Chapter 290: A Helping Hand That Hinders
This summons was arranged very quickly, with the steward nanny from First Great Aunt Gu personally delivering the message to the Li family.
Wan Jing bowed three times with each step as she saw off the steward nanny, then rushed back, her face full of panic: “Quick, quick!”
Li Xiaonan and Yu Ting stared wide-eyed at the flustered Wan Jing.
A Wu felt it was inappropriate for him, as a man, to stay in the inner courtyard, especially when outsiders were present, so he had just stepped out. He entered a step behind Wan Jing, not knowing what was happening. Seeing Wan Jing’s state, he reacted quickly and shouted:
“Quick for what? Quick to escape? Is the government office here to arrest someone?”
“Don’t make trouble!” Yu Ting pushed A Wu away and pulled Wan Jing over, patting her back. “Breathe deeply! Take another breath.”
“What happened?” A Wu craned his neck to ask Li Xiaonan.
“Princess Consort Wei wants to see me.”
“Huh? She said quickly? No time? I’ll ride with you! I’ll go get the horse, you hurry out! Don’t worry, we won’t be late!” A Wu was about to rush out when Yu Ting blocked him with her leg. “Sit down! I told you not to make trouble!”
“You can’t go!” Wan Jing, having caught her breath, pointed at A Wu first, arranging the first thing.
“On what grounds…”
“Shut up!” Yu Ting interrupted A Wu’s protest.
“We need to prepare quickly!” Wan Jing patted her head, her mind in a mess.
Li Xiaonan watched Wan Jing, resting her chin on her hand.
“We need to prepare properly!” Wan Jing patted her right hand a few times, then switched to her left.
“Just tell us, however you want to prepare, we’ll prepare. Right, A Nan? Pfft! My mouth! Right, Girl?” Yu Ting slapped her own mouth.
“Have you met Princess Consort Wei before?” Li Xiaonan asked Wan Jing.
Wan Jing frowned, thought carefully, and shook her head.
“How about I go find Shi Liu? If not Shi Liu, she always serves outside the Second Gate. My third cousin’s husband’s family is distantly related to Bili’s family, so maybe I can go back and have my third cousin take me to find Bili.” Wan Jing frowned, calculating.
“Ask Shi Gun, he’ll definitely know,” Yu Ting suggested.
“Shi Gun serves the Young Lord, how would he know?” Wan Jing gave Yu Ting a look.
“The Young Lord definitely knows!” Yu Ting clapped her hands.
“Everyone in the Prince’s Estate watches the Young Lord’s expression, even the Prince and Princess Consort! You don’t understand, this matter must be asked of Bili. I’m going to change clothes!” As Wan Jing passed Li Xiaonan, Li Xiaonan stopped her.
“Even if you meet Bili, if you ask Bili about the Princess Consort this and that, will Bili tell the Princess Consort?” Li Xiaonan asked.
“Of course! Sigh!” Wan Jing’s energy deflated. “Then what do we do? Such a big matter.”
“It is indeed a big matter, it’s almost the final hurdle before you marry into the Prince’s Estate,” Yu Ting sat down beside Li Xiaonan.
“This is the final hurdle? What hurdles were there before? Why do I feel like she hasn’t done anything?” A Wu squatted next to Yu Ting.
“It’s all my fault!” Wan Jing sat on Li Xiaonan’s other side, full of regret. “When I first learned about this, I should have thought about inquiring about the Princess Consort’s temper, her taboos, what she likes and dislikes. There are several old retainers in the Villa who have served the Princess Consort for many years!”
“I told you, you’re careless and thoughtless, but you wouldn’t admit it!” A Wu seized the opportunity to scold Wan Jing, having been harshly lectured by Wan Jing recently.
“I didn’t expect she could really…” Wan Jing started to retort but swallowed her words.
“I didn’t expect it either,” Yu Ting nudged Wan Jing, lowering her voice.
Li Xiaonan glanced from Wan Jing to Yu Ting.
……………………
The place arranged for this meeting was Xiu Man Clothing Shop, a place frequently visited by the Gu family’s female members.
Li Xiaonan’s carriage stopped at the side entrance of Xiu Man Clothing Shop, which was used to receive distinguished guests. The steward nanny who had delivered the message to the Li family stepped forward and personally lifted the carriage curtain.
Li Xiaonan alighted from the carriage and smiled, nodding her thanks to the steward nanny. Wan Jing nervously curtsied.
