She had to look after Tianzhu, waiting anxiously all this while. The person who came to fetch her mentioned that Jiang Ruan was unharmed at the mansion, but Lu Zhu was still deeply concerned. She wished she could sprout wings and fly back to Jiang Ruan immediately.
The Jin Ying Prince’s Mansion was significantly larger than the Jiang Mansion. The maid who was guiding her pointed out the direction and then left. This was Lu Zhu’s first time in such a large mansion, and she inadvertently got lost.
Upon finally spotting someone ahead, Lu Zhu, disregarding everything else, hurriedly ran up and said, “Excuse me, sir.”
Jin Er, who was deep in thought, was taken aback when he saw a little maid with an anxious expression running towards him. This maid seemed unfamiliar, but she had a sweet smile and appeared very well-behaved, somewhat familiar. Jin Er assumed she was a new maid in the mansion, but found it odd that she addressed him as “sir”.
Lu Zhu noticed this man staring at her. To be fair, Jin Er was quite handsome. But his smile was somewhat roguish. Lu Zhu frowned and asked, “Sir, do you know where Miss Jiang from the mansion resides?”
As soon as Lu Zhu asked this, Jin Er had a sudden realization. He recognized this little maid; she was originally a maid serving the young lady. Considering his master was a man of few words, he thought it would be better to take a roundabout approach and start from the young lady. So, he deliberately crossed his arms, looked at Lu Zhu with a smirk, and said, “You’re referring to the young lady? She resides with our master.”
All of Lu Zhu’s attention was focused on the three words “young lady” from Jin Er, and she didn’t mind that Jin Er referred to Xiao Shao as “master”. She widened her eyes and exclaimed, “What young lady?”
Jin Er felt that Jiang Ruan was cunning and ruthless, but how could this little maid by her side not be very clever? He had a mischievous idea for a moment and laughed, “They share a room, isn’t she the young lady? The young lady was drugged with an aphrodisiac yesterday, but it was our master who personally neutralized it… Ouch!”
Let’s not discuss how Lu Zhu is faring. The terms “young lady” and “master” from Jin Er’s mouth do not convey the affection suggested by the rumors. Jiang Ruan sipped some lotus leaf honey water. The Jin Ying Prince’s Mansion seemed accustomed to its usual tranquility, with no women coming and going. It took Manager Lin a considerable amount of time to find a cook who could prepare sugar water and a few snacks.
She initially intended to please the future princess, but in reality, Jiang Ruan herself wasn’t fond of such sweet treats. The servants in the Jin Ying Prince’s Mansion were overly enthusiastic towards her. Even though she kept people at arm’s length, she had to maintain a gentle demeanor on the surface.
Xiao Shao sat across from her. The morning air was fresh, and the sun shone at an angle, casting a golden glow on his handsome profile. The golden bat embroidered on his brocade robe made him appear even more noble, and the way he lowered his head to sip his tea exuded the unique elegance of royalty.
There are some people in the world who are inherently different from others. Jiang Ruan has seen a lot in recent days, and she can’t help but be slightly mesmerized when she sees such beauty.
She lowered her head and took a sip of the honey water, which was somewhat sweet, and looked at Xiao Shao, asking, “Did you have a hand in Ye You’s matter?”
Xiao Shao nodded.
Jiang Ruan asked again, “Did you present his head to Chen Fei?”
Xiao Shao’s eyes flashed with a hint of coldness, “He brought it upon himself.”
Jiang Ruan rested her chin on the rim of the cup. Xiao Shao did this, essentially to vent her anger. She scrutinized the man in front of her. She had always felt that he had been of great help, but the subtle feeling in her heart grew stronger with each passing day. She was not a child who had never experienced emotions. Having lived twice, she naturally understood what the unusual feeling in her heart signified.
Such a proud son of heaven, offering help time and time again. If it were her from her previous life, she would have probably succumbed long ago. Unfortunately, their paths cross in this life. Jiang Ruan felt a hint of bitterness in her heart. She came bearing hatred, and this life is destined to be steeped in bloodshed. Even if she dares not get close to the Zhao family, how could she dare to let her heart waver? In her previous life, she died too early and didn’t know what transpired later. Xiao Shao has always been on the emperor’s side. When the emperor died, Xiao Shao was still in the Eastern Yi Kingdom. If Xiao Shao returned, how could Ye Li let him be? In her previous life, she didn’t know what his final fate was.
Thinking of this, Jiang Ruan unconsciously furrowed her brow. Xiao Shao saw her like this and thought she was worried about the matter of Empress Chen, so he comforted her in a soft voice: “I have already arranged everything in the palace, you don’t need to worry too much.”
Jiang Ruan regained her composure, her voice gentle: “Xiao Shao, you have helped me a lot, but Empress Chen and I are at odds in this life. I have my own methods, you don’t need to intervene.”
Xiao Shao was silent for a moment: “I understand.” Jiang Ruan has many secrets, he knows. These secrets can’t be unearthed even by the best spies in the Jinyiwei. Now, although he is puzzled, he doesn’t want to pry. Everyone has their own secrets. Jiang Ruan’s secret is that there is always a touch of darkness in her eyes. That darkness is too deep, although it is well concealed, occasionally it will unconsciously reveal a little bit, making her full of hostility.
Last night when she was in a coma, she also called out a name, it was: Ye Li.
Xiao Shao lowered his eyes, the steam from the tea obscured the emotions in his eyes. What grudge does she have with Ye Li? Last night, when Jiang Ruan was unconscious, she called out this name, and her tone was clearly filled with sadness and desolation. He ordered the spies to investigate, but they didn’t find out what grudge Ye Li had with Jiang Ruan.
After a while, Xiao Shao asked: “What are you planning to do?”
“Ye You is already dead, the doctor’s house and Jiang Li will also reap what they sow. Empress Chen has put so much effort into this play, how can she end it hastily?” Jiang Ruan’s eyes flashed with a dark light. Xiao Shao saw it and said, “If there is any trouble, you can tell me.”
(End of this chapter)
