Chapter 071: Heavenly Sect

When there are significant events in the court or new government orders in the prefectures, official bulletins are printed and sent to officials every few days to keep all departments informed.

In the past, when Jiang Xuening sat quietly in this side hall, Xie Wei would often be there handling official documents.

However, he was always meticulous, bringing exactly what he needed and taking everything back with him, never leaving anything behind. So why was this one page of the bulletin left here?

Was it intentionally left for her to see?

Jiang Xuening couldn’t delve too deeply into this thought.

After the young eunuch delivered the message through the door, she carefully read the bulletin twice more, then walked to the desk, picked up a jade paperweight, and placed the bulletin with the other used or unused papers.

*

The next day, they left the palace.

Despite the many events that had occurred in the palace recently, including the house arrest of Princess Leyang, the companions were finally able to leave the palace for a short break. Although they were still young and their spirits had been low, they couldn’t help but feel a bit uplifted, showing rare smiles. You Yue was especially happy.

Over the past few days, she had learned a lot about official and private salt dealings from Xiao Shu and Chen Shuyi, sensing great profit potential. Before entering the palace, she had unexpectedly obtained secret information from the illegitimate child of that despicable woman, You Fangyin, and had already instructed people to search for Ren Weizhi in the capital and verify the information.

Ten days had passed.

You Yue believed that when she returned home, there would likely be amazing news waiting for her!

“Parting with all of you again, I didn’t expect that ten days in the palace would feel long but pass quickly. Now that we have to say goodbye, I feel a bit reluctant,” she said with a smile. “I just hope these two days of rest pass quickly so we can return to the palace and reunite with everyone.”

Almost no one had packed their luggage.

Firstly, it was only a two-day break, and secondly, after Jiang Xuening’s near-misfortune with a piece of paper, no one dared to bring anything in or out of the palace, so they traveled light.

Early in the morning, they headed to Shunzhen Gate.

Everyone had different expressions and mostly ignored You Yue’s words.

Yao Rongrong, however, frowned and sighed worriedly, “Don’t laugh at me, sisters, but I’m timid. The palace affairs are truly frightening. I thought the lives of the nobles were all smooth and happy, but it turns out they are full of danger. Even the Princess and Prince Linzi, with their noble statuses, can be punished…”

As she spoke, her voice grew quieter, as if afraid others might hear.

Jiang Xuening, walking not far from her, glanced at her and tried to recall. She remembered that the timid and inarticulate Yao Rongrong had also entered the palace in her previous life.

However, she was neither favored nor treated well.

If she truly feared the “perilous” life in the palace, why would she enter it?

Thinking this, Jiang Xuening’s gaze shifted to Xiao Shu—

The woman who nearly became the ultimate winner in the palace intrigues.

Still dressed in luxurious clothes, she exuded a calm and composed demeanor, displaying the poise that only a noble family could cultivate.

Jiang Xuening clearly remembered that in her previous life, she was determined to rise above others and become the empress, so she abandoned Yan Lin, stole Jiang Xuehui’s marriage, and went to great lengths to marry Shen Jie.

Although the process was arduous, there were no real dangers or obstacles.

In this life, her interactions with Shen Jie had lessened, but she encountered dangers and schemes she hadn’t faced before. Was it because she had changed, causing those who schemed in the shadows to feel threatened and act against her, or was there a similar scheme in her previous life that she was unaware of, or that failed due to some twist of fate?

Xiao Shu calmly said, “The Princess and Prince Linzi are of noble birth. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor punished them in a moment of extreme anger; they cannot be compared to others.”

Yao Rongrong immediately fell silent.

Jiang Xuening, however, had a thought and deliberately smiled, adding, “Miss Xiao is absolutely right. Not to mention their noble status, the punishment is just to make them reflect and won’t be severe. Even if they are confined or made to kneel for a few days, the Princess might feel stifled, but Prince Linzi might not. It’s the winter solstice, the perfect time to stay in the mansion and paint the ‘Winter Scenery.’ He might be quite happy to have a few days of leisure.”

Xiao Shu, who had been walking calmly ahead, paused abruptly at the words “Winter Scenery” and turned to look at Jiang Xuening, smiling, “Second Miss Jiang knows quite a lot.”

Although Shen Jie was the Prince of Linzi and later became the Crown Prince, he was never very interested in politics and had a gentle nature, preferring literary pursuits. He had a little-known hobby of painting winter scenes in the twelfth month. Jiang Xuening only learned this after marrying him in her previous life, and it was not something commonly known.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Shu also knew this.

It was surprising, considering Shen Jie had not yet been made Crown Prince at this time! It was known that Xiao Shu was close to Shen Zhiyi, but not that she was also familiar with Shen Jie…

Thinking this, Jiang Xuening inwardly sneered but outwardly maintained a gentle smile, pretending not to fully understand Xiao Shu’s implication.

Xiao Shu said no more.

Soon, the palace gates were in sight, and the carriages and sedans from various households were waiting outside.

Tang’er and Lian’er hadn’t seen their mistress for ten days. Both were waiting by the carriage.

When Jiang Xuening emerged from the palace gates, she was momentarily taken aback: the two maids were dressed in warm, thick jackets, their hair and faces neatly groomed, their skin fair and rosy, and they waved happily upon seeing her.

“Second Miss, you didn’t get too tired studying in the palace, did you?”

“We’ve missed you so much!”

