Quick Transmigration: Saving The Crazy Villainess

Chapter 147: Jiang Ying Yue (54) <2-in-1>

Sheng Lingxin did sneak into Jiang Ying Yue's house. But all she found was him spending the evening laughing and chatting with Jiang Ying Yue at the entrance of the main hall, near the flower gardens. They never talked about the sensitive rumors in the capital. They never mentioned the war of princes or any of the gossip about the other high-ranking officials and clans.

All they chatted about was their lives in the border and how they spent their days on edge against the enemies from the other regions. But it all made the eavesdropping female lead feel like her eyes were getting burned, her heart being crushed and torn into pieces.

In front of her were someone she wanted to marry and the girl she envied. Sometimes, she wanted for another miracle to happen to her, for fate to help her transmigrate into Jiang Ying Yue's body. But do miracles happen twice? Would the heavens be that merciful?

'Sheng Lingxin, Zhang Wu, no need to rush, really, no need to rush... There are still many more days to come. The engagement will no longer hold you back so it's okay to do your plan on another day.' After hypnotizing herself with these words, she looked gloomily at the two and then left. Her heart was heavy from jealousy. And it was what Hai Wang intended for her to experience.

The girl didn't know that when she dragged her feet away from there, both Jiang Li and Jiang Ying Yue stared at her direction. The man had an amused face, but Jiang Ying Yue's was the opposite.

The villainess' eyes, as she kept looking at the obscure corner Sheng Lingxin inhabited earlier, were like a pool of darkness or a glowing black pearl, serene, beautiful, yet ominous. Who knows what thoughts surged in her mind back then?

Jiang Li's focus was on the piece of paper flown to him by one of the messenger's bird, particularly about Hai Wang's declaration, so he didn't notice that Jiang Ying Yue's left forefinger gestured lightly in the air, forming strange patterns and symbols.

A couple of moments later, the girl smiled and said, "Your Highness, it's already late, you should go back and rest earlier since the Emperor would be calling a court session tomorrow when the sun dawns."

Jiang Li nodded. It was already past 9 pm so he really should return and rest. But before leaving, he remembered something so he asked, "Girl, I just heard of this rumor an hour ago, but Rui Wang's people suddenly became like the Wang Fei a month ago upon reaching their manor. They are down with that unspeakable disease and quite a few doctors have already gone there to check."

"Hmm?" The smile she gave was very pure and beautiful. Yet he knew it was a confirmation that it was her who did something.

He laughed, but a second later, he stopped and looked at her seriously. "It's not cholera, right?"

As if hurt, the villainess pouted her lips, "No. I'm not that evil. It's just diarrhea. Neither so serious nor deadly. It's the same with what Jiang Rou Li contracted before our departure to the east. It will be gone... after three to five days."

'When second sister's and that man's home turned unbearably stinky... Or when all their toilets are filled up.'

She didn't dare say the latter since not only was she aware that it was quite disgusting, it was also not something a lady should say to a prince.

Jiang Li voiced out his true concern. "But Rui Wang should not be suffering from that, no? If so, how would he present the gift he bought from you to the Emperor tomorrow?"

"Hehe, don't worry, Your Highness. I made sure he won't be downed by that. It's enough that he is suffocating from..."

'Some wonderful odors.'

She intentionally left her sentences hanging since the next words were not befitting of her image. Also, she grew up believing a woman should be appropriate in speech so she stopped, shyly lowering her head to hide her flushed cheeks.

The man contentedly smiled then left. Jiang Ying Yue sent him off with her eyes when he flipped over the tall walls separating their courtyards. However, the warmth in her gaze also vanished when his figure disappeared from her sight.

...

Before the sun was even up, the hearsays about Sheng Lingxin suddenly falling into a deep coma spread in the whole capital. Because of this, even though Hai Wang truly wished to end his connection to the woman, he couldn't do so. There was no way to do so without her testifying that they don't suit each other or that she already liked somebody else.

In the eyes of everyone in the world, he was an affectionate prince. He should care for his sick fiancee. He couldn't afford any bad impression at this critical moment.

Due to this, before he went to the imperial court, he first visited the woman's house and saw with his own eyes that she was not actually only asleep. Countless red round spots had sprouted all over her skin, with only her face spared. Before he left for the court meeting, one imperial doctor informed him that her condition seemed to be a hex placed on her by a gu master.

When he pondered who she had offended to end up being cursed, all that crossed his mind was that lover of Chen Wang, who reportedly caused the Second Madam of the Jiangs to suffer from a skinless face.

While on his horse riding back to the palace, he suddenly remembered how insane they were for burning the Marshal's home. That and Sheng Lingxin's current situation made him etch in his mind not to cross those two terrifying lovers, Chen Wang and Lady Ping'An.

