LF Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Moving Celebration

The cicadas in the afternoon were tirelessly chirping, perched on the high, lush green branches, vigorously singing of their short lives, as if this was the very meaning of their existence in the world.

Jiang Yinghua finally deigned to pull her head out of her wide sleeves, her eyelids swollen like red peaches, tearing at the tear-soaked collar of her dress.

“Someone,” she called out in a slightly hoarse voice as she walked towards the outer room.

No one responded.

“Someone!” She tore off her gauze robe and threw it aside, calling out sharply towards the door.

Two drowsy maids finally heard their mistress’s summons and nervously hurried to open the door and enter.

“Go, choose a proper dress for me, I am going out,” Jiang Yinghua glanced at the maids and ordered coldly.

“Your Highness, you haven’t eaten today, and it’s getting late, would you like to have a meal first?” one of the maids asked boldly.

“Dress me,” Jiang Yinghua took a deep breath and replied through gritted teeth.

Once dressed, Jiang Yinghua looked at her swollen eyes and red nose in the mirror, feeling ashamed. She slammed the bronze mirror on the table and stared blankly out the window. After a long while, she slowly opened her mouth: “Go find some gifts suitable for celebrating a housewarming, prepare two good ones, and come back here to find me.”

The maid took the order and retreated. The old steward of Prince Zhao Manor then followed and stood by with his hands down.

Jiang Yinghua saw him, stood up, and asked, “How is it?”

“Your Highness, Scholar Yan has not attended court these days, and I have heard that he has been at home,” the old steward replied, cupping his hands.

Jiang Yinghua paced thoughtfully and waved for him to retreat.

A moment later, a maid came to report that the carriage and gifts were ready. Jiang Yinghua rubbed her sore eyes, flicked her sleeves, and walked towards the gate of the manor, got into the carriage, and ordered, “Go to Yan Wanzhi’s new residence.”

The stone-paved road was scorching under the blazing sun. Jiang Yinghua felt as if she was in a steamer in the carriage, extremely stuffy.

Fortunately, the residence newly bestowed by Your Majesty was very close to Prince Zhao Manor, and the short journey was not too difficult to endure.

Arriving at the new residence, with its high gates and wide alleyways, and well-organized gatekeepers, it did indeed have a different atmosphere. Jiang Yinghua looked at the imposing residence with interest, every brick and tile was new, and thought to herself that her elder sister truly favored this person.

Welcomed into the main hall by eager servants, Yan Wanzhi was nowhere to be seen, nor was his close-following steward. The furnishings in the large main room were sparse, suggesting that Yan Wanzhi had only just moved in and had not had time to arrange many things.

Jiang Yinghua looked around the room and asked the servant attending her, “Where is your master? When will he be back?”

“Your Highness, he may have returned to his old residence. I have already sent someone to deliver a message,” the servant replied respectfully, seemingly unsure of the man’s whereabouts.

With nothing to do at the moment, Jiang Yinghua saw that it was still early, so she turned and left the main hall, glanced at the housewarming gifts she had sent, “Take good care of these things for your master, I will go to the old residence to find him.” With that, she walked towards the carriage outside the gate.

The group traveled from the north of the city to the south of the city, once again braving the sun.

The carriage had just stopped in front of the old Yan residence when the old steward greeted them with a surprised expression.

“Your Highness, why are you here?” the old steward said, as he was leading several servants to load three large, locked wooden boxes onto the cart. He was also holding the lock for the gate, seemingly about to lock up and leave.

Jiang Yinghua leaned out of the carriage, and seeing this scene, she frowned involuntarily, “Steward, is your master not here?”

The steward, hearing this, paused for a moment and replied, “Your Highness, the master should be on duty at this time.”

Jiang Yinghua heard this and, recalling the information from the steward at Prince Zhao Manor, understood in her heart that Yan Wanzhi’s actions were kept even from his own steward, showing that he was quite scheming. “Where are you going, Steward?”

“I am taking these old items to the new residence to decorate it,” the steward pointed to the cart of wooden boxes.

“I will go with you and wait for your master to return there,” Jiang Yinghua said and lowered the curtain. The coachman had no choice but to turn the carriage around and go back again.

Back at the new residence, the steward and the servants faced Jiang Yinghua, the great Buddha, with a look of bewilderment. They could not understand why, in less than an hour, the prince had traveled back and forth several times, and was still waiting for their master, who was nowhere to be found.

Jiang Yinghua did not feel uncomfortable at all. Seeing that there was a large patch of shade under the Chinese pearleaf crabapple tree in the front yard, she went straight over and sat down, admiring the blossoming mimosa flowers under the tree while waiting for the elusive Yan Wanzhi.

When she arrived, the sun was high in the sky, scorching people into a state of listlessness. Now, the sun was setting and the evening breeze was gentle. Jiang Yinghua leaned on the stone table with one hand, closed her eyes to rest, stubbornly waiting…

When the sky was full of stars, Yan Wanzhi returned to the residence, covered in dust, with her head lowered. She walked quickly towards the hall, not noticing a figure in the shadowy darkness beneath the tree.

“Scholar Yan is busy~” Jiang Yinghua had been observing her since she entered the gate. Seeing that she was about to walk away, she abruptly spoke to stop her.

