Watching Concubine Yao's lips, painted with dark red lipstick, part and close, Jiang Jinyue's ears buzzed.
Concubine Yao's voice was like that of countless demons surrounding her ears, mocking her for her delusions and overreaching...
"Don't underestimate a concubine of honor. You come from a noble family, so you should know that for a commoner daughter like you, unless you marry a low - ranking official in a remote area, you'll only have a chance to be a main wife. If you try to marry into a great family, you can only be a secondary wife or a concubine of honor..."
"The status of a concubine of honor is quite good. Your aunt will find you a good family. In the future, you'll even be qualified to participate in the management of the household affairs. You'll enjoy wealth and honor for a lifetime..."
Jiang Jinyue sneered silently in her heart: A concubine of honor? Is it like you, a concubine of the emperor, being trampled under the queen's feet for a lifetime?
Concubine Yao rambled on for a long time. Seeing Jiang Jinyue's pale face and her big eyes looking rather terrifying on her emaciated face due to the high fever in the past two days, staring straight at her, there was something eerie and full of hatred.
Concubine Yao suddenly stopped talking and forced a smile. "Look at me. You just woke up. Your mind must be in a mess. Why am I rushing to tell you all this?"
She reached out and patted Jiang Jinyue's cold hand on the back, then stood up.
"You just woke up. I shouldn't have talked to you for so long. You should take good care of yourself. When you're better in a few days, I'll organize a prayer and release - of - life Dharma assembly... Invite all the outstanding young men in Yanjing. If you take a fancy to someone, it'd be great. Marry in Yanjing and keep me company. What do you think?"
Jiang Jinyue looked at her hypocritical face and felt nauseous.
If she wanted her company, why didn't she let her own son marry her?
If it weren't for Concubine Yao's invitation letter, would she have come all the way here full of confidence?
During this period, hadn't she always shown respect to this old woman?
She had always taken Concubine Yao's likes and dislikes as her standard. Whatever Concubine Yao liked, she would act like that.
Now, she just fell into the Taiye Pond, and Concubine Yao regarded her as a piece of worn - out footwear, wishing to push her out immediately!
What a hateful old woman!
Jiang Jinyue's gaze was as venomous as if it were poisoned. Her drooping eyelashes cast a thick shadow under her eyes, and her expression was filled with inexpressible disgust.
"Yue'er will do as aunt says." Jiang Jinyue concealed the venom in her eyes and resumed her cute and obedient appearance.
Seeing this, Concubine Yao was delighted again. She chattered a few more words and then hurriedly left.
Jiang Jinyue watched her leaving back. Her pale face showed no expression, but Zhui'er beside her felt an endless sense of coldness and cruelty.
"Third Miss." Zhui'er said timidly, her eyes almost popping out of their sockets. "What... shall we do?"
"Maybe, Third Miss, you should just accept your fate." Zhui'er said fearfully. "The old princess's suggestion isn't bad. Being a concubine of honor is okay... Or, Miss, you can talk to the old princess again and ask her to find you a family to be a secondary wife. At least, you'll be a wife."
"Shut up!" Jiang Jinyue hissed in a low voice. Her voice was dry and extremely cold. "I have my own plan."
Zhui'er shut up and looked at Jiang Jinyue nervously.
At this moment, she felt that her young lady had changed. In the past, although her young lady had schemed and managed carefully, she had never been like this.
She was like a venomous snake crawling out of a dark and damp cave, spitting its scarlet tongue.
Jiang Jinyue stayed in bed for another three days and finally recovered.
During this period, Concubine Yao sent Bailu to check on her once. Hearing that Jiang Jinyue obediently took the medicine and recuperated, and even asked about the prayer and release - of - life Dharma assembly on the eighth day of the first lunar month, she felt more at ease.
"She's a well - behaved child." Concubine Yao sighed to Nanny Li. "It's a pity that her reputation has been ruined. Otherwise, I really would like her from the bottom of my heart."
Nanny Li echoed her words with a smile. "Since Miss Biao came to Yanjing, she has made the old princess smile every day. She really suits your heart. So, when we're looking for a young and talented man for her, we should try to find someone in Yanjing. In the future, you two can visit each other from time to time."
"You're quite right." Concubine Yao nodded in agreement. "There are still three days until the release - of - life and prayer Dharma assembly. Have all the invitation cards been sent out?"
Bailu, who was standing below, lowered her head and replied. "They were all sent out yesterday. All the great families have received the invitation cards and will come."
