An incense stick’s time later, Jiang Xinzhi led Jiang Ruan back unharmed, leaving Jiang Quan seething with suppressed anger. But now that Jiang Xinzhi had earned military merit and his temperament had greatly changed, he was no longer as easily manipulated as before. Jiang Susu still wanted to add fuel to the fire: “Father, look at elder sister…”
“Shut up!” Jiang Quan was at the height of his anger. Looking at Jiang Susu’s frail appearance only made him more irritated: “If you’re carrying filthy aura, don’t wander around everywhere. Go back to your own courtyard!” After saying this, he glared fiercely at Jiang Chao and left with a flourish of his sleeves.
Jiang Susu stared in shock at Jiang Quan’s departure, while a flash of hatred crossed Jiang Chao’s eyes. The two siblings remained silent, but at the same moment, both came to hate Jiang Xinzhi and Jiang Ruan to their bones.
They passed the night peacefully. Early the next morning upon awakening, Lu Zhu came from outside carrying rose pastries, saying as she walked: “The rain has lessened somewhat. It looks like it’s going to stop.”
Her face showed some worry. She knew a thing or two about what Jiang Ruan planned to do. Now that the rain was stopping, how could things go well?
Jiang Ruan smiled slightly. Looking out from the window, the raindrops had become fine as silk threads, and the water drops falling from the eaves had slowed considerably. The air had become gentler, completely sweeping away the dark, cloudy appearance of the previous days. It seemed that before long, the skies would clear after the rain.
Lian Qiao handed the cooked red date and longan honey water to Jiang Ruan: “It’s not time yet. Let’s wait a bit longer.”
Jiang Ruan took the honey water and sipped lightly, her fingers unconsciously tapping the table.
Indeed, it looked like the weather would clear soon. Actually… the mountain rain was approaching, with wind filling the tower.
At the edge of Bochang Reservoir’s embankment, the reservoir director wiped his sweat and ran back and forth diligently, constantly flattering the noble person before him: “The water situation is under control, and the embankment is very stable. Looking at the rainfall these past days, it should stop soon, and before long the weather will clear. This flood control achievement is entirely due to the Eighth Prince and Young Master Li’s merit.”
Xuan Li smiled warmly: “I’m merely doing what I should do.”
The director’s face, already beaming like a chrysanthemum, became even more radiant upon hearing this: “Your Highness is modest. The lives of the common people around the reservoir are all in Your Highness’s hands. That the Great Jin Dynasty has such a prince who wholeheartedly serves the people is truly a blessing for the common folk. After this matter is concluded, this humble official will definitely report Your Highness’s achievements to the court without omitting a single word.” His mind was active—everyone knew that the current Crown Prince was not favored. Currently, the most powerful contenders for that position in the palace were none other than the Eighth Prince and Fifth Prince. Though the Fifth Prince was not bad, he couldn’t compare to the Eighth Prince, whose birth mother held favor before His Majesty.
Thinking it over, the Eighth Prince still had better odds of winning. Now that Xuan Li had earned merit in this matter, if he could curry favor and gain his approval, wouldn’t his future career path be smooth sailing? Thinking of this, the director’s smile became even more genuine.
Xuan Li smiled as if bathed in spring breeze, neither denying nor accepting. There were many common people watching the excitement by the embankment. These past days, as the reservoir underwent flood control, Xuan Li had contributed effort, and the people had seen it with their eyes. Toward someone of high position personally coming down, they felt both fearful and grateful. The common people were always the most easily satisfied. Combined with the reservoir director’s flowery praise of Xuan Li’s virtues, the people felt even more grateful toward Xuan Li.
Receiving the adoring gazes of the common people, Xuan Li’s smile deepened, and a trace of smugness flashed in his eyes. This smile appeared very kind in the people’s eyes. Looking at this Eighth Prince, renowned among the people for his dual talents, so gentle and handsome with noble bearing, they all began singing his praises even more.
Li An, walking beside Xuan Li, still wore his usual gloomy expression, but this very expression made Xuan Li appear even more approachable.
Just as everyone on the embankment was expressing their admiration, an untimely voice rang out: “Disaster! Disaster!”
This voice wasn’t harsh among the chorus of praise, but it was particularly clear. Xuan Li’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly as he turned to look toward where the voice came from on the embankment.
Hearing these words, people gradually stopped talking. They saw a yellow-robed monk slowly walking through the crowd. He had kind brows and gentle eyes, his robes clean and unstained by dust. His movements were like a white lotus from beneath Buddha’s seat, emanating a faint sacred aura.
Someone in the crowd recognized him: “Isn’t this Master Hui Jue? How did Master Hui Jue come here?”
