“Thank you,” Jiang Ruan expressed her gratitude to Xiao Shao, appreciating his clever move. The death of Ye You effectively erased all traces. Jiang Li and Lang Zhongfu seemed to have saved their lives for now, but as the situation developed, they would become more entangled, and Lang Zhongfu would be in hot water. She felt no sympathy for Jiang Li and Zuo Jiang. These two had intended to harm her, so even their deaths would be considered a light punishment. The only one who escaped punishment was Chen Guifei. Chen Guifei was so free that she meddled in her affairs, but how could Jiang Ruan let her down?
Jiang Ruan sneered inwardly. It seemed like she hadn’t seen the holy monk Hui Jue for a long time. However, he should now be referred to as the national teacher.
Inside the General’s Mansion, Zhao Guang paced back and forth in his study. He took down the sword hanging on the wall and then hung it back up again. Zhao Yuan Feng coolly remarked, “Dad, if you keep pacing like this, I’m going to get dizzy.”
“You don’t understand!” Zhao Guang retorted, frustrated that he had nowhere to vent his anger. Zhao Yuan Feng had become the target of his rage, and he exploded, “Your niece was drugged by someone, and you’re telling me I can’t even pace?!”
Zhao Yuan Ping intervened, “Dad, what are you so anxious about? Hasn’t the culprit been dealt with by Prince Xiao? The girl Ruan didn’t even hurt a finger and is safely residing in the Jin Ying Wang Mansion. Why are you venting your anger on your third brother?”
A few days ago, Xiao Shao sent a letter to the General’s Mansion. The messenger relayed the entire story, which almost provoked Zhao Guang to draw his sword and attack Lang Zhongfu and that lascivious prince. However, the messenger advised Zhao Guang to remain calm as everything was being handled by Xiao Shao. The next day, Lang Zhongfu was embroiled in a scandal, and the third prince’s mansion was wiped out.
Even without much thought, Zhao Guang could deduce that this was Xiao Shao’s handiwork. However, Zhao Guang was still displeased, “Why should an outsider interfere in my family affairs? Moreover, what’s the idea behind sending Ruan, an unmarried girl, to the Jin Ying Wang Mansion? Yuan Jia, go and bring your niece back to me!”
Zhao Yuanjia, the eldest son of the Zhao family, was inexplicably singled out by Zhao Guang. He helplessly responded, “Dad, wouldn’t it provide others an opportunity to exploit if we go to pick up Ruan now? Since Prince Xiao has helped Ruan, he won’t harm her.”
Lately, there have been unfamiliar eyes constantly watching the General’s Mansion. The servants have searched but found nothing, leading them to suspect the presence of spies, likely targeting Jiang Ruan. Now that everyone outside is claiming that Jiang Ruan is in the General’s Mansion, any leaked information at this time could be detrimental to both Jiang Ruan and the entire General’s Mansion. Zhao Guang understood this, but he was still dissatisfied. After all, Jiang Ruan is his granddaughter, yet the matter of revenge was handled by Xiao Shao, an outsider. Moreover, the attitude of the person who delivered the letter that day left Zhao Guang feeling suffocated, as if the Jin Ying Wang Mansion was Jiang Ruan’s true home, and their General’s Mansion were the villains.
Zhao Guang’s stubborn temper flared up, and he found himself unable to see eye to eye with Xiao Shao. Although he was grateful to Xiao Shao for saving Jiang Ruan in a critical moment, he was still unhappy. He angrily said to Zhao Yuanjia, “What do you know? Who knows if that Xiao family boy has taken a liking to Ruan and harbors ill intentions towards her? Ruan is young, what if she is deceived?”
Wasn’t it Zhao Mei’s poor judgment of people back then that led to her wasting her life and even involving a pair of children? This matter is Zhao Guang’s eternal pain.
Zhao Yuanping laughed out loud and said, “Dad, are you suggesting that Xiao Shao has special feelings for Ruan? Don’t voice such thoughts. Besides, can Ruan be deceived? It would be good if she doesn’t deceive others.”
