Zheng Shi hurried out with her two daughters-in-law to greet the guests, only to find Langui Mama already standing with Imperial Physician Liu, hands behind her back, in the main hall.
“Ah, it’s Langui Mama. I wonder what instructions the Empress Dowager has, to send you here in person.”
Even though Zheng Shi was the Lady of the Marquis of Changxin, she still spoke with utmost politeness to this favored confidante of the Empress Dowager.
Langui Mama, however, did not put on airs.
She bowed properly to Zheng Shi and her daughters-in-law, then relayed the Empress Dowager’s message, “…I ask Hou Furen to lead the way, so that this old servant and the Imperial Physician may visit the young lady.”
Zheng Shi dared not delay and quickly led them to the Listening Summer Pavilion.
Listening Summer Pavilion, where Yun Ran lived, was not far from the Garden.
At the entrance stood an Osmanthus Tree, its golden blossoms gleaming under the autumn sun, filling the air with a fragrant, delightful scent.
After crossing the courtyard and reaching the inner hall, Imperial Physician Liu took Yun Ran’s pulse through the Green Luo Curtain, while Langui Mama stood by with her hands tucked in her sleeves.
“It’s merely a high fever caused by a chill entering the body, nothing serious.”
Imperial Physician Liu looked over the prescription written by the Huichuntang dafu, only adding two more warming and restorative herbs before packing up his medicine box.
After thanking Imperial Physician Liu, Zheng Shi instructed her eldest daughter-in-law, Li Wanrong, to see him out.
Seeing that Langui Mama was still standing by the bed, asking Yun Ran about her health, Zheng Shi could only patiently wait by the side.
When the conversation between the two was nearly over, Zheng Shi interjected at the right moment, “It’s just that the child caught a chill from being greedy for cool air at night. Such a small matter, yet it has troubled Empress Dowager Taihou to inquire after her, truly making us feel uneasy.”
Langui Mama folded her hands and said, “After all, your young lady has been appointed as the Jing Wangfei by the Empress Dowager herself. How could the Empress Dowager not take her seriously?”
Zheng Shi replied, “Yes, yes, the Empress Dowager’s kindness is boundless. We are deeply grateful and overjoyed.”
After a slight pause, she looked at Langui Mama, “Mama, you must be tired from this trip. Please come to the front hall and have a cup of tea to refresh yourself.”
This was clearly an invitation to take her leave.
But Langui Mama merely smiled and said, “Let Hou Furen know, Empress Dowager Taihou holds your young lady in the highest regard. Upon hearing she was ill, she could barely eat her breakfast this morning before sending me over. The Empress Dowager also said that until the young lady and His Highness the Jing Prince are married, I am to stay at the Marquis’s Mansion to look after the young lady’s daily life, and teach her some palace etiquette.”
As she spoke, she pointed to several boxes stacked by the table, “See, I’ve even brought my clothes. I shall be troubling the household from now on, and ask Hou Furen for understanding.”
Zheng Shi had never expected that once Langui Mama came, she would not be leaving.
She had thought those boxes were all supplements and medicine bestowed by the Empress Dowager.
Having made her intentions clear, Langui Mama glanced at Yun Ran, who was still lying on the bed with an ice cloth on her forehead, and said to Zheng Shi, “The young lady has just taken her medicine and needs to rest quietly. I ask Madam and Third Young Madam to return first; this old servant will keep watch here.”
Zheng Shi/Qian Sijin: “…”
Only after being “invited” out of Listening Summer Pavilion did Qian Sijin stomp her foot in frustration, “This is simply too much! Anyone who didn’t know better would think this was her own home!”
Zheng Shi: “…”
Qian Sijin continued, “Mother, what does the Empress Dowager mean by this? Is she afraid we’ll mistreat Ranran, or afraid Ranran will run away, so she sent someone to watch her?”
Zheng Shi glanced back at her daughter’s courtyard and sighed, “Perhaps… the Empress Dowager is afraid as well.”
As for what she was afraid of, everyone knew in their hearts.
