Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Jiang Mo lifted the carriage curtain and saw Chen Yingchou standing next to it, facing the breeze, a smile curling at the corners of his lips, reaching out his hand to her.

What's this?

This warm, smiling face was a complete contrast to the icy glare he'd given her in the carriage moments before.

She clutched her skirt, afraid to move, worried she might mess up.

But then it hit her. She glanced up at Duke Qingguo, then at the crowd at the mansion gate and the people watching from afar, and she got it immediately.

She needn't have worried in the carriage. In this public setting, where keeping up appearances was key, Prince Yu's acting was even better than hers.

Looked like they'd have to put on a show of being a loving couple.

Jiang Mo put her hand in Chen Yingchou's and stepped out of the carriage. She smiled, looped her arm through his, and looked at Duke Qingguo. "Your Highness, my parents are here to welcome you into the mansion."

Chen Yingchou nodded. Duke Qingguo stepped forward at the right moment. "Your servant Wei Chun pays homage to Your Highness. This morning, I..."

"You are too kind, Duke." Chen Yingchou cut him off, then gave Jiang Mo's hand a squeeze. "It's cold and windy outside, and Yalan's fragile. Let's talk inside."

Chen Yingchou took the lead and entered.

Qiao Yun waved, and the young eunuchs carried the chests in.

Prince Yu's lack of respect toward Duke Qingguo puzzled Jiang Mo. Logically, since Duke Qingguo only had one daughter, Wei Yalan, and after the betrothal, he'd naturally become Prince Yu's ally. The prince should be more respectful.

Seems like there was a lot she didn't know.

Duke Qingguo Wei Chun studied Jiang Mo with a sharp look, while Lady Guogong Liu Yingrong narrowed her eyes, forcing a stiff smile.

Jiang Mo didn't know her way around the duke's mansion. She only remembered the route to Wei Yalan's bedroom from that night. Luckily, Duke Qingguo led the way, or she'd have made a fool of herself for sure.

They arrived at the main hall, where a feast was already laid out. More than twenty cold dishes were on the table, and the hot ones still to come suggested even more abundance—a clear sign of how much Duke Qingguo valued this homecoming visit.

"Please, Your Highness." Wei Chun led Chen Yingchou and Jiang Mo to the seats of honor, then sat down in the lower seats with his wife.

The four of them sat facing a table piled with exquisite dishes, a scene of luxury mixed with emptiness.

The duke's household was not populous. It was said that after giving birth to Wei Yalan, Liu Yingrong's body was damaged, and she couldn't have more children. Later, Wei Chun himself had been injured during an autumn hunt.

Wei Chun had once thought about adopting a son from a relative, but for some reason, he gave up on that idea.

So Wei Yalan was pampered from childhood, her willfulness and arrogance famous all over the capital.

Liu Yingrong first picked up a piece of sticky rice lotus root and put it in Chen Yingchou's bowl. "This lotus root is from Falling Cloud Pavilion's chef. Try it, Your Highness, see if you like it." Then she added a piece of chicken. "And try this white-cut chicken too."

Chen Yingchou nodded. "Thank you, Lady Guogong."

Jiang Mo saw him pick up his chopsticks and quickly said, "Let me serve you, Your Highness." She then picked up the chicken from his bowl and brought it to his lips.

When the food touched his lips, he opened his mouth obligingly. He chewed a couple of times and said, "Delicious. Duke Qingguo, Lady Guogong, please eat." Then he took her wrist and said softly, "Don't just fuss over me. You eat too."

What a perfect picture of a loving couple.

Wei Chun laughed warmly. "I only have Lan'er as my daughter. Seeing you two so in love, this old man is satisfied."

Liu Yingrong took Jiang Mo's hand, looking at her with affectionate eyes, tears shining. "These past few days, Mother worried you wouldn't get used to life in Prince Yu's mansion. Now I can finally relax." As she spoke, she dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief.

Jiang Mo shuddered. She glanced at Chen Yingchou out of the corner of her eye, then at Duke Qingguo.

