Jennifer, Ashley, Mochakat9 – Thanks for your support, guys! ? It keeps me going ? Happy reading! ??

Chapter 149: Bootlicker

Wait a minute, she actually got on Xie Wei’s carriage?!

After blowing on the red mark in the palm of her hand for a long time, Jiang Xuening finally reacted belatedly, unable to help but shudder all over, raising her head to look around.

The curtains on both sides of the carriage were thick and tightly pressed.

Even though the cold wind was howling outside, it was difficult to lift a corner of the curtain.

It was indeed Xie Wei’s own carriage.

The only light came from the window with carved diamond patterns behind her, shining on the snow fox fur spread all over the carriage, giving off a winter-like bleakness yet also emitting a soft warmth. The memorials on the small square table had already been removed beforehand, not even leaving behind a piece of scrap paper. It was all clean and neat, with only the faint scent of ink lingering in the air.

A stack of books lay in the corner to her left.

Jiang Xuening didn’t dare to flip through them, just took a careful look. They seemed to be Buddhist scriptures, with the one on the top being the “Lengyan Sutra”. It was probably a book that was kept in the carriage and occasionally flipped through, looking not very new.

Reading so many Buddhist scriptures, cultivating a pure heart and few desires, no wonder although he was in the court, he reached to marriageable age in his past life but remained unmarried, and there were no concubines in his family. She guessed he was probably a monk or Taoist who left the secular world to cultivate while leaving his hair uncut…

“Boring, dull.”

When she saw the three characters “Lengyan Sutra”, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes. For a moment, she forgot about her surprise at “actually sitting on Xie Wei’s carriage.” 

After all, Xie Wei was her teacher, and if something unexpected happened to her, Xie Wei lent her a carriage, which didn’t seem like a big deal.

By the time they reached the palace gate, it was already dusk.

Dao Qin asked her to get off the carriage.

Jiang Xuening thanked him, knowing that this young man seemed introverted and silent, but his archery skills were deadly, and she had seen him more than once, so she didn’t dare to reach out to hold his hand, but jumped off the carriage by herself.

In the Yangzhi Zhai, everyone had already arrived.

Jiang Xuening, who had been delayed on the way, was undoubtedly the last one.

Xiao Shu sat among several companions, wearing a dignified apricot-yellow palace dress, holding an exquisite gold-inlaid hand stove in one hand, and holding a chess piece in the other, playing chess with Chen Shuyi across from her.

In the past, she was as glamorous as a peony.

But when Jiang Xuening entered from the corridor and saw her, she felt that there seemed to be some indelible melancholy hidden between her carefully drawn eyebrows and eyes, so she remembered the good show staged on the platform of the Duke’s Mansion these days and couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

Chen Shuyi saw her first, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, and she smiled, “I was wondering when Miss Jiang would recover from her illness. I didn’t expect you to arrive just after we finished reading. Miss Jiang looks very healthy, indeed.”

Jiang Xuening seemed to not understand the hidden meaning in her words, and smiled back, “Exactly. Although I’m sick at home, I don’t have to come here to endure this kind of learning. Listening to the scholars chatter all day, life is too comfortable. Not only did I not lose weight, I’m afraid I gained two pounds at home.”

Zhou Baoying, who had been eagerly watching by the chessboard, couldn’t wait to lend a hand to help Xiao Shu and Chen Shuyi play chess. 

When she saw Jiang Xuening come in and heard what she said, her face, which already showed a bit of a bitter look, puffed up, looking pitiful and envious, and said, “Sister Ning must have eaten a lot of delicious food at home, right? Ah, Sister Ning was sick, and Sister Yao was also sick at home and didn’t come. Why am I so able to eat, so strong, and hardly ever been sick since I was little? How nice it would be to hide in the blankets and eat on such a cold day…”

Everyone fell silent instantly.

Jiang Xuening swept her eyes and noticed that indeed one person was missing, couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, “Miss Yao isn’t here either?”

On one side of the chessboard were Xiao Shu and Chen Shuyi, with Zhou Baoying watching the game next to them; sitting in the corner drinking tea was You Yue, who had never gotten along well with her, only looking at her with a mocking gaze; standing in front of the window, frowning and contemplating the shape of the window lattice was Fang Miao, pondering some geomantic issues; timid Yao Rongrong sat opposite You Yue, holding a needle and thread, embroidering a handkerchief; the most elegant-looking was Jiang Xuehui, holding a scroll of book, sitting behind a vase half the height of a person adorned with red plum blossoms, glanced at her, then buried her head to continue reading.

Now, there should be nine companions.

But including Jiang Xuening herself, there was still one person missing, namely Yao Xi, the daughter of the Minister of Personnel, who had clashed with Jiang Xuening on many occasions.

