Chapter 167 Encounter
Princess Yongning and Li Xian lived in peace for a month after their marriage.

The heated discussions about this marriage in Yanjing gradually cooled down, as people were attracted by new things. It seemed that nothing big was going to happen in the court, and everything was calm.

In the Right Prime Minister's Mansion, Princess Yongning sat in the room and asked Meixiang to bring her pickled plums. After she became pregnant, she liked sour food more and more, and asked Meixiang to prepare more on weekdays. Fortunately, she was still free in the Right Prime Minister's Mansion. Li Zhongnan and his son were busy with government affairs during the day and were not in the mansion. There was no one else in the mansion except Madam Li. Moreover, her mother-in-law was gentle and obedient to her as a daughter-in-law. After she got married, Princess Yongning was also very satisfied.

On the night of the wedding, the pot of wine that Princess Yongning asked Meixiang to prepare was not used. Li Xian blew out the lights as soon as he entered the room and got drunk before he took a few steps. Princess Yongning dragged him to the bed with great difficulty and fell asleep herself. On the second day, there were traces of the wine prepared in advance on the bed. Princess Yongning only needed to wake up with sleepy eyes.

Anyway, Li Xian was drunk, and a drunk person doesn’t even know what he has done.

After the wedding night, Princess Yongning refused to have sex with Li Xian, claiming that she had caught a cold. She couldn't use these methods every day, as she was always afraid of being exposed. If someone found out that she was pregnant, she didn't know if she could keep the baby.

Princess Yongning originally thought that Li Xian would be unhappy or suspicious, but this eldest son Li was indeed as good-tempered as rumored, and he did not question anything. He slept in the study every night.

This made Princess Yongning even more satisfied. The baby in her belly would be almost two months old in a few days. At that time, she just needed to pretend to be unwell and let the doctor take her pulse, and then postpone the time and say that she was conceived on the night of the wedding, and she would be able to rest assured for the time being.

Today, Li Xian went to court again early in the morning. Princess Yongning finished the last plum on the plate, stood up and said, "It's boring to stay in the house all the time. Meixiang, come with me for a walk."

Meixiang hurried over and supported Princess Yongning as they walked out of Li's mansion.

The servants of the Li Mansion all bowed to her when they saw her. Princess Yongning's status in the Right Prime Minister's Mansion can be said to be very high. I don't know if Prince Cheng had informed Li Zhongnan in advance, but in short, being in the Right Prime Minister's Mansion is no different from being in the Princess' Mansion. Princess Yongning doesn't even have to go to her mother-in-law every morning and evening, as long as she can keep up appearances.

Princess Yongning didn't bother to please anyone. She thought that her time in the Right Prime Minister's Mansion was only temporary, and one day, she would marry into the Shen family and become a member of the Shen family. Therefore, there was no need to waste energy in the Li family.

"Which direction do you want to go, Your Highness?" Meixiang asked.

Princess Yongning took a look and pointed in a direction. "That's over there. I heard that Li Xian usually lives there. I have been sleeping in a separate room from him these days, but he has no complaints. Could it be that I have already taken in a concubine in the other room? If that's true, she should come and see me, his legal wife."

Princess Yongning's eyes flashed with malice. She didn't want to be Li's grandmother, but once she had this title, she loved to use it to torture others. Now that Li Xian and she slept in separate rooms, Princess Yongning wanted to see if Li Xian had already had someone else warming his bed with him, as he acquiesced. If so, she wouldn't mind giving those women a good beating. Since she was unhappy about this marriage, she would find ways to make others unhappy.

Anyway, no one else dared to say anything, not even Li Xian. They were just some lowly slaves. Could he really be disrespectful to himself for the sake of those slaves?

With this thought in mind, Princess Yongning and Meixiang walked towards the courtyard where Li Xian usually lived.

Hearing that the courtyard where Li Xian lived was quite remote, Princess Yongning really felt it this time. After walking for a while, she felt a little tired. She didn't know if it was because of her heavy body now. Meixiang supported her and walked, and finally she arrived, and said, "Your Highness, we are here."

The courtyard was indeed very elegant, with a large patch of bamboo planted behind it, looking lush and green. It was just very quiet, with no one sweeping the floor outside.

"Does Mr. Li usually have no one to serve him?" Meixiang whispered, "Why can't I see even a servant here?"

"How is it possible?" Princess Yongning also felt strange. She thought about it, raised her eyebrows, and said, "Maybe he is hiding a mistress in the golden house. Let's go in and take a look."

