Momo Jiang was anxious in her heart. “Princess, don’t jump to conclusions. The Prince might have his own concerns. Perhaps he’s worried that if the young lady makes a fuss with the Song family, it might damage her reputation. He might also be afraid that if the Song family causes trouble, the Lu family might hold it against her.”
“And the *Old Princess Dowager, she has always disapproved of you being too indulgent with the young lady. The Prince might be worried that you’ll displease the Old Princess Dowager and that if the Song family does encounter problems, it will drag you and the young lady into it…”
She desperately searched for excuses, trying to say that Prince Cheng wasn’t doing it on purpose, but Princess Cheng refused to listen to any of it.
“We’ve been husband and wife for over ten years. What is there that he can’t tell me?”
“Lies are lies; no amount of reasoning can make them right.”
“I can overlook other matters, but he knows full well how the Song family has mistreated Tang Ning. He knows how they’ve tarnished the reputation of my sister and her husband. Song Shulan’s background is crucial to Tang Ning’s future standing in the Song family. He knew perfectly well that Song Shulan had issues, yet he chose to hide it from me.”
Tears welled up in Princess Cheng’s eyes, filled with both anger and heartbreak.
She bit her lip hard, and after a moment, she whispered, “Momo, how much of *Xie Tianyu’s feelings for me are real?”
“Princess…”
Momo Jiang was stunned.
Princess Cheng took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her eyes. “Momo, have someone send a letter to Gu Helian for me.”
“*Gu Langjun?”
Momo Jiang’s eyes widened in surprise.
Gu Helian was an adopted son of the Rong family. He had grown up with the Rong family and had once had a close relationship with two young ladies in the household. However, due to his rebellious nature, he fell into serious trouble and went missing. When he reappeared, he had become the head of the Gu family in Zuozhou.
Although the Gu family was not in the court, they held immense power in Zuozhou and their wealth was vast.
Most importantly, Gu Helian had a grudge against the Princess.
The Princess had always avoided him, but now…
“Princess, perhaps we should have someone investigate first?”
“No.”
Princess Cheng’s eyes were red and her voice was slightly hoarse. “Xie Tianyu must be trying to hide things from me, and he will definitely guard against my investigation. Since he favors the Song family, he will likely send people to the place where Song Shulan is from to help the Song family destroy evidence. The Rong family’s servants have long dispersed, and I cannot find anyone trustworthy and capable enough to avoid the Cheng family’s watch. Only Gu Helian can do it.”
“But…” Momo Jiang hesitated, “Gu Langjun’s feelings for you…”
“Gu Helian hates me, but my sister once saved his life. He will protect Tang Ning.”
Seeing that Momo Jiang still hesitated, Princess Cheng’s eyes turned red.
“Momo, the Song family harmed my sister to death, and Xie Tianyu has deceived me. I cannot let them harm Tang Ning further, and I want to see how far Xie Tianyu will go for the Song family.”
“I want to see how much of his affection for me is genuine.”
Momo Jiang had never seen the Princess so cold and resolute. She called Prince Cheng by his name and was filled with disgust for the Song family.
Recalling what the old madam of the Song family had done earlier, and thinking about how Tang Ning had almost died in the mountains, Momo Jiang’s expression changed. “Alright, I’ll go send the letter.”
…
When the news of Princess Cheng sending a letter to Zuozhou reached Xiao Yan’s ears, it was already the next morning.
Xiao Yan, dressed in a deep purple robe, adjusted the intricate patterns on the edge of his garment.
He was preparing to go to court when he heard that Princess Cheng had acted secretly behind Prince Cheng’s back. He raised his eyebrows and pondered the name “Gu Helian,” as if recalling something amusing. “I forgot that the Rong family had such a God of Wealth.”
It was rumored that Gu Helian spent money like water, living in a mansion adorned with gold and jade, traveling in luxurious carriages, and eating delicacies. Even a small amount of his wealth could sustain half of Zuozhou.
“But I heard that Gu Helian has a grudge against the Rong family.”
Jin Yun looked puzzled. “I heard before that Gu Helian was eccentric and hated the Rong family. Several years ago, he even got into a fight with Prince Cheng over Princess Cheng. Although it’s unclear who won, he hasn’t been seen in the capital since then.”
The Gu family’s business spanned the north and south, and Gu Helian frequently appeared in various places, but he had never set foot in the capital.
Why would Princess Cheng seek his help?