It wasn’t until this moment that Xiao Shu lifted her eyes lightly, as if sensing her confusion, and reminded her with a slightly sarcastic tone, “Didn’t Miss Yao go back home early because of the matter involving Consort Wen Zhao? She’s been bedridden for days and can’t get up. Miss Jiang seems to be looking for her now, truly forgetting the important people.”

Who didn’t know that Jiang Xuening and Yao Xi had clashed because of Zhang Zhe?

At first, Yao Xi wanted to withdraw from the marriage agreement.

Later, during the case of the Jade Ruyi, when she saw Zhang Zhe in the Empress Dowager’s Palace, she changed her mind and didn’t want to withdraw from the marriage.

But she didn’t expect that at this time, Zhang Zhe would take the initiative to withdraw from the marriage. Although his words were very cautious, Yao Xi, who always cared about face, felt that this person was ignorant of what was good for him.

The enmity between her and Jiang Xuening became irreconcilable.

Now that Zhang Zhe had been promoted one level in the former dynasty and was favored by the emperor, he also had a good reputation among the people. 

If Yao Xi were here, would she feel embarrassed?

Jiang Xuening found Xiao Shu’s words interesting. Although she was curious why Yao Xi was ill, she didn’t want to pursue the reason.

She just said, “Indeed, it’s a bit disappointing, but there’s still plenty of time in the future. There will be opportunities to meet.”

Xiao Shu, seeing her calm demeanor, inexplicably thought of Xiao Dingfei.

She heard that her “brother” had recently sent most of the precious items rewarded by the emperor to the Jiang Residence, pleasing Jiang Xuening. And when she remembered her father and brother talking about seeing Jiang Xuening on the Tongzhou, she couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

She exerted a little force on the fingers holding the chess piece, suppressing the anger accumulated over these days, and casually said with a smile, “Since Miss Jiang has arrived, and we are all here, let’s go to the Kunning Palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress.”

It’s been five days since the beginning of spring, yet the cold wind still howls in the northern regions.

A group of eight people emerged from Yangzhi Zhai, all wrapped in thick cloaks, some holding hand lanterns, some carrying hand warmers, walking along the vermilion palace walls.

The solemn and majestic palace had an excessively neat and cramped atmosphere.

Having seen the rugged natural landscapes outside and experienced thrilling adventures, Jiang Xuening couldn’t help but feel a bit stifled seeing the glazed tiles, carved beams, and ginger snow again, feeling somewhat distracted in her steps.

Yue Yue had been in high spirits these days.

Firstly, the silver stocks of the Ren family’s saltworks soared. Seeing the situation so favorable, she had specially sent someone to Shu to ostensibly assist and take care of You Fangyin, but in reality to capitalize on her situation and the Ren family’s saltworks, allowing herself to secretly gain more dividends, and her silver stocks could fetch a good price.

Secondly, without Jiang Xuening bringing her bad luck, her luck had turned for the better again. She also managed to have her name put forward for selection as the consort of Prince Linzi. It was said that Prince Linzi loved music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and was a refined man. When the selection day arrived, as long as she displayed her talents well and spent a lot of money to dress up beautifully, she might be able to catch Shen Jie’s eye and become the princess in one step.

At this moment, seeing Jiang Xuening’s expression not as radiant as before, a sense of superiority couldn’t help but arise in her heart—

In the past, everyone knew that Jiang Xuening was protected by the Marquis Yan Lin, but the Marquis’s mansion collapsed last year;

Later, Prince Linzi got to know her, showing care for her in his words, but now that Shen Jie was choosing a consort, the name reported by the Jiang Mansion was actually Jiang Xuehui, and she, Jiang Xuening, wasn’t even considered;

Princess Linzi, indeed, favored Jiang Xuening, but times have changed, and soon Shen Zhiyi will be going to the Tatars for a political marriage. Even if she can protect Jiang Xuening, how long can she protect her?

The current Jiang Xuening is not like a grasshopper after autumn, how long can she jump around?

Yue Yue had forgotten the pain after the scar had healed, completely forgetting the lessons she had learned from Jiang Xuening in the past, sighed with a strange tone, and said, “This is to see the Empress Dowager, why bother with this worried look, Miss Jiang?”

Jiang Xuening regained her senses and looked at her.

Yue Yue was wearing a brightly colored cloak and smiled, “The Empress Dowager was so excited a few days ago when she heard that the Xiao Heir was coming back that she fainted from joy, and it took her days to recover. Your troubled expression, I don’t know who you’re seeking bad luck for. Now, no one can protect you, and I heard that the Xiao Heir is particularly filial to the Empress Dowager these days, visiting the palace frequently, and his temper isn’t very good. If he sees Miss Jiang in this state, tsk…”

She intended to tease Jiang Xuening, as she was unaware of the circumstances between the Duke’s Mansion and the Xiao Heir, hence her tone was particularly sarcastic.

