Misunderstand
Jiang Yan: "What exactly is the Prince's attitude?"
Shangguan Zeyu: "The prince will go back with you the day after tomorrow."
"Can't it be tomorrow? The day after tomorrow is too late."
"Tomorrow? Didn't the concubine say it would disrupt the prince's schedule?"
Jiang Yan noticed that he was angry, smiled, and asked in confusion, "Are you angry? What's there to be angry about? As long as you and the prince like each other, I have no objection, really."
Seeing his brows furrow even more, he patted his chest confidently and assured him, "Really! I don't look down on you, and I'll keep my mouth shut! Really!!"
Shangguan Zeyu couldn't help but sneer: "Keep your mouth shut? Humph!" Then, huffing and puffing, he flicked his sleeves and strode away.
Jiang Yan was still puzzled and couldn't figure out why he was so angry, but after an incense stick had burned for a while, she suddenly realized.
He was forced into it!
He was forced into this by Shangguan Zeyu!
He actually liked men too, but because he was under someone else's roof, he had to submit, and was thus ruthlessly ravaged by Shangguan Zeyu!
He's so pitiful!
Jiang Yan began to feel sorry for Zhang Qin and also felt guilty for her earlier disdain, ridicule, and contempt for him.
Forget it, I'll stop thinking about it. I'll apologize to him another day.
The next day, while Jiang Yan was still asleep, Huang Ying came to serve her.
Jiang Yan had actually woken up, but not knowing what to do so early in the morning, she pretended to be still asleep, stayed in bed, and refused to get up.
Huang Ying: "Master, you haven't had breakfast yet. It's almost lunchtime now, you should get up." She hung the bed curtains on the golden hooks on both sides.
Jiang Yan felt dizzy and lightheaded. She dragged out an "Ah" before reluctantly getting up.
"My lord, the weather is nice today, you can take a good walk and relax."
Jiang Yan got out of bed absentmindedly, letting Jiang Yan dress her.
She's gotten used to being waited on hand and foot now, and she's not as resistant or embarrassed as she was at first.
"Where are you going to wander around? We're going back to the Liu residence tomorrow, so we need to get ready properly."
Huang Ying paused, tying the sash around her neck, and exclaimed excitedly, "His Highness has agreed! Will His Highness go back with you, Mistress?"
"Yes, so what should we do?"
I'm so worried I might lose my virginity to him!
He's a bastard who forces himself on men!
"His Highness will be returning with you, Master. The gifts will certainly be prepared properly, so you don't need to worry about that."
"Um."
"The clothes for your return, Master... Your Majesty will wear that pink, narrow-sleeved, pleated skirt. It's red and festive. As for your jewelry... Your Majesty can wear whichever one you like, it's fine."
"Um."
"Master, we'll probably be setting off early this morning. You should get some rest tonight and make sure you're in good shape."
Huang Ying was even more excited than Jiang Yan.
Seeing this, Jiang Yan's confusion and disappointment gradually disappeared.
"Now it's your time to shine when we get back! You must help me, and we can't let your young lady be bullied again!!"
"Yes! Don't worry, Master, this servant will definitely not let you down!!!"
"Okay, no more makeup, let's get ready to eat. I'm so hungry."
After lunch, Jiang Yan didn't go anywhere. She sat in her rocking chair, waving the big red peony fan that Huang Ying had asked someone to buy for her, and passed the time.
As usual, Huang Ying sat on the white stone bench doing needlework.
Occasionally, they would exchange a word, followed by a long silence.
By the fifth month of the lunar calendar, summer has fully begun, and the sweltering heat is on its way.
Jiang Yan suddenly remembered the newly built courtyard she had seen when she went to the mansion gate to wait for Shangguan Zeyu the day before yesterday, and asked.
"Yellow Oriole, what do you think that newly built courtyard is called?"
"Hundred Flowers Garden, Master."
"A garden full of flowers?" Could it be that the garden was built for the princess?
As the mistress of the royal palace, the princess should naturally assume the role of the head of all flowers.
It probably wasn't made for other newbies, right?
If that were to happen, where would that leave the princess's dignity?
"I heard it was built for a newlywed couple, and it's almost finished, except for the garden which is still under construction."
"Isn't there a back garden? Why is there a yard as well?"
"It's all over the servants' ears that the prince must dote on this woman very much, which is why he was able to build her a Hundred Flowers Garden with its own private garden."
Jiang Yan: "Won't the Princess be unhappy?"
"The princess is very supportive of the prince. She has been in charge of the entire construction of the Hundred Flowers Garden."
This is likely to make Xiao Yiqing sad and disappointed!
She probably thinks that Shangguan Zeyu built this courtyard for her, right?
Oh dear~ that new woman is a real problem!!
Jiang Yan: "Tell me how Liu Ruyan's mother gained Liu Xiangyi's favor."
Huang Ying stopped drawing the thread, thought for a moment, and then said.
