Chapter 21: Sneaking into the Palace, Emptying the Treasury
Wearing a silver mask, An'er descended abruptly at the palace gates, his voice sinister as he declared, "Those who don't want to die, step aside!"
The guards, who were in a drowsy state, sensed a terrifying murderous intent and instantly snapped awake. Among them, the captain of the guards rubbed his bleary eyes and thought with annoyance, "Where did this idiot come from, being so audacious? Is he looking for trouble?"
This was the first time such a situation had occurred since they started guarding the palace gates. Not knowing the capabilities of their adversary, they didn't dare take this lightly.
Several of them swiftly picked up their long spears, simultaneously launching an attack on An'er...
An'er quickly drew his sword and feigned a few attacks, then glanced at a shadow quietly approaching the palace gates. He pretended to be overwhelmed and began retreating.
Seeing the masked man appearing weak, the guards immediately became alert. Capturing this assassin would earn them credit for preventing an attempt on the Emperor's life, which would likely lead to rewards the following day.
Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Ru activated her light-footed technique and gracefully slipped into the palace.
An'er, with an expression of disdain, half-heartedly evaded a few fools. When he saw Jiang Ru entering the palace, he pretended to flee as fast as he could.
Several guards chased after him, but when they couldn't catch up, they returned to the palace gates grumbling.
Once inside the palace, Jiang Ru swiftly sprinted towards the treasury...
Haha, tonight she was going to strike it rich.
Observing the guards huffing and puffing at the treasury entrance, Jiang Ru sneaked to a corner. She sprinkled a potent sleeping powder into the air from her space...
Given their exhaustion, why not just take a nap?
Jiang Ru carefully timed her exit from space and found them all sprawled on the ground, sound asleep.
To prevent any unforeseen events, she waited in place for a few minutes.
If you don't move, I'll take action...
Jiang Ru exhaled slowly, hugged the wall, and stealthily crept into the treasury.
The moment she entered the storage room, Jiang Ru felt a slight relief.
This was way too exhilarating, causing an adrenaline rush!
Because of the tension, Jiang Ru's face flushed slightly. She looked at the wooden crates stacked in the treasury and instantly transported them all into her space.
All six storage rooms, every single item, vanished into Jiang Ru's space.
Gazing at the empty rooms, Jiang Ru triumphantly snapped her fingers.
Right, and there's still the Emperor's private treasury!
There should be even more valuable items in there!
With a light and agile pace, Jiang Ru left the treasury and followed her memory towards the Emperor's private vault.
On the way, she encountered several patrol teams.
Xiao Junze's private treasury was close to his sleeping quarters, so there were plenty of guards on patrol.
Each time Jiang Ru encountered a patrol team, she slipped into her space. After repeating this a few times, she finally arrived at the entrance to the private treasury.
Once inside the storage room, Jiang Ru felt like her heart was about to leap out of her chest.
Actions speak louder than words, and she swiftly collected the treasures from the private treasury into her space.
Tonight, she was making a big fortune. When she arrives in Jizhou, she planned to buy land, houses, and even acquire eight handsome men...
Haha, she was going to live a life of happiness and bliss, like a contented silkworm.
On her way back, Jiang Ru didn't use the palace gate but headed towards the Imperial Harem.
Why? Because she had memorized the locations of the Phoenix Court and Ningkang Court!
Hehe! She hadn't offered that tea for free; there should be some perks for her "services."
Fearing that An'er might become impatient outside the palace, Jiang Ru slightly increased her pace.
Inside the Imperial Harem, there were no patrolling guards, only a few eunuchs who seemed half-asleep. It was like an open road!
Jiang Ru vaulted over the wall using her light-footed technique.
She didn't spare any of the treasures in the Queen Mother and Empress's storage rooms - jewelry, gold, silver, precious stones, various fabrics - all of it was transported into her space without hesitation.
Every bit counted; she didn't mind getting the smallest treasures.
Outside the palace, An'er was growing increasingly anxious. All he could think of were visions of his Princess being captured and beaten...
Princess, please come out soon!
The guards who had been fooled by An'er earlier were now wide awake. They were angered by the sudden return of the assassin and were determined to capture him this time.
"Capture this assassin, and we'll receive rewards when we enter the palace tomorrow!" the captain of the guards gritted his teeth, uttering his resolve.