...

"The court commences!"

In a loud, draggy voice, the Head Eunuch announced this the moment the old Emperor sat down on his throne.

Below him were his ministers and military officials lined up on both sides of the long velvety red carpet laid from the steps of the throne to the entrance. All of them had respectful expressions put on. They bowed as they chorused, "Salutations, Your Majesty!"

The son of heaven contentedly raised his hand, "Zhen promises to not take much of everyone's time. So let's cut straight to the point. Head Eunuch Lin."

The fat man dressed in a standard high eunuch garb stepped forward and saluted to the Emperor, then to everyone present. After that, he brought out a long scroll. In a voice as clear and loud as a cow's mooing, he read the names of people there and the rewards to be allocated to them.

Jiang Ying Yue's name was mentioned, but since she was a woman, she was not invited to the reading. As for the first legitimate Miss of the Prime Minister Residence, she too was not invited, but even if she was, in her current condition it would just be a pipe dream.

Well, back to the villainess... In reality, the emperor initially had no plans to mention Jiang Ying Yue if not for remembering Chen Wang. He had a hunch that man would pester him to reward her if he didn't, so to save himself from headache, he penned it down in advance. Later, her rewards would be delivered to her home, together with the decree. She would be receiving quite a lot, almost the same when she was sealed Lady Ping'An a month ago.

As for Jiang Li, since he merely went there to escort the group of doctors, his reward, though many times greater than Jiang Ying Yue's, was a lot lesser than the other princes. It was probably only because the Emperor's conscience acted up that he wrote the same amount as General Tao. After all, the request Jiang Li made in exchange for the merits accumulated from the latest victories was not proportionate.

A third rank title for a lady and some money and property were just too little. If Jiang Li had only seriously thought about it, it would not be impossible actually to request a whole city or two.

Given this reason, even though the Emperor was glad this general was so foolish, it also made him feel like this would make him not sincere enough in the eyes of the masses. This was the reason why he ignored the disapproving glances from some ministers and stuck to the mentioned reward.

The old dude didn't know that his subject never cared for stuff like money. And that in this subject's mind, he was already established as a foolish emperor doting on an inept son while ignoring the true son of fate.

"For Rui Wang..." The eunuch paused first to look at the third prince. There was an awkward expression on his face because the person was the favorite son, yet in this expedition, he was called first before the other princes. 

The list was called from bottom to top. Those with greater contributions were the latter. Since, among the princes, Rui Wang's name appeared first, it only meant that even the Emperor had no choice but to admit that Duan Wang and Hai Wang's contribution were more than his.

It was at this moment that the favored third prince stepped forward, cupped his fists under his sleeves and respectfully said to the emperor. "Your Majesty. Forgive this prince's boldness, but please hear out this prince's request before reading this prince's contribution."

The Emperor had always been indulgent of this son of his so he readily nodded. "Go ahead. Speak."

Hai Wang's face darkened when he saw this, aware of that item bought from the eastern region. Sure enough, even though this guy was not as competent as him or Duan Wang, he still had some cards up his sleeves. And the worst thing was that even a casual move from this person could brighten up the Emperor's mood for days.

"Your Majesty," Rui Wang started, signaling a maid from his own estate to carry an ornate box in front. "This is a small gift from this prince. Hoping Your Majesty won't scorn its humbleness."

Those who went with the princes to the east showed various reactions. People from Hai Wang and Duan Wang's faction appeared anxious, some even as if they swallowed a fly. Rui Wang's donning a delightful expression of course. The neutral ministers were not showing anything but boundless curiosity. Even Jiang Li was, but for a reason totally different from the others.

The old dude flicked his dragon embroidered sleeve and received the wooden box handed to him. "What is this?" he asked when he saw the content was a small glass vial containing medicine. "Such a curious thing."

Rui Wang's famous proud smile surfaced. He said, "Imperial Father, this son won't keep you in suspense any further. It's something from the Soul Temple. And according to the middleman contacted by the honored member of that place, it's a longevity potion."

The Emperor fiddled with the vial and looked at the silvery red content with a calm expression. However, his eyes didn't manage to hide his excitement. He only asked a few more questions to his son to confirm some details. Afterward, he didn't tarry anymore.

It was too precious. It could easily incite some greedy hearts! It must be consumed right away!

With this in mind, the old guy removed the cork of the vial. He was being watched enviously by all the old ministers in the grand hall. His son Rui Wang was giving him a confident and expectant look. Urged by all the stares, he drank all its content in one go.

'I wonder what will happen...' All those in the place thought of this. Jiang Li was probably the most eager one to find out since the girl said this would be her surprise to him.

A couple of seconds later, the result finally showed.

1. Female Lead's name before she transmigrated, in case you folks forgot haha.