“Not much—five hundred taels of silver.”
“Second Miss Jiang, surely you must be joking.” Lu Ji said. If all precious horses could be bought for just five hundred taels of silver, then the streets and alleys would be full of such magnificent horses.
“It’s absolutely true. I bought it from a horse dealer at the East Market,” Jiang Li said.
Mentioning the East Market, everyone immediately understood. The East Market was what kind of place? It was a must-visit for those who dealt in trading goods. Whether you profited or lost depended entirely on your eye. Since Jiang Li said so, the horse dealer must have thought the foal was an ordinary one, while Jiang Li had discovered this horse’s extraordinary qualities and bought it.
“Then Second Miss Jiang, where is that horse dealer? Are there other horses?” Kong Liu pressed eagerly. Jiang Li’s words made his heart stir—spending five hundred taels of silver to buy a precious horse, anyone would be willing to make that deal.
“Yes, yes,” Wenren Yao also joined in the excitement. “Are there other horses left?”
“There are many other horses, but when I went before, there was only this one Ferghana horse.” Jiang Li smiled. “If you truly wish to go, you’re certainly welcome to try again. Perhaps the owner has recently acquired new precious horses and fine steeds.” Although she said this, the implication in her words was that she wasn’t very optimistic. Hearing this, everyone understood that such things couldn’t be encountered every day.
The person who encountered this foal had luck but lacked discernment. Those with discernment lacked luck and never met this horse dealer. Only Jiang Li had both luck and discernment, happening to walk into the East Market on that particular day, happening to see that horse dealer, then spotting this one foal at a glance among a group of young horses.
“Second Miss Jiang is truly well-informed and experienced,” Lu Ji stroked his beard. “You even understand the art of judging horses.”
“I only know a little—it’s all based on what’s written in books.” Jiang Li also smiled. “Luck played a bigger role.”
“Enough idle talk. This horse doesn’t have a name yet, does it? Let’s give it one.” Old General Ji said. “Crimson Dragon? Shadowless? Beyond Compare?”
“Old Master, in our cavalry unit alone, there are three Crimson Dragons, five Shadowless, and seven Beyond Compares,” Kong Liu reminded him.
These names were commonly used—duplicate names in a cavalry unit weren’t rare. Wenren Yao asked curiously, “With so many identical names, how do you distinguish them?”
“That’s simple—just add the owner’s surname.” Kong Liu said matter-of-factly. “Li’s Crimson Dragon, Wang’s Crimson Dragon, Zhang’s Crimson Dragon. If the surnames also overlap, add the given name. Li Three’s Shadowless, Li Four’s Shadowless, Li Five’s Shadowless—you can always find a way.”
Wenren Yao: “…”
“A Heng, you speak up. You come up with a name,” the Old General said.
Just as he finished speaking, a voice suddenly descended from above, calling out loudly, “Fine horse! Fine horse!” It was the myna bird Little Red that Ji Heng kept. It flew over like an arrow released from a bow, landing on the foal’s head and snatching up the cloth flower that Bai Xue had pinned by the little horse’s ear that morning.
Little Red’s raucous voice, whether mocking or appreciative, actually completed an entire sentence: “Fine flowers match fine horses, fine horses match fine flowers!”
Jiang Li: “…” She truly wished she could stuff the mouth of this embarrassing myna bird. At the same time, she couldn’t help but feel puzzled—when it was at the Shen family before, this myna wasn’t this noisy. It could even be called quiet. No one had taught it to say such nonsense—at most it would only call people’s names.
Could it be that the Duke’s mansion had somehow activated some trait in the myna bird’s very bones?
“Is this one male or female?” Wenren Yao asked.
“It’s a boy,” Kong Liu had figured it out long ago.
Ji Heng glanced at the myna bird and suddenly said, “Since it’s a boy, let’s call it Little Blue.”
Everyone: “…”
Kong Liu said, “I suddenly feel that the earlier names Crimson Dragon, Shadowless, and Beyond Compare were all quite good.”
Ji Heng completely ignored Kong Liu’s words. He pressed his fan against the foal’s forehead and smiled. “You’ll be called Little Blue.”
Having received such a name that didn’t match its status, Little Blue was already quite unhappy and seemed about to lose its temper. But Ji Heng only smiled as he looked at it, stroking its mane. This young gentleman Little Blue couldn’t help but shudder, not daring to move, obediently allowing Ji Heng to pet it.
