After escorting Zhi Wan back to Yaoguang Pavilion, Nanny Fang returned to Lan Courtyard to report to Lady Wei.
"How did it go? Did everything go smoothly? Nothing bad happened, did it?" Lady Wei inquired.
Nanny Fang then recounted the events of the banquet at the Prince Mansion.
"...Given the circumstances, I was afraid the Miss would get the worst of it, so I went to the front courtyard of the Prince Mansion to find the Princely Heir. But he told not to worry, that soone would co to her aid. I didn’t understand his aning at the ti. It wasn’t until I returned to the banquet that I learned Princess Chang Le had arrived. She even sought justice for the Miss and punished that Miss Wang.
"Since her plot to harm the Miss failed, Madam, you should have seen it—that Commandery Princess from the Prince Gao Yang Mansion was so angry her face was practically twisted." Recalling the scene, Nanny Fang couldn’t help but laugh. "It was so satisfying!"
Hearing this, the knot of worry in Lady Wei’s chest loosened, and she finally let out a breath. She smiled. "I suppose that boy has so conscience after all, knowing enough to find soone to protect his cousin."
Nanny Fang paused, taken aback. "Madam, are you saying the Princely Heir was the one who invited Princess Chang Le?"
"I don’t know what strings he pulled, but Princess Chang Le’s appearance at the Prince Gao Yang Mansion must have sothing to do with him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said what he did to you," Lady Wei stated.
Nanny Fang nodded. "It seems the Princely Heir knew all along that Princess Chang Le would be going to the Prince Gao Yang Mansion."
"Mm." Lady Wei nodded, but then her expression turned cold as a thought occurred to her. "And those two ingrates who bite the hand that feeds them... seeing their own family being bullied and doing nothing but watch from the sidelines. I won’t forget this."
The two she spoke of were, of course, Lu Jinglan and Lu Lan.
"I used to think Miss Jinglan and the Fourth Miss were decent people," Nanny Fang added with a frown. "But after observing them today, I realize they’re completely two-faced. They were constantly undermining the Miss, both openly and behind her back."
"Lu Jinglan was never a kind soul. Only the Old Madam treasures her. I saw through her long ago. Years ago, the Old Madam wanted to place her under my na, to have take her as a sworn daughter. I refused. So the Old Madam put her under her own na instead, and that’s how Lu Jinglan undeservedly gained the title of a Miss of the Lu Family.
"If she had just kept to her place, I could have tolerated her. But she’s rotten to the core, lusting after people she has no right to, and now she even dares to target Wan’er. She can’t bla for what cos next," Lady Wei sneered. "And as for Lu Lan, if I’d known she was so petty and small-minded, I would have married her off to the Chen Family right alongside Lu Xin."
Nanny Fang offered so comfort, "Fortunately, neither of them dares to be too brazen. I will keep a close eye on them both."
Lady Wei nodded.
That evening, Zhi Wan brought the head ornant set to Lan Courtyard.
"Aunt, this is the gift from the Commandery Princess of the Prince Gao Yang Mansion. I can’t possibly wear so much jewelry. You should have it," Zhi Wan said, opening the case to show Lady Wei the contents.
Upon hearing this, Lady Wei bead. She looked down, examining each piece of jewelry in the case before praising, "They’re absolutely beautiful. I suppose today’s trip to the Prince Gao Yang Mansion wasn’t a total waste after all."
Zhi Wan smiled. "I’m glad you find them beautiful, Aunt." With that, she closed the case and motioned for Nanny Fang to take it to Lady Wei’s inner chamber.
Nanny Fang didn’t move, looking to Lady Wei for permission instead.
Lady Wei took Zhi Wan’s hand, exasperated but fond. "You silly girl, do you not plan on keeping any nice things for yourself?"
"I have. I’ve carefully kept all the wonderful things you’ve given , Aunt," Zhi Wan said earnestly.
