The lunch was cooked by the chefs from the Princess Dowager's Mansion.
However, the kitchen here was so small that those chefs, whose cooking skills were on par with those of the imperial chefs, were at a loss. They had to take turns going in to cook.
It took twice as long as usual, but finally the lunch was ready. The maids served the dishes as usual.
After lunch, Jiang Ning'an went to Jiang Ye's room to rest.
She really regarded this place as her own territory and was extremely unreserved.
At this moment, ice blocks had been placed everywhere in the room, making it extremely cool. As soon as one entered, it felt like entering a different season.
The bedding on the bed had also been replaced with new ones that Jiang Ning'an usually used in the Princess Dowager's Mansion.
Hearing Jiang Ning'an's steady breathing, Meng Chun knew that she was sound asleep, so she got up and went outside.
The owner of this mansion was sitting on a deck chair in the corridor.
This deck chair belonged to a servant in the mansion and was a bit small. Jiang Ye looked a bit cramped sitting on it.
"Thank you, Young Master Jiang, for today," Meng Chun curtsied towards Jiang Ye. "The princess has fallen asleep."
Jiang Ye nodded slightly. "It will get hot soon. Does the Princess Dowager's Mansion have enough ice?"
"Don't worry, Young Master Jiang. The Princess Dowager's Mansion has its own ice cellar, and there is a lot of ice stored in it. Even if it's not enough, His Majesty will order someone to send some. The princess won't be wronged."
Jiang Ye didn't say anything else but turned his gaze towards the bedroom. "Has she been living like this for all these years?"
Meng Chun sighed. "Yes. She can't do without ice in summer and a brazier in winter. Last year, Scholar Xu... No, that Xu fellow once invited the princess to enjoy the plum blossoms in the snow on a snowy day. When the princess came back, she fell seriously ill. She didn't go out for the whole winter last year. We don't know how it will be this year."
As she said this, Meng Chun gritted her teeth in anger.
If Xu Linchuan were still alive, she would definitely tear him to pieces with her own hands!
Jiang Ye remained silent, but the black aura surging in his eyes became even more intense.
---
Jiang Ning'an slept as comfortably as she did in the Princess Dowager's Mansion.
Soon, she woke up. Meng Chun went in to serve her as usual while she dressed and did her hair.
Fortunately, although the conditions here were a bit poor, everything she needed was there.
When Jiang Ning'an went out, Jiang Ye gave her the jade carving of the cat slave.
Compared to when Jiang Ning'an last saw it in the morning, the jade carving was visibly more exquisite. Even the hair flow was carved, and it felt completely different from before.
"Not bad."
When she felt comfortable, Jiang Ning'an was in a good mood, and a smile appeared on her face again.
Jiang Ye also smiled. "It's hot outside. Princess, go back."
Jiang Ning'an nodded and finally remembered that Jiang Ye was the owner of this place. "Come in too. I'm so bored by myself."
This place was not like her Lanyue Pavilion, where she could watch the fish in the lake when she was idle. It was really boring.
Jiang Ye subconsciously looked at Meng Chun. Seeing that Meng Chun was hanging her head without moving, he nodded and said, "Okay."
Although it was his own room, Jiang Ye seemed a bit restrained.
---
At the same time, in the Department of State Affairs.
Since leaving the Princess Dowager's Mansion, Xie Wei had been a bit absent - minded. No one knew what he was thinking.
Just then, someone reported that the Marquis of Xuanping had come.
After all, he was a marquis, so Xie Wei didn't dare to be negligent and asked someone to invite him in.
"Why has the Marquis of Xuanping come to my Department of State Affairs?"
The Department of State Affairs was responsible for reviewing imperial edicts and memorials. Ordinary people wouldn't come here.
The Marquis of Xuanping smiled. "Since I'm here, there must be something important."
With that, he handed over a memorial.
Xie Wei took it and raised his eyebrows. "Appointing a new heir apparent?"
The Marquis of Xuanping nodded slightly.
Xie Wei continued to look down at the memorial in his hand.