Xiao Yan listened with a smile that was not quite a smile. “A grudge?”
“Yes.”
Xiao Yan chuckled softly.
Jin Yun, beside him, looked puzzled, unsure which of his words had amused the master. As he followed Xiao Yan outside with a cloak, he asked quietly, “Should we intervene in the Song family matter?”
“No need.”
“If Gu Helian can’t even handle this, his reputation as a God of Wealth is a waste.”
The carriage had already stopped at the gate, and as Xiao Yan looked at the darkened house next door, he remembered the little girl who had fallen asleep while listening to his stories about court gossip. She had fallen asleep with a soft purr, curled up at the edge of the table. A smile spread across his face.
“Later, have someone from the market send some good people to Tang’s residence and find a few obedient and clever female offenders to serve Tang Ning.”
Jin Yun asked in confusion, “Does Miss Song need more people?”
Xiao Yan nodded lightly. “She doesn’t understand the inner workings of the household and lacks many skills in managing the household.”
Tang Ning’s parents had died young, and the Song family had little genuine affection for her. Although Princess Cheng protected her, she wasn’t always by her side.
The person beside her, Hua Wu, was loyal and smart but lacked understanding of some matters and was too easily taken advantage of in interactions with others.
Most of the female offenders’ families were literate and well-educated, enough to make up for Tang Ning’s deficiencies over the years. He could teach her about human nature and competition, but he was not skilled in women’s matters or household management. Tang Ning also needed a few useful people around her.
“Remember to choose wise and obedient people who are easy to manage. It’s best if their crimes are not pardonable, only able to be redeemed by signing a death contract. Also, bring Ling Yin along.”
Jingyun's eyes slightly widened in surprise. Linyin was a spy they had trained—how could such a skilled person be assigned to serve Miss Song? Was the Supervisor becoming overly attached to her?
"If it's just to protect Miss Song, sending two covert guards would suffice. Why Linyin...?" Jingyun voiced his concern.
Xiao Yan lifted his gaze.
Jingyun continued, "Supervisor, aren’t you paying too much attention to Miss Song? Bringing her to Jiyun Alley is one thing, and protecting her even if it means severing ties with the Song family is understandable. But isn’t this getting out of hand?"
"What’s improper about it?" Xiao Yan asked calmly.
"Miss Song is involved with too many complicated matters. If it were just the Song household, that would be one thing, but there’s also the Lu family. Supervisor, your plan to use Emperor An’s hand to suppress the noble families was meant to uncover the truth of the past. If the Lu family gets entangled with you because of Miss Song, wouldn’t that disrupt your plans?" Jingyun pressed on. "Moreover, given your concealed identity, it’s risky to become too close to anyone. Keeping Miss Song at Jiyun Alley is already a gamble. If you continue to grow closer, what if she realizes who you are one day...?"
Before Jingyun could finish his sentence, he met Xiao Yan’s gaze—a casual, almost indifferent glance, yet it carried an oppressive weight that made his heart race.
Jingyun's face paled slightly, and he immediately fell silent.
Xiao Yan averted his eyes and stepped into the carriage, letting the curtain fall with a soft rustle as he loosened his grip.
"Since she called me 'Brother,' it’s my responsibility to ensure her safety. If I can’t even protect a little flower like her, what business do I have handling anything else?" His voice was quiet yet firm, laced with the unmistakable tone of finality.
The carriage curtain swayed, obscuring his sharp gaze.
"I’m fully aware of what happened back then. I’ll destroy the noble families, but I will also protect Song Tangning."
"And some things," Xiao Yan added, "I don’t want to have to repeat."
Jingyun understood the warning hidden in Xiao Yan’s words. What he had assumed was just a fleeting sense of duty had clearly evolved into something deeper. The young lady had found a place in the Supervisor’s heart.
"I understand." Jingyun handed over the cloak.
Taking it, Xiao Yan glanced once more at the gate of Song Tangning’s new residence before rapping his knuckles against the side of the carriage. "To the palace."
======
T/N:
*The Old Princess Dowager is the Prince’s Mother. Sometimes referred to as the Old concubine. She is a concubine of the late emperor.
*Xie Tianyu is the Prince of Cheng’s real name. Prince of Cheng is just a title. The Princess Consort’s real name is Rong Yue.
*Gu Langjun’s real name is Gu Helian. Langjun is a more formal way of referring to him. It translates to Master Gu
*Xiao Yan trying to help Tangning stand on her feet is so cute
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