Meng Jiangming did not immediately return to the Ningguo Duke's mansion. He sent the young servant back and went to the Wanjun Restaurant.
Pushing open the private room door with one hand, he saw Zhao Yanluo. Meng Jiangming, disregarding his appearance, plopped down and quickly poured himself a cup of tea. He drank several cups before his stomach felt a little better.
"Quickly have them bring the golden thread candied dates for this young master. This young master needs to calm his nerves," Meng Jiangming said.
Zhao Yanluo was quite surprised by this and asked, "You usually detest sweet things the most. What's gotten into you today? Suddenly craving them?"
Meng Jiangming said impatiently, "Don't worry about all that. Just bring them for me."
Zhao Yanluo heard this and instructed someone to go. Soon, the golden thread candied dates were served.
Meng Jiangming quickly stuffed several into his mouth. Although he hated sweets, compared to the tea at the Princess's mansion which tasted like horse urine, he'd rather eat these sweet treats.
Zhao Yanluo watched Meng Jiangming continuously shove golden thread candied dates into his mouth and couldn't help but shake his head. "Unbelievable, unbelievable. What kind of stimulus has the young master experienced?"
Meng Jiangming raised his eyes, "You're the one who's stimulated."
"Then why do you want to eat something you normally dislike today?"
"This young master wants to change his taste, can't he!" Meng Jiangming made an excuse.
Zhao Yanluo curled his lips, leisurely picked up the teacup on the table, looked at Meng Jiangming, and said, "It's certainly permissible for the young master to want to change his taste. But how is it that I heard the young master was helped out of the Princess's mansion? Could it be at the Princess's mansion..."
Meng Jiangming was startled and said angrily, "You... who told you that? When was this young master helped out of the Princess's mansion? Who spoke such nonsense? Find them quickly! This young master wants to ask their intentions. Why are they trying to sow discord between this young master and Princess Xingyue?"
Zhao Yanluo chuckled, "Please don't be angry, young master. I don't know who said it, but I just heard someone downstairs talking about it."
"Who was that person? This young master will meet them personally. Who do they think they are, interfering with this young master's affairs? Have they got the guts of a bear and the heart of a leopard?"
Meng Jiangming stood up abruptly and walked towards the door.
As Meng Jiangming reached the door, Zhao Yanluo spoke, "That person has already left, young master."
Hearing this, Meng Jiangming returned with a flick of his sleeve, "You'd better not let this young master know who it was, or I'll skin them alive."
"Young master, please calm down." Zhao Yanluo poured a cup of tea for Meng Jiangming.
Meng Jiangming accepted it without politeness and drank it in one gulp. After drinking, he frowned and asked, "Zhao Yanluo, what tea did you give me? Why is it so bitter?"
Zhao Yanluo looked up at Meng Jiangming and said, "Young master, I saw you were quite agitated, so I brewed some lotus seed heart tea. Lotus seeds clear heat and reduce fire, but they are a bit bitter."
Meng Jiangming said, "This young master is not agitated and doesn't need to clear heat or reduce fire."
Zhao Yanluo smiled faintly and remained silent.
Meng Jiangming felt that after drinking the lotus seed heart tea, instead of clearing heat and reducing fire, his agitation had only increased.
He stood up and walked out.
Zhao Yanluo asked, "Young master, where are you going?"
"Back to the mansion." Meng Jiangming left.
Zhao Yanluo curved his lips into a smile and said lightly, "Alright, he's gone."
Before his voice faded, a person walked out from behind the screen behind Zhao Yanluo.
He stood there in brocade robes, his slender figure exuding an elegant and transcendent aura.
Zhao Yanluo looked at the man standing there and said, "The young master has left. Why are you also leaving, Wuran?"
Ji Wuran nodded, "Yes, I bid farewell!"
Hearing this, Zhao Yanluo suddenly said, "Wuran, don't forget that Princess Xingyue is from the Xue Kingdom. You and she can never be together in the end."
Ji Wuran, who was at the door, suddenly stopped and his clear, cold voice drifted out, "Yanluo, you misunderstand. I have no relationship with Princess Xingyue. I simply do not wish to see Qi Yuming's plan succeed."
Zhao Yanluo said, "That is for the best. I only hope that the final position will be yours."
"We have different paths and cannot conspire together. That day will never come between Princess Xingyue and me."
With that, Ji Wuran left.
Zhao Yanluo sighed softly, "I hope so!"
Anhe Palace
Jiang Xiuyi knelt carefully before Noble Consort An, afraid of angering her with even the slightest mistake.
"Jiang Xiuyi, you are truly inept at accomplishing anything and only good at ruining things," Noble Consort An said coldly.
Jiang Xiuyi quickly kowtowed and said, "Your Highness, please forgive this servant. This servant did not expect so many assassins to suddenly appear."
Noble Consort An asked, "Do you recognize those assassins?"
Jiang Xiuyi shook her head, "How would this servant recognize those assassins?"
Noble Consort An frowned slightly and looked at Jiang Xiuyi with some impatience, "You may go. Seeing you makes this consort uncomfortable."
Jiang Xiuyi bit her lower lip and said, "This servant takes her leave!"
After leaving Noble Consort An's chambers, Jiang Xiuyi breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't want to return to her lodging, as she had to share it with other palace maids, which she disliked.
Walking unconsciously, she got lost. She couldn't find her way back and became flustered. Recalling her recent experiences, she couldn't help but crouch down and burst into tears.
"Which palace are you from? Why are you crying here?" a voice came. Jiang Xiuyi quickly looked up and saw a stern face.
She was startled, instinctively took a step back, and asked, "You... who are you?"
"Presumptuous! I am asking you a question!" the man said coldly.
"You... why are you so fierce?" Jiang Xiuyi asked with tear-filled eyes.
The man was taken aback. Seeing the woman before him, who looked like a pear blossom in the rain, he softened slightly and asked, "What are you doing here? Don't you know that no one is allowed to linger here?"
"How was I supposed to know? Besides, I'm lost and don't know which way to go," Jiang Xiuyi said, biting her lip and choking back sobs.
"Where are you going?" the man asked.
"How do I get to Anhe Palace?"
The man said, "Keep walking straight to your right, and turn left when you reach the rockery."
"Thank you!" Jiang Xiuyi bowed and ran off.
Hearing this, the man couldn't help but curve his lips.
"Fengjing, what are you doing? How dare you abandon your post?" Eunuch Wei walked over and said displeasedly.
Fengjing quickly bowed, "This subordinate deserves punishment. This subordinate will go and receive it."
"Forget it," Eunuch Wei waved his hand and said, "No one saw. Let this be the last time. Hurry back to your post."
"Yes, thank you, Eunuch." Fengjing clasped his fists and left.
"Fengjing, where did you go just now? Fortunately, Eunuch Wei didn't see you, or you'd be in trouble." A guard on duty said.
Fengjing replied, "A young palace maid got lost just now, and I was helping her find her way, so I was delayed." "A palace maid got lost? She must be new! What does she look like? Is she pretty? Otherwise, why would our Imperial Guard Fengjing, Guard Feng, be bothered?"