"Madam, we haven't found anything amiss."
Biluo was puzzled.
This looks like ordinary brocade.
Jiang Wan looked up at the fabric and pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Go to the cloth shop in the city, buy a few bolts of similar fabric, and ask the embroiderer to make a couple more outfits."
"The pattern and style are made as similar as possible to the original one, and we're rushing to finish it before the winter solstice."
"yes."
Biluo nodded, turned to leave, but was stopped by Jiang Wan.
"By the way, send this visiting card to the Ji residence."
"The newly appointed Minister of Justice, Ji Rong?"
Biluo quickly realized that this Minister Ji was the lady's maternal uncle, who had recently returned to the capital to take up his post, and the two had no contact with each other.
"I met my aunt at Qiyun Manor last time. She said they were busy settling into their residence. I suppose they're all settled by now."
Jiang Wan spoke softly, a hint of sorrow in her eyes.
"My uncle is back in Beijing, I should go and pay him a visit."
Biluo paused for a moment, then smiled.
She had never heard the lady mention her maternal relatives. She only heard that because she married into the general's family, the prime minister's family and the lady had a very strained relationship, and they had ignored her for so many years, as if they had forgotten that she had such a daughter.
If they can reconnect with the Ji family, the lady will have a family to rely on and will no longer be alone and helpless.
The Ji family replied to the invitation quickly, inviting Jiang Wan to visit them the following day.
"What? She's going out?"
Song Tingyue heard the commotion and became wary.
Winter solstice is approaching, and she doesn't want Jiang Wan to make any unusual moves.
Zhou, however, was absolutely certain: "She has no relatives or friends in the capital, and she has long since severed ties with her maternal family. Who could she possibly go to see?"
"If you're worried, I'll send a few nannies to follow along."
The next day, Jiang Wan had a carriage prepared and went out.
The carriage weaved through the streets and alleys, taking half an hour to travel, shaking off the spies following behind.
Jiang Wan entered the Ji residence and was led into the main hall.
Inside the hall sat a middle-aged man dressed in a silver-gray robe with dark patterns. He was lean and refined, and sat upright.
It was her maternal uncle, Ji Rong.
Jiang Wan stepped forward and curtsied, saying, "I'm sorry I'm late, Uncle and Aunt."
Ji Rong nodded indifferently.
Aunt Wang, however, greeted her with a smile and took her hands in hers.
"We're all family, why bother with all this formalities! It's cold outside, come in quickly."
Ji Rong kept a straight face and didn't say a word.
Madam Wang couldn't help but say to him, "You've been talking about A-Wan ever since you came to the capital. Now that the child has finally arrived, you still have to give her a hard time. If you scare her away from coming to visit, you'll regret it!"
Ji Rong's face darkened: "Then I'll pretend I don't have this relative!"
"Why are you taking out your anger on A-Wan for the grudges of the previous generation? What kind of uncle are you!"
Wang sighed, turned around and pulled Jiang Wan to sit down.
"Don't listen to your uncle's nonsense. He's just stubborn. This morning, when he heard you were coming, he specially asked the kitchen to prepare milk tea, saying that your mother loved to drink this before she got married."
Jiang Wan held the steaming cup in her hand, her eyelids lowered.
Ji Rong is cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and she naturally knows that.
In her past life, she was imprisoned in the inner quarters of the Song family. The Song family spread rumors that she did not uphold the virtues of a woman. Because of these rumors, her uncle, a Confucian scholar who adhered to the rules all his life, got into a fight with someone in the street and almost had his leg broken.
Seeing her lower her head and remain silent, Ji Rong frowned.
"What's wrong? Did the Song family bully you?"
Jiang Wan's eyes dimmed for a moment, then she smiled and said, "I'm fine now, Uncle, you don't need to worry."
"As for you, the new Minister of Justice, the officialdom is fraught with hidden dangers, so you must be cautious with every step you take."
