“Oh? How then do you think Qin’er can win Yu’er’s heart?”
With raised eyebrows, Concubine De turned around and directed the question at the young maidservant who entered the main room.
“What Miss Jiang wishes to achieve is for Prince Yu to bed her. After that, Your Highness will come in and preside over justice. By then, Miss Jiang will definitely be made Prince Yu’s vice Princess.”
The young maidservant was a little younger than Jiang Ruqin. She had a chubby little face, but her features were not at all remarkable.
However, it was clear from her eyes that she was very clever.
“Go on.”
Concubine De cast an approving look at the young maidservant and nodded as an indication for her to continue.
The maidservant handed Jiang Ruqin a cup of tea in an unhurried manner.
“The incident Miss Jiang brought Prince Yu’s clothes to him had now been spread all over the mansion. Miss Jiang could act as if she had really been intimate with Prince Yu by acting shy and coy. The words of man can very effective indeed. By then, it would be easy for Miss Jiang to become Prince Yu’s vice Concubine.”
As the young maidservant spoke, she was wearing a gentle smile on her face all this while.
However, what she said had become the most toxic words in the world.
Both Jiang Ruqin and Concubine De seemed to come to a realization all of a sudden. Not to mention that the people in the mansion would be taken in by the rumor, even Lin Mengya would fall for it.
As long as she seized hold of the opportunity, she would be able to win her cousin over.
“What do you think, Aunt?”
Jiang Ruqin cast a pathetic look at Concubine De, trying hard to look innocent.
Concubine De pondered for a moment, but eventually gave a nod.
Jiang Ruqin almost jumped for joy at Concubine De’s approval.
“Thank you, Aunt, for agreeing to this idea! Qin’er will try my best to win Cousin’s heart, so that woman would disappear from Prince Yu’s Mansion forever.”
Jiang Ruqin was secretly overjoyed seeing that her aunt had turned into a totally different person after returning from the palace.
Concubine De was no longer treating Lin Mengya as family, but rather, had shown much favor towards Jiang Ruqin.
This should be the case all along since Jiang Ruqin was Concubine De’s kinsman from her parents’ side of the family.
Lin Mengya was merely a shameless woman who was fighting with her to be Princess Yu.
“I shall go ahead to make all the necessary preparations, Aunt. What’s your name? Liu’er, reward the maidservant accordingly.”
Liu’er immediately took out ten taels of silver and stuffed them into the young maidservant’s hands.
“Thank you Miss Jiang for your kindness, my name is Yun Ruo.”
Yun Ruo took over the pieces of silver from Liu’er’s hands respectfully and Jiang Ruqin was glad to see how appreciative Yun Ruo was.
This should be the way things were anyways. Compared to the daughters of other wealthy families, she was much nobler although she was born of a concubine.
How dare Lin Mengya try to take her place?
“Alright, you may go.”
Concubine De put down the scissors in her hand. The bonsai she was pruning was almost bare by now.
She sat down onto her seat and a look of worry flashed across her eyes.
“Will that aphrodisiac…?”
Yun Ruo immediately took a bow at Concubine De and replied, saying, “Rest assured, Your Highness. This medicinal herb is not without an antidote. The Prince may not want to be with Miss Jiang, but that doesn’t mean he would resist all other women. There are so many maidservants in the mansion. What’s the big deal if we just make one of them the prince’s vice Princess?”
Moreover, she had not heard any news from the Qinwu Courtyard saying that Long Tianhao was feeling unwell.
At the thought, Concubine De finally felt at ease and sat down again.
“You insisted that I make Ruqin Long’er’s vice Princess, but is she really going to be helpful to our plan?”
Concubine De was very certain that Jiang Ruqin was an empty-head.
Her antics might work in the Prince’s mansion, but if she were to contend with Lin Mengya in terms of wit, even ten of Jiang Ruqin would not be Lin Mengya’s match.
“It appears that she’s not much use now. I had thought that Miss Jiang was much more intelligent, but sadly she was far from being smart.”
Standing beside Concubine De, Yun Ruo commented as she massaged Concubine De’s arms with just the right amount of strength.
“You’re right. This lass is not getting any better these days. I have even used the aphrodisiac obtained from the palace and still, she had failed to seduce the prince.”
Concubine De’s tone of voice sounded as if she did not consider Jiang Ruqin as her niece.
Jiang Ruqin was merely a tool to her.
Yun Ruo smiled but did not stop moving her hands.
“Don’t worry, Your Highness, I’ve secretly chosen someone. If she were to succeed, even Lin Mengya would be shocked.”
Concubine De raised her eyebrows as she looked at Yun Ruo with interest.
“Who is this person?”
“You will know in time to come.”
A sinister look appeared on Yun Ruo’s face and suddenly, the entire Art Courtyard smelt like some evil plans were brewing.
At this moment, Lin Mengya was heading out from the Liuxin Courtyard, accompanied by her maidservant. Taking her time, she was on her way to the Art Courtyard to pay her respects.
Little did Lin Mengya expect that she would bump into Jiang Ruqin on the way there.
“Hey, isn’t this my cousin-in-law? How have you been, dear cousin-in-law?”
Jiang Ruqin appeared to be very happy with herself today.
Lin Mengya had no intention to inflict a blow on her, but she could not stand Jiang Ruqin’s arrogant mannerism.
“Greetings to you, Cousin.”
The way Lin Mengya addressed Jiang Ruiqin would have sent her into a rage in the past.
However, to Lin Mengya’s surprise, Jiang Ruqin simply smiled coldly and left with her maidservant.
“Look, Master, she had learned her lesson after all,” said Baizhi, jutting out her chin as a look of disdain appeared on her face.
