Winning over
Shangguan Zeyu: "The news that Consort Liu was flogged fifty times and confined for a year has already spread throughout the palace. Now, my beloved consort, you have also made a mistake, and everyone in the palace is waiting for my attitude. I cannot protect you. If this is not possible, then my beloved consort, you will have to follow Consort Liu's example, be flogged fifty times and confined for a year, only then can we give everyone an explanation."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yiqing turned pale with fright, and cold sweat poured down her forehead.
"No! Your Highness, I... I refuse..."
"My beloved concubine, what are you unwilling to do? Are you unwilling to let Madam Shen be promoted to a concubine? Or are you unwilling to be tortured?"
"Your Highness!" Xiao Yiqing cried out in anguish. After a difficult decision, she said, "Your Highness thanks me for your mercy. I have always been pampered and have never suffered any hardship. A beating... would surely kill me." She sobbed uncontrollably.
"I understand now. Alright, my beloved consort, don't be sad. I will take your side in this matter."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yiqing immediately clung to him as if she had grasped a lifeline.
"Alright, wash your face and rest. I still need to go to the palace to see the Emperor." Shangguan Zeyu gently patted Xiao Yiqing's back, helped him up, and left.
Lady Shen was overjoyed to be promoted to a concubine, and even the servants who followed her were promoted along with her.
Needless to say, Wang Qianqian and Wu Lanyu were filled with jealousy, envy, and hatred, completely forgetting about Jiang Yan's release from confinement.
The happiest person was Huang Ying when Jiang Yan was released from confinement.
She carefully helped Jiang Yan lean against a stack of soft blankets behind her, and said excitedly.
"Master, you are free now! You no longer need to be confined!!"
Seeing her beaming with joy, Jiang Yan smiled slightly as well.
"Could it be just hearsay again?"
Huang Ying frowned and said seriously, "No! This time, it was Steward Cui who personally informed me. It was the Prince's order, there's no doubt about it."
Shangguan Zeyu?
What does he mean by that?
Could it be that they know she is innocent?
"Didn't you say anything else?"
"No, oh, and also said that you should take good care of your health and not overwork yourself."
Jiang Yan gave a sarcastic smirk.
"The prince sent a lot of tonics and supplements yesterday. Your Highness, the prince is treating you very well."
They've been treating me quite well?
If he truly treated me well, why didn't he step in to save me the day Xiao Yiqing punished me with a cane?
What kind of good or bad is it to leave the bride alone in her room on her wedding night?
However, these are all decisions made after weighing the pros and cons.
"My lady, have some ginseng and bird's nest porridge to nourish your body." Huang Ying fed her a spoonful.
She opened her mouth and swallowed it.
Huang Ying added, "My lady, Madam Shen has been promoted and is now a concubine."
"Um."
"Master, aren't you sad?"
"Why should I be sad?" Jiang Yan found it ridiculous.
“My lord, Madam Shen has always been causing you trouble. Now that the prince has promoted her, she will probably become even more lawless in the future.”
Jiang Yan couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Don't tell me she's so well-behaved now?"
Huang Ying couldn't help but laugh as well: "Master, you guessed right. Madam Shen is now arrogant and disdainful of everyone."
"Hey, it's not that I look down on her. She's a mulberry picker, probably the one with the worst background among the ladies. Wang Qianqian is so arrogant, and Wu Lanyu is so high-status, yet they're still just ladies. She's suddenly risen to prominence, which has probably angered everyone. Her hard days are yet to come, she doesn't have time to bother with me."
Huang Ying, however, was nervous and uneasy.
Jiang Yan looked at her: "What's wrong?"
Huang Ying looked up at her: "Master, please don't be angry."
Jiang Yan was puzzled and chuckled, "Why would I be angry?"
"Your Highness, Princess Xiao is alright now."
The smile on Jiang Yan's face gradually disappeared.
She had heard Huang Ying say that Xiao Yiqing had been caught red-handed by Shangguan Zeyu while having an affair. It was not something that could be resolved by just locking her up for a few days.
It is evident that Shangguan Zeyu highly values Xiao Yiqing.
Let's set aside any talk of feelings, but there must definitely be some conflict of interest involved.
"Princess Xiao is, after all, the prince's legal wife. It's understandable that the prince loves her and sides with her."
"But Master, this is not fair to you at all!!"
Yes, Xiao Yiqing committed adultery, such a serious crime, and was caught red-handed, yet she's said to be fine as if nothing happened.
After Shen Qianqian lost her child, he visited her, comforted her, and even promoted her.
And her?
She was clearly the most innocent, but as soon as someone tried to pin the blame on her, he believed it and even had Xiao Yiqing beat her and lock her up.
He didn't do anything practical, but simply sent someone to deliver some medicine.
"Sigh, comparing yourself to others is just awful! If you're not destined for it, don't even think about it!! I've completely figured it out now, I can't rely on anyone but myself. I dare not accept the prince's love, nor do I have the fortune or the life to accept it. Most importantly, I don't want it, I don't need it."
"Master!" Huang Ying strongly disagreed.
