Chapter 23: The Betrothal Procession Arrives

“Miss!”

It was Furong.

Jiang Jin immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

But just as she had calmed down, she heard Furong say nervously, “Miss, something terrible has happened!”

“Prince Ning’s Mansion is on fire!”

Jiang Jin abruptly lifted the gauze curtain, looking at Furong in disbelief.

“When did this happen? Who told you?”

“It just happened. I got up in the middle of the night and heard people talking outside the courtyard. When I opened the door, I saw the patrolling guards of the mansion discussing something. I asked them, and they told me about it.”

“How is the fire now?”

Furong shook her head. “I don’t know either. I only heard them say that the imperial physicians living nearby have all been quietly taken over.”

Hearing this, Jiang Jin’s pupils contracted.

Even the imperial physicians had been taken over—someone must have been injured.

If people were burned, the fire must have been significant!

She wondered… if Muyu and the others were injured?

Although she hadn’t interacted much with the people from Prince Ning’s Mansion, those she had met—whether it was Zhangshi, Muyu, or Ning Wang—had all treated her quite well.

Moreover, one feels indebted when receiving favors.

To be honest, she had enjoyed many kindnesses from Prince Ning’s Mansion.

Naturally, she hoped they were all safe and well.

Thinking of this, Jiang Jin suddenly felt restless.

But it was dark outside, and it had just rained. Leaving the house was out of the question.

Just as Jiang Jin was anxiously worrying, the window in the room was suddenly knocked on.

Jiang Jin looked over and asked, “Who is it?”

“Third Miss, it’s me, Muyu.”

Jiang Jin’s face lit up with joy—it seemed Muyu was safe.

Furong quickly went to open the window, and Jiang Jin followed her to the windowsill.

Looking up, she saw Muyu standing outside the window, her expression somewhat tense.

Jiang Jin looked at her and asked first, “I heard Prince Ning’s Mansion caught fire. Is everything alright?”

Muyu shook her head. “The fire wasn’t big and was quickly extinguished. It’s just…”

She paused mid-sentence.

Remembering Zhangshi’s instructions before leaving, Muyu suppressed her thoughts, forced a smile, and said to Jiang Jin, “Third Miss, there’s no need to worry. I’m here on Zhangshi’s orders to deliver something to you.”

After saying this, she took a letter from her pocket and handed it to Jiang Jin.

Jiang Jin took it and asked, “What is this?”

Muyu shook her head. “I don’t know either. Zhangshi said you’d understand after reading the letter. He also said that no matter what happens today, please stay calm and don’t worry.”

Jiang Jin nodded. “Alright.”

After delivering Zhangshi’s message, Muyu quickly bid farewell and left.

Jiang Jin watched her leap onto the wall, her figure soon disappearing.

But vaguely, she felt something was off.

She stood by the window for a long time. Worried about the strong wind, Furong went to fetch a cloak for her.

As she draped the cloak over Jiang Jin, Jiang Jin suddenly asked, “Furong, what do you think of Muyu’s martial skills?”

Furong replied, “Excellent. When you went to Xuesong Studio, Muyu carried me and scaled the wall in just a few moments. Then, she helped me land safely. When I landed, I didn’t feel any discomfort at all.”

After hearing Furong’s words, Jiang Jin suddenly realized something.

“Just now, when I saw Muyu leave, she seemed to hesitate slightly when climbing the wall. When she jumped down, she also appeared somewhat clumsy. It didn’t seem like the same situation you described.”

“A person’s martial skills wouldn’t deteriorate to this extent in just a few hours. So, there’s only one explanation—she was injured!”

After Jiang Jin finished speaking, Furong was also startled.

“Muyu is injured, then… the situation at Prince Ning’s Mansion must not be good!”

Jiang Jin sighed deeply, “Yes, even injured, Muyu still came to deliver the letter. Though he thought she was familiar with me, I don’t think the Zhangshi is such an unreasonable person. If he wanted to send a letter, it’s not as if there was only one way…”

Jiang Jin lowered her head and quickly opened the letter in her hand.

She spread out the letter paper and examined it carefully.

There were only two short lines written on the paper, but Jiang Jin read them over and over several times.

Furong watched her nervously and asked softly, “Miss, what does the letter say?”

Jiang Jin held the letter, her eyes also filled with confusion. “The Zhangshi only wrote in the letter that I should wait quietly at home during the day and not go out. Then he said I must carry the jade pendant with me at all times and not lose it. Nothing else was mentioned.”

Hearing this, Furong became even more puzzled.

“Then you should listen to the Zhangshi. Let’s not go out today.”

Jiang Jin hummed in agreement, “However, after daybreak, send someone to inquire about the situation inside Prince Ning’s Mansion. I can’t shake the feeling that this fire is strange!”

Furong agreed.

At that moment, a gust of wind blew in from the window, tousling Jiang Jin’s loose long hair. She gathered her cloak tighter and unconsciously sniffled.

Seeing this, Furong hurried to close the window.

When she returned, she urged, “Miss, please go back to bed and rest! It’s still dark, and the night is cold. Don’t catch a chill.”

Jiang Jin nodded. It was indeed a bit cold.

She took off her cloak and quickly returned to bed to lie down.

Furong blew out the candle and soon left the room.

Although Jiang Jin had things on her mind, she hadn’t been able to sleep in the first half of the night and was truly tired now.

Before long, her eyelids grew heavy and closed.

Not long after daybreak, Jiang Jin was awakened by a commotion.

She furrowed her brow and reluctantly opened her eyes.

Before she could react, she heard the sound of the door being pushed open.

There were many footsteps entering—more than one person.

Soon, a voice sounded by the bed.

“Third Miss, Third Miss, it’s time to wake up!”

“The betrothal gift procession from Yong’an Marquis Mansion has already set out. You must get up and freshen up!”

Hearing the words “Yong’an Marquis Mansion,” Jiang Jin’s previously hazy consciousness instantly cleared.

She sat up, with faint dark circles under her eyes, and pulled open the gauze curtain.

Looking at Nanny Lin standing before her, her mind instantly returned to her past life.

Last time, it was also just after daybreak when Nanny Lin came to Qinghe Courtyard, just like now, standing by her bed and delivering this bad news!

Afterward, she was pushed to freshen up in a daze, then taken to Xuesong Studio to wait.

When the matchmaker arrived, she followed Mother to the main hall.

Throughout, she sat to the side, allowing herself to be manipulated.

Listening to those false promises and congratulations, each word entered her ears and passed by.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Jin suddenly spoke, “I understand, Nanny Lin. You may go back first. I’ll go find Mother after I freshen up.”

After saying this, Jiang Jin let the gauze curtain fall and lay back down on the bed.

Nanny Lin looked on helplessly. She had intended to say something earnest as she had in the past, but then she thought of her own daughter, Cuiyu, who was to follow the Third Miss in the future. Since Cuiyu hadn’t arrived yet, if the Third Miss changed her mind, Cuiyu would truly have no escape from Tingfeng Pavilion!

Thinking of this, Nanny Lin had no choice but to suppress her emotions and reluctantly said, “Then please remember to hurry, Third Miss.”

After speaking, she sighed and walked out.

Once she had left, Furong approached the bedside and gently asked, “Miss, would you like to rest a little longer?”