Chapter 46 A Suspicious and Lewd Gaze
With only five days until the Empress Dowager's birthday, Zhao Xian looked at the warehouse full of things but didn't know where to start.
Rubbing his throbbing head, he realized that being away from home for a while meant that coming back would be full of trouble.
He sighed and sent a servant to invite Jiang Liangxu over.
She didn't want to worry about it, so she let the person who needed to take care of it handle it, and asked, "Is it alright to send a few random items as birthday gifts to the Empress Dowager?"
With so many gifts to accept, the Empress Dowager probably wouldn't care about them, and she wouldn't speculate on whether they suited her taste.
Just the thought of someone watching makes me very careful, even if I pick something randomly.
It's still troublesome.
Jiang Liangxu had never cared about these things before, but considering that she didn't remember the past, he said, "Just choose something similar from the gift list of previous years, no need to put in too much effort."
Zhao Xian immediately entrusted the matter to Uncle Jiang.
After leaving the warehouse, Zhao Xian took over pushing the wheelchair and, after thinking for a moment, asked, "Do you have any evidence for the crimes you mentioned committed by the Crown Prince of Yu?"
"Yes, but this evidence won't do anything to him."
Zhao Xian was somewhat indignant: "So many lives lost and that's not enough to make him confess?"
Jiang Liangxu's voice was calm as he said, "Some of those women were divorced and abandoned by him, committing suicide out of desperation. Many more were driven to their deaths or..."
Send them to their deaths.
Before Jiang Liangxu could finish speaking, his gaze suddenly turned serious. He remembered arguing with A-Xian about something similar before. She was very angry that time, and it took him a long time to coax her.
After that, he tried to avoid talking about these things.
“You people here are so cruel,” Zhao Xian said, feeling a chill run down her spine. “Those who do bad things go unpunished, while the victims don’t deserve to live.”
Zhao Xian pushed him for a while, then suddenly leaned down and whispered in Jiang Liangxu's ear, "Husband, give me a copy of that evidence."
Jiang Liangxu turned his head slightly to meet Zhao Xian's coquettish and smiling face.
She smiled with unusual gentleness, seemingly calm, but Jiang Liangxu vaguely sensed some strange undercurrents and madness.
He didn't ask her what she wanted to do, he only said, "Let Yuanwu come back. I'll give you everything Madam wanted tonight."
As night fell, Zhao Xian actually obtained all the evidence concerning the Crown Prince of Yu, as well as all the people he had contacted after arriving in Jin'an, regardless of gender, including their dates and times.
Among them, there is naturally the story of Yu Wang's heir meeting Li Lianniang by chance at Huguo Temple.
Zhao Xian strongly suspected that there might be a similar record of her visit to Huguo Temple, which was in his possession.
"Lord Jiang, are you involved in intelligence work?"
"Madam has forgotten my position."
"The Commissioner of the Court of State Ceremonies." She knew that, but she wasn't a humanities student, so she didn't know much about such things.
“All the people’s sentiments and important matters from all directions will be gathered at the Office of Transmission, where I will review them and then submit them to His Majesty.”
The most basic requirement is to secretly employ spies to ensure the authenticity of reports on public sentiment from various regions.
This was something she had reminded him of back then.
Zhao Xian suddenly kicked Jiang Liangxu, "Why didn't you say so earlier?"
It wasted her time sending people to investigate.
Looking at the stack of papers in her hand, Zhao Xian suddenly thought of something: "Then you must have a lot of people who can spread rumors, right? Let me borrow them."
To be able to investigate so thoroughly, one must have many informants, and such people are probably the ones who can spread the news the fastest.
"Just contact Lou Bai directly."
Zhao Xian thought about who this person was and actually found it in the original owner's memories.
Unlike Qin Da, who followed Jiang Liangxu closely, Lou Bai rarely appeared in public.
I flipped through those documents.
The Crown Prince of Yu had contact with many people. Besides Li Lianniang, he did indeed seduce other women, proving the saying that a leopard can't change its spots.
To Zhao Xian's surprise, the Crown Prince of Yu had a close relationship with his cousin, Princess Rongyang, and they met quite often.
Zhao Xian couldn't help but speculate about the possibility that Princess Rongyang had instructed him to ruin Li Lianniang's reputation.
But what are they after? It doesn't make sense.
