Jiang Yunshu had recently been overwhelmed by the lavish gifts Xie Lin bestowed upon her—the clothes and jewelry were simply too abundant!
Every single item Xie Lin sent her was extraordinary, each pearl and agate a rare treasure of the world. Now, these treasures filled room after room.
Taoye and Zhezhi, having grown up in the Marquis's Mansion, had seen their fair share of luxury, but even they were stunned. Compared to what they witnessed now, their past experiences seemed insignificant.
Even if their mistress were merely a minor concubine-born daughter, not even the legitimate daughters of the Marquis's Mansion—no, not even Lady Hou herself—possessed such jewelry!
Now, any random piece from Jiang Yunshu’s collection surpassed Lady Hou’s most prized possessions.
Taoye and Zhezhi were utterly dazzled by Xie Lin’s extravagance. "The young mistress wasn’t wrong—the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord is far better than the Late Emperor… Even the Late Emperor’s consorts didn’t have this many jewels…"
Jiang Yunshu, however, remained far more composed. She chuckled, "It’s just costumes and props."
Taoye and Zhezhi were confused. "What do you mean, mistress?"
Jiang Yunshu explained, "I mean, the Chief Eunuch only wants to see more beautiful dances. These aren’t truly gifts for me."
Like performance costumes in a dance troupe, she had the right to use them, not own them.
Taoye and Zhezhi grew even more bewildered. "But hasn’t the Chief Eunuch already given them to you?"
Jiang Yunshu waved her hand and didn’t bother clarifying further.
To her surprise, several days later, Xie Lin asked the same question. "Why have I never seen you wear the clothes and jewelry I gifted you outside of dancing?"
Jiang Yunshu answered carefully, "These are Your Excellency’s possessions. This humble one dares not presume to use them freely."
Xie Lin’s expression instantly darkened. "What use do I have for a pile of women’s jewelry?"
"I’ve never once taken back what I’ve given away."
Only then did Jiang Yunshu realize that these priceless treasures now truly belonged to her. She was so shocked she couldn’t even react.
But soon, something even more astonishing happened.
Since Xie Lin spent considerable time watching her dance each day—and was also occupied with official duties—his subordinates began reporting to him in her presence.
Jiang Yunshu was stunned to discover that, beyond ordinary subordinates, Xie Lin also commanded secret guards and spies!
The intelligence gathered by these spies was relayed upward, eventually consolidated and reported to the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord.
Before delivering his report, the leader of the spies, Shijiu, hesitated and glanced at Jiang Yunshu.
Xie Lin said, "It’s fine. Speak."
Shijiu nodded. "Understood."
And then, Jiang Yunshu was bombarded with shocking revelations—
"Reporting to the Chief Eunuch, the Eldest Princess’s favorite male concubine has secretly taken a mistress outside…"
Jiang Yunshu: !
"The heir of Huainan Prince has taken a liking to a male opera performer."
Jiang Yunshu: !!
"The youngest son whom the Duke of Zhenguo wishes to name as his heir… is not his biological child."
Jiang Yunshu: !!!
After Shijiu left, Jiang Yunshu remained dazed for a long time.
Now she understood why the nobility and officials feared Xie Lin so much—he held the most sensitive secrets of the entire capital!
But for Jiang Yunshu, these "secrets" were simply juicy gossip.
That night, she lay in bed, replaying the three shocking scandals in her mind, weaving elaborate stories around them.
The next day, she rose unusually early and hurried to the study to write down the plots she had imagined.
But after three lines, she hit a wall. She had read countless novels in her past life and knew all the clichés—so why could she only write three lines?
Frowning, Jiang Yunshu decided the story just wasn’t right for her.
She crumpled the paper, tossed it aside, and started fresh—this time writing about the first encounter between the heir of Huainan Prince and the male opera performer.
One line in, she stalled again.
Ugh… Next!
The third story—about the Duke of Zhenguo’s illegitimate heir—was essentially the setup for a "switched at birth" tale.
This time, Jiang Yunshu wrote much more smoothly. The Duchess of Zhenguo, passing by a farmhouse, suddenly went into labor…
On the same day, a peasant woman in the same farmhouse also gave birth to a son…
A vengeful maidservant secretly swapped the two infants…
Jiang Yunshu wrote nearly half a page before Zhezhi called her for dinner.
She had made good progress today—she would continue tomorrow.
Leaving the ink to dry, she left the half-written page on the desk. After all, this small study was usually hers alone.
But that day, Xie Lin happened to visit the study in search of a book. Passing the desk, he noticed the childish handwriting and picked up the paper.
His frown deepened with each line. The writing was worse than a child’s, the prose utterly lacking, and the plot absurd…
A duchess on the verge of childbirth would never be wandering around a farmhouse!
Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!
Given Jiang Yunshu’s own background in the Marquis's Mansion, she should know better than to write such an unrealistic portrayal of noble life!
