A young lady in white silk and red gauze stood beneath a leafy tree. Though filtered through branches, the brilliant sunlight still cast a gentle halo around her figure.
She was like a dream, a beauty beyond compare.
The young man across from her forgot to blink, as if afraid she might vanish in the next breath.
Jiang Zhan let out a heavy cough.
He was still here—what were these two doing?
Yu Qi glanced at Jiang Zhan, the dancing flames in his eyes masked by deep ink, making them gleam like fine black jade.
Jiang Zhan couldn’t help but sigh.
This fellow was too handsome—it made it far too easy for him to captivate innocent young ladies!
Yu Qi nodded respectfully to Jiang Si: “Miss Jiang, hello.”
Jiang Si lowered her gaze to conceal her emotions, returning a slight bow as a courtesy. She addressed Jiang Zhan coolly: “Since Second Brother’s friend has arrived, I won’t disturb your reunion. I’ll take my leave first.”
“Alright, Fourth Sister, you may go.” Seeing Jiang Si’s cold demeanor, Jiang Zhan felt somewhat embarrassed. Watching her walk toward Earl Pingdong’s residence, he turned to Yu Qi and said, “Brother Yu Qi, please don’t mind her—my Fourth Sister is usually quiet around strangers…”
“That’s how a young lady should be—”
Before Yu Qi could finish, the large dog darted out like a gust of wind, instantly reaching Jiang Si’s side and catching her skirt in its teeth, refusing to let go.
Jiang Si tugged at her skirt helplessly and commanded: “Let go!”
The dog released her skirt with a wounded look, turning to bark once at Yu Qi.
“Er’niu, come back!” Yu Qi, clearly not expecting the dog’s behavior, called out with furrowed brows.
Jiang Si cast a glance at Yu Qi, her face suddenly turning cold.
“Miss Jiang, I apologize for my poor training of the dog.” Yu Qi spoke earnestly, then raised his voice: “Er’niu, come back now!”
“Woof—” The dog’s drawn-out bark seemed to express exasperation at its master.
Jiang Zhan, wanting to throttle this impudent dog, gritted out: “Stop barking, or Brother Yu Qi will have you stewed for meat!”
The dog gave Jiang Zhan a dismissive look that seemed to say, “What can you do about it?”
Jiang Zhan immediately reported to Yu Qi: “Brother Yu Qi, please control your Er’niu before it frightens my sister.”
“Er’niu!” Yu Qi’s face frosted over.
The dog, sensing its master’s genuine anger, considered for a moment before suddenly leaping up to snatch the pouch tied at Jiang Si’s waist and running away.
Everyone froze for a moment.
After a while, a breeze blew past, carrying fallen magnolia petals onto Jiang Zhan’s face.
Jiang Zhan snapped back to reality and rushed to Jiang Si’s side, asking urgently: “Did it bite you?”
Jiang Si shook her head, casting a cold glance at Yu Qi: “When one’s dog lacks discipline, it reflects poorly on its master. Second Brother should be more careful in choosing his friends in the future.”
She turned and left, inwardly letting out a deep sigh.
Though she was very fond of Er’niu, she wanted no further entanglement with Yu Qi.
In her previous life, after escaping from the Jiang Qian couple’s clutches, she hadn’t returned to Duke An’s mansion. Instead, due to an accident, she had drifted to the Southern Frontier, becoming the granddaughter of a Wu Miao tribe elder and assuming the identity of A-Sang, their deceased holy maiden.
She had secretly rejoiced in her new life. In that place so different from the capital’s customs, no one knew her past, and she could even choose to marry a man she liked.
That was when Yu Qi appeared.
He was an old acquaintance of the Wu Miao tribe elder, repeatedly appearing before her.
She didn’t know when her heart had begun to stir.
After her marriage to the Third Young Master of Duke An’s household, she understood that power, status, and vanity didn’t equate to happiness. A woman who traded herself for such things often brewed her bitter fate.
Regardless of birth or wealth, who wouldn’t fall for a graceful young man of unmatched charm who showed particular tenderness and care toward her?
That day, the sunlight was perfect, vast fields of sunflowers had turned the world golden, and the young man asked her: “Will you marry me?”
She had nodded.
Who knew this scoundrel was engaging in marriage fraud?
He wasn’t some Yu Qi, but Crown Prince Yu Qi, the current Emperor’s seventh son!
When she learned his true identity, it was like being doused with cold water. Her first reaction was to slap that scoundrel across the face.
She had been a widow from Duke An’s household, known for bringing death to her husband, and now she was a Wu Miao woman thousands of miles from the capital. Neither identity was suitable to marry the Seventh Prince.
At that moment, she felt no joy, only rage at being deceived.
Because she had truly fallen in love, her anger was even more overwhelming. She only stopped when her hand hurt from striking him.
The man, whose face she had beaten until it was swollen, solemnly told her that since she had agreed, she couldn’t back out. He would properly marry her as his wife.
She merely sneered, telling him to bring an imperial marriage decree, or never show his face again.
She had nothing left, but at least she couldn’t lose her last shred of dignity by becoming someone’s concubine!
Even now, Jiang Si had to marvel at fate’s strange turns. Because the Wu Miao tribe had helped the Zhou army resist South Lan, the Emperor bestowed a marriage between the Seventh Prince and the Wu Miao holy maiden.
Before she could even process it, she was clothed in imperial robes, becoming the Seventh Prince’s consort.
Only later did she learn that Yu Qi had always loved the Wu Miao holy maiden A-Sang, never Jiang Si.
It was only their similar appearances that led to all his calculated interactions.
Two marriages—one where she was completely ignored, another where she was someone’s replacement. Jiang Si felt so stifled she could vomit blood just thinking about it.
However, she had learned too late. By then, she and Yu Qi had truly become husband and wife, with no escape possible.
Although Yu Qi treated her decently during those days, the fifteen-year-old Jiang Si who had returned to the past only wanted to say:
Stay away from Ji Chongyi, that scum!
Stay away from Yu Qi, that scoundrel!
Seeing the young lady turn away in anger, the youth in blue robes looked helplessly at Jiang Zhan.
Jiang Zhan gave Yu Qi an embarrassed smile: “I’m sorry, Brother Yu Qi, my sister might be in a bad mood. She’s not usually like this. I’ll go check on her—let’s meet another day.”
Yu Qi nodded slightly at Jiang Zhan’s hurried wave goodbye, his gaze never leaving the retreating figure of the young lady.
She seemed angry…
Jiang Zhan caught up with Jiang Si in large strides, quite confused: “Fourth Sister, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Jiang Si tilted her head slightly, concealing the moisture in her eyes.
“You’ve misunderstood Brother Yu Qi. Although we met near the brothel—”
Jiang Si stopped abruptly.
Jiang Zhan knew he had misspoken and hurriedly said: “Brother Yu Qi wasn’t there to visit the brothel—”
“Don’t explain!”
“But—”
“Explanations are just cover-ups. In any case, I don’t think he’s a good friend. Second Brother should keep his distance in the future.”
That scoundrel was most patient—who knew what his purpose was in approaching Second Brother? She refused to believe it was a coincidence.
“But he saved my life, Fourth Sister. Surely you wouldn’t want your Second Brother to be ungrateful?” Jiang Zhan finally managed to voice his concern despite the pressure.