The next day, Jiang Liangxu said he had to go to the palace. As soon as he left, Zhao Xian sent someone to summon Lou Bai.
Lou Bai, just like his name suggests, was a fair-skinned man with a very thin figure. He wore a blue straight-cut long gown and looked like a scholar, even somewhat like a storyteller in a teahouse. His figure was so thin that he was almost... weak.
For some reason, Zhao Xian felt that Lou Bai looked familiar, but she just couldn't remember where she had seen him before.
The original owner did not provide any memories of this.
When Jiang Liangxu said he was looking for him, Zhao Xian didn't doubt it and said directly, "It concerns those rumors about the eldest young mistress's foul language. I want to know who spread them. Find out for me as soon as possible."
"They are all here; please take a look, Madam."
Lou Bai was prepared and immediately took it out.
Zhao Xian: "..."
Thinking she would have to wait for news, Zhao Xian opened the document and read it in advance.
Those who spread the rumors were the women who witnessed Yu the Crown Prince embracing Li Lianniang.
Several people, and because of their large numbers and gossip, spread the story in great detail.
Upon further comparison, among the people that Yu the Crown Prince had met, there were two families with whom he had encountered them.
"Following what he did, send people to spread the news, mainly to spread rumors about these families, and try to get involved with the Crown Prince of Yu. Start by spreading rumors, and when more people question it, throw out the evidence."
"Forgive my bluntness, but presenting this evidence directly may not be effective. However, if an imperial censor impeaches us and the evidence is substantiated, then cooperating with him could have a remarkable effect."
Zhao Xian raised an eyebrow: "Good idea, your family should be able to arrange it, right?"
She was merely a woman confined to the inner quarters; matters of the court were beyond her control.
Lou Bai nodded, his eyes almost closed. "Of course I can. Does Madam have any other instructions?"
"Is there any news about Granny He? Is she... alright? Is she still alive?" Since Jiang Liangxu has an intelligence network, he shouldn't be unable to find out about Granny He.
Lou Bai crossed his hands and tucked them into his sleeves. "Yes, but it's not convenient to force our way in to rescue the old woman from the place where she's trapped."
Under Zhao Xian's questioning gaze, Lou Bai continued, "Madam, there's no need to worry. The master has gone to the palace, and Granny He should be back soon."
Where is she trapped?
Lou Bai glanced at Zhao Xian, walked to the table, dipped his finger in tea, and wrote a few words on the table.
Upon seeing the words on the table, Zhao Xian's first reaction was disbelief. How could it be this place? Was the other person an idiot?
But looking at the rather familiar handwriting, Zhao Xian glanced at Lou Bai: "Are you that scholar who wrote the gossip before?"
"Yes, Madam."
Zhao Xian finally understood. In fact, she had only instructed Jiang Heng to find the person and spread gossip about the city guards rescuing the beauty, mainly to make the matter bigger.
In the end, she only used the actress after taking advice, and some of the ideas she provided were even written into several sensational versions.
"Did your parents mistreat you? Why do you have to go out and earn extra money?"
Lou Bai squinted at Zhao Xian, his expression unreadable. "Just a hobby."
"That's it, your identity has been exposed, and you won't be able to earn any extra money this time."
"Madam, do you have another story? Please tell me. I don't accept money." A hint of interest flashed in Lou Bai's eyes.
"This is all true story, so we don't need any elaborate narratives. However, do not reveal the true identities of those ladies; just hint at it. Do not let outsiders guess their identities."
This era is too harsh on women, but she doesn't want to let go of the Crown Prince of Yu, so she can only minimize the harm.
"Madam's request is a bit too high."
"Can't it be done?"
Lou Bai shook his head, "Madam, rest assured, I will do my utmost."
Zhao Xian waved her hand, "Go ahead and get busy."
Before taking his leave, Lou Bai smiled slightly and said, "In the message I sent to you, Madam, you should be interested in the last page."
Zhao Xian pulled out the last page, still thinking he had put it in there too much, "The last page is blank."
"Madam, you may approach the fire to take a look." Lou Bai smiled, his eyes growing even smaller. He bowed his head and said, "If Madam has nothing else to say, I will take my leave."
Zhao Xian waved her hand: "Go ahead and get busy."
After everyone left, Zhao Xian looked at the white paper in her hand, and without calling for a maid, lit the candle herself.