Inside Listening Summer Pavilion, Langui Mama had already taken charge of the small courtyard.
First, she instructed Qingling and the others to tidy up a side room for her, then had someone register and inventory all the supplements and gifts from the Empress Dowager.
After making the rounds, Langui Mama found that Yun Wuniangzi’s courtyard was lax and undisciplined, with not a trace of proper order.
This would not do.
With such a casual and undisciplined nature, how could she manage the household after marrying into the Jing Wang Residence?
Once Yun Wuniangzi recovered, Langui Mama resolved to properly teach her the rules, so she could look the part of a future mistress of the Wangfu.
As Langui Mama pondered this, she returned to the bedroom, only to see the sickly young lady poking her little head out from the bedside, peeking over at her.
As soon as their gazes met, the young lady shrank back like a shy mimosa.
Langui Mama: “…”
Composing herself, she walked to the bedside, “Does young lady have any instructions?”
Caught in the act, Yun Ran did not try to deny it.
She lifted her snow-white little face, curiously studying the stern-faced old mama in her autumn-hued palace dress, “I just think Mama looks a bit familiar.”
Langui Mama was taken aback, “Familiar?”
Yun Ran nodded, “Mama, you… you look a bit like my master.”
Langui Mama’s brows twitched slightly, “You mean your master from the Daoist temple in Yangzhou?”
Yun Ran replied, “Mm. Mama is like my master— always strict-faced, but with a soft heart. Even when I made mistakes, my master would scold me, but I knew she only did it for my own good.”
Hearing such words full of childlike admiration, Langui Mama found herself momentarily at a loss for words.
“Mama, are you free right now? If you are, would you sit and chat with me for a while?”
As Yun Ran spoke, she scooted over on the bed, patting the empty spot beside her.
Having served by the Empress Dowager’s side for many years, Langui Mama had met many noble daughters, but none had ever been so relaxed and casual with her, even taking the initiative to invite her for a chat.
This open and candid manner made Langui Mama feel a certain fondness, but she still remembered her place and brought over a stool to sit down.
“I wonder what the young lady would like to talk about?”
“Just anything,” Yun Ran leaned against her pillow, her dark eyes resting on the upright old mama. “Mama, have you always served at the Empress Dowager’s side?”
Langui Mama replied, “Yes, ever since the Empress Dowager first entered the palace, this old servant has served by her side.”
“That must have been a long time.”
Yun Ran nodded thoughtfully, then asked, “Then Mama, you must have met the Jing Prince, right?”
Langui Mama’s lips twitched, “Of course.”
As soon as she spoke, the young lady with her loose black hair sat up straight, eyes shining with expectation, “Then could Mama tell me about His Highness the Jing Prince? I’m going to marry him, but I know very little about him.”
Looking into those sparkling eyes, Langui Mama thought, perhaps even the coldest heart in the world could not refuse such a request.
And besides, she had no intention of refusing.
Clearing her throat, Langui Mama straightened her back and said solemnly, “Whatever the young lady wishes to know, just ask. This old servant will answer everything.”
At the same time, in the Jing Wang Residence.
In front of the courtyard gate bearing the “Liuxian Court” plaque, high walls loomed, with double iron gates tightly shut. A bleak autumn wind swept through, making the red maples by the moon gate tremble.
Suddenly, with a “click,” the outer gate opened. Chang Chun, dressed in a full suit of bamboo and rattan armor, slipped into the space between the two gates.
After locking the first gate behind him, he carefully opened the second.
Even after six years in the Wangfu, Chang Chun had to mentally prepare himself for a good while before mustering the courage to push open the second door.
No wonder, for behind the tightly guarded Liuxian Court truly lived over a hundred Willow Immortals—
There were black giant pythons coiled on the vines, emerald-green snakes hanging from branches, creamy-white little snakes sleeping behind the rockery, and, not to mention, the massive Snake Den in the center of the courtyard, teeming with hundreds of writhing snakes of all colors.
