Chapter Eight: It Can't Possibly Be a Rice Bucket Spirit

Although Shen Yi did not join the excitement that night, she felt compelled to visit the next day. When she arrived with Liu’er to see Xiao Huaijin, Jiang Nansheng was tending to his wounds.

Xiao Huaijin sat bare-chested, his sculpted chest and abdominal muscles almost making Shen Yi salivate. In the entertainment world of her former life, he would undoubtedly be a top idol.

Seeing Shen Yi, Jiang Nansheng teased, “Your Highness, your little lover has arrived!”

Xiao Huaijin pinched Jiang Nansheng’s chin, both amused and exasperated. “What nonsense are you spouting? My heart belongs only to you. I’ve always treated Yi’er like a sister, and she’s always respected me.”

Jiang Nansheng stepped back, sneering coldly. “Only Your Highness thinks that way.”

Shen Yi entered the room and, with Liu’er, respectfully greeted Xiao Huaijin, her eyes filled with concern. “Brother Jin, are you alright?”

He shook his head. “Don’t worry, Yi’er. I’m fine. Just a few petty thieves—no match for me.”

Jiang Nansheng’s thoughts stirred at his words. [Keep pretending in front of your little lover. If not for my exceptional medical skills, you’d be dead already. Speaking of which, the assassination attempt on Your Highness might have something to do with Shen Yi.]

Xiao Huaijin was taken aback. How could Shen Yi be involved? Shen Yi herself was puzzled. The story hadn’t reached the stage where love turns to hatred—how could she be slandered so suddenly? She swore she had nothing to do with it.

But she couldn’t reveal this outright; otherwise, the fact that she could hear Jiang Nansheng’s thoughts would be exposed.

Xiao Huaijin was curious but hesitant to believe Jiang Nansheng’s suspicions—after all, none of the thoughts he’d shared before had ever been accurate.

After a brief pause, Shen Yi feigned nonchalance. “Brother Jin, if anyone dares to harm you, we must find the mastermind and punish them severely. If you need anything from me, just say the word.”

She had to show her deep resentment toward those who had hurt Xiao Huaijin.

He replied, “You’re a young lady; leave this to me. Don’t meddle. Stay indoors these days—I worry for your safety.”

Shen Yi agreed and spoke some comforting words before leaving with Liu’er.

As soon as Shen Yi left the courtyard, Jiang Nansheng hurried after her.

Seeing Jiang Nansheng alone, Shen Yi knew she wanted to speak privately.

She dismissed Liu’er and faced Jiang Nansheng alone.

Jiang Nansheng looked at Shen Yi. “You sent your maid away—are you worried that what you’ve done will be exposed and you’ll be cast out of the prince’s mansion?”

Shen Yi was genuinely puzzled. “What do you mean, Princess Consort? I don’t understand.”

Jiang Nansheng said, “If you hadn’t leaked the prince’s itinerary, how else would he have been attacked? If anything happens to him, you won’t have nine lives to repay.”

Had she really leaked Xiao Huaijin’s schedule? She couldn’t recall. The original story didn’t even have this assassination attempt. Why was the plot so chaotic now?

Regardless, whether she leaked anything or not, she would never admit it.

“I know the Princess Consort dislikes me and thinks I’m a barrier between you and Brother Jin. But rest assured, since you married him, I will leave the mansion soon, so you won’t have to slander my name without cause.”

With that, Shen Yi turned and left.

Jiang Nansheng sneered at her retreating figure. “Shen Yi, others may not know your schemes, but I do. It’s all a game of bait and retreat. You’ve planned this for years—there’s no way you’ll leave so easily. As long as I’m here, your plots will be exposed sooner or later.”

Back in her quarters, Shen Yi sat down to ponder.

Jiang Nansheng was a protagonist with endless buffs; she wouldn’t accuse Shen Yi of leaking the prince’s itinerary without reason.

Could it be that Shen Yi really had done it? Shen Yi searched her memory but found no evidence.

Besides, her previous self adored Xiao Huaijin deeply—she wouldn’t endanger him now.

It had to be a misunderstanding by Jiang Nansheng.

Liu’er watched her mistress anxiously. After talking alone with Jiang Nansheng, something felt off.

Could Jiang Nansheng have threatened her lady? No, even if it cost her life, she would exchange blows with Jiang Nansheng to protect her.

This was, after all, a one-on-one confrontation.

Outside, a maid came with news.

Liu’er went to the door, spoke briefly with the maid, and returned.

“Miss!”

“What is it?” Shen Yi looked up, wondering if it was time to eat again.

Though she didn’t understand why her appetite had grown since transmigrating, surely she wasn’t turning into a bottomless pit.

Liu’er said, “Miss Liu from the Liu Duke’s mansion is here!”

Miss Liu from the Liu Duke’s mansion—that was the legendary Empress Ruyan, Liu Ruyan!

A famed beauty of the capital, born into nobility, approachable, and one of Shen Yi’s close friends.

It was said Liu Ruyan would one day become empress.

That person was Shen Yi herself.

Because Liu Ruyan’s aunt was the current Empress Dowager, the young emperor’s mother.

By right, close kin shouldn’t marry, at least not within three generations, to avoid birth defects.

But feudal society held no such awareness.

The Empress Dowager, widowed in her early thirties, always wished for Ruyan to enter the palace and become empress.

If not for their youth in recent years, Ruyan would have entered the palace long ago.

Now, it seemed Ruyan’s palace entrance was imminent.

Shen Yi rose and went out to greet Liu Ruyan.

Outside the prince’s mansion, Liu Ruyan waited with her maid.

She wore a stunning pale yellow cloud-patterned blouse embroidered with elegant orchids, a slender waist, eyebrows like jade feathers, and skin as white as snow. Compared to Chen Xijun’s delicate beauty, she possessed a more enchanting allure.

Shen Yi approached and said with surprise, “Sister Yan, what brings you to the mansion?”

Though Liu Ruyan was the legitimate daughter of the Duke, she showed no arrogance before Shen Yi.

Liu Ruyan replied, “If you have time, sister, shall we go to the nearby teahouse for a cup of tea? What do you think?”

Shen Yi wanted to see what the Empress Ruyan’s true intentions were and agreed.

Meanwhile, inside the mansion, Chong Ming approached Xiao Huaijin.

“Your Highness, Liu Ruyan has come to see Miss Shen Yi. They’ve gone to the teahouse.”

Xiao Huaijin’s expression grew serious.

“Follow them closely and report back to me on what they discuss.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

After Chong Ming left, Xiao Huaijin’s thoughts grew complicated.

“Yi’er, is this assassination really connected to you?”