Slowly smoke the paper over a fire, and words will gradually appear on the blank paper.
Upon seeing the above content, she was shocked, and a plan suddenly came to her mind.
--
As Lou Bai said, Jiang Liangxu went to the palace once.
Granny He returned that afternoon.
He was just not feeling well, so the doorman relayed a serious message.
Peony said, "Madam, don't worry, the eldest young mistress has already arranged for someone to invite the family physician over."
"Prepare a sedan chair." Zhao Xian was a little uneasy, wondering what was wrong with this person's condition.
Three people returned: the coachman, Granny He, and Meixiang, the maid who took care of Granny He.
The three seemed to be in a daze, and the servants dared not touch them.
When Zhao Xian arrived, the royal physician had just finished examining the group.
Zhao Xian asked, "How is he? How is he?"
"Reporting to Madam, apart from some external injuries on the coachman, my daughter examined Granny He and the maid and found no external injuries." The physician rose and continued, "All three of them have been poisoned with a drug called 'Muffled Fragrance,' which can induce unconsciousness. If an overdose is used, it can easily lead to mental dementia. All three of them have inhaled quite a bit of it. Even if the antidote has been administered, the excessive inhalation may weaken the antidote's effectiveness and worsen their condition."
"Will it get worse and lead to dementia? Is there any way to save someone?"
"Madam, please don't worry. Allow me to first use acupuncture to stop the poison from spreading further, and then I will prepare an antidote."
"ASAP."
The servants took the three of them to the physician's medicine stove so that he could administer acupuncture.
Li Lianniang and Cui Tingyue arrived before Zhao Xian.
Li Lianniang stepped forward and took Zhao Xian's hand: "Mother, was the person who tricked her out by pretending to be Sister He Mama just to imprison Sister He Mama?"
There were no external injuries on her body. So many days had passed, and all they did was make Granny He unconscious. Why send her back now? What was their purpose?
Cui Tingyue stood behind the two of them, playing with the handkerchief in her hand. She thought that the disappearance of Granny He was probably related to her sister-in-law being framed. If Granny He were at home, then Madam Qian would definitely not dare to talk back to her sister-in-law.
On that day, she was the one presiding over the event as an adopted daughter.
Cui Tingyue looked up at Zhao Xian's profile and said, "Mother, I have a feeling that someone is deliberately targeting our Jiang family."
Zhao Xian thought so too, and this method was very similar to that used by women in the inner quarters, targeting issues of chastity such as a woman's reputation.
Nothing new.
Thinking about what was revealed on that blank sheet of paper, I realized that giving in again and again would only embolden the other party, which was really annoying. I decided to just shut them down.
Granny He regained consciousness the next day, and her memory of the days she was missing was blank.
Except for the day he was captured.
But because the other party was masked at the time, she did not know who the people who arrested them were.
The coachman was injured because he resisted. As for Granny He and the maid Meixiang, they were both weaklings who could not even kill a chicken, and their resistance was ineffective.
Zhao Xian didn't ask any further questions, only telling her to rest more.
She knew who was behind it all.
The romantic escapades of Yu the Great's heir quickly became a hot topic in Jin'an, and the people talked about them with great interest.
At the same time, the imperial censors began impeaching Yu the Great's heir, which also implicated people in deaths.
The gossip circulating earlier about the affair between the Crown Prince of Yu and the eldest daughter-in-law of the Jiang family was quickly suppressed.
Prince Yu's Mansion.
After being reprimanded by the emperor, the Crown Prince of Yu returned to his residence and smashed everything in the house. The maidservant who served him was smashed and fell to the ground with a bloody head.
He smashed the object while shouting angrily, "What do you mean I have strange tastes, that I like older women more and more, and that I don't even spare ugly married women? Bullshit, all bullshit, utter nonsense! Go and investigate, find out who is smearing me behind my back."
"Once we catch him, I will tear his mouth apart, and I will also find the ugliest and dirtiest woman, no, perhaps I need an ugly beggar... to investigate."
The servants stumbled and ran out.
But as she turned around, she saw the prince striding towards her, kneeling down, "Your Highness, someone has slandered the Crown Prince."
When King Yu returned from the battle of Huaicheng, he naturally heard the rumors circulating outside and knew about the censors impeaching his son in the imperial court.
He muttered a curse under his breath, calling the person useless.
