Chapter 46: Reclaiming Everything That Belongs to Her!
Hou Xiaoxiao mysteriously leaned in and said to Jiang Lili, “Do you remember your white lotus sister, Jiang Wanyue?”
The image of being chased by hungry wolves was still vivid in Jiang Lili’s mind. She gritted her teeth, “Of course I remember! If I ever make a comeback, I’ll throw her into a wolf’s den to feed the wolves!”
Hou Xiaoxiao’s sunflower seeds cracked loudly as she spoke, “Jiang Wanyue has been trying to arrange a marriage recently. Guess who she has her sights set on?”
Li Sicong, eager for the answer, urged, “Come on, tell us! It’s someone we know, right?”
Hou Xiaoxiao wore a look of amusement as she replied, “The son of the Grand Tutor, Xue Wei.”
Jiang Lili nearly choked. “Pfft, Jiang Wanyue has her eyes on our class’s study committee president?!”
That’s right. Xue Wei was none other than their study committee president, and just hearing his name seemed to suggest he was born to be a class officer.
Li Sicong got excited. “It’s only been a few days since we arrived, and now our study committee president is getting married?! What’s the progress? When can we drink to their wedding?”
Jiang Lili shook her head. “Forget about the wedding, you should worry about the study committee president’s life first. Jiang Wanyue is a man-eating flower. She’ll stop at nothing to get what she wants.”
“The study committee president wrote a poem at the Grand Princess’s birthday banquet, and it earned him fans among the high society ladies in the capital!”
Hou Xiaoxiao clicked her tongue in admiration. “The Grand Tutor’s son originally had mediocre talent, which gave the Grand Tutor a headache. But now that the study committee president has transmigrated, he’s a completely different person, stunning everyone with his transformation.”
Li Sicong grumbled, “Damn, this kid is copying me!”
Jiang Lili teased, “Come on, you’re just a country bumpkin. The study committee president, on the other hand, is from the capital’s elite circle.”
Hou Xiaoxiao added, “Plus, the study committee president is a top student and an executive at a listed company with his own aura. After transmigrating, he went from being a mediocre person to a top scholar, quickly becoming the perfect marriage prospect. Everyone expects him to do well in the imperial exam.”
Jiang Lili felt that just hearing Hou Xiaoxiao’s description made it clear how in-demand their study committee president had become. “So, what’s the study committee president’s attitude toward Jiang Wanyue?”
Hou Xiaoxiao shook her head. “The study committee president is busy preparing for the imperial exam, so he doesn’t have time to deal with her. But Jiang Wanyue is pushing him very hard.”
Jiang Lili tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Given Jiang Wanyue’s ruthless nature, she might resort to some tactics to make the study committee president give in.”
Hou Xiaoxiao shrugged. “Well, we’ll just have to wait and see. There’s not much we can do about it.”
After the class meeting, Li Sicong returned to his courtyard, while Jiang Lili stayed up late chatting with Hou Xiaoxiao in the same bed, reminiscing about high school, discussing the changes after graduation, and everything that had happened since. Eventually, they both drifted off to sleep.
It had been so long since they had shared such a moment. After graduation, everyone had gone their separate ways, and there was barely any time to talk.
A peaceful night of sleep followed.
*
In the Cold Palace, at the time of the Rooster (around 5 AM):
The morning sun shone on the cold palace’s brick walls, but it couldn’t reach the open space inside, making the already desolate palace seem even more forlorn.
Early in the morning, Zhou Jushan, accompanied by a eunuch servant, arrived at the Cold Palace.
His mission was to deliver supplies to prevent the spread of the plague to the concubines in the Cold Palace. It was already autumn, and this was the season when diseases spread most easily.
Normally, such small tasks wouldn’t require someone like Head Eunuch Zhou to handle them, but the previous day, after attending a flower-viewing event with the Emperor, Consort Rou had slipped him a pouch of gold leaves and tasked him with teaching the honored concubine, Consort Ying, a lesson in the Cold Palace.
Consort Rou trusted Zhou Jushan to carry out her wishes, as he understood her intentions well.
The Emperor, a neglectful man who rarely concerned himself with the internal affairs of the harem, had no time or inclination to interfere in such matters. Even if he knew about it, he wouldn’t care.