Several guards pounced on An'er with determination.
An'er didn't back down; he wore a mocking smile and taunted, "Want to catch me? You'll have to see if you bunch of idiots are up to the task."
While the guards were distracted, Jiang Ru, sticking to the wall, made a hasty escape.
During the scuffle, the captain suddenly noticed Jiang Ru's silhouette, but she vanished so quickly he wasn't sure if he was seeing things.
An'er saw Jiang Ru enter the alley and decided to use his full strength to kick the guards to the ground before following her.
At this moment, the captain realized something was amiss and had a bad feeling.
Did they just perform a 'Divide and Conquer' trick?
Since there was no commotion in the palace, it meant the other person hadn't tried to assassinate the Emperor.
Right, he didn't see anything!
The captain, fearing repercussions if things went wrong, decided to keep the recent events a secret.
In a hidden cell within the palace.
Xiao Junze played with the jade thumb ring on his hand, a dark expression on his face as he observed the woman lying on the ground, covered in injuries.
"Yuexi, as long as you confess what happened on the night the late Emperor passed away, I can spare your life."
This woman was none other than Yuexi, a senior palace maid from the late Emperor's imperial concubine Xihuang's palace.
On the night when Imperial Concubine Xihuang encountered trouble, Yuexi had taken advantage of the chaos and dressed as a eunuch to escape from the palace. She had remained hidden in the capital ever since, watching over her young master, who had grown up slowly.
Now, with Xiao Chengjin in trouble, she had been eager to visit the Prince's residence.
She knew that the palace people wouldn't let this matter rest.
However, she didn't anticipate being knocked unconscious by the Emperor's henchmen before she even approached the Prince's residence.
The items the late Emperor left for her young master were meant to save his life. Even if she died, she wouldn't reveal them.
"M... Master, I don't know what you're talking about," Yuexi stammered.
Xiao Junze sneered, "Those who know when to cooperate are the smart ones. You understand, Xiao Chengjin is essentially a living corpse now..."
Yuexi, upon hearing this, couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.
Yes, her master didn't even know if he would wake up.
All of this was that damn Emperor's fault.
Chapter 22: Severing Father-Daughter Relations with the Prince's Consort
Yuexi painfully propped herself up, spat at Xiao Junze, and cursed through clenched teeth, "Pah, you dog Emperor, don't think I don't know. My young master fell victim to your treacherous hands."
"When a ruler lacks benevolence, and a brother lacks compassion, heaven shall punish..."
Since they were already in dire straits and wouldn't survive anyway, she decided to provoke him for satisfaction.
Sure enough, before Yuexi could finish her words, she was kicked to the ground by the head steward Ji, who was by Xiao Junze's side.
Steward Ji's voice was sharp as he exclaimed, "Insolence! Daring to insult His Majesty, have you no shame left?"
Xiao Junze stood with his hands behind his back and ordered the black-clad figure beside him, "Kill her and throw her onto Potter's Field."
If you won't speak, I can't do anything about it, can I?
Humph! Don't underestimate my methods.
The black-clad person respectfully replied, "I obey!"
Xiao Junze left the dark cell, his eyes filled with a chilling light.
When a brother lacks compassion, I want the entire world to know how dearly this older brother cherishes his younger sibling.
...
On their way back to the Prince's residence, Jiang Ru felt like she could almost fly.
However, she couldn't celebrate just yet. The wealth in the Prince's residence treasury was substantial. If possible, she'd love to transport the entire Prince's residence into her spatial realm.
An'er trailed behind like a sulking child, watching Jiang Ru hop and skip ahead, feeling utterly helpless.
He needed to go back and talk to the housekeeper; he needed to stay by the Prince's side. Princess was so audacious; he feared he might not be able to protect the Princess with his abilities alone.
Jiang Ru sensed An'er's discontent and halted her steps. "Do you have an issue with this Princess?"
An'er nodded quickly, then just as swiftly shook his head. "No, I dare not!"
"Don't dare?"
"I'm telling you, keep your grievances to yourself. You're not allowed to speak of tonight's events. Do you understand?" Jiang Ru said sternly, glaring at An'er.
By the way, that little maid Dong Xue seemed to be looking at An'er in a strange way, with admiration and affection...
