A Lady’s Tranquility Chapter 19.2

Chapter 19: Disappointment

Jiang Xue Ning’s fingers that were flipping through the pages of the book trembled.

Yan Lin continued, “It’s hard to tell if this is true or not but the killing of the horse is true. This person’s resoluteness and decisiveness in his actions are clear to see. Recently the Emperor wants to leave prison matters to the Imperial Guards to handle but the Ministry of Punishment, the Supreme Court and Censorate, the three judicial departments that are originally in charge of prison matters, all have strong opinions about it. The Ministry of Punishment had impeached Commander Zhou which gave the three judicial departments an opportunity to use the incident to their advantage. The Emperor couldn’t bear the public criticism and had removed Commander Zhou’s official title a few days ago. I’ve found people in the court to take care of it.”

Zhou Yin Zhi was someone who wouldn’t let out the falcon if there’s no hare in sight*
*[Idiom – doesn’t take action without a clear target]

Yan Lin did things cleanly which was good.

Although Jiang Xue Ning was reborn, but she didn’t know anything about those court matters when she went through these in her previous life. She only knew the end result but how the situation happened, what the details were, how many forces were competing in it, she completely had no idea of.

She didn’t know who would be watching if she gave a warning rashly and feared that not only would she not have helped the Yongyi Marquis Mansion, she would’ve harmed herself. But if Zhou Yin Zhi gave the warning, firstly, she could hide herself and secondly, Zhou Yin Zhi was the spy sent by the Imperial Guards to investigate the relationship between the Yongyi Marquis Mansion and King of Pingnan so he knew more than her and could bring out more substantial information to allow the Yongyi Marquis Mansion to pay heed to the matter.

Even if the disaster couldn’t be avoided, if they could take precautions and preparations in advance, they could avoid the previous life’s situation.

Although people had died during the confiscation of the mansion, more people died during the trip to exile.

Some died due to old age and fragility, some due to encounters with bandits and some due to illness and poverty…

Including Yan Lin’s father.

Jiang Xue Ning’s heart felt heavier. She knew that she was thoroughly used by Zhou Yin Zhi in her last time. Although she still used him in this life, but she had to take strict precautions.

He was able to kill his beloved horse to tell a flawless lie.

Tomorrow he’d be able to raise a butcher’s knife towards her for his own future and career progression.

She couldn’t help but to remind Yan Lin, “I think, this man likes his horse but is able to kill it as soon as he wants. Although he’s decisive, he’s also ruthless.”

Yan Lin’s eyes widened, he knew that she was concerned about him, “I know.”

It wasn’t suitable for Jiang Xue Ning to say anything else so she lowered her eyes and started peeling the handful of pinenuts Yan Lin had put down.

The pine nuts were small so it took time and effort to peel them.

She frowned as she peeled.

Yan Lin smiled when he saw it then took off the bulging embroidered purse hanging on his waist and threw it to her, “I knew that you’d be impatient peeling them. Open it and take a look.”

She caught the heavy purse.

When she opened it, she saw that it was full of peeled, golden yellow pine nuts.

Although it wasn’t expensive, but it took effort to peel them properly.

Just looking at that bulging embroidered purse, the scene of the young teenager carefully peeling the pine nuts little by little with his hands that were only used to hold swords appeared.

He saved them.

Then threw them casually to her.

Seeing that she didn’t speak, Yan Lin thought that she didn’t like it, “Don’t like eating them?”

Jiang Xue Ning shook her head, “No, I really like them.”

Yan Lin was confused, “Then why aren’t you eating it?”

Jiang Xue Ning didn’t know how to explain. Although it was small, but the intentions behind them were so big that she was afraid she couldn’t afford it.

A cool autumn wind blew in front of the window. September was coming to an end and the fragrance of the osmanthus flowers was gradually fading.

Yan Lin didn’t see her speak for a long time but didn’t know why. He thought of the strange words that she had said to him that night. Seeing her maid pack some more books, he asked, “Young Lady, are you bringing books into the palace to read tomorrow?”

Jiang Xue Ning didn’t even look, “No.”

Only then did Yan Lin remember the matter of entering the palace. He picked up another candied fruit, “You’ll be entering the palace to be the princess’ companion, plus, you’ll be able to receive lessons from Teacher Xie. How about it, are you happy?”

It would be strange if Jiang Xue Ning was happy.

She opened her mouth, planning to say that she didn’t want to go in the slightest.

But seeing Yan Lin’s smiling face and thinking of the pride in his voice, she suddenly had a bad premonition in her heart.

Jiang Xue Ning’s eyes twitched, ‘You haven’t been back for two days but you’ve already found out about the study companion matter?”

