Please return
Jiang Yan led Huang Ying on a non-stop stroll, visiting one shop after another, eating and drinking, and buying many favorite ornaments. It was already dark when they finally decided to head back.
Huang Ying meant to hire a carriage, but Jiang Yan said that the weather was fine, neither too hot nor too cold, and walking back would be good exercise, as well as a chance to see the night view of the capital, killing two birds with one stone.
Huang Ying naturally supported her, and the two of them, mistress and servant, walked toward the Chen residence chatting and laughing.
As Jiang Yan passed by Furong Tower, she unconsciously recalled her previous visit there, and a sudden feeling of things being different and people not being the same arose in her heart.
The feeling came out of nowhere and left just as inexplicably.
Seeing that she kept gazing at the Hibiscus Tower, Huang Ying assumed she wanted to go inside and said, "If Your Highness wishes to go in and have a look, this servant will accompany you."
"No need, I was just wondering why they haven't gone home yet, it's already dark." He continued walking.
Huang Ying glanced again at the brightly lit, multicolored Furong Tower, and followed her, saying, "High-ranking officials and nobles only come out for social events at night. I heard that Furong Tower is packed with customers all night long."
"They can stay up even later than modern people!"
Huang Ying had heard too many of the strange things she occasionally said, so she was used to it and said, "Everyone must be very busy."
Jiang Yan laughed and said, "You're right! I really am busy!!"
As they were walking, they suddenly noticed a tea stall ahead that was crowded with people. Jiang Yan, who loved to join in the fun, grabbed Huang Ying and hurriedly ran over.
"...How could it be fake? The Emperor has done something to Prince Duan, but he's been trying to win over Prince Su. Who hasn't heard a few things about Prince Su?"
"I heard that Prince Su was previously very close to the national advisor of an enemy country. Is that true?"
Where did you hear that from?
"I overheard the conversation from the businessmen at the dinner, but I only vaguely heard it mentioned. It happened several years ago, so I don't know if it's true or not."
"Whether it's true or not, I don't know, but the fact that people on the border have been migrating to the Central Plains one after another says something, doesn't it?"
After a few seconds of silence, everyone started talking again.
"Why are all these officials coming to the capital instead of serving the people in their own territories? Aren't they afraid of causing trouble?"
"Is there even a need to guess? It must be the Emperor's will, otherwise they wouldn't dare to do it even if they were given ten heads!"
"Could it be a re-selection of officials?"
"How so?"
"A new emperor brings a new court. The previous officials must have had a close relationship with Prince Duan. The reason why the emperor is now choosing his trusted assistants is probably because of this."
"Alas, what a disaster! I have a feeling that the Great Zhou Dynasty is doomed!"
After another moment of silence, someone suddenly spoke in a voice only they could hear: "Could Prince Su be plotting a rebellion?"
The single stone stirred up a thousand waves; everyone was alarmed and fell into deep thought filled with fear.
Jiang Yan didn't dare get too close, hiding at the entrance of a nearby alley to listen. Hearing what they said, she immediately felt something was wrong.
Is Shangguan Zeyu really going to be killed?
Is the nation really about to face a major upheaval this week?
They quickly left with Huang Ying and returned to the Chen residence. Before they even reached their lodgings, they were stopped by Chen Run, who had been waiting for them on the way.
"You're still awake?" Jiang Yan asked.
"How can I sleep when Ruyi hasn't returned yet?"
"Now that I'm back, you can go to sleep." After saying that, Jiang Yan was about to leave, but Chen Run suddenly reached out his right hand and grabbed her right hand that was being pulled behind her back.
Jiang Yan was taken aback and turned to look at him: "What's wrong?"
Chen Run paused for a moment, then asked, "How is Ruyi feeling?"
"I'm in a great mood. What's wrong?" Jiang Yan was puzzled.
"Ruyi, it's my fault for not protecting you. I should have gone out with you."
Hearing Chen Run's self-blame and remorse, Jiang Yan suddenly understood. It turned out it was because of Liu Ruyan's matter during the day.
"Oh, you've heard about it, haven't you? It's nothing, just that enemies are always jealous of each other. It's all in the past." She tried to break free from Chen Run's right hand, but Chen Run's right hand was like a vise, firmly handcuffing her.
"I'm really okay now!"
"You and she are sisters, how did things turn out like this?"
Chen Run clearly doesn't know anything about her relationship with Liu Ruyan.
Jiang Yan thought for a moment, sighed, and said, "Between sisters, some small things can escalate into big things. It's nothing serious."
"Really?" Jiang Yan seemed to feel Chen Run squeeze her wrist slightly, and then she added in a daze, "It's all for Shangguan Zeyu." After saying that, she was suddenly shocked. How could she have said something she shouldn't have?
"Is Ruyi scared or flustered?" Chen Run's voice was neither hurried nor slow, neither loud nor soft, but it was very intimidating to the ears.
Jiang Yan suddenly realized that she seemed to understand Chen Run less and less, and she suddenly began to be afraid of this side of Chen Run.
