Chapter 419

"The private room on the second floor has been reserved? Who’s so bold? I’m going up to see for myself."

"Young Master Shi, you can’t go up… you can’t! There’s a distinguished guest up there. If you cause trouble, this humble shop won’t be able to explain itself!"

Jiang Xinyue had kept her trip a secret. She didn’t want to make a scene or be recognized, so she had reserved the entire second floor of the teahouse. All her guards were hidden in the shadows, and they wouldn’t reveal themselves unless she gave the order.

"I’ll see for myself just who this so-called distinguished guest is. Speak up…"

"Thud!"

As soon as Shi Jinlei stepped behind the screen, he was pinned to the table by Jiang Xinyue’s personal guards.

"Ah! Murder! Who do you think you are? How dare you lay hands on me? Do you know who I am? I’m Shi…"

"Throw him out!"

At Jiang Xinyue’s command, the guards grabbed him by the collar and prepared to toss him down the stairs.

Shi Jinlei was too stunned to react, his eyes fixed on the breathtakingly beautiful woman before him. Even as he was thrown out the window, he couldn’t tear his gaze away from her.

"Thud!"

"Ouch! That hurt like hell…"

"Your Majesty, Minister Xie has arrived."

Xie Huai cautiously observed Jiang Xinyue’s face, so stunning it seemed to overshadow the heavens and earth. He couldn’t reconcile her beauty with the word "ambitious."

After all, in the eyes of men, a woman of such beauty was little more than a decorative vase, meant to be admired and nothing more.

But Empress Jiang Xinyue was not just a beauty. She possessed wisdom and strategic acumen that far surpassed others.

If she had been born a man, she would have undoubtedly made a name for herself in the imperial court.

Perhaps she could have even rivaled the Grand Tutor Jing.

Inside the teahouse’s private room, the air was filled with the soothing aroma of tea and the warmth of burning charcoal. The calming scents of tea and wood intertwined, instantly soothing any restless hearts.

Empress Jiang Xinyue’s movements as she poured tea were graceful and elegant. Her striking beauty and noble demeanor elevated the modest tea room to a higher standard.

The sound of water trickling into the teacup seemed to strike a chord with Xie Huai, who bowed respectfully. "Your humble servant… greets Her Majesty, the Empress."

As the sound of water ceased, Jiang Xinyue set down the teapot. "Minister Xie, please take a seat."

The golden hue of the tea exuded a rich fragrance, and the tea leaves swirled in the cup, a testament to the Empress’s skill in brewing tea.

Xie Huai couldn’t help but grumble inwardly: How did Jiang Yankun raise his children? None of his legitimate children amounted to much. Two of the three legitimate heirs had died, leaving only Jiang Dalang, who held a mediocre position in the Ministry of Rites.

On the other hand, the illegitimate children had all achieved remarkable success.

No… not just remarkable—extraordinary success.

When Empress Jiang Xinyue entered the palace as a concubine at the age of fifteen, she was already proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. It was even said she could speak multiple languages.

How could a child raised as a concubine’s daughter be so accomplished?

It was as if…

"Minister Xie, please enjoy your tea."

While Xie Huai’s thoughts were in turmoil, Jiang Xinyue’s gaze met his with a gentle smile. He froze, as if someone had pressed a pause button, and mechanically took a seat across from her. "Your Majesty…"

"I much prefer the way you used to call me ‘the scheming Empress’ with such defiance, Minister Xie."

"Clang!"

The teacup slipped from his hand and fell onto the table, spilling tea everywhere. His robes were soaked.

…

Shi Jinlei picked himself up off the ground, still craning his neck to look up at the second floor. "Beautiful! Truly beautiful! I need to find out who that lady is so my father can propose a marriage alliance."

His group of spoiled friends rushed out of the teahouse, eager for action. "Brother, who dared to throw you down from upstairs? Let’s go teach them a lesson. Brother, why aren’t you saying anything?"

"Whoever dared to mess with our brother is going to regret it. I’ll go gather more men. They won’t leave this teahouse alive."

"I think I saw Minister Xie Huai being escorted upstairs earlier. We should be careful. Minister Xie isn’t someone to be trifled with."

Back when the late Emperor was still alive, Xie Huai’s father had been highly favored, overseeing the Hanlin Academy, the sacred place for scholars. Every top candidate in the imperial examinations had to pass through the Hanlin Academy before being assigned to their official posts.

Even Empress Jiang Xinyue’s father had started in the Hanlin Academy before being recommended to the Ministry of Rites.

As for Xie Chenghui of the Xie family, he was on a completely different level from them.

While they were still relying on their family names to bully others, Xie Chenghui had already become a court painter, highly esteemed and chosen to paint the official portraits of the Emperor and Empress.

Their fathers often praised Xie Chenghui, saying the Emperor adored his work and had hung his paintings in Chengqian Palace.

Nowadays, Xie Chenghui’s paintings were priceless treasures.

"Xie Huai?"

Shi Jinlei rolled up his sleeves. "That old lecher! His son is already as old as that young lady, yet he’s still keeping a mistress. The Emperor has already decreed that keeping a mistress is against the new law and punishable by imprisonment. That old fool must have sweet-talked that young lady into it. I’m going to expose him."

"Brothers, wait here. When that old pervert comes out, we’ll give him a good beating."

The sky after the rain was a brilliant blue, with white clouds floating like fluffy cotton candy. The golden sunlight filtered through the clouds, casting a holy glow over the black-tiled roofs and white walls of the city.

Bridges, carriages, shops, women, children…

Cries, shouts, laughter, curses, vendors’ calls…

The bustling life of the capital was vivid and alive.

Shi Jinlei waited from morning until the sun was high in the sky, but the beautiful lady never emerged from the teahouse. Instead, he saw Minister Xie Huai stumbling down the stairs, looking dazed.

That old lecher must have been dazzled by her beauty!

"Let’s go. We’ll ambush that old scoundrel and give him a beating."

Since she was a mistress, she wouldn’t leave with Xie Huai. After dealing with him, they could follow the lady home and find out who she was.

But Shi Jinlei waited until sunset without seeing Jiang Xinyue leave through the front door.

When they finally went back in to ask, the teahouse owner said the lady had already left through the back door.

Sneaking around like that—what else could she be but a mistress?

Ah…

Such a beauty, yet reduced to such a state.

But finding her wouldn’t be impossible.

It was said that Minister Xie Huai was terrified of his wife. If they leaked the news to Madam Xie, she would surely make a scene.

And when she did, they could finally uncover the identity of the beautiful lady.

Jiang Xinyue had no idea that her brief appearance had already caught the attention of a notorious flirt.

With Minister Xie Huai dealt with, she breathed a sigh of relief. The rest were just a ragtag bunch, not worth worrying about.