He kicked the door open, raised his hand and shattered the flying porcelain bottle, his voice booming like thunder: "Haven't you made enough of a scene?"
Upon hearing the familiar voice, the Crown Prince of Yu trembled, and the object in his hand slipped from his fingers and fell to the ground.
Looking back, the arrogance of the Crown Prince of Yu vanished instantly. "Father, Father, when did you return?"
King Yu stepped inside, glanced at the maid on the ground, and immediately servants came in and dragged her away.
The crown prince of Yu stood before his father, obediently not daring to move, as if he were not the one who had just been violent: "Father, Father King."
"Fool, did I warn you before we came to Jin'an not to let anyone find any fault with you? But you've made a scene and everyone knows about it."
The crown prince of Yu was bowing his head almost to his chest.
"Who did you offend?" Making such a big fuss, even digging up his past to impeach him, you've really messed with someone.
"No, no one."
King Yu didn't expect to hear the truth from him, and glanced at Fuxi who was beside him.
The latter immediately turned around and ordered someone to investigate.
--
Before they knew it, it was the Empress Dowager's birthday.
Jiang Liangxu was dressed in court attire, while Zhao Xian was dressed in imperial robes.
"Lord Jiang, you previously said to send gifts as in previous years, but I've thought about it and changed it. Gifts should be given in a way that touches the recipient's heart. I'll need your cooperation then."
Jiang Liangxu nodded: "Alright, I'll do whatever you say, Madam."
For this birthday celebration, Zhao Xian brought her eldest daughter-in-law and goddaughter along. She didn't hide them at all and brought them out openly.
Because it was to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday, the ministers all brought birthday gifts into the palace, and there were more imperial guards at the palace gate responsible for checking the birthday gifts.
In case someone brings something they shouldn't.
When the Jiang family opened the chest, the imperial guards in charge of the inspection were stunned for a moment. After hesitating for a moment, they asked, "Lord Jiang, Madam Jiang, are you sure you didn't take the wrong gift?"
Jiang Liangxu sat in his wheelchair, his gaze calm. "No, check it."
The imperial guard touched his nose, doubting himself several times, but still carefully examined the box before finally closing it and saying, "Pass."
Gifts that have been inspected will be carried in by the Imperial Guards and delivered to the Empress Dowager's palace.
Upon entering the palace gates, officials would proceed to the outer court, while the women would first go to the inner palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress.
On the way to the palace, Zhao Xian pushed Jiang Liangxu in a wheelchair. Now that they were about to part ways, she asked with some concern, "Are you alright on your own?"
A eunuch dressed in his robes smiled and said, "Madam Jiang, rest assured. Considering that Lord Jiang has injured his leg, His Majesty specially sent this servant to fetch him."
"Thank you for your trouble, sir."
Watching the eunuch push Jiang Liangxu towards the wider road, Zhao Xian, along with Li Lianniang and Cui Tingyue, headed towards the inner palace.
Cui Tingyue was curious about the palace. It was her first time there, and she would never have had the chance to enter if she hadn't become the adopted daughter of the Jiang family.
Li Lianniang was also curious, but she remained very restrained. As the eldest daughter-in-law of the Jiang family, she couldn't afford to make any more mistakes.
The smile on her face was one she had practiced many times in private; she was determined not to embarrass her mother-in-law today.
Zhao Xian had visited Shouchang Palace before. In contrast, apart from Jiang Liangxu, none of the other ministers in the imperial court had an eunuch to guide them.
On the way to the inner palace, palace maids led the way to prevent people from going the wrong way.
The last time Zhao Xian came to the palace, she went to the Empress Dowager's Shouchang Palace, but this time it was clear that she was not going there. In the end, they arrived at the Empress's bedroom in the central palace.
Only after the eunuch at the door announced their arrival were they allowed to enter.
Zhao Xian thought back carefully and found that the original owner did not have many memories of the Empress. Last time she was summoned to the palace by the Empress Dowager, no one reminded her to pay her respects to the Empress.
Even when they went to Huguo Temple to pray for blessings, it was always the Empress Dowager who led the way, not the Empress.
Upon entering the hall, they were guided by the head maid to pay their respects to the Empress.
Zhao Xian knelt and bowed, her movements were thorough and standard.
"Rise, and offer Madam Jiang a seat."
