Thinking this way, Lady Ruan voiced her question: "Wasn't she with her two cousins? Didn't you see them together?"
The small eunuch, who kept his head lowered and whose face was unclear, shook his head: "This servant only saw the Third Miss lying on the stone table alone, without even a maid by her side. This servant was concerned for the Third Miss's safety."
Although the temporary palace was filled with children from official families, one still had to worry about someone being bold enough to dare approach the Imperial Consort's sister.
Lady Ruan shared the same concern. She glanced at her husband in the distance, who was surrounded by colleagues in the men's seating area. Eventually, her maternal worry overcame her hesitation, and she followed the small eunuch out.
However, she still remembered Jiang Xinyue's words and brought along a group of servants that had been arranged for her.
"Sir, my daughter..."
When they reached a secluded garden, Lady Ruan couldn't see Jiang Xinyan anywhere. When she turned back to ask, the eunuch had vanished.
This is bad!
Lady Ruan immediately tried to leave, but before she could exit the garden, someone blocked her path: "Where is Madam Jiang going?"
"Young Master Pei?"
Lady Ruan frowned deeply: "Why did you lure me here? What do you want?"
She couldn't imagine what inappropriate thoughts a man young enough to be her son could have about her.
Could it be that he had kidnapped Xinyan to force her to agree to their marriage?
Pei Zhishuo's gaze was lecherous as he looked Lady Ruan up and down, his eyes burning as if trying to see through her.
"You..."
Lady Ruan's frown deepened as she instinctively covered her chest with her hands: "If Young Master Pei has no business, please step aside."
"Snap!"
The folding fan closed with a sharp sound as Pei Zhishuo blocked her path: "How can Madam Jiang be so cold? When you were a dancer at Prince Ruyang's mansion, were you such a virtuous woman then?"
A lowly dancer, during performances, could be touched and kissed if any official or noble took a fancy to them.
If the master agreed, even a one-night stand was common.
Pei Zhishuo didn't believe that Lady Ruan hadn't been with anyone before she bought her freedom.
He moved closer to her, sniffing her hair, finding her fragrance intoxicating: "Madam Jiang, you must have seen many men and must be hard to satisfy. Secretary Jiang is so old now, what pleasure could he give you? Why not come with me? I'll let you experience what it truly means to be a woman. You..."
"Slap!"
"Vulgar beast!"
Lady Ruan trembled with anger as she slapped Pei Zhishuo across the face. But instead of getting angry, the slap seemed to excite him more, his eyes burning with desire as he stared at her: "Madam Jiang, I truly love you so much. Just give yourself to me!"
"Ah!"
Jiang Xinyan suddenly turned around: "Did I just hear a scream?"
Jiang Yunxia also looked back but heard nothing: "Are you just being nervous and hearing things?"
Jiang Xinyan immediately retorted: "Who's nervous? I'm not nervous at all! Just watch this."
She held an arrow, aiming at a bronze pot three meters away. With a "whoosh," the arrow landed... outside the pot.
Jiang Yuncai burst out laughing: "Xinyan, you'd better practice more! Sister and I might not be as good as you at poetry and literature, but when it comes to martial arts, you're no match for us."
Several noble ladies around them who were friendly with them joined in the teasing: "So this is revenge for last month's poetry gathering. Xinyan, you'd better be careful, among all of us, Sister Yuncai is the most mischievous."
Jiang Yuncai put her hands on her hips: "I'm just training our little Xinyan, what do you all know?"
Jiang Yunxia also covered her mouth and laughed: "With your amateur skills, stop embarrassing yourself. Miss Yue was right earlier, you're just a little troublemaker."
Jiang Yuncai's eyes widened: "Sister, you haven't even... how can you be so biased?"
Jiang Yunxia was startled, afraid that the impulsive Jiang Yuncai might say something inappropriate, and quickly covered her mouth: "We've been out for quite a while, let's hurry back. Don't keep Aunt waiting."
She was in marriage talks with Su Ruyue's brother, the second son of the Su family. The Su family held a third-rank official position, while their family's official rank was only fifth rank. Although the Emperor had appointed him as an Imperial Envoy, who knew what would happen when he returned?
Although the Su family had agreed to the marriage considering the Imperial Consort's influence, it was really because Su's second son and Jiang Yunxia had taken a liking to each other. After careful consideration, Lady Su wanted her son to marry someone he loved and live a harmonious life.
That's why Jiang Yuncai had earlier mentioned that Jiang Yunxia was already showing favoritism toward Su Ruyue before even marrying into their family.
With their father away for several months, the marriage would only be finalized upon his return. If word got out now because of her sister's loose tongue, who knew what the Su family would think of her!
Fortunately, her sister held her tongue in time, saving Jiang Yunxia from potential gossip.
The group of beautiful young ladies entering from outside was quite eye-catching.
Jiang Xinyue had just finished asking Xiao Xiangzi about the Emperor's whereabouts when she saw her sister and two cousins enter among a group of noble ladies. Her eyes fell on where Lady Ruan had been seated earlier, and she asked puzzledly: "Didn't Mother go to the bathroom? Why hasn't she returned?"
Shuang Jiang lowered her head: "My Lady need not worry. The palace maids and eunuchs we arranged for Madam are skilled in martial arts, though they're disguised as ordinary servants. If anyone dares to harm Madam, they'll be the ones to suffer."
Jiang Xinyue nodded: "The Emperor also left and hasn't returned. Why is everyone..."
Like they've fallen into a pit.
"My Lady!"
Someone suddenly appeared behind Xiao Xiangzi, sneaking up to Jiang Xinyue's side.
"Tang Shiliang?"
Jiang Xinyue turned sharply: "Why aren't you attending to His Majesty? What are you doing here? Where is the Emperor?"
"The situation... is complicated... Please come with this servant, My Lady."
His expression was anxious, with beads of sweat rolling down his face, showing extreme urgency.
"My Lady!"
After Jiang Xinyue had inquired about Lady Ruan's whereabouts, Shuang Jiang had explained but still went to ask their own informants about Lady Ruan's location.
Finally getting clear information, she hurriedly lifted her skirts and walked quickly toward the platform: "Madam is in trouble."
Jiang Xinyue looked at Tang Shiliang, then at Shuang Jiang.
Is this deliberate?
Her mind raced. Her mother was accompanied by martial arts-trained palace maids and eunuchs, while the Emperor had not only Wang Dequan but also many personal guards and secret guards for protection. By all accounts, her mother seemed to be in more danger.
However...
If the Emperor was truly safe, why would Tang Shiliang come to her for help instead of going to the palace guards?
This suggested that whatever situation the Emperor was in, while not life-threatening, was something he didn't want others to know about.
She should choose to save her mother, but...
