Mr. Jiang was from the direct line of Yizhou's Jiang family. According to seniority, Jiang Xinyue had to call this man her great-uncle.
The main line of the Jiang family was not very close with the sidelines, but apart from monopolizing all resources in the official path, they were never harsh on the sidelines, like Jiang Yankun, in terms of money.
Therefore, life was not so hard for Jiang family members. The financial resources of Jiang family, Yizhou's richest, were not to be underestimated, and they were not going to let their reputation be tarnished.
So when Jiang Yanxi arrived at Jing city's Jiang family residence, weary and haggard, Jiang Yankun couldn't turn him away, and took him in.
This was a direct hit to Concubine Li's heart.
Outsiders didn't know what was going on inside the Jiang family, but seeing that Jiang Yankun had taken in Jiang Yanxi, who had exposed the corrupt Qinzhou prefect, they subconsciously thought that the harem struggle had spread to the court.
In his wrath, the Emperor ordered the Ministry of Punishment and the Ministry of Personnel to go to Qinzhou to jointly investigate this case. The vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel, of the Jiang family, was the father of Jiang Yuan, the sin-slave in the Palace of Exile.
"Your Highness, Jiang Yuan has been made a court lady, she has come out of the Palace of Exile."
Xiao Xuanzi was still well-connected in the Palace of Exile, and got the news right away.
At that time, Jiang Xinyue had just drunk a bowl of nourishing black chicken soup. She wiped the grease from her mouth and said, "Jiang Yuan is the legitimate daughter of the vice-minister. The Emperor wants him to go to Qinzhou to investigate the corruption case, it's surely not a simple investigation. If he can give the Emperor what he wants, what's wrong with letting his daughter out of the Palace of Exile?"
"Why don't we bring her in and stir her up a bit to pit her against Empress and Concubine Li!"
Xi Que upgraded to villainous, she thought she'd be praised but instead got a smack on the head from her mistress: "I see you're developing a talent for playing the evil antagonist!"
"Hehe…"
Xi Que scratched her head bashfully: "Really? I was just thinking of using Court Lady Jiang to avenge you!"
Jiang Xinyue took a sip of tea, felt the flavor of the black chicken soup fade away, and handed the teacup back to her. She rested her chin in one hand and laughed softly: "When Court Lady Jiang was still Concubine Jiang, she couldn't even fight against this noble lady, and you're hoping she can make Empress Zhu and Concubine Li back down?"
It was a valid point.
If she were smart, she wouldn't have let Empress Zhu use her as a pawn.
"Lemme her go! The most important thing for me right now is to take care of myself, being pregnant. Everything else can wait."
She had to be careful against the other court ladies plotting against her child.
Meeting with Court Lady Jiang might not be the wisest choice, in case she got the urge to assassinate Concubine Li or Empress Zhu one day. If the Emperor found out she'd seen Court Lady Jiang after she was released from the Palace of Exile, wouldn't that spell trouble?
Even if there wasn't a connection before, one would have to be established.
Jiang Chuan bowed respectfully to Court Lady Jiang, "Court Lady Jiang, please go back. Our mistress is currently grounded by the Empress Dowager. By rights she cannot see anyone, nor can she leave the palace. I hope you understand."
Once upon a time, Jiang Yuan, although without staggering beauty, possessed a clear and elegant charm in the harem full of beauties. She was not ugly by any means; only in the grandeur of the harem did she seem ordinary. But in the outer world, she was quite a good-looking young lady.
However, now her previous spirit was totally gone. Her face was pale and worn, and even her straight back started to hunch significantly.
The hands that the emperor used to grind ink on when he painted, now transformed grotesquely with swollen joints, covered with hideous scars left by frostbite.
After Jiang Xinyue left the Palace of Exile, the treatment and severity she endured had worn out all her reluctance and self-confidence.
The only thing left was resentment.
She glanced behind Jiang Chuan and looked around the whole Hexi Palace, then she said with a smile, “Then, I shall not disturb Concubine Zhen’s rest anymore. I need to pay a visit to both the Yikun Palace and the Changxin Palace.”
She had actually skipped those two and directly came here to the Hexi Palace.
Jiang Xinyue sneered, “She sure calculated well. To attract the wrath of the empress and Concubine Li towards me, so that in the future when she makes a mistake, and I don’t save her, she can turn today’s matter against me. Even with ten mouths, I would not be able to argue myself clear.”
"Ah?"
Xi Que frowned, “She is obstinate. Must I chase her down and teach her a lesson?”
Jiang Xinyue stopped her, “How can you argue with someone shameless like this? Wait until the emperor comes tomorrow, and then you can complain to him. You go see if Shuang Jiang is awake?”
There were many questions she wanted to ask Shuang Jiang!
In the chamber of the inner palace, two young palace girls whispered to each other in front of a brazier, “Only because of the kindness of our lady, was Shuang Jiang's life spared. If it were any other master, they would probably have wrapped her in a mat and tossed her onto some deserted burial mound.”
"I'm telling you, Lady Zhen is too compassionate! How can you trust someone who has betrayed you? I'm afraid she won’t understand how she died, causing trouble for us palace maids, and then we get sent back to the Internal Affairs Department for reassignment”
“I heard that Lady Ye’s father won another battle. The emperor is planning to promote Lady Ye to the position of concubine! With General Ye’s extraordinary achievements, Lady Ye will surely be crowned a concubine. Should we find a way to serve in the Shunan Palace?”
"Thunk!"
The door was pushed open rudely by Xi Que, she walked over and slapped one of the palace maiden’s faces, “Is our mistress cruel to you while being kind to Shuang Jiang? You’re drawing your salary from the Hexi Palace but idolize the Shunan Palace. You don’t need to find any connections now, I’ll send you to Lady Ye at the Shunan Palace right now, let her take in this ungrateful creature.”
The palace girl was slapped and forced to kneel on the ground without making a sound.
Xi Que grabbed the other palace girl and pushed her out of the room, “Both of you kneel here. Let me ask the mistress how to deal with you.”
In the chamber, Shuang Jiang's head was wrapped in a thick layer of white cloth. Her face was so pale that she appeared to be knocking on heaven’s door.
Her lips trembled, and so did her hands, tears slid down her eyes. It was obvious that she had overheard the conversation between the two young palace maids and was furious about it.
Xi Que, both angry and distressed, gently helped her sit up. Her face was stern, and her tone was fierce, "Cry, cry, cry, is that all you know? Why don't you go tell the Empress about who wants to harm her! Do you understand redemption through good deeds? Or have you really prepared yourself to be sent back to the Internal Affairs Department?”
A servant returned by the master of the palace, whether a palace maid or an eunuch, would never have a good ending thereafter.
The last fate awaiting Shuang Jiang was to return to the days when she was at the mercy of others.
No!
She was the one that Concubine Zhen returned, offending the emperor's current favorite. Her days would only be a hundred times more miserable than before.
Shuang Jiang gave a bitter smile, "Xi Que, we can't fight against her with the current power of Concubine Zhen. If I speak out, and let Concubine Zhen show the slightest bit of caution when facing her again, she will notice it. I can't speak... at least not now."
Could there really be someone hidden so deeply in the harem?
