bookrebus Chapter 77 Jiang Luan's Appearance
Chapter 77 Jiang Luan's Appearance
"The Imperial Noble Consort beat a palace maid to death as a warning to others," Jiang Zhi said. "She also said that she sent the unruly servant in her close friend's daughter's household to the government office. From what she said, she wanted me to behave myself and not touch her interests."
Jiang Zhi finished speaking in one breath.
The Imperial Noble Consort was deliberately testing her this time. Now, the Duke's Mansion, the Imperial Noble Consort, and Gu Yuan are all her enemies.
"Then how do you know about the Ministry of War?" Gu Liang asked.
"So, Master, are you going to send this letter or not?" Jiang Zhi blurted out.
On the day she went to Bai Xiaotang, she had already guessed from the tone of the man she was talking to that he was the master behind Bai Xiaotang.
He glanced to the side.
Jiang Zhi raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Jiang Zhi, a normal woman would be pleasantly surprised and moved to hear that the man she likes has taken the blame for her, instead of questioning me like you do,” Gu Liang said.
Jiang Zhi smiled and said, "Your Highness, the one who falls in love first will naturally be anxious about losing her."
"But didn't you just want to know if I and my father are on different paths and can't work together?"
Gu Liang's gaze fell on the handkerchief Jiang Zhi was using to wipe his face, and he said in a strange tone, "I'll give it to him."
-
After the Imperial Noble Consort saw the Emperor off.
"Mother, have you noticed anything?" Gu Yuan stepped out from behind the screen.
The Imperial Noble Consort leaned lazily against the brocade seat, picked up a cherry from the plate, and savored it carefully.
"She's very smart."
“You were behind the screen just now, and she saw everything.”
"She is far more outstanding than Jiang Luan, the talented woman from Yanjing."
Gu Yuan walked to the chair and sat down, chuckling softly.
After a moment, he gave the Imperial Noble Consort a meaningful look, "What Mother Consort wanted to test today is probably not so simple."
Gu Yuan picked up the teacup and looked at the surface of the tea.
"She might not be so easy to deal with."
The Imperial Noble Consort raised her lips in a half-smile, "Could it be that you're afraid of her?"
Gu Yuan frowned slightly, thinking of the way Jiang Zhi looked at him, which made him suspicious, yet he dared not believe it.
His jawline tightened as he looked at the Imperial Noble Consort. "Mother, don't forget why Lady Liu, the wife of the Marquis of Zhenyuan, ended up like this."
"Does Mother really think that this has absolutely nothing to do with her?"
Upon hearing this, the Imperial Noble Consort sat up and glanced at Gu Yuan. "She's just a woman, what's there to be afraid of?"
"You should focus on doing your own job well first."
"She's not up to par yet."
"Mother is right."
His eyes darkened slightly, and when he lowered his head, his gaze was incredibly deep.
-
"Why did the Imperial Noble Consort see Jiang Zhi?" Jiang Luan, lying on the couch, asked after taking a bite of bird's nest.
"She has already married the Prince of Liang."
"If we're talking about marriage, I'm the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, and I'm the only one who can marry Brother Yuan. Why not let me enter the palace?"
Qi Yun brought in a basin of hot water.
"Miss, you are naturally beautiful, so you are definitely the last one to be featured."
Jiang Luan got up and sat down in front of the dressing table.
"Could it be that Her Majesty is worried that Prince Liang will become the crown prince, and wants to..."
He wrung out a towel and handed it to Jiang Luan, then handed her a bottle of medicine.
Seeing that Jiang Luan wasn't in a bad mood, Qi Yun said in a slightly ingratiating tone, "Miss, you're overthinking it. The position of Crown Prince will definitely belong to Prince Jing, and Miss will be the future Crown Princess. If Miss wants to marry into Prince Jing's mansion as soon as possible, there are other ways."
Jiang Luan glanced at her sideways and smiled faintly, "I knew it, you little rascal, you're full of tricks."
"Tell me, how can I get to Prince Jing's residence?"
“If Miss can conceive Prince Jing’s child first, how could the Imperial Noble Consort not value you?” Qi Yun said.
After Qi Yun finished speaking, her gaze fell on Jiang Luan's expression.
Jiang Luan smiled and said, "You certainly have a good idea."
"The idea is good, but it's difficult to implement."
She stared at the medicine in her hand and said coldly, "Close the door and don't let anyone in."
Qi Yun nodded, turned around and closed the door.
"Miss, why is this medicine still ineffective after all this time?"
Jiang Luan dripped the medicine onto the handkerchief, then gazed at herself in the mirror.
Hot water mixed with medicine was applied to her shoulders, starting upwards.
Gradually, purple and red marks began to appear on the fair and tender skin.
The mark even climbed from her shoulder up to her nose, covering most of her face.
She endured the nausea and applied the ointment to her arm again, the large mark piercing her heart.
She tilted her head back, trying not to accept the existence of these marks.
Lady Liu had always asked her to keep this a secret, but she never imagined that this secrecy would last until she reached marriageable age.
For so many years, she sought out renowned doctors, but ultimately could not find a cure.
Qi Yun handed her the handkerchief and whispered, "Miss, I have been secretly inquiring about a solution."
"But the doctors all said that the only thing we can do is cover it up with something."
"His Highness Prince Jing is unaware of this yet, but we must take advantage of this time to find a doctor with even more advanced medical skills."
Jiang Luan nodded, reached out and touched her face, then glanced at her arms.
"It's so annoying to have to hide it every time."
She put on her veil. "Qiyun, go get the money to settle things at the side courtyard. I need to see my mother."
Qi Yun nodded, "Yes, Miss."
Jiang Luan carried a lantern and went to Liu's side courtyard.
In the side courtyard, Liu was lying on the bed, her hair disheveled and her face dirty, fast asleep.
Moonlight streamed through the cracks in the window, dappling her with a touch of melancholy.
Since she was confined to the side courtyard, only Biluo, her maid, has been taking care of her there.
Occasionally, some maids would bring some decent meals to the household.
However, the food delivered to the side courtyard was cold and spoiled, even worse than the food served to a maidservant.
When Jiang Luan arrived at the side courtyard carrying the food box, she was stunned for a moment upon seeing its desolate state.
Jiang Luan's nose suddenly stung with tears, and she went inside.
"Mother, Luan'er has come to see you."
Hearing the noise, Liu Shi weakly got up from the bed and saw a beautiful figure at the door.
"Luan'er, Luan'er, you've finally come."
As Liu saw Jiang Luan push the door open and enter, her eyes instantly turned red.
The room was pitch black. Jiang Zhi opened the window and lit a fire in the room.
Despite the pain, Liu got out of bed. The moment she saw Jiang Luan, she finally couldn't help but lower her head and sob.
Jiang Luan rushed over and hugged Liu Shi tightly, her voice choked with sobs, "Mother, it's all Luan'er's fault, how are you..."
"Father is too heartless. You two had been together for over ten years."
Liu trembled, gritting her teeth as she said, "Your father is a heartless man; he only cares about the dead Lu Shi and those children."
"We've been husband and wife for many years, working diligently for the entire Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion, and in the end, we've come to this."
"Luan'er, your mother is truly unwilling to accept this..."
Jiang Luan put down the food box in her hand and slowly sat down beside Liu's bed.
"Mother, please bear with it a little longer..."
"Luan'er will find a way to get you out of the side courtyard..."