Lady Wei chuckled, then her expression turned serious. "That’s very thoughtful of you, but you should keep these jewels for yourself. Your aunt has no shortage of jewelry—I have more than I could ever wear. After you get back from Yangzhou, I’m going to start looking for a husband for you. The more valuable things you have to your na, the more security you will have in the future."
Zhi Wan froze. "’Get back from Yangzhou’? What do you an?"
Lady Wei gently patted her head. "Didn’t I ntion it before?" she said lovingly. "Your parents’ death anniversary is coming up soon. You haven’t been to sweep their graves in so many years. You should go pay your respects and offer incense before you get married, so that they can rest in peace. I’ve already made all the arrangents. In a few days, I’ll take you back to Yangzhou myself."
Zhi Wan felt both touched and conflicted. She hadn’t expected that even though she had already declined the last ti they spoke of it, her aunt had gone ahead and made the arrangents anyway.
Since things had co to this, she didn’t refuse again. "Thank you, Aunt," she said, full of gratitude.
"Silly girl, what is there to thank for?" Lady Wei said, shaking her head.
After leaving Lan Courtyard, Zhi Wan went to the garden with Shuang’er.
Gazing up at the star-filled sky, she stood by the edge of the pond, lost in a daze.
She would be returning to Yangzhou in a few days, and a sudden wave of apprehension about the hocoming washed over her.
’I haven’t been back in so many years. I wonder how much Yangzhou has changed?’
’And my parents... Will they resent for not once visiting their graves to offer incense in all these years?’
Shuang’er had also heard Lady Wei’s words. Seeing the worry clouding her mistress’s features, she understood her thoughts and tried to comfort her. "Miss, the Master and Madam would never bla you. Please, put your mind at ease." Then, she adopted a deliberately lighthearted tone. "I wonder how Nanny Chen is doing. Are her children treating her with filial piety? She’ll be absolutely overjoyed to see you. Oh, and that pastry shop you loved so much, Miss—I wonder if it’s still in business?"
Hearing her talk about the people and places of Yangzhou, a faint smile finally touched Zhi Wan’s lips. "When we get to Yangzhou, we’ll go see Nanny, and we’ll check if that shop is still there."
Seeing the smile on her face, Shuang’er relaxed and laughed. "When Nanny sees you, she’ll probably faint from joy."
"We can’t have that. If that happens, Nanny’s two sons will surely bla ," Zhi Wan said with a laugh.
Thanks to Shuang’er’s lighthearted distraction, her mood lifted, and the pair started walking back.
"Miss, it’s the Princely Heir."
Shuang’er suddenly whispered a reminder as they passed a pavilion.
Zhi Wan looked up and, sure enough, saw Lu Zhan standing in the pavilion up ahead, his hands clasped behind his back.
’It’s so late. What is my cousin doing standing there?’
Though puzzled, Zhi Wan walked over.
"Cousin." She stopped outside the pavilion and curtsied.
Lu Zhan was lost in thought. When he heard her voice, he turned to see it was Zhi Wan and nodded. "Cousin, why are you still out so late?"
"I was just taking a walk. I’m on my way back now," Zhi Wan said.
Lu Zhan grunted in acknowledgnt and stepped out of the pavilion.
The mont he stepped out, Zhi Wan caught the scent of costics, and a flicker of surprise crossed her face.
The moonlight was bright, and Lu Zhan clearly saw the strange expression on her face. He paused. "What is it?"
Zhi Wan glanced at him quickly before lowering her head. "It’s nothing."
"Speak," Lu Zhan demanded, his brow furrowed and his tone sharp.
Zhi Wan jumped, startled. She twisted her handkerchief and said in a small voice, "Cousin, you sll of... perfu."
’And it’s quite strong, too!’
Zhi Wan added silently.
Lu Zhan: "..."
After a long mont, he said with perfect composure, "You’re mistaken."
Zhi Wan blinked. She wanted to say her sense of sll was very keen and that she wasn’t mistaken.
But when she t her cousin’s cool, indifferent eyes, she could only swallow her words.
"Yes, I suppose I must have been mistaken," she said ekly.
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