Four people at the table, and she was probably the worst actress.

That wouldn't fly. She'd have to step up her game.

Jiang Mo stood up. "Father, Mother, I was headstrong and unruly as a child, but you were patient and gave me endless love and care. Your careful guidance made me deserving of the title Princess Yu today." She raised her wine cup. "I toast to you, Father and Mother, wishing you health and happiness."

As she drank, Chen Yingchou reached for his cup and stood up.

Jiang Mo refilled his cup, adding considerately, "Your Highness is still on medication, so drink lightly."

Qiao Yun, standing nearby, looked at the full cup, then at the princess. He couldn't help remembering what his master had said that morning: "Just a woman pretending to love for gain."

He looked at the princess again, gazing at his master with loving eyes, and couldn't help shivering. But when he heard his master's next words, he thought the morning's comment was more fitting for his master.

The two were evenly matched.

Thinking about it, he felt his master's earlier words were wrong. Instead of two people faking feelings for profit, they were two people forced to hide their true selves because of their status.

"I thank Duke Qingguo and Lady Guogong for raising Yalan to be so gentle, elegant, and polite. Having her by my side in this life is my blessing. Please allow me, your son-in-law, to toast you both."

Jiang Mo recalled Chen Yingchou's dismissive attitude toward Duke Qingguo at the mansion gate. Yet now he referred to himself as "son-in-law" and spoke with humble courtesy.

She had a vague feeling that his attitude at the gate was his true demeanor, and everything now was an act.

Chen Yingchou finished his cup and continued, "I've prepared some small gifts, and I hope you'll accept them."

At a signal, the young eunuch at the door opened several large chests.

They held celadon tea bowls, brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, gold and silver jewelry, jade pieces, and famous paintings—a full collection.

Looking at so many valuable items and listening to Chen Yingchou's words, Jiang Mo felt a twinge of bittersweetness. Her father's image flashed in her mind, and a pang of sorrow hit her. She took a deep breath, looked up, and steadied herself.

Chen Yingchou didn't sit down. Instead, he raised his cup to signal Jiang Mo to pour him more wine.

The act had gone far enough. She didn't know what else Chen Yingchou might say, and a vague unease crept over her.

"The crow knows the duty of feeding its parents; the lamb knows gratitude for kneeling to suckle. Your son-in-law knows that Duke Qingguo and Lady Guogong have only Lan'er as their daughter. Now that Lan'er is married, she cannot always serve by your side. Your son-in-law offers his apologies."

After drinking another cup, Chen Yingchou slowly sat down. Just as Wei Chun was about to speak, and Jiang Mo felt relieved that he hadn't said anything more, Chen Yingchou added, "On this day of her return visit, why not let Lan'er stay for a few more days?"

Jiang Mo's mind went completely blank. Letting her stay in the duke's mansion would mean Lanqiu and Randong would have to serve her. If she wanted to keep her identity hidden, she would have to act day and night.

For a few days, she would have to play the doting daughter to Duke Qingguo and the affectionate daughter to Lady Guogong. And since, besides the steward and the three maids from that night, no one in the mansion knew her true identity, she would also have to play Wei Yalan's arrogant, willful role in front of the servants.

It was a total nightmare.

Wei Chun and Liu Yingrong were clearly flustered too. The two exchanged glances and remained silent for a long time.

Finally, Liu Yingrong had a flash of inspiration. "Your Highness, I am truly grateful for your kindness. But it so happens that I have an appointment with Master Liaowu at Huangliang Temple tomorrow, to attend a meditation session and pray for blessings."

Wei Chun quickly added, "It's a pity. A few days ago at the morning court, a report came from the north about someone illegally building a saltworks. I have been ordered to investigate and must depart tomorrow."

Jiang Mo immediately said, "In that case, staying here would be useless. I will have to find another day to spend time with Father and Mother."

As her words fell, all three turned their eyes to Chen Yingchou.