“It really is Master Hui Jue! The holy monk of the capital, Master Hui Jue whose prophecies are extraordinarily accurate!”
“What did Master Hui Jue mean by what he just said?”
Xuan Li and Li An stared at this uninvited guest who had suddenly appeared. Hui Jue’s reputation was currently red-hot among the entire nobility of the capital, especially in Buddhist households—everyone knew this monk had considerable ability. But Xuan Li and Li An were both atheists who had no fear of ghosts and spirits to begin with, so they looked at Hui Jue as they would any ordinary swindler.
Hui Jue pressed his palms together: “Amitabha. Last night this poor monk cast divination. The hexagram showed western dragon qi colliding, the water dragon raising its head. I fear great wind and rain will descend—extremely dangerous. The reservoir may face the risk of collapse.”
“What?” A woman holding a child immediately panicked: “Is what Master says true?”
Hui Jue pressed his palms together and nodded with lowered brows and downcast eyes.
Xuan Li, bringing Li An, slowly walked toward Hui Jue. When they drew near, Xuan Li smiled warmly: “Is what Master just said true?”
“One who has left the household does not speak falsely.” Hui Jue said lightly.
Xuan Li and Li An exchanged glances. Li An suddenly stared at Hui Jue: “Master, then what do you say should be done next?”
“Disaster has arrived, imminent and pressing. The lives of thousands downstream from the reservoir cannot be treated as child’s play. Please have the downstream households evacuate this place overnight, seeking higher ground to avoid the suffering of flooding.”
Li An burst out laughing.
Seeing Li An laugh, Xuan Li’s heart also settled, his expression remaining gentle, but his words carried chilling coldness: “Does Master know the consequences of disturbing the people’s hearts?”
Hui Jue calmly met his gaze without avoiding or yielding, truly possessing some of that pure, lotus-like otherworldliness.
Xuan Li had originally thought he was an ordinary swindler, but now seeing this monk’s extraordinary temperament and his repeated insistence on taking the people downstream, suspicion arose in his heart. He instinctively thought this must be someone sent by the Fifth Prince, aimed at stealing his achievements. Moving entire households wasn’t a small matter—if they really did this and all turned out well, not only would there be talk of wasting the people’s labor, but he would be mocked by all under heaven for being soft-eared and believing the slander of a demon monk.
He stared at Hui Jue’s face, finding it increasingly detestable. The people from the Bureau of Astronomy had also said the rain showed signs of stopping. Free achievements were right before his eyes—did the Fifth Prince want to interfere? Did he think everyone around him was a stupid pig?
“For Master Hui Jue to say this, do you have any evidence?” Xuan Li asked calmly.
Hui Jue lowered his head: “Amitabha. Regarding divination matters, the hexagram has already shown itself. This poor monk has no evidence.”
“Without evidence, this is spreading false rumors to confuse the masses.” Xuan Li said. The Fifth Prince’s methods were too crude—there was no need to put much thought into this.
“Master is not that kind of person!”
“That’s right, everything Master has said has come true!”
“What Master says must be true!”
Contrary to Xuan Li’s expectations, most of the crowd actually supported Hui Jue. He imperceptibly furrowed his brow—had the Fifth Prince actually found such a person, using Hui Jue’s reputation to force him to give this order?
He sneered inwardly. Unfortunately, he, Xuan Li, was never manipulated by others!
“Daring to speak such nonsense here without evidence—Master, disaster comes from the mouth.” Xuan Li still wanted to resolve this matter easily, maintaining his good-natured image.
But Hui Jue let out a long sigh: “Everyone praises Your Highness for being wise and decisive, kind-hearted and serving the people. Don’t the lives of thousands of people downstream from Bochang Reservoir merit Your Highness taking one risk?”
Xuan Li’s expression changed. The gazes of the surrounding crowd were no longer filled with the same adoration as before. Instead, there were expressions of doubt, anger, and confusion.
This monk was inciting the people’s hearts, provoking his supporters!
Before he could speak, Li An gave an order: “Where did this demon monk come from, daring to speak disrespectfully to His Highness? Someone come—arrest this demon monk!”
The corner of Xuan Li’s lips curved slightly. Many things inconvenient for him to do, Li An could freely do. He kept Li An not only because his intelligence was rare, but also because he was a master at reading people’s hearts.
The crowd was in an uproar. Xuan Li spoke at the right moment: “Master is one who has left the household—I won’t be discourteous to those who have left the household. However, if Master continues with such wild talk, it will greatly affect the capital’s public order. I’ll find Master a place to rest for a few days. When the rain stops, it won’t be too late for Master to come out again.”