Sigh, women can be so unpredictable!
An'er twitched his mouth and respectfully said, "I understand."
With Princess being so bold, the Prince's position was precarious!
Upon returning to the Prince's residence, Jiang Ru hummed a tune as she entered her room.
In fact, Xia Chengjin had awakened when she left.
This woman had martial skills to protect herself. She must have gone to cause trouble in the middle of the night!
In his heart, Xia Chengjin quipped, "I hope she doesn't run into a tough situation and end up getting beaten."
He perked his ears to listen to the sounds in the room and, upon hearing Jiang Ru humming her tune, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
She must be in high spirits; she must have succeeded.
Jiang Ru removed her night clothes and lay on her small bed, thinking about the gold, silver, and jewels in her spatial realm. She couldn't help but smile brightly.
She rolled over onto Xia Chengjin's side and patted his handsome face, whispering joyfully, "Let me tell you, from now on, I'll be the wealthiest woman in the world."
Xia Chengjin thought, she snuck out in the middle of the night to... rob someone!
Steward Lin had mentioned that she was managing the Prince's residence's finances now.
Uh... had she already depleted all the Prince's residence's funds?
Just as Xia Chengjin was complaining to himself, he heard Jiang Ru's suppressed laughter.
"Furthermore, I'm going to buy eight handsome men, no, make it sixteen. You can pick the first eight, and the rest are mine."
"How's that? Am I generous enough?"
Xia Chengjin felt that he would be driven to madness by this woman sooner or later.
She wants to find eight handsome men, as if he were dead!
Well, considering the current situation, he did indeed resemble the dead.
However, this woman seemed to have unshakable faith that he would recover.
Yes, he couldn't get angry. He wanted to wake up early to see her.
Jiang Ru, without a hint of drowsiness, rolled back onto her small bed.
Before dawn, she had one more major task to accomplish...
...
The Imperial Palace, within the Hall of Golden Luans.
The Emperor stared at the imperial decree in front of him, its jade seal affixed. His fingers rhythmically tapped the table.
It had been a while, and Princess Consort An still hadn't completed her assigned task.
Perhaps the vigilance in the Prince's residence was too high, and Princess Consort An couldn't find an opportunity.
Oh well, what could he expect from a powerless woman?
"Steward Ji, this matter must be handled properly. Remember, even if you have to dig three feet into the ground... you must find what I want," Xiao Junze instructed.
Steward Ji lowered his brows and bowed, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, this matter will be handled by this old servant!"
Born into the royal family, it was either you die or I die. It was all because Prince An was too proud.
If he had handed over what the late Emperor had left behind earlier, could he have avoided such a fate?
The sun had just begun to rise on the horizon as civil and military officials, as usual, entered the palace for the early morning court session.
The first minister to enter the Hall of Golden Luans and see the Emperor on the dragon throne was immediately startled.
He steadied his mind and respectfully performed a bow.
What's going on?
Did the sun rise in the west?
Is something big happening in the palace?
This minister, light on his feet, made his way to his designated position, sneaking a discreet glance at the Emperor.
The Emperor's expression was far from right; it must be something serious.
This minister huddled there like a quail.
Following him, the other ministers also looked puzzled, deciding to wait and see.
Meanwhile, Jiang Ru had already stashed everything from Prince An's residence into her space.
Even the fish in the pond didn't survive.
Anything adorned with gold, silver, or precious stones, she took it all.
Jiang Ru woke up Liu Mama and Dong Xue, gave them enough silver, and instructed them to leave for the outskirts of the city.
Although the three of them didn't understand why Jiang Ru arranged things this way, they followed her orders.
Jiang Ru watched them depart through the back gate, nodding in satisfaction.
This way, it would be much easier.
At the court session, the Emperor earnestly accused Xia Chengjin of "various crimes."
After hearing the accusations, the civil and military officials instantly understood what was happening!
Hoarding troops privately and plotting a rebellion were lies; the Emperor took advantage of Prince An's illness... to take his life!
Jiang Qinian, after understanding the Emperor's intentions, quickly thought it over.
In this case, his daughter Jiang Ru was completely ruined.
Since that was the case, might as well sever all ties!
In the presence of the public, Jiang Qinian stepped forward.