Everyone in the entire Jin Dynasty knew that Xiao Shao was cold by nature and indifferent to women. Even if Jiang Ruan was as beautiful as a fairy, she was just a passerby in Xiao Shao’s eyes. Moreover, Jiang Ruan’s character, appearing gentle but cold and ruthless underneath, was well-known. Zhao Yuanping, having grown up with the Zhao family, shared their views on women. He felt that women should be as passionate and simple as Zhao Mei. Although Jiang Ruan is his niece, most men would not favor her type of character.
Of course, many years later, facts would prove that even Zhao Yuanping, the most astute strategist of the Zhao family, could make mistakes. But for now, he still believed his ideas were correct.
However, Zhao Guang was a person who was extremely protective of his own. Upon hearing Zhao Yuanping’s words, he became angry, slapped the table heavily, and retorted with a stiff neck, “Are you still a member of the Zhao family? What’s wrong with Ruan? Ruan is beautiful, and that Xiao family boy hasn’t met such a good person as Ruan. Get out of my sight.”
Zhao Yuanfeng finally lost his patience, stood up and said, “Dad, now is not the time to quarrel with my elder brothers. Let’s discuss Prince Xiao’s matter another day. Ruan has suffered such a great grievance, shouldn’t we do something?”
“What can we do?” Zhao Guang became angry as soon as he mentioned it, “Everything has been done by that Xiao family boy!”
“Isn’t there still Chen Guifei?” Zhao Yuanfeng reminded.
Zhao Guang frowned, “How can a woman in the harem intervene?” Although he was furious, Chen Guifei was in the harem, and he was a minister, so he had no chance to do anything. This matter could not be publicized. He couldn’t think of any solutions.
Zhao Yuanping snapped his fingers, “Chen Guifei can’t be touched, but isn’t there still Chen Daren?” He laughed, “I think Chen Guifei is so reckless because Chen Daren is living too arrogantly now.”
Zhao Guang pondered for a moment, nodded and said, “That’s right, that old man, I’ve wanted to teach him a lesson for a long time. Just right, this time let’s give him a taste of his own medicine, otherwise everyone will say that our General’s Mansion is easy to bully. You three sit down for me, this matter is of great importance…”
A prince of a country was said to be gone, and just like that, he was gone. Even if he was a useless prince, he still managed to stir up quite a storm in the court. The emperor never favored this son, so he didn’t show much sadness. However, the Empress Dowager Yi De was unusually upset, but it didn’t seem to be because of this matter.
Jiang Ruan stayed in the Jin Ying Wang Mansion for a few days. After the storm had passed, she did not return to the Jiang Mansion. Instead, Xiao Shao sent two people to escort her into the palace. Xiao Shao’s subordinates were not ordinary people, which made things more certain.
Upon her return to the palace, she went to greet the Empress Dowager Yi De as usual. Jiang Ruan acted as if nothing had happened, but she noticed that the Empress Dowager Yi De had become much more haggard. When she saw Jiang Ruan, the Empress Dowager Yi De seemed to remember something and asked, “I heard that something happened on the night of your third sister’s wedding. What exactly happened?”
Jiang Ruan shook her head, “If my third sister doesn’t say, I don’t know the specifics.”
The Empress Dowager sighed and shook her head. She knew that Jiang Ruan’s relationship with the Jiang family was not very good. Back in the royal ancestral temple, Jiang Quan didn’t even send a decent family letter. The Empress Dowager also noticed Jiang Ruan’s attitude towards the Jiang family. She was not enthusiastic, and now she was naturally indifferent.
“That Zuo Jiang, I don’t think he is a good person at all. He has completely messed up the norms. In the future, if the people follow his example, wouldn’t the world be in chaos?” Obviously, this matter was very serious in the eyes of the Empress Dowager Yi De. Although the Empress Dowager Yi De had let go of politics over the years, the unique vision she developed in the early years was still there, and Zuo Jiang had already crossed the line of the Empress Dowager Yi De. As for the major events of the world, Jiang Ruan would not speak in front of the Empress Dowager Yi De. The Empress Dowager Yi De spoke for a while, seemed to be tired, and then took a rest.
(End of the chapter)
