Jiang Ye's words hit the nail on the head. Although the two groups still refused to yield to each other, they finally stopped talking.
Seeing this, the emperor said, "Zhaoyang is in poor health. We can't rush this matter."
"Your Majesty!"
Jiang Ye spoke before An Yufei: "Your Majesty, I can go and ask the princess exactly what's going on."
The emperor looked at Jiang Ye with a faint warning in his eyes: "Don't be too tough."
Obviously, although this incident had caused quite a stir, the emperor still cared most about Jiang Ning'an.
"Yes."
Jiang Ye left the palace and went straight to the Princess Dowager's Mansion.
When he got there, he found that the situation didn't seem as intense as he had imagined.
It was mealtime. There were tents and tables and chairs set up outside the Princess Dowager's Mansion. Most of the scholars were sitting there, looking expectant and a bit nervous. They didn't look like they were coming to cause trouble at all.
Of course, there were also a few people sitting in the sun.
Those people seemed much more aggressive.
He walked into the mansion all the way. Seeing Jiang Ning'an as normal as before, Jiang Ye felt relieved: "Those people outside were all arranged by the princess, right?"
Jiang Ning'an nodded slightly: "Those people don't seem to really want to seek justice for Xu Linchuan. After giving them a few cups of tea and inviting them to have a meal outside, they should probably disperse."
Meng Chun said with a smile: "The princess's methods are really ingenious. With the tea and snacks, the maidservant just went out and saw that except for those few leaders, most of the others are just waiting for the meal!"
"Then don't let them wait. Tell them to finish eating early and go back to prepare for the poetry gathering in a few days."
"Yes."
Mentioning the poetry gathering, Jiang Ye couldn't help sighing: "I originally thought of holding a poetry gathering to buy some time, but unexpectedly it caused such a big trouble for the princess."
"Whether there was Young Master Jiang's poetry gathering or not, this trouble was inevitable today," Jiang Ning'an said. "It's better that it came earlier. It saves some people from keeping an eye on us all the time."
Meng Chun went outside to deliver the message and then came back: "Princess, it's getting late. You should have your meal."
"Master Jiang hasn't eaten yet either," Jiang Ning'an got up first. "Let's have it together."
Jiang Ye got up and followed Jiang Ning'an to the dining hall.
Jiang Ning'an ate medicinal cuisine, which was very particular. What was even more rare was that these medicinal cuisines didn't sacrifice taste for efficacy. Instead, they were delicious and looked very appetizing.
The chefs in the Princess Dowager's Mansion were really not for nothing.
"Was it very noisy in the court today?"
Jiang Ye nodded slightly: "But the princess doesn't have to worry. His Majesty is on the princess's side."
Jiang Ning'an never doubted it.
After all, in her dream, the emperor was in great danger himself, but still remembered her.
"However, I'm going to wait and see what Xu Linchuan will do," Jiang Ning'an said. "I may have to trouble Uncle again. When you see Uncle next time, tell him that after this matter is over, I'd like to invite Uncle and Aunt to the Princess Dowager's Mansion as guests. I'll personally... welcome them."
She originally wanted to do something for them herself, but after thinking about it for a while, Jiang Ning'an didn't know what she could do. So she might as well just show her sincerity.
Jiang Ye's lips twitched slightly, as if a smile had appeared.
But the smile was so faint that it was easy to miss.
"Yes, I'll go and tell His Majesty later."
Jiang Ning'an nodded.
But Jiang Ye put down his chopsticks: "However, has the princess forgotten something?"
"What?"
"I've also done my best in this matter. Since the princess is going to hold a banquet, shouldn't she invite me too?"
Jiang Ning'an blinked: "...You're coming too?"
"Does the princess not welcome me?"
"Of course not. As long as Master Jiang doesn't feel uncomfortable."
"I won't."
What else could Jiang Ning'an say then.
Originally, Jiang Ning'an was going to invite him separately. Since he had offered to come together, it saved her some trouble.
"Okay, then I'll invite Master Jiang to honor us with his presence at that time."
Jiang Ye nodded slightly and then lowered his head to have his meal.
After the meal, Jiang Ye had to go back to the palace to report. Jiang Ning'an originally wanted to see him off to the door, but he stopped her.
"I'm sure there are still people outside. It's not suitable for the princess to show up."
"Take care, Master Jiang."
Jiang Ye turned around and left.
When he got to the door, he saw that there were indeed still some people, but only a few.
Under the awning over there, the guards were clearing away the leftovers, while here, each of them was holding a dry pancake. Compared with the aroma of the food wafting from over there, they looked even more miserable.
Jiang Ye coldly retracted his gaze, mounted his horse, and headed towards the palace.
---
In the palace, the emperor had been worried about Jiang Ning'an all the time.
Although he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he knew that the scene must have been quite grand. He was afraid that Jiang Ning'an would be frightened by the scene, and also afraid that Jiang Ye's cold face would be too intimidating. He didn't even have a good lunch.
It wasn't until Jiang Ye came to report that Jiang Ning'an was fine and had even used some means to divide those poor scholars that the emperor finally let out a long sigh of relief.
"Such courage is truly..."
Truly somewhat like Jiang Jia's in the past.
Thinking of Jiang Jia, the emperor stopped himself and a look of sadness flashed across his eyes.
"If there's nothing else, you can go back."
"Yes."
---
Jiang Ning'an originally thought that Xu Linchuan would take action soon.
After all, those poor scholars had already created such a big momentum for him. If she were Xu Linchuan, she would surely seize the opportunity to make trouble.
But unexpectedly, for two whole days, Xu Linchuan didn't make a single move.
Although Chu Yu still went to Xu Linchuan's place every day, she didn't cause any trouble either.
This was really strange.
Had these two changed their ways and decided not to give her any more trouble?
Just as this thought came to her mind, a maid from the second gate came over, holding a tray in her hand.
There was a scroll on the tray.
"Princess, this was just sent by Scholar Xu."
Jiang Ning'an raised her eyebrows.
Some people really couldn't stand being mentioned.
"Bring it here."
It turned out to be a hand - copied Heart Sutra. The handwriting was neat, and every stroke was written very carefully, obviously with a lot of effort.
So Xu Linchuan had been busy with this for the past few days.
Jiang Ning'an only glanced at it and then said dissatisfiedly: "I've followed him around for so long. How could he not even know that I don't like reading?"
It wasn't that she was illiterate. But shouldn't gifts be given according to the recipient's preferences?
Giving a scripture to someone who doesn't like reading. Is this a gift or an annoyance?
Meng Chun covered her lips and laughed: "This Scholar Xu just likes to do things that only move himself."
Always giving things that no one wants.
Jiang Ning'an casually threw the scripture aside.
But in the light, she felt that there was something wrong with the words on it.
Meng Chun had already been about to put the scripture away. Seeing Jiang Ning'an pick it up again, she asked in confusion: "Princess, is there something wrong with it?"
Jiang Ning'an frowned and moved the scripture closer to the window: "Meng Chun, look at the ink marks."
Meng Chun leaned over to take a look and was immediately shocked.
The ink marks were tinged with a reddish color, looking extremely... demonic.
"There's blood mixed in the ink," Lin Ji said.
The next moment, Jiang Ning'an directly threw the scripture out.