Chapter 206: We’ll Let Her Go See Jiang Rui
Jiang Rui’s expression changed abruptly.
He was too hasty, and for a moment, his considerations were not so thorough.
Thinking of what Wei Chang had just said in front of him, it had always been a bluff to trick him. If Jiang Kui hadn’t sent someone, he would have fallen right into Wei Chang’s trap.
Jiang Rui felt a lingering fear in his heart. “Thank you, Elder Brother, for your help. This matter was due to my insufficient consideration.”
“Third Brother, you are the steadiest among us brothers. Elder Brother has always trusted you.” Jiang Kui said earnestly, “The more chaotic the times, the more steadily you must act to avoid panic.”
Jiang Rui nodded, but worry began to stir in his heart again. “Elder Brother, the Crown Prince already suspects me now. What should I do?”
Jiang Kui smiled. “It’s just suspicion, but there’s no evidence. What are you afraid of?”
Jiang Rui fell silent. Although it was just suspicion, the Crown Prince was meticulous in his thoughts, and it was hard to guarantee he wouldn’t think of other ways.
“Moreover, since they want to use you to find that person in the palace, why not take advantage of it?”
A gentle breeze blew in from outside the window, shaking the candles in the room.
The flickering candlelight fell on his face, and Jiang Rui immediately understood his meaning.
“Thank you, Elder Brother, for your guidance.”
Jiang Kui just waved his hand. “I hope Third Brother won’t disappoint me this time.”
Eastern Palace.
Wei Chang listened to the report from the man he had sent out, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter. “He turned back halfway?”
“Yes, this subordinate saw him turn around, but after only two steps, he was called away by the Imperial Advisor’s people and went with her to Tianming Pavilion.”
How could there be such a coincidence? This was too subtle.
“It seems the Imperial Advisor already knows.” Wei Chang said affirmatively.
The guard said nervously, “Crown Prince, what do we do now?”
“The Imperial Advisor is deeply scheming and will definitely take action. Pretend you know nothing and just keep a close watch. Report to me in detail on Jiang Rui’s every move. Alright, you may go.”
“Yes.” The guard replied promptly.
After the guard left, Jiang Ruanxi came out from the room.
“You heard everything?”
Jiang Ruanxi nodded. “Your Highness, Jiang Kui is unfathomable. Even if Jiang Rui goes to someone’s Imperial Harem, it may not truly be that person from last night.”
In her previous life, Jiang Ruanxi had actually rarely seen Jiang Kui.
But it was through his secret manipulations behind the scenes that the Jiang Family step by step reached the peak of power.
Jiang Rui was deeply scheming, but he could not match even one tenth of him.
They had already lost the initiative, and Jiang Rui might now just be bait.
Wei Chang stepped forward and took her hand. “Don’t worry. Even if Jiang Rui is just bait, he can only be used by us.”
Jiang Ruanxi looked up at him in bewilderment. Wei Chang did not say it out loud but instead held her waist, inhaling her scent.
Thinking that not long ago, if he hadn’t arrived a bit earlier, he didn’t know what would have happened to Jiang Ruanxi, and a wave of lingering fear surged in his heart.
After Jiang Ruanxi reminded them they were committing adultery, Wei Chang had instructed the guards on the way about the key search areas, which allowed them to find those clothes.
After having Jiang Ruanxi sent away, he went off to handle matters.
Now seeing she was unharmed, he was still very worried and only wanted to merge fiercely into her flesh and blood to feel at ease.
Jiang Ruanxi also realized what he wanted. This time, she blushed and took the initiative to offer herself.
Early the next morning, the guard brought news.
“Crown Prince, Third Young Master Jiang went to Consort Qi’s bedchamber not long ago.”
Wei Chang was a bit surprised but still waved his hand. “Mm, understood. Keep watching.”
“Your Highness, this person is most likely not Consort Qi.” Jiang Ruanxi said affirmatively. “Consort Qi has the fourth prince; she has no need to do this. This must be a trap set by Jiang Rui to lure you there.”
That Consort Qi, whom she had seen in the past few days, was managing everything in the palace on the Empress Dowager’s orders. She appeared to be an elegant woman as light as a chrysanthemum—how could she possibly do such a thing.
Wei Chang naturally thought it was Jiang Rui’s trick. “Who do you think this person really is?”
Jiang Ruanxi shook her head. “Jiang Rui is now vigilant and didn’t go to the real person. I also can’t guess who that person is.”
Wei Chang smiled mysteriously. “Since Jiang Rui won’t go find her, we’ll make her come to him.”
Jiang Ruanxi’s eyes lit up. “Your Highness is still the best. But how do we make her go find Jiang Rui?”
“If a person truly cares about another, they will inevitably worry about their safety. As long as we spread more rumors, she won’t be able to sit still.”
Wei Chang
Soon, everyone in the palace stopped paying attention to whether Emperor Qin had woken up. The focus throughout the palace was all on the assassin.
It was also rumored that Wei Chang found a bodice in the Cold Palace that day. Everyone in the Imperial Harem was shrewd and quickly understood exactly what had happened.
Everyone in their hearts was panic-stricken, inwardly cursing that shameless person, while also harboring intense curiosity. Who exactly was that person with such courage, daring to commit adultery in the Imperial Harem? This was tantamount to not wanting their life anymore.
Less than half a day later, the news spread again, saying that another sachet had been found in the Cold Palace.
In Emperor Qin’s bedchamber.
“They really have no shame. That scoundrel couple actually dared to have a secret meeting in the Cold Palace.” Consort Jing’s face was full of scorn.
After hearing the news, Consort Qi was also very shocked. “Crown Prince, those two people must have been having a secret meeting in the Cold Palace, right?”
Wei Chang did not speak. No joy or anger could be seen on his cold and stern face, but in such a scene, it was inevitable that people would feel he had tacitly agreed.
“They are simply audacious to the extreme. They actually dared to do something that insults the Royal Family’s dignity in the Imperial Harem. Crown Prince, you must find these two people. It would be best to behead that scoundrel couple directly.”
After Consort Qi finished speaking, she still seemed unsatisfied and added, “No, they should be hung in the Imperial Harem as a warning to others.”
The surrounding consorts did not speak, but Jiang Ruanxi smiled. “Consort Qi, are you not thinking of letting the whole world know about the Royal Family’s scandal?”
A Royal Family scandal was originally a dirty matter that could not see the light of day. Everyone wanted to cover it up, yet she actually wanted everyone to know.
The Imperial Consort on the side stood up and smiled. “The Crown Princess is right. Such a scandal concerns the Royal Family’s face. How can it be known to outsiders? It would lose our Royal Family’s face.”
Consort Qi had always disliked these dirty matters, and countless bursts of anger surged in her heart. “Does the Imperial Consort mean that I have been loudly publicizing it here?”
The Imperial Consort choked, and her complexion also became unsightly.
In the past, in the palace, with Emperor Qin’s favor, she had not even put the Empress in her eyes. When had she ever been retorted like this?
