Chapter 111 "The only one I truly love in this life..."
When Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi received Princess Tong'an's invitation, they were enjoying a shocking love triangle in the courtyard of Danyue Pavilion.
The people involved are: Weibo'er, Xiaobaixian, and the cat king Rongtuan'er of the Houfu.
That's right, Xiao Baixian finally couldn't resist the temptation of roast chicken, steamed chicken, and shredded chicken, and obediently let Shen Lingyue take her home, happily acquiring a golden rice bowl.
Ever since Weibo'er was taken out to play by Shen Lingyue and the others for several days, Rongtuan'er suddenly felt lonely in her cat life. She even stopped touching the dried fish that she usually loved to eat. Her daily routine consisted of patrolling back and forth on the huge roof of the Marquis's mansion, looking on with longing.
Finally, when Weibo'er returned, Rongtuan rushed over, meowing excitedly, ready to show off her skills. Just then, a light, white figure jumped off the car, its fluffy tail twitching gently.
"Chirp~"
The fluffy ball was shocked, the fluffy ball was moved, the fluffy ball rolled over on its belly, and its two front paws bloomed wildly.
Even more surprisingly, the little white fairy, who remained unmoved by the scarf's constant flattery, inexplicably caught the eye of the fluffy ball. She gracefully strolled over, and the cat and fox touched noses, appearing very friendly.
"Chirp!"
The scarf went berserk, suddenly lunged forward, opened its mouth wide, and fiercely swallowed the cat's head, smearing its face with saliva.
"Meow!"
The fox and the cat started fighting on the spot, while Little White Fairy nimbly jumped onto the roof of the carriage, whimpering and barking incessantly.
Shen Lingyue used a high-pitched voice to dub it.
"Stop fighting! If you want to fight, go to the dance studio—"
...
Because Prince An's rebellion failed and he was arrested, those families who had once had close ties with Prince An's residence were all on edge, fearing that the Embroidered Uniform Guard would come knocking on their door.
The fact that the Marquis's mansion could live a peaceful life behind closed doors is hard to deny, as these three clowns were constantly fighting, leaving a trail of chaos wherever they went. As a result, the entire mansion had no time to spare and was always busy cleaning up after them.
"Tsk tsk." Shen Lingyue commented as she watched the battle, "White Fox is indeed a monster."
The scarf and the fluffy ball already disliked each other, and now they've become even more bitter enemies.
But what she couldn't understand was how the fluffy ball had caught the fairy's fox eye.
Yan Yi laughed and said, "Maybe it's because they're both female?"
Now it was Shen Lingyue's turn to be shocked. "So, Fluffy Ball is a female cat?"
"You don't know?" Yan Yi asked back, "My mother asked me to draw portraits of the cats before, and she even showed me their file book, which clearly stated that Fluffy is female."
It has to be said that Meng Wanyin is definitely a qualified and experienced cat lover. She has registered every cat she has ever raised, recording their coat color characteristics, personality, hobbies, eating habits, including the frequency of brushing, cleaning ears, trimming nails, and bathing, and even past medical history, care precautions, etc., which is very comprehensive.
"I always thought Fluffy Ball was big and strong..." Shen Lingyue said with awe, "So it's the Cat Queen!"
Good heavens, are those two best friends, Fluffy Ball and Little White Fairy, or are the lilies of their hometown blooming?
A love triangle between a fox and a cat, spanning not only species but also gender...
It was at this moment that Qingchan sent the post in.
"Princess Tong'an wants to see us?" Shen Lingyue's joking mood vanished, her face falling. "Has she discovered something too?"
Previously, they had promised to help Lu Xilou find the property and account books hidden by Prince An. Yan Yi had inquired about this indirectly and learned that Princess Tong'an had contacted Lu Xilou, implying that he should not casually reveal the special relationship between the two of them.
Lu Xilou felt wronged at the time: "I'm known for being tight-lipped. Among all the shady dealings and scandals in the capital, have you ever seen me utter a single word about them?"
Shen Lingyue was immediately captivated. Why didn't God give her a cheat code to read minds?
Then she could follow Lu Xilou around all day, gossiping and eating until she got tired of it...
"Based on our interactions with the princess several times, even if she has some suspicions, she is at least on our side for now."
Yan Yi comforted her, telling her not to panic and to wait until tomorrow to discuss everything.
The next day, the two went to Princess Tong'an's residence.
"You've come at the perfect time. Try the tea brewed by the prince consort."
