Under the wings
"My lady, I'm coming in." Xueya, carrying the new clothes, entered the steamy greenhouse. Through the curtains, Xueya looked at Jiang Jin lying in the bathtub and sighed silently.
"Wife, you haven't fallen asleep again, have you?" Jiang Jin yawned and then reluctantly opened her eyes.
"Xueya, don't slander me. I was just resting with my eyes closed." Saying this, Jiang Jin yawned again and complained, "How could I possibly sleep with such a strong medicinal smell?"
"That's true. My lady, please put on your nightgown first. I'll have someone come in and tidy it up."
Xueya draped a brand-new cloak over Jiang Jin and thoughtfully wiped the sweat from Jiang Jin's forehead with a handkerchief. She then instructed the maid to empty the medicinal bath tub and replace it with flower petal water mixed with fragrant dew.
The maidservant added hot water and then left with her head down, leaving only Xueya and Jiang Jin in the greenhouse.
"His Highness said that my wife has always had a keen sense of smell, and if she goes back with the smell of medicine on her nose, she definitely won't be able to sleep. So he thought he'd have you soak in flower petal water again." Jiang Jin quickly put on a touching expression, almost crying, which made Xue Ya laugh.
"My lady still loves to be strong-willed, just like when she was a child. Back then, you caught a cold in winter but insisted on practicing archery, almost falling off your horse. His Highness secretly cried afterwards." Jiang Jin had never heard Lou Xuan talk about this before and immediately became interested.
"After I recovered from my illness, His Highness scolded me severely and almost took away my chance to train in horseback riding. I never expected that His Highness would secretly cry behind my back."
Jiang Jin removed her nightgown and entered the petal bath. The familiar fragrance made her even more relaxed. She had her back to Xue Ya, with a gauze curtain separating them.
"That wasn't just my wife showing off; she scared His Highness so much that he almost fainted. Besides, after His Highness scolded you, he gave you a lot of delicious food. His Highness was genuinely frightened at the time."
Xueya sighed as she folded the robe Jiang Jin had taken off, glancing at Jiang Jin's reaction every now and then, worried that she might feel uncomfortable after the medicinal bath.
"Back then, I was young and always thought that if I had worked harder, I could have helped His Highness more, and His Highness would have had an easier time in the palace. Look at me now, I'm doing very well. I'm someone even His Majesty can't ignore." Jiang Jin reached out and picked up a petal, smelling it. Xueya naturally understood the deeper meaning in her words.
"Even so, Your Highness is extremely worried about what you have done during this period. Even Otsuichi and Otsuji have been given strict orders by Your Highness to prioritize your life above all else and abandon everything else."
Upon hearing that Jiang Jin had been shot by an arrow, Xueya knew from the medicine test that Jiang Jin intended to use a self-inflicted injury ruse. Unfortunately, risking one's life was something His Highness found most intolerable.
"My lady, please don't do such foolish things again." Xueya lifted the curtain and opened the oil paper package beside her. The aroma of roasted pork inside instantly filled the entire room.
"It's roasted pork. Your Highness, you've allowed me to eat it?" Jiang Jin looked at the oil paper package in Xue Ya's hand with a delighted expression. Xue Ya also looked at Jiang Jin with a smile.
"His Highness said I can only eat three slices; any more than that and I can't eat anymore." Xueya used her chopsticks to pick out three large, marbled slices and placed them on her plate.
"My lady, hurry and take a bath. This roasted pork won't taste good if it gets cold." Jiang Jin watched helplessly as Xueya left without a second thought, carrying the remaining roasted pork with her.
"Xueya, save me a few more slices, three more, or even two, or one slice will do!"
Xueya, her heart cold, remained unmoved by Jiang Jin's wails; the only response she received was the lonely sound of the door closing.
Thinking that something is better than nothing, Jiang Jin quickly finished her bath and took a bite of the fragrant roasted pork. It was the familiar taste, and it still brought her happiness.
Jiang Jin was savoring the dish with her eyes closed when she realized she had unknowingly finished the few pieces of roasted pork she had eaten.
Jiang Jin silently wiped the condiment from her lips, rinsed her mouth, then straightened her skirt and left the greenhouse. Xue Ya stood respectfully at the door, constantly monitoring the sounds coming from inside. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Jiang Jin emerge safely.
"My lady, His Highness said never to be reckless." Xueya inserted a small, delicate jade hairpin into Jiang Jin's hair bun.
"This thing can protect you in Bianzhou. Remember, you must take it with you wherever you go."
Jiang Jin's heart softened, and her eyes welled up with tears, but she still smiled, shook her head, and took the jade hairpin back into Xueya's hand.
“How can I continue to live under Your Highness’s wing? Your Highness tried every means to protect me in the capital, and the same in Yuezhou. Now that we’re in Bianzhou, you still have to worry about me. Xueya can’t continue like this.”
Upon hearing this, Xueya said with a disapproving look, "My lady, His Highness just doesn't want you to get hurt again. In case Wei Shu can't protect you, at least you'll have a way out in case of danger."
After speaking, she gripped the jade hairpin tightly and looked anxiously at Jiang Jin, hoping she would change her mind. Unfortunately, Jiang Jin still looked at Xue Ya with a calm expression.
“My lady, I believe you understand His Highness’s meaning. If Bianzhou really falls into chaos, His Highness will not be able to spare the energy to protect you.”