"How should I put it? She likes Shangguan Zeyu and wanted me to act as her matchmaker, but as you know, I'm just a concubine, I don't have any influence, and I can't help her, so she got angry, resentful, and it turned into hatred! It's that simple!!"
Chen Run still didn't let go of her hand, and his eyes were fixed on her, as if trying to figure out how much of what she said was true and how much was false.
Jiang Yan felt a chill run down her spine under his gaze. She had always thought that as someone with a higher education in modern society, she could easily crush others in this feudal country. But time and again, reality proved that she was the one who was truly the idiot!
"Chen Run, it's too late, I want to sleep!" Jiang Yan struggled with all her might, but little did she know that Chen Run had already let go, so her struggle turned into a one-woman show, which was as ridiculous as it could be.
Feeling annoyed, Jiang Yan took a deep breath, glared at Chen Run under the cover of night, and then went back.
Jiang Yan never expected that the trouble she was caused by Liu Ruyan would become such a big deal. It was only five days later, on the morning of that day, when she was stopped by Cui'er while taking Huang Ying to the morning market, that she found out.
Cui'er was a maid in the Liu household and had a good relationship with Huang Ying.
When Huang Ying saw her lingering around the Chen residence, she assumed she had come to visit her. Excitedly, she ran up to her, grabbed her arm, and said with a grin, "How did you know I was here? I'm so happy you came to see me!"
Jiang Yan was pleased to think that Cui'er had come to visit Huang Ying, but she was stunned when Cui'er spoke.
"What did you say? My father wants me to go back?"
"Miss, I only found out this morning that you and Huang Ying are here. Master sent me to invite you back."
"Is something wrong?" Jiang Yan immediately sensed something was wrong.
Cui'er glanced at Huang Ying with a troubled expression before looking at her and said, "To be honest, it's because of the Second Miss."
"About Liu Ruyan?" Jiang Yan asked in surprise. "What happened to her? Didn't she become the Princess Consort of Su? What could possibly be wrong with her?"
“Miss, this is a long story. You should go back and ask the master.”
Upon hearing Cui'er's words, Jiang Yan felt even more uneasy and hurriedly asked, "What exactly is it? Tell me quickly, otherwise how will I know what to do later?"
Cui'er was in a dilemma and hesitated.
Huang Ying said, "Master is a good person. You should speak first. Master will definitely not expose you. Trust me!"
Cui'er looked at Huang Ying and Jiang Yan with difficulty before saying, "The Second Miss has been divorced by Prince Su!"
"Divorced?!" Jiang Yan thought she had misheard. "How could that be? I saw her so glamorous just a few days ago!"
Huang Ying didn't believe her either: "Yes, my master and I saw it with our own eyes. The second young lady was very glamorous back then."
"It happened the next day. These past few days, Master has been working tirelessly for the Second Miss, but to no avail, which is why he sent me to find the Eldest Miss."
"This is being blamed on me again? What does it have to do with me?" Jiang Yan was completely bewildered.
"Young Miss, you should come back with me!"
Jiang Yan didn't want to go back.
She's nameless, has no status, and is still a criminal. What would she do if she went back?
She used to be Shangguan Zeyu's concubine, and she had to watch her breath when she went back. Now that she's going back, won't she be torn to pieces?
She's not going back!
"Young Miss, Master said that if you don't go back, I'll wait for you here. I can only go back when you're willing to!"
"Then why don't you just stay here and not go back? Come with me!"
"Young Miss, I dream of following you, but my indenture is still in Madam's hands. I can't go anywhere!"
"This... can't I just not have a contract of servitude?"
Huang Ying: "Master, you don't know this, but a servant's indenture determines his or her fate. Wherever the indenture is, that's where he or she is. No matter how far he or she runs, he or she still has to go back."
"Where is your indenture?"
"My indenture has already been burned by the young lady."
"So you're a free agent?"
"Um."
Cui'er was both anxious and frightened: "Miss, I have nowhere else to go but the Liu family. Please have mercy on me, Miss!" With that, she knelt down on the ground with a thud.
The bluestone slabs were hard and cold; even just standing on them with shoes on felt chilly, let alone with her thin clothes and kneeling on the ground.
Jiang Yan was soft-hearted and couldn't bear to see others suffer because of her. She pulled Cui'er up and said, "Alright, alright, don't do this. I'll go back with you."
"Really?" Cui'er almost burst into tears of joy.
"Really! I'm not lying to you!!" Jiang Yan felt a pang of sadness seeing Cui'er so overjoyed at such a small thing, almost to the point of tears. As they walked back together, she asked, "Cui'er, do you have any other family members?"
“I have an older sister, an older brother, and my mother is still alive.”
"Do you want to go back?"
"I want to go back!" Cui'er genuinely wanted to go back, but in an instant, her expression dimmed. "This servant will have to stay in the Liu family for the rest of my life; I can't go back."
Jiang Yan didn't say anything more, but she already had a plan in mind.
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