Probably such horses all had spiritual awareness, and spiritually aware animals understood best who the truly dangerous person was. Looking at the myna bird Little Red standing proudly under the eaves, then at the dejected foal Little Blue standing among the crowd, Jiang Li was momentarily speechless.
She truly couldn’t find any appropriate words to say.
The enthusiasm for Little Blue finally dissipated after a while. Old General Ji had someone lead Little Blue away, giving repeated instructions that Little Blue must absolutely not be allowed near the Duke’s mansion flower garden. Everyone walked toward the main hall. When they arrived, they discovered that Situ Jiuyue had also arrived early. Haitang followed beside Situ Jiuyue, and the two seemed to get along well.
Old General Ji’s birthday banquet had invited only these few people in total.
Thinking about it, aside from Kong Liu who was an official at court, none of the people here had any connection to the Jiang family—not even with eight poles could they be linked together. No wonder Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbai were uneasy. Even if Jiang Li returned to the Jiang mansion today and told Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbai about the guests here, the two of them probably wouldn’t know what status these people held.
But in other words, did this mean that Old General Ji at least considered her one of his own people now? Jiang Li thought this as she took her seat at the banquet.
The dishes were extremely abundant. Wenren Yao said, “Today our A Heng cooked again. Everyone seize the opportunity and eat quickly. Don’t talk much—eat more, speak less.”
Jiang Li looked at Ji Heng in surprise—it was Ji Heng cooking again. It seemed that during festivals or Old General Ji’s birthday, it was always Ji Heng who cooked. To say it was precious wouldn’t be quite right, because there were several such occasions each year. To say it was ordinary was absolutely not ordinary either. Jiang Li estimated that the people in this world who could eat Ji Heng’s cooking were probably all right here.
She actually wanted to ask—with Ji Heng’s status, he absolutely didn’t need to cook himself, so why did he have such excellent culinary skills? But Ji Heng himself disliked people discussing his cooking, so Jiang Li put aside this thought.
Moreover, although she was curious, curiosity didn’t necessarily need answers.
This birthday banquet could be said to have ended with host and guests enjoying themselves. Compared to the last time, Jiang Li was more familiar with these people. At the banquet, no important matters were discussed—just ordinary family chitchat. Perhaps because Jiang Li had given a precious horse, Old General Ji was obviously much warmer toward her, even exchanging insights about horse judging with Jiang Li. Both benefited greatly from the conversation.
At this birthday banquet, Jiang Li still didn’t drink alcohol.
Ever since the Shen family incident, Jiang Li no longer drank at any banquets. However, everyone was very understanding of her inability to hold her liquor and didn’t urge her, specially providing non-alcoholic fruit drinks for her. By the time the banquet ended, Old General Ji and the others were already drunk and sprawled in all directions. The three women—Situ Jiuyue, Haitang, and Jiang Li—were not drunk. The remaining sober person was Ji Heng.
Servants helped the drunk people into rooms. The remaining people walked out of the main hall. Jiang Li saw Situ Jiuyue standing in front of the courtyard and approached her. “Miss Jiuyue.”
Situ Jiuyue said, “The medicine you wanted has been completed. I gave it to Ji Heng—you can request it from him. However, you must remember that this medicine can only be used for three months. After three months, all pregnancy signs will disappear, and when a physician takes the pulse, they’ll immediately discover that the previous pulse signs were fake.”
“Three months is already enough.” Jiang Li bowed deeply to Situ Jiuyue. “This time I’m truly grateful to Miss Jiuyue.”
“There’s no need to thank me.” After saying this sentence, she turned and went into a room without looking back, probably to make some new medicine. Haitang might have been assisting Situ Jiuyue. Jiang Li watched as she bowed to her before hurrying into the room Situ Jiuyue had entered. Watching this, Jiang Li smiled. Haitang like this, having found something she could do for now, at least felt somewhat better mentally.
Ultimately, Jiang Li didn’t want Haitang to be entangled by thoughts of revenge. She would avenge the Xue family herself. Hatred changed a person. Those who bore hatred weren’t happy—one person was enough. There was no need to add others.
“What are you smiling about?” Just as Jiang Li was lost in thought, Ji Heng’s voice suddenly came from behind her. Jiang Li turned to look—he was standing side by side with her at the courtyard entrance, not looking at her but gazing at the sky, looking at something unknown.
“Nothing bad—just thinking things are good, so I smiled,” Jiang Li said.
“Then it seems you’ll keep smiling from now on.”
“What?” Jiang Li was stunned.