But unexpectedly, the first one to change her expression was Xiao Shu.

Jiang Xuening hadn’t figured out how to respond to her yet when she lifted her head and saw a group of people emerging from the direction of Kunning Palace, her eyebrows couldn’t help but raise.

Xiao Dingfei had indeed been visiting the Empress Dowager frequently recently, after all, the old lady fainted from “joy” when she heard he was still alive. So, he naturally had to visit the old witch from time to time and mingle with some noble children who could enter and leave the palace, as well as strengthen his connections in the capital.

At this moment, he had just finished paying his respects at Kunning Palace and was coming out with Prince Linzi, Prince Yanping, and others.

This was great, they just happened to run into Xiao Shu and the others.

Xiao Shu was already a bright pearl among the companions in Yangzhi Zhai, and everyone regarded her with great respect. Now she was going to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, so naturally she walked at the forefront of the group.

Xiao Dingfei saw her at a glance.

Immediately, his sharply defined chin lifted, displaying an arrogant and disdainful attitude towards Xiao Shu, walking forward with his hands behind his back, sneering frivolously and sizing up Xiao Shu in her luxurious palace attire: “Even a scruffy chicken can try to pass itself off as a majestic phoenix!”

For a moment, the people from Yangzhi Zhai were stunned, firstly because they didn’t expect the Xiao Heir to speak such vulgar language, and secondly, they didn’t expect him to be so disrespectful to Xiao Shu, who shared the same bloodline as the Xiao family!

In Yue Yue’s heart, a storm almost immediately brewed.

Xiao Shu’s face turned iron blue: ever since she received favoritism from the Emperor, Xiao Dingfei’s behavior in the Duke’s Mansion had become increasingly arrogant, already beyond control, directly trampling the dignity of the entire Xiao family underfoot! 

Even though she used to be the beloved daughter of heaven, encountering such a person left her helpless and exposed her vulnerability!

In front of so many people, she couldn’t retreat, she had to rebuke him as soon as she opened her mouth: “It’s one thing to speak nonsense elsewhere, but now within the palace, you dare to speak wildly—”

But before she could finish her words, Xiao Dingfei’s eyes suddenly lit up.

With a glance, he suddenly saw Jiang Xuening behind.

Instantly, both shocked and delighted, he exclaimed, “Miss Jiang!”

Suddenly, all eyes converged on Jiang Xuening.

Jiang Xuening’s scalp tingled for a moment, her mouth twitched slightly, thinking “This is not good”!

Sure enough, the troublemaker Xiao Dingfei had already walked directly in front of her, his demeanor lively and joyful, as if he had seen a relative in a foreign land, no longer showing any of his previous arrogance.

He raised his hand and bowed to her in greeting.

He said, “I didn’t expect to meet Miss Jiang here in the palace, what a coincidence! Did you find the things I had someone deliver to your mansion last time satisfactory?”

The gazes of everyone around had turned into incredulity, including Prince Linzi, Shen Zhiyi and the young Prince Yanping, their eyes widened, as if they were witnessing an incredibly rare sight.

But Jiang Xuening remembered Xie Wei’s warning.

She forcibly restrained the smile she had put on, showing a hint of indifference, and after returning the courtesy, she said, “The young master has been generous, but I feel undeserving of his kindness. I’m afraid I must ask the Prince to take them back another day.”

Xiao Dingfei’s handsome face immediately collapsed, hardly believing what she had just said, sensing her caution and aloofness. He secretly cursed whoever was sabotaging his attempts to cling to Jiang Xuening’s leg, but his expression instantly changed to a pitiful one.

He said softly, “Second Miss doesn’t care about me anymore.”

His voice was low, tinged with a small grievance. Though tall and imposing, he stood before Jiang Xuening with such obedience that he seemed like a well-behaved puppy, completely different from the person he was when facing Xiao Shu moments ago!

Jiang Xuening instantly felt unwell.

Prince Yanping was even more shocked, nearly dropping his jaw to the ground.

Even Prince Linzi, Shen Jie, couldn’t help but change his scrutinizing gaze as he looked at Xiao Dingfei and Jiang Xuening.

Over at Yangzhi Zhai, You Yue was utterly stunned: How could this be possible…

She had just ridiculed Jiang Xuening for her current unfortunate state!

After losing Yan Lin and not being chosen as Princess Linzi, even Princess Zhiyi, who had always protected her and allowed her to act recklessly, was about to marry into another kingdom! She thought that from now on, Jiang Xuening would have to tuck her tail between her legs and live under others’ noses.

But who would have thought that recently, Xiao Dingfei, the heir of Duke Dingguo who was currently very popular in the capital, would fawn over her!

This woman…

This woman!

What kind of enchanting magic does she have to bewitch people?!

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