Princess Tong'an acted as if nothing had happened, warmly inviting the two to sit down, and then introduced, "This tea is brewed with snow collected from pine trees by the Prince Consort last year. It is clear and refreshing, slightly bitter with a sweet aftertaste, and has a unique flavor."
Shen Lingyue had something on her mind. She picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and smacked her lips.
It doesn't seem to be much different from the tea she usually brews with well water.
This explains why people in ancient times dared to drink snow water directly from pure, unpolluted water...
After a moment of lost thought, she raised her little face and smiled brightly at Princess Tong'an, "It really is excellent tea!"
Princess Tong'an glanced at her bright, almond-shaped eyes, rubbed her forehead and smiled wryly, bluntly exposing her, "Alright, I knew you couldn't tell the difference, don't make things difficult for yourself."
Shen Lingyue chuckled and said sincerely, "Tea is enough to quench our thirst. My sister-in-law and I have been traveling for half a day and are very thirsty. This cup of tea is just right."
Princess Tong'an hadn't invited them for tea in the first place. Skipping over pointless pleasantries, she handed them copies of the memorial and asked, "Take a look, do you have any new ideas?"
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi huddled together, watching intently.
"Your Highness intends to take over the Jishantang under Prince An's name and establish the Royal Min'en Temple for unified management?"
She looked up, her eyes shining. "This is a good thing. I was worried a few days ago that if the Prince An's mansion collapsed, what would happen to all those elderly, weak, and widowed people?"
Although Prince An used charity as a pretext to line his own pockets and embezzle a lot of money, he still had to put on a show to fool so many people.
He may be considered extremely wicked, but it cannot be denied that many poor people did benefit from him.
“That’s right, one thing at a time. Jishantang can’t collapse just because Uncle An is crippled. That’s why I invited you here.”
Princess Tong'an gently held her teacup and smiled slightly at Yan Yi, "Every time I see you, you always give me a different kind of surprise."
When Yan Yi met her wise and insightful gaze, her heartstrings seemed to be plucked hard by a certain thought.
Intelligent people don't need to say much; sometimes a single glance is enough.
She returned a faint smile, "Your Highness cares deeply for the common people and is benevolent and righteous. We are willing to do our part for you."
Princess Tong'an raised her cup slightly, as if she were lightly touching it to her from a distance.
She looked at Shen Lingyue, leaning forward slightly, with a questioning tone, "I plan to invite some virtuous and capable women to help manage affairs, with each person responsible for supervision. Does Ayue have any recommendations?"
"Your Highness, you've come to the right person." Shen Lingyue suddenly became enthusiastic, counting on her fingers, "Originally, Sister Zheng would have been the most suitable, but she recently gave birth and won't be available until at least next year."
Princess Tong'an nodded approvingly: "Although Madam Zheng is young, her status is high enough. The granddaughter personally raised by Minister Zheng can't be bad."
“And there’s Lady Deyi,” Shen Lingyue added, “You even invited her to give lectures at the girls’ school.”
"Of course, Mrs. Fan has long been on my shortlist."
"Your Highness could also consider my mother, my eldest sister, and my sister-in-law from my maternal family." Taking the opportunity to arrange things for her own people, Shen Lingyue patted her chest and assured them, "Especially my mother, she is a master at managing the household and has a great business sense."
Princess Tong'an teased her deliberately, "How come they're all your own relatives? That's too biased."
“I don’t shy away from recommending people based on their family connections,” Shen Lingyue said confidently. “It’s precisely because I know them that I dare to recommend them with confidence.”
Yan Yi added, "Your Highness, most of the people we know and trust are our close friends and relatives, but relying solely on this method of recommendation is inevitably unfair and may cause us to miss out on other talented individuals. Why not adopt a rotation system and conduct open recruitment and selection? Any female relatives who are confident in their ability to do this well can come and apply."
Shen Lingyue nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, just like the admissions process for Yunshao Girls' School, except this time we're recruiting... clerks!"
That was close; I almost blurted out the word "civil servant."
Yan Yi glanced at her, understood her meaning, and said, "The newly appointed Jinshi have a three-year observation period to learn and understand the ways of being an official. Your Highness can gather the unmarried women of marriageable age from various families and assign them to assist the wives of the stewards. In this way, the experienced can mentor the new, and after a few years of teaching, there will be no need to worry about the lack of capable reserve talents in the future of Min'en Temple."