Hui Jue lowered his head: “Amitabha. This poor monk’s mortal shell matters not even if it perishes, but the thousands of common people downstream had best evacuate overnight today, or their lives will surely be in danger.”
A gleam flashed in Xuan Li’s eyes as he spoke gently: “This prince orders that from today, the people downstream from the reservoir are not permitted to leave even one step. Those who leave will be considered as disturbing order and will be executed.”
This was nothing less than direct confrontation.
Now that the water situation was stable, if this monk’s wild words disturbed the originally settled people’s hearts, it would be very detrimental to the “merit” he had constructed.
Hui Jue looked at him calmly. No one could see the cold sweat crawling down his spine beneath his loose monk’s robes.
After a night of tossing and turning in thought, just before dawn broke, he had finally made his decision.
The conditions Jiang Ruan offered were too tempting. All under heaven bustle for profit, all under heaven hustle for gain. If he could truly cure his son’s illness through this, it would be tremendously profitable.
Though he didn’t know who was behind Jiang Ruan, from previous events, since this little girl was already so formidable, the person behind her was definitely no ordinary individual. Even if his opponent was the Eighth Prince, wealth had always been sought through danger. Moreover, this was enormous wealth.
Hui Jue had traveled from that small place in Yuzhou all the way to the capital, practicing deception for decades without ever making a mistake. First, because he actually understood some Buddhist scriptures; second, because his deception skills were brilliant; but most importantly, he was bold and careful. Truth mixed with falsehood, falsehood mixed with truth—even fellow practitioners skilled in this art would find it difficult to detect flaws.
But today, directly facing someone from the imperial family, his heart still couldn’t help but feel somewhat uneasy. However, years of experience ultimately prevented his face from showing the slightest sign. The more compassionate he spoke, the more Xuan Li felt he harbored ulterior motives. Xuan Li’s refusal to accept his suggestion had already achieved its purpose.
Jiang Ruan had once reminded him that Xuan Li was someone who cared about his reputation, always pursuing perfection. Arresting him under everyone’s watchful eyes meant he definitely wouldn’t use any torture, or he would incur the people’s wrath. Even if he really wanted to punish him, it would be a matter for three days later. But three days later, would Xuan Li still have the opportunity to punish him?
Success or failure hung on this single move. Hui Jue shook his head, sighed, pressed his palms together, said no more, and followed Li An’s guards as they walked away.
The crowd that had originally gathered around the embankment now had no adoration left in their eyes—only panic remained. They discussed among themselves the possibility of the reservoir collapsing in three days. For a time, people’s hearts were in turmoil. Xuan Li felt irritated, and somehow, an ominous premonition faintly arose. He glanced at Li An. Li An understood and darkened his face: “Didn’t you all hear what His Highness just said? Don’t listen to rumors and cause trouble. Within three days, whoever dares leave even one step will be dealt with accordingly!”
Li An didn’t have Xuan Li’s kind face. His naturally gloomy expression combined with his low tone made him look quite fierce. The common people immediately fell silent as cicadas in winter. Xuan Li waved his hand: “Let’s go back.”
The reservoir director, who had long been frightened pale as earth, hurriedly followed, bowing and scraping all the way as he saw them off.
Though the crowd still couldn’t avoid feelings of panic, because of Li An’s order and the soldiers guarding the area, their hearts uneasy, they quickly dispersed. After the crowd had completely scattered, two people remained in place. One wore solemn black robes with a cold expression, looking thoughtfully at the embankment.
The person dressed as a guard beside him spoke: “Master, Jin Yi and Jin Er have already investigated—there’s no problem with the embankment.”
Xiao Shao said: “Watch the movements here carefully.” If there was no problem with the embankment, then it wasn’t man-made. There was still the matter of the rain suddenly intensifying. He looked into the distance, his long eyelashes lowering to conceal the deep meaning in his eyes.
“Let’s go.”
In the Jiang manor, Lu Zhu told Jiang Ruan the news she had just gathered, saying excitedly: “Master Hui Jue came forward, and the Eighth Prince took him away. Will he expose us?”
“No.” Jiang Ruan said.
Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi showed worry in their eyes. They heard Jiang Ruan say: “Xuan Li is unfathomably deep and naturally suspicious by nature. He won’t dispose of Hui Jue so quickly. Even if he really wants to dispose of him, Hui Jue can distinguish what’s important. If he can’t endure, he’ll just be a rotting corpse. If he endures, it will be enormous wealth. He’s a smart person—naturally he knows how to choose.” In fact, in her previous life, Xuan Li had brought Hui Jue into the court. Hui Jue’s position hadn’t been smooth sailing—there were many opposing voices in the court and countless open and hidden attacks, yet Hui Jue had still risen to the position of National Preceptor.
