Jiang Wan took Biluo to the back mountain and didn't return to their campsite until dawn.
She went directly to the camp of the Duke of Pei's mansion.
"I apologize for disturbing you, Madam. I accidentally fell on the back hill last night and twisted my ankle. I would like to ask you for some safflower oil."
Jiang Wan was helped through the door by Bi Luo. Her shoes were still covered in damp mud, indicating that she had come down from the mountain.
Madam Sheng had no suspicions and hurriedly ordered someone to fetch the medicine, then said with concern.
"You just stayed out all night like that? Why didn't you call someone to tell me sooner?"
Worried that Jiang Wan might have difficulty moving around, he stood up and said, "Let's go, I'll personally accompany you back to the camp."
"Thank you for your help." Jiang Wan smiled gratefully, feeling both warm and a little guilty.
There must be witnesses for Song Shuling's case.
The only woman she could persuade was Old Madam Sheng.
As Madam Sheng and her entourage helped Jiang Wan out the door, they bumped into the Empress.
The current empress is of noble birth and is the birth mother of Pei Xuan and Pei Tang. She is beautiful and graceful, and looks very gentle.
The Empress had come to visit Old Madam Sheng. She had long heard about the past relationship between the Duke of Pei's mansion and Jiang Wan. Seeing that Jiang Wan was injured, she was quite concerned and decided to do Old Madam Sheng a favor by accompanying her.
With the Empress personally accompanying them, they attracted many female relatives along the way.
Even Gu Yurong heard the commotion.
However, when she saw Jiang Wan, she was as if she had seen a ghost and blurted out, "What are you doing here?"
"I injured my foot and didn't come home all night."
Jiang Wan chuckled softly, "Why are you so surprised, little sister?"
All eyes turned to her, and Gu Yurong forced a smile: "I...I was worried about my sister."
She stared intently at Jiang Wan, trying to find traces of intimacy on her.
But the person in front of him was neatly dressed and had exquisite makeup, without the slightest flaw.
That's impossible.
Last night, she clearly heard noises coming from Jiang Wan's tent, which kept her up for most of the night and almost woke up Song Ziyu.
If it wasn't Jiang Wan, then who made those sounds...?
Gu Yurong broke out in a cold sweat and dared not think any further.
At this moment, the nanny beside the Empress opened Jiang Wan's bed curtains and suddenly cried out in surprise.
"Ah! This..."
"What's all the fuss about?" the Empress said softly.
"Your Highness, it's not right here..." The old woman hesitated, "Ladies, it's best if you don't come over, lest you offend your eyes."
Some curious women had already rushed inside, and then an even more piercing scream came from inside the tent.
"Mrs. Song?"
The curtains were completely lifted, revealing the scene on the couch.
Beneath the sheer curtains, two bodies were entwined.
Their clothes were torn and scattered on the ground, with Song Shuling's scarlet bodice still hanging on the guard's belt.
The tent flaps were wide open, and even those who didn't want to see were given a clear view.
"This...this is outrageous!"
The Empress couldn't help but shout angrily.
"In the royal hunting grounds, right before the Emperor's eyes, how dare you commit such a despicable act!"
Old Madam Sheng, being older and having experienced much, saw this and said, "Bring a basin of cold water to splash Madam Song awake, then go and inform Lord Lin to come over."
Lin Zhiquan was accompanied by Song Ziyu.
Song Ziyu stared wide-eyed, his face turning red and white in turns, unable to believe what he was seeing.
How could his dignified and elegant second sister be with a guard...?
With such a notorious sister, how will others view him in the future?
Lin Zhiquan was filled with rage.
His wife's public affair with a lowly guard was utterly humiliating.
Song Shuling had clearly assured him that this plan would be foolproof, so how could it be...?
Lin Zhiquan raised his head, his angry gaze shooting towards Jiang Wan.
It must have been that bitch who did it!
"Your Majesty! I am an upright woman; she must have been framed!"
Gu Yurong also knelt down: "Second sister has always been gentle, kind, respectful and frugal, she would never do such an outrageous thing!"
"There must be something wrong here. Your Majesty, please investigate carefully!"
"Yes, I find it strange too."
Seeing the two of them in a fit of anger, Jiang Wan felt a sense of satisfaction and curled her lips into a smile.
"I find it strange too."
"Everyone says that Second Sister died in the fire at the Imperial Prison, but she is clearly alive. So who helped her escape?"
"And even though she had already escaped, instead of hiding properly, she went to the hunting grounds on purpose..."
She changed the subject, her expression turning serious.
"Who brought a criminal into the royal hunting grounds and brought him before His Majesty? What is their intention? Could it be... an assassination attempt?"
Lin Zhiquan retorted angrily, "What assassination attempt? It was clearly just..."
He abruptly shut his mouth halfway through his sentence.
However, the Empress was not stupid and had already seen through the clues.
"Investigate! How did Song Shuling escape from the Censorate, and how did she infiltrate the hunting grounds? What is her purpose?"
"As for Song Shuling, let's wait for His Majesty's decision after the matter is investigated."
Song Ziyu and Lin Zhiquan exchanged a glance, their faces extremely grim.
Seeing that the Empress was about to leave, Gu Yurong, unwilling to give up, stopped her: "Your Majesty, there is still one thing I do not understand."
She looked at Jiang Wan with a soft, feminine gaze.
She still couldn't understand why the trap set last night was intended for Jiang Wan, but Song Shuling ended up falling for it and having an affair with a guard.
How could Song Shuling be so stupid?
Moreover, when she first entered the tent, she vaguely smelled an unusual scent emanating from the incense burner.
She found the Hehe San (a traditional Chinese medicine formula), so she was somewhat familiar with it.
At that moment, Gu Yurong had a bold conjecture in her mind.
"Even if Second Sister intended to do something despicable, why didn't she choose her own tent instead of this place?"
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