Chapter 17: Not Afraid This Prince Would Go Back on His Word

To be honest, while she believed in Ning Wang’s capabilities, she also had some doubts… Was it truly a good thing for her to have so much contact with him?

If it were only interactions with the Zhangshi and Muyu, it might still be understandable.

But why today… did Ning Wang himself have to appear?

Wasn’t he afraid?

Thinking this, Jiang Jin almost instinctively voiced her question.

“Your Highness, aren’t you worried at all?”

“Worried about what?” Ning Wang took out a handkerchief to wipe the hand he had used to pinch the bird earlier, his tone indifferent. “What can they possibly do to me?”

“But you… your vigilance is so weak,” Ning Wang said, suddenly thinking of something and letting out a mocking laugh. “No wonder you agreed so easily back then.”

“Not afraid this prince would go back on his word!”

“Oh, I almost forgot—you still have my jade pendant!”

After saying this, he raised an eyebrow.

Hearing this, Jiang Jin only smiled awkwardly. Regardless of why Ning Wang said these words, that jade pendant… she absolutely would not return it until her marriage with the Yong’an Marquis Mansion was resolved!

After all… this was her last bit of confidence!

Thinking of this, Jiang Jin suddenly smiled self-mockingly.

Others found confidence in their parents or husbands, yet in her past life, the ones who hurt her the most… were precisely them!

Xie Chengzhi watched the sorrowful expression that unconsciously appeared on Jiang Jin’s face and slightly furrowed his brows.

He pressed his lips together tightly, feeling somewhat unsettled inside.

For some reason, seeing Jiang Jin like this made him feel slightly uncomfortable.

It seemed… in his subconscious, he felt she shouldn’t be like this!

But clearly, he had only met her a few times.

Xie Chengzhi took a deep breath. At that moment, Jiang Jin happened to snap out of her thoughts. Hearing his heavy breathing, she stiffened, thinking she had somehow offended him.

She cautiously glanced at him, then quickly averted her gaze.

Seeing his expression unchanged, Jiang Jin finally relaxed a little.

Xie Chengzhi noticed her caution but was also somewhat puzzled—did he really seem that intimidating?

————

After returning to Qinghe Courtyard, Jiang Jin had only just sat down for a short while when a commotion arose at the door.

Furong hurried to check the situation, but as soon as she opened the door, she encountered an unexpected guest.

“Young Miss Cheng, what brings you here?”

The woman at the door was none other than Cheng Wan, the maternal cousin of the Jiang family’s second young master.

Hearing Furong’s surprised tone, she looked displeased.

“What, can’t I come? Does Third Cousin not welcome me either?”

Furong remained silent.

After all, Cheng Wan was truly difficult to deal with. In the past, when the second young master was in the estate, she always followed him around.

If the second young master went to the academy, she would keep to herself, rarely stepping outside Tingfeng Pavilion except to pay respects to the old madam.

But today, not only had she come to Qinghe Courtyard, but…

Furong quickly sized up Cheng Wan before her. Unlike the radiant and elegant appearance she had seen before, the young miss now looked somewhat disheveled.

Although her clothes were tidy, traces of being grabbed and wrinkled were visible.

Her originally neat hairstyle was also somewhat loose.

Almost instinctively, Furong judged that Cheng Wan’s visit to her young lady was likely not for a good reason!

She curved her lips into an apologetic smile and said, “Young Miss Cheng, my young lady has just returned from the palace and is rather tired. She is resting now.”

At this point, if it were the usual Cheng Wan, she would have already left.

She had sought refuge with the Jiang family, and the only people she could rely on were the Second Young Master and the Old Madam.

However, the Old Madam’s attitude toward her was not particularly warm, treating her merely as an ordinary relative.

Only the Second Young Master was completely obedient to her.

When the Second Young Master was not in the residence, Cheng Wan was very well-behaved.

“But I… but I clearly heard that Third Cousin has just returned. Even changing clothes and taking down her hair takes time. I only want to see Third Cousin for a moment—it won’t take much time. Is even that not allowed?”

Cheng Wan’s tone softened slightly, but her goal remained unchanged.

Furong continued to persuade her: “Cousin, please be considerate. My young lady is exhausted from the long journey. If you truly have something to discuss, why not go and speak with Madam instead?”

At the mention of “Madam,” Cheng Wan’s expression instantly stiffened.

But soon, unwilling to give up, she called out toward the inner room: “Third Cousin! Third Cousin!”

After shouting, she even tried to slip into the room while Furong was distracted.

Fortunately, Furong reacted quickly and shut the door firmly.

She blocked Cheng Wan, her tone turning cold: “Cousin, why must you do this? No matter how accommodating my young lady is, she cannot allow you to take advantage of her like this!”

As she spoke, Furong exchanged glances with the maids in the courtyard.

Soon, a young maid slipped away quietly.

The others stopped their tasks and kept their eyes on Cheng Wan, fearing she might try to force her way in again.

Under the collective gaze of everyone, Cheng Wan’s expression grew awkward.

But thinking of how few people in this residence could save her, she steeled herself and said angrily:

“Fine! If you won’t let me go in to see Third Cousin, then I’ll wait in the side room until she wakes up. Surely that’s allowed, isn’t it?”

Furong twitched the corner of her mouth, surprised by how thick-skinned Cheng Wan was.

But remembering that someone had already gone to inform Madam, she decided not to make things more difficult for Cheng Wan.

“Cousin, please,” Furong said, then instructed a maid to take Cheng Wan to the side room for tea.

She herself returned to the inner room and reported the matter to Jiang Jin.

Jiang Jin listened and remained silent for a long time.

After all, Cheng Wan’s behavior was highly unusual—this was the first time she had seen Cheng Wan act this way.

Soon, Jiang Jin recalled the things Cuiyu had mentioned.

She also remembered how anxious Nanny Lin had looked when Mother saw her off this morning.

When she returned to the residence earlier, she hadn’t noticed anything unusual in the outer courtyard.

That meant the matter must be in the inner courtyard.

And… could it possibly be related to Cheng Wan?

Jiang Jin pondered this but soon felt something was off.

If it were related to Cheng Wan, Mother would have kept her under strict supervision, not allowed her to roam freely in the inner courtyard.

However, for now, she truly couldn’t show herself. No matter why Cheng Wan wanted to see her, it was likely because she saw some advantage to be gained.

If she went out now, she would be playing right into Cheng Wan’s hands, and she might end up being harmed without even realizing it!

“Furong, send someone to Tingfeng Pavilion and the Old Madam’s courtyard to inquire about the situation. Also, go to the back gate and ask if any servants from Tingfeng Pavilion have slipped out. If necessary—stop them!”

Furong’s eyes widened. “Young Lady, are you suggesting that Cousin…”

Jiang Jin shook her head. “I don’t know. It’s just an extra precaution.”

After all, Cheng Wan only had one or two people she could rely on in the residence. Jiang Jin didn’t believe Cheng Wan would go out of her way to seek help elsewhere!

Furong acknowledged the order and wasted no time arranging everything.

Once everything was in place, she went to check on Cheng Wan again.

She picked up the teapot and entered, noticing the empty plate and catching a glimpse of crumbs at the corner of Cheng Wan’s mouth.

She averted her gaze. “Cousin, have some hot tea to warm yourself.”

“Is Third Cousin still not awake?” Cheng Wan persisted, unwilling to give up.

Furong shook her head. “Not yet.”

Cheng Wan’s eyes instantly grew anxious. She nervously glanced toward the door, as if waiting for something.