Chapter 122 Prince Consort
On the second day, Jiang Li, Ye Mingyu and his group, as well as the people of Tongxiang, set out for Yanjing in a mighty procession.

Thanks to the money Feng Yutang had plundered from the people, he had no problem with the travel expenses. With so many people, the journey was naturally slower. But since they set off early, it didn't matter.

The Ye family members said goodbye to Jiang Li reluctantly, especially Old Madam Ye, who stood at the city gate and watched Jiang Li's back until she could no longer see her, and then left with the Ye family members.

Xue Huaiyuan sat with Jiang Li in the carriage. These days, everyone was used to Jiang Li being so kind to Xue Huaiyuan. Although Xue Huaiyuan looked thin after washing, he had more or less regained some of his former handsome appearance. In fact, Xue Huaiyuan was not bad at all, otherwise Xue Fangfei and Xue Zhao would not have such outstanding looks.

Jiang Li took a lot of clean clothes from the Ye family and asked someone to change Xue Huaiyuan into them. If he wasn't always playing like a child, he could still vaguely look like him back then.

Ye Mingyu got into the carriage when he had time. Jiang Li was patiently wiping off the snack residue Xue Huaiyuan had left on her body with a handkerchief. Ye Mingyu looked at her and suddenly had a strange illusion. Jiang Li and Xue Huaiyuan clearly had no relationship or relatives, and in terms of appearance, they were not similar at all. But for some reason, perhaps in their expressions or in their eyebrows, there was a slight resemblance between them.

They look like a father and daughter.

Realizing his thoughts, Ye Mingyu's heart shuddered, secretly scolding himself for thinking too much. How could Jiang Li and Xue Huaiyuan be father and daughter? Jiang Li's father was the powerful Prime Minister of Yanjing City. This statement not only insulted Jiang Yuanbo, but also Ye Zhenzhen.

Putting aside the messy thoughts in his mind, Ye Mingyu asked: "Ali, our journey will take some time. Now your father doesn't know what you are doing here, but when we return to Yanjing, we will definitely be able to do it. By then, he will definitely not let you show up, so why don't you tell me what I should do next? Or you can write it down and I will do it accordingly."

Ye Mingyu could more or less see that Jiang Li's actions in Tongxiang, although they were done under the name of Jiang Yuanbai, Jiang Yuanbai must not know about it. His daughter caused such a big trouble in Tongxiang. Jiang Yuanbai said nothing else, Jiang Li, as a rich lady, and the daughter of the Prime Minister, must not show up again to avoid more trouble. No matter how arrogant Ye Mingyu was, he could not stop Jiang Li from going home.

But once Jiang Li returns home, she may not be able to get out immediately.

Yanjing is not like the Jianghu, and the Jiang family is not like the Ye family. Ye Mingyu wants to get Jiang Li out of it, but he doesn't know if he can succeed. In this case, it is better to make preparations. As long as Jiang Li can't get out for the time being, Ye Mingyu can get things done with Jiang Li's instructions without Jiang Li showing up.

Jiang Li smiled and shook her head, saying, "No. In Yanjing City, the relationship between officials and households is very complicated. The Ye family is a merchant family. If someone wants to suppress it, it is possible that the matter will be suppressed. It's different if it involves me, because I have an official behind me, so it will naturally attract people's attention. The Xue family case must become bigger and bigger before there is a chance. The bigger the case, the more anxious the other party will be, and they will make mistakes in their anxiety, and then our chance will come."

"But..." Ye Mingyu hesitated, "Your father..."

"Don't worry, I'll convince him." Jiang Li smiled. Jiang Yuanbai was a smart man. What she did now had offended the Right Prime Minister on the Ye family side, and Princess Yongning on the Xue family case. If everyone had been offended, the past peace would be broken. Once it started, it would be difficult to stop.

Jiang Yuanbai understood this truth. He was in a difficult situation. He couldn't get off the tiger. So he had to either keep doing it and deal a heavy blow to the opponent, or stop midway and let the opponent seize the initiative.

