chance encounter
Seeing Jiang Yan deep in thought and silent, Wu Lanyu smiled and said again.
"Sister, is this difficult for you? The Liu family runs banks all over the country. Surely you can't not produce anything?"
It's not that she can't produce anything, it's that those things simply aren't hers!
"Sister is reluctant to part with it, isn't she? I imagine what you possess must be a priceless treasure, and you certainly wouldn't want to give it away so easily. I understand, I'll go and tell Sister Shen now." With that, she stood up.
Jiang Yan quickly stopped her.
"Wait! How could I refuse to see you off?"
Wu Lanyu sat down excitedly again.
"Sister, you can give me anything, the most important thing is the sentiment."
Seeing her eyes light up with excitement, Jiang Yan felt a chill run down her spine, wondering if she had fallen for their trick again? Was asking for the things a pretense, but their real intention was to cause her trouble?
But then I thought, it probably wouldn't be that bad, since it was indeed because of her that Shen Qianqian fell into the water.
"Please wait here for a moment, sister, while I go and look for it."
Huang Ying had been listening quietly inside the room, hearing their conversation clearly. As soon as Jiang Yan entered the room, she rushed to her anxiously.
"Master, are you really going to send something to Madam Shen?"
"Can I not send it? I already agreed." Jiang Yan regretted it very much. "Do you think they're plotting against me again? Using the things I sent to do something bad and then blaming it on me?"
Huang Ying lowered her voice again: "Master, why don't you refuse Madam Wu and just say that you don't have anything suitable to give her?"
"Isn't that a bad idea? I've already said it! Fine, I'll just give her one! Go find something from your young lady and let me give it to her."
Huang Ying did not refuse. She ran to the wardrobe, quickly grabbed something, and ran back.
"What's this?"
It's a nearly transparent, hollowed-out sphere, about the size of a bayberry, entirely pink. It's adorned with pale green tassels, making it quite exquisite.
"This is called the Jadeite Exquisite Ball. Miss doesn't like it and has kept it at the bottom of her trunk. Please give this to her, Master."
Jiang Yan held the jade ball up to her eyes and examined it carefully for a while before taking it out.
Wu Lanyu grew impatient and kept glancing into the house with displeasure. When she saw Jiang Yan come out, she finally smiled.
"My sister is here."
Jiang Yan walked over and said, "Here you go." He held the jade ball in front of her.
Upon seeing it, Wu Lanyu immediately beamed with joy, took it in her hand, and examined it carefully again and again.
"Sister's things are so rare, I've never seen such exquisite little things before. Is it too much trouble for you to give them away, sister?" She looked at Jiang Yan with mischievous eyes.
Jiang Yan wanted to say that she was heartbroken, extremely heartbroken, heartbroken to the point of being unable to bear it!
But in the end, she didn't say it out loud.
"It's just a small trinket, nothing to mention. I only wish Madam Shen peace."
Wu Lanyu said, "I will be very grateful for your kindness, sister! I won't bother you any longer." With that, she walked out of the courtyard.
Seeing that she seemed to have run away as fast as the wind, Jiang Yan felt even more uneasy.
The oriole had already run to her side.
"My lord, what are you thinking about?"
Jiang Yan sighed with self-reproach: "I'm afraid I've brought trouble upon myself again this time!!"
"...What does Master mean?"
"Wu Lanyu definitely didn't want my things for Shen Qianqian; she's definitely setting a trap for me! Sigh, I shouldn't have thought so highly of them!!"
"What do we do now? Should I go and get it back?"
"Forget it, it's already like this. Let's see what they're up to!" Jiang Yan sighed helplessly again, then looked up to the sky and cried out, "How could you be so stupid?"
For the next two days, Jiang Yan was in a very low mood, especially when she thought about how she had caused trouble for herself, which made her even more depressed.
That morning, after she had eaten breakfast, she was sitting in her rocking chair, lost in thought, when Huang Ying finally couldn't help but speak.
"Master, are you thinking about that day again?"
"Oh, how can I not think about it? This concerns my life! I don't know what they did with the exquisite ball." Jiang Yan said blankly, gently shaking the bamboo folding fan in her hand.
Huang Ying looked at her, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Master, if I may say something that may displease you, you should prepare to return to the Liu residence."
"What's there to prepare? The prince isn't coming back with me, I can just go back by myself that day."
“My lord, even so, you must report to the prince and obtain his permission.”
Jiang Yan suddenly remembered what Huang Ying had told her before: in the Prince's mansion, female members of the household had to obtain Shangguan Zeyu's permission before they could leave the mansion.
"What can we do then? Is there no other way?"
"Master, this is the only way... Why don't you take this opportunity to mention it to the Prince?" Huang Ying said timidly.
Jiang Yan squinted and pursed her lips in deep thought.
Huang Ying continued, "My lady, think about it. If you don't mention this matter to the prince, doesn't that mean you don't respect him? If the prince is dissatisfied, what will he do?"
