The Rebirth of an Ill-Fated Consort (Chapters 1- 203)

Chapter 153 : Framed

Translated by : Moondancer

Edited by : Anks & Ely

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Early in the morning of the next day, Jiang Ruan received a message from Princess He Yi inviting her to Mu Feng Pavilion. Bai Zhi was a little surprised when she handed the invitation over- she didn't know what Jiang Ruan had ordered Tian Zhu to do- but assumed that Princess He Yi must have been planning something again. Therefore, she couldn't help giving a reminder. "Miss, for Princess He Yi to look for you now, she must have some hidden intentions[1]. You must not fall for it."

[1] 醉翁之意不在酒 (Zuì wēng zhī yì bùzài jiǔ) – wine-lover's heart is not in the cup (idiom); a drinker not really interested in alcohol / having an ulterior motive / to have other things in mind / accomplishing something besides what one set out to do.

Lian Qiao nodded along. "Currently within the palace there are many eyes pinned on Miss; we mustn't have an accident at this juncture. Why don't I return the invitation and say it's not convenient for Miss?"

"No need." Jiang Ruan smiled slightly. "You just need to help me pack my clothes."

Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi looked at one another, and when they saw that Jiang Ruan seemed to have her own plans, they could only do as they were told. While they were busy, Lu Zhu quietly slipped over and asked, "Miss, isn't Princess He Yialready... Unless nothing happened to her?"

Dead people couldn't send invitations, and there were no such things as ghosts. Unless Princess He Yi was still alive, there was no way that such an invitation would appear for no reason.

"Impossible," Jiang Ruan replied. Tian Zhu had already inquired — after Princess He Yi left last night, she didn't even visit Shu Fang Palace. Princess He Yi had witnessed such a big thing yesterday, yet didn't mention it? The palace maids also said that her behaviour was strange and she didn't seem to want to talk much.

In that case, the 'Princess He Yi' who returned to the palace likely wasn't the real Princess He Yi. Then this message must have also come from the imposter — of course, the one who wanted to invite her wasn't actually the fake Princess, but the person behind them.

Since the invitation was already sent to her hands, why wouldn't she go? It would save quite a bit of trouble. She raised her eyebrows, then reached into her sleeve and took out a letter which she handed to Tian Zhu. "It's not suitable for you to show your face, so find an opportunity to send this letter to Great Master Hui Jue."

Tian Zhu nodded. Jiang Ruan changed her clothes, then let Bai Zhi and Lu Zhu accompany her to Mu Feng Pavilion.

Although Mu Feng Pavilion was beautiful, it was located quite close to the cold palace, so few people visited. The consorts rarely visited for fear of being contaminated by misfortune, the eunuchs and maids had too many tasks to do to spend time appreciating the scenery, and since their masters weren't inclined to come there was naturally no reason for them to be there either. Only Princess He Yi enjoyed coming here regularly.

Once Jiang Ruan arrived at the corridors leading to Mu Feng Pavilion, from a distance she could see a figure resting against a table. From the adornments on their body, this could only be Princess He Yi; and indeed, the two maids next to her were Princess He Yi's personal maidservants. Lu Zhu frowned when she saw this scene, wondering if Princess He Yi hadn't died after all. Was Bai Zhi right, and they were planning to do something nefarious to Jiang Ruan?

Bai Zhi, who was more attentive than Lu Zhu, found that Princess He Yi's body looked a little strange, although she couldn't say how. Her posture was as stiff as a puppet stuffed with cotton, and even the lines of her shoulders were unnatural. For some reason, Bai Zhi felt a sense of unease. She couldn't help wanting to say something to Jiang Ruan, but then she saw Jiang Ruan walk towards Princess He Yi without a sideways glance.