Chapter 764 - 766: Some Plan, Some Enter the Game
The palace maid was extremely frightened, unsure whether she was afraid of being punished by the Ministry of Internal Affairs or if she had done something shameful.
The eunuch manager from the Ministry of Internal Affairs whispered a few scoldings at the palace maid and asked her to rise and take her punishment from behind. He advised her not to obstruct the empress dowager’s view and upset the birthday star. Bai Ruozhu observed that the eunuch’s intentions were likely a reminder to her not to make a commotion, and to handle the situation discreetly.
"Madam Jiang, come with me to change your clothes. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has prepared some spare ceremonial robes. You’ll have to make do with it for now," said the eunuch manager.
Bai Ruozhu gave a slight nod, while Leng Wanhua said, "I’ll accompany you."
The eunuch did not stop them. Bai Ruozhu gave Jiang Yichun a look and followed the eunuch out.
Throughout the journey, Leng Wanhua did not rush to speak with her. The two followed the eunuch through the back garden and into a room in the adjoining palace.
"Please wait a moment. I’ve already sent someone to fetch the clothes. They will be here soon," said the eunuch.
Bai Ruozhu quickly glanced around the room. There was no burning incense, no hidden individuals. Could it really not be a trap? Could things really be so simple? How could it just happen that her clothes got soaked?
Soon, someone outside announced that the clothes had arrived. The little eunuch almost ran into the room, handed the clothes to the manager, who then passed them to Bai Ruozhu, saying, "Madam Jiang, please make do with these. I need to attend to the birthday banquet preparations.
There are guards outside; you can rest assured."
"Thank you," said Bai Ruozhu as she handed him a purse, "This is for you and your subordinates to have tea."
The eunuch manager was delighted with the purse and thanked her before leaving with the young eunuch.
Once they were gone, Leng Wanhua whispered, "Sister Ruozhu, could this be a trap? There are ample opportunities for mischief within the large palace."
"Keep an eye out for me, if anything happens, we can shout for help," said Bai Ruozhu as she began to open the ceremonial robes sent by the eunuch for her to change into, but shortly her expression changed.
Leng Wanhua looked over and her face also changed. She said, "Why are these fourth-rank ceremonial robes? Is this a mistake or is the eunuch careless? Wearing the wrong rank is highly inappropriate."
It’s like if you’re a seventh-rank officer and you wear the uniform of the eighth-rank. Though there’s only one rank difference, it’s considered a serious crime.
"I will go and get it exchanged," said Leng Wanhua angrily as she took the garment and hurried out.
Bai Ruozhu suddenly had a bad feeling and warned, "Wanhua, be careful!"
However, Leng Wanhua was in such a hurry that she didn’t seem to hear her.
The whole incident appeared artificial. Why did the palace maid bump into her, and why did the eunuch from the Ministry of Internal Affairs bring the wrong rank robes? She didn’t believe that the Ministry of Internal Affairs was so careless. And why did the screen by the Meng Family break?
Having thought this far, Bai Ruozhu quietly moved towards the screen at the back of the room. She decided to hide and watch the situation unfold. If the circumstances demanded, she could even hide in her space.
The screen was somewhat transparent, so she finally chose to hide behind the thick curtains in the room. She could explain her sudden appearance from the space if needed.
Soon, there was a very faint sound of footsteps from outside, which definitely couldn’t be from Leng Wanhua. If it were Leng Wanhua returning, she would’ve walked in unobstructed and spoken up. So who could be moving stealthily?
As expected, the person who entered was a young nobleman, seemingly from one of world’s renowned families attending today’s banquet. However, Bai Ruozhu had no recollection of him and didn’t know who he was.
The man peeked around, seeming sinister as if he had collaborated with someone.
Damn, Bai Ruozhu’s concerns weren’t misplaced. Someone wanted to tarnish her reputation while she was changing. Even though the Danliang Country was liberal, if a woman was caught changing her clothes by a man, or if a married woman had a secret meeting with a man outside her marriage, it would ruin her reputation. And if the woman held a ceremonial rank, she would be stripped off it and may even be abandoned by her husband’s family.
With those thoughts, Bai Ruozhu crawled into her space and opened a large screen to observe the outside. She fervently prayed that Leng Wanhua would not suddenly rush back and return, only to encounter this obscene man.
The man saw no traces of Bai Ruozhu and exclaimed, then briskly walked behind the screen in the room.
"Wasn’t she supposed to be in the room? Could she have flown away?" The man murmured and briefly his lascivious look was replaced by annoyance, as if anticipating something that had just escaped.
Just as the man couldn’t find Bai Ruozhu and was about to leave, faint footsteps were heard outside. Someone was rushing towards the room.
Upon hearing more than one person, Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but sneer in her heart. Look, the people wishing to catch her off-guard had arrived!
When they entered the room, Bai Ruozhu was surprised to see that it was Princess Diao Bin and her maid.
Although she didn’t like Princess Diao Bin, she believed that she had a pure character and wasn’t wicked. But it seemed she had been wrong! If she fell prey to anyone, she could only be abandoned by Jiang Yichun, and then Princess Diao Bin would have her chance. It’s a pity that she was misunderstanding the Empress Dowager’s intentions. If the Empress Dowager knew that her daughter had turned out like this, she would definitely be disappointed.
Bai Ruozhu bit into a water caltrop inside her space until its snow-white flesh was all crushed, imagining it to be Princess Diao Bin.
"Who are you? Who let you in?" Princess Diao Bin put on a stern face. Her delicate little face was tense, showing some of her princess demeanor.
The lewd man raised his eyebrows and said, "Of course, the princess doesn’t remember a small fry like me. Bai Ruozhu invited me over. Perhaps the princess should refrain from being overly curious."
Bai Ruozhu was stunned in her space. What was happening outside?
Princess Diao Bin snorted coldly, "Do you think I don’t know anything? I suspected Liu, the Imperial Concubine’s intentions and hurried over. I remember you now, your name is Li Yuande, and you have some familial ties with the Imperial Concubine’s family, am I right?"
The man was taken aback. Panic flashed across his face, but he quickly regained composure and said, "I don’t know what you’re talking about."
"Where is Bai Ruozhu? What have you done to her?" demanded Princess Diao Bin angrily.
Li Yuande scoffed and said, "Why does the princess care so much about Bai Ruozhu? Is it because you are fond of her husband?"
Princess Diao Bin was, in the end, an unmarried woman, so when her secret was exposed, her face turned red. Unfortunately, her embarrassed demeanor made Li Yuande lustful.
He suddenly turned around and used a hand chop to knock out the maid behind the princess. Princess Diao Bin yelped, "How dare you! What are you doing?"
Li Yuande chuckled lewdly, his laughter so distorted that it twisted his face. "Nothing much. Since I can’t have Bai, why not try the princess? Let me be the princess’s consort."