Chapter 73

“The Princess has gone to seek His Majesty and the Empress.”

Upon hearing the maidservant’s words, Jiang Yuan’s hopes immediately sank to rock bottom. She wasn’t foolish; how could she not see that Xiao Nanyi was deliberately avoiding her, unwilling to have anything to do with her?

It was true that the drug was intended for Wen Nianxi, but the banquet was hosted in Xiao Nanyi’s palace, with her as the host. In the end, it was herself who fell into the trap. How could Xiao Nanyi escape responsibility for this matter?

Outside, Han Gaojie was still shouting as if proclaiming this as something honorable. Jiang Yuan trembled with rage, wishing she could immediately tear his mouth apart to stop him from making reckless accusations.

“Has the message been sent home?”

For this autumn hunt, the entire household of Marquis Xindu only sent her. She, an unmarried woman, had encountered such a situation without any elder to back her up, and naturally, she suffered a disadvantage.

“The Princess sent someone early in the morning, urging them to gallop swiftly back to deliver the message to the household.”

However, from Qu Zuo to the capital was nearly two hundred miles. Even if ridden at full gallop, by the time her parents arrived, it would already be too late, and the disgrace on her would be impossible to wash away.

Today, Jiang Yuan had been utterly humiliated. Her heart was filled with unease, and she couldn’t express her overwhelming emotions. “Where is Wen Nianxi?”

Suddenly recalling something, she asked hurriedly, “What’s become of that little wretch Wen Nianxi? Has she…”

The maid couldn’t help but lower her head further, replying softly, “This servant does not know.”

“So, it seems I am the only one who has suffered.” Jiang Yuan let out a bitter chuckle. Her face was flushed as if still not entirely sober. With a forceful slap, she struck the maid’s face, sending her tumbling to the ground.

“That wretch harmed me!”

At that moment, another close maidservant, Qiu’er, quickly entered the hall, pretending not to notice the shattered teacups and the mess on the floor. She announced, “Miss, Lord Pei has arrived.”

Jiang Yuan stood there, almost in a daze. After a moment, her eyes flickered, and her expression slowly regained some brightness.

Pei Jian was here!

Jiang Yuan remembered that moment in the forest—Pei Jian descended like a hero, almost divine, rescuing her from danger. He had kicked the repulsive Han Gaojie so hard that he couldn’t get up for half a day and was unable to spew any more vile words.

Pei Jian had come to help her!

He must have!

Clutching at this hope as if it were her lifeline, Jiang Yuan said to Qiu’er, “Hurry, help me change clothes! Let’s go to the front hall!”

In the front hall, Han Lin had already grown tired from fighting and had stopped. Han Gaojie had said almost everything he could. When His Majesty and the Empress inquired into the matter, they would have their explanation prepared.

Simply put, it was nothing more than a matter of romance and affection. Marquis Xindu’s household wasn’t exactly low-ranked; at worst, Gaojie would have to endure some grievance and marry the girl from the Jiang family.

When Pei Jian entered the hall, Han Lin didn’t notice at first, but Han Gaojie’s sharp eyes caught sight of him. With a swift movement, he darted behind his father. He assumed Pei Jian was there to stand up for Jiang Yuan. After all, that kick in the forest had been excruciating!

“Lord Pei.” Han Lin turned and nodded to him in greeting. “Lord Pei, you don’t seem to be among the entourage this time. How is it that you’re in the temporary palace?”

Pei Jian was always composed; his face revealed no emotion. He replied lightly, “The Censorate has an urgent matter to present to the Crown Prince.” His detached attitude sent a chill down their spines.

Though Pei Jian didn’t hold a high rank yet, he was young, trusted, and capable. Recently, without a word, he had brought down the governor of Lan County, shaking the entire court. If not for the upcoming autumn hunt, he was poised for promotion—a force to be reckoned with.

Although Han Lin had married the Princess and obtained the title of Marquis Anjing, it was essentially an empty title. Facing a powerful minister, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe.

As a result, Han Lin’s attitude toward Pei Jian grew increasingly friendly and deferential. The matter of his son being beaten was neither brought up nor dwelled upon—it was brushed aside entirely.

After exchanging pleasantries, Han Lin asked, “Today, my son had a dispute with the young lady of the Jiang family. May I ask why Lord Pei is here?”