Jiang Yuanbo is not as confused in his official career as he is in the rear house. He is very shrewd. Jiang Li believes that he will make the same choice as herself.

But... I wonder what kind of expression Yongning in Yanjing City would have when he found out what I had done?

Must be very frustrating.

……

The city of Yanjing is located in the north, and there is not a single day without snow in winter.

In the heavy snow, poor families still had to go out to work in the cold wind, wearing thin clothes and working on the icy streets to earn a few copper coins a day for their family income.

It was much better in rich and powerful families. The heating was hot and the house was also warm. The young ladies could sit in the house, holding the hot water bottle given by the maid, looking at the snow scene outside the window, reciting poems, painting, playing the piano, or reading.

It was even warmer than spring in the princess's mansion.

The floor was covered with a long wool blanket embroidered with intricate patterns, so even if you walked barefoot on it, you wouldn't feel cold. Therefore, even in winter, the young woman on the high seat would wear a thin gauze dress, slightly revealing a corner of her bellyband embroidered with lotus flowers, as beautiful as a lotus about to bloom in summer.

She fell on someone's knees.

The man was handsome and gentle, smiling as he looked at the lovely woman on his lap.

Her rosy lips uttered lingering verses: "I haven't combed my hair for a long time. My hair is draped over my shoulders. My wrist is stretched on my lover's knees. How can I not feel pity for him..." When she said the last word, her voice became teasingly low, but her neck was raised, and her red lips gently pressed against the man's thin lips.

The servants in the palace all lowered their heads and dared not look. When Princess Yongning and her lover were making love, no one dared to take a second look.

"Yongning..." A sigh escaped from between his lips and teeth.

This sigh drove the woman crazy. She looked into his eyes, almost intoxicated by his tenderness. She suddenly asked, "Shen Lang, when are we getting married?"

The man - now the Secretary of the Central Secretariat, Shen Yurong, a favorite of Emperor Hong Xiao, was startled, as if suddenly awakened from the sinking desire, and slightly raised his body to avoid the intimate embrace of Princess Yongning.

Princess Yongning also felt his estrangement and suddenly came back to her senses from her previous indulgence. But the next moment, she leaned on him again and said coquettishly, "Shen Lang, why don't you say anything?"

"Princess," Shen Yurong no longer called her 'Yongning'. He frowned: "It's been less than a year since my wife passed away..."

It's Xue Fangfei again! Princess Yongning hated him so much that he always said he would mourn for Xue Fangfei and let the world see his love. But Yongning knew in her heart that this was just an excuse.

The reason why he refused to marry her was because he still had that bitch in his heart! Even if Xue Fangfei died, he still couldn't forget her! The reason why he was so affectionate to me was because he had a brother who became a king and I was a princess. He was with me for the power and wealth!
Princess Yongning understood, but it was useless to understand because she loved him. The more restrained and polite Shen Yurong was, the more she couldn't hold back. His ambivalence was like a deadly poison to her. He had Xue Fangfei in his heart, so she wanted to remove Xue Fangfei from his heart bit by bit and make her disappear into thin air.

What she couldn't get was the best. The more she couldn't get Shen Yurong, the more she wanted her. No matter whether Shen Yurong was sincere or false, she would tie Shen Yurong to her side. He could only look at her as a woman in his life. If she couldn't get his heart, she had to get him. Now it seemed that it would take some time to get this man's heart. She couldn't wait any longer and lost her patience, so she couldn't wait to get this man.

She wanted Shen Yurong to be her consort.

"Shen Lang," Princess Yongning said in a tender voice, "I am now old enough. My mother told me yesterday that she was looking for a suitable match for me... As a member of the royal family, marriage is not up to me. If I hadn't had you in my heart and hadn't been trying to find you, I'm afraid you would have become someone else's wife by now."