"I humbly report to Your Majesty, this minister hereby declares the severance of father-daughter relations with Princess Consort An."
Jiang Qinian's words left the ministers in a state of astonishment.
That old fox, was sending Princess Consort An to be calculated from the beginning!
Now he has stripped the Prime Minister's residence of all its power.
The Emperor, observing Jiang Qinian standing in front, his eyes flashed.
That old fox, when he initially sent his daughter for marriage, had impure motives, right?
Subsequently, two ministers received a signal from the Emperor and began suggesting how to deal with Xia Chengjin.
It was nothing more than a lifelong imprisonment for everyone in Prince An's residence, with all of them sentenced to be beheaded.
The Emperor strongly resisted this.
In the end, The Emperor delivered the final verdict through tears.
Xiao Chengjin was demoted to a commoner, and everyone from Prince An's residence was banished to Jizhou.
The events in the court session quickly spread through the palace's informants.
A black-clad man swiftly flew back to Prince An's residence.
"Princess, something terrible has happened..."
Chapter 23: The Urgent News for the Emperor
Front yard.
Jiang Ru stood with an indifferent expression in the small garden of the front courtyard. When she heard the words "not good," a hint of coldness flickered in her eyes.
It seemed that her premonition from last night had come true.
Fortunately, she hadn't been lazy last night.
Upon hearing the anxious voices of the palace guards, Steward Lin furrowed his brows and quickly stepped forward to intervene.
"What's all this fuss about so early in the morning? Don't disturb the princess's tranquility."
The man in black immediately knelt on the ground and urgently reported, "Princess, I've received word that the Emperor has accused Prince An of attempting rebellion and intends to exile all the people from Prince An's residence to Ji Prefecture!"
These words made the people who had been listening to the commotion extremely anxious.
The Emperor's actions were clearly aimed at taking Prince An's life!
Upon hearing this news, Steward Lin's face turned pale. The Emperor's move was a win-win strategy. Regardless of whether the accusations of rebellion were true or false, exiling them showed the Emperor's "mercy." But on the way to exile, he could still eliminate them...
Jiang Ru didn't appear as panicked as they had expected. After plucking a flower and sniffing it calmly, she spoke with unusual composure, "You may rise for now. Continue gathering information."
"Yes, Princess," the man replied swiftly and left.
Jiang Ru pondered in silence. Before the imperial edict arrived, she needed to make arrangements for the people in the residence who weren't skilled fighters. The road to exile was fraught with danger, and losing their lives wouldn't be worth it.
Seeing Jiang Ru's intelligent and calm demeanor, those around her couldn't help but admire their princess. If it were any other woman hearing this news, she would have been trembling and crying for help.
Unbeknownst to them, Jiang Ru was already planning to make preparations. She decided to settle the matters concerning those with no combat skills first. The journey to Ji Prefecture would be fraught with danger, and losing their lives would be a great loss.
A few people watched as Jiang Ru skillfully distributed their indenture contracts and some money to them.
"I'm sure you've all heard the news just now. The journey to Ji Prefecture is long and perilous. With these indenture contracts in your hands, you'll all be free from now on. Pack your belongings quickly and leave!"
Several servants held their indenture contracts and the heavy money pouches, and some even knelt down with tears in their eyes.
"Princess, we are willing to accompany you and Prince to Ji Prefecture."
Jiang Ru waved her hand. "You don't have much time left. Hurry and leave through the back gate."
After a brief pause, Jiang Ru added firmly, "If one day, Prince returns in glory, you will still be part of Prince An's residence."
Steward Lin had mixed feelings, and with teary eyes, he told the others, "Listen to the princess. One day... Prince will return."
With an understanding of the gravity of the situation, they all knew that staying behind would only be a burden. Tearfully, they kowtowed to Jiang Ru.
After they left through the back gate, Jiang Ru hurried back to Prince Xiao's courtyard. She looked at the man lying on the bed, unresponsive, and murmured to herself, "Oh, the pot fell from the sky when you're lying at home."
"Xiao Chengjin, I have bad news for you. The Emperor accused you of secretly amassing troops and plotting rebellion. He plans to exile us to Ji Prefecture."
"Don't worry; I will protect you until you wake up."
Although they had only spent a short time together, in her heart, Xiao Chengjin was like her family.
