LF Chapter 40
by VolareHalf a month passed in the blink of an eye, and Jiang Yinghua finally recovered her former swift-footed self.
Having gone through this ordeal, she truly understood the essence of “keeping her tail tucked between her legs.” She shouldn’t have honestly revealed her inner thoughts, nor should she have bluntly sought opportunities to return north without knowing how to be more subtle.
Having learned to act cute and be agreeable, lowering her eyes and being obedient, the two tigers in the palace were naturally relieved and allowed her to return to her manor.
The milk cat, its claws clipped, entered the manor and became quite fond of the soft couch in front of the flower window in her bedroom. Resting there, with a cup of clear tea in hand, she idly watched the changing scenes in front of the hall, only hearing the rustling of the wind in her ears.
No matter how big the commotion in the palace, due to Your Majesty’s gag order, the people in the manor remained ignorant.
However, Jiang Yinghua’s “heroic deed” in the court that day had spread. Anyone with eyes could tell that the days this little ancestor spent detained in the palace were definitely not easy. Therefore, all the attendants were as quiet as cicadas in winter, behaving with utmost propriety and honesty.
It’s just that these people went a bit too far. When Yan Wanzhi entered the manor, they treated him like a savior Bodhisattva, inviting him in without even informing Jiang Yinghua, their master.
At that time, Jiang Yinghua was closing her eyes on the couch for a nap to recuperate. Yan Wanzhi stood steadily at the screen in the inner room and said quietly, “Has Your Highness learned her lesson? Yield to strength. Why knock an egg against a stone?”
Jiang Yinghua heard the movement and thought it was a maidservant coming to serve in the hall, but she didn’t expect it to be Yan Wanzhi entering.
It was one thing for the people in the manor not to report, but now this person didn’t even bother with formalities and came straight in with sarcastic remarks. Jiang Yinghua instantly sensed the unfortunate situation of a tiger fallen in the plains being bullied by dogs. She opened her eyes and sat up on the couch, glancing coldly at Yan Wanzhi and complaining, “Even you’ve come to lecture me?”
Yan Wanzhi was uncharacteristically firm. He bowed slightly, his hands clasped in a respectful but neither servile nor overbearing manner, and replied, “As the Chief Secretary of the Prince Zhao Manor, I have the duty to guide you. I am only worried because I see you in such distress. If you don’t like it, I can stay away.” Having said that, he made a gesture as if he was about to walk towards the outer room.
Jiang Yinghua just thought this person had taken the wrong medicine and didn’t intend to blame him. However, his unusual behavior today aroused her interest. She stood up and raised her voice, “Come back and drink with me.”
Yan Wanzhi, who had his back to Jiang Yinghua, heard this and the corners of his lips slightly curved up. A sly look of success flashed in his eyes, and he stopped his steps, turning back with feigned reluctance.
Jiang Yinghua instructed the servants to set up wine in the main hall. While waiting idly, she had the opportunity to ask Yan Wanzhi, “My elder sister won’t let me go back for now. Do you have a hand in that?”
“Your Highness is wrongly accusing me. In my opinion, your own contribution is greater. What’s so strange about spring planting and autumn harvest?” Yan Wanzhi lowered his eyes, his hands clasped together, adopting a posture of watching the excitement. The words he spoke were even more indifferent.
Jiang Yinghua understood now that this person was sulking with her, competing with her, putting on a look of being ready and confident like when he was intellectually dueling with old foxes in the court.
However, Jiang Yinghua admitted that she was in the wrong. After all, her decision in the court had not left a way out for the people in the Prince Zhao Manor. If she were demoted or had her title stripped, Yan Wanzhi would naturally be affected.
“I was rash. Chief Secretary, this isn’t the court, and I’m not your enemy. There’s no need to be like this.” Jiang Yinghua took a few steps closer and stood next to Yan Wanzhi, raising her eyebrows and scrutinizing him.
Seeing that she had lowered her stance, Yan Wanzhi put away his imposing manner and restored his usual humble attitude. He said softly, “I have found some clues about the people manipulating things behind the scenes. Would Your Highness like to hear them?”
If the court’s plan had succeeded, Jiang Yinghua would have wanted to thank this person. Now, not only had it failed, but she had also suffered a complete defeat. Although Your Majesty had cleared her name and protected her title, the suffering she had endured could not be lightly dismissed.
She didn’t dare to vent the resentment in her heart towards those in high positions, so transferring it to those courtiers with wild ambitions was also not a bad idea. Jiang Yinghua was never a kind-hearted Bodhisattva who was full of compassion. When it came to the ability to hold grudges, she was quite similar to Your Majesty.
“Such a delightful thing, of course, I want to hear it.” Jiang Yinghua casually picked up the warm teacup that the maidservant handed her and, in turn, presented it to Yan Wanzhi as a gift.
