tidy
For the next two days, no one bothered Jiang Yan. Just when Jiang Yan was feeling smug, thinking she had scared Wang Qianqian and the others, trouble came again.
That morning, because of the light rain the night before, the air was particularly fresh. After breakfast, Jiang Yan took Huang Ying for a stroll.
Jiang Yan insisted on not going to the back garden, so they could only go to Emerald Lake, which was the territory that Jiang Yan often secretly went to and belonged to Princess Xiao Yiqing alone.
On the way, Huang Ying looked around furtively, like a thief.
Jiang Yan was amused by her: "What are you afraid of? There's no one around."
"My lord, do you think someone might be following us and then tell the princess about our visit to Emerald Lake?"
"So what if I tell you? So what if I follow you? You've heard that words don't prove anything, haven't you?" Jiang Yan said with a sly smile.
Huang Ying understood what she meant and relaxed a little, but she was still worried.
"My lord, what if the ladies conspired together to complain to the princess? With so many of them, the princess will surely believe them."
Jiang Yan sighed, then bent down and stared into her eyes, asking curiously.
"Yingying, are you still the Yingying I know? Why are you suddenly so timid?"
Huang Ying felt a little embarrassed by what she said, and her cheeks turned slightly red.
Jiang Yan: "They're just a bunch of bullies who rely on their power. Don't take them to heart. Besides, I'm a concubine. Doesn't what a concubine says carry more weight than what the madam says? Alright, stop frowning. We're here to relax, not to get stuck on this!"
Huang Ying said nothing more and silently followed her toward Emerald Lake.
On previous visits to Emerald Lake, there was no pavilion, but today when they came, they found that a pavilion had been built there.
The pavilion is about the same size as any other pavilion you see, but it is very elegant in style. Half of the semi-transparent pink gauze is hung on its four sides, and when the wind blows, it flutters and dances like a fairy's skirt.
"What a fine mood you've put on! You even built this!" Jiang Yan excitedly ran into the pavilion.
There was nothing in the pavilion except for Xiao Yiqing's mahogany rocking chair.
Without saying a word, Jiang Yan lay down inside, swaying her body and shaking it.
"Ah, this is so comfortable! This is the life a person should live!" She squinted her eyes in bliss, feeling the cool breeze caressing her.
Huang Ying stood to the side, and seeing her satisfied expression, she couldn't help but smile as well.
“My lord, if you like, you can ask the prince to build a pavilion like this for you, so you won’t have to come here anymore.”
"Does the Prince's Palace have any other lakes?" Jiang Yan looked at Huang Ying with anticipation.
Huang Ying shook her head.
Jiang Yan's interest vanished instantly.
“I don’t like rocking chairs, nor do I necessarily need this pavilion. What I need is a lake, where I can sit and relax.”
Huang Ying was puzzled by her words.
"My lord, can't you rest and recuperate at Pear Blossom Residence?"
"No, it's because the view here is wide and far-reaching. More importantly, the lake is calm, which helps me to calm down."
"Oh." Huang Ying nodded, seemingly understanding.
Jiang Yan didn't say another word. Instead, she closed her eyes and immersed herself in the slow swaying of the rocking chair. However, this peaceful and tranquil time was not long before it was abruptly disturbed by a group of people.
"Master, someone's coming!" Huang Ying rushed to Jiang Yan's side as soon as she heard the sound of hurried footsteps.
Jiang Yan also heard the footsteps approaching them and sat up.
"Could it be Wang Qianqian and her group again?"
Huang Ying: "The princess and the prince won't be back for a while. The only people who can come here are the servants and them."
Jiang Yan stood up from the rocking chair, ready to leave this place of trouble. However, she had only taken one step down when Wang Qianqian's voice came from in front of her.
"Who is this? I thought it was my elder sister, the princess, who has returned. It turns out to be a concubine!"
Wang Qianqian deliberately made things difficult for Jiang Yan by insisting on saying the words "concubine" one by one, and even emphasizing them.
Jiang Yan immediately understood her thoughts, but she wasn't angry. Instead, she looked at them with a fake smile.
"Oh, it's my younger sisters. I suppose I have a deep connection with you all, as we all thought of coming here to relax at the same time."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qianqian put her hands on her hips, pouted, and took a step forward.
"Does Sister think everyone is like you? Humph, this pavilion was built by the Prince himself for the Princess Consort, and only the Princess Consort can use it! Sister, you've disobeyed the Prince again!" She laughed gleefully.