"Will Master Li be angry if I rush in like this? What if there is any secret inside..." Meixiang was still hesitating. Yongning glared at her and said, "Why should he be angry? I married into their family, so I can see everything. Besides, what if there is a secret? Do you want to hide it from me? The more you want to hide it, the more I want to see clearly what the Li family is planning behind the scenes!" As she spoke, she pushed Meixiang aside and went in.

Meixiang was helpless. Princess Yongning had restrained her temper for a while before she knew she was pregnant. But now that she was married to the Li family and her wedding night passed peacefully, her temper showed up again. She didn't know how to bow her head and was even more flamboyant than before.

Meixiang followed him in, only to see Princess Yongning standing at the door with a frown on her face, but she didn't go in. Meixiang looked inside and saw that it was a study-like room, but there was a bed inside. It was surprisingly spacious, comparable to a large courtyard on weekdays. In here, food, clothing and daily life were not a problem.

But this was not surprising. What was surprising was that there were so many people in the room. They were all young boys or children. Judging from their clothes, they looked like servants who were well dressed. They were all pretty and frail.

Princess Yongning frowned. She was surprised to find no maids in the room. She looked at the child standing closest to her. The child looked only eight or nine years old. He stared at Princess Yongning and the others blankly, as if he didn't know them. He didn't greet them or speak. She didn't know if he was a fool.

"Who are you?" Princess Yongning asked him.

The child was still staring at her in a daze, saying nothing. Princess Yongning was about to get angry when another older boy suddenly pulled the child over, pointed at his mouth and shook his head.

"Your Highness, they seem to be mute." Meixiang noticed.

"Mute?" Princess Yongning was stunned and looked at the other people in the room. There were about ten children in the room. They just stared at them blankly without saying anything. Princess Yongning suddenly understood where the strange feeling she had just felt after entering the room came from. It was because the room was too quiet. There were so many people, but no sound was made. Isn't this very strange?

"Are these people not all mute?" Princess Yongning asked with a frown.

The boy holding the child nodded sharply.

"It's true." Meixiang said.

"What is Li Xian doing with so many mutes here?" Princess Yongning touched her arm. "It's creepy."

"Perhaps these are servants. You see, they are all wearing servants' clothes. Oh, right," Meixiang said, "I suddenly remembered that Master Li is very kind and took in some orphans who have no parents. I didn't think of it before, but now seeing these servants are not very old, they are very likely the orphans adopted by Master Li."

Princess Yongning sneered: "So, Li Xian is a good man? But how come all the orphans he adopted are dumb? Could it be that he was poisoned and became dumb?"

Mei Xiang paused and said softly, "Every household has many secrets. Since this is a study, I think there are many important things hidden in it. Maybe Master Li made these people mute in order to prevent these secrets from being discovered."

It was clearly a very vicious thing, but the master and servant spoke of it as if it was commonplace. Princess Yongning said, "Only the dead can keep secrets. If you really don't want to be discovered, just kill these people. Why keep them? Or you shouldn't bring them back to the palace at all. I think this Li Xian is a fool."

Meixiang didn't say anything. She was just a maid and couldn't talk about her master.

"Forget it. Since there are not many women here, it's not comfortable to stay here. Let's go." Princess Yongning glanced at the young boys again and said, "If he wants to be a good person, let him do it. Anyway, I'm not the stupid one."

Meixiang and Yongning left the house. The house was still quiet. After the door was closed, it seemed as if no one was inside. But in fact, there were people in the house. Thinking of these people working and moving silently in the house, Princess Yongning felt a chill all over her body. Suddenly, she felt nauseous in her chest. She quickly walked to the tree in the yard and vomited while holding the tree trunk.

"Your Highness!" Meixiang screamed. Princess Yongning stretched out her hand to her: "Medicine!"

Meixiang took out the medicine from her sleeve and gave it to Princess Yongning. Princess Yongning leaned against the tree to rest for a while before saying, "The reaction is getting worse and worse. In a few days, you can ask the doctor to come and tell Li Xian that I am pregnant and it's not even a month yet."

Meixiang nodded in agreement.

"These days, Shen Lang has not come to see me..." Princess Yongning said, her tone becoming sad again, "He doesn't care about his own child and lets me marry into the Li family. If the truth is revealed, he will also be implicated."

Meixiang was just about to say a few words of comfort when she suddenly heard a crisp sound of something falling from the wall. Princess Yongning turned her head and asked, "Who?" Meixiang had already quickly chased after her. The person hiding behind the wall was probably also in a panic and fell down before he could run a few steps. He was soon dragged to Princess Yongning by Meixiang.