Shen Yurong looked at her gently. Sometimes he was indifferent to Yongning, and sometimes he was affectionate towards her. Yongning was disturbed by her and couldn't stop, like now.

Then her voice softened again, almost turning into a pool of water, and her body also softened into a pool of water, tightly wrapping around Shen Yurong.

"Tell me, if mother really married me to someone else one day, would you be sad? Would you regret it?"

Shen Yurong said softly: "Of course I am sad and regretful."

Princess Yongning immediately smiled brightly: "Then what are you waiting for? As long as I tell my mother, this matter will be accomplished."

"But……"

"Are you going to say you want to observe mourning for Xue Fangfei again?" Princess Yongning's patience finally ran out after three or four times. She was still smiling, but her tone was a little cold. Her red nails gently stroked Shen Yurong's face, "Shen Lang, everyone knows how Xue Fangfei died. She died of shame and depression because of having an affair with someone. Everyone is speaking up for you. Even if you don't observe mourning, even if you marry someone else the next day, no one in the world will say anything bad about you."

"Xue Fangfei is a dead person, but I am a living person. You want to mourn for a dead person, are you going to miss me? I have met you several times and I have a high opinion of you. If you make me sad because of this, I will also be angry... I don't want any misunderstandings to arise between you because of me." She was vague.

This is a clear threat.

Shen Yurong is now being treated differently by King Cheng, and has not yet brought out his strengths to make King Cheng regard him as his confidant. King Cheng will rebel sooner or later, and it seems that there is a great chance of success. With the ups and downs of life, Shen Yurong also wants to do something big.

Princess Yongning can be his stepping stone, but she can also be his stumbling block. She can build a bridge between Shen Yurong and King Cheng, but she can also break the bridge.

He knew she could do it.

Shen Yurong looked at her, and Princess Yongning smiled at him tenderly, mumbling, "Shen Lang, just promise me... promise me..."

He knew that she was impatient. When she first fell in love with him, he already had a wife, so she quickly got rid of Xue Fangfei. The patience she had spent on him was unprecedented. Perhaps he should be thankful that Princess Yongning had such a long patience with him. Once her patience with him was gone, he would never have a chance if she looked for someone else.

A chance to change your destiny.

Shen Yurong laughed softly.

There was a strange hint of irony in his smile, but it disappeared in an instant, and became a deep and gentle smile. He said, "Okay."

Princess Yongning paused with her smile and looked at him: "What did you say?" She was ready to be rejected again, but she also decided in her heart that this time, she would not take a step back. No matter whether it was by coercion, inducement, or robbery, she would become Madam Shen, whether Shen Yurong was willing or not.

But he actually said yes.

Princess Yongning jumped up, and in an instant, her proud and somewhat mean face showed a childlike genuine joy. She hugged Shen Yurong's neck and said happily: "Shen Lang, you agreed! Tomorrow I will go to the palace to tell my mother and let her talk to my brother about this!"

Shen Yurong patted her back lovingly and hugged her back. The servants all lowered their heads and Princess Yongning had her back to him, so no one saw the flash of indifference in Shen Yurong's eyes.

He knew where Princess Yongning's bottom line was, so he had to get it just right. Often, one point more is too much, one point less is too little, he had to be sensible and not be impatient, so that he could slowly, slowly get what he wanted.

Princess Yongning was very reluctant to leave the princess's mansion.

She hoped that Shen Yurong could stay here, but Shen Yurong refused. He said that with his current status, many people in the court were watching him and wanted to find something to hold against him. If someone caught him, he would be in trouble.

Princess Yongning had no choice but to give up, thinking that since Shen Yurong had already agreed, she would soon become his legitimate wife and would firmly dominate Shen Yurong. She felt that this moment of separation was tolerable.

Shen Yurong walked out of the princess's mansion, walked out of the street, and returned to the Shen family.

The Zhuangyuan Mansion was golden and brand new, just like the one the emperor had bestowed upon it. The concierge saluted him, and Shen Yurong walked into the courtyard and stopped at the flower garden.