The Empress's voice was unexpectedly gentle. The stool brought by the palace maid was quite close to the front, so Zhao Xian took a few steps forward and sat down, which brought her much closer to the Empress.
"Qi'an, take the two of them to the side room for tea."
The Empress ordered Li Lianniang and Cui Tingyue to be taken away, and Zhao Xian gave them a look that said, "Don't be impatient."
He wondered what the Empress was up to.
Once everyone else was in the hall, the Empress spoke: "Lady Jiang is truly enviable."
Zhao Xian slightly raised her eyes, envying her?
"Her Majesty the Empress is a role model for all women in the world; it is no wonder that she is the most enviable." She really knows how to flatter without batting an eye.
However, upon looking at the Empress's face, although her makeup was exquisite, one could still discern a hint of illness.
"I admire Lady Jiang's courage to leave whenever she wants. Lord Jiang is fortunate to have a wife like you."
Zhao Xian vaguely realized that this referred to her going to Changzhou to find Jiang Liangxu.
It was quite unexpected; was the Empress really so blunt?
Zhao Xian observed the Empress's expression and found that she did not show any displeasure, but seemed to be genuinely envious. She said uncertainly, "I had a dream at the time, in which my husband was still alive, but was trapped in a place and could not get out. I was really worried, so... to tell you the truth, I was praying for blessings at that time. I broke the rules and acted selfishly. I am ashamed."
“This is not selfishness. Madam is Lord Jiang’s lucky star. If you go, he will be saved.” Few people can do this. Too many concerns and too much reputation hold them back.
Just like her.
Courageous people inspire both envy and admiration.
Zhao Xian sensed that the Empress seemed to have some regrets, and she kept mentioning her relationship with Jiang Liangxu.
She didn't sense that the Empress liked Jiang Liangxu; on the contrary, she always said that Jiang Liangxu was good enough for her.
She didn't do anything good for Jiang Liangxu either. Where did the Empress hear this gossip? Her bias is so strong.
Zhao Xian was too embarrassed to respond.
After all, she didn't have one; she was still wearing the divorce papers.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine, along with Consort De, Consort Shu, the wife of the Left Chancellor, the wife of the Minister of War, and other female relatives, are waiting outside the palace to pay their respects."
A palace maid reminded the Empress.
Zhao Xian was slightly taken aback. The Imperial Concubine was leading the other ladies over?
Did she go astray? Or did the other ladies go astray?
She felt it was the former, but she wasn't familiar with the Empress either.
"I am not feeling well, and the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration was handled entirely by the Consort. I wanted to speak with you, so I called you here first." With that, the Empress said to the palace maids, "Please let everyone in."
Zhao Xian stood up and stepped aside.
Everyone was quite surprised to see her with the Empress, but no one showed it and bowed to the Empress according to the rules.
Zhao Xian then led Li Lianniang and Cui Tingyue to pay their respects to the Imperial Concubine and the Consort De, among others.
Finally, everyone followed the Empress to Shouchang Palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.
On the way, Zhao Xian felt many gazes, some direct, some subtle, some hidden... all of them were scrutinizing her, or looking at Li Lianniang beside her.
Sometimes, silence can deliver a devastating blow.
Zhao Xian glanced at Li Lianniang and was very satisfied to see that she was calm and composed.
She then began to respond to those gazes, her eyes more explicit and meaningful than theirs.
Soon, those scrutinizing gazes disappeared.
The ladies didn't want to be stared at with suspicious and lewd eyes, as if they were unclean.
Especially the scandalous affair involving the heir of King Yu that has been widely discussed recently.
Li Lianniang's gaze toward Zhao Xian grew even more intense; her mother truly was the most formidable.
Without uttering a single word, it was as if he had already slain a thousand troops.
--
Upon arriving at the Empress Dowager's Shouchang Palace, the Empress led everyone into the hall to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, wishing you good health and longevity."
Empress Dowager: "Rise."
“Grandmother, I heard something interesting at the palace gate today.” Princess Rongyang said, laughing out loud, “An official actually brought a few tattered hemp clothes as a birthday gift for you. How can such a disrespectful person be worthy of celebrating your birthday?”
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Author's note: I didn't finish writing it; I broke my promise. Mainly, the initial draft was wrong, so I deleted it and started over. I'm so annoyed.
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