Such a person merely lacked courage now, but his character was exceptionally strong.
In this life, using Xuan Li’s arrow to aim at himself—wouldn’t that be even better?
Her gaze suddenly turned cold. Lu Zhu noticed and said: “Miss, there’s one more thing. This servant encountered Fifth Aunt on the road. She said Master received a letter today proposing to marry Miss to the Prime Minister’s manor… to marry the eldest young master Li. Master seems to be preparing to send over the engagement documents.”
“Absurd!” Lian Qiao couldn’t help saying: “Miss is only eleven years old now. Any ordinary official family would definitely not marry off their legitimate daughter so early!”
Jiang Ruan smiled slightly. Jiang Quan had made this decision after receiving a letter. Li An enjoyed slow torture—this definitely wasn’t his idea. It seemed the bedridden eldest young master Li had awakened and was preparing his revenge.
Diverting trouble eastward—Jiang Susu and her mother probably couldn’t ask for more.
“Miss, absolutely not,” Bai Zhi said anxiously: “Why not ask the eldest young master? No, ask the old master?”
“Why the rush?” Jiang Ruan said unhurriedly: “Even if he wants me to enter the Li family’s door, we’ll have to see if he has the fate for it.”
“The engagement documents are about to be sent over,” Bai Zhi said urgently: “Master is already so heartless, wishing Miss would replace Second Miss in jumping into that fire pit. The people in Yanhua Courtyard are even more pleased to see this happen. Miss must also make plans for herself!”
Jiang Ruan looked at her anxious appearance and suddenly smiled faintly: “Don’t you believe me? How about a wager?”
Bai Zhi was stunned.
“Let’s wager that in three days, Jiang Quan will be crying and begging to take back the engagement documents,” she said.
At this moment in Yanhua Courtyard, washing away the dark atmosphere of the previous days, they were unusually cheerful.
Jiang Susu nestled in Xia Yan’s embrace: “So you’re saying Jiang Ruan will soon marry that waste Li Yang?”
Xia Yan looked at her reproachfully: “Keep your voice down.” Though she said this, her face still couldn’t help showing some smile: “Yes, the Li family is no simple place. Once she enters, she’ll be no different from a brothel prostitute. That Li Dong…” Realizing something, she suddenly stopped and glanced at Jiang Susu.
Though Jiang Susu didn’t understand matters between men and women, she had ultimately guessed some things from Xia Yan’s scattered words. Not only was she not shy, but she revealed a satisfied smile: “Is that so? She harmed my brother and me like this, causing grandfather to become estranged from us, and she’s been so arrogant in the manor. Leaving her alive—wouldn’t that be too good for her?”
“Once she enters the Prime Minister’s manor, she’ll suffer a fate worse than death,” Xia Yan said coldly: “Li Yang hates her to the bone. How could she gain any advantage? When the time comes, even if you step on her, no one will dare say a word.”
Jiang Susu’s beautiful eyes flashed, seeming extremely pleased. Suddenly thinking of something, she said: “What about Jiang Xinzhi? If he knows about this, he definitely won’t let it go.”
“Your father and I decided to hide this from him first. After dealing with that little bitch, it won’t be too late to deal with him.” Xia Yan stroked Jiang Susu’s head: “Su’er, whoever hurts you, mother will make them pay a thousandfold, a hundredfold price.”
Jiang Susu nodded obediently, nestling in Xia Yan’s embrace, her eyes flashing with fleeting malice.
No matter how spirited the Jiang siblings were, the one currently in charge of the Jiang manor was still her mother, and above that was Jiang Quan. What did being a deputy general matter? What did military merit matter? If father wanted Jiang Ruan to marry a waste, she had no choice but to marry! Letting her enter the Prime Minister’s manor was still doing her a favor. Now that the engagement documents had already been sent to the Prime Minister’s manor, Jiang Quan was determined to use Jiang Ruan to exchange for good relations with the Li family. This time, Jiang Ruan could not escape her fate!
“Mother, I want to see Jiang Ruan’s miserable appearance when she marries into the Prime Minister’s manor right now,” Jiang Susu said.
“Soon,” Xia Yan’s lips curved in a sinister smile: “The engagement documents have already been sent over. The date will be arranged by your father and Prime Minister Li. Li Yang hates Jiang Ruan to the bone—his desire to torture her is probably even stronger. In my opinion, he’ll quickly marry Jiang Ruan into the manor. I’ll also take the opportunity to discuss this matter with your father to prevent complications from delay.” Her voice was slow and low: “However, with parents’ orders and matchmaker’s words, no matter how long this night is, it will definitely be a dreamless night.”