met free Chapter 194 After the Storm
Chapter 194 After the Storm
Gao Lishi was shocked upon hearing this, and even lost his usual composure. He quickly covered up his embarrassment, saying, "Your Highness, what do you mean by that? I just think this female instructor is indeed talented and I would like to borrow her skills."
Li Mao shook his head, revealing a knowing smile: "Eunuch Gao, why be so polite between us? Consort Mei and you are old acquaintances, I understand this matter clearly. Besides, if I really didn't want to discuss this matter with you, Eunuch Gao, I wouldn't have sent you to visit me in person, would I?"
"..."
After a moment of silence, Gao Lishi's expression relaxed.
He then smiled helplessly: "Your Highness is indeed exceptionally intelligent. I really have no other choice. Consort Mei and I are old friends. Her sister has been missing for many years. If there is any chance to find out, I really don't want to miss this opportunity."
"Don't worry," Li Mao said with a smile, "This female tutor's name is Jiang Caiyue, and she is Consort Mei's younger sister. However, Miss Caiyue still doesn't know that her older sister has entered the palace as a concubine. I'll ask Eunuch Gao to tell her about this later."
In order to keep Jiang Caiyue calm and prevent her from getting too excited, Li Mao did not tell her that Jiang Caiping had already entered the palace as a concubine.
The one who tied the knot must untie it. It was Gao Lishi who brought Jiang Caiping from Guangzhou to Chang'an in the first place; now it's Gao Lishi's turn to explain to Jiang Caiyue.
Upon hearing this, Gao Lishi felt a surge of indescribable joy and trepidation. Eager to see Jiang Caiyue, he readily agreed to all of Li Mao's requests. He took a deep breath, barely managing to calm himself, and bowed to Li Mao, saying, "Your Highness is so generous; I am deeply grateful. Please, Your Highness, lead me to meet Miss Jiang."
When Li Mao saw that Gao Lishi was so excited that he lost his composure, he knew that his previous guess was correct.
—The relationship between Gao Lishi and Consort Mei (Jiang Caiping) was far more than just that of a palace concubine and the patron who presented her to the emperor; they had an affair. This was a good handle for Li Mao to use against Gao Lishi in the future.
Moreover, Li Mao was also delighted to see Li Longji's harem in turmoil, with his favorite concubine and eunuch getting together. What a wonderful show that would be!
Li Mao smiled slightly and waved his hand, signaling his attendants to lead Gao Lishi to where Jiang Caiyue was.
In the garden of Prince Shou's mansion, Jiang Caiyue was practicing swordsmanship alone, each move fluid and powerful. Her figure was light and her movements skillful, clearly the result of her dance background, her own high level of comprehension, and Li Guangbi's meticulous guidance.
Upon seeing Gao Lishi and his group, Jiang Caiyue sheathed her sword before looking up at the newcomers.
The moment Gao Lishi saw Jiang Caiyue, he knew her identity.
Yes, she must be Jiang Caiping's younger sister; the two look very similar.
Excited, he took the lead and stood very close to Jiang Caiyue.
"Who are you...?" Jiang Caiyue asked calmly, her tone showing no fear.
Gao Lishi quickly stepped forward and bowed, trying to keep his tone calm: "Miss Jiang, my name is Gao Lishi. I am the head of the Tianji Pavilion and also a palace eunuch. I heard that Miss Jiang was at the Prince Shou's residence, so I inquired about you through His Highness the Prince Shou. Now, I have some things to discuss with you."
“This is a very important matter, so please calm down and listen to me,” Gao Lishi added after thinking for a moment.
"Okay, tell me."
Jiang Caiyue nodded slightly, a hint of curiosity on her face.
Gao Lishi paused, as if encouraging himself, and then slowly said, "Miss Jiang, your long-lost sister Jiang Caiping is now Consort Mei in the palace. She and I have some old acquaintances, and she specially ordered me to come out and inquire about your whereabouts. Now, after so many years, we have finally met you. Consort Mei has finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Caiyue gently slipped the scabbard from her hand.
Her eyes glazed over instantly, as if she couldn't accept this sudden news.
After a moment, she finally found her voice: "You... are you telling the truth? My sister, she is now the emperor's concubine, living in the palace, which is why she hasn't looked for me all these years, and she can't come out to see me now."
Gao Lishi nodded heavily: "It's true. Your sister and I are old acquaintances. I personally brought her back to Chang'an from Guangzhou Prefecture back then. Over the years, although we have had little contact, I have never forgotten her previous request to help her find her sister. I just never expected that you would end up in the Northwest. It is all thanks to His Highness Prince Shou that you sisters were able to reunite."
Jiang Caiyue took a deep breath and asked, "Then, how is my sister doing now?"
She had never blamed her sister for not coming to see her; she knew her sister must have had her own difficulties. Now, hearing Gao Lishi say this, she felt relieved and only cared whether her sister had suffered any injustice in the palace and whether she was doing well.
Gao Lishi smiled and said, "She is doing very well in the palace. Although the Emperor does not favor her greatly, he is still quite considerate. She has lived a leisurely and carefree life in the palace all these years, and no one dares to bully her. However, she still feels lonely living in the deep palace for so long."
Thinking of Jiang Caiping leaning against the window day and night, gazing at the scenery outside, her eyes filled with loneliness and helplessness, Gao Lishi felt sad for her.
However, once you embark on the path of no return to become a concubine in the palace, you have to go through these things.
Jiang Caiyue nodded, her doubts gradually replaced by a strange sense of relief: "It's so good to see her again... The thought of my sister being in the deep palace, with every move restricted, makes my heart ache. But thinking about it carefully, it's for the best. Entering the palace as a concubine, at least she won't have to suffer the neglect and bullying of others."
Jiang Caiyue's fall into the life of a concubine in the Drunken Red Mansion was due to many hardships and setbacks.
Jiang Caiping, one of the two sisters, entered the palace directly, making her path much smoother.
“Eunuch Gao, thank you,” Jiang Caiyue said. “You have been my sister’s mentor, helping her find a new home after being separated from her family. I am very grateful to you.”
As she spoke, Jiang Caiyue stood up and bowed to Gao Lishi.
The two quickly made an agreement that on the fifteenth of next month, Consort Mei would ask the Emperor for a favor to go out and stroll through the temple fair at night and see the lanterns. At that time, Gao Lishi would arrange for the two sisters to meet.
It would have been possible to arrange for Jiang Caiyue to enter the palace, but Jiang Caiyue was beautiful and younger than Consort Mei. If the Emperor took a liking to her and kept her in the palace… that was not what Jiang Caiping wanted. She herself was trapped in the palace and absolutely did not want her younger sister to follow in her footsteps.
The two agreed on the terms, and Gao Lishi thanked them again for their politeness before leaving the Prince Shou's residence.