-in-law are such good people, but I have implicated them..."

Jiang Lizhu was stunned, and suddenly understood.

Jiang Yan was afraid that if others knew about her experience, she would be looked down upon and bring shame to Song Mo and Dou Zhao.

Jiang Lizhu thought about the humiliation and resentment she felt when facing criticism from others after the Jiang family was confiscated, and then thought about Jiang Yan's experience. Her heart softened immediately. When she looked at Jiang Yan again, she felt a sense of closeness due to the same suffering. She said, "Don't mind it. Those people are just curious. When something new happens in Kyoto, they will naturally gossip about other things."

Jiang Yan felt very bitter. Jiang Lizhu's sincere words touched the pain in her heart. She couldn't help but confide, "My story is different from others. They can talk about it for decades. I am a useless person and I just want to live a miserable life... I just want to find a place where no one knows me and end the rest of my life..." As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes.

Jiang Lizhu's family had suffered misfortune, so she had more experience than other women. She was more touched by Jiang Yan's words and couldn't help but shed tears.

Jiang Yan felt very guilty and took out a handkerchief to wipe Jiang Lizhu's tears: "I see, you are really annoying, you are talking nonsense and making your sister unhappy."

Jiang Lizhu quickly shook Jiang Yan's hand and said, "Stop talking like that. We are cousins."

This was originally an excuse to evade others, but when it is mentioned now, there is a faint sense of warmth.

The two of them couldn't help but smile at each other, which diluted the sadness just now.

Jiang Lizhu knew that the past had become a knot in Jiang Yan's heart, and wanted to tell her about the experiences of the Wei and He families, but when she thought that Jiang Yan had no hatred towards Li Tiao Niang who harmed her, she swallowed her words and persuaded Jiang Yan in a different way: "You think too much about some things. Since your cousin has brought you into the mansion, he will consider everything for you. Wei Li from Qingyuan County disappeared as early as the Lantern Festival, but Jiang Yan, the cousin of the Duke of Ying's mansion, was the most beloved niece of the Duke's wife when she was alive. You can stay in the Song family with peace of mind. Even if others stare at you, it is because you look like your aunt, not because of anything else."

Jiang Yan was more sensitive than she thought. He said, "These are just words to comfort myself. I look exactly like Madam Jiang. Now everyone is saying that I was born by Madam Jiang and Song Han was adopted from outside. There is no such thing as a wall that cannot be penetrated. One day, they will know who I am."

Maybe someone will sympathize with her at that time, but more will mock and despise her, right?

Jiang Lizhu sighed.

Jiang Yan said, "Today is a good day for Yuan Ge'er. Sister, go and have a drink and watch a play, so as not to spoil your fun because of my matter. But if others ask about me, I'll have to trouble you to cover for me - I'm afraid that my sister-in-law won't see me and will look for me everywhere, causing trouble for her."

Jiang Lizhu had no choice but to nod and said, "I'll come see you again in a couple of days when everyone is free."

Jiang Yan sent Jiang Lizhu to the gate of Bishuixuan.

Jiang Lizhu went to the flower hall.

Jiang Yan looked at the magnificent pavilions and towers at Bishuixuan and suddenly felt a sense of dreamlike unreality.

She didn't want to go back to Bishuixuan, so she walked along a pebbled path outside the Bishuixuan, strolling among the flowers and willows.

Yinghong didn't dare to stop her and followed her silently.

Jiang Yan walked aimlessly like this, not knowing where he was going, but his feet began to hurt.

She looked around and saw an empty pavilion not far away, so she turned and walked towards it.

A young man of about fifteen or sixteen came from the corridor ahead. He was wearing a lilac-colored Taoist robe and it was obvious that he was not a servant who was used to walking around the inner courtyard.

Yinghong was shocked and shouted, "Where did you come from, you fool? This is the inner courtyard of the Duke of Yingguo, why don't you get out of here quickly!"

The young man was horrified, turned around and ran out.

Jiang Yan had sharp eyes and recognized that the young man was Hu Zi who was beside Chen Jia.

She couldn't help but ask, "Huzi, why are you here?"

The young man turned around and saw that it was Jiang Yan. He was relieved and hurried forward to salute, saying, "My master and I came to congratulate the Crown Prince on the birth of a son. My master and several masters from the Shenji Camp and the Wujun Camp were drinking in the flower hall of the outer courtyard. I had nothing to do, so I chatted with a few people around Brother Wuyi. The Crown Prince asked Manager Peng to come up. The knife was heated, and Manager Peng ordered them to move the wine. I thought I was free, so I went along to help. Before the wine was moved, the manager's mother in the inner courtyard came to say that Sister Ruozhu, who was with the lady, asked to go up a few more altars to get the white pear blossoms that were given by the emperor. I volunteered to go to the accounting office to get the key for Manager Peng, but I got lost!