The gentle smile he had been maintaining suddenly cracked, and he bent down, as if he was disgusted by something, and suddenly heaved violently. When his head was dizzy and his chest was heavy, he seemed to see a pair of feet, and looking up along those feet, he saw the most familiar person beside him.

The woman was extremely beautiful, and she said nothing. She just looked at him quietly, just like before, nothing had changed. However, Shen Yurong still saw mockery in her cool eyes.

Just as he looked at Princess Yongning mockingly.

He stretched out his hand and tried to touch the blurry shadow, but it shattered.

Mother Shen's voice rang out: "Yurong, what are you doing?"

Shen Yurong shook herself, stood up straight, said softly, "Nothing," and went back to her room.

It's nothing, there is always a loss. He lost some things, which was sad sometimes, but he still gained more.

He finally changed his destiny. He was no longer the poor scholar looked down upon by everyone.

A life that is completely different from the past has just begun.

……

Ten days after Jiang Li left Tongxiang, the letter back to Beijing finally reached Jiang Yuanbai.

Not only were there letters returning to the capital, but there were also rumors rife in the city of Yanjing that the second daughter of the Jiang family, Jiang Li, was in Tongxiang, Xiangyang, making a big fuss over a criminal case and even brought villagers to the capital to file a complaint.

This incident caused a great uproar in Yanjing City. There had never been such a bizarre incident in Yanjing City. How could a daughter of an official family, who was just returning home to visit her relatives, be involved in a criminal case? The criminal case was fine, but she also brought villagers to the capital. Did she want to be a judge and serve as an official in the court?

The colleagues in the court all looked at Jiang Yuanbai with a strange look in their eyes. Some officials who were on the side of King Cheng and did not get along with Jiang Yuanbai even deliberately said to him, "A tiger father will have a dog daughter! Your daughter is very dignified. She saw injustice and helped. This is a righteous act, a righteous act!"

The noble ladies thought Jiang Li was meddling in other people's business. She did so many things just to show off and attract attention. She did so many things and showed up all day long. She really made the official lady lose face. She did all kinds of things that were out of line. Fortunately, they were not her sisters, otherwise it would have affected her reputation.

The people were even more curious about Jiang Li's deeds. Jiang Li had been famous in the field of inspection, and this time he was involved in a criminal case, which was a good show. The people couldn't wait to see what Jiang Li was going to do. It almost became a fun thing in Yanjing City. Everyone was looking forward to what kind of surprise Jiang Li would bring back when he returned to Yanjing.

No matter how others see it, Jiang Yuanbai is very angry. Jiang Li and Ye Mingxuan returned to their hometown to visit Old Madam Ye, how could they cause such a big trouble? He didn't think of this matter as Jiang Li's fault. After all, Jiang Li and Xue Huaiyuan didn't even know each other, so there was naturally no reason for her to intervene in this case. Jiang Yuanbai suspected that this was the idea of ​​the Ye family, and most likely the Ye family used Jiang Li's hand to intervene in this case.

I won't mention the matter of the ancient fragrant satin of the Ye family. The weaving room commander later mentioned this matter to him in a tactful way, and Jiang Yuanbai knew that Jiang Li had asked the weaving room commander to do things in his name. That would be fine, how come the Ye family still had the title of in-laws with him? Jiang Li was in Xiangyang, helping the Ye family out of trouble, and it didn't affect the reputation of the Jiang family. Even if he offended a few people, he was a prime minister, so he wouldn't be afraid of anyone in this matter.

But the Xue family case was different. Not to mention that Jiang Li had not returned yet, the whole city was in turmoil. Xue Huaiyuan was an honest official, but he was still harmed like this. Feng Yutang dared to be so domineering in Tongxiang, so he must have someone to rely on. Jiang Yuanbai had heard rumors that a nobleman in Yanjing City was involved in the Xue Huaiyuan case.

