Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Chief Eunuch Yu Yuan

After changing her clothes, Jiang Lan let Xi Chi in.

Leaning against the bed, Jiang Lan looked at the girl and said, "Tell me exactly what happened after I fainted today."

Xi Chi did not hesitate, and in just a few words, she explained everything that had happened that morning with clarity.

"So, you're saying Grandfather brought a doctor, and turned away the imperial physicians from the palace?"

Xi Chi nodded. "I'm not entirely sure of the details, but that's what the servants have been gossiping about."

Jiang Lan pondered this. The household of the Duke's residence was simple; the servants, aside from occasional idle chatter, had no ill intentions. If what they said was true, it explained why the original owner had suffered such grievous injuries without anyone discovering she was a daughter.

Clearly, the family doctor and her so-called grandfather were in collusion. This was a secret of the Duke's residence—she wondered if it was also the Empress Dowager's secret.

"Take some people and bring over the attendant from Mi Fang Zhai, and also that scholar."

Xi Chi hesitated for a moment. "Yes."

Jiang Lan ate a simple dinner, attended by the old woman from the kitchen.

In the study, Jiang Lan toyed with an ornament on her desk, her gaze icy as she looked at the two bound and kneeling figures before her.

"The attendant?"

The attendant, face pale with fear, forced a smile. "Master, if you have any instructions, you could have sent word through your people. Why trouble yourself?"

Jiang Lan set the brush rest down. "Trouble myself? Hmph. This morning you made a monkey of me, and now your master must be delighted."

In a flash, the brush rest shattered into powder. The servants guarding the attendant and scholar trembled, wondering what had gotten into the heir to make her so formidable.

The attendant's face showed surprise and fear, yet inwardly he relaxed; just as his master had predicted, this Jiang heir was no simple character.

"Master, please, I'm just an attendant—I know nothing!"

"Hmph, an attendant?" Jiang Lan wasn't angry; she simply pulled a dagger from the drawer. "If you're just an attendant, how do you know so much about Young Masters Liu and Zhang? And how is it such a coincidence that you know the scholar beside you so well?"

Seeing the attendant about to speak, Jiang Lan waved him off. "Don't give me useless talk—tell me what you're really after." When the man tried to look pitiful and uninvolved, Jiang Lan flexed her fingers, the joints cracking ominously.

The scholar hurried to interject, "Master, a gentleman reasons, not resorts to violence!"

Jiang Lan sighed and looked at the stubborn attendant. "You've brought real trouble upon me. That Zhang fellow is manageable, but Liu won't let this rest easily."

The scholar edged forward, full of righteous spirit. "This was my misfortune alone; I would never implicate either of you. If Young Master Liu seeks justice, I will shoulder the blame!" He even threw the attendant a loyal look.

Jiang Lan felt her brow twitch; some people really were foolish enough to help count the money after being sold.

Annoyed, Jiang Lan waved for them to be taken away.

Xi Chi entered. "Master, how should we deal with these two?" She made a throat-slitting gesture.

Jiang Lan's heart skipped a beat—were girls so violent these days?

She sipped her tea calmly. "That won't be necessary. Go investigate the attendant; dig into his past as far back as you can, learn everything about his life."

"Yes."

Night was still young; Xi Chi went to handle her tasks, and the old woman in the kitchen was fussing over something. Jiang Lan thought for a moment, then took the pastries she'd bought earlier and wandered leisurely to Si Yuan Pavilion.

Chun Ming received the pastries. "Young Master, please sit."

Jiang Lan took the seat below the main one. "Is my sister not here?"

Chun Ming nodded. "With the end of the month approaching, things at the shop are busy. Miss came home at noon to visit you. Doctor Hu said you needed rest, so she went out again and has not yet returned."

Jiang Lan nodded. Her sister was truly capable. Remembering the dream where someone sent her pastries, she felt warmth in her heart.

"I have nothing much to say. These are from your young mistress; if she returns, let her know I stopped by. The events of this morning aren't worth worrying about."

Chun Ming bowed. "Yes, Young Master."

Jiang Lan did not linger. Though they were cousins, now that they were older, people would gossip. She herself didn't care, but her sister was a young lady awaiting marriage.

The next day, just after dawn, Jiang Lan received a token of her sister's affection—a serving of crab roe soup dumplings.

How could an elder brother refuse such thoughtfulness? She ate until her belly was round.

Just as she was about to send off yesterday's pastries to her cousin, she saw a grand procession arriving at the gate.

Jiang Lan went to the main hall. The visitor was none other than her aunt's chief eunuch, Yu Gonggong, the most influential figure in the palace.

"Yu Gonggong," Jiang Lan quickly greeted. The saying goes, 'At a prime minister's door, even a seventh-rank official bows,' and this was the power behind Nan Chen.

"Young Master, you flatter this old servant," Yu Gonggong, though aged, moved swiftly. Jiang Lan had barely offered a courtesy before being helped up, only half the gesture completed.

"What brings you, Gonggong?"

"The Empress Dowager misses you, so she specially sent me to invite you to the palace," Yu Gonggong feigned a cough. The eunuchs and palace guards behind him, perceptive as ever, withdrew to a respectful distance.

Yu Gonggong lowered his voice, full of flattery. "Young Master, don't worry. It's just that the son of the Minister of Rites was beaten, and the matter has reached the court. The Empress Dowager and His Majesty feel this is most embarrassing. You're invited to the palace to clarify things."

Seeing Jiang Lan's frown, Yu Gonggong hastened to explain, "Don't be afraid, Young Master. If there's evidence, the Liu family will be dealt with. If it was just a scuffle, it's nothing. The Empress Dowager and His Majesty are on your side."

Suddenly, something appeared in Jiang Lan's hand—a well-crafted jade pendant. This was clearly a bribe. The favorite of the Empress Dowager was bribing her; what did this mean? It meant she was even more favored in the Empress Dowager's eyes!

Jiang Lan accepted the token without hesitation. "Gonggong, please rest. I'll go change."

"No rush, no rush."

Jiang Lan nearly laughed at the eunuch's chrysanthemum-like smile.

It was clear her identity was powerful outside the house, though she seldom appeared in public—almost like a nonentity. Otherwise, Liu and Zhang would never have dared to act so boldly yesterday.

Jiang Lan returned to her courtyard, but instead of changing clothes, she went to the woodshed where the attendant was imprisoned.

The door swung open, and the attendant quickly shut his eyes.

Jiang Lan removed the cloth from his mouth. "Aside from being the Minister of Rites, what else does Liu Heng's father do? Tell me everything you know."

The attendant, unsure what mood Jiang Lan was in, his eyes flashed with cunning. "If I tell you, will you let me go?"

He looked at Jiang Lan with hopeful anticipation, but upon seeing the glint of the knife in her hand, he instantly lost his nerve.

"It's not much of a secret—I’ll tell you."