Chapter 16: How Does It Taste?

“Jiang Jin, I advise you to quit while you’re ahead. Otherwise, when you marry into the marquis estate in the future… you’ll suffer for it!” Lady Yong’an finally lost her patience. She pointed a finger at Jiang Jin, her eyes brimming with resentment.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jin felt even more inclined to laugh.

Just as before, the more flustered she became, the more she jumped to conclusions.

In her previous life, Lady Yong’an had relied on her status as a mother-in-law, and Jiang Jin had been unable to do anything about it.

But now, the two of them shared no such relationship!

“Lady Marquis, you cannot trample on someone else’s reputation like this!” Jiang Jin said coldly. “If you continue to spread baseless rumors and ruin my reputation, then the person you hold dear may not fare well either!”

“After all, if word gets out about an illicit affair…”

As Jiang Jin’s words fell, Lady Yong’an’s expression changed.

The next moment, the young lady who had been hiding in the carriage finally spoke: “Aunt.”

Her voice was soft and broken.

“Aunt, you are magnanimous. Please don’t argue with Miss Jiang. Let’s give way!”

Lady Yong’an’s face darkened, but she took the advice to heart.

With a flick of her sleeve, she turned to return to the carriage.

Just as she stepped onto the mounting stool, the sound of hoofbeats echoed.

“Your Highness!” Muyu called out.

Jiang Jin was momentarily stunned before raising her eyes to look at the man on horseback.

Xie Chengzhi wore a moon-white robe, his hair tied up with a jade crown, giving him an air of gentle refinement.

But his next words immediately reverted to his sharp and commanding style: “Does the Yong’an Marquis Mansion’s carriage intend to block this prince on the main street as well?”

When Lady Yong’an saw Xie Chengzhi, her movement to board the carriage suddenly halted, and she stepped back down from the mounting stool.

“Why would Ning Wang say such a thing?” Lady Yong’an pointed at Jiang Jin’s carriage. “It is clearly she who is blocking the way. Your Highness must not blame the wrong person!”

Xie Chengzhi raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? It seems Lady Marquis not only has poor eyesight but also cannot speak clearly!”

“Guards, escort Lady Yong’an to the medical clinic. Make sure she is properly treated before sending her back.”

As soon as he finished speaking, two guards suddenly appeared beside Lady Yong’an, seizing her and leading her away.

Before she could utter a word of protest, one of them used a silver needle to strike her mute acupoint.

With Lady Yong’an gone, the people from the Yong’an Marquis Mansion lost their backbone.

Seeing this, Furong lifted the carriage curtain and jumped down.

She walked over to the maid who had earlier lifted the curtain and, before the girl could react, slapped her across the face.

“If Lady Marquis won’t teach you manners, I will! I’ll teach you not to offend my lady. My lady may be good-tempered, but I am not!”

With that, she turned and walked back triumphantly.

The slapped maid was furious but dared not speak up. After all, with Lady Yong’an taken away, how could she dare to cause trouble?

As Furong reached her own carriage, she shot a fierce glance at the other side. “Still blocking the way? Get lost!”

The Yong’an Marquis Mansion’s coachman no longer dared to stay. He urged the horse to move aside.

However, as they made way, the horse’s hoof seemed to step on something, causing it to slip. The carriage nearly overturned.

Although the coachman steadied it in time, the person inside the carriage did not fare well.

The young lady inside clutched her chest, feeling her stomach churn and her throat sour. To make matters worse, she was alone in the carriage with no tea to drink and no one to care for her. She had no choice but to swallow the nausea.

Just as she began to feel slightly better, the carriage suddenly sped off again. Terrified and disoriented, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted outright.

…

After the Yong’an Marquis Mansion’s carriage departed, the Jiang family’s carriage became noticeably more crowded than before.

Jiang Jin looked at the person seated opposite her, a mix of surprise and gratitude in her eyes.

“Thank you, Your Highness, for helping me out of that situation.”

Prince Ning did not deny it, only glancing at the food box beside Jiang Jin before asking, “How was the taste?”

“Ah?” Jiang Jin turned to look, quickly understanding his meaning, and a smile curved her lips. “It was delicious.”

Prince Ning raised an eyebrow slightly, falling silent for a moment before finally concluding, “The Zhangshi wasn’t wrong—it seems the Jiang family has been neglecting you when it comes to food!”

Jiang Jin blinked, somewhat confused.

How did the Zhangshi know?

Prince Ning noticed her bewilderment and readily explained, “The pastries you gave Muyu… were really…”

He pondered for a moment before finding a moderate word: “Average!”

Hearing this, Jiang Jin gave an awkward smile, then thought of something else. “Your Highness, did you try them too?”

Prince Ning remained silent.

Jiang Jin understood. Muyu was Prince Ning’s person, and while she had intended the pastries for her, Muyu might have misunderstood something.

The pastries from the main kitchen weren’t bad, but they clearly didn’t meet Prince Ning’s standards.

The “average” evaluation was probably meant to comfort her.

Still, even these “average” pastries were a rare treat delivered to her Qinghe Courtyard.

Jiang Jin lowered her gaze and fell silent as well.

After all… she and Prince Ning truly had nothing to say to each other.

“Ahem.” Xie Chengzhi clenched a fist and pretended to cough.

Jiang Jin instinctively looked up.

Xie Chengzhi suddenly produced a booklet and handed it to Jiang Jin.

Jiang Jin took it and, after receiving Xie Chengzhi’s meaningful glance, opened it.

When she first received it, she thought it might be what she had previously asked him for.

But upon opening it, she found it contained not names or family backgrounds but—farmlands and shops…

With just a quick glance, Jiang Jin could grasp the importance of this booklet.

She abruptly looked up at Xie Chengzhi.

“Your Highness… what is this…?”

“Not enough?” Xie Chengzhi seemed not to understand her question, frowning in response.

Jiang Jin quickly shook her head. “It’s enough, more than enough. Ah, no, that’s not what I meant!”

“I just wanted to ask, Your Highness, why are you showing me this?”

Xie Chengzhi replied, “I said I would make sure you get what you want in three days!”

“But… what I want isn’t—”

Before Jiang Jin could finish, she saw Xie Chengzhi suddenly reach out.

Jiang Jin’s eyes widened in alarm.

She didn’t know if Xie Chengzhi was annoyed or embarrassed by her questioning, or if…

Xie Chengzhi’s hand landed beside Jiang Jin, and moments later, he held a small, thin bird.

Jiang Jin watched as Xie Chengzhi withdrew his hand, his knuckles tightening, and the bird’s head tilted to the side.

Seeing this, Jiang Jin’s first thought was—the bird was dead!

And then…

Her pupils trembled, her voice tense. “Your Highness, when did this bird… start following us?”

Xie Chengzhi frowned, his tone cold. “It’s likely been following you since you left the palace!”

Jiang Jin’s eyes widened, filled with shock and fear.

If Xie Chengzhi hadn’t noticed the bird, it would have soon flown back to the palace to report everything it had seen and heard to its owner.

Her earlier argument with Lady Yong’an wasn’t a major concern, but what worried Jiang Jin was Lady Yong’an’s remark.

To this day, there were no women in Prince Ning’s Mansion, and because of this, countless people were eyeing that position.

She had no interest in it, but others might not think the same.

Her marriage arrangement with the Yong’an Marquis Mansion was considered a secret between the two families, and before the formal engagement, outsiders were unaware of it.

She feared that someone with ulterior motives might catch wind of it and exert pressure regarding the marriage, forcing her into compliance…