"To be honest, when I arrived at the Liu residence, Madam was already there. At that time, the Second Miss was already three years old. Back then, Master already doted on Madam. The Eldest Miss's mother had already been neglected."
"Does she have any clever methods?"
Huang Ying: "This servant has never witnessed it. Madam is quite kind to everyone else, and not very strict with the servants, unless the servants make a mistake. But towards the eldest young lady... she inexplicably dislikes and despises her."
What's going on here?
Is it simply because Liu Ruyi is the legitimate daughter?
But what's the big deal?
It's not like the sons are fighting over status!
The key point is that she has already been elevated to the position of the legal wife, so what is there to worry about?
Jiang Yan: "Liu Ruyan is spoiled and arrogant, isn't she?"
"Yes, that's true! Madam and Master only have one daughter, the Second Miss, and they dote on her very much. Even if the Second Miss wanted the stars in the sky, Master and Madam would pluck them down for her."
Jiang Yan: "Liu Ruyan often bullies Liu Ruyi, right?"
"Yes, the second young lady always likes to snatch things from the eldest young lady, from the master's rewards to a small pastry. Originally, she wanted to take me away to serve her as well, but I was unwilling. The master gave the order, so she let it go."
"Huang Ying, have you ever thought about why Liu Ruyan, Liu Ruyan's mother, and Liu Xiangyi dislike Liu Ruyi so much?"
Huang Ying sighed, feeling powerless to do anything about it.
“I’ve thought about it. I thought about it when I was in the Liu family, but I’m insignificant and have no influence. I’ve thought about it a lot but still can’t figure it out. The young lady is usually very quiet, so I can’t get any answers from her.”
It seems that to understand the whole story, we really need to have a good talk with the people in the Liu family.
Jiang Yan chatted with Huang Ying for a while, then nestled in the recliner and fell asleep. Moreover, she had another dream, a terrifying nightmare.
She dreamt that she stumbled upon Shangguan Zeyu and Zhang Qin's intimate moment, and Shangguan Zeyu ordered her to be torn apart by five horses.
Terrified, she cried, screamed, and begged for mercy, but Shangguan Zeyu remained cold and unmoved. Zhang Qin even mocked her, saying that he was the one who would grow old with Shangguan Zeyu. Moreover, Princess Xiao Yiqing, Wang Qianqian, Shen Qianqian, and others looked at her with contempt and ridicule, as if to say, "You idiot, you don't even know about this!"
She was terrified and woke up to find herself still lying in the rocking chair, but Huang Ying was no longer in the yard doing needlework.
What bad luck!
Why would she have such a dream?
It was because she was afraid—afraid that Zhang Qin would report her to Shangguan Zeyu, and afraid that Shangguan Zeyu would believe him and really execute her. That's why she made this terrifying prediction first.
Yes, that must be it. Otherwise, why would she have such a dream out of nowhere?
Zhang Qin and Shangguan Zeyu must have a very deep bond. Offending Zhang Qin is the same as offending Shangguan Zeyu, or even more serious.
There's a saying that even a good man can't resist the influence of his pillow, so she can't afford to underestimate Zhang Qin; she has to please him and show him respect.
Jiang Yan took a few deep breaths to calm herself down, then nestled back into the recliner and drifted off to sleep. When she heard Huang Ying's urgent calls, she opened her eyes and saw that the sun had already set.
"How come I slept for so long?"
"My lady, this servant will help you with your washing and dressing." Jiang Yan had already helped Jiang Yan up.
Jiang Yan hadn't adjusted to the brightness before her, and her eyes were still closed. Moreover, because she had slept for so long, she felt as if all her strength had been drained, and she didn't want to move at all.
Huang Ying was very anxious and couldn't pull her up, so she said, "My lady, something bad has happened! The prince is going to take you back to the Liu residence tonight."
"......What?" Jiang Yan stared at her with wide eyes, as if he hadn't understood.
“This is the real master! I met Guard Zhang on the road, and he told me personally that the prince has given the order to depart at Shenshi (3-5 PM).
"What time is it now?"
"Master, it will be Shenshi (3-5 PM) in three quarters of an hour!"
"What?" Jiang Yan was so shocked that she sat up straight.
Huang Ying felt very guilty: "Master, it's because I came back late that I didn't wake you up earlier."
"Goodness gracious, what is Shangguan Zeyu thinking? He's thinking about this and that!" Jiang Yan didn't hear Huang Ying's words. "Then hurry up and pack. See what you need to bring, don't forget anything." After saying that, she had Huang Ying pull her up and hurriedly ran back to the house.
Time was of the essence, so elaborate makeup was out of the question. Huang Ying had just finished giving Jiang Yan a simple makeover when the servant came to urge her to hurry up.
Jiang Yan hadn't packed the things he needed to take back yet, and seeing that there was no other way, he had Huang Ying take some silver and set off.
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