“Really? I have a feeling that Jiang Ruqin was not behaving normally today.”
As Jiang Ruqin’s opponent, Lin Mengya did not believe that she would keep her place and give up so easily.
Lin Mengya’s eyes followed Jiang Ruqin’s voice as she disappeared around the corner.
Just like a hen which had just laid an egg, who would believe that it did not boast about it?
“Do we still proceed to the Art Courtyard to pay our respects to Concubine De?”
Honestly, Baizhi still had some feelings towards the Art Courtyard.
After all, when old maid Jin Yue was still around, they used to be gathered in the Art Courtyard for training.
Jin Yue would be teaching them the etiquettes.
Although Jin Yue was no longer around, it was only natural that the sights were reminiscent of the past, and this brought some melancholy to Baizhi’s mood.
“Of course we are still going.”
Lin Mengya stopped looking in the direction where Jiang Ruqin disappeared. What great things could a person who could not even control her emotions accomplish?
When they arrived at the Art Courtyard, they were surprised to find that no one came to stop them.
“This feels strange. There would usually be people who come in our way whenever we visited in the past. What is Concubine De up to this time, Master?”
Baishao furrowed her brows and said with concern in her voice.
Lin Mengya straightened her back and did not look one bit worried.
“How bad could it be? Don’t worry, I’m here.”
The four maidservants exchanged looked and soon, their nerves eased considerably.
The moment Lin Mengya arrived at the main room in the Art Courtyard, she was welcomed by a young maidservant with chubby cheeks.
She did not look like someone from within the mansion. Lin Mengya did not remember ever seeing her.
“Welcome, Princess Yu. I’m the new maid, Yun Ruo. Unfortunately, Concubine De is taking an afternoon nap right now. Do you mind waiting for a while?”
No wonder she did not look familiar.
It was not a big deal for them to acquire a new maid for the mansion.
“Alright, I’ll wait here for Concubine De to wake up from her nap. There’s no need for you to stay here, and you may go about your business.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Lin Mengya could see that Yun Ruo had learned the proper manners.
Concubine De was used to having afternoon naps lasting an hour or so everyday.
Lin Mengya sat down at the stone table by the door and occupied herself by enjoying the plants and flowers in the garden.
Concubine De was a different person from the past.
Lin Mengya reminded herself to be wary of her and to act cautiously, so she could be on firm ground.
After waiting patiently for some time, there was finally some sound of activity from within the main hall.
“Concubine De is awake from her nap, please come in.”
The young maid named Yun Ruo lifted the curtain and invited them in.
Lin Mengya’s maidservants quickly entered the hall.
Lin Mengya got up from the chair and straightened her clothes, then she stood respectfully outside the door to Concubine De’s room.
It was not until the servant helping Concubine De to wash up and dress up finally came out of her room that Lin Mengya was allowed to enter.
Compared to her last visit a few days ago, when she was not even allowed into Concubine De’s room she was lucky to be able to enter and see Concubine De through the curtain of pearls.
Through the curtain of hanging pearls, Lin Mengya was able to have a glimpse of Concubine De. She thought Concubine De looked much paler probably because she was tired out these few days from all the work she had to do.
“Your daughter-in-law, Mengya, is here to wish you good health.”
Lin Mengya might not be in good terms with Concubine De at this moment, but she knew it was her duty to show respect to the elders.
Lin Mengya was careful to carry out the formality of a proper bow.
“Alright, you may rise.”
Concubine De’s voice sounded flat and devoid of any emotions.
Even Lin Mengya could not tell what was on Concubine De’s mind at this moment.
“Please forgive your daughter-in-law for not being able to come and pay my respects to you, Your Highness, because I was ill in the past few days.”
Lin Mengya did not mention anything about the accusation, neither did she raise any questions.
She simply shouldered all the problems.
Concubine De lifted a cup of tea to her lips and took a sip.
She said, “It’s alright. You youngsters have your own plans. I may be old, but I don’t need you to take care of me yet.”
Lin Mengya could hear the dissatisfaction as well as coldness in Concubine De’s voice.
Lin Mengya could not understand Concubine De’s sudden change of attitude towards her. Clearly, Concubine De had always treated Lin Mengya like her own daughter before this.
Despite the fact that not much time had passed, Lin Mengya could sense that their relationship was estranged.
People could actually be so heartless.
“You’re too hard on yourself, Your Highness. It is my duty as a daughter-in-law to serve you.”
Lin Mengya tried to sound sincere, but it was clear that she was not really asking for forgiveness from Concubine De.
Concubine De was fully aware of Lin Mengya’s intention, so she merely answered her politely.
“Mengya had come to give an account on the matter on the Winter Solstice, Your Highness. Everything had been prepared according to plan, please do not concern yourself over this matter.”
The Winter Solstice was a great festival in the nation of Dajin.
Although there was not going to be a feast, the royal family as well as the commoners would be conducting grand celebrations.
As a member of the royal family, she had to accompany the emperor to offer sacrifices at the temple.
However, the emperor was currently bedridden from illness. Naturally, his princes would have to go on behalf of the emperor.
The Crown Prince as well as Prince Yu, who were adults by now, were definitely expected to go to offer sacrifices at the temple.
There would definitely be evil plotting in the presence of the Crown Prince and the Queen.
“Erm, the Winter Solstice is a grand event. Make sure you make the necessary preparations, lest we become a laughing stock if something goes wrong.”
“Yes, I will do as you bid, Your Highness.”
Lin Mengya responded submissively, then took her leave from the Art Courtyard accompanied by her company of maidservants.
“Phew…, now that Nanny Jin Yue was no longer around, the entire Art Courtyard felt as if something was awry.”
