Chapter 96
Lantern-lighting

Back at Yanqing Palace, Jiang Man angrily threw a six-sided incense burner off the incense table.

“That Empress and Song Yunning, the two of them conspired to frame me.”

Eunuch Chang gently consoled her, “Your Highness, there’s no need to be angry. They couldn’t do anything to you; they’re just struggling to survive.”

“What do you know?” Jiang Man gripped the incense table, suppressing her anger. “They’re not trying to harm me; they’re trying to ruin the reputation of the Marquis’s residence and my son, Shu’er.”

“Today, Song Yunning kept saying Shu’er takes after his mother, mocking me for my limited talents and implying I couldn’t give birth to a gifted son!”

“The Empress summoned Yi’er to the palace. Do you think she really wants to help him? She just wants to see him make a fool of himself and show everyone that the Marquis’s residence can’t produce anything good!”

The more she spoke, the angrier she became. Jiang Man overturned the incense table.

The struggle for the throne among the princes was a race against time. The First Prince had the advantage of being the eldest and the Crown Prince was barely alive. Although several princes had died in the palace intrigues over the years, Shen Qianbai’s existence was like a thorn in her heart.

Despite his young age, the Third Prince was already showing great promise and had the support of more than half the court officials.

The current Emperor was weak and untalented. If it weren’t for the fierce battles among his elder brothers, with some dying and others being crippled, he wouldn’t have ascended to the throne.

The court officials knew the Emperor was incompetent, and most of the princes were unremarkable. Since the birth of the Third Prince, they had placed high hopes on him.

Her son, Shu’er, was young and hadn’t had as much time to plan as his elder brothers. If she didn’t fight now, once the Third Prince grew up and the situation was settled, she and her son would have no chance.

She had spent seven or eight years painstakingly working to put Shu’er on par with Shen Qianbai, only to have a low-born woman turn the Marquis’s residence upside down in a few months, ruining its reputation.

Now, it had even implicated her and Shu’er.

Jiang Man was furious and deeply regretted trusting Lin Jiayue.

“Has there been any response from Yan Zhizhang?”

Eunuch Chang replied, “Lord Yan said he was unqualified to be the Fifth Prince’s tutor. Your Highness, I think Lord Yan is just an old-fashioned scholar and indeed unfit to teach the Fifth Prince.”

“Though he is pedantic, he is knowledgeable and, more importantly, upright. If Shu’er studies under him, he will benefit greatly.”

Jiang Man’s hands clenched, her eyes sharp. “I value his strict adherence to teaching principles. If he were a smooth-talking flatterer, I wouldn’t consider him.”

“His refusal is likely due to concerns about the Marquis’s reputation and my son’s limited talents.”

“The Empress and Song Yunning… hmph.”

Jiang Man sneered. “Aren’t they always scheming together? I’ll give them a chance to bond in the afterlife.”

“It’s time for your two friends in the Crown Prince’s residence to take action.”

Eunuch Chang hesitated, then nodded.

Jiang Man discarded her broken jade bracelet, her expression dark.

Song Yunning was sharp-tongued but only good at stirring up trouble with petty tricks. What could she do if Jiang Man smeared her reputation today and accused her of a crime tomorrow?

She just didn’t want to waste time arguing with these palace women.

“Let those two spread some rumors. If the Third Prince dies, won’t the world belong to Shen Qianzhi?”

The Crown Prince had been paralyzed for years and would die sooner or later. Shen Qianzhi’s reputation wasn’t much better than Shu’er’s, but he was the eldest legitimate son and nearly twenty years older. If someone pushed him now, he would be tempted. If that fool gets hot-headed, he might even bring down that old man.

Jiang Man lightly dusted off her skirt, her eyes cold and sharp. “Do they really think the Marquis of Chengyang’s residence is full of idiots?”

“Tell Yi’er about the Crown Prince’s residence. I don’t want to see Shen Qianbai survive this winter!”

Eunuch Chang acknowledged her orders and left.

Song Wan, Jiang Xingjian, and Lin Jiayue returned to the residence together, and the atmosphere in the carriage was extremely tense.

Lin Jiayue nestled in Jiang Xingjian’s arms, ignoring how stiff he was.

“Brother Xingjian, I’m so scared.”

Song Wan lowered her gaze, her cheeks burning, but she kept reminding herself to mind her manners.

The carriage was already cramped, and with another person, it felt even more crowded. Lin Jiayue clung to Jiang Xingjian, expressing her fears, admiration, and gratitude with every word.

After just one day in the palace, Lin Jiayue seemed like a different person. Earlier, she had been sickly, but now her eyes were full of an incomprehensible vitality and fervor.

“It’s all my fault. The cosmetics shop won’t be able to continue. Brother Xingjian, don’t worry. I’ve prepared a general store…”

Jiang Xingjian pressed Lin Jiayue down and said sternly, “Your body hasn’t recovered yet. You don’t need to worry about these things.”

“How can that be? Don’t you trust me anymore? I know I was wrong. This general store won’t be like that.”

“Brother Xingjian, give me another chance. This time, I’ll only provide the designs. Once the items are made, if you think they’re fine, we can sell them in the shop. Trust me, give me a chance to make amends.”

Jiang Xingjian’s face was grim, but Song Wan hoped he would agree. She wanted to know what Lin Jiayue planned to do next.

She had to admit, Lin Jiayue’s previous actions had piqued her curiosity like never before.

When the carriage arrived at the residence, Jiang Xingjian practically fled.

During dinner, they received news that the Emperor had confiscated Huan Yan Zhai, and the shopkeeper had died after receiving eighty lashes.

When Qing Zhai reported this to Jiang Yan, he simply said, “What a pity.”

“Send some compensation to his wife and children, and arrange for them to leave the capital.”

After that, Jiang Yan continued eating without mentioning it again. He had placed some people in Lin Jiayue’s hands, intending to help them if necessary, but the situation had developed far beyond his expectations.

Thinking it over, Jiang Yan put down his jade chopsticks, having lost his appetite. He took the soft towel from Qing Zhai and wiped his hands clean.

Five days later, it would be the Mid-Autumn Festival. This year, the Emperor had chosen the third prince to light the palace lanterns at the Dengtian Tower in front of Dongzhi Gate. The entire residence would attend the lantern lighting. Jiang Yan, feeling restless, rubbed his itchy fingers, trying to suppress his agitation.

Since that person no longer managed the household affairs, and the Old Madam exempted morning and evening greetings due to illness, he hadn’t seen her in a long time.

The Mid-Autumn Festival lantern lighting might be his only chance to see her before winter.

Thinking of this, a trace of tenderness appeared in Jiang Yan’s eyes. He walked to the redwood wardrobe in his room and eagerly and carefully selected the clothes he would wear that day.

T/N: soft reminder:
First Prince: Shen Qianzhi
Second Prince/ Crown Prince/ Male lead: Shen Qianyu
Third Prince/ Song Wan’s cousin (Consort Yun’s son): Shen Qianbai
Fourth Prince: died
Fifth Prince/ Jiang Xingjian’s cousin (Consort Jiang’s son) : Shen Qianshu