Yan Lin gave out an “Ah” and blinked his eyes at her. His dark eyes were shining brightly and the amusement in his eyes became more and more apparent, “I already knew that the princess wanted to find some study companions and had mentioned you to her a long time ago. I told her to add you in no matter what. You always say that you want to go to places that you’ve never been to before. Weren’t you curious in the past about the matters in the palace? This is such a great opportunity so of course I can’t forget you, Ning Ning. What do you think, I handled this beautifully right?”

Jiang Xue Ning: “…”

So you’re the one messing with me!!!

She resisted the urge to push the boy off the window sill. Her lips twitched, seemingly like she was smiling but actually, she was clenching her teeth, “Beautiful! This matter was done too beautifully, what a ‘surprise’!”

Yan Lin didn’t know why he had a chill behind his neck.

But when Ning Ning was happy, he was also happy.

Hence, he said, “Although I don’t know what texts Teacher Xie will teach you all, but you’ll definitely learn the qin. A few days ago, I had people collect some good hundred-year old ones. Teacher Xie loves the qin. If you bring a good one into the palace, even if he is very strict, he will be a little more tolerant towards you for the sake of the qin. Today is perfect, there’s still time. Let’s go, I’ll take you to pick a qin!”

Jiang Xue Ning’s hair rose when she heard the words, “Teacher Xie”. When she heard “Qin”, her head became even bigger. She wanted to say that she was going to go and be ‘persuaded to leave’ so she really didn’t need these things.

But she wasn’t able to overcome Yan Lin’s domineering attitude.

A short while later, she was forced onto his carriage and left the mansion to select a qin.

—

Fourteen days had past since the Double Ninth Festival.

You Fang Yin entered into the store for the umpteenth time. After inquiring about the market price of raw silk for the day, she frowned then thanked the clerk at the counter sincerely, ignoring the number of times the clerk rolled his eyes at her.

For more than ten consecutive days, she stayed up late to learn to read the ledger and practice doing the finances. Her eyes were bloodshot.

When she left the store, she felt heavy hearted.

The streets in the markets outside were bustling with people and carriages.

Recently, the mansion had become stricter. If she was caught sneaking out by her two sisters, especially her second sister, she would be tortured again.

The second sister had been selected as a study companion for the Eldest Princess so no one in the mansion dared to offend her.

You Fang Yin thought that she should go back earlier.

Plus, she had only slept four hours the night prior and really couldn’t carry out any longer.

But as she walked, she saw a small stall on the side of the road with many exquisitely embroidered brocade handkerchiefs and sachets as well as various other embroideries. One of the sachets had green calyx orchids embroidered on it. The stitching technique was one that she had never seen before. She stopped in her tracks.

You Fang Yin thought of that white peony that she had dirtied.

Thus, she stretched her hand out and picked up that sachet to take a closer look.

Someone passed by and accidentally bumped her. She was in a trance and wasn’t standing firmly so staggered forward and waved her sleeves in a panic, sweeping most of the brocade handkerchiefs and sachets that were neatly hanging in a row onto the ground.

That vendor only had a small stall so he immediately shouted, “What’s wrong with you? Are you trying to ruin someone’s business?”

You Fang Yin felt guilty, “I’m sorry, I just wanted to take a look at the sachet and didn’t mean to…”

Everyone’s eyes fell on her which made her extremely embarrassed. She quickly lowered her head and helped the vendor pick up the things that had fallen onto the ground one by one, apologizing profusely.

She had caused a ruckus on the street and people walking past pointed at her.

Jiang Xue Ning had just followed Yan Lin upstairs to the elegantly decorated Youhuang Pavilion. Before she walked in, she heard some sounds and turned her head to take a look. She immediately saw the embarrassed girl in the crowd.

As the girl picked up one sachet, she knocked over a few more, causing an even bigger mess.

She saw that it was You Fang Yin and couldn’t help but choke a little inside.

Nothing seemed to have changed.

She was just as clumsy as she had been before.

She looked again at the stall, it was selling sachets and handkerchiefs…

She suddenly laughed at herself.

What exactly was she anticipating?

Didn’t she know already that she was just a girl from the residence who had never learnt housekeeping, read an account book and could barely write a few words, who was also being restricted by her family. Even if she had money in her hands, at most she would just buy some land. Did she really expect her to use the money to take risks, buy raw silk and do business?

After all, there was only one You Fang Yin from the previous life who was so bold and out of the ordinary.

Yan Lin followed her gaze and recognized that it was the daughter of the concubine from the You clan who she had saved that day. He frowned, “What’s the matter?”

Jiang Xue Ning retrieved her gaze and lowered her eyes, “You can save someone from an illness but you can’t save their life. Sometimes, even if you know something is impossible, but when you see it with your own eyes that it isn’t possible, you’ll still get a little disappointed…”

Yan Lin looked back at her confused.

She smiled slowly, “It’s fine. It’s just a little.”