Xueya said in a low voice. Although Lou Xuan's men were keeping a tight watch on everything around her, making sure not to reveal anything, Xueya remained cautious.
"Don't worry, I will protect myself and will not let Your Highness be distracted. If you are still worried, please prepare enough arrows for me. I will not let anyone get close."
Xueya breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but her unease remained. "I know of your archery skills, my lady. In that case, I can only report to Your Highness in this way. If Your Highness insists, then I can only ask you to accept it. However, you should also keep a close eye on General Wei and not let him ruin Your Highness's plans."
"Okay, I will do my best." Jiang Jin nodded solemnly, put on a different expression, and bowed slightly to Xue Ya.
"Then I'll be going now. Please take good care of yourself, Your Highness, and do not put yourself in any danger."
"My lady, please take care." Xueya squatted down, watching Jiang Jin's departing figure. After standing up, she looked up at the bright moon and sparse stars in the sky, sighed, and then turned and went back to the main courtyard.
"Your Highness," Xueya said respectfully from outside the door.
"Come in." Lou Xuan was looking at a military treatise when he noticed the hairpin in Xueya's hand and laughed, "Confiscated?"
"Lady Jiang said she can no longer live under His Highness's wing. She said that as long as she has enough arrows, she can be confident that no one can get close." Xueya knelt at Lou Xuan's feet, not daring to raise her head, but heard a soft laugh.
"Get up. Don't force her. Since she wants to grow up, then give her another bodyguard." Lou Xuan nonchalantly turned a page of the military book.
"Your Highness, Wei Shu seems to be at the Chafulong Tea House. Is there anything we can do for him?" Xueya fanned Lou Xuan.
“No need. If we’re going to expose ourselves, we should expose ourselves completely. Leaving some parts exposed will only leave room for speculation. Wei Shu won’t resort to poison. Whether for public or private reasons, he won’t act openly.” Lou Xuan closed the military book. “He’s not stupid.”
"But this servant noticed that Wei Shu doesn't seem to care much about you, Madam." Xueya felt a tightness in her chest as she recalled the scars on Jiang Jin's arm and collarbone.
“Wei Shu personally brewed A Jin’s medicine. When I got angry, Wei Shu stood in front of A Jin. Even the roasted pork was not allowed to be eaten by Wei Shu because he was concerned about A Jin’s health. At least A Jin is already in Wei Shu’s heart, it’s just a matter of degree.”
Lou Xuan stroked her hair and couldn't help but laugh, "The Dou family and the Liu family both wanted Wei Shu, but I didn't expect to disrupt their plans. It's truly gratifying!"
"If Wei Shu finds out the truth, will Lady Jiang be..." Xueya dared not elaborate, but Lou Xuan knew that Xueya's worries were not unfounded.
"That's why I kept B1 and B2; if anything goes wrong, I must protect Ajin." Lou Xuan looked at Xueya with a gloomy gaze.
“Wei Shu is extremely loyal. My plan is to gradually make A Jin the second most important person in his heart, so that he can waver between the Emperor and A Jin. But if it fails, we can get rid of him if necessary.”
"Yes." Xueya massaged Lou Xuan's legs. "Your Highness, what if Lady Jiang tries to stop us?"
“Ah Jin isn’t stupid. Even if she holds someone in her heart temporarily, she won’t keep them for long if they don’t have genuine feelings for her.” Lou Xuan had known Jiang Jin for over ten years and knew her temperament very well. He wasn’t worried that Jiang Jin would consider past relationships.
"This servant was afraid that you would be sad, Madam, because love is the most hurtful thing." Xueya carefully massaged Lou Xuan's legs.
“Everyone gets heartbroken a few times in their life, and Ajin is not a fragile person.” Lou Xuan waved his hand and stood up. “Go and call Commandant Chang over. Tell him I have some excellent tea for him to taste.”
"Yes." Xueya withdrew, and Lou Xuan also put away the military book. After an incense stick burned out, Chang Yi followed Xueya into the house. With a glance from Lou Xuan, Xueya tactfully closed the door behind her.
"Commander Chang, please sit down. There's no need to be so formal." Chang Yi sat upright on the wooden stool. "Your Highness, is there something important that you've summoned me here so late at night?"
"It's nothing important, I just wanted to hear Commander Chang's thoughts." Lou Xuan didn't beat around the bush and asked Chang Yi directly, "Commander Chang, are you willing to take the gamble?"
"As long as Your Highness wants me to gamble, I am willing to give it my all." Chang Yi smiled knowingly. Although he and Lou Xuan had only spent a few days together, he knew better than anyone the ambition in her eyes.
“Wang Juesong won’t go all out until he’s been driven to the brink. Commandant Chang, do you have any good ideas?” Lou Xuan picked up his teacup and took a small sip.
“Governor Wang is mediating between the three parties and has the backing of the Wang family, so it is indeed a difficult situation, but it is not impossible.” Chang Yi smelled the teacup that Lou Xuan handed him and sighed, “Your Highness’s teacups are indeed all of the finest quality.”
"Commander Chang, you flatter me." Lou Xuan looked intently at Lou Xuan.
"Your Highness, aren't you thinking the same thing as me?" Chang Yi smiled, looking at the teacup in front of him.
"This tea originates from Bianzhou, so Governor Wang should be quite familiar with it." Lou Xuan placed the teacup on the table, quietly observing Chang Yi, and raised an eyebrow to signal him to continue.
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