“Watch them carefully and make sure they don't get bitten by centipedes.”
Centipedes that had drunk dog's blood were now likely to become kings of all poisons. Nan Shiying didn't know if they would even leave complete corpses if bitten. The dog was fine, being immune to all poisons, but Xiao Man and Ya Dan couldn't be bitten; it would be fatal.
"Yes!"
Lu Wan's expression became serious, immediately understanding the gravity of the situation.
To the Consort, Xiao Man was both a forbidden zone and a weakness. In this world, only the Prince could slightly surpass her; even the Poison Elder could only rank after Xiao Man.
Therefore, Xiao Man must not be harmed.
“If possible, also investigate where Xiao Man obtained that centipede. Oh, and you mentioned earlier that Xiao Man had a censer, right?”
Lu Wan nodded.
"Yes, Xiao Man feeds the centipede inside the censer."
Nan Shiying thought for a moment and then said, "Have Ying San find an opportunity to retrieve the censer and the centipede for me, without Xiao Man or the others noticing."
"Yes!"
“By the way, has the Prince returned?”
"Replying to Your Highness, not yet."
As soon as Lu Wan finished speaking, she heard greetings from outside announcing the Prince's arrival.
Lu Wan: "..."
Your Highness, you’ve just returned to the manor, haven’t even changed out of your court attire, and you've rushed here!
Ji Jinmo pushed open the door, a chill following him. He paused at the entrance. Lu Wan indeed saw that he hadn't had time to change his court robes.
“My Prince, may you be blessed with peace and prosperity.”
Lu Wan quickly stepped forward, took the fur coat Ji Jinmo took off, and hung it on the screen.
Nan Shiying picked up the teapot, filled a cup of hot tea, and handed it to Ji Jinmo as he approached.
“Why did you rush over without changing your court attire? Did… Nan Chaoyin attend the court session?”
Nan Shiying calculated the dates. After Madam Wang’s funeral, Nan Chaoyin could indeed attend court. Ji Jinmo took the cup of tea, took a sip of the hot liquid, and nodded, "He did."
“The Minister of Rites petitioned today, inquiring about the matter of marriage alliances between the two countries. He stated that with the grand mourning for the Nan residence, Nan Yujin must observe filial piety for his mother, so how should the marriage alliance proceed.”
“Ji Hong likely wants Nan Chaoyin to step forward and request an imperial decree to exempt Nan Yujin from his filial mourning period.”
This was a common tactic for a ruler. Nan Shiying had often used this stratagem before eradicating the imperial relatives. After she had removed the imperial relatives and abolished the noble clans, she no longer needed it, as no one dared to defy her; her imperial word was iron law.
Ji Jinmo nodded, “However, Nan Chaoyin did not take the bait.”
“Did not take the bait?”
Nan Shiying smiled.
At the very least, regarding Madam Wang’s death, Nan Chaoyin could not escape the connection.
“What was the outcome?”
“The outcome was that he still requested an imperial decree, asking Ji Hong to exempt Nan Yujin from his filial mourning period.”
Ji Jinmo didn't elaborate on the process, but he surmised that he and Ji Hong had colluded to set a trap, forcing Nan Chaoyin to yield. The uncle and nephew pair had done such things quite often.
However, regardless of the process, the outcome was quite satisfactory.
But to truly crush this old scoundrel, Ji Hong still needed to marry Nan Yuan'er.
However, with Zou Yun'er currently pregnant, Ji Hong would absolutely not allow Nan Yuan'er into the palace before the child in her womb was born.
He absolutely would not allow his offspring to be harmed again.
Nan Yujin escorted Madam Wang’s coffin all the way to Linxiang. Just as he buried his mother's coffin in the ancestral grave, he heard that the Emperor had specially granted him an exemption from observing mourning.
Nan Yujin knelt before Madam Wang's grave and kowtowed heavily. His forehead immediately began to bleed as his head struck the ground covered in gravel.
