Chapter 235 The Wolf Queen
“I know the Duke well. He is loyal to the late Emperor. The Crown Prince was already showing promise at that time and was more suitable to be groomed as the heir apparent than the still young Prince Jin.”
"He's not one to change easily."
Prince Jin was two years younger than Pei Yanchuan, and was only eleven years old at the time, while the Crown Prince was already seventeen. He was indeed diligent in governing and loved the people.
“This is indeed my father’s handwriting,” Pei Yanchuan recognized.
Jiang Wan Ning was puzzled. "But this letter is from more than ten years ago, when Song Zhu Ran was only three or four years old."
For example, all of Song Zhuran's skills were taught by the person behind her, but the ability to imitate everyone's handwriting is not something that can be learned by studying alone; it also depends on talent.
“I know there is another person who can’t imitate everyone’s handwriting, but she can imitate her father’s handwriting.”
Jiang Wan Ning was puzzled, but guessed that this person must be someone close to her, so she didn't ask.
"Heaven has eyes, allowing the Duke to still have an heir. When I first heard about the deeds of the Prince of Langya, I thought that Dongling was full of talented people. If the Duke were still alive, what would be the point of Xixia?"
"Now it seems that a tiger father begets no dog son."
"Alright, since you're still alive, it's best to entrust this matter to you," Gongsun Xuance said. "Whatever decision you make in the future, I will follow you to the death."
Gongsun Xuance was referring to following Pei Yanchuan, not the emperor.
Even if Pei Yanchuan rebels, he will only recognize Pei Yanchuan.
Pei Yanchuan quickly helped the man up, saying, "Uncle Gongsun, there's no need for such formalities."
"Your Highness," Mo Ran walked in, "His Majesty sent a letter, in which the Grand Princess claimed that Princess Ping'an was also a victim, and that everything was manipulated by Pei Anqing and Jiang Wanru."
"The Emperor not only restored her status as a princess, but also ordered her to return to the capital soon."
"Now her nanny and servants have come to pick her up."
Pei Yanchuan and Jiang Wanning both understood that it was probably the Grand Princess who forced the Emperor to issue such an order.
Although the Grand Princess only commands 50,000 troops, she has a considerable number of assassins under her wing, and she also collaborates with the person behind her.
With Pei Yanchuan and Jiang Wanning both out of the capital, Xiao Yu naturally wouldn't easily offend the Grand Princess.
If it really comes down to a direct confrontation, Grand Princess Xiao Yu isn't afraid; what she fears is the person behind her.
This person is too well hidden and has extraordinary abilities. If he were someone with military power or a significant figure in the court, it wouldn't be impossible for the world to change hands.
"Let her go back," Jiang Wanning said.
Since the matter has been resolved, there's no need to worry about her causing any more trouble.
Mo Ran glanced at Pei Yanchuan, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and replied, "Yes!"
Anyway, the prince and princess are now of one mind, and when they occasionally disagree, listening to the princess is always the right thing to do.
"It's getting late, we should head back now." Pei Yanchuan stood up.
Gongsun Xuance quickly got up as well, saying, "I'll see Your Highness off."
Pei Yanchuan did not refuse, and Gongsun Xuance escorted the men into the city before returning to their encampment.
"It's getting late, why don't we rest for the night and continue our journey tomorrow?" Peony said, staring at the sesame seed cakes on the stall next to her.
Jiang Wan Ning smiled and said, "Since we're in Cangzhou, why don't we go visit my uncle's house? Jun Jun and I haven't seen each other in a long time. I heard she married a scholar and is living a good life. Let's go see her."
Whether in her past life or now, Jiang Wan Ning has never seen her cousin since she got married.
My cousin is only half a year younger than me. We were betrothed when we were young, and she was quite promising. She passed the imperial examination at the age of thirteen.
They got married quickly afterward. Although her father and mother thought her cousin was still too young, her aunt thought that if they waited until the other party passed the imperial examination or became the top scholar, the marriage would be easily called off.
It would be better to get married as soon as possible. Jiang Wanjun has never had her own opinions since childhood and has always listened to her parents. Her uncle can't do anything about her aunt.
In the end, the only option was to marry twelve-year-old Jiang Wanjun into the family. Thinking about all this, Jiang Wanning suddenly felt a strong urge to visit Jiang Wanjun.
“Traveling at night is dangerous,” Pei Yanchuan said. “There shouldn’t be anything in the capital for now, so I’ll have Mo Ran go back first.”
Jiang Wan Ning nodded.
The group arrived at Jiang Wanjun's home, which was also the residence of Guo Bingwen, the scholar.
Haitang stepped forward and gently knocked on the door knocker. After a long while, the door opened from the inside, and a middle-aged woman stretched, yawned, and asked impatiently, "Who are you looking for?"
Haitang frowned and reached for the sword at her waist.
Jiang Wanning shook her head to indicate that Haitang had stopped. "Excuse me, is this the home of Guo Bingwen, the scholar? I am the cousin of his wife, Jiang Wanjun. I was just passing through Cangzhou and thought I'd take a look."
Upon hearing the last sentence, the woman's face brightened, and she looked Jiang Wan Ning up and down.
She knew that the lady had a cousin in the capital who had married the famous Prince of Langya and was even granted the title of princess.
How could such a prominent family go to such lengths to visit a merchant's daughter?
"Could it really be because of that matter?"
"What?" Haitang said in an unfriendly tone when she saw the woman looking at her and not intending to let her in, "You old servant, how rude of you."
"Does that mean you don't want the princess to go in?"
The woman glanced at the knife at Haitang's waist, and seeing that these people were dressed in fine clothes and didn't seem to be faking it, she apologized repeatedly, "It's this old servant's fault."
"Please don't take offense, young lady. Please wait a moment, I will go and invite my master to come and greet us."
The old woman turned and walked inside.
“Your Highness, these people are so rude,” said Peony. “I remember that the servants around Miss Junjun back then were not like this.”
"Even if Miss Junjun were in charge, she wouldn't act like this. How could there be such rude servants in this household?"
"They have absolutely no manners."
Although Haitang and Shaoyao usually act casually around Jiang Wanning, they never neglect the proper etiquette.
“I once heard my mother say that Junjun’s mother-in-law is a shrew, and maybe the power to manage the household is still in her hands.” Jiang Wan Ning had a vague sense of unease.
Although she hadn't corresponded with Junjun in recent years—she used to write to him, but Junjun hadn't replied since getting married, so she stopped writing to him herself—she had stopped writing to him altogether.
My aunt, on the other hand, often corresponded with my mother. Nine times out of ten, the letters were filled with the deep affection between Junjun and her son-in-law, and how they were living a comfortable and carefree life.
I was happy for Junjun when I heard that. I thought Junjun was so lucky. After getting married, she was just as busy as I was and didn't have time to reply to my letters.
Jiang Wan Ning was lost in thought when she heard a woman with a high-pitched voice shouting from afar, "Oh my~ it's an important person!"
"These lazy lackeys, they didn't even bother to greet us earlier."
"This must be my wife's cousin, the Wolf Queen, right?" The woman smiled, revealing a set of yellow teeth, as she grabbed Haitang's hand.
"Madam, it is the Princess Consort of Langya."
The woman, reminded by the person behind her, felt embarrassed and glared at him, saying, "Of course I understand."
"If I could raise a son who has passed the imperial examinations, how could I not understand these things?"
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