Chapter 146: Sabotaged before the Competition

How could Jiang Qizheng and He Shuijin let her go?

Even if it was not for Jiang Yashuang’s sake, now that they had invited her, how could they let her go without climbing Jinxiu Slope? Just now Jiang Qizheng repressed the two cousins with her authority as the princess mainly because she was afraid that they might ruin her brother’s marriage, but she really hated them for not respecting her!

The two tried every means to beg her to stay but Qiu Yelan insisted on leaving.

Seeing this, plus what was revealed by Jiang Qiyun and Jiang Qisheng, the other girls in the enclosure understood what was going on. “She is in love with some young man of the Jiang Family and is recognized by the family.”

It was not hard for them to guess who the young man was. Jiang Qizheng was the most favored of the Jiang Family’s girls. Now she acted so humbly. Who else could it be except her brother Jiang Yashuang, who had the deepest affection with her?

Because of Jiang Qiyun and Jiang Qisheng’s obvious hostility, the girls had decided to keep distance from Qiu Yelan even if they didn’t join in the conflict. Seeing Jiang Qizheng’s eagerness at the moment, they were still a little panicked. They had thought the Jiang Family had invited her just to make fun of her. Now they knew there were differences within the Jiang Family and the fourth branch was so sweet to her…

Fortunately, they did not intervene just now, otherwise Jiang Qiyun and Jiang Qisheng would be pleased, but they would have offended Jiang Qizheng, the most favored niece of Empress Jiang. If she complained to the empress, their parents would be in trouble!

The girls couldn’t help mopping the perspiration from their foreheads.

At this time, Qiu Yelan had moved to the opening of the enclosure. She was wearing a tight face. The bright eyes were foggy now. The slightly trembling long eyelashes were obviously unable to hold back her tears. It would be difficult to smooth things over if she really cried!

Seeing Jiang Qizheng and He Shuijin’s frowning faces, all the girls came forward to help placate Qiu Yelan. Zhuang Man’s reason was especially good. She pulled Qiu Yelan by the sleeve and said, “Neither Cousin Qizheng nor Sister He is being good. You were invited here but wronged. They deserve to be punished. It’s really unreasonable that they want you to help them save face now. But will you do me a favor for what I said for you just now?”

Zhuang Man indeed unequivocally protected Qiu Yelan just now. Even if she was so aggrieved that she was almost about to cry, she still nodded slightly to her with tears in her eyes, “Thank you!”

“It’s very kind of you to say that. My father has been praising you since he came back two years ago.” Seeing her relieved a bit, Zhuang Man went on, “So I have been longing to see you for a long time. There was an opportunity at Yunyi Restaurant two years ago, but Cousin Qizheng was so mean that she wouldn’t give me a chance!”

While still looking aggrieved, Qiu Yelan was studying Jiang Qizheng. Embarrassed by Zhuang Man, she was a bit awkward. But Zhuang Man remained the same. She thought to herself, “So she wasn’t pretending to talk to Jiang Qiyun and Jiang Qisheng that way just now. Is she always like this?”

As she expected, Zhuang Man, finding her persuasion did not work, immediately lost her patience, arms akimbo, saying, “I admire you very much thanks to my father’s words! Why are you so disappointing? The two cousins were obviously making trouble on purpose. Now they have already been driven away but you still insist on leaving! It would be a shame for Cousin Qizheng if you left like this. What point is there in doing that? If you still had any brains, you should stay and watch us beat Shou’an, and then climb Jinxiu Slope and have a good time together. And care about the complaints of Cousin Qizheng back home. Do you want to go or not?”

Qiu Yelan almost laughed. Miss Zhuang, how do you know me so well? That’s what I think!

So she showed a touch of shame and hesitation. Jiang Qizheng and others struck while the iron was hot. They pulled her back to her seat. Although it was a chilly spring day, everyone was sweating. However, no one had time to complain about this. Because of the incident just now, they had not yet discussed how to deal with the competition put forward by Princess Shou’an!

“The first round is the pitch-pot game, the second is painting and the third lyrics. The specific rules and so on will be discussed later.” As it was urgent, Jiang Qizheng asked directly, “What do you think?”

“The last two are weak points for both sides. It makes no difference even if we propose the content, so we don’t have to waste time with them.” He Shuijin took over, “As for the specific rules, we will naturally strive for what is good for us.”

Jiang Qizheng went on, “So the question now is, who is going to play?”

Hearing that, everyone in the enclosure was at a loss. There was a deep grievance between the Empress Dowager’s party and that of the Empress. In the circle of noble ladies, there had been several fights between Princess Shou’an’s faction and that of Jiang Qizheng, so the old players knew the strength of the enemy and their own.

As He Shuijin said, neither side had powerful players in painting and lyrics.

Therefore, choosing the candidates was difficult. It was a chance to make a hit if you won. But if you lost, it was a shame for all. Besides, Jiang Qizheng’s group first arrived at the foot of Jinxiu Slope today. If you surrendered the slope, how could the noble and arrogant girls bear it!

“On Shou’an’s side, Duan Wenji, the niece of Duan Qun, assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice, is good at riding and shooting. She will probably pitch the pot.” After a moment of silence, a fair-skinned petite girl said. “No one on our side is as rough as she. I think we’d better change this game.”

Jiang Qizheng glanced at Qiu Yelan as soon as she finished. She knew that this would-be sister-in-law had even killed. She was definitely stronger than Duan Wenji. Jiang Qizheng was just wondering how good she was at the pitch-pot game.

“It’s not easy to change.” Seeing Jiang Qizheng didn’t respond, He Shuijin answered. “They mentioned the shooting competition between Her Majesty and Concubine Gu that year and asked if there was anyone in the Jiang family now… We insisted on changing into the pot game!”

