Yang Silang tilted his head with contempt. Pointing at Ji Yaoting’s hand, he sneered, “Who’s your sister? Let me warn you, don’t spew nonsense trying to associate with young master me.”
His servants didn’t give Ji Yaoting time to think, quickly pulling him away.
Yang Silang adjusted his collar, thinking Zhou Qilang must have succeeded by now. Watching Ji Yaoting struggle helplessly in his servants’ grip, he mocked, “Boy, I advise you to stay calm when things happen. I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll let this slide.”
As he turned to leave, his servants roughly shoved Ji Yaoting to the ground, spat, and swaggered after their master.
Ling’er stepped forward to help Ji Yaoting up, brushing off the dust while checking him over: “Young Master, are you alright?”
Ji Yaoting pushed her away and lunged at Yang Silang.
A fist suddenly appeared before his eyes, and blood spurted forth. Ji Yaoting felt his vision go black as he was knocked to the ground.
Yang Silang turned around and snarled viciously, “How dare you sneak attack young master me! Beat him!”
The burly servants swarmed forward.
Ji Yaoting heard Ling’er’s scream and, seeing the incoming kicks, closed his eyes while covering his head. The blows never landed on him. Confused, he opened his eyes. Before him was a blue brocade with woven patterns. Looking up, he saw Yang Jingyuan standing with his arms crossed, flashing a brilliant smile.
“Third Brother! This person tried to attack me for no reason, why are you helping him?!” Seeing it was Yang Jingyuan who had pushed away his servants, Yang Silang’s rage dissipated, replaced by hatred.
They were only half a year apart in age. Yang Jingting had always hated Yang Jingyuan. When his mother Madam Zou chased him into the weaving workshop with a feather duster, Yang Jingyuan stood aside eating candy and watching the show. When he grew older and understood the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, he discovered his eldest brother Yang Jingshan had already secured the position of family head. His two elder brothers from the main house controlled the Yang family business tightly, making his learned weaving skills completely useless.
Meanwhile, Yang Jingyuan studied martial arts with the Qingcheng Daoist master, and no one dared bully him. The First Madam had plenty of silver for him to spend. With his generosity, people flocked around Yang Jingyuan like mosquitoes to honey. He didn’t have to do anything – as long as he stayed out of trouble, he was First Madam’s precious son.
And himself? He wasn’t as handsome as Yang Jingyuan, nor did he have as much money. When he wanted to enjoy himself, his parents practically wanted to tie him to the shop with rope.
He was the legitimate son of the Yang family’s second branch, yet lived worse than a bastard son! And he couldn’t even stand up to him. Yang Jingting felt bitter and uncomfortable.
“My sister was scattered by their horses, and someone saw her being kidnapped!” Two legs couldn’t catch up to four. Only by grabbing the person before him could he find Ji Yingying faster. Ji Yaoting got up from the ground and shouted excitedly at Yang Jingyuan.
Ji Yingying was kidnapped? Yang Jingyuan’s pupils contracted slightly, and before Yang Silang could explain, he barked: “Didn’t you leave the house with Zhou Qilang? Where is he?”
“He… well, he was just here. I don’t know!” Yang Siting denied it stubbornly. After all, he wasn’t the one who kidnapped her, so he wouldn’t admit to anything.
It must be Zhou Qilang! Yang Jingyuan clasped his hands, his knuckles cracking. He mounted his horse and asked Ji Yaoting: “Which direction did they go?”
Ji Yaoting pointed and called out: “I’ll go with you!”
Just as he finished speaking, three horses came running from the distance. Zhou Qilang was covered in dust, and he called out from afar: “Fourth Brother, I was beaten!”
Yang Jingyuan rode over, grabbed the reins, and demanded: “Did you kidnap Second Miss Ji?”
Zhou Qilang was always good at twisting right and wrong, and lies poured from his mouth: “Third Young Master Yang, what do you mean I kidnapped her? Fourth Brother’s horse got startled, and I was afraid the hooves would hurt her, so I rescued her onto my horse. Who knew my horse also got frightened and ran off? I had good intentions, but unexpectedly met someone unreasonable who pushed me off the horse. I was worried her family would be anxious, so I came back to report.”
