Chapter 358: Chapter 357: It’s Exactly Something She Would Do
Soon, the main character of this event at the Zou Residence, held by the Second Old Lady Zou, was carried out. The child’s eyes were wide open, and he was not shy at all. He was smiling the whole time. Drool was dribbling down. The crowd surrounded him and started showering him with compliments.
"It’s no surprise that he is Lord Minister’s cherished grandson; those eyes are so spirited. Surely, he will be as successful as his grandfather in the future."
This compliment extended to Zou Wei as well.
"A child who smiles so much is definitely blessed. If you look closely, it’s remarkable - he somewhat resembles his aunt."
The aunt being none other than the Empress herself.
It is known that Crown Prince Ji Zhui also resembles his mother.
No sooner had Empress Zou been mentioned than a commotion broke out nearby. As several people turned to look, they saw Crown Prince Ji Zhui, adorned in a python robe, stepping forward.
His features were delicate and feminine, yet at this moment, he was marred by pride from the equinox. Zou Wei followed behind, laughing heartily, free from the recent disgrace at Jinluan Hall. Behind him trailed a cluster of younger members of the Zou Family.
"Court affairs are busy, my mother could not leave them, I hope uncle understands."
Zou Wei hurriedly expressed his unworthiness.
The Empress could not come, but the gifts had been sent early. They were all rare items, enough to make anyone envious.
This was indeed giving full face.
"Empress Dowager has just returned to the palace and is not yet fully recovered. The Empress has to attend to her illness, and being the head of the six palaces, she has her responsibilities, heavier than anyone else’s. Thankfully, the nanny serving the Empress is considerate, originally serving your maternal grandmother. With her care in the palace, I am reassured."
Upon Ji Zhui’s arrival, everyone promptly paid their respects.
Seeing this, Ji Huo clicked his tongue: "Bad luck."
The pomp was indeed grand.
Everyone’s attention was on the child while Yingwu had already followed Ji Shimin into the back quarters.
This was the courtyard where Ji Shimin stayed every time she visited her maternal family.
As soon as the palace maid entered the room, her gaze fell on a middle-aged, plump man in the corner, who was ugly and wrapped in mud, rubbing his hands obsequiously.
"Is this the one?"
The maid, who was supposed to be punished earlier, now stood unharmed and bowed slightly.
"Yes."
Seeing the maid’s disdainful expression, the slave girl hurriedly approached and said.
"This man is called Li San, a ruffian notorious for his trickery. His life is entirely in the hands of my mother now, and he can be used."
The palace maid then felt somewhat satisfied.
"Your mother handles things well; the master trusts her completely."
Speaking haughtily, the maid then disdainfully said.
"Do you understand what you need to do?"
Li San hurriedly nodded and bowed: "I know, I know. They explained everything to me beforehand."
"Rest assured, I originally come from a theatrical troupe; acting is my forte. I’ll make sure everything goes smoothly and perfectly."
The palace maid nodded her head.
"If you handle it well, you’ll surely be rewarded. But if you mess up, consider whether your life is worth anything."
The palace maid snorted arrogantly. This place was not suitable for staying long, but before leaving, she did not forget to remind him.
"Remember, as soon as someone falls into the water, the drama begins. You must make everyone aware that you have an affair with her, and the master wants that person ruined completely."
Li San assured: "You can absolutely trust me."
He even felt secretly pleased.
From that, he knew it involved a noble lady.
If he handles this well, he might even gain a wife.
The noble ladies in Shengjing were unreachable but here Li San found such an opportunity!
The palace maid quickly left.
The people who are present would do well to believe it, but if they don’t, as soon as the rumor spreads from the Zou Residence, it will become the truth.
The girl’s reputation cannot be tarnished; even the slightest blemish may make survival in this world extremely difficult.
Besides, in the end, if it were traced back to the Princess, could Marquis Cui, who is most loyal to Emperor He, really turn against the Imperial Family over a mere cousin?