Heaven knows how comfortable these two maids had been without Jiang Xuening at the mansion. They still received their monthly allowance, didn’t have to serve anyone, and didn’t worry about their mistress clashing with the lady of the house or the eldest miss. Initially, they weren’t used to such leisure, but after three days, they got accustomed to it, feeling great and enjoying their meals. Their backs didn’t ache, their legs didn’t hurt, and their hair stopped falling out in clumps.

What could be better than serving a mistress who had to stay in the palace for her studies?

So now, seeing Jiang Xuening, Tang’er and Lian’er were overjoyed because they only had to serve her for two days before enjoying another ten-day “vacation,” a situation that would last for six months.

It was a blessing!

One helped her into the carriage, while the other attentively served tea.

Jiang Xuening was initially puzzled, but after sitting down and thinking it over, she understood. Tang’er was more reserved and composed, but Lian’er’s eyes were practically crescent moons with joy, almost spelling out “happy” on her face.

Jiang Xuening couldn’t help but laugh.

She teased them, “You seem so happy to see your mistress back! You must have missed me terribly. Maybe I should tell the Princess that I won’t be a study companion anymore and stay home every day, so you won’t have to miss me.”

Tang’er: “…”

Lian’er: “Ah? No, being a study companion in the palace is such a great opportunity—”

She stopped mid-sentence, meeting Jiang Xuening’s amused gaze, and quickly covered her mouth, looking pitiful.

Jiang Xuening leaned back against the cushion in the carriage, watching their emotions play out on their faces, finally feeling a bit of long-lost relaxation.

A breeze lifted the carriage curtain.

As the driver shook the reins and turned the carriage, the majestic Forbidden City loomed in the dense morning fog, briefly visible through the small window before gradually disappearing.

The brief period of peaceful study companionship had finally come to an end.

*

On the way back to the Jiang residence, Jiang Xuening asked about recent events at home.

Despite enjoying their leisure, Lian’er and Tang’er had kept themselves well-informed about everything that had happened.

As soon as Jiang Xuening asked, they began recounting everything in detail.

When she entered the palace, everyone at the residence was overjoyed, especially the servants who had been oppressed or mistreated by her; they were as happy as if it were New Year’s.

Madam Meng also enjoyed some rare peaceful days.

Jiang Xuehui received invitations from the daughters of noble families, continuing to listen to music, admire flowers, and compose poetry. Apart from inquiries about potential marriages from wealthy families in the capital, nothing much had changed.

However, as Jiang Xuening listened, she lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside, noticing that the pedestrians were all hurrying along, heads down, as if afraid of attracting trouble.

The capital, known for its bustling activity, seemed unusually quiet.

The Yongyi Marquis’s residence, located near Zhuque Gate, was grand and imposing, with pavilions and high walls stretching along half the street. The Jiang family’s carriage would pass by the end of this street on its way home.

But now, soldiers were lined up, guarding the street, clad in heavy armor and armed with swords and halberds, their stern faces and hawk-like eyes scanning the passersby.

As the Jiang family’s carriage passed, someone stared intently at them.

Only after recognizing the Jiang family’s emblem on the carriage did they withdraw their gaze, not stopping them immediately.

Jiang Xuening remained silent.

Seeing her expression, Tang’er cautiously lowered her voice and said, “A few days ago, heavy troops suddenly surrounded the Yongyi Marquis’s residence. Our household was shocked when we received the news, and Master got up in the middle of the night to find out what was happening. They say it’s a serious matter, and recently, many vagrants have been sneaking around the capital, posting notices with treasonous words on the city gates and shop doors at night. The Shuntian Prefecture and the Jinyiwei have been arresting people everywhere, and the prisons are full. It’s said that they are followers of the ‘Heavenly Sect’…”

The “Heavenly Sect”!

It is said that this sect has existed for decades, initially similar to Buddhism and Taoism. However, it later absorbed many vagrants and wanderers, as well as many idle and destitute people from the martial world, who joined under the banner of “Heaven,” worshipping the sect leader and following his commands.

Twenty years ago, the Prince of Pingnan rebelled in alliance with the Heavenly Sect.

But after the Prince of Pingnan’s defeat, the mysterious sect leader retreated from the capital, and the Heavenly Sect’s influence was significantly reduced by the court’s suppression.

However, the Heavenly Sect spread widely, and the sect leader had two highly skilled advisors.

One was an elder known as “Master Gongyi”;

The other, who rarely appeared, was called “Du Junshan.”

Few had seen them, but they often anticipated the court’s moves. Despite the court’s power and military strength, they were often outmaneuvered. The Heavenly Sect’s followers were mostly ordinary people, and their incense halls were hidden, making it difficult to eradicate them completely. In recent years, as the court’s actions slowed, the Heavenly Sect began to resurface in the Jiangnan region, expanding its influence.

Are they planning a comeback now?

Jiang Xuening only knew that in her previous life, she had encountered attacks from the Heavenly Sect several times, and later, Xie Wei almost eradicated the entire sect. However, she knew little about this mysterious sect and their current intentions.

She only knew that trouble was imminent for the Yongyi Marquis’s residence.

The sudden reappearance of the Heavenly Sect in the capital was certainly not a good sign and could be exploited by those with ulterior motives!

Pressing her temples, feeling a tight and painful tension, she asked, “Is Father at home?”

Tang’er cautiously replied, “Yes, knowing you were returning from the palace today, he stayed home to speak with you.”

Jiang Xuening nodded, “When we get home, I’ll first pay my respects to Father. You two go and find out any news about the Qingyuan Earl’s residence, especially about You Fangyin.”