He performed three kowtows, kneeling before Madam Wang's grave from dusk until dawn. When the sun broke through the clouds, he slowly stood up, supporting himself on the ground. With legs that were numb from kneeling and stiff with cold, he walked step by step out of the ancestral burial ground, mounted his horse, and set off for Qizhou, the location of Marquis Lin Yang’s ancestral grave.
Qizhou was not far from Linxiang. Traveling at full speed, Nan Yujin arrived in Qizhou by evening.
He bribed the servants guarding the ancestral graves, dug up the graves, and unearthed the body of the Fifth Madam. He poured the powder onto her nose and lips, and the white powder gradually turned pink.
...
“Your Highness, a wedding invitation from Prince Gong’s manor.”
On the morning of the nineteenth of January, a servant from Prince Gong's manor delivered an invitation.
The Heir's Consort was hosting a banquet at the manor on the twenty-fifth of January, ostensibly for appreciating snow by the fire. However, Lu Wan inquired and learned that it seemed to be a matchmaking event.
The Heir's Consort, that is, Madam Mu, had a son and a daughter, Mu Baiyu and Mu Xiaoxiao, both unmarried. Mu Baiyu had long passed the age of capping and was only two years younger than Ji Jinmo, already well past the age for marriage. Previously, due to the death of the Consort, who was Prince Gong’s legal wife and the grandmother of Mu Baiyu and Mu Xiaoxiao, Mu Baiyu had to observe mourning for his father, which delayed his marriage. Now that more than half a year had passed since the mourning period, and seeing that other families' grandsons were already running around, Madam Mu had become anxious.
“Choosing a wife for Mu Baiyu?”
Nan Shiying raised an eyebrow slightly. Since ancient times, marriages were arranged by parents and matchmakers. The Heir's Consort could simply select a young lady from a desirable family and send a proposal. Why hold a banquet?
“I heard it’s also an opportunity to look at the talented young men in the capital for the Princess.”
Xiaoxiao!
Then it was indeed necessary to choose carefully, lest she return after painstakingly selecting someone from a manor already on Ji Hong’s list for reckoning.
“I understand. Send a reply to the Heir's Consort, informing her that I will attend the banquet on time.”
"Yes!"
Prince Gong’s Manor.
Hearing that the Consort had accepted the invitation, Mu Xiaoxiao’s drawn face finally showed a hint of joy.
Madam Mu, seeing her daughter’s demeanor, felt somewhat curious. She had heard countless rumors about the Consort. Regardless of what kind of person the Consort was, given her own daughter’s temperament, she found it hard to imagine that she would like someone so much.
“Xiaoxiao, are you this happy to hear about the Consort’s return?”
When Mu Xiaoxiao heard her mother’s question, she instantly restrained the smile on her face. She let out a hum, indicating her strong displeasure with her mother’s unsolicited attempt to select a husband for her.
However, she still answered her mother’s question, “Yes, happy.”
Mu Xiaoxiao actually didn't know why she liked Nan Shiying so much. Perhaps it was because her features bore a slight resemblance to Feng Luan, or perhaps it was because she saw in her a courage and resilience different from other women. In any case, she liked Consort Niangniang, very, very, very much.
Madam Mu felt a vague sense of worry. The Consort… she was the Regent’s Consort. The current situation in Linyuan was like murky water, and it was truly not advisable for Prince Gong’s manor to associate too closely with the Regent’s manor.
“Xiaoxiao, you must maintain a distance from Consort Niangniang. Our manor really should not get involved in the disputes between His Majesty and the Prince. You must not give the impression that Prince Gong’s manor is closer to the Regent’s manor, do you understand?” Madam Mu took Xiaoxiao’s hand and solemnly instructed.
Mu Xiaoxiao pursed her lips and silently nodded.
Just like how no matter how much she liked Feng Luan, she couldn't be with him, right!