Chapter 189: Beating the Drum Again
“I’m relieved to see you like this,” Wen Mingqian said with great satisfaction. “You must take good care of your health.”
“Sister, you truly don’t blame me?” Liu Cuiyi asked cautiously. “Or do you not find my actions shameful?”
Liu Cuiyi could disregard the world’s comments and gazes, but it was different with Wen Mingqian. Not only was she her good friend, but she had also bestowed too many favors upon her.
Moreover, Wen Mingqian was originally a person of integrity and self-discipline.
“Are you afraid I will look down on you because of this?” Wen Mingqian asked, looking at her and smiling.
Liu Cuiyi nodded; she was naturally afraid.
“I sympathize with your difficulties, but I have no right to interfere with your choices. If I could restrain your actions simply because I once helped you, I would disdain it.
Cuiyi, I dare not say that we will be as we are now for life, but if we ever greatly disagree, you must not go against your true heart just to appease me.
I help you not because I expect anything in return, but I hope you can stand on your own. Even if you have to ask for help, you are ultimately living in this world by yourself. Do you understand what I mean?”
Wen Mingqian’s voice was gentle, yet it fell upon Liu Cuiyi’s heart like fine rain and sweet dew, causing a flower to bloom there, swaying with fragrance, forever unfading.
At the Prince of Shou Shan Commandery’s mansion, Princess Consort Jiang Shi sat with a stern face, silent.
The butler stood with his head bowed, cautiously observing his master’s complexion. He said, “It was truly our oversight. We didn’t expect Cao Hongyu to leave the Capital City.”
“It’s not entirely your fault; even I didn’t expect it,” Jiang Shi said, taking a deep breath. “Cao Hongyu was so eager to get close, I just assumed it was a done deal.”
Cao Hongyu’s sole intention was to marry into the Zhou Family; this was indeed a fact, and Jiang Shi had no doubt about her sincerity.
Who would have thought that upon hearing no news for so long, she sent the butler to check, only to discover that Cao Hongyu and her daughter had already left the Capital City three days prior, and no one knew where they had gone.
The butler said, “It was my oversight. I underestimated the methods of that one surnamed Wen.”
Although they didn’t know where Cao Hongyu had gone, they knew she had met with Wen Mingqian. After they spoke, Cao Hongyu left the very next morning.
“This one surnamed Wen indeed has some skill. I originally thought she was merely good at flattering and winning people over, but for her to be able to help the one surnamed Cao leave without us finding her, that’s more than just superficial effort,” Jiang Shi said.
“Master, she’s an abandoned woman. How much ability can she have on her own?” the butler guessed. “Even if she could bribe one or two people with money, she couldn’t make us find not a single clue. Could it be the Grand Princess…”
Jiang Shi immediately shook her head upon hearing this. “Absolutely impossible. Even if the Grand Princess appreciated her, she would never help her do such a thing. I am certain of this.”
“Then who else could have such means?” the butler continued to speculate. “Could it be… could it be Prince Changliu?”
Jiang Shi’s expression turned grim upon hearing his words. “Could it be true, as some have rumored, that she was with the Prince when she was at the border…”
“Rumors often have some basis, Master,” the butler said. “To spirit someone away from the Capital City right under our noses without a trace is not something an ordinary family could accomplish.
Furthermore, I inquired. The people Wen Mingqian brought that night were all burly and had border accents. They are very likely the Prince’s men.”
“Then… if that’s the case, it means the Prince still trusts her,” Jiang Shi said, troubled. “Will he then secretly target us?”
Jiang Shi naturally feared Prince Changliu. On one hand, he held great power and had a stern disposition.
On the other hand, her own daughter had always been infatuated with him. If a rift were to form, this marriage would be completely ruined.
She did not want her daughter’s years of devotion to go to waste, and she feared even more that her daughter might take her own life because of it.
“Master, I was thinking, even if Prince Changliu is truly involved, we cannot just give up. Think about it, if we stop mentioning this matter from now on, the Prince will surely think we are guilty.
I believe that one surnamed Wen must have used her glib tongue to deceive the Prince. If the Prince learns the truth, he will naturally see her for the unchaste and incompetent woman she is, and will surely despise her immensely. Don’t you agree?”
Jiang Shi frowned and thought for a long time, then said, “What you say makes sense. There’s no turning back once the arrow is shot. She had the ability to get the one surnamed Cao away from here, but she can’t destroy the Zhou Family, can she? As long as the Zhou Family members are here, there’s no worry about sweeping Liu Cuiyi out of the house.”
“You are right, Master. That’s what I was thinking too. Their Eldest Young Master. He indulges in debauchery and gambling outside every day. It would be as easy as pie to whisper some gossip in his ear.
No man can hear that his wife has been involved with another man and remain calm. As the saying goes, a single thread cannot form a rope. Cao Hongyu has already sowed seeds over there. If we fan the flames again, the Zhou Family will surely boil and eat that one surnamed Liu alive!”
“In that case, we should act sooner rather than later, to avoid further complications,” Jiang Shi said, standing up. “I’m going to see Chun’er. This child hasn’t eaten properly for many days.”
She arrived at Liu Huanchun’s room and saw the old women and maids holding their breath, knowing her daughter was having another tantrum.
She said, “My darling, have you eaten well? Your uncle’s family sent some delicious Euryale seeds cake this morning. Isn’t that your favorite?”
“Mother, I just want to ask you, why is there still no movement from the Zhou Family?” Liu Huanchun was naturally impatient. The most patient thing she had ever done in her life was waiting for Prince Changliu.
“It will be soon, don’t worry,” Jiang Shi said, not daring to tell her the details for fear of making her anxious.
“Mother, you must help me ruin that one surnamed Wen!” Liu Huanchun gritted her teeth. “She’s a withered flower, how can she be worthy of the Prince?”
“Alright, alright, yes, yes, yes. Don’t worry, my child. As long as you don’t make yourself sick, anything is fine,” Jiang Shi said. “Your brother is away for extended periods. I only have you by my side. If something were to happen to you, what would I do?”
At this moment, the maids and servants below also quickly brought the food, and a group of people coaxed and pleaded with Liu Huanchun to eat a few bites.
Meanwhile, the Liu Family’s butler went out to inquire about where Liu Cuiyi’s husband, Zhou Jing San, was enjoying himself.
By the time the lamps were lit that day, Zhou Jing San returned home, drunk.
He did not go to Madam Zhou’s room but headed straight for Liu Cuiyi’s courtyard.
“The Eldest Young Master is back,” Granny Zhao said, seeing his aggressive demeanor and quickly trying to stop him. “The First Madam has already retired.”
“Get out of the way, you old fool!” Zhou Jing San shoved Granny Zhao aside with his arm. “I want to see what kind of sleep that bitch is having!”
He stormed into the inner room, where Liu Cuiyi had just gotten out of bed. Zhou Jing San slapped her, and Liu Cuiyi stumbled, falling onto the pillow.