Hearing Jiang Ru's murmurs, Xiao Chengjin's mind was in turmoil.
In his mind, he shouted, "Jiang Ru, don't worry about me. While they haven't arrived yet, you should leave the Prince An's residence quickly."
Was this woman foolish? A great disaster was approaching, and she didn't flee immediately.
Jiang Ru felt that the palace's people should be arriving soon. "Rest assured, I'll go and deal with those grandsons," she said, then returned to the front yard directly.
At the same time, Chief Steward Ji arrived at the Prince An's residence, holding an imperial decree.
Outside the Prince An's residence, it was surrounded by the armored Imperial Guards.
Many commoners slowly gathered, discussing the matter privately.
"Have you heard? The Emperor has found evidence that Prince An secretly gathered troops outside the city with the intention of rebellion!"
"Can't be true! Prince An doesn't seem like someone interested in the throne!"
"Oh my! Can we trust that?"
...
For a while, public opinion on this matter was divided.
In truth, everyone knew deep down that the Emperor's actions... were clearly because he couldn't tolerate Xiao Chengjin anymore.
Inside the palace.
The Emperor, watching Chief Steward Ji and the Imperial Guards depart, was about to be overjoyed when he was disrupted by a group of obnoxious servants.
"Emperor, something's not right..."
The Emperor, looking at the servants rushing in, felt his temples throb with anger.
Today was the happiest day of his life, how could things suddenly go wrong?
Were these servants intentionally trying to ruin his good mood?
The guards who were guarding the treasury and the eunuchs from the harem knew that this action would infuriate the Emperor, but the situation was urgent, and they dared not hide anything!
Especially in the harem, it was a scene of wailing and crying.
The Empress Dowager fainted when she learned that everything in her treasury was gone.
The Empress stared at her empty treasury, unable to catch her breath, and fainted as well.
All their life's savings were taken away!
For a while, they called for physicians, pinched pressure points...
The Emperor listened to their reports, and his anger surged uncontrollably.
Who?
Who dared to steal from the palace? If the culprit was discovered, they would be torn apart!
The more the Emperor thought about it, the angrier he became, and he couldn't help but explode, "Summon all the guards from last night into the palace!"
A nearby young eunuch trembled, his voice quivering as he said, "As you command!"
The Emperor clenched his fists, his face turning iron-blue, and he said, "Summon Grand Minister Shen Yuanhao to the palace!"
"As you command!" The eunuch tried to appear calm, but as soon as he left the Emperor's sight, his legs went weak, and he sat on the ground gasping for air.
Finally out of that troublesome place.
Prince An's residence.
Chief Steward Ji, accompanied by two eunuchs, arrogantly entered the Prince An's residence.
Seeing the magnificent and opulent residence, a smug smile appeared on his lips.
Everything in Prince An's residence was a valuable treasure, and he could take the opportunity to reap some benefits.
All he had to do was find what the Emperor wanted.
Upon entering the front yard, Chief Steward Ji raised his sharp voice, "The imperial decree has arrived. Please come out to receive it, Princess An."
Jiang Ru, who came leisurely, watched Chief Steward Ji, who seemed quite pleased with himself. She raised her lips slightly.
This dog was probably thinking about how to take possession of Prince An's residence's wealth!
Unfortunately for you, your plans have gone awry.
Jiang Ru walked up casually and slightly bowed, showing neither servility nor arrogance. "This humble servant receives the decree!"
Chief Steward Ji: "...?"
Hadn't Princess An been frightened out of her wits?
Shouldn't she kneel down to receive the decree?
Well, before leaving the capital, let her enjoy the last moment of feeling high and mighty!
Chapter 24: The Decree of Exile
Outside Prince An's residence, the crowd continued to gather, and the discussions grew louder.
Inside Prince An's residence, Jiang Ru remained calm and composed, which contrasted sharply with the atmosphere outside.
Steward Lin, with several "servants," knelt on the ground, their faces filled with anger.
Chief Steward Ji, with a triumphant expression, theatrically read the imperial decree.