Jiang Yan was in even more pain and conflicted.
She didn't want to have too much contact with Shangguan Zeyu, even though she knew she had to rely on him to live in the Prince's mansion.
She didn't want to develop a love-hate relationship with Shangguan Zeyu.
All she wanted to know was how she had traveled here, how she could get back, and how she could seek justice for Liu Ruyi!
But as Huang Ying said, Shangguan Zeyu was the only possibility for her to leave the mansion.
If she wanted to leave the manor, she had to see Shangguan Zeyu and have some interaction with him.
Jiang Yan sighed deeply, unable to make up his mind.
Huang Ying also looked at her with a heavy expression and said.
“My lord, I know what you’re worried about, but now that you’re in the Prince’s mansion, many things can no longer go your way. Even if you can hide for a while, you can’t hide forever. Since that’s the case, why keep hiding? Why not take the initiative?”
Huang Ying's words were like a sudden awakening for Jiang Yan, instantly dispelling all her confusion, bewilderment, and helplessness over the past few days.
Yes, she is now in the Prince's mansion as Shangguan Zeyu's concubine, and that is an unchangeable fact.
So how could she possibly control Shangguan Zeyu's will?
Even if Shangguan Zeyu is indifferent to her now, what if he suddenly has a change of heart one day? Will she be able to escape then?
She already has very little initiative, so she should take the initiative and keep the initiative in her own hands as much as possible, so that she can act with ease.
Jiang Yan understood and was no longer confused or at a loss.
"Alright, I've made up my mind. I'm going to find the Prince now!"
Jiang Yan asked Huang Ying to dress her up as plainly as possible, hoping not to attract too much attention from Shangguan Zeyu at this time.
Huang Ying was very obedient and dressed her up according to her request. Then they went to Yunxiao Pavilion.
The Cloud Pavilion looks quite extraordinary from the outside, much like the places where princes live in TV dramas—spacious, magnificent, and elegant.
Jiang Yan stood at the gate of the courtyard, hesitant, unsure whether she should knock on the door.
Huang Ying whispered, "Master, I don't know if the Prince is busy. It might be inappropriate to knock on the courtyard gate so abruptly."
How could she not know this? When the monarch is busy, anyone who is disturbed will be punished with a cane at best, and death at worst.
But what should we do then?
She can't just stand here waiting like an idiot, can she?
"Huang Ying, go and find someone to inquire whether the Prince is in the manor."
"Yes, Master."
Not long after Huang Ying left, Jiang Yan also left.
She didn't want to stand there like a wooden post, and more importantly, she was afraid of being seen as having ulterior motives and getting into trouble.
Jiang Yan carefully observed the surrounding environment and terrain of Yunxiao Pavilion as he walked back and forth.
Just as she was wondering about the persimmon tree in front of her, a familiar male voice rang out behind her.
Jiang Yan recognized him immediately; the meddlesome servant turned around and looked at him.
"Why are you wandering around instead of doing your job properly?" Upon seeing him, she was shocked to find that it was the "beautiful man" she had seen in the Begonia Garden that day.
How could it be him?
How did he end up here?
Who exactly is he?
Jiang Yan looked at him warily, her voice turning icy: "Who are you?"
Shangguan Zeyu smiled gently, "It's you again!"
"Who exactly are you?" Jiang Yan's voice lowered even further, and his gaze toward him became even more wary.
"Who do you think I am?" Shangguan Zeyu stood still, looking at her with a leisurely air.
Jiang Yan scrutinized him carefully again. He was indeed well-dressed, and his demeanor and appearance were excellent. ... Was he Shangguan Zeyu?
Realizing this, her eyes widened instantly, and her heart skipped a beat.
But his posture is far too cautious.
If it were Shangguan Zeyu, he would definitely stand with his hands behind his back, head held high, looking down at people.
But he... his hands were limply crossed over his stomach, and he was slightly hunched over... his expression was not dignified, and his clothes were not anything fancy...
Is he a servant?
Or perhaps Shangguan Zeyu's personal bodyguard?
She'd heard Huang Ying mention that Shangguan Zeyu had a personal bodyguard, something like... something like "Qin," could it be him?
Oh, right, the person who came to the Begonia Garden that day wasn't Shen Qianqian or Wang Qianqian's lover or relative, but rather Shangguan Zeyu's personal bodyguard!
"Where is the prince?" Jiang Yan asked, staring intently at him.
Shangguan Zeyu paused for a moment, then narrowed his eyes slightly: "Why are you asking this?"
Are you going to tell me or not?
"If you don't tell me why you're looking for the Prince, how can I answer you?" Shangguan Zeyu smiled slightly again.
Jiang Yan was annoyed and wanted to argue with him again, but then she inadvertently caught sight of Huang Ying running back and said coldly.
"Fine, don't tell me! I'll find out anyway!!" She glared at him and ran quickly towards Huang Ying.
Shangguan Zeyu gave her a meaningful look, then quickly hid in the nearby woods.
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