Chapter 340: Side Story: Fierce Neighbor Chapter 59

Side Story: Fierce Neighbor Chapter 59

It turned out that Meixiang employed the "Dark Passage through Chen Cang" plan, outwardly having Xiu Zhu and a few others tell the woman surnamed Han that everyone was going out shopping. In reality, she turned around and ran back to the Wangfu to report to Jin Jingwen.

Of course, this report was not an ordinary one. Otherwise Meixiang could have simply had a nearby little maid quietly go back and tell Jin Jingwen in advance. But Meixiang didn't do that; instead she secretly had the maid inform Gatekeeper Lao Zhang, who would detain the woman surnamed Han, and then they took the initiative to explain the matter clearly to Jin Jingwen.

Yes, that is, first clarify the matter.

After all, if she merely sent a servant to deliver a message, she could only tell Jin Jingwen that someone had arrived at the gate looking for the Prince, and could not convey any other details. In that case, once the woman surnamed Han met Jin Jingwen and said a few random things, the consequences would surely be unfavorable.

Of course, clever as Meixiang, she knew that Jin Jingwen's shrewdness would naturally prevent her from fully trusting the woman outside. Yet, regardless, Jin Jingwen is still a woman, and even the most astute woman is emotionally vulnerable. So, even though Jin Jingwen's mind is rational, her heart will inevitably harbor some resentment.

And that resentment is like a seed of doubt that could sprout at any future moment, so it is certainly not what Meixiang and the other women wish to encounter!

As for the whole "shopping" thing… it's fine. But compared with the peace she seeks for the latter half of her life, it's trivial, so Meixiang decisively altered the plan, improvising this move, and faced Jin Jingwen together with the other sisters, explaining the matter first.

However, the same matter spoken by different people carries entirely different meanings. The women from the Wangfu's rear courtyard naturally stood on Jin Jingwen's side, keeping the verbal cannon aimed outward. So there was no need for discussion; they all together vilified the outside woman thoroughly.

……

The women chattered in a tangled chorus; perhaps because they were anxious, their words were a bit chaotic. Yet even so, after hearing enough, Jin Jingwen still discerned some crucial questions from their mouths.

Surname Han?

A concubine of Prince Chen's residence… so you mean the Han Luoxue from back then?!

Jin Jingwen was certainly not unfamiliar with Han Luoxue. Back then, it was Jin Jingwen herself who personally killed Han Luoxue, even disfiguring her and throwing her into the rear palace's Hehuachi.

Nevertheless, regarding this matter, Jin Jingwen never regretted it. Han Luoxue herself was problematic, repeatedly acting against Nie Jinxuan, who was a benefactor of the Jin family; so it wasn't just about killing one Han Luoxue—if necessary, Jin Jingwen would dare to wipe out the entire Han clan.

In any case, Jin Jingwen has never been a benevolent type! If you show me a foot of respect, I'll return a yard; otherwise, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!

What surprised Jin Jingwen was that Yin Fengxuan had once harbored a different intention toward that scandalous Han Luoxue who also wanted to set up a memorial arch.

Honestly, hearing this news made Jin Jingwen extremely displeased! She didn't even know why herself, but that's the fact. Although Meixiang and Xiu Zhu spoke very gently, vigorously defending Yin Fengxuan and claiming that Han Luoxue behaved immorally, etc., Jin Jingwen still grasped the implication… that irritation and anger were like boiling water, impossible to suppress!

So in an instant, Jin Jingwen's complexion darkened to a hideous shade that even a blind person could sense. Seeing this, the women who had been babbling to exonerate Yin Fengxuan suddenly shivered in terror and hurriedly fell silent, daring not to speak another word.

Jin Jingwen's ruthlessness isn't spoken; even the self‑perceived clever Meixiang is reduced to a quail before her. So as Jin Jingwen's expression turned grim, Meixiang and Xiu Zhu fell silent and subtly stepped back.

The women's almost reflexive actions snapped Jin Jingwen back to herself. She forced down the inexplicable surge of anger, then composed herself, returning to her usual placid demeanor.

"Then, since you say that, did the woman say who she is?"

Jin Jingwen addressed this to Meixiang; hearing it, Meixiang hurriedly stepped forward, then slightly bowed her head and said softly, with respect,

"Regarding the Princess Consort, that woman only said she was surnamed Han and claimed to be an old acquaintance of the Prince; she said nothing else… but judging by her appearance, I think, though she dresses plainly, she is certainly not a girl from a modest household."

Jin Jingwen knows how capable Meixiang is. Hearing her say that, she understood immediately.

"Hmm, then where is that woman now? Did you send her away?"