"Who are you? How dare you eavesdrop on my conversation!" Princess Yongning said angrily.

"Your Highness, please spare me," the woman said in panic, "I didn't hear anything! I didn't mean to do that. I just walked to the wall and sprained my ankle!"

"Your Highness?" Princess Yongning was stunned. She looked at the woman carefully. She didn't look like a servant and her face was very familiar. She couldn't think of her for a moment. Meixiang's eyes lit up and she said, "Your Highness, this is Miss Jiang San from the Prime Minister's Mansion!"

Third Miss Jiang? Jiang Youyao!

Jiang Youyao was horrified. She was already extremely upset because she said the word "servant" in a hurry. Now her identity was discovered by the maidservant beside Princess Yongning. She really didn't know what to do.

"Jiang Youyao?" Princess Yongning also remembered and asked, "Why are you in the Li family?"

Meixiang approached Princess Yongning and said, "A few days ago, I heard from Lord Jingzhao Yin that the third young lady of the Jiang family is missing, and Prime Minister Jiang is looking for her everywhere, but for the sake of Third Young Lady Jiang's reputation, it was not publicized."

Princess Yongning suddenly realized: "Could it be that you have an affair with someone? Are you someone Li Xian keeps in his mansion?"

Jiang Youyao was shocked. She knew that Princess Yongning and Li Xian were married now. If they thought she was a vixen who seduced Li Xian, they would probably use drastic measures. So she quickly denied it and said, "I don't know Mr. Li. I was harmed by someone outside. Thanks to Mr. Li's help, Mr. Li took me back home to recover."

"Return to the mansion to recuperate?" Princess Yongning said with a smile, "Why don't you return to the Jiang Mansion to recuperate? I'm afraid you are doing something shameful in the name of recuperation?"

Her words were so harsh, but Jiang Youyao didn't dare to refute. This was in the Li family, not the Jiang family, and no one could protect her. And the other party was Princess Yongning, the arrogant and domineering person.

"Your Highness, this girl cannot stay." Mei Xiang whispered, "She just heard me talking to Your Highness..."

Jiang Youyao was so frightened when she heard this that she trembled like a sieve: "I didn't hear anything! I didn't hear anything!" She was so frightened that her soul flew away, and she cried bitterly in her heart. Today, she had an argument with the maids in Li Lian's courtyard, and she went out in anger, thinking of walking around outside Li Xian's courtyard. Who knew that as soon as she arrived, she saw Princess Yongning and her maid coming out of Li Xian's study. Princess Yongning seemed to be very uncomfortable, holding on to a tree and retching, and then she heard the conversation between Princess Yongning and her servant.

She was terrified when she learned of this huge secret and wanted to escape immediately. However, the more anxious she was, the more mistakes she made. She stepped on a stone and fell to the ground. She was discovered by Princess Yongning and Meixiang. "I didn't hear anything... um..." Jiang Youyao couldn't say the next word because Meixiang blocked her mouth with something and twisted her arm.

Following Princess Yongning, Meixiang also knows some kung fu. Although she is not the best, she is more than enough to deal with a weak young lady like Jiang Youyao. Jiang Youyao struggled desperately, but could not move. She could only look at Princess Yongning with a pair of sad eyes.

"Only the dead can keep secrets," Princess Yongning said unmoved, "Who told you to wash away everything you shouldn't have heard? Miss Jiang San, even if it's for me, you should leave first."

"Your Highness," Meixiang said, "Jiang Youyao is the daughter of the Prime Minister after all. She is no ordinary maid. If something happens to her, I'm afraid it will be difficult to deal with the aftermath."

Princess Yongning said unhappily, "Why? Are you saying that I don't even have the ability to deal with a maid?"

"I dare not." Meixiang continued, "But the Jiang family has not given up looking for Jiang Youyao. If Jiang Yuanbai knew that Jiang Youyao's death was related to Your Highness, I'm afraid he would try his best to find something against Your Highness. Your Highness now has a little son..." If Jiang Yuanbai found evidence that Princess Yongning was pregnant, then it would be a waste of time if he made a fuss about the child in Yongning's belly.

Princess Yongning's eyebrows flashed with annoyance, "Can't we kill her? Should we keep her?"

