Chapter 216: Heartache (1)
Having said that, she brought the wine cup to Jiang Ruan.
Jiang Ruan looked at her, smiled slightly, and did not take the wine she offered.
Jiang Quan’s face changed, suppressing the anger in his heart. Princess Ruan didn’t even accept her own half-sister’s wine, what would people say if this got out!
Jiang Li, with her head covered, couldn’t see the outside, only felt that the wine she offered was not taken by anyone for a long time, and couldn’t help feeling anxious. Just as she was about to speak, she heard another somewhat greasy male voice say, “Why doesn’t Princess Ruan of Hong’an accept her own sister’s wine? Is she unwilling?”
That voice was so vague, carrying some ambiguous and unclear meaning. Everyone looked at Princess Ruan, who was dressed in a light pink Yunyan brocade dress. Today, in order to distinguish herself from the bride, she didn’t dress as brightly as usual, looking much gentler. At this moment, she was smiling slightly, her skin was fairer than snow, making people think she was beautiful and graceful.
Seeing everyone’s gaze focused on Princess Ruan, Jiang Susu clenched her fists. Princess Ruan smiled slightly and reached out to take Jiang Li’s wine cup. There has always been a rule at the wedding banquet of the Great Jin Dynasty, the bride’s toast must be accepted, otherwise, it is disrespectful to the host family. Only by drinking the toast without leaving a drop, is it a blessing to the host family. Therefore, many people who don’t drink can’t refuse the bride’s toast at the wedding banquet.
Especially it’s the toast of a half-sister, if she doesn’t accept it, people will inevitably say that she, holding the ident.i.ty of the princess, is bullying her half-sister in the mansion.
Princess Ruan said with a smile that was not quite a smile, “Second sister, your words really moved this princess.”
Jiang Li’s hand trembled slightly, Jiang Dan saw it in her eyes, lowered her head and pretended not to know, but a pair of eyes in the crowd were shining with joy.
Princess Ruan took the cup, covered her face with her sleeve, drank the wine in the cup clean, and showed it to everyone. After that, she approached Jiang Li and said in a low voice, “Second sister, everyone is a witness, I drank every drop.”
Jiang Li also hurriedly drank all the wine, her voice was sweet and tender, “Big sister really loves her sister.”
“Good! Princess Ruan of Hong’an is really generous!” The greasy voice appeared again, Ye You came out from behind the people who were making a fuss, his eyes fixed on Princess Ruan, “Princess Ruan of Hong’an, a heroine.” A pair of lecherous eyes looked Princess Ruan up and down, the gaze was nauseating.
Ye You was ecstatic today. He had long coveted this beauty, and unexpectedly, it seemed as if the heavens were aiding him by providing an opportunity. His gaze shifted between the two empty wine cups on the tray and Jiang Ruan. He imagined the skin hidden beneath her clothes to be as enticing as it appeared. The thought of her exquisite body beneath him made Ye You swallow hard, his eyes growing increasingly unrestrained as he looked at Jiang Ruan.
Jiang Ruan, after one glance at this man, understood the vile intentions in his heart. She smiled coldly to herself and said, “I feel a bit dizzy, I need to get some fresh air,” before turning to leave the bridal chamber.
Jiang Dan studied the wine cups on the tray thoughtfully, a sudden smile lighting up her eyes with an ambiguous glint. Jiang Susu was left standing there, but as always, she managed to draw everyone’s attention back to her with just a few words.
After leaving the bridal chamber, Jiang Ruan headed straight out. The residence of the Left Minister of Health was indeed expansive. She had never been here in either her past or current life, and she felt a constriction in her throat. She had unintentionally ordered Tianzhu to switch her cup with Jiang Li’s, not expecting to still fall into the trap. She had barely touched the wine to her lips, but she already felt somewhat weak.
Upon reflection, there was only one explanation: both cups of wine on the tray were drugged. Even if she had switched them, the outcome would have been the same. Who else could have made such preparations but Ye You? And the one conspiring with Ye You had to be Jiang Li. Jiang Li, despite being naive and ignorant, considered herself clever, believing everyone else in the world to be as naive as she was. Her actions today were truly unscrupulous, but she was also being used by Ye You. However, Ye You was indeed audacious, daring to act so blatantly in broad daylight!
Yet, something about today’s events was strange. She didn’t dare stay in the bridal chamber for long as her head had already started to feel dizzy. But in this vast residence of the Minister of Health, why was there not a single servant to be found? The guests at the banquet seemed to have dispersed instantly, and she couldn’t find anyone.
Was the Minister of Health’s residence also involved in this matter? And why? Jiang Ruan quickened her pace, sensing something amiss behind her. Tianzhu, always more vigilant as an a.s.sa.s.sin, followed closely behind her. Tianzhu said, “Master, there are people ahead.” She paused, her expression unusually serious: “We’ve been ambushed.”
Jiang Ruan sneered. An ambush in the residence of the Left Minister of Health, aimed at her. Did the Left Minister of Health need to risk his official career for a lecherous prince? If something really happened, her reputation would be ruined, which was one thing, but the Empress Dowager would surely be furious, and those involved could not escape responsibility. However, looking at today’s events, it seemed that the Minister of Health’s residence might not be uninvolved.
Tianzhu suddenly removed her waistband, revealing a silver soft sword hidden underneath. Simultaneously, guards who looked like attendants sprang out from all sides. These guards looked very strange and did not seem like the attendants from the residence of the Left Minister of Health.
The leader commanded, “Kill this maid, but don’t harm the princess.” Before his words had fully left his lips, Tianzhu had already sprung into action. Her body was light, and in an instant, all they saw was a silver streak in the air. The person closest to Tianzhu suddenly bore a b.l.o.o.d.y mark on his neck and fell with a thud.
The guards were taken aback. They had initially thought she was just a maid with some martial arts skills, but they hadn’t expected her to be so ruthless in her attack. They lost a comrade as soon as she made her move. Naturally, these people were unaware that Tianzhu was a born a.s.sa.s.sin, and a hint of fierceness immediately appeared in their eyes. Without further ado, they charged towards Tianzhu.
At this moment, Jiang Ruan was cornered by Tianzhu and couldn’t escape on her own, primarily because the drug was too potent. She frowned slightly, sensing that she was overlooking something crucial. Today’s wedding banquet was clearly a trap set for her. Why would Ye You be so audacious, and what did he use to bribe such a powerful minister like the Left Minister of Health?
Were all the guests at this banquet really under Ye You’s command?
A guard noticed that the others were engaged in combat with Tianzhu, and quietly approached Jiang Ruan. When he leaped in front of Jiang Ruan, he whispered, “Princess, I’m sorry.” After uttering these words, he reached out to grab Jiang Ruan’s arm.
Jiang Ruan didn’t dodge, her expression surprisingly calm. She looked at the guard and asked, “Are you from Empress Chen?”
The guard stiffened, a hint of disbelief flashing in his eyes, and before he could respond, the next moment, his body slowly collapsed.
Everyone had yet to see Jiang Ruan’s move. They only saw the guard fall stiffly, and there was not a single wound on his body, except for a trace of blood slowly seeping from the corner of his mouth.
Seeing this, the other guards regarded Jiang Ruan with caution, greatly shocked. This seemingly ordinary maid was ruthless enough, but did the princess, who appeared to have no martial arts skills, also possess some kind of unique ability?
(End of the chapter)