"No! At that moment the sisters were at the gate, and I saw that the woman was quite resolute. If we had dismissed her then, she might have turned around and tried some trick. So I discussed with the sisters and we decided to pretend to leave, while letting Gatekeeper Lao Zhang detain her afterward; then the sisters could come and explain the matter to you, Princess Consort, so you'd be prepared."

"Hmm, your plan is indeed thorough."

Meixiang was speaking the truth. Jin Jingwen nodded in understanding, then sent Meixiang and Xiu Zhu away… As soon as they left, Dong'er, who had been standing silently at the back, couldn't help but whisper.

"Miss, is this woman truly connected to that Han concubine? If there is a connection… but, I just heard what Meixiang and the others said, and I find this matter rather odd."

Dong'er opened with some worry; hearing this, Jin Jingwen gave a silent, cold smile, then raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? In what way is it strange? Tell me!"

"Ah, Miss, what era is this, you still have the heart to joke… But speaking of it, I can't really say how strange she is. I just feel the day she came to the gate is inappropriate!"

She said, then Dong'er exhaled lightly before continuing.

"Miss, I am a country girl; in the countryside, visiting relatives is done after the New Year, never before the year ends, especially not right before the year's end. Since she came to the gate now, you ask whether she should stay or not? Frankly, it's like courting autumn wind, and only those families ignorant of propriety would do such a thing!"

"But Miss, you just heard it yourself; Meixiang said that the woman doesn't seem to be from a modest background… Regardless of whether she's linked to that Han concubine from back then, the fact that she, in such destitution, entered our Gong Wangfu and keeps claiming to be an old acquaintance of the Prince makes this matter difficult to handle!"

"After all, if you drive her out, outsiders might see and start gossiping about you, Miss! Moreover, I recently heard Lin Quan say that there are ministers in the court who keep a close watch on officials, and any mishap would be reported to the Emperor! So if this isn't handled properly, not only will you suffer, but the Prince will also be in trouble!"

"Conversely, if you don't expel her, does that mean you intend to keep her? She's no harmless lamp; if she stays in the Wangfu, she might, when you're inattentive, pull some trick and cause the Prince to discover her misdeeds…"

After that, Dong'er said nothing more. Yet her little face was already deeply wrinkled. When she finished speaking, she looked at Jin Jingwen with solemn eyes, awaiting her final decision.

Jin Jingwen remained silent. After Dong'er finished speaking, she narrowed her eyes slightly, then a faint smile curled at her lips.

"Dong'er, go check whether that woman is still here."

"Um… you mean…"

Dong'er didn't expect such an order and was bewildered. At that moment, Jin Jingwen lifted her gaze and gave Dong'er a quick glance. Instantly, Dong'er flinched, realizing she had overstepped, and hurriedly ceased asking further.

……

After a short while, Dong'er returned. She reported that the woman was still there, and, as Meixiang had described, she looked very resolute.

Hearing this, Jin Jingwen said nothing, then ordered Dong'er to bring the woman inside.

Soon after, Dong'er came back, followed by the woman who claimed the surname Han.

Upon meeting, Jin Jingwen gave the woman a casual glance; the Han‑surname woman was momentarily startled, then stepped forward and bowed to Jin Jingwen.

"Yinshuang has seen the Princess Consort."

The woman's etiquette was complete, she spoke little and was not overly timid… Meixiang was right; she truly wasn't a woman from a modest household. To be more precise, she might even be a daughter of an official family!

Yinshuang, Luoxue

Hehe, it seems after all Meixiang guessed correctly!

Jin Jingwen scanned the woman in one glance, then gave a slight smile.

"Miss Yinshuang, you're courteous; please sit."

Jin Jingwen displayed great magnanimity, her face bearing a polite smile and graceful demeanor. Though Han Yinshuang also behaved elegantly, compared with a true daughter of a top‑ranked official family, she was still of a lower tier.

Thus, while listening to Jin Jingwen, Han Yinshuang indeed paused briefly, then immediately, appearing moved, bowed again to Jin Jingwen and took a seat beside her.

Then, when Han Yinshuang sat down, a little maid brought tea, and Jin Jingwen courteously yielded to her, and then returned to the main matter.

"Miss Yinshuang, may I ask what brings you to Gong Wangfu today?"

Jin Jingwen got straight to the point. The Han Yinshuang seemed as if she had been waiting for such a question, first placing her tea cup down, then with a slightly sorrowful expression said,

"Princess Consort, to be frank, Yinshuang… I am truly at my wits' end, which is why I came to your esteemed residence…"

……

As it turned out, Mei Xiang had guessed right—the woman before them named Han Yinshuang was indeed related to Han Luoxue; or to put it more clearly, she was Han Luoxue's younger sister!