As he read, Xie Lin reached the last line.
That’s it?
Disappointed, he set the paper back down.
Jiang Yunshu had only written half the story. Surely, in a few days, she would finish it?
But over the following days, though Xie Lin checked the study daily, the story remained untouched.
Finally, he couldn’t hold back. "What have you been doing all day?"
Jiang Yunshu answered honestly, "Breakfast, dancing, lunch, napping, dinner…"
Xie Lin’s brows furrowed. Aside from eating, sleeping, and dancing, she did nothing. So why hadn’t she continued the story?
After several days of this, Xie Lin confronted her directly. "Why haven’t you finished the story about the Duke of Zhenguo’s switched heir?"
Jiang Yunshu nearly jumped in fright. "Y-Your Excellency read it?!"
Xie Lin nodded. "Why no ending?"
Jiang Yunshu replied timidly, "I… don’t know how to write it."
The first day had gone smoothly, but when she picked up the brush the next day, she had no idea how to proceed.
Perhaps she could write beginnings because she had read so many novel openings. But endings? She never had the patience to finish books—how could she write what she’d never seen?
Under Xie Lin’s increasingly icy gaze, she scrambled for an excuse. "I lost inspiration for that story. When I have new ideas, I’ll write more for Your Excellency to critique."
Xie Lin reluctantly agreed.
Soon, Jiang Yunshu noticed something peculiar.
Now, whenever Shijiu came to report to Xie Lin—even if she wasn’t present—Xie Lin would summon her to listen.
At first, she thought it coincidental. But by the third time, it dawned on her.
Was Xie Lin… helping her gather material?
Gossip was delightful!
But even better than gossip was gossip about people she knew!
And then, she stumbled upon a scandal involving her own half-sister—
Jiang Zhaohua was pregnant.
At a banquet, for some unknown reason, she had been so terrified that her pregnancy became unstable.
Jiang Yunshu stared at Xie Lin in shock. "The Duan Family also has spies planted by the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord?"
Having heard that the Duan Family didn’t even employ servants, a dreadful suspicion arose in her mind. "Could the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord’s informant be one of the maids Jiang Zhaohua brought with her?"
All the maids Jiang Zhaohua took into the Duan Family were her most trusted confidantes. Was there really a spy among them?
Only then did Jiang Yunshu realize her own naivety. Xie Lin had infiltrated spies into every influential household—of course, the Anping Marquis Mansion would be no exception!
Unable to contain herself, she asked Xie Lin, "Are there also spies from the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord in the Anping Marquis Mansion?"
Xie Lin chuckled lightly. "Naturally."
That night, Jiang Yunshu lay on the freshly changed silk quilt and tugged gently at the sleeve of Xie Lin’s sleeping robe. "Please, Your Excellency, have your informants investigate for me—how is Concubine Qiao in the Marquis's Mansion?"
Xie Lin’s expression remained indifferent. "Informants are not to be used for such trivial matters."
Jiang Yunshu released his sleeve, not daring to press further.
The next day, the head informant, Shijiu, entered the palace to report. Xie Lin summoned Jiang Yunshu to his side.
As Shijiu began speaking, Jiang Yunshu heard: "Concubine Qiao of the Anping Marquis Mansion fell gravely ill two months ago. After recovering, she pledged loyalty to Lady Hou. Now, she prepares medicinal meals for Lady Hou daily and has gained her favor..."
Jiang Yunshu’s eyes widened.
Concubine Qiao had been seriously ill... but thankfully, she had pulled through.
Since Lady Hou now valued her, Concubine Qiao’s life should be comfortable. Jiang Yunshu let out a sigh of relief.
Slowly, she turned her gaze toward Xie Lin.
Hadn’t Xie Lin said informants couldn’t be used for such trivial matters? Then why was the first thing Shijiu reported today about Concubine Qiao?
Jiang Yunshu watched Xie Lin, but he didn’t look back at her.
His expression remained solemn as he listened to Shijiu’s report, as if the mention of Concubine Qiao was nothing more than an unrelated coincidence.
Unable to help herself, Jiang Yunshu’s lips curved into a smile—one that grew wider and wider.
In her heart, she thought quietly: Concubine Qiao was doing well in the Marquis's Mansion, and she herself... wasn’t faring badly in Weiyang Palace either.
Half a month later, Shijiu returned with another report, mentioning the Anping Marquis Mansion once more.
"Concubine Qiao has been secretly poisoning Lady Hou’s medicinal meals with a slow-acting toxin. She has been caught."
"Now imprisoned in her chambers, she is being tortured to confess who ordered her to do this..."
In an instant, Jiang Yunshu felt the world spin around her.
Her legs gave way, and she dropped to her knees before Xie Lin, performing a deep bow.
"Concubine Qiao is like a mother to me... I beg Your Excellency to save her life!"