Seeing that she was curious, Yan Wanzhi gladly accepted the cup and gently caressed it, replying, “Among the powerful nobles in the capital, who would be most afraid of Your Highness gaining power and being a helpful sister to Your Majesty?”
“There are too many. Stop being so mysterious.” Jiang Yinghua didn’t buy it and didn’t want to guess.
The interpersonal relationships in the capital were intricate and complex. If one were to talk about closeness and distance, it was likely that half of the nobles had some connection to the royal family. The royal family didn’t care, but those people couldn’t wait to fly up a branch overnight, meddle in the power of the court, and become prominent for a while. If one were to speculate all the time, one would only feel that human relationships were cold and human nature was selfish.
“The son of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Xue Tao, used the Lou family’s daughter as bait, tricking Lord Lou. The Lady of Xiangling Hou added fuel to the fire and told Princess Suning, who, without knowing the truth and worrying about her daughter’s safety, instructed Lord Lou to impeach.” Yan Wanzhi spoke lightly, as if telling a story, and didn’t directly state the mastermind behind it.
On the surface, it was a misunderstanding caused by children’s play, but discerning people knew that if Lord Lou had not impeached, Lou Wanwan would not have been able to return to the Lou residence alive. However, even if the princess had not instructed him, Lord Lou would not have ignored his daughter’s safety. And the Lady of Xiangling Hou’s scheme tied both the princess and Lord Lou to the same boat.
If Your Majesty investigated, she would have to deal with the powerful mouthpiece in the court along with her own aunt; if Your Majesty didn’t investigate, Jiang Yinghua’s reputation and the royal family’s reputation would be gone. Therefore, this scheme would either ruin Jiang Yinghua or ruin Princess Suning and Censor Lou, who had always been close to Your Majesty. Either way, it was a win.
Hearing this, Jiang Yinghua regretted her willfulness that day. The current situation was that her elder sister had suffered a loss.
Not for that always domineering aunt, but for the power of checks and balances behind Xiangling Hou’s manor. Among the late Emperor’s imperial children, now only Jiang Yinghua’s third brother, Prince Yong, remained a male, and Prince Yong’s birth mother was the direct sister of Xiangling Hou. Although this Consort had been cultivating for many years and was not interested in worldly affairs, her mother’s family behind her might not be content.
As for Xue Tao, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, he was an able person that Your Majesty had personally promoted. Jiang Yinghua was not familiar with this person, and she was too lazy to guess whether he and his son were of one mind. However, it was obvious that his son had an unclear relationship with the Marquis’s mansion.
Once Your Majesty investigated deeply, she would expose everything, and the balance between the imperial children would be broken. After all, Jiang Yinghua’s remaining several half-sisters were not qualified to meddle in the court.
Thinking of this, Jiang Yinghua asked seriously, “Has this been told to Your Majesty? Do you know her attitude? Investigating too deeply and involving too much may not be appropriate.”
“Does Your Highness regret it?” A playful look appeared in Yan Wanzhi’s eyes, and he patiently looked back at Jiang Yinghua.
“Chief Secretary, you’ve been a little impolite today. You’ll be fined three cups of wine later.” Jiang Yinghua’s expression turned stern, and the corners of her lips curved up. Her cold voice was an unquestionable command.
“If I offer a plan to break the situation for Your Highness, so that Your Highness can relieve Your Majesty’s worries and atone for her sins, can this wine be spared?” Yan Wanzhi was not worried and tentatively asked.
“If you have that clever mind, go show off in front of Your Majesty. Don’t drag me into it.” Jiang Yinghua was unmoved. It was better for her to be safe at this time. Balancing the court was the Emperor’s business, and she shouldn’t interfere.
Seeing Yan Wanzhi’s eyes rolling non-stop, Jiang Yinghua knew that he hadn’t given up his ambition, so she added, “Moreover, Chief Secretary’s intention is my intention. You know better than me how to protect Your Majesty’s hard work.”
“In my opinion, it’s better to strike at the root of the problem. The huge Hou’s mansion looks powerful, but if it’s to collapse, it’s only a matter of time.” Yan Wanzhi’s eyelids were half-closed, and a sharp glint suddenly flashed past.
Jiang Yinghua had never seen Yan Wanzhi like this before. Just now, she had keenly captured that fierce look in Yan Wanzhi’s eyes, and she was shocked in her heart, sighing that this person’s city was immeasurable.
“Chief Secretary thinks that Your Majesty and I are having too comfortable a time and can’t wait to see a good show of infighting in the Jiang family?” Jiang Yinghua’s face turned cold, and there was only seriousness left in her words, with no more teasing.