Concubine Yao glanced at Bailu and sighed again. "You too... Why can't any of you catch Huai'er's eye? But that Caiyu, whom I dislike the most, can get along so well with Huai'er?"
A flash of hatred crossed Bailu's eyes, and then she buried her head deeper. "It's all because this servant is useless. This servant has let the old princess down."
"Forget it. It's not your fault." Concubine Yao waved her hand. "It's that Caiyu who is too capable... Speaking of Caiyu, what has she been doing these days?"
Bailu: "The prince has gone to Tongzhou and won't be back for another three or four days. Lianyin Pavilion has been rather lax these days. I heard that Caiyu has been leading a group of little girls and bodyguards in feasting and drinking every night. She's very carefree."
"Outrageous!" Concubine Yao's anger flared up again. "The prince is a Buddhist practitioner, but his maid breaks the precepts in the pavilion while he's away. What kind of propriety is this?"
Bailu's eyes flashed, and she smiled. "Indeed. Our mansion has been in a complete mess because of the release - of - life and prayer Dharma assembly on the eighth day, but she acts like nothing is wrong. We're really envious of her."
"Transfer her to help!" Concubine Yao said angrily. "Nanny Li, go to Lianyin Pavilion right away and ask Caiyu to come and help. Let her go... go..."
"I heard that Caiyu can make vegetarian dishes in a unique way. The prince likes them the most." Bailu said.
"Then let her go to the kitchen and be responsible for making the vegetarian dishes and drinks for all the high - ranking monks and everyone on that day!" Concubine Yao ordered without hesitation.
On the eighth day of the first lunar month, at Shideng Alley.
The annual release - of - life Dharma assembly in Yanjing has always been presided over by Tianbao Temple in the city.
At this time, there was a small bridge and flowing water in front of Tianbao Temple in Shideng Alley, and the place was crowded with people.
The fragrance of sandalwood wafted from the temple, and the sound of Buddhist chants filled the air around the release - of - life pond in front of the temple.
Whether they were from noble families or ordinary people, they all released the living creatures in their hands with the help of the Buddhist chants that reached the sky.
Caged birds, fish and shrimps in basins, snails and clams in baskets...
In front of the hall, thousands of birds faced each other. They flapped their wings and flew into the sky. The naughty ones landed on the rooftops and left after a while.
Fish, shrimps, snails and clams were thrown into the golden - glittering release - of - life pond.
The Buddhist banners were flying high in the wind, presenting a solemn atmosphere.
Concubine Yao led Jiang Jinyue with their hands clasped together in front of their chests, their heads bowed and eyes closed, listening to the high - ranking monk reciting the vow of conversion.
As the Buddhist chants faded away in the wind, everyone entered the large open space behind the first gate of Tianbao Temple.
Tianbao Temple has three gates.
Because the temple is located in the inner city of the capital, it's different from other temples.
The outermost gate is usually open on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month for the common people to set up stalls for business. Some noble families also rent the venue to hold grand events with the blessing of the Buddha.
Today, Concubine Yao rented this venue under the pretext of the release - of - life Dharma assembly to find a young and talented man for Jiang Jinyue.
Caiyu was busy running around in the back kitchen of Tianbao Temple. From time to time, she told the little girls and workers from the prince's mansion to be careful.
"Where are the purchased ingredients? Take me to have a look." Caiyu asked Xiangye. "You must prepare the meals carefully. If any dishes are missing, the old princess will surely blame us."
Caiyu knew very well that for those transferred from Lianyin Pavilion, there might not be any rewards even if they did a good job, but if they did something wrong...
Especially for her, if she made the slightest mistake, she would surely be severely punished.
But now that Song Yinghuai was not in the prince's mansion, she had to rely on herself.
It didn't matter if she was tired and busy. As long as no one with ulterior motives could find fault with her, she would pass this test smoothly.
"Over there." Xiangye gasped for breath from her busyness and pointed at the piled - up ingredients in the distance. "These are the last few dishes. After we finish them, we'll be much more relaxed."
Caiyu stepped forward and carefully inspected them. She thought there was nothing wrong with them, and only then did she heave a sigh of relief.
Maybe she was just being paranoid. With Concubine Yao's status, if she wanted to harm her, she would just kill her straightforwardly like last time.
As for Jiang Jinyue...
Caiyu thought for a while. She had just recovered from a serious illness, and today she was going to look for a future husband. She shouldn't have the leisure to harm her, right?