A Good Country Wife
Chapter 432 - 426_1

Chapter 432: Chapter 426_1

The lives of young girls are the most playful, and that’s exactly the case with the Fifth Princess. Although Lin Yue still had her worries, since the Third Princess had said as much, it wasn’t appropriate to keep fretting over the Fourth Princess’s troubles. Instead, she went ahead and taught the Third and Fifth Princesses how to play mahjong, and since they were short one player, she even pulled in the Third Princess’s personal palace maid to join them.

Mahjong isn’t difficult to learn. After Lin Yue explained the rules and taught them for a few rounds, both the Third and Fifth Princesses caught on. It was their first time playing such a novel game, and the sound of mahjong tiles being shuffled resonated in the hall all afternoon.

"I heard that Princess Yongle brought a peasant woman back to the palace as a guest. What’s this all about? A couple of days ago, the Princess mentioned going out of the palace for a banquet. Could it be that she went to this peasant’s home?" Huangfu Jing asked with a furrowed brow.

While Yongle Palace was immersed in joyous play, the Emperor was concerned about Princess Yongle’s affairs and had placed someone inside Yongle Palace to keep watch. Naturally, the day’s events at Yongle Palace were reported to Huangfu Jing.

Huangfu Jing was both curious and cautious of Lin Yue, and also somewhat uneasy, fearing that just as the Fourth Princess had said, the peasant woman might really have beguiled Princess Yongle. Huangfu Jing knew his sister well; protected by himself and the Empress Dowager over the years, she was clever but somewhat naive and tended to act on her feelings, particularly with friends made outside the palace, lacking a certain degree of wariness.

"The peasant woman met the Princess at the Princess Residence. Indeed, the Princess did visit this peasant woman’s home last time."

"Despite the Fourth Princess’s malicious intentions—likely seeking to provoke the Third Princess by troubling that peasant woman—this peasant woman nonetheless appears to be somewhat improper. The Princess has only recently made her acquaintance, meeting no more than twice, and yet she’s already considered a good friend by the Princess. That surely indicates crafty methods. Have you thoroughly investigated this peasant woman’s background?" Huangfu Jing, connecting the dots with what he knew, felt that the peasant woman was rather scheming.

"Yes, Your Majesty, we have looked into it. The peasant woman’s last name is Lin and her first name is Yue. She originally married a hunter from a small village in Xin’an City. When her husband was injured and fell unconscious, it was Lin Yue who requested Mr. Jiang to come and treat him. Afterward, Mr. Jiang became acquainted with their family. Subsequently, they started a food business and even partnered with the Jiang Family for some ventures. Her visit to the Capital City this time was also for business purposes. Speaking of which, the new delicacies recently introduced in the palace use ingredients supplied by their family."

As the Emperor’s personal eunuch, it’s essential to be capable and preemptive. Knowing that the Emperor cares about Princess Yongle, he was naturally well-informed about those close to the Princess. After learning about the person Lin Yue, he immediately had her investigated so he could report directly to the Emperor when asked.

Upon hearing the eunuch’s report, Huangfu Jing’s originally stern expression softened. "Oh? It turns out to be this way. Since it was Ziqi who invited her to the Capital, it’s probably Ziqi’s idea for Roujia to associate with Lin Yue, which means there’s no need to worry. If the Princess wishes to continue her relationship with Lin Yue, there is no need to intervene. Anyone that Ziqi is willing to interact with without concern for status must be a good person and surely has exceptional qualities. That fellow Ziqi is meticulous and shrewd, and I have not seen him suffer a loss at the hands of others."

Initially concerned, Huangfu Jing was relieved upon learning that Lin Yue had been invited to the Capital by Jiang Ziqi. He had been wondering why Commandery Princess Roujia, unlike Princess Yongle’s uninhibited nature, would come to know a peasant woman; but with Jiang Ziqi’s involvement, it made sense. Perhaps Jiang Ziqi saw that the couple came from a modest background and had no significant status, so he had Commandery Princess Roujia lend them her support on his behalf.

"Your Majesty is wise."

"By the way, I’ve been informed that Lin Yue has introduced a novel game to the Princess, to which both Princess Yongle and the Fifth Princess have become addicted, spending an entire afternoon on it. Go and find out exactly what it is and report back to me." Free from suspicion, Huangfu Jing was now merely curious.

Huangfu Jing knew exactly what kind of person Jiang Ziqi was, having grown up together. Anyone who could make Jiang Ziqi forgo his pride and status to make friends with must be extraordinary. What exactly set this peasant woman apart? She was truly worth a closer look. Moreover, when Jiang Ziqi returned last year, there was a significant change in him. The noble young master, who had always held himself with aloof dignity, suddenly took an interest in things he previously considered trivial, surely due to some transformative experience. Given Jiang Ziqi’s activities during that period, it might well be related to this peasant woman.

Lin Yue was entirely unaware that because of Jiang Ziqi, the Emperor had developed an interest in her, nor could she imagine how this would evolve in the future. At the moment, she was thoroughly enjoying her winning streak at mahjong, utterly dominating the game, while the Third and Fifth Princesses, even in losing money, were doing so with joy. Only the Third Princess’s personal maid had a look of worry; as much as she enjoyed the game of mahjong, if she kept losing like this, she would be out of her allowance for the year.

"Princess, I really can’t do this anymore. Please find someone else to play; my entire estate is on this mahjong table. Please spare me for the sake of all the years I’ve served you. I won’t be able to hold out if we keep playing," the maid pleaded.

The Third and Fifth Princesses were in the midst of their excitement, and there was no one else available who knew how to play; they were reluctant to change players. "Look at you, you’re only losing a bit of Silver. Forget it, since you belong to me, let’s put today’s losses on my account. Si Yu, fetch me a silver note," the Third Princess declared.

"Thank you, Princess, thank you! I always knew you were the best," the palace maid gushed in gratitude as the Third Princess waved off the debt. Now that the Princess was covering the cost, Lian Bi had no reason to be unhappy with the game of mahjong, since it was not the loss of Silver that bothered her.

On the other hand, the Fourth Princess returned to her palace fuming with anger and heartache, wanting to smash things, but there was nothing left for her to break. Every time she wished to add anything to her chamber, the Imperial Household Department’s servants always made excuses. Her own savings were dwindling with each use, and she could not bear to part with them.

"Those damned servants, I’m still a Princess, after all. There will come a day when I teach them all the consequences of insulting me," the Fourth Princess spat bitterly, reminiscing about the days when the late Emperor doted on her and her mother, and how even the Third Princess bowed to her then. Now, things had come to such a pass that even mere eunuchs dared to slight her. Thankfully, she still had her royal brother on the outside offering some hope; otherwise, she could hardly endure such days.

"Princess, please calm your anger. Those servants simply take people for granted. Now that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor look unfavorably upon you, they dare to act this way. Please be patient for a while. Once Prince Yongle succeeds, you can do as you please with them and make all who have insulted you pay the price," the maid soothed.