Jiang Yuanbai didn't know who this noble was. If it was in the past, he might not be afraid, but now King Cheng and the Right Prime Minister are eyeing the Jiang family covetously. Once the Jiang family is caught with something, his opponents will definitely add insult to injury. Jiang Yuanbai is "seeking stability" at the moment, so he doesn't want to cause any trouble.

As soon as Jiang Li returned to Beijing, he banned her from traveling and asked her to reflect on herself in the mansion, so that she would know that as a member of the Jiang family, she could not disregard the family's reputation and do whatever she wanted. This would also allow her to separate herself from Tongxiang and the case and get those people out.

In Shuxiu Garden.

Jiang Youyao stepped into the house without even closing the door, and asked, "Mom, have you heard that Jiang Li, that little bitch, is coming back!"

On the day Jiang Li left, Jiang Yu'e became a concubine and was carried into Zhou Yanbang's mansion. Jiang Yu'e left in a hurry, perhaps because she was afraid that if she stayed in the Jiang Mansion, Jiang Youyao would embarrass her, so she moved into Zhou Mansion not long after Jiang Li left.

Shen Ruyun will not marry into the Zhou family until the beginning of this spring.

The only young ladies left in the entire Jiang Mansion were Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yuyan. Jiang Yuyan was a timid person, and when Jiang Yu'e was not around, she was almost unwilling to leave the courtyard of the third room. But even if she was not such a timid person, Jiang Youyao would not bother to play with the daughter of a bastard.

These days, Jiang Youyao gradually calmed down. She thought very clearly that no matter whether she could marry Zhou Yanbang or not, there were two people she must not let go. One was Jiang Yu'e and the other was Jiang Li. Jiang Yu'e actually dared to covet her fiancé, which was a provocation! And the reason why Jiang Yu'e succeeded was because Jiang Li fanned the flames, they were in the same group!

As for Shen Ruyun, she was not considered Mrs. Zhou before she married into the Zhou family. In this case, no one could have predicted what would happen along the way. Who said she had no chance at all?

Jiang Youyao seemed to have grown up a lot after the incident with Zhou Yanbang, and became more sinister and calm. Sometimes when she sat aside, her expression also had some shadows of Ji Shuran.

Ji Shuran frowned, asked the maid to close the door, and scolded: "Why are you shouting so loudly? Be careful that your father hears it and will be unhappy."

Although Jiang Yuanbai was not very close to Jiang Li, she was still his own daughter. Jiang Yuanbai was naturally displeased when he saw Jiang Youyao's rude words and deeds.

"But she's coming back!" Jiang Youyao stamped her feet, "Mom, have you figured out how to deal with her?"

Ji Shuran had a headache.

When she heard the news that Jiang Li was about to return to Beijing, she could not hide her surprise. The assassins sent out were all top-notch fighters. This matter was arranged by her sister Chen Jishi. The guards that Jiang Li sent to follow were no match for those people.

She had been anxiously waiting for a reply in Yanjing City, but there was no reply. Ji Shuran was already feeling uneasy until Jiang Yuanbo received the letter.

She gritted her teeth. It seemed that Jiang Li had escaped. Otherwise, it would be impossible for those people to have not succeeded for such a long time. She was so capable!
Jiang Youyao didn't know about her secret plan, and just said impatiently: "Mother, what should we do now? It's because of her that I have become the laughing stock of Yanjing City and caused me to lose Prince Zhou. I must not let her go!"

"I know." Ji Shuran sighed, "I will find a way to solve this matter. Don't worry, she hasn't even returned to Yanjing yet, but she has already caused so much trouble. Your father is already very unhappy, and your grandmother will not stand on her side this time. If she really offended someone she shouldn't have offended, she would have already sought her own death without me having to do anything. There is a long time to come, and I am still the wife of the eldest house after all. If I want to take action against her, there are plenty of opportunities." She looked at Jiang Youyao, her expression a little more serious, "But you, Youyao. Prince Zhou is gone, and I will find a better husband for you in the future. Don't think about him anymore. It's impossible for you to marry into the Zhou family again now."