So, Zhou Jushan took the reward from Consort Rou and headed to the Cold Palace to “teach” Consort Ying a lesson.
Zhou Jushan entered Consort Ying’s room with a fierce and imposing demeanor. He placed a Buddhist scripture and writing materials in front of her. “Your Majesty has lost her virtue. I am here to supervise your copying of the scriptures on behalf of Consort Rou.”
At that moment, Xin Yingshu sat before the window with a pale face, her eyes bloodshot from the headache that had kept her awake the entire night.
She stared at the Buddhist scripture in front of her, her hands numb as she opened the book. Her weakened body caused her wrist to tremble as she lifted the pen.
However, as she turned to the first page of the scripture, Xin Yingshu noticed a note slipped inside, with a small drawing on it.
She clenched the note tightly, and in that instant, her mind snapped back to focus.
The drawing was one she had taught her nieces and nephews to make when they were young—simple sketches.
Looking at the sharp and strong brushstrokes, she immediately recognized that this must have been drawn by Che’er!
Che’er and the others were still alive!
Upon looking closer at the drawing, Xin Yingshu noticed hidden symbols in the picture—secret codes she had taught her nephews and nieces, the secret signals of the Xin family.
The message conveyed by the code was: Safety.
Xin Yingshu’s spirit lifted, and her dim, lifeless eyes suddenly sparkled.
It was great news!
“Why are you still frozen there? Has the Consort no strength to copy the scriptures?” Zhou Jushan shouted loudly, “If the Consort is hungry, feed her immediately! Do whatever it takes to get the food into her until she vomits it out!”
A eunuch immediately forced a steaming meat bun into Xin Yingshu’s hand.
As she glanced at Zhou Jushan, who had come to “harass” her, he gave her a knowing look.
Could it be that Zhou Jushan was on her side?
Xin Yingshu was overcome with joy and tears, feeling as though the clouds had parted and the moon had come into view.
Her hands trembling, she clutched the note tightly, her eyes blurring with tears as she gazed at the bold, carefree woman before her. Pain surged through her heart as the tears flowed.
In the past, she had been a role model for the younger generation of the Xin family. Now, her nieces and nephews were struggling through harsh circumstances. How could she, in the capital, afford to give up on herself so easily?
Perhaps it was because the years had been too peaceful. Living in the imperial harem, she had still harbored illusions about the emperor’s heart, thinking she was the most special one.
Her carefree earlier life had not been the result of good luck, but rather the efforts of everyone in the Xin family. Now, the Xin family was suffering and facing unjust accusations. How could she just end it all?
The matter of the rebellion by the Marquis family must have hidden reasons behind it. She knew the character of her brother and nephew.
She couldn’t give in now, to please the enemy.
“Please, Your Majesty, hold on. There are people who need you.”
“My time is running out. Even if I have to sacrifice my life, I must uncover the truth.”
“Your Majesty speaks too soon. You still have a long life ahead of you.”
After Zhou Jushan spoke, the eunuch beside him raised his head.
The young eunuch’s eyes, clear and serene, suddenly struck Xin Yingshu as familiar. Wasn’t this the famous Chief of the Imperial Hospital, Qi Yun?
This renowned and aloof young chief doctor, how had he ended up here, treating her?
Zhou Jushan lowered his voice. “Your Majesty need not worry. We will all lend you a helping hand.”
Xin Yingshu was shocked and confused. “Why would you help me?”
The Class Monitor, Qi Yun, replied calmly, “It is because the Princess Consort of the Marquis family has done us a great favor.”
Xin Yingshu was left speechless.
Her somewhat unfamiliar niece-in-law actually had such incredible abilities. While Xin Yingshu was shocked, her resolve grew even stronger. Everyone was doing their best to survive, even her newly married niece-in-law was working so hard. She couldn’t afford to fall behind!
“Then I will trouble you, sir.”
Supporting herself on the table, Xin Yingshu bowed deeply to Zhou Jushan and Qi Yun.
In her eyes, the pride and vitality of her youth reappeared.
Repay kindness with kindness, take revenge for wrongs. She had to get better, to live until the day she could see her nephew and niece-in-law return to the capital!