"Your Highness, why not send her to the private prison first." Mei Xiang said, "Your Highness's private prison has already housed many people. Miss Jiang San will not be discovered if she lives there. Besides, just like the dumb children in Mr. Li's room, feed Miss Jiang San a mute pill and lock her up in the private prison. After a year or two, the Jiang family will no longer look for Jiang Youyao, and then you can send her on her way."

Jiang Youyao clearly heard Meixiang's story of her fate, and immediately shed two lines of tears. She was extremely frightened and suddenly regretted that she would have stayed at the Jiang family. At least in the Jiang family, she was still the third lady, and no one dared to abuse her. If she had not left the Jiang family that night, she would not have met Li Lian on the road, and if she had not met Li Lian, she would not have been taken to the Right Prime Minister's Mansion. If she had not been in the Right Prime Minister's Mansion, she would not have seen Princess Yongning, learned Princess Yongning's secret, and was silenced. Even if she died, no one would know, and no one would collect her body!

Oh, Li Lian! She still has Li Lian! Jiang Youyao's heart suddenly lit up with hope. As long as Li Lian comes back and finds that she is missing, he will definitely look for her everywhere. When Li Lian knows that she was taken away by Princess Yongning, he will definitely ask Princess Yongning for help. Li Lian can save her!

But the next moment, what Princess Yongning and Meixiang said was like a basin of cold water, which extinguished Jiang Youyao's hope completely with a "puff".

Princess Yongning said, "Jiang Youyao is now Li Lian's person. If we take her away, Li Lian will probably come to ask for her back."

"Not necessarily." Mei Xiang smiled and said, "Jiang Youyao is staying at the Li family now. No one outside knows about it, and the Jiang family probably doesn't know about it either. It seems that Prime Minister Li is also kept in the dark. The one taken away by His Highness was just an ordinary maid, not Jiang Youyao. The Second Young Master Li dared not acknowledge Jiang Youyao's identity and could only acquiesce. Your Highness is a princess, and it would be easy for her to punish an ordinary maid. The Second Young Master Li would not bother with the princess, and would even thank her for helping him tidy up the backyard."

"What you said makes sense." Princess Yongning relaxed her brows. "An elder sister-in-law is like a mother. He should thank me."

Jiang Youyao was completely desperate, she knew she had no chance of survival. When the Li family men were away, Princess Yongning was in control of the Right Prime Minister's Mansion. They blocked her mouth and called a maid. What awaited her was to be sent to the unknown and terrible "private prison".

……

At night, Princess Yongning had just finished her dinner when Meixiang came in and said, "Your Highness, Mr. Li is waiting for you outside. He has something to tell you."

Princess Yongning knew that Li Lian was asking her for someone. Jiang Youyao had been sent to the private prison of the princess's mansion. Princess Yongning had already prepared for it, knowing that Li Lian would not be able to do anything to her in the end. She put on her outer robe leisurely and walked out.

Outside, Li Lian was sitting at the table waiting for her. When he saw her come out, he stood up and bowed, saying, "Sister-in-law."

Hearing this title, Princess Yongning couldn't help but frowned, which reminded her that she was the grandmother of the Li family, not "Mrs. Shen." Princess Yongning smiled and said, "Second brother, why are you here so late?"

Li Lian said, "I heard that my sister-in-law passed by my yard today, saw my...maid Xiaoyao, and took her away."

"Oh, Xiaoyao," Princess Yongning deliberately dragged out the word "Yao," looked at Li Lian's nervous expression, smiled, and said, "That's right. This maid didn't have eyes. She didn't even show respect to me, and even spoke badly to me. So I took the opportunity to discipline the maid for you. Second brother has a kind heart, but you can't indulge the maids in the mansion to look down on the master. How can that be disgraceful."

She spoke absentmindedly, which made Li Lian angry. No matter how stupid Jiang Youyao was, she would not take the initiative to offend Princess Yongning. Princess Yongning was just relying on the fact that Jiang Youyao was not around, and she could throw dirty water on her as much as she wanted.

Li Lian forced a smile and said, "Excuse me, sister-in-law, where is Xiaoyao now?"

Princess Yongning glanced at Li Lian and said with a smile, "That maid is so evil. I think a maid like Xiaoyao cannot stay in the mansion. She will be a nuisance if she stays, so I asked a human trafficker to sell her. There is no indenture, so she is almost given away for free. That human trafficker doesn't look like a native of Yanjing, so maybe he has been sent out of the city now."