Yan Wanzhi jumped in fright, patted her chest for a long while, and then mustered the courage to turn around and see Jiang Yinghua, who looked exhausted.

“Your Highness? When did you arrive? I am remiss,” she widened her eyes in surprise, then gave a proper bow.

“Do you have urgent matters at the moment? If not, would you like to talk?” Jiang Yinghua straightened her body and forced a smile as she asked.

“I, I have nothing,” Yan Wanzhi lowered her eyes and nodded, standing to the side.

“Then, come and sit down.” Jiang Yinghua pointed with her index finger at the seat next to her on the stone table.

Yan Wanzhi understood and walked over, but deliberately avoided the closest seat, choosing the stool opposite her to sit down.

Jiang Yinghua noticed her little thoughts, but didn’t say anything. She picked up the teapot and poured tea for herself, then handed it over to her. Seeing that she had accepted it, Jiang Yinghua opened her mouth and said quietly, “Scholar Yan is sharp-eared and clear-eyed, does she know if Your Majesty has mentioned any arrangements for me recently?”

Yan Wanzhi put down the teacup, rubbed the teacup in her hand, lowered her eyes, and smiled softly, “Probably not.”

“It’s good if there isn’t.” Jiang Yinghua leaned back, her eyes falling on Yan Wanzhi’s hu clothing. This person rarely dresses like this. Her eyes wandered over the face of the person in front of her,

“Have you not attended court for many days because saving me delayed you, Scholar Yan?”

Yan Wanzhi choked on her tea, coughed twice, covering her mouth and nose with her sleeve, “How could that be? I caught a cold, and Your Majesty is compassionate, allowing me to rest for a few days.”

Jiang Yinghua took in all her small movements, her eyes almost burrowing under the table. It was truly interesting.

Unable to restrain herself, Jiang Yinghua burst out laughing. When she spoke again, she said seriously, “When lying, you can’t avoid eye contact.”

Yan Wanzhi saw that her lie had been exposed, and a blush spread across her face, along with some embarrassment. For a moment, she was at a loss.

Jiang Yinghua did not intend to embarrass her. Before coming, she had considered various scenarios. At the moment, she just wanted to seize the opportunity to explain clearly:

“You saved my life, but it has affected your work. I am sorry for you. If rumors continue, if I am willing to marry you, would you dare to marry me?”

Jiang Yinghua sat upright at the table, her big eyes staring at Yan Wanzhi, refusing to look away or blink an eyelid.

As soon as these words came out, Yan Wanzhi’s eyes widened in surprise, her face turned pale, and she stood up hastily, stumbling over an uneven stone on the ground: “Your Highness, don’t joke with me like this. I come from a humble background, how dare I aspire so high.”

Seeing her like this, Jiang Yinghua’s eyes dimmed. She stood up, turned her head, and looked up at the mimosa flowers all over the tree, taking a deep breath as if she was sensing the sweetness of the floral fragrance:

“Hehe, why be so scared? I’m not a man-eating tiger, huh? I’m teasing you. I came here today just to tell you that you will be able to return to work soon. I, too, have made a decision.”

The first half of the sentence was in the usual joking tone, but the second half had a more serious tone.

Yan Wanzhi asked in a somewhat puzzled tone, “Your Highness?”

Jiang Yinghua turned back, her face with a sweet smile, “That’s all I have to say, I’m leaving.” With that, she walked towards the gate with her hands behind her back.

Yan Wanzhi had no time to think, and quickly followed to see her off.

Again, following step by step behind her, Jiang Yinghua walked to the front gate, as if suddenly remembering something, stopped, but did not turn her head: “Wanzhi, you are loyal. Elder sister cherishes talent, don’t let her down.”

As soon as the voice fell, she quickly walked to the outside of the door, snatched the whip from the guard, and galloped away, leaving a row of attendants in disarray in the night.

“Aren’t you going to follow?” Yan Wanzhi scolded in a low voice when she saw this.

The group from Prince Zhao Manor disappeared into the night. Yan Wanzhi’s lonely and tired figure stood for a long time on the long street in front of the gate, and could not help but ask in her heart: “You, what have you decided? Actually, you don’t have to do anything. If you don’t like it, let others handle it.”

——

The next day, before dawn, Jiang Yinghua got up early and asked someone to dress her in court clothes. Ignoring her elder sister’s instructions, she stood in front of Chongzheng Hall.

After the morning court session ended, without anyone needing to invite her, she followed after Your Majesty’s footsteps.

“Why are you so proactively coming to the palace to find me today? What are you plotting?” Jiang Jingche did not stop walking, tilting her head to glance at her.

“Elder sister, would you allow me to stay in my fief for a while?” Jiang Yinghua squeezed forward, closely following behind her, her eyes glued to her face.

“Are you short of money? Want to plunder something?” Your Majesty thought for a moment and asked without much emotion.

“No. If you don’t agree, just pretend I didn’t say anything.” Jiang Yinghua, hearing her question, guessed that Your Majesty probably had no intention of agreeing, changed her tone.

Your Majesty, hearing this, reached out and grabbed Jiang Yinghua’s wrist, pulled her into the palace in stride, and glanced at the servants waiting on the side, “All of you, withdraw!”

Once only the two sisters were left in the hall, Your Majesty released her hand and asked with a puzzled expression, “Why are you so insistent on leaving me?”