"Furthermore, if charity is to operate well and sustainably, it cannot rely solely on donations from various families, or on His Highness paying out of his own pocket, or on funds being allocated from the palace. Over time, it will become a mess."
Shen Lingyue used to participate in a charity club on campus that rescued stray animals and would regularly organize charity sales and design related cultural and creative products for sale.
She and Yan Yi said in unison, "...We must use business to support good deeds!"
Princess Tong'an clapped her hands and said to Yan Yi, "I've heard that your maternal grandfather's family, the Bai family, is a wealthy merchant family that trades between the North and the capital. I wonder if you could write a letter to introduce me to them?"
Yan Yi immediately stood up and bowed in gratitude, "It is Your Highness's willingness to help the Bai family, how could I refuse?"
Shen Lingyue couldn't help but be happy for her.
No matter how wealthy the Bai family is, they are still just merchants. If they can get on the good side of Princess Tong'an, they won't be a money bag that can be bullied by anyone when they come to the capital to develop their careers.
The better the Bai family is, the better Yan Yan will be. Her cheap father and heartless stepmother must be kicking themselves.
...
Princess Tong'an was determined to put the affairs of Min'en Temple on the right track. In order to silence the officials who were nitpicking at the court meeting, she had to come up with a perfect plan.
She was a woman of action; while she was discussing suitable candidates with the two men, she had already arranged for female officials in her household to visit each family to invite suitable candidates.
Fan Qingxi was the first to arrive. She thanked Princess Tong'an for her appreciation and said that she happened to be free recently and was fully capable of handling the job.
She explained with a smile, "Zong-ge'er has been sent to a private school by his father. His teacher is a classmate of his and is very dedicated to teaching. He also provides food and lodging and has three days off every month. I was just lamenting that I had nothing to do at home. If it weren't for the princess's summons, I would have been planning to submit my work to Langhuan Pavilion."
Shen Lingyue coughed twice and grabbed her hand: "We should still submit the story. As long as it's good, the writing fee will be substantial!"
She wouldn't miss any opportunity to make money (scratch that) and discover new authors!
The group found themselves getting along very well and decided to stay at the princess's residence for lunch.
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi also took the opportunity to visit the garden of the princess's residence, where they ran into an acquaintance.
"Princess Lekang." The two quickly bowed, then couldn't help but look behind her. "Your Highness, why are you and Lan Ya'er together?"
Princess Lekang smiled and asked the two women to stand up, then said, "Sisters, please don't keep calling me Your Highness, it sounds too formal. My real name is Xiao Chiying, you can call me Aying or Yingying, it's fine."
She turned around and took Lan Ya'er's hand, explaining, "It was my elder sister who asked Lan Ya'er to come and help me. She wanted to set up Min'en Temple and also comfort the anxious orphans and children in Jishantang, so she asked Lan Ya'er and me to start with Buddhist stories to enlighten them."
Xu Yaoniang was still teaching at Yunshao Girls' School and couldn't leave. Although Lan Ya'er lived with her, it wasn't a good idea for her to be idle all day.
Just then, Princess Tong'an wanted to help Princess Lekang recover from her heartbreak, so she made Lan Ya'er her personal lady-in-waiting.
The two were of similar age and shared common interests. Princess Lekang was gentle and kind, and Lan Ya'er would not feel constrained following her. She believed that she would soon forget the unpleasant memories of her time at the Prince An's residence.
Lan Ya'er stepped forward and bowed to the two women, her voice trembling, "That day... I thank you both for saving me from this sea of suffering."
Later, Lan Ya'er learned that the jade pendant that Consort Li gave her before parting was a signal to those outside to take action.
If it weren't for Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi discovering the conspiracy in time and taking her along under the guise of Guanyin to lure the people out of their homes ahead of schedule...
She couldn't imagine what would happen if the Jishantang were really blown up. Wouldn't all those innocent people who died be the result of her own murder?
She will never be able to forgive herself.
Yan Yi helped her up, gently stroking Lan Ya'er's slightly red eyes, and comforted her, "It's all in the past. It was precisely because your portrayal of Guanyin was convincing enough that you were able to successfully save so many people. The cause of last year has become the effect of today. Perhaps this is the guidance that the Bodhisattva is giving you in the dark."
Lan Ya'er seemed to understand something; her eyes, washed by tears, became even brighter, and she smiled radiantly.
...
