Double Ninth Cake is popular in autumn and is associated with climbing to high places to avoid disasters.
Qiongzhou is often plagued by drought. Every year after the autumn harvest, the local people would bring their homemade Chongyang cakes to worship the Dragon King. They would also sprinkle cooling grass powder on the Chongyang cakes, taking advantage of the homonym for "adding grain and grass," to pray for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest in the coming year.
This is a customary practice in Qiongzhou.
The cook at Linglong Pavilion came from Qiongzhou, and Jiang Wan learned this from her.
Meixiang said that she was forced to come to the capital due to the drought, so how could she not know these things?
Biluo was alarmed and couldn't help but ask, "Madam, since Meixiang has a problem, could it be that Granny Chang is also...?"
"No, even Granny Chang was deceived by her."
Jiang Wan said.
“The handkerchief that Meixiang sent last night is proof of that.”
Biluo immediately realized what was happening.
Granny Chang is allergic to silk. Jiang Wan has a cloak made of ice silk. Once, Granny Chang touched it and developed a rash on her hands.
“But according to Granny Chang, Meixiang came from Qiongzhou. It’s normal that we haven’t seen each other for many years and don’t know some details, right?” Biluo asked.
"good."
Jiang Wan nodded and asked in return.
"If a relative wanted to please you but gave you something you didn't need, how would you react?"
Biluo scratched her head: "After all, the other party meant well, so I shouldn't say anything. At most, I'll just not use it in the future."
She only realized what she had said as soon as she finished.
Just now, Meixiang said that Granny Chang accepted the handkerchief and said she liked it very much.
Despite being allergic to silk, Granny Chang didn't say anything and even pretended to be happy. There was only one reason for this.
She was moved by her niece's filial piety and couldn't bear to expose her, so she poured cold water on her feelings.
Conversely, if the two were accomplices, Granny Chang would sense something was amiss upon seeing the handkerchief, realizing that Jiang Wan already suspected them and that she should take action now.
It seems that Granny Chang and Meixiang are not in cahoots.
Biluo, having grasped the key, breathed a sigh of relief and said again.
"This Meixiang seems so well-behaved, but I never imagined she'd be so cunning! I wonder who planted her in Xingzhi Courtyard, and what their purpose is?"
"As long as there is a purpose, there will be action."
Jiang Wan said.
"No rush. Have Butterfly keep an eye on her secretly, so as not to alert her."
Three days later.
In the afternoon, Jiang Wan instructed Biluo to pack the snow lotus and had the carriage prepared, preparing to head to the East Palace.
Cai Die helped her wash up and brought her a crimson pomegranate-colored dress.
Jiang Wan recognized the clothes that Zhuque had sent last time. After just one glance, she said, "The color is too bright. Let's change it."
But Cai Die said, "Today is the Moon Worship Festival. There will be lanterns on the streets tonight. Madam should dress in bright colors so that she can pray for the moon goddess's blessing."
Jiang Wan suddenly realized.
No wonder Pei Xi asked her to meet today.
Since Consort Yun placed her hopes on Pei Xi, she has kept a close watch on him, forbidding him from leaving the palace to seek pleasure as he used to.
Presumably, it was because of the Moon Worship Festival that he was allowed to leave the palace for some fresh air.
The Moon Worship Festival in the capital was very lively, with many commoners and officials going out to enjoy themselves, making it extremely crowded.
If we return late, even the carriage will have difficulty moving.
Jiang Wan didn't have time to change her clothes. After preparing her things, she took a carriage to the East Palace.
Her arrival was perfectly timed; Pei Xuan happened to be at the mansion that day.
Hearing that she had come to visit Shuangbai, Pei Xuan showed no surprise and led her to a courtyard.
Jiang Wan pushed open the door and entered, only to see Shuang Bai lying on the bed.
Shuangbai heard someone enter the room and looked over with bright eyes. When she saw that it was Jiang Wan, she exclaimed in surprise, "Ah!"
"Madam Jiang? You, what brings you here?"
"What, are you a little disappointed to see me?" Jiang Wan smiled slightly. "I heard you were injured while saving Zhuque, so I came to see how you are recovering."
Frosty white skin was pale, but her complexion was good. She said shyly upon hearing this.
"It's just a minor injury, why bother you to make the trip yourself?"
"Don't be stubborn. Zhuque said you are seriously injured and may not live for more than a month."
Jiang Wan untied her cloak and sat down on one side of the bed.
"I am quite knowledgeable in medicine. Let me take your pulse; perhaps there is still hope for you."
Shuangbai swallowed hard and tried to dodge, but Jiang Wan had already placed her fingers on him.
“It is indeed very heavy.” Jiang Wan withdrew her hand, her expression cold. “A very severe cold.”
"I had no idea that the Crown Prince's guards were so precious that even a minor cold required the use of snow lotus to treat them."
Shuangbai stammered, "Madam Jiang, please don't misunderstand. I was seriously injured and almost died in Youzhou."
He clutched his chest and coughed.
"Thanks to His Highness the Crown Prince's care, I was spared from death. My illness is very serious; it cannot be seen from my pulse alone. In fact, I am already terminally ill!"
"Is that so?"
Jiang Wan chuckled and opened the box she carried with her.
"Then it was not in vain that Zhuque sacrificed himself to obtain this snow lotus for you."
"Sacrifice yourself? What does that mean?" Shuangbai asked.
“The Tian Shan snow lotus is very expensive, and Zhuque has been living alone for years, so she hasn’t saved much money,” Jiang Wan said. “To raise money quickly, she signed a contract to sell herself into servitude…”
"What!"
Shuangbai suddenly turned over, pulled off the covers, and jumped out of bed.
"A contract of servitude? How could she be so foolish? Is this something you can just sign casually? What will she do for the rest of her life?"
He said urgently.
"Madam Jiang, tell me quickly, who did she sign with? That bastard, isn't he taking advantage of someone in distress! I'm going to settle accounts with him right now!"
Jiang Wan said, "You'd better hurry up and decoct the snow lotus to avoid wasting Zhuque's good intentions."
"Why bother with medicine? It's just a cold, what kind of illness is that?" Shuangbai grabbed her sword and said urgently, "Saving Zhuque is the priority now."
After running out the door, he looked back and saw Jiang Wan still standing there, staring at him with a half-smile.
Beside him stood Pei Xuan, who looked utterly speechless.
Shuangbai immediately realized what was happening and froze on the spot with an embarrassed expression.
Jiang Wan placed the snow lotus on the table, her expression cold.
"Young Master Shuangbai, I am very grateful for your care of Zhuque during our trip to Youzhou. You have helped me a lot. Consider this snow lotus a token of my gratitude. If you ever need my help in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."
"But if you set your sights on Suzaku, don't blame me for being impolite."
Shuangbai hurriedly waved her hands, her face flushed with anxiety: "Madam Jiang, you've misunderstood. I just... I just..."
His eyes were slightly wide open; he was a teenager with an innocent and energetic face.
Zhuque is nearly thirty years old.
She experienced marriage, being abandoned, and years of wandering.
There was a huge chasm between the two.
Jiang Wan's gaze was calm.
From Zhuque's awkward expression that day, she could tell that Zhuque had fallen for this boy who was more than ten years younger than her.
Zhuque is pure of heart and had a very hard life in the past.
Her purpose in coming here today is very simple.
She couldn't bear to see Suzaku get hurt again.
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