She remembered that in her previous life, when the struggle for the throne came to light, her uncle seemed to have become Pei Feng's disciple.
In her opinion, Pei Feng was not someone worth following.
With his uncle's career flourishing in this life, it's hard to guarantee that Pei Feng won't try to win him over beforehand.
"Is it my cousin?"
A male voice suddenly came from outside.
A man with distinct features and a bright, moon-colored cloak walked in, a sword at his waist, exuding a heroic air.
Wang introduced him with a smile: "This is your eldest cousin, Ji Huaichuan, who is now the commander of the patrol battalion."
Jiang Wan stood up and bowed.
Ji Huaichuan smiled gently.
But Jiang Wan always felt that there was an unclear meaning hidden in it.
Wang remembered something: "Awan, would you like to come home for dinner on the Winter Solstice? We've finally managed to reunite in the capital."
Jiang Wan politely declined and instead told them about the Song family's trip to Wangchun Tower.
“Wangchun Tower in West Alley? What a coincidence,” said Madam Wang. “Your cousin was patrolling West Alley that day.”
She turned back and gave Ji Huaichuan some instructions.
"There will be many people on the street that night. If you run into A-Wan, please take care of her."
Ji Huaichuan smiled politely: "Of course."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Jiang Wan left the Ji residence, and Ji Rong returned to his study.
Only then did Wang look at her son: "You don't like Awan?"
"No, not at all." Ji Huaichuan composed himself. "She hasn't had any contact with us for years. My father just got promoted, and she came to our door with gifts. It's hard not to think things are a bit suspicious."
Madam Wang frowned: "Awan is not that kind of person."
Thinking of the Qiyun Manor, she continued.
"Although Awan has been granted an imperial title and appears glamorous on the outside, she lives a difficult life in the general's mansion."
"You can know a person's face but not their heart."
Ji Huaichuan's expression turned serious.
"Perhaps that's why she needs the Ji family's help."
"The capital is a dangerous place, and the Ji family's current status is hard-won. We cannot easily trust anyone."
Wang shook her head secretly and stopped trying to persuade her.
Her son is just too cunning.
Wang sighed, "Well, time will tell."
Inside the general's mansion.
The old woman from Cuizhu Hall lost track of the person and hurriedly returned to the mansion to report. Just as Song Tingyue was about to send someone to search again, Jiang Wan returned.
Song Tingyue had no choice but to give up on the idea.
At this moment, Gu Yurong had invited her mother to have tea in the courtyard.
"Ji Jiu invited the Hermit of Nanshan to teach Lin'er. Although he is not as good as Master Chenyi, he is quite famous in the capital."
"Mother Gu said in a low voice."
"I've only heard that his martial arts style is somewhat unorthodox, I'm afraid..."
"It's alright, we're just using his reputation. It's best to become his apprentice as soon as possible."
Gu Yurong looked worried.
“That brat Song Yu has performed exceptionally well in the military camp. He even received a reward a couple of days ago. If I don’t take action soon, he’ll steal all the limelight.”
“I will have the general hold a grand ceremony for the apprenticeship ceremony, so that everyone in the capital will know that Lin’er has become the apprentice of a martial arts master.”
"Okay, I'll talk to Ji Jiu."
Gu's mother agreed, then looked at her with concern.
"Jiang Wan is too cunning. On the winter solstice... you'll be helping Princess Anyang, so be careful."
“I won’t help for nothing; she promised to give Lin’er a reward.”
Gu Yurong smiled slowly.
"Moreover, I didn't even need to lift a finger; it was Song Tingyue who wanted Jiang Wan dead."
If the plan goes smoothly, we can also get rid of Aunt Ru.
Kill two birds with one stone.
"Speaking of which, I should thank you for finding these wonderful things for me."
A sinister glint flashed in Gu Yurong's eyes.
"Once we deal with Jiang Wan, it will be her death day."
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