The imagined trial did not take place. Instead, a lively gathering of acquaintances was held at the princess's residence. Seeing that everyone was doing better and better, Shen Lingyue was very excited and was still gossiping with Yan Yi on the way back to the marquis's residence.
"Sister Qingxi said that Brother Zong was sent to a private school by his father... I'm so eager to ask her which father arranged it..."
Shen Lingyue was so curious she was itching to ask, and said, "Don't you think she looks radiant today? There's definitely something going on."
Yan Yi poked her forehead. "Alright, if Sister Qingxi wants to tell us, she will naturally do so."
Shen Lingyue pulled out a box of pastries from under the carriage, chewed on them, and then exclaimed, "I've noticed that the princesses' names are all very nice, much nicer than their titles."
Princess Tong'an, Xiao Zhuoying; Princess Lekang, Xiao Chiying.
“I heard Pei Jingyi say that the names of the previous princesses were all given by Empress Wei.”
Yan Yi recalled, "Especially Princess Tong'an, after her biological mother passed away when she was three years old, Empress Wei took her to the central palace and raised her herself. She and her husband became childhood sweethearts because of this."
“I remember my mother saying that Empress Wei was a taboo subject in the palace.” Shen Lingyue stroked her chin thoughtfully. “And the Wei family, why were they exiled, leaving only a sickly consort?”
Yan Yi lowered her eyes and said softly, "He didn't know much about that either, but he vaguely heard that... Empress Wei committed suicide, which enraged His Majesty, who then took his anger out on the entire Wei family and ordered their exile."
"Did Empress Wei commit suicide?"
Shen Lingyue hissed, utterly bewildered, "Why? Doesn't she have a good relationship with the old emperor?"
Despite the supposedly good relationship between the emperor and empress, the old emperor favored Consort Gao exclusively for over a decade.
If the emperor and empress's relationship was not good, the old emperor would rather leave the empress's position vacant than allow his beloved Consort Gao to advance further.
Ahhh, she really wants to hear more gossip about the palace!
The carriage suddenly stopped, followed by anxious voices from outside.
"Are Madam Chen and Madam Zhou inside the car? Help!"
Shen Lingyue sprang up with a swift movement, lifting the carriage curtain abruptly. "Editor Qi? What's wrong with you?"
The man who arrived was Qi Xiuyuan. He looked as if he had run all the way here, panting heavily and in a disheveled state. He said breathlessly, "It's...it's Princess Rongcheng...she's detained Brother Jiang!"
Shen Lingyue: ? ? ?
Wait a minute, didn't Princess Rongcheng like Qi Xiuyuan before? Why did she suddenly change her mind?
And it's Jiang Yunlin... Damn!
She quickly gestured for Qi Xiuyuan to get into the car, "Lead the way!"
...
Inside a private room at Fenglelou Restaurant.
Jiang Yunlin was tied to a chair by the servants of the Prince Heng's mansion, his handsome face turning slightly pale.
"Princess, although I am but a lowly official, I am still a court official. Aren't you afraid of being impeached by the censors for doing this?"
"Impose me on what? Saying I forced you?"
Princess Rongcheng, holding a round fan, lightly lifted Jiang Yunlin's chin and laughed unrestrainedly, "I am the daughter of a prince. You should feel honored to have caught my eye. Let's see who dares to sue me?"
Tsk, she used to only focus on Qi Xiuyuan, how come she didn't notice that this third-ranked scholar also had a unique charm?
Princess Rongcheng tossed aside her fan, her nail-painted fingertips lightly stroking Jiang Yunlin's chin before lingering suggestively downwards.
Jiang Yunlin's scalp tingled, her face flushed red, and she looked like she was about to explode with anger. She twisted and turned desperately to avoid him, "...Princess, you mustn't! I, I'm a jinx to wives!"
“I’m not your wife,” the magistrate of Rongcheng County said matter-of-factly. “I’m already married, and to… a good-for-nothing.”
As she finished speaking, she gritted her teeth, her expression turning fierce.
She had already cut off Jiang Ping's hair, but her father and grandfather still wouldn't allow her to divorce him!
She's not going to spend her days with a useless person; she's going to find her own fun.
"My dear scholar, let's make a deal. I don't want you to take responsibility, I just want... you to have a child for me."
Princess Rongcheng touched Jiang Yunlin's face and found it strangely pleasant to the touch. She couldn't help but gently stroke it again and breathed into his ear, "You know, my husband is no longer useful. I can't just live as a widow for him, can I? I just want a child as handsome as you. Don't worry, the child will take my surname and I will raise it myself. I will absolutely not ask you to take responsibility."
