Chapter 14: Could It Be That You Think I’m More Attractive Than Pei Ji?

Su Xiangwan replied, “It’s across from Jin Xiu Fang.”

“Jin Xiu Fang? The biggest clothing shop in the capital, the one loved by everyone?” Jiang Huaiyue asked after thinking carefully.

“Yes, that one.” Su Xiangwan poured tea for herself and Jiang Huaiyue, gently pushing a cup over.

Jiang Huaiyue lifted the cup and pondered, “So, did you rent the shop, or are you partnering with someone?”

The shops in the capital were extremely expensive, especially Jin Xiu Fang, located on the busiest street. That one shop alone boosted the development around it, so the rent for a shop opposite it wouldn’t be cheap.

“I partnered with someone.”

“Who? Did you check them out? Are they trustworthy?” Jiang Huaiyue asked a series of questions.

Su Xiangwan said, “It’s a woman. I’ve met her — her words and actions show she knows when to advance and retreat, and understands propriety.”

Hearing this, Jiang Huaiyue understood. Someone praised by Su Xiangwan must be reliable. As the saying goes, “Don’t doubt the person you employ, and don’t employ the one you doubt.”

“Alright, I trust your judgment. But do you have enough money?”

Su Xiangwan looked at her and smiled: “What, if I don’t have enough, are you planning to sponsor me?”

Jiang Huaiyue sighed and smiled awkwardly, “I was just asking. I’m such a poor mistress, I have nothing at all.”

Even if she wanted to help, she couldn’t.

“Enough, you don’t need to worry about anything. I’m here, you just take care of your little life. Later, you’ll live the good life with Miss Su.”

Su Xiangwan glanced at her and teased.

Hearing this, Jiang Huaiyue leaned her head on Su Xiangwan’s shoulder and sighed, “Wanwan, having you is my blessing.”

“Enough, sit down and eat,” Su Xiangwan said, seeing Ning Xiang bringing dishes over, and lightly pushed Jiang Huaiyue’s head.

Jiang Huaiyue looked up, seeing one delicious dish after another placed on the table, suddenly feeling very hungry.

She picked up chopsticks and began eating. Su Xiangwan saw her eating like a starving ghost and said tiredly, “You’re the mistress now, pay attention to your manners.”

If you behave like this outside, people will definitely suspect.

Jiang Huaiyue swallowed her food and replied, “In front of you, I’m just Jiang Huaiyue. Outside, I’ll be the mistress.”

This so-called mistress thing really was a headache.

Su Xiangwan said nothing, just picked out Jiang Huaiyue’s favorite dish and put it in her bowl.

Before long, all the food on the table was gone. Ning Xiang behind Su Xiangwan widened her eyes in surprise.

The mistress of Yunhe was so thin but ate so much. Where did all the food go?

“Ning Xiang, clear the table,” Su Xiangwan said, looking at the empty bowls and plates.

Ning Xiang came back to her senses, “Yes, madam.”

She quickly tidied up. Qiuchan was very thoughtful and poured tea for both Jiang Huaiyue and Su Xiangwan.

After these two times, she understood that her mistress and Miss Su were very good friends, and Miss Su treated the mistress very well.

Suddenly Jiang Huaiyue remembered something: “Qiuchan, watch carefully. Don’t let anyone come near. I have something to tell Wanwan.”

“Understood, mistress.” Qiuchan nodded and turned to keep a distance.

Su Xiangwan saw Jiang Huaiyue’s expression suddenly become serious and quietly asked, “What’s wrong?”

Could it be that something bad happened again?

“Wanwan, I suspect Pei Ji is planning a rebellion,” Jiang Huaiyue recalled her conversation with Pei Ji in the carriage. The more she thought, the more terrifying it seemed.

In the script, it was said Pei Ji died opposing the male lead, but there was no description of how he died.

Just now in their conversation, Pei Ji said he wanted to kill Jiang Jingchen, and since he seemed to control the court, it was likely he intended to rebel.

“You mean Pei Ji wants to kill Jiang Jingchen and become emperor himself?”

Su Xiangwan and Jiang Huaiyue leaned their heads together, speaking very quietly.

“Yes,” Jiang Huaiyue nodded.

“If that’s the case, you need to quickly distance yourself from Pei Ji. He’s the villain and will definitely lose to the male lead. You’ve openly offended Jiang Jingchen—if something happens to him, what if you get implicated?”

Su Xiangwan analyzed carefully, running through all the possible outcomes in her mind.

Jiang Huaiyue understood what she meant and agreed, “I know. I brought up the divorce with Pei Ji today.”

“What was his reaction?” Su Xiangwan asked.

Jiang Huaiyue fiddled with her skirt hem. “He didn’t react much. I don’t know what he’s thinking.”

By all rights, she was someone dispensable to him; she really didn’t know what was on his mind.

“Don’t act rashly. Be careful not to anger him. This matter requires careful planning.”

“I know. Don’t worry,” Jiang Huaiyue replied calmly.

Qiuchan followed Jiang Huaiyue and saw the princess’s worried expression, feeling uneasy inside as well.

“Princess, is something wrong?”

Walking through the market, Jiang Huaiyue glanced at Qiuchan’s concerned eyes and shook her head faintly. “Nothing.”

“Princess, do you want something to eat? I can buy it for you,” Qiuchan asked with a smile.

Jiang Huaiyue looked at her. “Save your money, we don’t have any.”

As soon as she said that, Qiuchan hesitated and said, “Actually, Miss Su just secretly gave Ningxiang some money for me.”

Jiang Huaiyue was surprised. “When?”

Qiuchan whispered, “When we left the general’s mansion, Ningxiang pulled me aside and slipped me a stack of silver notes, saying it was from Miss Su and to not tell you yet.”

“Got it, then just keep it,” Jiang Huaiyue smiled faintly, feeling warmth in her heart.

After composing herself, Jiang Huaiyue planned to return to the mansion.

After walking a while, Qiuchan said, “Princess, it’s the prince.”

She looked up. Not far down the long street, Pei Ji stood in front of a tavern, flanked by two men.

One looked drunk, barely able to stand; the other was pushing the swaying drunk man toward a footman nearby with a disdainful look.

Pei Ji only noticed Jiang Huaiyue after being reminded by Mo Ying.

“Prince, it’s the princess.”

Mo Ying said this at once behind Pei Ji when he saw Jiang Huaiyue.

Seeing Pei Ji notice her, Jiang Huaiyue didn’t want to leave without saying anything, so she walked toward him.

He Lan, standing nearby, fanning himself, raised an eyebrow and said, “So this is Princess Yunhe? She looks different from the rumors.”

He had seen her once at a palace banquet before. Back then, she didn’t stand out much, but now she was truly dazzling.

Pei Ji didn’t respond to the remark. By now, Jiang Huaiyue had arrived.

“What a coincidence, Prince. I thought you had returned to the mansion,” she greeted him with a smile.

She noticed the intense gaze from beside Pei Ji and glanced over.

Her eyes widened in surprise—such a beautiful peacock.

The man beside Pei Ji wore bright red clothes, bold and flamboyant, with an androgynous face of stunning beauty that was breathtaking and hard to look away from.

Well, he smiled like a sunflower—too bright.

“Princess, looking at me like that, do you think I’m more handsome than Pei Ji?” He Lan smiled and asked loudly.

Jiang Huaiyue looked at Pei Ji, whose expression was icy and eyes fierce.

She immediately shook her head. “Um, I still think the prince looks better.”

He was good-looking for sure, but he lacked some masculinity.

He Lan chuckled unwillingly, “Then it seems, Princess, you really are blinded by love.”