Chapter 9: Layout

“It’s really good luck for the Crown Princess to have your favor…” Xiao Nanxing couldn’t help but sigh. If it were someone else, infected with the Underworld Poison, they could only wait for death.

Xie Lingxi frowned almost imperceptibly, “What nonsense are you talking about?”

He saved her for another reason.

Xiao Nanxing: …

Alright, clearly he likes her but doesn’t want people to say it.

“Young Master, the person has been brought,” a dark guard reported from outside the door.

Xie Lingxi’s lazy and leisurely demeanor instantly turned cold and sharp. The last bit of light in his eyes was extinguished, leaving only endless coldness and cruelty:

“Bring him in.”

Two dark guards carried in a wooden box and opened it.

A strong smell of blood assailed their nostrils, revealing a figure inside who had been ravaged by torture and was indistinguishable from a human.

…

North King’s Mansion, Jin Yu Garden.

Jiang Rong sat in the main seat, and Cui Yu led a group of maids and servants in paying their respects.

They had previously served Xie Lingxi in Jin Yu Garden. From now on, Jiang Rong was their mistress.

According to the rules, the servants paid their respects to the Crown Princess.

“Reward—” Jiang Rong said.

She didn’t say much else. The people in this courtyard were all left by Xie Lingxi and could be used with peace of mind.

In her previous life, Cui Yu later became her right-hand woman.

Ying Xia distributed the silver ingots specially used for rewards to them. After Cui Yu and others received their rewards and withdrew…

Ying Xia immediately said, “Second Miss, these are all people from the North King’s Mansion, you can’t trust them!”

“Naturally, the people I trust the most are our own,” Jiang Rong replied with a smile, saying:

“Ying Xia, bring me the list of my dowry.”

Ying Xia’s expression changed slightly, and she handed over the dowry list.

Jiang Rong flipped through it, raised her eyebrows, and said, “These forty boxes and trunks match up, but why don’t I see the title deeds for the shops and farms, and the saved silver?”

A large part of Jiang Rong’s dowry was left by her deceased mother. There was a large sum of silver deposited in a bank, and several farms and shops.

Her mother had also left several boxes of jewelry. When she was younger, under the coaxing of her second aunt, she had given them to them…

Only the tangible silver notes and title deeds were inconvenient to directly occupy.

Another forty boxes were purchased with public funds from the Jiang family.

If her second aunt hadn’t thought that Jiang Wan was marrying in her place, according to the dowry she had prepared for her own daughter, Jiang Rong wouldn’t even have these dowry items.

“Second Miss, your shops and farms have always been managed by the second madam. The second madam is worried that your dowry will be taken by your husband’s family, so she is keeping it for you,” Ying Xia said eloquently.

Jiang Rong said lightly, “Indeed, I am most at ease leaving it with my second aunt. However, it concerns whether I can take charge of the North King’s Mansion’s properties, so I will have to discuss it with my second aunt on the day of our return visit.”

She believed that her second aunt would happily hand over the dowry to her.

As the mistress and servant were talking, Cui Yu came to report:

“Crown Princess, the cousin is here to pay her respects.”

…

Chen Caiwei looked at Jiang Rong with an apologetic expression:

“Caiwei did not call the Crown Princess sister-in-law yesterday because I believed the rumors outside, thinking that the Crown Princess was unwilling to marry into the Xie family, which is why I only called you Miss Jiang. It was inconvenient to explain in front of my cousin yesterday, so I specifically came to clarify.”

“Caiwei puts herself in your shoes. If I had a childhood sweetheart and a fiancé with whom I was deeply in love, but was separated from him, I would never accept the identity given by the one who snatched him away. So I couldn’t bear to call you Crown Princess, fearing it would make you sad…”

“It seems I misunderstood. I suppose even though the Crown Princess was once engaged to someone, you were not familiar with each other and had no feelings. Seeing you and my cousin so loving and harmonious, I am happy for you.”

Her words were extremely sincere. If Jiang Rong hadn’t known her true nature beforehand, she would have mistaken her for a kind-hearted person.

“Cousin, you are thoughtful,” Jiang Rong cooperated by showing a bit of emotion on her face.

Chen Caiwei presented a post, “My second sister and I are holding a poetry gathering in the King’s Mansion. The Crown Princess is the mistress of the mansion, and Caiwei believes that you must be invited to preside over it.”

Jiang Rong’s gaze fell on the words “Qingfeng Poetry Gathering” on the post, and her thin lips curved into a slight upward arc.

A month earlier than in her previous life.

Chen Caiwei, you really can’t hold back.

She remembered clearly that in her previous life, it was at this Qingfeng Poetry Gathering that Chen Caiwei invited Shen Wenyuan, creating an opportunity for them to meet…

And then—

She drugged her with an aphrodisiac.

“Cousin, you are too kind. Then I will definitely be there on time tomorrow,” Jiang Rong accepted the post, her smile becoming even brighter.

Chen Caiwei felt relieved that things were going smoothly, and a cold smile appeared in her heart.

Just because I flattered you by calling you the mistress of the mansion, you’re easily fooled. Tomorrow, you will be disgraced and kicked out of the mansion!

“Crown Princess, the Young Master has sent you candied fruit!” Cui Yu led Jing Zhe in.

Jiang Rong’s heart filled with joy. She took the paper bag, her eyebrows slightly curved, “The Young Master is so kind. I must go and thank him.”

Saying this, she glanced at Chen Caiwei next to her and boasted clearly, “I originally wanted to stay and talk more with my cousin, but now I have to go see the Young Master, so it’s inconvenient. Let’s meet again tomorrow.”

Chen Caiwei’s just-elated mood was completely shattered by this bag of candied fruit.

How hateful.

Isn’t Jiang Rong just a little better looking than her? Xie Lingxi is blind! It’s infuriating!

It doesn’t matter.

When Jiang Rong is driven out of the mansion, she will be the next Crown Princess.

Xie family’s wealth, and the noble position of Crown Princess, will all be hers!