Chapter 6:- “Testing the Waters”

Since the celebration banquet at the army camp, Jiang Rao had seen her second brother’s military duties grow increasingly heavy and busier with each passing day.

Her second brother had just been newly appointed Grand General of the nation. As the saying goes, a new official sets three fires; in these past few days, he left early and returned late; either at the suburban camp or the western training grounds. Since coming back, the family had shared only a single dinner together.

For Jiang Ming to receive his title at such a young age was certainly a good thing. Yet inwardly, Jiang Rao pondered.

In her previous life, her brother had also borne the title of Grand General of the nation but not in the eighth year of Jing’an. It had been in the tenth year. Why had this life’s timeline advanced by two whole years?

After thinking carefully, Jiang Rao suddenly realized that the disruption in this life’s sequence began with last month’s unexpected natural disaster. If that disaster had not occurred, her parents would have gone south as planned, and her brother Jiang Ming would never have led the troops alone, naturally, he would not have earned the Emperor’s reward so soon.

Could it be that because she was reborn, carrying memories from her past life, she had somehow disturbed the heavens’ order thus causing fate itself to shift?

The thought brought her deep unease. If that were true, all the foresight she had counted on would lose its value, and any struggle she made against the Crown Prince would be like walking a razor’s edge.

After much reflection, she decided there was still one goal that had not changed: she must get close to Chen Lian as soon as possible.

According to what Li Hu had said that day, Chen Lian was currently tending horses for Prince Chen, who oversaw the Imperial Patrol Camp. The stables, therefore, would be near that camp in the Yunhua Riding Grounds, east of the city.

At first, Jiang Rao had planned merely to seek Chen Lian’s protection, earn his gratitude and one day ask for repayment. But now she realized that would not be enough.

She couldn’t simply be his benefactor as favors can always be repaid.

Now she grew greedy: if she truly wished to be secure, she must make him owe her a debt of feeling; one he could never repay in this lifetime.

Yet trapped as she was in the deep chambers of the Marquisate, she could do little. Her elder sister, Jiang Yuan, was a quiet woman who spent her free time reading or practicing calligraphy and rarely seeking any social bustle.

The elder sister never stepped past the inner gates; if Jiang Rao went out alone, it would draw too much attention.

Worried and restless, Jiang Rao paced her courtyard several times, and then settled on the swing. Seeing her maid Chunxing attending nearby, she asked, “Chunxing, when will my sister go out next?”

Chunxing thought for a moment before answering, “Likely on the fifteenth of next month to Cheng’en Temple, to return her vow.”

Another whole month…

Hearing this, Jiang Rao’s anxiety deepened. If her sister’s outing wouldn’t do, she’d have to find another way. So, that evening, when her second brother returned home, she secretly went to find Deputy General Li Hu.

Li Hu was an honest man and, since that previous incident, had felt guilty toward her. He had even volunteered that, should she need anything, she could command him freely.

Jiang Rao went alone to Jiang Ming’s study, and sure enough, Li Hu was standing guard outside. Seeing her, he immediately saluted respectfully.

“Third Young Lady, are you here to see the heir?”

Jiang Rao shook her head. “I came to see you.”

“Whatever orders Third Young Lady gives, Li Hu will do his utmost to fulfill.”

That was exactly what she wanted to hear. She led Li Hu to the corridor, made sure no one else was nearby, and said quietly, “You know I left a handkerchief with Chen Lian last time. It wasn’t important in itself but it was a birthday gift from a close friend. Though not valuable, it carries sentiment. Deputy Li, could you do me a favor and retrieve it for me?”

Hearing her mention Chen Lian again, Li Hu was clearly surprised, but after she explained, it did seem a reasonable request.

Jiang Rao then added carefully, “It’s best not to tell my brother about this. As a daughter of the Marquisate, it would sound improper if word spread that I had private dealings with a man. Once the handkerchief is retrieved, the matter will be over.”

“Then there’s no need to trouble the heir with a trifle,” Li Hu agreed readily. “Leave it to me, I’ll handle it well.”

Jiang Rao had thought everything through. Though Li Hu was loyal to her brother, he was still one of his men. To minimize complications, she decided to send a maid with him.

So she said thoughtfully, “I know you and Chen Lian have some misunderstandings. You needn’t explain anything to him yourself. Why not bring one of my maids along? When you arrive, she can ask for the handkerchief; you only need to escort her inside.”

The Yunhua Riding Grounds were only busy during royal hunts. On ordinary days, few people went there so it was under the Patrol Camp’s supervision, and without a token, outsiders could not enter.

Jiang Rao had considered sending only a maid in secret, but feared the guards would stop her. After much deliberation, asking Li Hu’s help was indeed the best plan.

“Third Young Lady is thoughtful. I happen to have a rest day tomorrow; I can take your maid then.”

Li Hu agreed readily, after all, avoiding Chen Lian altogether suited him just fine.

“You have my thanks.”

Once everything was arranged, Jiang Rao returned to Qiongju Pavilion, where five maids attended her. But the only ones she trusted fully were Chunxing and Xiaotao.