Unlike Chang Chun, who was armored from head to toe, the Jing Prince sat by the Snake Den in nothing but his usual clothes, completely unconcerned as he leaned lazily against the stone bench.
People all said that the Jing Prince was the reincarnation of a demon, ominous and inauspicious.
At this moment, whether he was auspicious or not was another matter; just by sitting quietly by the Snake Den, with his black hair and snow-white skin, dark brows and red lips, he truly fit the phrase, “like brocade blossoms, a demon’s beauty like jade.”
Once again, Chang Chun found himself captivated by his lord’s looks.
After a moment, he finally noticed the Jing Prince holding a pair of iron tongs, picking up a squirming Mouse Pup from a box.
Chang Chun: “…”
No matter how handsome a face, doing this kind of thing was hard to accept!
Suppressing his fear and disgust, he stepped forward carefully, “Your Highness.”
Sima Jing turned his face slightly, “What brings you here?”
If he had a choice, he wouldn’t have come either.
Behind the bamboo helmet, Chang Chun managed a bitter smile, “This servant has something to report.”
Sima Jing, expressionless, tossed the Mouse Pup into the Snake Den, “What is it?”
Chang Chun tried not to look at the mass of writhing snakes, his voice trembling, “Guo Veterinarian just reported that Jindou’er has reached the end of its life and cannot be saved.”
Sima Jing’s hand paused, still holding the iron tongs.
After a moment, he said, “Have it buried at Qingqiu Tomb.”
Chang Chun answered, then cautiously observed his master’s expression, “Your Highness, please do not be saddened. Guo Veterinarian said that for a little snake like Jindou’er, to live six years is already remarkable.”
“Six years already…”
Sima Jing murmured, his gaze sweeping over the snakes in the den, finally landing on a black-spotted python coiled around a thick tree trunk. “It’s just as well. Once they’re all gone, I will have no more attachments.”
Hearing the undertone in these words, Chang Chun hurriedly knelt, “Your Highness, please don’t say such things! You are of imperial blood, destined for a long and prosperous life, with a future full of wife and children. You don’t know how much Empress Dowager Taihou values your marriage— she not only had the Imperial Astronomer choose an auspicious date, but even sent Langui Mama to the Marquis of Changxin Manor…”
Before he could finish, the Jing Prince, who had been staring at the python, looked up, “What has happened at the Marquis’s Mansion?”
Chang Chun froze, stammering, “N-nothing, Empress Dowager Taihou is just concerned about the Yun family’s young lady…”
“If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll toss you in as a snack for them.”
“…”
Chang Chun instantly wished he could slap himself. He knew His Highness was always sharp and suspicious— why did he bring this up for no reason?
Regretful as he was, he still reported the matter of the Yun family’s young lady falling ill.
At the end, Chang Chun carefully asked, “Since Empress Dowager Taihou has shown her concern, should Your Highness send some supplements to Yun Niangzi as a token of goodwill?”
“Goodwill?”
Sima Jing let out a faint laugh, “What goodwill do I have with her?”
Chang Chun mumbled, “At the very least… at the very least, Yun Niangzi is your future Princess Consort…”
“So what.”
Sima Jing picked up another Mouse Pup and tossed it into the Snake Den, his voice growing cold and impatient, “You’d best not meddle. If I find you’ve acted on your own, your fate will be the same as this mouse.”
Watching as the Mouse Pup was instantly snatched up by the writhing snakes, Chang Chun felt a chill run down his spine, “Y-yes, this servant understands.”
Sima Jing said no more, but as he glanced at the basket of plump little mice, his thoughts drifted to the green-dressed girl by the West Market, and to the meddlesome young lady from last night.
Was the sense of familiarity between the two just his imagination?
“Wait—”
Chang Chun, who had been about to retreat in fear, flinched and turned back, “Y-Your Highness?”
Sima Jing grabbed the bamboo basket and dumped the entire load of Mouse Pups into the Snake Den, his tone flat, “Have someone keep an eye on the Marquis of Changxin Manor. Report any unusual movements immediately.”