"By the grace of heaven and the mandate of the Emperor, it is decreed that Prince An, by secretly amassing troops outside the city with the intent of rebellion, has deeply grieved our hearts. In consideration of the past brotherly relationship, we show leniency. Henceforth, Xiao Chengjin is stripped of his title, reduced to a commoner, all property within the residence is confiscated, and all the people of Prince An's residence are banished to Jizhou, never to return to the capital. Thus, it is decreed!"
For Chief Steward Ji, this was the most enjoyable decree he had ever read.
"Commoners and peasants, heed the decree!"
Thinking of The Emperor's instructions before he came, Chief Steward Ji sneered, "The Emperor, out of consideration for the past brotherly relationship between him and Prince An, allows you, husband and wife, to leave in a carriage."
Just commoners, how dare you act so arrogantly?
Ignoring Chief Steward Ji's mockery, Jiang Ru said to Steward Lin, "Prepare a carriage; we're leaving Prince An's residence."
After saying that, she, accompanied by An Er and another shadow guard, headed straight for Xiao Chengjin's courtyard.
Chief Steward Ji whispered to the eunuch by his side, "Go and check on them. They are now lowly commoners. If they dare take anything from Prince An's residence, directly stop them."
The two eunuchs were Chief Steward Ji's lackeys. Hearing his words, they quickly ingratiated themselves, "Please rest assured, Chief Steward. We'll make sure they behave."
After returning to her room, Jiang Ru whispered to Xiao Chengjin, "We'll be leaving Prince An's residence shortly. Don't be afraid."
The soft words in his ear made Xiao Chengjin's heart complex.
He felt that if Jiang Ru insisted on leaving, those lackeys would not stop her.
Ah, this foolish woman, did she know what exile meant?
Apart from the long and arduous journey, what about the unpredictable dangers ahead?
At this moment, Xiao Chengjin's heart was filled with anxiety.
This was the second time in his life that he felt fear.
The first time he was afraid... was the night his mother was killed.
Jiang Ru turned around and nodded to An Er and the others.
An Er bent down slightly and choked, "Madam, I'll carry our master."
Another shadow guard and Jiang Ru gently lifted Xiao Chengjin and placed him on An Er's back.
The young eunuch standing aside watched their deep master-servant bond and sneered.
Already reduced to commoners, yet still calling each other master and madam? Weren't they afraid of being cursed?
Meanwhile, Steward Lin had already parked the carriage at the entrance.
Listening to the discussions among the commoners nearby, Steward Lin felt deeply resentful.
He thought, "My master is only temporarily down on his luck, is it necessary to belittle him like this?"
Fortunately, their mistress remained loyal to their master.
...
The Emperor, infuriated by the loss of the treasury's assets, vented his anger within the palace.
All the patrolling guards and the gatekeepers were reprimanded severely.
Grand Minister of Justice, Shen Yuanhao, was also forced by the Emperor to issue a military order. He had one month to recover the missing assets, or he would face dismissal!
Shen Yuanhao just raised an eyebrow at this and left the palace without a care.
Bah! He who does evil will be punished by fate. They deserved to lose their belongings!
Dismissal was just dismissal; who were they trying to scare?
If it weren't for Prince An's youth back then, it wouldn't have been your turn to sit on this throne.
For a while, anxiety swept through the palace, from top to bottom.
Everyone was afraid of inadvertently provoking the Emperor's wrath and becoming a tool for Xiao Junze to vent his anger.
The Emperor thought the time was right and quickly boarded his dragon-carriage, leaving the palace.
He had to put on a complete show, personally sending off his beloved little brother at the city gates.
This time, he didn't need to pretend to be heartbroken because he genuinely was, considering the loss of the treasury's assets.
...
Jiang Ru and Xiao Chengjin left the Prince's Residence, and the chatter among the commoners ceased abruptly. They turned their curious gazes toward Jiang Ru, who remained calm and composed.
Their thoughts were strangely unanimous: this unlucky princess had truly fallen on hard times!
She was forced into marriage and ended up in exile.
Ah, this person! Even drinking cold water would choke them.
However, this princess seemed remarkably composed.
Oh, they knew the reason. Princess An must be planning to escape on the way, hence her display of virtuousness.
Without drawing attention, Jiang Ru glanced around at the curious onlookers and said in a measured voice to An Er, "Help Chengjin onto the carriage, but be careful."
As soon as she spoke, Chief Steward Ji followed them outside.