Pei Jian glanced at him. His demeanor remained calm and composed, almost with the hint of a smile. His tone was gentle, but the anger in his eyes was impossible to conceal, and Han Lin noticed it.

“For this very matter,” Pei Jian said.

Han Lin’s heart skipped a beat. He was about to say something more, or perhaps have Han Gaojie cry out theatrically, when several people walked briskly out from the inner hall. It was Jiang Yuan and her maidservants.

“Lord Pei!” Tears welled up in Jiang Yuan’s eyes as she hurried to Pei Jian’s side. She looked at him as though he were her savior, her voice filled with grievance and pity as she pleaded, “Lord Pei, you must seek justice for me! I was wronged—it’s absolutely not as Han Gaojie claims!”

Even the most arrogant young lady would be left utterly distraught in such a situation. She couldn’t fathom why Pei Jian would help her. After all, Pei Jian was the most aloof and unyielding person. Countless young ladies in the capital admired him, both openly and secretly, but he gave them no acknowledgment. Even someone like Wanxin, who had approached him with a marriage proposal, was met with his disdain. But at this moment, she couldn’t afford to think too much about it.

Perhaps she had, after all, caught Pei Jian’s attention? Who could say anything for certain about matters of the heart?

Compared to Han Gaojie’s crude vulgarity, Pei Jian was as refined as a moonlit gentleman—flawless, graceful, and serene.

Just like now, he was looking at her, his clear and dark eyes exuding a quiet and earnest sincerity that calmed her heart. “You say someone set you up?”

Pei Jian asked slowly and steadily, but his words landed like a heavy blow on everyone present.

Jiang Yuan felt like she had seen a ray of light and nodded eagerly, “Yes, someone set me up! Otherwise, how could I, an unmarried young woman, possibly act like that with Han Gaojie…”

Hearing this, Han Lin and his son became visibly anxious, worried that the blame might fall squarely on their family.

Han Gaojie reacted swiftly, immediately stepping forward to confront Jiang Yuan. “Who would bother to harm you? With your flat figure, even if you threw yourself at me, I’d find it uncomfortable! I was waiting under the ginkgo tree the whole time, completely innocent. But you, with your shameless behavior—who knows which lover you mistook me for?”

“You!” Jiang Yuan was mortified and furious to the point of despair.

Especially in front of Pei Jian, being humiliated like this by Han Gaojie made her so enraged and distressed that she could barely stand.

Pei Jian, however, allowed Han Gaojie’s insults to pass, fixing his gaze on Jiang Yuan. He continued to ask, “Who set you up?”

Jiang Yuan was about to blurt out—Wen Nianxi!

But Pei Jian raised his voice, speaking with deeper meaning, “Think carefully. Who was it that harmed you?”

Jiang Yuan suddenly came to her senses. If she claimed it was Wen Nianxi who set her up, where was the evidence? The banquet was held in the Qing Palace, not the Western Garden. How could Wen Nianxi, the daughter of a fourth-rank official, have the means to poison the Princess of Xinchang’s banquet?

Who would believe her?

Moreover, Wen Nianxi had Xiao Nanxi, that madwoman, backing her up—she would undoubtedly stand up for her.

Poor Jiang Yuan, since the incident, only Lord Pei has been willing to help her, while Xiao Nanyi has distanced himself from the very beginning.

Clearly, the idea of using Han Gaojie to ruin Wen Nianxi’s reputation had originally come from Xiao Nanyi!

She was the one who had caused Jiang Yuan to end up like this!

“Princess Xinchang!”

Pei Jian’s pitch-black eyes deepened, and his cold and calm expression showed no trace of surprise. There was even the faintest hint of a smile at the corner of his lips. He turned to Jiang Yuan and softly inquired, “Who do you say it was?”

Under the gaze of those striking and profound eyes, Jiang Yuan felt an illusion of sincerity. Her confidence grew stronger, and she resolutely declared, “It was Princess Xinchang who drugged me, causing me to lose my senses and act uncontrollably.”

“It was Princess Xinchang who harmed me!”

The once-shouting Han Gaojie: …?

Good heavens!

It indeed had nothing to do with him—he was, in fact, the victim here!

There are still good people in this world~

“Jiang Yuan, what nonsense are you spouting?!”