You expect me to serve your mistress? The mistress is driving this scumbag and his entire family cra

Chapter 181 Are you trying to claim credit for someone else's work?

These words made Consort Xie even more displeased: "It seems she has quite a few spies in the Prince's residence, going to such lengths."

"The prince accompanied her to Xiliang, risking his life countless times, and helped her achieve fame in Chang'an. In front of others, he never mentioned the price he paid for the case of the Duke of Liang, and piled all the credit onto her."

Such kindness should move Princess Heya to repay it with her life, right? It's only natural for her to spare a little effort for the Prince.

Xie Wan'er secretly rolled her eyes at Jian Shuyan. This woman's skills were truly remarkable. Not a single word she said was dissent against her opponent. She even seemed to be pleading for Liang Jiang, yet she simultaneously belittled Liang Jiang to the point of being worthless.

Compared to my earlier accusation, which was so blunt, it was nothing.

Consort Xie snorted coldly: "If Xizhi hadn't accompanied her to Xiliang and personally welcomed me to the capital, I wouldn't have encountered this misfortune. How dare she come here."

"His Highness has always been aloof and arrogant, and he dislikes being bothered by women. And His Highness has always been filial to you, so who wouldn't want to do everything they can to please you?"

Consort Xie's face grew even more somber: "A woman who is always in the limelight and shows her face in public every day, clinging to men relentlessly, what kind of behavior is that? Isn't she afraid of ruining her reputation?"

Jian Shuyan glanced at Xie Wan'er beside her: "Princess Heya is a woman of the martial world, always free and unrestrained, and doesn't care about worldly teachings."

Otherwise, just the fact that she was divorced by the Fang family has caused such a stir that it's known throughout Fucheng and even the capital. If it were us, we'd be too ashamed to face anyone. Don't you agree, Princess Wan'er?"

They still wanted to drag her down with them? Xie Wan'er wasn't stupid, and she said without any politeness, "My aunt always taught me that it's not good to gossip behind people's backs, especially some unfounded rumors. Don't just follow the crowd."

After all, the rumors about Liang Jiang and my brother last time serve as a cautionary tale. Who knows what the gossips are up to? Don't you think so, Miss Jian?"

Jian Shuyan wanted to form an alliance with Xie Wan'er to deal with Liang Jiang, but she was turned down and said awkwardly, "I just admire Princess Heya and am ashamed of myself."

Consort Xie's dislike for Liang Jiang grew even stronger because of her words. She snorted and waved to the guards, "Tell Princess Heya that I am unwell and unable to receive guests. Tell her to go back."

The guard accepted the order, turned around, and went out to report.

Jian Shuyan and Xie Wan'er didn't see eye to eye, leaving an awkward silence. She immediately stood up and said, "Your Highness should rest now. I won't disturb you any longer. I'll come to pay my respects another day."

Consort Xie did not try to stop her: "Come to my residence to talk to me whenever you have free time. It will also help you and Xizhi to get to know each other better."

Jian Shuyan agreed, took three steps back, and turned to leave the mansion.

Liang Jiang had not yet left; she was talking to the guards at the door, and the guards had already relayed Consort Xie's words to her.

Liang Jiang had no idea that Consort Xie had already been so provoked by Jian Shuyan that she loathed her and was somewhat disappointed.

Still unwilling to give up, she asked the guard, "I heard that Consort Xie was assassinated on her way back to the capital. Is this true?"

Recalling the Empress Dowager's displeased words, the guard dared not say another word and instead asked Liang Jiang, "Princess, who told you this?"

"I just sent someone to the government office to inquire. I don't know if there were any casualties or if anyone went missing."

Before the guard could answer, Jian Shuyan had already come out of the mansion and overheard Liang Jiang's words.

"Why is Princess Heya so concerned about the affairs of the Prince of Pingxi's mansion? She even sent someone to the yamen to inquire about it."

Liang Jiang was somewhat surprised to see her. After a moment of surprise, she realized that Consort Xie's illness was just an excuse; she was currently enjoying time with Jian Shuyan and had no intention of seeing her at all.

