After leaving Earl Dong-Ping’s mansion, instead of heading directly to Quezi Hutong, the mistress and servant walked in the opposite direction.
Not far from Yuqian Hutong was an area of civilian residences. Among them was an unremarkable vacant house for rent, which Jiang-Si had recently leased through a property agent.
In the capital where land was worth its weight in gold, purchasing a residence in this wealthy area would be nearly impossible, but renting was still manageable.
When Jiang-Si received more than two thousand taels of silver from her business dealings, she had made these arrangements, knowing that meeting A-Fei at the teahouse repeatedly would become inconvenient over time.
The pair entered briefly and emerged transformed – the mistress now appeared as a handsome youth accompanied by a delicate servant.
A-Man looked at Jiang-Si in her male attire and giggled: “Young Miss, you should darken your face a bit.”
“Next time. We’ll need to prepare more things here in the future.” Jiang-Si walked while wondering when A-Fei would return.
There was much to do today: first, inquire with Seventh Prince Yu about any evidence against the Heir of Marquis Chang-Xing, then not neglect matters with Miss Xiu the tofu seller, and if her father had news about Lingwu Temple, that would need investigation too. There was simply too much to handle.
Quezi Hutong wasn’t far from Yuqian Hutong where Earl Dong-Ping’s mansion was located. Following Jiang-Zhan’s information, they soon found the civilian residence with a crooked jujube tree at its entrance.
“Young Miss, is this the place?”
“It should be. Go knock and say Second Young Master Jiang is visiting.”
“Who exactly are we visiting?” A-Man hesitated.
With her mistress dressed this way and claiming to be the Second Young Master, could they be meeting a man?
A-Man approached the door and knocked uncertainly.
“Who is it?” came a voice from inside, and then the door opened halfway, revealing a weathered face.
The doorkeeper appeared to be in his forties, with one blind eye. His remaining eye looked somewhat fierce.
A-Man tensed: “Second Young Master Jiang has come to visit your master.”
The doorkeeper glanced behind him, his single eye suddenly gleaming.
“What’s the matter?” A-Man’s scalp tingled, and she instinctively stepped back.
“Where is Second Young Master Jiang?”
A-Man stepped aside, revealing Jiang-Si: “This is our Young Master.”
The doorkeeper gave Jiang-Si a cursory look and said with an insincere smile: “Please wait.” Then the door slammed shut.
A-Man rubbed her nose and complained: “This house’s doorkeeper has quite an attitude.”
Inside, the doorkeeper rushed to report: “Master, someone’s pretending to be Second Young Master Jiang to swindle us!”
Before Yu-Jin could react, Long-Dan sneered: “Someone dares to fool Master? Open the door and release Er-Niu!”
Er-Niu gave Long-Dan a sidelong glance, remaining firmly seated.
The meaning was clear: Why should I go if you don’t?
To the surprise of both man and dog, their master suddenly strode toward the entrance.
What was happening?
The pair exchanged confused glances and hurried after him.
Yu-Jin eagerly walked to the entrance, paused before the green-lacquered wooden door to compose himself, and then suddenly pulled it open.
Er-Niu darted past Yu-Jin.
“Heavens!” A-Man cried out in shock.
The large dog approached Jiang-Si, grabbed her hem with its mouth, and tugged her inside, its fluffy tail wagging happily.
Jiang-Si sighed internally.
Dogs were far more straightforward than humans – no matter how much a person changed, as long as their unique scent remained the same, a dog would recognize them immediately.
“Let go quickly, or you’ll tear the clothes.”
As soon as she spoke, unlike A-Man’s naturally clear voice, her delicate feminine tones gave her away.
Er-Niu, still holding the hem, turned to look at Yu-Jin questioningly.
“Young… Master Jiang, please come in.”
Not wanting to linger at the entrance, Jiang-Si nodded slightly to Yu-Jin and walked inside.
The doorkeeper quietly pulled at Long-Dan’s sleeve: “But that’s not Second Young Master Jiang…”
Long-Dan excitedly slapped away the doorkeeper’s hand: “Don’t interfere!”
Heavens, a young lady had come to visit Master – he needed to find a stool to watch this unfold!
Jiang-Si followed Yu-Jin inside, stopping in the courtyard.
“I’ve come today to ask Young Master Yu something.”
“What might Miss Jiang wish to ask?”
Long-Dan’s eyes suddenly widened.
So Master had known all along this was Miss Jiang!
Wait, what was the relationship between Miss Jiang and Second Young Master Jiang?
Jiang-Si, familiar with Long-Dan and Cold-Shadow’s loyalty to Yu-Jin from her previous life, didn’t mind Long-Dan’s presence. She produced a silk pouch: “Why did Young Master Yu give this to me?”
Long-Dan’s jaw nearly dropped.
Master had even given her a token of affection?
A-Man was equally shocked, glaring at Yu-Jin.
When had this scoundrel managed to slip past her to give her mistress such improper gifts?!
“I was very surprised to receive this, so I couldn’t help but come ask Young Master Yu directly. I hope you won’t find me presumptuous.”
“Not at all—” Yu-Jin suddenly caught himself, cleared his throat, and asked seriously, “What would Miss Jiang like to know?”
“I want to know why Young Master Yu wrote that note.”
“I was concerned you might be taken advantage of and couldn’t help but warn you.”
Long-Dan bit his hand hard.
This must be a dream!
Er-Niu, however, lay contentedly between Yu-Jin and Jiang-Si, tail wagging lazily.
Master on one side, Mistress on the other – for a dog with such emotional depth, life couldn’t be more perfect.
Jiang-Si’s cheeks flushed as she bit her lip: “I mean, why did you say such things about the Heir of Marquis Chang-Xing? Do you find something improper about him?”
Who had asked what he thought? Yet he just stated it so matter-of-factly – truly someone used to sweet-talking others.
“The Heir’s eyes are lifeless, his lips pale, his steps weak and unsteady…”
As Yu-Jin described this, Long-Dan’s shock could no longer be described as mere surprise.
Master’s description painted the Heir as someone overindulgent in carnal pleasures – why would Master tell a young lady such things?
“Therefore, I concluded the Heir is a lustful man. A gentleman shouldn’t stand beneath a dangerous wall – Miss Jiang should stay away from such a person.”
Jiang-Si’s mouth twitched slightly: “Young Master Yu just judged by his appearance?”
Yu-Jin nodded solemnly: “One’s appearance reflects one’s heart!”
Five years ago, when he was about to leave for the distant south, he had secretly attended Earl Dong-Ping’s daughter’s wedding just to see her once.
Though he hadn’t fully understood then, he had deeply resented the way the Heir looked at her – resented it enough to want to gouge out those eyes.
But he couldn’t tell her these things.
He could hardly say he’d been angry about the way the Heir looked at her five years ago and was still angry now, could he?
Was he such a jealous person?
“I thought there might be something truly wrong with the Heir and was planning to warn my Second Sister. Since it’s just about his appearance, there’s nothing more to discuss. I’ve troubled you enough today – farewell.” Jiang-Si curtsied gracefully.
Just then, the doorkeeper rushed in to report: “Second Young Master Jiang has arrived!”