Hearing this, Yang Siting felt emboldened and pointed at Ji Yaoting: “See? My brother was saving your sister!”
Ji Yaoting couldn’t tell the truth from lies but only wanted to find Ji Yingying.
“Brother Ji, don’t worry, I’ll find her.” After saying this, Yang Jingyuan spurred his horse in the direction Zhou Qilang had come from.
Seeing Yang Jingyuan leave, Zhou Qilang curled his lip thinking, with so many people there, it would be best if they dealt with you too.
……—……
The South River flowed leisurely eastward. The willows by the river were half-withered.
Ji Yingying broke off a willow branch, and with a gentle pull, the yellow leaves separated from the twigs.
A line of carriages and horses moved slowly along the river embankment. Zhao Shenshi lifted the window curtain and anxiously looked toward the riverside: “Nanny, tell the driver to go slower.”
Madam Gu sighed and advised: “Madam, traveling quickly now will make Second Young Master grateful for your thoughtfulness.”
This would be their only private meeting. Why not make it beautiful?
Zhao Shenshi felt uneasy but took the advice. She lowered the curtain as if comforting herself: “Very well. After all, our family still needs Huanhua Dyeing Workshop’s silk threads. Let’s go, Second Son has promised his grandfather. He knows what’s important.”
Watching the carriage speed up and finally disappear from view, Zhao Xiuyuan finally spoke: “Yingying, fortunately, you met me. Don’t worry, if Zhou Qilang dares enter Three Sluice Dam again, I’ll break his legs!”
In the past, Ji Yingying would have burst out laughing. Today she didn’t laugh but scattered the withered leaves in her hands. The wind blew the willow leaves into the river, and she kept staring absent-mindedly at the leaves floating and sinking.
This silence was like a whip striking Zhao Xiuyuan hard. He instinctively reached out to hold her.
“Snap!”
The willow branch struck his hand.
Ji Yingying stepped back and said softly: “Yes, thank you for today. Today is your Zhao family’s joyous occasion, you should hurry after your mother, don’t delay.”
“Yingying! Don’t be like this!” Zhao Xiuyuan understood that Ji Yingying knew.
Before, Ji Yingying would have jumped eight feet high, pointing and scolding him for breaking faith and forgetting their lover’s pledge. Zhao Xiuyuan would rather she cry and make a scene. He had no choice. He believed that even if Ji Yingying was heartbroken, she would understand.
But she didn’t. Ji Yingying’s eyes were as clear as river water, showing not a trace of anger.
Zhao Xiuyuan hadn’t expected to meet Ji Yingying this way today. He was even more surprised that Ji Yingying neither cried nor made a scene. Remembering his grandfather’s words, his heart filled with guilt, “I’m sorry. I am the legitimate son of the Zhao family’s main branch. The Brocade Prince is the Zhao family’s dream, I…”
“You have your obligations. No need to explain. I understand.” Ji Yingying smiled slightly.
Could it be that she wasn’t making a scene because she didn’t hate him? A wave of wild joy surged in Zhao Xiuyuan’s heart, and he desperately pulled her into his arms: “Yingying, you’re not angry with me?”
His arms were strong, his scent still so familiar. Ji Yingying, pressed against his chest, suddenly felt like crying again. She raised her foot and stomped down hard.
“Ouch!” Zhao Xiuyuan cried out. Though it wasn’t particularly painful, he bent his leg and hopped around, exaggerating how much the stomp hurt.
Gradually, he stopped. Ji Yingying watched him quietly, completely unmoved. Zhao Xiuyuan felt panic rising in his heart and couldn’t help calling out to her again: “Yingying.”
“You can no longer call my name. From now on, call me Second Miss Ji.”
“I promised to meet you at Huanhua Creek on the fifteenth of the eighth month. I said if you couldn’t marry me, just tell me, and I wouldn’t persist.”
“You have your difficulties. I won’t force you, nor do I hate you. The bridge goes its way, the road goes its way. Let’s each live our own lives.”
After saying these three sentences, Ji Yingying curtsied, then without hesitation lifted her skirts and walked toward the river embankment.
Zhao Xiuyuan watched her in shock. Did she want to walk out of his life? Was she going to abandon him to live her good life? Did she want to marry someone else? Hot blood rushed to his head, and he strode after her, grabbing her arm.