Hidden Shadow – CH 296

Chapter Two-Hundred-Ninety-Six: Whose White Flower Has Just Grown (1)

“The current Emperor is quite shrewd, but is he a wise ruler? Character and talent are the most important.”

Chu Dingjiang had been observing the Second Prince for some time. He was brave but not impulsive, sometimes lacking in strategy, but when his advisors offered various suggestions, he remained unfazed and could choose the one most suitable for the current situation.

The Second Prince’s birth mother, Lady Li, was from a military family. Her appearance was not particularly outstanding, and because of her overly resolute nature, she lacked the gentle beauty of ordinary women. Furthermore, she lacked talent, so the Emperor always disliked her. Before Lady Li’s family declined, the Emperor reluctantly tolerated her, but once the Li family finally relinquished their military power, he would not even look at her, resulting in the Second Prince having little contact with his father during his childhood. Under Lady Li’s influence, the Second Prince developed a greater fondness for martial arts.

Chu Dingjiang recounted all this to An Jiu, saying, “I’ve also learned about Lady Li; she’s truly an extraordinary woman. In the harem, she does not vie for favor, nor does she compromise herself to please the Emperor. Her actions are remarkably composed. With such a character, her child, if carefully raised, will surely be quite good.”

If Lady Li wanted to gain favor, she could easily have molded her son into the kind of person the Emperor liked, but she didn’t.

The Emperor did not like Lady Li, and she probably did not think much of the Emperor either.

“If the skin is gone, where will the hair attach?” Chu Dingjiang sighed. “I thought I could be indifferent to everything, but seeing the Song Dynasty in turmoil, I cannot help but want to wade into the muddy waters.”

An Jiu thought for a moment and said, “We are still young. If we spent our lives hidden in the mountains, it would be a bit monotonous. Why not wade into the muddy waters first and then wash ourselves clean and come back to herd sheep when the water clears?”

Chu Dingjiang was very pleased to hear this and held her hand tightly. “My Ah Jiu is so understanding.”

An Jiu honestly said, “Actually, we are so close; you do not need to be hypocritical. I just had not noticed.”

“…”

The two walked silently through the snow until they reached the plum blossoms.

As dusk fell, the lanterns in Bianjing City were lit, casting a warm orange glow on the snow. The wind and snow were fierce, and the streets were almost deserted.

At the Hua Mansion, a group of people walked quickly along the veranda. Two maids in light green jackets and skirts led a woman in a red dress, carrying lanterns. Four maids in brown jackets and skirts followed behind. No one spoke, only the rustling of clothes.

As they approached a bend, the woman in the red dress saw a group of people approaching from the opposite direction.

Prime Minister Hua was extremely busy with state affairs, and his evening meals were irregular, as were those of Hua Rongtian. The Prime Minister’s wife disliked noise, and since her two daughters-in-law were sent by the Emperor, she did not want to have much interaction with them. Therefore, for convenience, everyone usually ate in their own courtyards, only gathering as a family a few times a month.

“Stop, wait for sister-in-law,” the woman in red said, stopping.

Mei Ruyan had only seen this sister-in-law five or six times since marrying into the Hua family, and had not had a chance to speak to her. Hearing that she was not only a secret guard of the Konghe Army but also a member of the Mei family, and that someone who could interact with Hua Rongtian was certainly not a simple character, Mei Ruyan wanted to learn more.

Seeing the other person stop, Mei Jiu slowed her pace. Ever since she learned that Hua Rongjian had married Mei Ruyan, she had tried her best to avoid meeting her. Fortunately, she usually preferred to stay indoors, so she did not need to deliberately avoid her. Now, seeing Mei Ruyan stop, Mei Jiu hesitated, but it was inevitable that they would meet again.

The two met at the bend in the road.

Mei Ruyan bowed slightly. “Sister-in-law.”

Mei Jiu returned the bow slightly. “Sister-in-law.”

They could not help but look at each other. Mei Jiu saw a familiar face yet felt a sense of unfamiliarity. Mei Ruyan wore a red, wide-sleeved satin jacket embroidered with slender white plum blossoms in silver thread, bright yet with a touch of fresh elegance. She was more alluring than before, but her eyes held a hint of coldness, no longer displaying the bright smile she used to give to everyone.

Fate was fickle. Years ago, when Mei Ruyan desperately tried to shed the image of a courtesan, her words and demeanor always carried a hint of worldliness. Now, however, she had come to terms with it and finally possessed a refined air.

Mei Jiu, on the other hand, wore a dark purple jacket and skirt, with a cloak over it. Her face was fair, and her eyes were like autumn water; her nose and cheeks were red from the cold, giving her a healthy glow.

This was the first time Mei Ruyan had closely observed Mei Jiu’s current appearance. Indeed, she lived up to the Mei family’s reputation for producing beauties—a captivating beauty with a touch of innocence, the kind of woman men would want to protect at first sight. What surprised Mei Ruyan even more was that this woman exuded not a trace of murderous intent.

“It’s too cold outside, let’s hurry,” Mei Jiu said, suppressing her emotions.

“Please go first, sister-in-law,” Mei Ruyan said.

Mei Jiu did not say much, only nodded slightly, and stepped through the archway.

Her eyes narrowed slightly to shield herself from the wind and snow, and the corners of her lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

When Mei Jiu saw Mei Ruyan deliberately waiting for her, she felt quite uneasy. However, she was no longer the naive girl living under her mother’s wing, and her response revealed nothing.

At that moment, she suddenly felt incredibly relieved.

She thought to herself, “So this is what it feels like to deceive others. No wonder so many people are obsessed with scheming.”