A’Jiao was different from A’Yi. She spoke directly and didn’t like beating around the bush. She said what she had to say and liked to speak about whatever she saw. But she wasn’t someone who spoke without restraint—her temperament was just more straightforward. She was also habitually clear about matters: right was right, wrong was wrong. Of course, she was also extremely loyal. Once she acknowledged a master, she would serve them to the death. Such people were very suitable to keep by one’s side, which was also why Su Ziluo had chosen her from the vast Su Manor to care for Ji Yinshu.

Ji Yinshu responded to what she had just said with a smile.

She said nothing!

But what A’Jiao said wasn’t wrong. Su Ziluo was indeed good to her, arranging for her to stay here, arranging for people to attend to her, arranging everything properly with everything she needed. Moreover, this place had been carefully selected. Knowing she liked peace and quiet, he had specifically chosen this place where the scenery was pleasant. Staying here, she wouldn’t feel bored, and her mood would be much more comfortable.

In all these years, A’Jiao had never seen her young master be so attentive to any young lady. He had even said that seeing Ji Yinshu was like seeing him—if people didn’t know better, they would think Ji Yinshu was the madam of the manor. From this, one could see that this Miss Ji was no ordinary person! She must have shared a history with her young master!

She was certain of it!

Seeing that she hadn’t spoken for a long while, A’Jiao brought the topic to the main point, saying, “However, Miss, we should still be a bit more careful here. After all, we’re not in Yanjing City. Being more vigilant won’t be wrong! We don’t know those people, yet you arranged for them all to stay like this. I’m afraid it’s not appropriate. If something happens… what would we do?”

“You’re worrying unnecessarily!”

“This servant is just speaking honestly.”

Ji Yinshu hadn’t thought that much. She turned her head to instruct her, “Alright, stop thinking about these things. I see A’Yi is too busy alone. Go help her.”

“Yes!” A’Jiao said no more and nodded as she left.

Ji Yinshu walked to the corridor outside the hall, raising her head to look at the dense raindrops before her. It was like the sky had been pierced with countless holes, the rainwater pouring down as if to submerge all the surrounding bamboo forest. The momentum was gradually intensifying, showing no sign of stopping. If it continued like this until early tomorrow morning, the entire forest would be muddy everywhere, difficult to traverse. Carriages would probably be unable to move even a step.

She sighed softly, wondering when Jingrong would return.

But then she thought that with such heavy rain falling from the sky, he probably couldn’t come.

The rain grew heavier and heavier. Several flashes of thunder streaked across the sky. After several strikes, the sky suddenly turned dark. The cold wind rustled, howling like wolves through the forest—very eerie. Anyone walking through this area would probably be scared half to death.

After A’Jiao and A’Yi had arranged for those people, seeing that it was already late, they quickly lit the lamps throughout the bamboo house. Once the lights were bright, the entire bamboo house seemed much warmer, forming a stark contrast with the eerie surrounding mountain forest. It remained like a ray of light in the midst of ten thousand forests, like a beacon.

Ji Yinshu kept waiting outside the hall, looking in the direction from which people would come to this place. Still no movement, still no sight of that familiar figure…

Seeing the night wind was cold, A’Jiao quickly brought a light blue cloak and draped it over her, asking at the same time, “Miss is waiting for Young Master A’Li, isn’t she?”

Wasn’t this quite obvious?

She said, “He probably won’t come tonight.”

A’Jiao said, “Young Master A’Li went into the city. He must be busy with something, and with such heavy rain falling from the sky, he’s probably delayed. Perhaps… he won’t come. Miss shouldn’t wait anymore. It’s raining so heavily outside with such strong wind. If you catch cold, that wouldn’t be good. Come sit by the stove for a while.”

Ji Yinshu sighed again.

She returned to sit in the hall. A’Yi brought over a warming stove and placed it beside her, afraid she would be cold. She also brought a blanket to cover her.

“Have all those people been settled?”

“All settled. Miss can rest assured! They’re probably all tired. After eating, they returned to their rooms to rest.”

“That’s good!”

“Does Miss want to eat more? I’ll have the kitchen prepare something.” A’Yi asked.

She touched her stomach—she was indeed somewhat hungry. “Go make some porridge. I can’t eat anything else.”

“Yes, this servant will go right away.” A’Yi hurried toward the kitchen.