Xiaotao was still young, impulsive and careless by nature so Jiang Rao dared not send her with Li Hu. She entrusted the matter solely to Chunxing.

Chunxing, steady by temperament, listened carefully as Jiang Rao recounted the entire story of the lost handkerchief. Though surprised, she quickly agreed.

“Please rest assured, miss. Chunxing will see it done.”

Even so, her expression was serious. The matter might seem small, but it involved a young lady’s reputation.

A handkerchief was an intimate personal item; in the hands of an unrelated man, no matter the circumstances, it was improper.

Seeing Chunxing’s concern, Jiang Rao reassured her. “Don’t worry. With Deputy Li accompanying you, nothing will go wrong. Just do exactly as I said. The man’s name is Chen Lian, his looks are rather striking; you’ll recognize him at once.”

The words sounded questionable as a lady shouldn’t praise an unfamiliar man so openly. Chunxing, ever proper, quickly reminded her, “Miss, you should be cautious with such talk.”

Of course, Jiang Rao understood her maid’s fear. But the heavy shackles of her future crown princess status chafed her endlessly. Chen Lian truly was exceptional, so why shouldn’t she say so?

Though rebellious inside, she relented for Chunxing’s sake, sighing softly. “I know my limits. Don’t worry too much.”

“Yes, miss.” Only then did Chunxing relax slightly.

—-

The next morning, Li Hu and Chunxing set out early.

They left quietly by the back gate, startling no one. When Xiaotao later noticed Chunxing’s absence, she assumed her fellow maid had gone shopping and thought nothing of it.

Jiang Rao, however, could not calm herself. Restless, she sat on the swing in her courtyard, swaying back and forth to ease her nerves.

Why insist on retrieving that handkerchief? Of course, she had her reasons.

At last, past noon, Chunxing returned.

The maid entered with a worried face, her expression grave. She glanced around cautiously, made sure no one was nearby, and shut the door tightly.

“Miss…” Chunxing’s eyes were already brimming with tears.

Jiang Rao hurriedly asked, “Did everything go smoothly?”

“That Master Chen did not return the handkerchief,” Chunxing said, hesitating, her face flushed as if the words themselves were difficult to utter.

Jiang Rao’s anxiety spiked. “What else did he say?”

Chunxing lowered her head, and then forced herself to report everything in order. “I did as you instructed. I went to the riding grounds alone and found him easily, he was exactly as you described. Seeing no one nearby, I approached, greeted him, and said I was sent by the Marquisate’s cousin lady to retrieve a misplaced handkerchief. I thought it would go smoothly, but that Master Chen was completely unreasonable.”

“What did he do?”

“He looked at me quite seriously and said that if the owner wants the handkerchief back, she must come in person to get it.”

Chunxing’s small face crumpled in grievance. “I tried to reason with him, saying you couldn’t go out freely, but he refused to understand, then he grew impatient and simply walked away!”

Clutching the new handkerchief she had just embroidered, Jiang Rao asked quickly, “He really said that?”

“Yes, really.”

Jiang Rao fell silent.

Seeing her reaction, Chunxing hurried to comfort her. “Please don’t be upset, miss. If necessary, I can try again, even if I must snatch it, I will bring it back!”

But Jiang Rao was not distressed, she was secretly delighted.

The fact that the handkerchief was not returned meant her efforts were working.

If Chen Lian truly despised her, why keep it and why demand that she come herself? Was he not inviting trouble?

Jiang Rao paced back and forth, mulling over his intent. If he wanted her to come, then surely he didn’t dislike her. Perhaps this was his way of testing her sincerity.

He must know that for a noble-born lady to meet a man in private was no trivial matter and especially for someone of her status, watched by countless eyes.

“Chunxing, this must not be spoken of to anyone,” Jiang Rao ordered solemnly. “Not even Xiaotao.”

“I understand,” Chunxing nodded. “Deputy Li asked how things went when I came out. I knew some things shouldn’t be said, so to avoid trouble I told him the handkerchief was already retrieved.”

“Good. You did exactly right,” Jiang Rao said approvingly. Chunxing had handled everything perfectly.

“Ah, yes, before leaving, Master Chen asked me to give you a message. Though I found it quite strange,” Chunxing added, frowning as she recalled it.

Jiang Rao paused. “What did he say?”

“He said the fine wine you brought him that night was truly delicious. Next time you come, could you bring another jar?” Chunxing sounded puzzled, almost indignant. “Miss, how could he spout such nonsense? When did you ever bring him wine? How dare he speak so carelessly!”

Jiang Rao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Not only had she personally delivered wine to Chen Lian, she was already plotting how to deliver herself next…

Author’s Note:
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Weibo: @Shi Dai:- sweet side stories posted occasionally ♡

T’s Cultural Notes:

• Grand General of the Nation :- a high-ranking general title granted by the emperor.
• Yunhua Riding Grounds :- royal hunting and training grounds outside the eastern city.