The ink on this memorial was not fresh. Obviously, the Marquis of Xuanping didn't come up with this idea on a whim.
"Marquis of Xuanping, appointing a new heir apparent is not a trivial matter. Besides the memorial, you also need a resolution from the clan. Moreover, you said in the memorial that Young Master Jiang has bad conduct and mediocre talents. I'm afraid this won't convince the public."
Jiang Ye was the companion of the crown prince. If he had bad conduct and mediocre talents, then none of the young people of this generation would be outstanding.
The smile on the Marquis of Xuanping's face froze. "Lord Xie, after all, who to appoint as the heir apparent is a private matter of our marquis's mansion. You don't need to be so strict, do you?"
Xie Wei smiled and closed the memorial with a snap. "Marquis of Xuanping, don't joke. This memorial is going to be presented to His Majesty. You wrote it so carelessly that you can't even convince me. How can you make His Majesty agree?"
His words made sense, and the Marquis of Xuanping couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
"Anyway, I can't present this memorial. Marquis Xie, think of some other way."
His current situation was already dangerous. The matter of his illegitimate son was like a sword hanging over his head. No one knew what the consequences would be if it fell. If there were any mistakes in his official duties at this critical moment, even the gods couldn't save him.
Seeing Xie Wei's extremely firm attitude, the Marquis of Xuanping had no choice but to get up and take his leave.
He was originally on his way out of the palace, but halfway there, he changed his direction and headed straight for the imperial study.
As a marquis, he naturally had the right to meet the emperor.
Coincidentally, the emperor was free at this moment and allowed him to enter.
"Your subject, Jiang Xiao, pays homage to Your Majesty."
"Get up," the emperor picked up his teacup. "What do you want?"
The Marquis of Xuanping took out the memorial from his sleeve and presented it. "Your Majesty, I'm here to trouble Your Majesty today about appointing a new heir apparent for the Marquis of Xuanping's Mansion."
His words made the emperor stop his action. "Appoint a new heir apparent? Why?"
The Marquis of Xuanping handed the memorial in his hand to De Shan and said, "That child, Yizhi, is not close to his family. If he inherits the title, there will probably be no peace in the marquis's mansion in the future. To protect the Jiang family for generations, I had no choice but to make this decision."
The emperor glanced at it, and his face darkened.
No wonder Jiang Jia could be friends with Fang Wanyao. Their judgment of men was equally poor.
All their discernment and scheming were used in the struggle for the heir apparent.
"Other families usually appoint their heirs after they come of age, but yours was appointed early. Do you know the reason behind it?" the emperor said in a deep voice.
"It was because the Marquis of Xuanping's Mansion contributed to Your Majesty's struggle for the throne back then, and Your Majesty bestowed this special honor."
As soon as he said this, it instead made the emperor sneer. "Now it seems that I bestowed this honor on the wrong person."
The Marquis of Xuanping vaguely felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't tell what it was. For a moment, cold sweat broke out on his forehead. "Your Majesty, I didn't mean that."
"Is that memorial just a piece of waste paper?" the emperor glanced at him.
"… I wouldn't dare."
The emperor stared at the memorial for a while longer and then said, "Go and summon Jiang Ye."
De Shan turned around and left.
After a while, De Shan came back looking terrified. "Your Majesty, the princess said it's too hot now. Later in the day, the princess will accompany Young Master Jiang here."
As soon as he said this, the Marquis of Xuanping's face changed.
Why was Jiang Ye with Jiang Ning'an?!
The emperor was also a bit puzzled. "In the middle of the day, did Zhaoyang really go out?"
This was not Jiang Ning'an's style.
The emperor picked up his teacup and took a sip. Suddenly, he seemed to think of something, and his face changed drastically. "When did Zhaoyang get together with that kid?!"
Cold sweat broke out on De Shan's forehead. "The princess went there around the hour of the snake and hasn't left yet..."
The emperor finally couldn't sit still and stood up abruptly.
That meant Jiang Ning'an had taken a nap at Jiang Ye's place?!!
The emperor: The cabbage is in danger!