A’Jiao poured her a cup of hot tea and suddenly asked curiously, “Miss, you can paint?”

“What about it?”

“A’Yi told me that the paintings Miss makes are very beautiful.”

When she was painting Jingrong, it was A’Yi who had prepared the ink and brush for her. It was also A’Yi who had moved her painting from the outer hall into the room, so she had seen her painting.

So lifelike!

That person was like they had been reflected onto the paper!

Ji Yinshu smiled and said, “So what if the painting is good? If the other party doesn’t appreciate it, then it’s just a piece of waste paper.”

No matter what, Jingrong refused to accept the painting she had made. That meant she had busied herself for nothing. Since she had busied herself for nothing, wasn’t it just a piece of waste paper—a piece of waste paper that wasn’t appreciated?

A’Jiao understood her master’s expression. Seeing the atmosphere was wrong and that a trace of sadness had flashed through Ji Yinshu’s eyes, she tactfully avoided this topic and spoke of something else. “Miss, do you like beauty cakes?”

Beauty cakes?

“What are those?”

“Actually, they’re a specialty from my hometown. They’re made by wrapping many fresh flowers in flour, then steaming them in a steamer. The colors are very beautiful, so they’re called beauty cakes.”

“Are they delicious?”

“Of course they’re delicious. The young master has eaten them before and even praised this servant’s cooking. If Miss wants to eat them, I can go make them for you right now.” A’Jiao’s face was full of proud smiles.

Ji Yinshu was indeed hungry, but thinking that A’Yi had already told the cook to prepare something, and it was already so late, she didn’t want to make A’Jiao go to the trouble. She said, “Wait until tomorrow.”

“Alright, then tomorrow morning this servant will make them for you first thing. I’m sure you’ll like them.”

“How do you know I’ll like them?”

“Because the young master likes them, I believe Miss should like them too.” A’Jiao seemed to intentionally link Ji Yinshu and Su Ziluo together.

A talented man and beautiful woman—truly a good match!

Ji Yinshu smiled and asked her, “How old are you?”

“This servant is sixteen.”

“You’re such a young maid, yet your mouth is already so clever and sharp.”

“What makes Miss say so?” A’Jiao looked at her with wide eyes.

Ji Yinshu took a soft breath, about to speak—

A’Yi’s voice came from far away in the back courtyard, hurried and urgent. “Miss, something… something bad has happened!”

Hmm?

Hearing the sound, she turned her head and saw A’Yi running over with a panicked expression, sweat beading on her forehead.

As if something terrible had happened!

A’Jiao was the first to become nervous, frowning as she asked, “What’s wrong? Why are you so flustered? What happened?”

A’Yi directly turned her gaze to Ji Yinshu, saying, “Miss, that young lady wearing the veil who came today has met with trouble.”

“What exactly happened?”

“This servant doesn’t know either. She’s vomiting severely right now. Her entire face has turned white.”

“Did she eat something wrong?”

“It doesn’t seem like she ate something wrong. Moreover, what she’s vomiting up… contains blood.” When A’Yi spoke, her eyes were full of fear. Her hands were also tightly wrung together. Thinking back now on the scene of that young lady vomiting just moments ago, her heart was still trembling. She couldn’t help but tighten her neck, and her stomach churned along with it—very uncomfortable.

Hearing these words, Ji Yinshu quickly had A’Yi lead her to the young lady’s room. When they reached outside the room, she could hear vomiting sounds coming from inside, along with the worried voices of others.

“Sister, what’s wrong with you? Don’t scare me, sister!” The seven- or eight-year-old girl Liu Yunzhu stood by the bed crying and calling out.

The people who had sheltered from the rain today were also gathered around the bed, all looking at Liu Yunyan on the bed with worried expressions.

Liu Yunyan had half her body collapsed over the edge of the bed. The veil on her face had already been removed, revealing that celestial-like face to everyone. Only right now there wasn’t a trace of color in it—terribly pale, with blood at the corners of her mouth. She lay on the bed looking completely drained, and those eyes that had originally held a clear spring were now filled with bloodshot veins, giving them a somewhat terrifying appearance.

“Miss, are you feeling better?” the maid beside Liu Yunyan asked.

But she couldn’t speak a single word.

The little girl Liu Yunzhu kept crying.

The others were also extremely anxious.

Ji Yinshu quickly entered the room, asking as she went, “What happened?”