At that moment, Jiang Ning'an had just finished taking her medicine and was about to go to bed. When she heard that Jiang Ye had come, she let out a long sigh.
"It's so late at night. Why has the Young Master Jiang come?" Meng Chun was also puzzled. "Your Highness, let this servant go and tell the Young Master Jiang to come tomorrow."
"No need."
Jiang Ye coming at this late hour must mean there was something urgent.
Jiang Ning'an glanced at the bed just a short distance away and sighed. "Get my clothes ready."
It was already quite late, and Jiang Ning'an had no intention of dressing up elaborately. She changed into a simple plain long dress and casually pinned up her hair before going out.
When Jiang Ning'an reached the front hall and saw Jiang Ye's attire, she couldn't help raising her eyebrows. "It's so late at night, yet the Young Master Jiang is dressed... quite grandly?"
Jiang Ye wore a white jade hair crown on his head, a moon - white brocade robe on his body, black boots on his feet, and the xie die belt around his waist accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist.
"I just casually picked out a set of clothes."
Jiang Ning'an didn't walk towards the main seat but sat down nearby. "The Young Master Jiang came here so late at night. What's the matter?"
Jiang Ye then gave her the letter written by the innkeeper of the Mo Xiang Inn.
Jiang Ning'an took a quick look and scoffed. "I was wondering why he had been so quiet these past two days, as if he were dead. It turns out he's been busy with these little schemes."
Jiang Ye pursed his lips. "Your Highness, if the poor scholars unite, their influence cannot be underestimated. Moreover, there are many people in the court who are dissatisfied with you. Once this matter gets out, I'm afraid your situation... will not be good."
After he finished speaking, he saw Jiang Ning'an staring straight at him.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Jiang Ning'an shook her head. "I'm just surprised that the Young Master Jiang can say so many words at once."
Jiang Ye let out an almost imperceptible sigh. "Your Highness, stop joking."
This was not the time for such things.
Jiang Ning'an pouted and thought to herself that it was boring. "Anyway, Xu Linchuan has already said what he needed to say. Even if I know about this now, what can I do? I can't just order people to chop those people down, can I?"
Speaking of this, Jiang Ning'an suddenly frowned. "It's not impossible. As long as it's done neatly—"
"Your... Highness."
These two words were almost squeezed out through Jiang Ye's gritted teeth.
Seeing that he was angry, Jiang Ning'an instead laughed. "Alright, alright. I know the Young Master Jiang means well. Don't worry. I'll come up with a countermeasure."
Jiang Ye: …
With this kind of irresponsible attitude, did she really have a plan?
Just as he was about to say something else, he saw Jiang Ning'an yawn.
Meng Chun looked worried. "Your Highness, I'm sure the medicine is taking effect. Let's go back and rest."
Jiang Ye's pupils trembled slightly. He didn't even bother to ask what Jiang Ning'an's countermeasure was. He stood up and said, "It's getting late. I'll take my leave."
Watching Jiang Ye striding away, Jiang Ning'an blinked in confusion. "Why is he in such a hurry?"
Meng Chun didn't have the time to worry about Jiang Ye. She just urged Jiang Ning'an to go back and rest quickly.
Jiang Ning'an had no choice but to stand up and get into the sedan chair that had been prepared outside.
On the other side, Jiang Ye strode out of the Princess Mansion's main gate. After walking a certain distance, he turned around and looked back.
Even though it was already very late at night, there were still people guarding in front of the Princess Mansion without any slack.
Thinking of how tired Jiang Ning'an had been while speaking just now, Jiang Ye tightened his hand in his sleeve slightly.
He had been too impatient and had overlooked such an important issue.
She must have suffered a great deal physically before. Now was the time for her to recuperate, yet he had come here so late at night.
Jiang Ye sighed, thinking that he would come to apologize to Jiang Ning'an after this matter was over.
After walking a few steps, Jiang Ye suddenly changed his direction and went to the Mo Xiang Inn.
"Spread the news that the Xuanping Marquis Mansion will hold a poetry gathering in the Bamboo Garden five days later. All the poor scholars in the city are invited. The champion will receive a hundred taels of silver, the second - place finisher eighty, and the third - place finisher fifty."
The innkeeper's eyes lit up.
This was a great idea!
In this way, who would still remember to seek justice for Xu Linchuan?
"Yes, this lowly one will go and do it right away!"
—
The next day.
Jiang Ning'an had gone to bed late and hadn't gotten up yet, but Chu Yu got up early and took a stroll in the yard.
Thankfully, there wasn't much work left by the craftsmen. Those three people were quick - witted, so it was estimated that the yard would be cleaned up in two more days.
She didn't need to worry about the yard anymore. There was only one thing that bothered her now.
It was the flowers and plants used to decorate the yard.
Now the servants in the Princess Mansion avoided her like snakes and scorpions. Not only would they not bring her flowers and plants, but they even wanted to avoid meeting her on the street.
However, without the flowers and plants, the yard would lack some charm.
Just when she was worried, the gatekeeper handed her a post.
Someone invited her to meet at the Hidden Bamboo Pavilion.
Chu Yu temporarily put the matter of the flowers and plants out of her mind. She asked Dou Kou and Pei Lan to dress her up properly and then took a carriage to the Hidden Bamboo Pavilion.
The Hidden Bamboo Pavilion was a teahouse, named after its location in a lush bamboo forest. The interior of the teahouse was exquisitely decorated. The waiters coming and going were all young men and women in white clothes, looking very elegant.
Since even the waiters were like this, one could imagine that the guests who came here were also of noble status.
As soon as Chu Yu arrived, the innkeeper Zhou greeted her. "Miss Chu, you're finally here. Our young master has been waiting for you for a long time!"
Apparently, Chu Yu was a regular customer.
Innkeeper Zhou happily led Chu Yu to the private room and then wisely stepped back.
As soon as the door of the private room opened, a refreshing fragrance of flowers wafted out.
Chu Yu was curious. After walking around the screen, she found that there were many flowers in the room!
Chu Yu had once been to the flower house in the Princess Mansion and had seen many extremely rare flowers. Even if she asked for them, the flower - house steward wouldn't dare to give them to her. But here, she saw many familiar ones!
There was also a man standing in the room.
The man looked to be in his early twenties. His pair of eyes were dark and deep, exuding a coldness. Even though his appearance was outstanding, people didn't dare to get close to him.
He was wearing a cyan brocade robe. Different from Xu Linchuan's gentle and elegant manner, he was cold and aloof, keeping people at a distance.
But the moment he saw Chu Yu, the ice in his eyes melted, and a warm glow appeared. "Miss Chu, you're here."
Chu Yu was both surprised and delighted. "Young Master Fu, these are..."
"I asked my friends to collect these," Fu Qingya said. "I heard that you've been renovating your yard recently. I thought you might need them.
If you don't need them, it doesn't matter. You can just throw them away somewhere."
"How could that be! Young Master Fu, I was still worried about the flowers and plants when I came today. I didn't expect you to have arranged everything for me!" Chu Yu's eyes curved into a smile. "Thank you, Young Master Fu!"
Fu Qingya's lips curled up slightly.
"As long as you like them."
As long as Chu Yu liked them, no matter what he had to pay, it was all worth it.
After all, in this depressing world, Chu Yu was the only free and lively light.