Jiang Yancai was slowly recovering and had no interest in discussing such matters with her. Pretending to be sleepy, she slowly slid off the soft blanket.
The summer solstice is on its way, and the weather is getting hotter and hotter, making it unbearable.
Jiang Yan's health has improved somewhat. As the sun sets, she sits in a rocking chair in the courtyard to while away the time.
Huang Ying was still sitting at the white jade table in the corner, doing needlework.
The two women, mistress and servant, went about their own business, content and harmonious.
However, this peace and tranquility did not last long before it was shattered by uninvited guests.
"Is my sister home?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan sat up in surprise.
Huang Ying was also full of surprise and astonishment.
The two women, mistress and servant, exchanged a glance, unsure of how to react, when she pushed open the door.
Jiang Yan quickly lay down again, closed her eyes, and pretended to be asleep.
"May Madam Wu be blessed."
"Where is your master?" The voice had lost the softness and politeness it had when asking the question earlier.
Huang Ying glanced in Jiang Yan's direction: "Reporting to Madam Wu, the mistress is asleep. She's over there."
Wu Lanyu looked in the direction she was pointing with her right hand.
"What kind of servant are you? My sister is weak, how can you let her sleep in the courtyard?"
"Please forgive me, Madam Wu. I will remember this and it will not happen again."
"A next time?! I, your wife, will teach you a lesson right now on behalf of my sister!!!"
Upon hearing that Wu Lanyu was going to hit Huang Ying, Jiang Yan pretended to be woken up by her and said unhappily.
"What's all the noise about? Don't you know I'm resting?" She slowly opened her eyes.
Wu Lanyu said apologetically, "My sister's voice is too loud, disturbing my rest."
Jiang Yan waved to Huang Ying, who ran over and gently helped her sit up.
"Sister Wu, what brings you here?"
"My younger sister had wanted to visit her older sister a few days ago, but considering that she needed to rest, she didn't dare to disturb her."
Jiang Yan stared at a certain spot in front of her, her expression blank.
Wu Lanyu glanced at her, then pretended to suddenly remember something, exclaimed "Oh!" and hurriedly called out to Qingmei outside the courtyard.
"Qingmei, come in!"
Qingmei quickly ran in and bowed to Jiang Yan.
Where is the stuff?
Qingmei quickly took out a green porcelain bottle about the size of an apricot from her floral cloth bag.
“Sister, this is a tonic that I asked Father to find for me, a Qi-tonifying pill. It can replenish blood and qi and improve complexion, which is perfect for your weak constitution.” Wu Lanyu handed it to Jiang Yan with both hands.
Jiang Yan glanced at her, then fixed her gaze on the medicine bottle.
She didn't believe Wu Lanyu was so kind!
Last time, the trick she set up for her really made her suffer, she almost lost her life!
"Sister, this is just a small token of my appreciation. If you find it effective after taking it, I'll ask Father to get some more." Wu Lanyu forcefully shoved the medicine bottle into Jiang Yan's hand.
As if he had touched a hot potato, Jiang Yan quickly released his left hand that was holding the medicine bottle, and the bottle rolled to the ground.
But it didn't break.
Qingmei saw this and said angrily.
"Consort Liu, what do you mean by this? Do you know how precious this Qi-gathering pill is?"
"Don't be rude!" Wu Lanyu glared at her.
Jiang Yancai didn't believe the back-and-forth between the mistress and servant.
"Madam Wu, it's not that I don't value what you gave me, but I'm still too weak to hold it." Wu Lanyu glanced at Huang Ying, who immediately understood and prepared to pick up the medicine bottle, but Wu Lanyu picked it up first.
"It's my sister who's clueless." He handed it to Huang Ying.
Huang Ying didn't answer.
"How can you be such a servant? You have no sense of propriety at all!!" Wu Lanyu glared angrily at Huang Ying.
Jiang Yan: "Let's not talk about her, it's the prince's idea."
Wu Lanyu's angry gaze suddenly turned into one of confusion.
"I wonder if Madam Wu has heard that someone has been trying to poison me. The Prince forbids me from eating anything other than what he bestows upon me, especially medicine and tonics. I appreciate your kindness, sister. You should keep them for yourself."
Wu Lanyu's face contorted with rage, and the veins on her right hand, which was gripping the medicine bottle, bulged.
Jiang Yan breathed a sigh of relief.
"Huang Ying, night has fallen. Please see Madam Wu off on my behalf."
Wu Lanyu instantly became so angry that her whole body stiffened, as if she was about to start a fight.
Jiang Yan was a little scared, worried that she might take her anger out on her again.
She wasn't a cripple now, but she was practically one, with no extra strength whatsoever. If she were to be hit, she wouldn't have the ability to retaliate at all, and she stood up unsteadily.
Wu Lanyu looked at her.
The night grew dark in the blink of an eye, and Jiang Yan could no longer see her expression.
"Sister, I have another question for you." Her tone was gentle.
But in Jiang Yan's mind, an image automatically appeared: a person with glaring eyes, a face full of hostility, and clenched teeth.
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