That’s absolutely impossible.
It’s just her bad luck.
When a person has bad luck and still acts arrogantly, it’s all deserved even if they die.
During the spring hunt, if she had just honestly been bitten by a snake, that would have been it, but she had to be too clever by half, scaring the Princess out of her wits. Otherwise, why would the Princess harbor such resentment?
Yingwu listened intently. His face solemn, he quickly returned to relay the matter without omitting a single word.
Upon hearing the return of Yingwu, Xie Xun left the scene promptly to head towards Shen Hua, and upon learning the matter, he crushed the teacup in his hand.
A cold, mocking light flickered in Cui Yun’s eyes, ridiculing the presumptuousness.
"That does seem like something she would do."
"What do you mean by that?" Xie Xun asked.
In reality, his impression of Ji Shimin was very faint, part of the true memories of Xie Xun that he did not possess.
"Since she became part of the Empress’s entourage, she has been spoiled since childhood. Her previous departure from the palace was not really due to illness."
All that talk about her being frail and needing rest was false. It just so happened that the imperial family had all the servants who knew the truth silenced. They thought they had concealed it thoroughly.
"Does the Princely Heir know of the Yuan Family of Chen County?"
The Yuan Family of Chen County is also a famous clan in Da Qi. Before the founding of the nation by the Grand Ancestor Emperor, he was once severely injured and fell into despair outside, only to be saved by the benevolence of the ancestors of the Yuan Family.
The Yuan Family enjoyed considerable prestige during the reign of Grand Ancestor Emperor.
But now the Yuan Family has completely secluded themselves from the world, with no trace of them seen for many years.
Naturally, Xie Xun is aware that ever since Ji Teng returned to Shengjing, he has been secretly searching for clues about the Yuan Family, believing that among the younger generations of the Yuan Family there is a wise and resourceful individual who has traveled all over, and he would personally invite him out of seclusion if there’s news.
That Cui Yun suddenly brought this up inevitably prompted deeper thoughts.
Xie Xun couldn’t help but recall his fragmented and incomplete impression of that branch of the Yuan Family.
Seven years ago, the most promising line of the Yuan Family, Grand Marshal Yuan, citing old age and confusion, resigned and took the entire Yuan Family with him. It was a sensation at the time, and it was only after this that the Grand Commandant position fell to a close relative of Empress Zou from the Tang Family.
Some said the Yuan Family carried themselves with a free spirit, while others believed it was because the most cherished granddaughter of Grand Marshal Yuan had passed away, and he no longer wanted to stay in a place of sorrow.
Xie Xun felt as if he caught something, and he suddenly looked towards Cui Yun.
Marquis Cui nodded.
"The young girl of the Yuan Family was harmed by her."
It is known that at that time, Ji Shimin was only ten years old.
Merely because of some quarrels, a dagger was thrust and blood spattered three feet.
Murder by the offsprings of the Imperial Family really isn’t a big deal,
Even among the women in big households, how many of their hands are free from blood?
At that time, the Zou Residence was immensely powerful. Quickly, Ji Shimin was sent to a village to recuperate, which was merely a way to avoid suspicion.
But even in the village, Ji Shimin hasn’t been quiet over the years.
Xie Xun, usually gentle and modest, yet whenever something threatens the safety of Shen Hua, he cannot help but get angry.
He really couldn’t imagine, if the girl was really schemed against, he might risk a huge danger just to kill Ji Shimin.
Shen Hua had been silent all this time, maintaining one posture. Her expression was vacant, as if she was struck by shock from the conversation.
Just as Xie Xun was about to console her, he saw the girl reacting, furrowing her brows tightly, and with professionalism, she suddenly took out the rouge, looking at it from left to right, then bringing it closer to smell.
Shen Hua spoke to herself.
"This rouge is a new product, it’s very expensive, a small bottle costs one hundred taels, but it’s my first time using it, I don’t know if it’s waterproof or not."