Jiang Ru turned around, her words carrying a subtle meaning, "Chief Steward Ji, would you like someone to inspect the carriage?"
Her voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.
Chief Steward Ji naturally understood Jiang Ru's intentions. In front of the commoners, he put on an expression of regret and said, "It's unnecessary, Madam Xiao. We believe in your character."
Hmph! They knew their place!
At this moment, Chief Steward Ji was finding it increasingly hard to restrain himself. He wished they would hurry up and leave.
Jiang Ru raised the carriage curtain, saying, "Steward Lin, let's go!"
Several Imperial Guards led the way, and the commoners made way for them.
As they watched the departing carriage, discussions resumed among the onlookers.
Inside the carriage, Jiang Ru covered Xiao Chengjin's ears, shielding him from the unpleasant words outside.
Since Xiao Chengjin left the Prince's Residence, he had been hearing the murmurs outside.
He remained unperturbed by the discussions, but Jiang Ru's considerate gesture had an unexpected effect.
It made him feel touched by her soft-heartedness.
At the same time, it stirred a tiny ripple in his otherwise calm heart.
This woman might appear carefree on the surface, but deep down, her heart was tender.
He even doubted if he was worthy of such a remarkable woman.
...
In a teahouse on the second floor.
Pei Shi, who had been resting in bed, immediately got up upon hearing the news of Prince An's residence being exiled.
She quickly touched up her makeup, then hurried to a teahouse on the route to the city gate.
Yes, she wanted to witness Jiang Ru's exile with her own eyes.
Even better if that wench died on the way to exile.
That way, her secret would be buried forever.
Chapter 25: Exiled Yet So Arrogant
At the window of the teahouse.
Lady Pei's eyes were bloodshot, and she appeared somewhat frenzied.
Jiang Yunyao, watching Lady Pei's frenetic state, hurriedly had two maids restrain her.
She couldn't help but wonder, did her mother hate Jiang Ru so much?
Jiang Yunyao hadn't been content ever since the day Jiang Ru returned to the family.
This was a perfect opportunity to kick her while she's down, and Jiang Yunyao wasn't about to let it pass.
She observed the bustling crowd on the street, calculated her moves, and then revealed a sly smile.
Jiang Yunyao slipped a purse into Chunmei's hand and whispered in her ear.
Chunmei listened to Jiang Yunyao's words and couldn't help but frown slightly.
Her actions were rather extreme.
Under Jiang Yunyao's sinister gaze, Chunmei hurried downstairs.
In just a short while, news started circulating on the street that Xiao Chengjin had been exiled, all because of Jiang Ru, the jinx.
Some of the more rational commoners discreetly defended Jiang Ru.
They couldn't openly say that the Emperor wanted to eliminate Prince An, or they'd be arrested on charges of "disparaging the royal family."
In another teahouse's private room.
Ning Jinghuai watched the worried expression on the Duchess's face and said nonchalantly, "Mother, if you're so concerned about Jiang Ru, your son can secretly bring her back and make her the future son's wife."
The Duchess was initially feeling low, but her son's interruption lightened her mood a bit.
She reached out and pinched Ning Jinghuai's ear, saying in a displeased tone, "You rascal, don't you dare tease Jiang Ru like that."
Ning Jinghuai widened his eyes in disbelief and sent a resentful gaze towards his mother.
In his mind, he couldn't understand why she thought he was teasing. Weren't they a perfect match with their respective talents and looks?
"Mother, do you still remember when I was a child?"
"Back then, you said you wanted Jiang Ru to be your daughter-in-law. Well, it's quite an advantage for that dog Xiao Chengjin."
The Duchess thought of her former close friend, Lady Nangong, and couldn't help but wipe away a tear.
Ah, beauty and misfortune are often intertwined!
Ning Jinghuai watched his mother's distressed look and couldn't help but smack his own mouth.
This big mouth of his just had to open wherever it shouldn't!
At that moment, not far away, a commotion caught their attention.
"Mother, that's a carriage from Prince An's Residence. Come and take a look."
The Duchess wiped her tears away and quickly got up to the window.
Due to the large number of people on the street, the road became congested, prompting the Imperial Guards to loudly clear the way.
"Step aside, everyone, step aside..."
Inside the carriage, Jiang Ru noticed that gaze from the window and lifted the curtain to look.