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The petite and slender girl sighed, “The game will definitely be lost.”

Qiu Yelan noticed Jiang Qizheng’s gaze. She didn’t want to be driven elsewhere, so she didn’t mind making a contribution. But she had just joined this circle. Besides, she insisted on leaving just now and it would be inappropriate if she suddenly became so enthusiastic. Seeing the disappointment of everyone at the moment, she thought it was an opportunity for self-recommendation, but Zhuang Man said, “I will play the first game. Although I have not learned riding and shooting like Duan Wenji, I’m used to whipping people with a whip. I am good in strength and accuracy. If the distance was set a little closer, it’s likely that I would win.”

Gosh! The reason was so odd!

Qiu Yelan silently swallowed her words. As a newcomer, even if she thought she would definitely win Duan Wenji, it was not suitable for her to stand out now that Zhuang Man said she could win.

Jiang Qizheng only heard of Qiu Yelan’s strength, but she was not sure. Seeing Qiu Yelan said nothing after Zhuang Man offered to play, she nodded, “Then the first game is for you. What about the second and the third?”

“I think we’d better decide later.” After another moment of silence, the petite girl said again. “We still don’t know if the painting is landscapes or flowers and birds or figures; it’s the same with the lyrics. All of us can do it, but no one stands out. I am better at flowers and birds than Sister He, and Sister He is better at painting landscapes than me. We might as well first discuss the specific rules with Shou’an and then decide on a person.”

Everyone agreed.

Jiang Qizheng nodded at the petite girl, “That’s a good idea.” After the discussion, she smiled and said, “They picked the content of the contest, so I said we would decide on the spot. I decide to compete here. Now that it’s settled, tell them to come over.”

Everyone laughed, “It should be so. Tell the drivers not to make way for them so that they’ll have to walk all the way in the dust!”

“They have veil hats so they may not have to eat the dust. But it is enough for them to walk all the way.” Zhuang Man said gloatingly.

Both sides had inherited the hatred of their parents. The impression had been deeply rooted in their memory since childhood that the other side was bad guy. The girls of the Empress’ party naturally enjoyed watching the misfortune of the other side.

So Jiang Qizheng sent people to inform Princess Shou’an to come over. People in the enclosure began to scoff at Princess Shou’an and her entourage while they were drinking tea.

However, the relaxed atmosphere disappeared immediately after Princess Shou’an and her entourage arrived.

It wasn’t that Gu E’nuo, Princess Shou’an, had suddenly got powerful aid. The regular battle of mockery between the two sides was still going on when two maids came into the enclosure with bitter smiles, saluted Jiang Qizheng and said, “Your Highness, the madam has sent someone to ask Lady the fifteenth, Lady the eleventh of the Dou Family and Miss Chang to go back. There seems to be something important!”

“Your Highness, Lady the seventeenth sprained her ankle when getting on the cart just now. It’s hurting badly. Mrs. Qian sent me to ask Lady He and Miss Cheng to go and keep company with her.”

The maids had sensed Jiang Qizheng’s angry look in the instant, but they had to brace themselves and continue, “And Miss…”

“Five people are gone now. Will Cousin Xin be called away, too?” Jiang Qizheng was so angry that she laughed!

“No…” The maid trembled. “Lady the Fifteenth saw that Cousin Xin’s cart didn’t seem to be locked properly, and the Persian cat in it seemed to have run away.”

“Oops!” The girl with the surname Xin immediately got up and said anxiously, “Cousin, I have to go and look for it. You know the cat is my cousin’s treasure. So I didn’t dare to leave it at home when I came out. I’ll be back as soon as I find it!”

Qiu Yelan said, “When you find it, the competition will be over!” God knew where Jiang Qiyun had kept it!

Seeing the two ladies of the Dou Family hesitantly getting up behind them, He Shuijin also stood up with patience… The enclosure that seemed crowded when Gu E’nuo and her entourage arrived was half empty now. Jiang Qizheng looked livid!

Contrary to her bad mood at the moment, Gu E’nuo and her people were so happy. They were prepared for the three rounds of competition, but had never expected that the Jiang Family’s infighting was open today. The content of the contest had not been discussed, but the people who were most likely to play had been by called away by Jiang Qiyun and Jiang Qisheng. It was an obvious help to them!

Gu E’nuo smiled happily, “Chunfu, do we need to compete now? You’d better also pack up and go to keep company with your cousin. You can send for a doctor on the way back to deal with her foot injury so as to show your affection for her.”

She deliberately stressed the word “affection”, which served as another stab at Jiang Qizheng, who looked at the empty seats for a moment and gritted her teeth, “No! They’ve already had people with them… There’s no need for me to join them!”

“Do you still want to compete?” People on Gu E’nuo’s side burst out laughing. She pointed to the few people on Jiang Qizheng’s side, “Those who are best at painting and the most talented people on your side are gone. Even if you won the pot game, you would still have to surrender Jinxiu Slope to us.”

Jiang Qizheng said coldly said, “It’s none of your business! In short, do you compete? If you don’t, just get away. Don’t spoil our mood for the outing!”

“Yes, let’s compete.” Gu E’nuo stopped her laughter and said leisurely, “In fact, I know that since you have promised to compete, even if you were alone, you would still keep your promise. But to be honest, although we are not on good terms, seeing the few people behind you, I am really…”

“You talk so much nonsense. Are you here to discuss the specific content or to tell stories?” Zhuang Man said impatiently. “You are as talkative as an old gossip. Don’t you have chances to talk at home?”

Qiu Yelan praised her silently in her heart, “You sharp-tongued girl hit the point with every single word!”