Before Jiang Yan could figure out how to respond, Wu Lanyu followed closely behind her.
"Sister Concubine, didn't you know about this?" The one who asked was astonished as if she had seen an alien.
Wang Qianqian then smiled and said, "How could Consort Sister not know? She must have come whenever she wanted!"
Jiang Yan glanced at the three of them one by one, and seeing that they all seemed to enjoy watching the drama unfold, he sighed in annoyance and said...
"What are you sisters talking about? I really don't understand!"
Shen Qianqian looked disgusted, raised her thin eyebrows, and laughed.
"Has my sister never been to school? How can she not understand such a simple meaning?"
Jiang Yan continued to feign innocence and ignorance: "This princess truly does not understand."
Wu Lanyu laughed sarcastically: "Sister, I knew your family didn't raise you properly when you were a young girl, right? How come you can't understand even something a child can understand?"
Wang Qianqian looked at her with the same sarcasm.
Jiang Yan had no idea what they were plotting. However, she had just experienced a bitter and sarcastic battle a few days ago. If it happened again today, she would really have to ask them if they really wanted to be as sarcastic and unforgiving as they were.
"Yes, I am indeed ignorant and lack knowledge. Then I will not bother my sisters any longer." With that, Jiang Yan stepped down the stairs and prepared to go in the opposite direction.
However, Shen Qianqian, for some unknown reason, hated Jiang Yan so much that she took a few quick steps and stepped on the long back of Jiang Yan's skirt with her right foot.
Jiang Yan was wearing a light blue dress, so when she realized that the back of her skirt had been stepped on and looked back, Shen Qianqian's muddy embroidered shoes had already left a large muddy footprint on the back of her skirt.
So conspicuous, so glaring.
"What do you mean by this?" Jiang Yan asked angrily.
Shen Qianqian, however, laughed smugly, "Sister, it was my carelessness! How could I have stepped on your skirt? How could you be so careless!"
It sounds like an apology, but it's actually blatant mockery.
Upon hearing her words, Wang Qianqian and Wu Lanyu covered their mouths with their embroidered handkerchiefs and burst into laughter.
You're really asking for it!
Did you think she was easy to bully?
Hmph, then don't blame her!
Jiang Yan looked at Shen Qianqian's smug grin and said softly, "My dress has been damaged, so I have to pay for it!" Before Shen Qianqian could react, Jiang Yan grabbed her arms and dragged her to the lakeside. "Go and wash my feet!" Then she pushed her into the lake with a jolt, and Shen Qianqian screamed and fell in.
Wang Qianqian and Wu Lanyu were completely stunned, and it took them a while to react.
"What are you doing, sister?" Wang Qianqian hurriedly ran to the lakeside, lifting her skirt, wanting to pull Shen Qianqian, who was crying for help, ashore.
Jiang Yan did not stop her.
"Why? Don't you know what good deeds she's done?"
Wu Lanyu also came to help.
Jiang Yan coldly watched as they exerted tremendous effort to pull Shen Qianqian out of the lake, and said...
"My silence does not mean I can let you lecture me as you please! I'm teaching Madam Shen a lesson today, and I hope the other ladies will remember it! Hmph!!!" She turned and left the lakeside.
Halfway there, Huang Ying hesitated and said.
"Master, didn't you go a bit too far just now?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan frowned and looked at her with a stern face.
"You still feel sorry for her? Are you even one of my people? How can you be like this?"
Seeing that Jiang Yan was anxious, Huang Ying quickly explained, "No, no, no, mistress, you misunderstand. What I mean is, if something happens to Madam Shen, how will you explain it to the Prince?"
Jiang Yan's anger subsided somewhat, and she continued walking forward: "What's there to explain? This isn't my fault!"
Huang Ying sighed softly: "My lady, I must say something you may not like to hear, but Madam Shen is also very favored. If..."
"Alright! Stop talking!"
The oriole obediently shut its mouth.
Jiang Yan was in a terrible mood. She was already upset after the commotion earlier, and Huang Ying's words made her feel even more aggrieved.
She walked for a while longer before saying, "Huang Ying, I don't know how your young lady handled such matters in the past, nor do I know how people here deal with problems in this era. But as far as I'm concerned, I only know that if you're bullied, you must fight back. Besides, Shangguan Zeyu is a prince; he shouldn't be an unreasonable person. If it really comes to that, as long as I explain things properly and make things clear, he definitely won't blame me."
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