The Duchess?
Jiang Ru had learned about the situation of the various noble families in the capital during this period, so she knew about the current state of the Duke's residence.
Therefore, she subtly nodded at the Duchess, conveying the message that she shouldn't worry.
The Duchess understood Jiang Ru's intentions and mouthed silently, "Take care."
Ning Jinghuai, looking at the serene face inside the carriage, couldn't help but wave to Jiang Ru with a reluctant smile.
"Future Madam of the House," Ning Jinghuai greeted.
Jiang Ru: "..."
This must be the unruly future Lord.
The carriage moved slowly, gradually disappearing from their view.
At another window.
Jiang Yunyao watched the carriage approaching in the distance, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes.
Had the Emperor lost his mind? If they were exiled, why were they allowed to ride in carriages?
She had wanted to see Jiang Ru in handcuffs and shackles, sitting in a prisoner's cart, in a pitiful state!
With frustration in her voice, Jiang Yunyao complained to Lady Pei, "Mother, His Majesty is truly careless. Even though Prince An intended rebellion, why let them ride in carriages!"
Hearing this, Lady Pei quickly covered Jiang Yunyao's mouth and scolded her in a hushed tone, "Yao'er, don't speak recklessly."
Under the public eye, daring to criticize the Emperor's decisions? Were they asking for trouble?
Jiang Yunyao suddenly realized that she had almost caused trouble due to her quick tongue.
Mother and daughter fell silent, both casting resentful glances at the carriage, which was somewhat annoying.
Lady Pei cursed in her heart: Meeting this vile woman was bound to bring trouble. Never returning to the capital, that would be wonderful!
Jiang Ru keenly sensed two resentful gazes and suspected they might be Lady Pei and her daughter. She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
Heh, here for some entertainment, are you?
Unfortunately, you'll be disappointed again.
No matter the circumstances, she couldn't afford to lose her composure.
With that in mind, Jiang Ru lifted the curtain and directly looked at Lady Pei and her daughter.
Before Lady Pei and her daughter could react with a look of curiosity, Jiang Ru acted first.
With a radiant smile, she displayed no signs of the sorrow of her exile, and boldly whispered, "I'll be back."
If Xiao Chengjin were to ascend the throne as Emperor in the future, she would return to celebrate with a grand gift.
Lady Pei and her daughter: "...?"
Exiled yet so arrogant?
They realized that Jiang Ru was becoming increasingly audacious.
Mother and daughter were left bewildered by Jiang Ru's actions, and by the time they recovered, the carriage had already moved far away.
Encountering Jiang Ru, they were always left fuming.
"Mother, let's return home!" Jiang Yunyao, who hadn't seen Jiang Ru in a pitiful state, felt somewhat dissatisfied, and her tone was not very pleasant.
Watching Jiang Ru's serene appearance, Lady Pei felt an urge to educate her daughter properly.
As the future Crown Princess, she couldn't always wear her emotions on her sleeve.
Reflecting on recent events, Jiang Yunyao furrowed her brow, feeling that something was amiss.
When did this unease begin?
Jiang Yunyao's brain raced as she thought: It should be... from the moment Jiang Ru agreed to the wedding.
Most importantly... Jiang Ru seemed to have changed?
Mother and daughter left the private room with their own thoughts.
As they descended the stairs, Jiang Yunyao, immersed in her thoughts, failed to notice the steps beneath her. When she missed a step with her left foot, she tumbled down heavily, rolling down until she hit the ground.
"Ah..."
The incident happened too suddenly, and the servants behind her hadn't reacted in time. They watched in shock as Jiang Yunyao fell.
Accompanied by a piercing and desperate scream, Jiang Yunyao, who had fallen to the ground, fainted on the spot.
Lady Pei was horrified by what she saw. With the help of her maid, she hurried over to Jiang Yunyao, who was bleeding from her forehead.
"Yao'er... Wake up, don't scare your mother," Lady Pei said, watching her daughter's bleeding forehead, tears streaming down her face.
"Someone! Quickly save my Yao'er!"
The innkeeper heard the commotion and rushed over, taking a closer look.
Oh, weren't these the Prime Minister's wife and the future Crown Princess?
He immediately instructed his inn staff to fetch a carriage...