Crown Prince
Jiang Jin's figure slowly disappeared, but his words still lingered in Jiang Ru's mind: "If you can't let go of it, then why not have an open and honest talk?"
"Zhu Li, send a letter to Liang Dalangjun, telling him that I've invited him to Yangchun Tower for a chat tomorrow at noon. Oh, and invite Second Sister too." Jiang Ru's heart relaxed, and the grip on the jade pendant slowly loosened.
"Go and bring out that rare book." Jiang Ru looked at the rare book that she had protected so well in Zhu Li's hands with a mocking expression. "Bring it with you tomorrow."
“My wife, this is your most beloved rare book.” Jiang Ru waved her hand, “It won’t be after tomorrow.”
In the main hall of the Liang family mansion, a group of people were surrounding Liang Erlang, berating him. "Are you stupid or wicked? Although the Jiang family isn't a prestigious clan, they are still considered upright officials and belong to the Censorate. You've severely humiliated them. Do you want to cause animosity between the Jiang and Liang families?" Liang's mother slammed her hand on the table, causing the teacups to vibrate.
“Mother, it’s no use saying anything now. Second Madam Jiang is afraid that Third Madam Jiang will be mistreated if she marries Second Brother, so she wants to find someone else to marry her.”
Liang Jia Dalang sighed, "I think this matter needs further consideration. Perhaps I should go with my mother to apologize tomorrow."
"That eloquent Jiang Erniangzi in the imperial court?" Lang's father spoke up from the side, "She's here today too."
"Originally, she was supposed to meet Erlang in place of Jiang San Niangzi, but Jiang San Niangzi said that they had to face it eventually, so she didn't let Jiang Er Niangzi come out." Liang Da Langjun's fingertips turned white, but he still subconsciously explained for Jiang San Niangzi.
"Alright, stop discussing who that lady is. The most important thing right now is to avoid antagonizing the two families. That Second Lady Jiang is married to Wei Shu, and everyone in the capital knows that Wei Shu loves his precious wife the most!" The good mother was so angry she had a headache and just wanted someone to massage her temples.
"Since Yu Niang is pregnant, let her stay on the estate. Send her away after she gives birth." With this order, the entire main hall fell silent.
"Mother, Yu Niang is frail and carrying my child; she absolutely cannot go to the estate!" Liang Erlang knelt on the ground and kowtowed to his mother.
"You should be glad I still had some compassion left, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to keep them even after just one bowl of soup." The good mother looked at her son kneeling on the ground with disgust.
"Utterly foolish! You expect your father and I to clean up your mess. From today until the New Year, you'd better stay in the yard and copy the Four Books and Five Classics as punishment, and don't show your face in front of me."
Liang's mother gave a look to the two strong and sturdy maids beside her, and the next second, they dragged Liang Erlang away from the main hall.
"Eldest son, Third son, I don't care if you have concubines or maids before marriage, but if you're engaged and still allow your concubines to ride roughshod over your wives, don't blame your mother for being ruthless." The loving mother, fearing her two remaining sons would follow in her second son's footsteps, carefully warned them.
"Mother, don't worry, I understand." Sanlang bowed respectfully and said casually, "Brother, you are truly virtuous. You don't even have a concubine or a maidservant to keep you company. Your future sister-in-law is truly blessed."
"Alright, you should tone down your temper. The entire Liang family depends on you few now," Liang's mother said, patting Liang Sanlang's hand with a sigh.
"Mother, rest assured, your son understands." Liang Dalangjun rose, took his leave, and returned to his study. He opened a box deep within a cabinet, inside which lay a mutton-fat jade pendant. He reached out and took out the pendant, gently stroking it. The memories of their past affections seemed to flood back.
"My lord, this is an invitation from Lady Jiang." The servant placed the fragrant invitation on the young master's desk.
"Understood, you may leave." Liang Dalang carefully wiped his hands with a silk handkerchief before opening the invitation.
"Elder cousin, my second sister and I would like to meet with you at Yangchun Tower tomorrow at noon—Jiang Ru." The handsome young man carefully traced the ink-written characters on the invitation and locked the jade pendant in the box.
"Kang Xian, go and take out the clothes at the very bottom of the box." Liang Dalang knew that Jiang Ru wouldn't invite him without a reason; she probably already knew something.
"My lady, this is a letter from Third Miss." Jiang Jin had just returned to the Wei residence when she saw Abei rushing towards her.
"I understand." Jiang Jin opened the letter and smiled knowingly. "Her younger sister may seem weak, but she has a lot of backbone."
"My lady?" Abei looked at Jiang Jin with some confusion. "My lady, a letter came from Songzhou saying that the governor of Songzhou has sent his sixth daughter to the capital."
"They really are persistent." A cold glint flashed in Jiang Jin's eyes before he went straight back to his bedroom. "Can you contact Chen Liangyuan?"
"We have a few maids in the Crown Prince's palace, but we can't reveal them unless absolutely necessary." Abei stood beside Jiang Jin, grinding ink for her.
"Then carefully remind her that the person who hates murderers the most in this world is probably Chen Liangyuan. Her mother and younger sister are both dead, and her father even let her half-sister enter the palace to share the emperor's favor. If it were me, I would directly make them be forced to apologize in front of my mother and sister's graves." Jiang Jin deliberately wrote crooked and messy characters.
"Don't pay special attention to her actions; it's just our way of showing goodwill." Jiang Jin handed the note to Abei, casually placing it in her yard or tucking it into her clothes.
