Rui w.a.n.g Estate, in the main hall of the main compound..."Why is Chen w.a.n.g suddenly changing his mind?" When the report reaches the Marshal"s ears, he immediately asked his source about the young general"s sudden decision to join the convoy going to the east region.
Seated in front of him, Rui w.a.n.g creased his brow and also perked his ears to listen to what the messenger would say.
The masked man kneeling before the two said, "Grand Marshal, Your Highness Rui w.a.n.g, according to the hearsays, it"s the newly appointed Lady of Ping"An who wanted to go with the expedition. It"s been said the lady is confident of her medical skills and wants to contribute to the empire, therefore, she volunteered herself. Chen w.a.n.g only agreed to go after being persuaded by her to come with them and help General Tao to ensure there will be no mishaps to the members of the excursion."
The Emperor"s most favorite son snorted at the side, bringing down the cup of tea in his hand to the elegant patterned wooden table. The narrow slits of his eyes made the handsome but arrogant-looking prince more conceited when he looked at Jiang Ke and commented, "Look here, my father-in-law the Grand Marshal. The opponent who set fire in your courtyard yesterday is such a foolish man. Wherever the woman he fancies goes, he goes. Such a simple-minded opponent managed to reduce one of your manors into heaps of ashes?"
The Marshal waved a hand at his subordinate. Only after the man bowed and excused himself from them did he reply to Rui w.a.n.g with utter seriousness in his face.
"Your Highness. This one has no choice but to be blunt with you. I visited Your Highness to warn you about Chen w.a.n.g. Please don"t slight him nor underestimate him just because he had stayed longer outside of the capital than anybody else. You were also at the court earlier and saw what he could do."
Rui w.a.n.g"s eyes were watching the ripples on the tea. When he heard the older man"s words, a corner of his lips rose, his laughing eyes hiding some disdain, "Grand Marshal, are you referring to how he played with words in front of Father Emperor against you?"
The Marshal"s heart grew cold upon realizing that the man before him was really too stupid and too bigheaded. Nonetheless, since he was already in Rui w.a.n.g"s camp, he suppressed the urge to break the nearest furniture, and patiently explained,
"Your Highness. Please be reminded that Lu Ling is the head of the neutral side. However, when the Emperor earlier is heavily questioning the second prince about how he managed to get a hold of something even the Emperor had not heard of yet, the people from the neutral faction all went forward to say a few good words in Hai w.a.n.g"s favor."
It was impressive that even though Jiang Ke was in the middle of a glaring contest with Jiang Li earlier, he still managed to observe that. In reality, this information gave him quite a shock. He was alarmed. Nevertheless, he still managed to give the people around the idea that he didn"t see the signs. Now, he was reminding his patron since for him, the old fogies of the neutral faction siding with somebody was a big issue.
Unfortunately...
Rui w.a.n.g only replied, "Oh? Those few ministers?"
The prince raised his head and looked at his worrywart father-in-law with an expression asking, "What of it?"
Apparently, the most favored son of the Emperor did not put much thoughts into it. He was not that bothered. As someone already secretly penned by his father the Emperor as heir, why would he?
This was showing on Rui w.a.n.g"s face. And Jiang Ke saw this. He believed Rui w.a.n.g should at least do something. But since the other was clearly planning not to, he felt like the most idiotic thing he did in his entire life, apart from falling for Chen w.a.n.g"s trap yesterday, was siding this d.a.m.nable prince who would most likely die due to his arrogance before he could ascend the throne.
...
On the other side of the city, in the house next to Chen w.a.n.g Residence, Jiang Ying Yue was talking to her maids, discussing with them what their arrangements in the upcoming expedition would be.
Beforehand, she had been informed about the matter. It was Jiang Li himself who jumped over the wall separating their houses to tell her of this. Since she knew she would be posturing as a medic, she had her servants go to the different clinics to purchase all that she would be needing to play the part.
"Thankfully, I have just arrived in the capital. Given this reason, those who would hear about me ordering my people to buy some necessities should not suspect me," she muttered to herself as she watched the servants hauled boxes after boxes of herbs and medicine in the courtyard.Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.
When she sent Xiao Lu next door to deliver a message to Chen w.a.n.g, she was also thanking her lucky stars that she was taught some basic medical knowledge by that old witch.
Jiang Ying Yue thought of that person, was she doing okay at the borders by herself?
"Young Miss, we have everything sorted out," reported Xiao Lu at her. She remained staring out the west window, watching the setting sun.
"Xiao Lu." Jiang Ying Yue called out to the maid standing respectfully behind her. Her voice was as clear and soothing as the wind, hence the hint of sadness in it couldn"t be hidden. "Like His Highness, you"re aware of what I really am, what I went through, and what I will be doing in that place. So please tell me your honest opinion. Do you think that what I am currently planning to do is wrong?"
Her sudden question made the other girl"s eyes widened. After making sure there were no extra ears around, Xiao Lu hesitantly opened her mouth to ask, "Young Miss... I heard that Rui w.a.n.g is one of those in charge, is it about him?"
Jiang Ying Yue kept her silence. The servant didn"t dare say her opinion too. She was not Mao Hong who could openly utter bad things about the royalties.
Time pa.s.sed but the villainess did not speak anymore, seemingly lost in her thoughts. She reminisced everything she experienced since the day her mother died and her father somehow became somebody else. All that played in her mind were unpleasant images... rare were the good ones.
Even if she was now under Jiang Li"s wings and basking in his warmth and care, the dark memories wouldn"t go away, same with her heart that kept shouting for something. Revenge.
This trip to the region that would be struck by famine and drought would be her greatest opportunity. She was in awe how Lu Ling realized her thirst for justice and truth more than anyone else, but since he gave this chance to her, she wouldn"t let it pa.s.s!
She smiled as she engraved the red skies and floating clouds in her mind.
Right now, n.o.body looking at her expression should be able to tell that deep inside her, she was vowing to push those two, Rui w.a.n.g and his w.a.n.g fei, down the abyss. To let them taste what true despair was, the kind of despair at least three times greater than what she went through before.