The man with the red silk over his eyes sat expressionless, his brow and mouth perfectly still, silent and motionless like a statue.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

None of them dared to say more. They knew well that even the best excuses were still excuses—what parents wouldn't want their child by their side? Especially with an only daughter doted on since childhood. Prayers could be offered any time, and official business abroad was hardly urgent; why must they leave tomorrow?

Just as the three were racking their brains for something else to say, a series of footsteps approached from the main hall entrance.

Four maids entered, carrying white porcelain soup bowls, and placed one before each person.

Just when they were worrying about how to break the tension and change the subject, this soup came at just the right time.

Liu Yingrong said, "Lan'er loves this fish soup. Prince, please have a taste."

Chen Yingchou nodded slightly, picked up the spoon, took a sip, and said, "It's delicious."

He turned to face Jiang Mo. "Lan'er, drink some too. This is what you like."

Jiang Mo took a sip, then said to Wei Chun and Liu Yingrong, "Father, Mother, please also have some fish soup."

Forced harmony, polite concern.

Chen Yingchou frowned slightly and stopped after just one sip. The other three quietly drank the fish soup, their hearts were racing. The earlier question had been like a stone thrown into water, without causing a single ripple—whether because the water was too deep or the stone too small, the uncertainty made them uneasy.

"Miss, don't drink!" A shout broke the calm.

A kitchen maid knelt before the dining table. The cry of "Miss" was clearly directed at Jiang Mo, who was startled into dropping her spoon on the table.

Liu Yingrong clearly heard it and instinctively looked toward Jiang Mo's bowl. She said sharply, "How dare you! Showing such disrespect before Prince Yu! Drag her out and give her twenty strokes of the cane."

She had already realized the problem, inwardly blaming the kitchen maid for being careless, and worried that this might expose Jiang Mo's identity.

"Wait," Chen Yingchou said.

Then he beckoned and whispered a few words to Qiao Yun.

Qiao Yun walked over to the kitchen maid and asked, "Why did you stop the Princess from drinking the fish soup?"

The kitchen maid was also puzzled now. If the young lady had accidentally eaten cilantro, even if it was her mistake, shouldn't they first call the physician to check on her? Why was the lady of the house so quick to have her dragged away and punished, as if afraid she might say something?

She dared not answer and looked at Liu Yingrong instead.

Liu Yingrong and Jiang Mo exchanged glances, both understanding each other's intent. She took the fish soup from in front of Jiang Mo and said, "Prince, you may not know this, but Lan'er cannot eat cilantro. If she accidentally does, she breaks out in rashes all over, with unbearable itching. This fish soup contains cilantro." Then she pretended to check Jiang Mo's neck with concern, using a handkerchief to cover it. "Look, it's already red here. Let Mom blow on it for you."

Jiang Mo thought, "This is bad." She knew that Wei Yalan could not eat cilantro and had always been careful about it. How could she have expected that here, in the Duke's mansion—supposedly the safest place—such a thing would happen? She looked at the fish soup. The cilantro today must have been finely chopped, and with so many ingredients in the soup, she hadn't tasted it at all.

Left with no choice, Jiang Mo had to play along. Under the cover of Liu Yingrong's handkerchief, she vigorously scratched her neck to make it turn red. "No wonder I felt a bit itchy just now," she said.

This kitchen maid had served Wei Yalan for over a decade. As soon as she heard Jiang Mo's voice, she sensed something was wrong. She looked around at the servants in the hall and realized that apart from Hui Qing and three other maids, all the others were unfamiliar faces. It suddenly dawned on her: no wonder the kitchen, which usually nobody else was allowed into, had been helped today by the newly arrived maids, and the new maids had been specifically assigned to serve the dishes.

"He Ji, ask her!" Chen Yingchou said coldly.

"Yes!" A guard walked in from the entrance, wearing a black short robe, broad-shouldered and tall, with a long sword hanging from his waist.

He Ji drew his long sword and rested it on her shoulder. His voice was low and stern: "Tell the truth, or die!"