She pursed her lips: "The day before yesterday, when I went out of the city, I encountered a person who had been injured by robbers. His injuries were very serious. I don't know if he was from the Prince's Mansion, so I came to inquire about him."

The guard standing nearby was immediately excited and was about to speak when Jian Shuyan interrupted him.

"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, Princess. The Dowager Consort did encounter danger when she returned to the capital a couple of days ago, but she was accompanied by so many guards, and she returned safely without any serious incident."

No? Liang Jiang was immediately disappointed.

Today, Yu Tan returned from the yamen and told me the news he had heard that when Consort Xie returned to the capital, she was robbed by bandits. I was a little puzzled at the time, wondering why the Consort only had a few guards with her.
Besides, wasn't it said that the Dowager Consort returned to the capital with Xie Wan'er? But Xie Wan'er wasn't seen at the time.

But having finally found a clue, he figured he should ask in person, which is why he came to the Prince's residence.

Now that she had received a negative answer from Jian Shuyan, she decided not to linger any longer.

"So it seems I misunderstood. I'll go ask around elsewhere."

Jian Shuyan chuckled: "Princess Heya, could it be that you heard I saved the Dowager Consort and that she looks at me differently, and you're feeling envious and trying to claim credit for it?"

Liang Jiang frowned: "Miss Jian, what makes you say that?"

"Whether the person you rescued is a guard of the Prince's mansion or not can be found out with a simple question. Why go through all this trouble to come and ask the Prince? It's hard not to suspect that you have ulterior motives."

Liang Jiang snorted coldly: "If that person hadn't been seriously injured, unconscious, and whose identity was unknown, why would I have bothered with such trouble? Miss Jian, you are being too narrow-minded, judging others by your own petty standards."

He turned around, mounted his horse, and prepared to leave.

Jian Shuyan stepped down the stairs and looked up at her: "Don't be in such a hurry to leave. The Dowager Consort asked me to pass on a message to you, Princess. I almost forgot."

"What?"

"The Dowager Consort said that Princess Heya should be more mindful of herself in the future and stop bothering the Prince, causing him more trouble. You have too much trouble on your hands."

That's a bit too hurtful.

Liang Jiang tightened her grip on the reins, wanting to say something, but then felt it was pointless to say more. With a flick of the reins, she rode off into the distance.

Inside the mansion.

After dismissing Jian Shuyan, Consort Xie's expression darkened, and she questioned Xie Wan'er, who was standing to the side: "Tell me honestly, what exactly is this so-called mutual restraint of the five elements?"

Xie Wan'er looked completely bewildered: "What? What happened? It's what I just said."

Consort Xie scoffed, "Xi Zhi has never believed in such nonsense, so why would she deliberately emphasize this during the selection process?"

Xie Wan'er shrugged: "Isn't that simple? My cousin knew that Miss Jian was on good terms with my brother, so he deliberately found her an excuse to get out of the competition. Who knew that Jian Shuyan didn't appreciate it and instead stole the show during the selection process."

Consort Xie glared at her: "Xi Zhi told you this, didn't she? You two conspired to cause trouble at the Jian family's house, pretending to be sick, which alerted the palace, and then, through the imperial physician, it reached the emperor's ears."

Xie Wan'er looked wronged: "Aunt, why are you saying that?"

Consort Xie scoffed, "Do you think I really don't know about your little tricks? You have no intention of marrying Xizhi at all."

Xie Wan'er forced a smile: "Aunt, who told you that? Wan'er has liked my cousin since I was a child, and I will marry no one but him."

"Hmph! You can fool others with your tricks, but you can't fool me. Your aunt just thinks it would be great if you and your cousin could really develop feelings for each other and become family, so she's just going with the flow and not exposing you two."

Seeing that she couldn't hide it any longer, Xie Wan'er chuckled and asked, "Aunt, how did you figure it out?"

“Every time you hear that you are going to arrange a marriage for Xizhi, you cry and make a scene, and even fall ill. You act so realistically that you even fooled your mother.”

But you two were in Weixi, and you spent your days walking your birds and fighting cocks, unlike other girls who were so infatuated with Xizhi. Whose idea was this anyway?

(End of this chapter)