Jiang Youyao's eyes suddenly turned red, and she said, "I know, mother, I won't."

Ji Shuran asked the maid to get a handkerchief and wiped Jiang Youyao's tears while saying, "Mother doesn't mean to make you sad. You are my daughter, and I naturally hope that you can live a good life and not let you suffer any grievances. The Zhou family has decided to let Shen Ruyun marry in, and even for the sake of little Master Shen, they will not let you have any contact with Zhou Shizi. Of course, I don't like families like the Zhou family."

"There are thousands of men in the world, not just Zhou Yanbang. You deserve better, and no one can compare to you." Ji Shuran said softly.

Jiang Youyao buried her face in Ji Shuran's arms, and her hands hidden in her sleeves gradually clenched into fists.

I'm not willing to give up.

……

The news about Jiang Li spread widely, reaching the Jiang family and naturally the Zhou family.

Jiang Yu'e was washing clothes in the yard.

Her long hair was tied up in a bun, and the clothes she wore were splashed with water, which was even worse than when she was in the third room of the Jiang family. Several maids stood aside, talking as if nothing had happened, as if they didn't see Jiang Yu'e working hard to wash clothes.

Jiang Yu'e felt very humiliated.

She had never lived like a servant. Even though she needed to please Ji Shuran and her daughter in the Jiang family, in name, she was at least a lady of the Jiang family, and the Jiang family had never treated her unfairly.

But since she entered the Zhou Mansion, Zhou Yanbang's tenderness and love were not what awaited her. He even just glanced at her and left on their wedding night. Since then, he has never come to her yard again. She entered the Zhou family as a concubine, and the Zhou family servants did not treat her as their master. It was common for them to ridicule her behind her back, and now they are even fearless and do not take her seriously in person.

Jiang Yu'e wanted to talk to someone, but she didn't know who to talk to. She couldn't even tell the Zhou family, and the Zhou family members secretly said that she had "climbed into bed with the young master while he was drunk."

Jiang Yu'e hated Zhou Yanbang, Jiang Youyao, and even more so Jiang Li. If it weren't for Jiang Li's mistake, she wouldn't have ended up like this.

She seemed to want to vent all her anger on the washing hammer. As she was washing, a pair of boots suddenly stopped in front of her.

Jiang Yu'e was startled and slowly raised her head.

Zhou Yanbang's handsome face appeared before her, and Jiang Yu'e couldn't believe her eyes.

Zhou Yanbang had never seen her for so many days. Jiang Yu'e gradually understood that she had thought Zhou Yanbang had some affection for her, but now it seemed that there was none at all. He hated himself for ruining his career, making a fool of himself at the palace banquet, and ending the marriage with the Jiang family.

He blames himself for everything, he is punishing himself.

Jiang Yu'e said in a trembling voice: "Prince..."

Zhou Yanbang looked at him coldly. His past gentleness was gone. After the palace banquet, he seemed to have become a different person. He was gloomy and no one knew what he was thinking. He glanced at what Jiang Yu'e was doing and said, "I heard that Jiang Li is going back to Beijing."

Jiang Yu'e was stunned. She had also heard about Jiang Li's departure from Beijing. She heard that she went to Xiangyang to visit the Ye family. It was ridiculous. What was there to see in a mere merchant? They hadn't been in touch for more than ten years. They were just pretending to be so sympathetic.

"Jiang Yu'e, do you want to be mine?" Zhou Yanbang looked down at her with a frivolous tone.

But Jiang Yu'e did not feel insulted. Instead, she felt a surge of surprise from the bottom of her heart.

"When Jiang Li returns to Beijing, help me lure Jiang Li out." he said.

　The scumbag and the princess you don't like are here. Come on, all the big babies taking the college entrance examination today! Everyone will get a golden score!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)