"Yes." Ah Bei immediately went to deliver the note to the East Palace.
"Liangyuan, good medicine tastes bitter, please at least drink a few sips." A woman dressed in a light blue jacket lay listlessly on the bed.
"Liangyuan, you must think of Madam and Fifth Lady, even if not for yourself! Their bodies are barely cold, but the real culprit has not yet been brought to justice. You cannot fall ill!" The maidservant beside her paced anxiously, fearing that Chen Liangyuan would not recover from her illness.
"Sister Songge, this is ginseng sent by the Crown Princess. She said it's for Consort Liang to nourish her body." Songge glanced at the ginseng and sighed.
"Sister, I found this in the yard when I came back." Sunle stuffed the note into Songge's hand.
"What is this?" Song Ge opened it and immediately staggered, her heart filled with even greater sorrow.
"What's wrong?" Chen Liangyuan, pale-faced, watched her two maids whispering amongst themselves and sensed that something bad had happened.
"Songe found this in the yard." After hesitating for a moment, Songe handed the note to Chen Liangyuan.
"It's just a younger sister coming, nothing to worry about." A tear rolled down Consort Chen's cheek. "Warm up my medicine and then go and invite His Highness over."
Chen Liangyuan looked at her bedroom with a bitter smile. From Songzhou to the Eastern Palace, it was all just a cage. She never expected that her father would want to send someone into this seemingly luxurious cage.
"Liangyuan, we can't let Sixth Lady steal your place!" Songle brought the medicine and left, leaving Songge alone in the bedroom.
"Liangyuan, Sixth Lady treated you with great respect in the manor, but I never expected her to be such a sycophant who kicks someone when they're down." Songge carefully helped Chen Liangyuan up.
"Sixth Sister is just a child, only just turned fifteen this year, even younger than Fifth Sister. What choice does she have?" Chen Liangyuan coughed a few times and patted Songge's hand.
"When I left the capital, only she and Fifth Sister truly cried for me; those tears were genuine." Thinking of this, Consort Chen felt even more heartbroken.
"Liangyuan, let's not think about it anymore." Songge, afraid that Chen Liangyuan would fall into sadness again, quickly said something interesting.
"I heard that Consort Zhou likes to eat mutton, and she even ate it in the summer, which caused her to get a blister on her lip. She's been drinking Chinese medicine every day to treat it. When the Crown Princess heard this, she specially cut off the mutton from Consort Zhou's courtyard, saying that she needed to help her clear her heat." Songge opened the window to let the smell of medicine out of the room.
"Is Consort Chen going to help you with your makeup? Wouldn't it be bad if His Highness saw you looking so haggard?" Consort Chen shook her head, simply washed her face, and then leaned against the bed, looking towards the door.
"I am merely frail and sickly now, but I am not ugly at all. Your Highness will not find me unattractive." Consort Chen naturally understood Songge's concerns.
"Xin'er." Lou Zuoshan arrived late, a hint of guilt flashing in his eyes when he saw Chen Rongxin.
"Your Highness, it is my incompetence that I could not protect our child." Chen Rongxin struggled to her feet, and Lou Zuo quickly shielded her.
"Don't talk nonsense. We can have more children. The most important thing right now is to get you well." Lou Zuo tenderly stroked Chen Rongxin's cheek and took the bowl of medicine from Song Le's hand.
"I am ill and look pale, and I fear I might offend Your Highness's eyes, so I have not dared to see you. I hope Your Highness is not angry with me?" Chen Rongxin had beautiful eyes; even her recent fatigue and illness had not diminished the brightness in them.
Lou Zuo, feeling pitifully stared at by the beauty, couldn't vent any of his resentment. "It's nothing, why would I be angry with Xin'er?"
Lou Zuo fed Chen Rongxin spoonful by spoonful of the medicine, the sour and astringent taste lingering in her mouth.
"Your Highness is busy with many matters, so please don't stay with me any longer. I'm afraid I'll delay your important business," Chen Rongxin said, suppressing the bitterness in her mouth and feigning consideration.
"Xin'er is still the most demure and graceful. I'll come see you again tonight." Chen Rongxin feigned reluctance as she looked at Lou Zuo until his figure disappeared from sight.
Chen Rongxin picked up the medicine bowl and drank it all in one gulp. "Next time, try to avoid taking your medicine from Your Highness. I'm afraid I'll take up too much of your time."
"Liangyuan, what about this note?" Chen Rongxin glanced at the crooked handwriting on it and said, "Burn it. We'll know the truth of what it says in a few days."
"Lady, the Crown Princess has instructed the kitchen to prepare black chicken soup for you to nourish your body." The kitchen maid, carrying a food box, stood respectfully outside the door, not daring to overstep her bounds.
"I'm so grateful that the Crown Princess still remembers me and has given me this song and reward." Chen Rongxin's spirits lifted, and her complexion improved considerably. The servants placed the food on the table one by one, and Chen Rongxin only began to eat after the maid had tested it for poison.
"Liangyuan, you can try this chicken soup. I heard it contains a lot of medicinal herbs that are good for your health." Songle placed a bowl of chicken soup in front of Chen Rongxin.
"And this steamed fish, I heard it was just delivered today, it's very fresh." Songge removed the bones for Chen Rongxin and placed the fish in front of her.
"Alright, you two don't need to bother anymore, you can go now. I'll enjoy my meal." Chen Rongxin took a small sip of the black chicken soup, and Songge and Songle, afraid that Chen Rongxin would change her mind, hurriedly left the room.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com