Yu Ting and Wan Jing followed Li Xiaonan into the side entrance, while A Wu was stopped.
Inside the side entrance was a covered walkway, with various sized rooms and pavilions on both sides. The steward nanny led Li Xiaonan into a very small courtyard closest to the side entrance.
Yu Ting was stopped at the courtyard gate.
The small courtyard had three walled sides, and on the other side was a spacious pentagonal warm pavilion. Five of its sides were either doors or floor-to-ceiling windows, making the pavilion extremely bright.
Princess Consort Wei sat regally in her armchair, her expression stern.
First Great Aunt Gu stood beside Princess Consort Wei, peering out and idly fiddling with the embroidery and clothes piled on the long desk beside her.
Li Xiaonan stood at the entrance, hesitating whether to greet them before entering or after. First Great Aunt Gu threw down the embroidery in her hand and walked towards Li Xiaonan with a smile. “Miss Li is here to look at clothes too, what a coincidence.”
Li Xiaonan was momentarily stunned by First Great Aunt Gu’s remark and quickly suppressed a smile, curtsying.
“Miss Li, come in and talk,” First Great Aunt Gu stepped aside to let Li Xiaonan in.
Li Xiaonan entered the room and bowed deeply to Princess Consort Wei.
Princess Consort Wei scrutinized Li Xiaonan and asked directly, “Did the Young Lord instruct you before you came? How did he instruct you?”
“He did not instruct me.”
“Did he not instruct you, or was there nothing to instruct?” Princess Consort Wei continued to ask.
“He did not instruct me,” Li Xiaonan paused, then added, “The Young Lord probably doesn’t know you wanted to see me.”
Princess Consort Wei let out a faint hum, “If he knew, how would he have instructed you?”
“He would have told me not to worry, that it’s fine, he’s here,” Li Xiaonan thought for a moment and spoke truthfully.
“No wonder you’re so at ease,” Princess Consort Wei’s expression was not good.
“I’m at ease because he doesn’t know.”
As soon as Li Xiaonan finished speaking, a slightly flustered announcement came from outside: “The Young Lord is here!”
Gu Yan strode in.
……………………
Gu Yan was unaware of this meeting arranged by First Great Aunt Gu.
For breakfast, there was a dish of water chestnuts freshly picked from their Back Lake, which were very sweet. Gu Yan asked Shi Gun to send some to Li Xiaonan.
When Shi Gun arrived at the Li family, Li Xiaonan and the others had just left. Shi Gun left the water chestnuts and returned to the Imperial City to report to Gu Yan. Gu Yan heard that Li Xiaonan had gone to Xiu Man Clothing Shop and immediately thought of his Eldest Sister entering the shop that morning. He had casually asked, and his Eldest Sister said she was accompanying their Mother to Xiu Man Clothing Shop to pick out some clothes!
Gu Yan immediately rushed out of the Imperial City and headed straight for Xiu Man Clothing Shop.
……………………
Princess Consort Wei stared at Gu Yan, who rushed in.
First Great Aunt Gu met Gu Yan, her eyebrows raised, “What are you doing here!”
“There’s little official business today, I’m idle, so I’ve come to pick out clothes for you and Mother,” Gu Yan said with a smile. “Miss Li is also here, what a coincidence.”
“Are you not trusting me, or not trusting Miss Li?” Princess Consort Wei asked with a cold face.
“Where would I…” Gu Yan fumbled for words, trailing off. “It’s Eldest Sister, I promised Eldest Sister I’d accompany her many times, and today I’m free, so I hurried over to pick out clothes with Eldest Sister.
“Why is everyone standing? Let’s sit and talk.”
The maids and old women hurriedly moved chairs and brocade stools over.
“I arrived early and have already picked out my clothes, so I’ll take my leave now.” Li Xiaonan lowered her head and eyes, not looking at anyone in particular, and bowed in a circle to take her leave.
“Shi Gun! Escort Miss Li back,” Gu Yan called out.
Shi Gun was outside the courtyard gate.
After watching Li Xiaonan leave the courtyard, First Great Aunt Gu asked Gu Yan impatiently, “What are you doing here?”
“Did you arrange this?” Gu Yan retorted.
“If you want to argue, go back and argue!” Princess Consort Wei stood up.
“Hmph!” First Great Aunt Gu gave Gu Yan a look and stepped forward, lightly supporting Princess Consort Wei as they walked out.
Gu Yan followed closely behind, “Mother, have you picked out your clothes? What about Eldest Sister?”