Of course, calling them sisters was only nominal; in fact one was the legitimate daughter and the other a concubine's daughter. Han Luoxue had been the eldest daughter of the Han family, gathering myriad* affection onto herself, while Han Yinshuang was the daughter of a concubine of the Han family.

Originally, the Han family also had some standing in the capital. Moreover, with Han Luoxue marrying into the Chen Wangfu, the Han family naturally gained further prestige. But later, after a period of turmoil, Han Luoxue was suddenly thrown into the heavenly prison, and afterwards was given a death sentence.

Han Luoxue's death did shake the Han family somewhat, but for a family like the Han, it actually amounted to little. What ultimately drove the Han family onto the path of ruin, however, was Han Luoxue's father, Han Ze.

Back then, Han Ze served as a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and he had thought that his daughter Han Luoxue's marriage into the Chen Wangfu would secure his position. At first that was indeed the case, but later, as the political situation shifted, Prince Chen Yin Fengzhan repeatedly offended the former emperor, and afterwards the former crown prince, Yin FengHan, ascended the throne and strongly suppressed him, leading the opportunistic Han Ze to believe that Yin Fengzhan could not be relied upon, whereupon he began to align himself with Nie Wenhao.

However, Nie Wenhao's palace coup ultimately failed, and he fled to the Western Di. Thereafter, Han Ze again began to align himself with Prince Rui Yin Fengxiang.

The final outcome was easy to predict. Yin Fengxiang's effort fell short of success, Yin Fengzhan ascended the throne with an iron fist and bloodily purged the court, and having attached himself to two rebel leaders in succession, Han Ze's fate could only be a dead end.

Naturally, it wasn't just Han Ze; because he had committed treason, the entire Han family naturally could not escape culpability, and thus the Han family met its end.

But it so happened that, years ago, Han Yinshuang, together with her birth mother Lady Xue, had already been expelled from the Han family; this misfortune turned into a blessing, allowing her to escape disaster.

Actually, Jin Jingwen wasn't entirely clear about the affairs of the Han family back then, but she still knew a little about it.

Therefore, Jin Jingwen didn't care at all about whatever Han Yinshuang said regarding the Han family; on the contrary, she became somewhat interested in the fact that Han Yinshuang and her birth mother Lady Xue had been expelled from the Han family.

Of course, even if she were truly interested, Jin Jingwen wouldn't press further. After all, isn't it obvious? It's not unusual for a concubine to be cast out of the household, but for a concubine and her concubine-born daughter to be expelled together—that does raise a few eyebrows.

After all, no matter how lowly her status, a concubine's daughter is still of Han blood. Even for the sake of the Han family's reputation, it would be improper to expel a blood-related concubine's daughter from the home. Even if she had truly committed some offense, a family of standing would at most send her to an estate outside the city, or simply marry her off to a modest match—how could they just throw her out onto the street?

Thus there's no need to ask—the problem lies not with Lady Xue but with Han Yinshuang; or to put it more bluntly, someone did not want Han Yinshuang to remain in the Han family, and therefore used certain means to expel both her and Lady Xue together.

As for who could pull off such a thing, naturally it would be a master schemer, and among the Han family's manpower that Jin Jingwen knows of, there is one who fits the bill perfectly: Han Luoxue!

Judging by the timing, when Han Yinshuang and Lady Xue were expelled from the Han family, Han Luoxue had already joined the Chen Wangfu. So why, as a married woman, would she target her own concubine sister like that? That is indeed thought‑provoking.

So no matter how well Han Yinshuang phrased her words or how perfectly she concealed the truth, she could still not escape Jin Jingwen's notice. Thus, after listening to Han Yinshuang's sorrowful recounting of her misfortunes, Jin Jingwen likewise let out a sigh and then retorted.

The Han family has suffered this misfortune—I really shouldn't comment on it… but, Miss Han, having said all this, what exactly do you want this princess consort to do? You might as well speak plainly.

……

Today, if Jin Jingwen had been more tactful or beaten around the bush, Han Yinshuang might have found it easier to speak up, at least dropping a hint would have been possible. But what she hadn't expected was that Jin Jingwen would ask so directly, even to the point of leaving her unsure what to say.

After all, one can't just blurt out, 'I want to stay in the Gong Wangfu!'

Thus, pressed by Jin Jingwen's questioning, Han Yinshuang found herself at a loss. Meeting Jin Jingwen's clear yet icy, sharp gaze, Han Yinshuang couldn't help but feel flustered.

For a moment the room fell silent, but just then a familiar sound of laughter drifted in from outside, and before anyone could react, Yin Fengxuan strode in from outside.

Then, upon entering, he shouted loudly.

"My love, look what I've brought back for you! You… uh, Yinshuang?!"