Li Lian's heart shuddered as he looked at Princess Yongning. He didn't know whether what Princess Yongning said was true or false, nor did he know whether Princess Yongning recognized Jiang Youyao's identity, and he didn't know how Jiang Youyao had offended Princess Yongning - there was no one else in the yard at the time, so he didn't know what had happened.

Li Lian didn't know what to do. Others didn't know, but he knew that she was Jiang Yuanbo's biological daughter, but something happened to her in their Li family. If the news got out, he would be implicated.

Princess Yongning said nonchalantly, "Don't be so sad, my second brother. She is just a low-ranking maid. Since she has been sold, she will never return to Yanjing City in this life. I don't take this matter seriously, and I hope you don't hold a grudge against me. No one cares about the life and death of a maid. You don't have to worry about the maid's revenge. I will not give her a chance to retaliate."

Li Lian was startled and looked up at Princess Yongning. Princess Yongning's words clearly meant that she already knew Jiang Youyao's identity and told him not to be frightened and would not give the Jiang family a chance to discover the truth or retaliate against him.

"How is it, second brother?" Princess Yongning looked at him with a smile, "You won't be angry with me because of a lowly maid, right?"

Li Lian said hurriedly, "How could that be? I can't thank you enough for helping me teach the maid a lesson. Apart from my mother, from now on, all matters of our family will be handled by you. If you encounter a bad servant who bullies his master, please help discipline him."

Li Lian was a man who knew how to deal with current events. Princess Yongning was very satisfied with him. She smiled and talked to Li Lian for a few more words before returning to her room.

After Li Lian waited for Princess Yongning to return to the house, he paused and then slowly walked out.

He thought it through. Princess Yongning had already promised that if Jiang Youyao was seen again, no one would know about it. No one knew that Jiang Youyao had been in his house. The Li family just dealt with a low-ranking maid.

King Cheng's rebellion was imminent. After success, the Li family would be honored and favored. They could not offend Princess Yongning. Whatever she wanted to do, she could do as she pleased.

When Li Lian walked out the door, he almost bumped into someone. He stopped and looked, and it turned out to be Li Xian.

Li Xian looked at him and asked, "Have you made yourself clear?"

Li Lian nodded: "It is said that it was sold." Li Xian also learned about what happened today. After all, the first place Princess Yongning went to was Li Xian's yard. It was in Li Xian's yard that she saw Jiang Youyao.

"It's okay, let her do as she pleases." Li Lian patted Li Xian's shoulder, "Do you want to go in?"

Li Xian nodded.

Li Lian said, "Then don't make her angry." and walked out the door.

Princess Yongning sat on the couch. After walking around Li Xian's courtyard today, she felt her legs and feet aching. She wanted Meixiang to bring her some sour preserved fruit, but she heard Meixiang say at the door, "Young Master."

She looked up and saw Li Xian walked in.

Princess Yongning was unhappy in her heart, but her face remained calm. She said, "You are here. I am not feeling well today, so I am sorry I cannot welcome you."

Li Xian said: "It's okay, Princess, just sit down."

The conversation between the two of them really didn't seem like that of a couple, they weren't even friends. Even strangers might be more natural than them, instead of acting as if they were facing an enemy like they were now.

Li Xian asked, "Did the princess go to my yard today?"

Princess Yongning asked, "You are not here for my second brother's maid, are you?"

"She is just a maid, the princess can do whatever she wants with her." Li Xian smiled and shook his head, saying, "I heard that the princess entered my room."

"Yes," Princess Yongning said, "I saw a room full of mutes."

Li Xian's expression changed slightly, but his tone was still gentle, and he said: "Those are the orphans I adopted."

"Are you a good person or a bad person?" Princess Yongning sneered, "You adopted orphans and poisoned them to make them mute. Those orphans are unlucky. If you don't want people to discover the Li family's secret, you might as well kill them all. Why keep them as trouble?"

Hearing this, Li Xian was a little stunned, but soon, he seemed to be relieved and smiled, "It's really a helpless move. I'm sorry to make you laugh, Princess."

Princess Yongning didn't say anything. Li Xian stood up. She felt a little nervous. If Li Xian wanted to sleep with her, she would have to use the excuse that she was not well again, but she couldn't help being suspicious.

However, to her surprise, Li Xian did not come closer, but just said to Princess Yongning: "Princess, you are not well yet, I will not disturb your rest." He walked out in a leisurely manner.

Princess Yongning was a little stunned.

Li Xian walked out of the house, his steps suddenly brisker, he even smiled a little, and murmured in a low voice: "I didn't even notice... What a fool."

(End of this chapter)