Chapter 13: Regent Prince's Manor, Danger Lurks Everywhere

Although the Imperial Noble Consort had gone to the ancestral temple, there were still many people in her courtyard; because it was late at night and because there was no important master inside, the patrollers were somewhat careless.

Jiang Yunchu brought Bai Zhi and, winding through seven turns and eight twists, sneaked into the study.

By the moonlight, she found the letter left by the Imperial Noble Consort; rather than saying it was one letter, it was better to say it was two.

"Return." Jiang Yunchu did not open it on the spot, merely glanced at Bai Zhi and said a single word.

Bai Zhi guessed that the Princess Consort's trip was probably at the behest of the Imperial Noble Consort, but why avoid the people of the Wang Fu? As a maid, she did not know, nor did she want to know.

Returning to the Rhyme Courtyard, Bai Zhi looked around the room, confirmed no one had entered, moved a stool, and sat at the gate to keep watch.

Two letters: one was for herself, and the other was actually for Zi Su and Bai Zhi.

"Yours." Jiang Yunchu did not open that letter, but directly handed it to Bai Zhi.

Bai Zhi blinked, then took the letter; she recognized the handwriting on it as the Imperial Noble Consort's notes.

Jiang Yunchu opened the letter addressed to her.

"Yun Chu, I am glad you can see this letter; when you see this letter, it is the moment I truly entrust the Wang Fu to you."

"Cheng Yan has been missing for four years, his life or death unknown; our Wang Fu guards the treasury but lacks the power to ensure safety."

"While I was alive, the two children were safe, but on the day I died, how could they guard the Wang Fu? Even their lives could not be protected."

Jiang Yunchu reached this point, suddenly put the letter down, then silently poured herself a cup of tea; the tea was a little cold, but it also cleared her mind a bit.

She was originally a soul from another world, not wanting to involve herself in these karmic ties, yet she had not expected to already be drawn in.

Then, picking up the half-read letter again.

"Yun Chu, this Wang Fu is a pit of fire; if you cannot detect the abnormality, you will muddle along like this, and I will arrange a way out for the three of you."

"But seeing this letter means you have already detected it."

"Not only do the children's surroundings have people planted by others, but even my side does."

"Only when I leave the Wang Fu will those restless people be unable to restrain themselves from acting."

Indeed…

When the Imperial Noble Consort left, that meaningful glance of hers, she thought it was because of the troublesome child.

Now looking back, there is also this pile of mess.

Her letter was not yet finished when two people entered from outside; Zi Su was dressed in light purple, and Bai Zhi in white.

After they entered the room, they directly knelt on the ground, "Zi Su (Bai Zhi), greetings to the master."

Master.

No longer the Princess Consort.

The Princess Consort can be anyone, but the master can only be one.

After they address the master, they cannot betray, cannot act duplicitously…

Jiang Yunchu pressed the letter in her hand, looked at the two people kneeling on the ground, and thought, also knowing what the Imperial Noble Consort's letter to them actually said.

"Get up." Jiang Yunchu did not blame the two; she could understand the Imperial Noble Consort's concern, especially after reading half of the letter.

She had just escaped the tiger's den, only to enter the wolf's lair!

"In public, as before, so shall it be thereafter."

"As for the news to the Imperial Noble Consort's side…" Jiang Yunchu's words were not yet finished.

Zi Su, who had just risen, immediately knelt again, "Master, I know I was wrong; I will certainly not make such a mistake again."

Previously they had regarded the Imperial Noble Consort as their master; now their master is the Princess Consort, and from now on the Princess Consort will be their master, her will above all.

"Rise."

Jiang Yunchu laughed helplessly; although Zi Su appeared timid on the surface, in fact the previous transmission of messages had all been done by Zi Su.

"From now on, the manor's messages should still be sent to the Imperial Noble Consort as before; write them as you used to, so that the Imperial Noble Consort can rest assured."

Moreover, if there is any abnormality in the manor, it would likely arouse suspicion from various quarters; it would be better to keep things as they were before.

She was not afraid of those ghosts and monsters; she feared more the Imperial Noble Consort's position!

"Yes!" Zi Su promptly agreed.

"You go out first; today's events must not be known by a fourth person." She said lightly, especially glancing at Bai Zhi.

The two expressed their loyalty again, then left the room; neither felt sleepy, so they simply stood left and right of the door, guarding it like… two door gods.

Jiang Yunchu watched the shadows outside, not bothering with the two's inner thoughts; her own heart had not yet been settled.

The letter was opened once again.

"The dark guards can be mobilized with the jade pendant I gave you; the function of this jade pendant is to mobilize the Tiger Head Dark Guard."

"By Yue Yue's side follows Dark Seven, and by your side follows Dark Three."

Jiang Yunchu's eyes narrowed; her side… actually had someone following.

Is it because that person's martial arts are too high?

Or is it because she changed bodies, her sensitivity diminished?

She actually had not noticed.

"Yun Chu, the reason our Wang Fu can hereditary hold the regency is because the late emperor decreed it, allowing interference in state affairs, and even… changing the master."

"Imperial Noble Consort, please, this bomb‑like letter—when will it finally end?"

"What does the unwilling one in the palace represent? It represents the danger of the Wang Fu, and the danger of Ning Hanmo."

"How many of the people in the Wang Fu are those planted by that one? How many are the probes of various princes and clans?"

She suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.

"What honor is this? It's a hot‑handed yam; who knows when it will be blown to pieces?"

"Yun Chu, Zi Su excels at memory; whatever passes her eyes and ears she can retain, especially the complex relations of Jingdu, you can ask her."

"Bai Zhi is the child Cheng Yan rescued, raised by my side, pure‑hearted, but her martial skill is not bad; she can serve as a personal guard for you."

「I have handed over all their indenture contracts to you. 」

「You can trust them. 」

「The steward's keys and account books will be delivered to your hands; everything in the Wang Fu will ultimately have to be borne by someone. 」

When the letter was written to this point, the ink was somewhat heavy, showing that the writer's state of mind was not so calm; they pondered each word and sentence before putting brush to paper.

「I am very happy and also very fortunate; the person chosen by the Regent Prince's Manor is you! 」

This is the Imperial Noble Consort's last sentence, but such a simple sentence—how long the Imperial Noble Consort pondered over it, only she herself knows.

Jiang Yunchu knew there were still a few sheets behind, but she did not open them, thinking of the Imperial Consort's letter; the letter was not long, yet the information given was too much.

Regent Prince's Manor, fraught with danger.