“Obedient chess pieces can be manipulated if they stay on the board, but runaway chess pieces will be a disaster sooner or later. It’s better to eradicate them.” Yan Wanzhi seemed to disagree with Jiang Yinghua’s appeasement and continued to reiterate his own views. “Moreover, Your Highness, you should be clear that Your Majesty hopes that you can be clear-headed and know who to be close to and who to be of one mind with. What’s more, sensible imperial children should all prioritize the interests of imperial power. Don’t you think so?”
What a sensible imperial child should prioritize the interests of imperial power! This was a double entendre, which both refuted Jiang Yinghua’s opposition and pointed out that if Prince Yong was sensible, he shouldn’t have harmed the royal family’s reputation for the sake of his maternal relatives.
“Chief Secretary, go ahead and do it. I don’t like these things. The wine is ready. Let’s only talk about romance. Chief Secretary, come and drink the penalty wine first.” Jiang Yinghua looked towards the banquet outside, shook her sleeves and walked over by herself, standing on one side of the table and looking back at Yan Wanzhi.
Seeing this battle, it was impossible to avoid it. Yan Wanzhi wasted his breath, unable to persuade Jiang Yinghua to personally come out of the mountain, so he had to take the fall himself and drink these three cups of bitter wine.
Yan Wanzhi always had an air of being forced and righteously awe-inspiring when he drank wine. Seeing it in Jiang Yinghua’s eyes, she deeply felt that this person was wasting her fine wine.
“Chief Secretary is well-versed in peeling cocoons in court affairs. How can you not understand the lingering meaning of wine tasting?” Jiang Yinghua sat down, poured herself a cup, took a small sip, and smiled.
“Different moods lead to different actions. I remember that Your Highness was also pouring wine down your throat like this half a month ago.” Today’s Yan Wanzhi was particularly prickly, and his words always carried some strange teasing, making Jiang Yinghua unable to feel happy.
“Chief Secretary’s residence, was the charcoal fire burning too brightly yesterday?” Jiang Yinghua picked up the wine glass, her eyelids lowered, and spoke coldly without looking sideways.
“My residence has not used charcoal fire yet.” Yan Wanzhi was very serious, raised his glass and took a cup.
“Oh? Then you’re probably sick without knowing it and forgot to take your medicine.” Jiang Yinghua put down the glass and also snatched the glass from Yan Wanzhi’s hand. She picked up two silver pots and chuckled, “Since Chief Secretary is so hot-tempered and I’m feeling blocked up, then there’s no need to be pretentious. Drinking like this is more to your liking.”
Yan Wanzhi was stunned there. His alcohol tolerance was really not very good, so wouldn’t he have to get drunk like this?
But she could see that Jiang Yinghua’s smile concealed some anger. This girl really had a small mind. She didn’t dare to provoke her with heavy words, and she was already on the verge of exploding. It seemed that only Your Majesty in the world could control her.
Hesitating like this, Jiang Yinghua reached out and brought the wine pot she was holding closer to the wine pot in front of Yan Wanzhi, gently touching them together: “Let’s go, drink half a pot, no cheating.”
Fearing that she would be unhappy, Yan Wanzhi obediently picked up the wine pot and drank half a pot of wine with great difficulty. The Jiang Yinghua beside her leisurely admired the sunset glow climbing onto her white and snowy cheeks, and her rare smile was deep.
Drinking so freely, before long, Yan Wanzhi was dizzy with drunkenness. Jiang Yinghua stared at Yan Wanzhi’s amber eyes, which were reflected under his eyelashes, lost in thought for a long time. She said quietly, “If I remember correctly, Chief Secretary should be twenty-six years old this year. At this age, you have not yet formed a family. Could it be that there is someone you miss in your heart?”
Hearing this, Yan Wanzhi’s eyelashes drooped deeply, and he raised his elbow to support his shaky forehead, turning his gaze away and mumbling drunkenly, “Your Highness, don’t talk nonsense.”
Jiang Yinghua saw through her small actions and chuckled, “What are you ashamed of? If there is, I might be able to talk to them for Chief Secretary. My face can still be of some use.”
Yan Wanzhi seemed to be a little annoyed and gave her a white glance, then lay down on the table, giving Jiang Yinghua a round, furry back of his head, and stopped talking.
Jiang Yinghua knew that he was really drunk. Otherwise, she would definitely not dare to roll her eyes at people even if she lent him courage. This reaction made Jiang Yinghua feel relieved. This person probably didn’t have lovesickness in his heart, so it was much easier.
Jiang Yinghua took a small sip of wine by herself and smiled, “Chief Secretary is treating me as an outsider. Forget it, I’ll just take it as if I was being abrupt. I won’t mention this matter again.”
“Hmm… don’t mention… don’t want to mention.” Yan Wanzhi buried his head in his sleeves and muttered softly.