In fact, she had also collected quite a few handsome young men these days, but they were all good-looking but empty-headed and lacked substance. They only knew how to flatter and fawn over her, and Princess Rongcheng got tired of them after a while.
Such a pretty face is fine to play around with, but if you really want to have children, you still need to find a truly virtuous man who is both talented and handsome.
If you have a father who is a third-ranked scholar in the imperial examinations, you might be able to pass the exams and become an official, and rise above others in the future.
Jiang Yunlin closed his eyes in despair.
It's all over... Princess Rongcheng will soon find out she's a woman. Her long-planned revenge will be ruined by the daughter of her enemy. How ironic.
Just as the Rongcheng County official was unbuttoning the first button of Jiang Yunlin's collar.
With a bang, the door was forcefully kicked open, and Qi Xiuyuan and Shen Lingyue rushed in one after the other.
The county magistrate of Rongcheng raised her eyebrows in displeasure. "What are you trying to do?"
“Princess, you can’t force someone to do something they don’t want to do.” Qi Xiuyuan clenched his fist. “Even if you are a noblewoman of the imperial family, you can’t force Brother Jiang to do something he doesn’t want to do!”
"If he's unwilling, then you do it?" The county magistrate of Rongcheng tilted his head to look at him.
Qi Xiuyuan frowned even more. If he liked Princess Rongcheng, would he have waited until now?
Before he could speak, the Princess of Rongcheng sneered, "Qi Xiuyuan, I am not a casual person. You ignored me back then, and now it's too late for you to change your mind!"
She pointed at Qi Xiuyuan and said coldly, "Get out. I don't even look at you anymore."
"Please reconsider, Your Highness."
Shen Lingyue forced herself to speak, "The third-ranked scholar... he already has a woman he likes!"
Jiang Yunlin suddenly opened his eyes and looked at her in disbelief.
"Really?" Princess Rongcheng turned to look at him. "Aren't you said to be cursed to bring misfortune to your wives? Then tell me, who do you like? I'll go and curse her for you right now."
She refused to believe that any young lady in the capital would dare to compete with her for a man.
Jiang Yunlin opened his mouth, and then heard Shen Lingyue call out again.
"The third-ranking scholar's beloved...is Princess Lekang!"
Princess Rongcheng suddenly turned around, staring coldly at Shen Lingyue: "Who are you talking about?"
"The daughter of Consort Xian, the aunt of the County Princess, Princess Lekang, Xiao Chiying."
Shen Lingyue secretly scratched her palm, mustered her courage to look directly into her eyes, and repeated, "The third-ranked scholar has always been in love with Princess Lekang, but because he was predicted by a Taoist priest to be cursed to bring misfortune to his wife, he can only keep this affection deep in his heart, for fear of harming the princess's health, and dare not speak out."
"...Yes, that's right, that's exactly it."
Jiang Yunlin received her signal and immediately nodded in agreement, "The only person I have ever loved in this life is Princess Lekang. If the county princess takes away my innocence today, I, I will... prove my innocence with my death!"
"Great, excellent."
The Princess of Rongcheng burst into laughter, her voice growing louder and louder until it bordered on madness.
How can anyone like my aunt, who's such a pushover and looks like she's made of dough?
And this is the talented and handsome scholar in front of me, who is adored by countless young women in the capital.
Just because she's a princess, while I'm just a county princess?
"You've got a good eye for choosing, Scholar."
Princess Rongcheng looked down at him, her eyes slightly cold. "Recently, my grandfather has been troubled by my aunt's marriage. He even punished my grandmother by deducting her salary and confining her to her quarters, forbidding her from interfering in the matter..."
She beckoned her attendants in to untie Jiang Yunlin.
Upon gaining his freedom, Jiang Yunlin immediately got up and ran behind Shen Lingyue and Qi Xiuyuan, his face pale and still in shock.
The next second, Princess Rongcheng said, "Since you only have my aunt in your heart, then come with me to the palace so that the Emperor can hear your feelings."
She curled her lips into a smug smile at the three people opposite her.
"I want to see if my little aunt, who is of noble birth, can withstand your curse of bringing misfortune to wives."
-----------------------
Author's Note: [Meng Wanyin: To be honest, I've never been this attentive to raising a son [heart emoji]]
[Let me see][Let me see] It's here! Hehe, I finally made it today!
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