Chapter 168 She dislikes others coveting her.
Jiang Ningzheng and Jiang Zhengting, who were gleefully taking up the long whip, were both stunned.
Imperial edict?
Unbeknownst to them, Jiang Zhi's trip south was approved by the Emperor after Lu Yuan had specifically sought his permission.
The rumors circulating in Kyoto about Jiang Zhi's departure from the capital were already quite offensive.
Even if she was searching for her husband, how could a woman who had been away from home for so long still have a clean reputation?
Even if Shen Ci'an comes back alive, would he still want such a disgraced woman?
Jiang Zhengting originally wanted to strike first and teach Jiang Zhi a lesson. Even if he beat her to death, the Jiang family would still have a reputation for strict family discipline, which would not affect Jiang Yunqian's future marriage.
The two could only stare blankly as the eunuchs, holding the imperial edict, followed by a long line of junior eunuchs carrying rewards, filed in.
They knelt down in a daze, listening intently as the eunuchs read out the imperial edict in their high-pitched voices.
Jiang Zhi was sent south by imperial decree to find Shen Ci'an, kill the prefect Hang Yushu, and participate in disaster relief, saving the victims from suffering. Her contributions were invaluable.
The emperor not only bestowed upon her countless treasures of gold and silver, but also specially granted her a plaque inscribed with the words "Virtuous and Benevolent to the World" in his own handwriting.
When the eunuch brought up the imperial plaque, not only were Jiang Zhengting and Jiang Ningzheng dumbfounded, but even Jiang Zhi was somewhat surprised.
Before entering the palace, Shen Ci'an had told her that he would report her merits to the Emperor truthfully.
She thought the emperor would at most bestow some gold and silver treasures, but she didn't expect there would also be a plaque.
She accepted the imperial edict with utmost respect.
Just as Jiang Zhengting and Jiang Ningzheng were about to get up, the eunuch said expressionlessly, "Minister Jiang, His Majesty has issued an imperial edict for this old servant to deliver to you."
Jiang Zhengting and Jiang Ningzheng had no choice but to kneel back down.
"Princess Qinghe lost her mother at a young age. His Majesty has specially ordered you to carefully arrange Princess Qinghe's marriage and not to wrong her."
"I obey the order."
Jiang Zhi smiled and said, "Please inform His Majesty that my father has already prepared my dowry, which is a whole roomful. It will be a grand and lively affair, so please do not worry about it."
The eunuch smiled broadly, "Yes, this old servant will certainly convey the message."
After the eunuchs put down the rewards, they left in a large entourage.
Jiang Zhengting's expression was quite interesting.
They originally intended to withhold Jiang Zhi's dowry and give her some as part of her dowry later, since it originally belonged to the Jiang family.
But now that the Emperor has given his golden word, who would dare to do anything wrong?
Jiang Zhi stood in front of the plaque, tilting her head to look at Jiang Zhengting, "Father, do you think it was wrong for your daughter to go and bring Lord Shen back?"
She asked the same question again.
Jiang Zhengting wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Since it's an order to act, there's naturally no mistake."
"Then, Father, will you still request family discipline?" she asked with a smile.
“Of course…no need.” He, a dignified Minister of Rites, was speechless after being choked by his own daughter’s words, his face extremely ugly.
Jiang Ningzheng stood by like a quail, not daring to utter a sound.
Jiang Zhi looked refreshed and said, "Then I'll take my leave."
Did you think that just returning the dowry would be enough?
The best is yet to come.
*
Shen Ci'an was promoted to Hanlin Academy Reader because of this disaster relief effort.
From the top scorer in the imperial examination to a fourth-rank official, Shen Ci'an's promotion was remarkably rapid.
And his wedding date with Jiang Zhi had arrived.
What puzzled Jiang Zhi was that although the wedding preparations at the Shen family were proceeding as scheduled, he had been intentionally or unintentionally avoiding her since returning to the capital.
In the past, Shen Ci'an would always take the initiative to visit her, but now that she hadn't seen him for several days, she wanted to know how the wedding preparations were going, so she went to the Shen residence to find him.
But Shen Ci'an was either in the palace accompanying the emperor or using the excuse of being busy with court affairs to get away.
I haven't seen him even once since I came back.
Jiang Zhi couldn't hold back her temper and said, "If you're so capable, then don't show up on our wedding day."
That would make it even more lively.
Shen Ci'an indeed dared not see Jiang Zhi.
Ever since he realized that she didn't have much affection for him, he fell into deep self-loathing.
First, he blamed himself for deceiving her and using the identity of Madam Shen to confine her to the inner quarters.
Secondly, he was afraid she would change her mind and come to him to cancel the marriage.
He was caught in a state of anxiety and uncertainty, like an ostrich burying its head in the sand when faced with danger, unwilling to face reality.
It wasn't until his wedding day that his anxious heart finally calmed down a little.
That day, he sent someone to invite Lu Yuan to a teahouse to discuss matters.
Since returning to Kyoto, Lu Yuan has been completely absorbed in the case.
Both the case of the Crown Princess's poisoning and the assassination attempt at the hunting grounds still have many suspicious aspects.
But after receiving Shen Ci'an's invitation, he still accepted it.
He wanted to see what Shen Ci'an was still looking for him about today, since he was about to marry Jiang Zhi.
Shen Ci'an cut to the chase, "Lord Lu, name your price. Whatever the cost, as long as you return the sachet to me."
Lu Yuan didn't expect Shen Ci'an to be so persistent. Having Jiang Zhi wasn't enough; she even wanted to take a small sachet from him.
"What kind of person does Lord Shen take me for?" He was clearly displeased, slamming his teacup heavily on the table. He found him extremely annoying and did not want to say anything more to him.
“I’m serious. I’m about to marry Zhi’er. I don’t like others coveting her or hiding what she gave me.”
Shen Ci'an made a pointed remark, "I urge Lord Lu not to take what belongs to another."
Lu Yuan scoffed, "I've already said, she has to come and get this sachet herself, otherwise there's nothing to talk about."
He was genuinely angry.
She's not even married yet, and she's already trying to act like the rightful wife and put on airs in front of him. It's utterly ridiculous!
He was about to turn away when, unexpectedly, his limbs suddenly went limp, and he slumped back into the chair.
"You put drugs in the tea?" His cold, stern face was filled with disbelief.
Shen Ci'an's slender fingers rubbed the rim of the teacup, his face showing a calm that had been put to rest. "Don't worry, Lord Lu. It's just that you'll be unconscious for a day. It won't harm your health. When you wake up at this time tomorrow, everything will be over."
His purpose today is not the sachet at all.
Lu Yuan is cunning and ruthless, and he is obsessed with the young lady. It's hard to guarantee that he won't do something extreme at the wedding.
The safest approach is to render him temporarily unable to move.
Lu Yuan's face was as black as ink, and he gritted his teeth, "Shen Ci'an, you're asking for death."
But as the drug took effect, he quickly became unable to hold on and collapsed onto the table, swaying.
"After tomorrow, I will be at your disposal." Shen Ci'an stood up, brushed off non-existent dust from his body, and instructed the waiter, "Lord Lu is drunk, help him to his room to rest."
He really doesn't have much time to prepare for the wedding today.
Having resolved his biggest worry, he felt incredibly relieved, and even his steps as he left were light and easy.
However, they did not see that Lu Yuan, who was helped into the room by the waiter, soon opened his eyes.
He was tall and had long legs, almost filling the small couch where he was lying. His dark eyes were narrowed, making him look like a lurking beast in the dimly lit room.
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