Jiang Yan couldn't help laughing and said, "Why don't you ask someone where the account office is?"

After Chen Jia found her, Hu Zi carefully served her all the way and accompanied her into the capital. When she saw Hu Zi again, she felt very friendly and spoke very casually.

Hu Zi smiled foolishly.

Yinghong understood in her heart.

Most likely, the servants in the mansion couldn't stand this guy named Hu Zi being in the limelight, so they wanted to make trouble for him and pointed him in the wrong direction.

She pointed to the corridor to the east and said, "Go along that road. When you see an alley with flower walls, turn in and you'll find the accounting office."

Hu Zi thanked her respectfully.

Yinghong quickly moved aside.

Jiang Yan asked him, "How is Mr. Chen?"

Hu Zi said happily: "Our master has just been promoted to the town counselor."

Jiang Yan had no idea what the position of a pacification envoy was, but when she heard that Chen Jia had been promoted, she thought it was a good thing after all, so she smiled and asked Hu Zi to congratulate Chen Jia on her behalf.

Hu Zi nodded repeatedly.

Jiang Yan smiled and said, "Then go get the key quickly. Be careful not to delay Manager Peng's work. You might end up flattering someone."

Hu Zi laughed and ran away in a flash.

Jiang Yan met an old friend and felt much better. She smiled and went back to Bishuixuan with Yinghong.

※※※※※

Wang Ge, who was invited to the small study by Song Mo, was in a very bad mood.

He originally just came to join in the fun, but he was caught by Song Mo, who forced him to ask about Song Han's marriage.

Which little bastard in the Qianqing Palace sold him out?

Yesterday was the full-month celebration for the grandson of the Third Emperor. All the royal family members went to the palace to celebrate. The Third Prince Consort Shi Chonglan stuffed a stack of banknotes into his pocket and said that the Duke of England wanted his second son to marry the princess, and asked him to help test the Emperor's mood.

It's been less than twelve hours and Song Mo already knew it!

If he were to find out who tipped off Song Mo, he would skin that bastard and he would not be called Wang!

He didn't realize that his last name wasn't Wang...

But in front of Song Mo, looking at Song Mo who did not hide his hostility towards Song Han, Wang Ge laughed twice in embarrassment, and pushed all the responsibility onto the Third Prince Consort: "I also advised the Third Prince Consort that this is the Song family's family affair. Since the Duke has this idea, why doesn't he go and test the Emperor himself? But the Third Prince Consort said that he should be loyal to the person who entrusted him. I had no choice but to bite the bullet and ask for the Third Prince Consort."

Song Mo said "Oh" with a half-smile, "My father-in-law is right. This Third Prince Consort is too busy. I think I should find something for him to do, so he won't have time to keep an eye on other people's household affairs."

Wang Ge sneered in his heart.

This world does not belong to your Song family. The third princess is the emperor's most beloved daughter, and the third prince consort has always been respectable in front of the emperor. How can you, a mere prince of the Duke of Ying, touch the third prince consort?

He just laughed and didn't say anything.

Song Mo had wanted to deal with Wang Ge for a long time, so this was a good opportunity to teach them a lesson.

Otherwise, if the tiger doesn't show its power, they will think it is a sick cat.

Song Mo also laughed.

But his smile was very reserved.

He smiled and offered Wang Ge some tea: "This is the Da Hong Pao that the Emperor appreciated. I knew that you like it, so I asked someone to brew a pot for you."

It’s really a pity that my father could come up with this idea.

If the matter of the legitimate and illegitimate children is exposed, Song Han will have no choice but to die.

My father pretended to be ignorant and wanted Song Han to marry the princess. Did he think that if the truth came out, the emperor would show mercy to Song Han for the sake of the princess?

Now it seems that Song Han had the same plan when he insisted on marrying no one but Jiang's daughter.

He felt disgusted, as if he had swallowed a fly.

Wangge's eyes flickered slightly.

Yes, doesn’t Song Mo rely on the emperor’s favor?

But I am serving the emperor. Does Song Mo think he can win over me?

Wangge also laughed.

Smiling like a fox.

Song Mo has money.

Not only is he rich, his wife is even richer.

If he doesn't make Song Mo's wallet bleed heavily by then, he, Wang Ge, would be doing himself a disservice!