Jiang Yankun forced himself to shift his attention away from these thoughts. Once he started thinking about it, his heart would grow larger and become greedy.
But it was precisely the time when Xinyue's situation was improving greatly. There was much more attention on her than before, and likewise, those watching the Jiang family were eager for him to make a mistake.
He needed to remain calm. It wasn't yet time for him to be greedy; the Jiang family's fortune was still ahead.
That heart, boiling like lava, regained its rationality after a moment.
Lady Ruan glanced at him, knowing what he was thinking, and held Jiang Xinyue's hand, saying, "Xinyue, your mother doesn't ask for you to be unparalleled in nobility. I just want you and your child to be safe and sound. If the Emperor can remember you a little, ensuring that you two have food and clothing without worry, then I'll be at ease. Remember, extremes lead to reversal, and excess in all things always brings calamity."
Jiang Yankun disagreed, "Now that Xinyue has entered the palace, not competing is still competing. With the Emperor's favor, not competing means waiting for death. Do you want Xinyue to live or die?"
Lady Ruan was left speechless by his words.
It was Jiang Xinyue who didn't want the atmosphere to become too tense, and she comforted Lady Ruan, "Mother, I know what I'm doing. You need to trust me. I will seek prosperity for myself and the Jiang family while ensuring I don't get hurt."
These words slightly reassured Lady Ruan and satisfied Jiang Yankun, and the family finally had a happy reunion dinner.
Lady Zhou was seriously ill, and since Jiang Xinyue knew about it, she couldn't not show some gesture. Moreover, her sister-in-law had given birth to a child, so it was only right for her to bestow some gifts.
Otherwise, people might use her disrespect towards her legal mother as a reason to attack her in the future.
Concubine Li didn't have the privilege to see her family members this year, and could only watch from afar as Lady Pei and the Pei family members left the palace.
Last year, everyone envied Lady Pei, who could ride in a sedan chair within the palace, looking down on all of them equally with a condescending attitude.
This year, everyone watched as the Jiang family was escorted out of the palace by the servants from Hexi Palace, with countless silks and jewels dazzling their eyes.
Fate can be so marvelous sometimes; this year, it was Concubine Li's turn to watch longingly.
Xia He supported her, comforting her, "My lady, don't be sad. After tonight, Concubine Zhen won't be so smug anymore."
Concubine Li frowned, "What have you done?"
Xia He looked around and then covered her mouth, whispering in her ear, "Madam sent a snake-raising woman into the palace. That woman can wake up hibernating snakes and make them bite whoever she wants."
"What did you say?"
Concubine Li was so angry that her body swayed, "You... are you trying to get me killed?"
Xia He didn't understand, "My lady, killing Concubine Zhen would be good for us!"
Concubine Li closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them again, the ruthlessness in her eyes was chilling, "Where is that snake-raising woman?"
Xia He replied, "Madam told her to wait in Xihuo Palace after she succeeded. Someone should be preparing to help her out of the palace by now."
The Song family had fallen, but their connections hadn't been completely uprooted. There were always people who wouldn't give up, waiting for a chance to rise again.
Usually, it would be impossible to bring someone out of the palace, but tonight, taking a person out of the palace was not a difficult task at all.
After seeing off the Jiang family, it was getting late. Xi Que tidied up the bed, "My lady, I've seen you yawn several times. Please go to sleep quickly, you'll be busy again tomorrow!"
The new year brought various sacrificial ceremonies, rituals, and court visits... enough to exhaust a person.
Although her lady had already received permission from the Emperor and the Empress to not participate in the burdensome sacrificial ceremonies, and could just rest in Hexi Palace to take care of her pregnancy, there were still some things that needed to be observed.
For example, on the first day of the new year, when all the concubines in the harem pay their respects to the Empress, everyone has to attend, and Jiang Xinyue didn't want to be absent.
To avoid future criticism.
"Hiss... hiss..."
Just as Jiang Xinyue had taken off her outer garments, she seemed to hear a strange sound.
She listened carefully, "Xi Que, Shuang Jiang, did you hear any sound?"
Xi Que was close to the bed. She paused, feeling something cold under her feet, and almost screamed.
But fearing to frighten her mistress, she quickly covered her mouth and looked down.
A snake as thick as a baby's arm, covered in bright patterns, about a meter long, was slowly crawling out from under the bed. It slid over Xi Que's foot, its bright red vertical pupils making Xi Que break out in a cold sweat.
"My... my... my lady..."
Seeing that the colorful snake was about to crawl behind the screen, Xi Que, no longer caring about her fear, shouted with all her might, her body trembling, "My lady, run quickly! There's a snake!"
"Bang!"
Just as the snake had only shown its head, Shuang Jiang, who was helping Jiang Xinyue change clothes, used all her strength to push down the huge screen, trying to pull Jiang Xinyue out.
Xi Que's scream had already angered the large snake. Shuang Jiang's screen didn't manage to trap it, and it turned its head towards Xi Que, who had collapsed on the ground.
"Xi Que!"
"My lady, quick, get out first. I'll go save Xi Que."
Outside, Jiang Chuan and Xiao Xuanzi were startled by the loud noise and screams. The bird's nest soup in Nanny Li's hands fell to the ground, the crisp sound foretelling something ominous. Nanny Xiang rushed towards Jiang Xinyue's bedchamber.
"Ah!"
Consort Liang sat up in bed, startled, "Shu Xiang! Shu Xiang!"
The scream seemed to be Shu Xiang's. Another palace maid in Consort Liang's room lit a lamp and helped her up, somewhat fearfully, "My lady, it's... it's Sister Shu Xiang. She said she needed to relieve herself and went to the toilet just now."
The screams caused all the lights in Shunan Palace to be lit. At first, Consort Liang didn't dare to go, but after a few eunuchs and guards came, she became a bit braver.
She grabbed the palace maid's hand and quickly walked towards the toilet.
"Shu Xiang!"
Who else could it be lying on the ground if not Shu Xiang?
A young palace maid immediately went to check if the person on the ground was still breathing, "My lady, she's just fainted."
Only then did Consort Liang step forward, "Wake her up."
What exactly did she see to let out such an earth-shattering scream?
An experienced old nanny came forward to pinch Shu Xiang's philtrum. After just two or three pinches, Shu Xiang slowly came to. Upon seeing Consort Liang's face, she knelt upright in terror, "My lady... my lady... there's a dead person! There's a dead person!"
She pointed to a bush behind the toilet, "I... I was coming out after relieving myself when I saw someone carrying a dead body and throwing it there. When I screamed in fright, they knocked me unconscious. My lady... it's so terrifying. The dead person's eyes weren't even closed, she was staring at me. I was scared to death."
She still hadn't calmed down, her whole body trembling as she cried uncontrollably.
Consort Liang's brow twitched, "Are you sure? It was really a dead person?"
Shu Xiang nodded frantically, "I saw it clearly, my lady. It really was a dead person."
Consort Liang gave a look to the guards, "A few of you go and check."
If someone really had carried a corpse and thrown it in her palace, it would be a big problem.