Ji Heng said, “Follow me.” He walked out of the courtyard.
Jiang Li hurried to follow.
At this time, Kong Liu and his group at the Duke’s mansion were all drunk. Situ Jiuyue had gone to refine medicine. Aside from the servants, there were only Ji Heng and Jiang Li. Jiang Li saw that the direction he was walking was clearly toward the study, and immediately understood—Ji Heng probably had something to tell her.
Coincidentally, she also had something she wanted to say to Ji Heng.
The two walked neither fast nor slow. In the snow, their footprints could be clearly reflected—Ji Heng’s deeper, in the shape of boots; Jiang Li’s shallower, in the shape of embroidered shoes. One large, one small, very harmonious.
Soon, the two arrived at the study entrance. A young servant opened the door. Jiang Li and Ji Heng walked in.
The study was still as Jiang Li remembered it—black and white, austere and severe. It seemed extremely incongruous with Ji Heng’s appearance, yet also somehow fitting. His inner heart was precisely this decisive and straightforward—black and white were best.
Ji Heng walked to the desk and poured a cup of tea for Jiang Li, then poured one for himself. Jiang Li discovered that no matter when she went to the Duke’s mansion, the tea in the teapot in Ji Heng’s study was always warm.
This perhaps explained his character—he was prepared for everything.
Jiang Li sat down at his desk.
“Two pieces of news,” Ji Heng said. “One good news, one bad news. Which do you want to hear?”
For a moment, Jiang Li felt dazed.
In the past when Xue Zhao played with her, he also loved to say things like this: “Two pieces of news, one good news, one bad news—which do you want to hear first?”
The young man sitting before her was completely different from Xue Zhao, and Xue Zhao was already dead.
She steadied herself. In the past, she always answered “Let’s hear the good news first.” But today, she said to Ji Heng, “The bad news.”
The corner of Ji Heng’s mouth curved up, his smile playful. “Looks like you prefer bitter before sweet.”
“I suppose so.” Jiang Li smiled bitterly. But when had she ever been bitter before sweet? In her previous life as Xue Fangfei, her life had truly been sweet before bitter. The first half of her life felt like a garden of flowers, wonderfully indescribable. Even when there was dissatisfaction or pain, it couldn’t compare to how much joy there was. So heaven was fair—enjoying happiness first meant suffering later. Everything that happened afterward proved this saying true.
But the suffering of being killed by Shen Yurun as Xue Fangfei—when would the “sweet” part begin?
“Jiang Youyao has been found,” Ji Heng said.
Jiang Li was stunned and blurted out, “Where is she? Is she still in Yanjing City?”
“Still in Yanjing City.” Ji Heng said meaningfully, “However, the place she’s staying is somewhere you could never imagine.”
Seeing the implications in his words, Jiang Li quietly waited for Ji Heng’s next answer.
“She’s at the Right Chancellor’s mansion.”
“The Li family?” Jiang Li was shocked. She had thought many times about where Jiang Youyao might be, but never imagined it would be at the Li family. The Li family and Jiang family had always been at odds. Even if Jiang Youyao was desperate with nowhere to turn, she wouldn’t go to the Right Chancellor’s mansion. Moreover, that old fox Li Zhongnan wouldn’t use Jiang Youyao for anything—Jiang Youyao had no use to the Li family. She might even bring trouble—more of a nuisance than anything.
“What’s going on?” Jiang Li frowned. “Did the Li family capture her? Or does the Li family have some other scheme?”
“After Jiang Youyao escaped from the Jiang family, before she could reach the Ji family, she encountered trouble.” Ji Heng shrugged. “You know, while Yanjing City can be called peaceful, when it’s not peaceful, quite a few things can happen. Li Lian, who was passing by, helped her out of her predicament. Seeing her in such a wretched state, he brought her back to the Right Chancellor’s mansion.”
“Li Lian?” Hearing this, Jiang Li understood somewhat. “He must have already recognized Jiang Youyao’s identity and deliberately did this.”
The Right Chancellor’s younger son Li Lian was different from his elder brother Li Xian. He spent his days riding horses through the streets—a wastrel young master. Although he had a fairly decent appearance, he caused trouble everywhere. As for how many young ladies he had fancied and how many girls he had ruined, Jiang Li had heard about it. Yet this kind of person still had to appear extremely gentle and magnanimous on the surface, as if he were a gentleman. Young girls who saw him, if not careful, would be deceived.
Actually, not just girls—even men were often fooled by Li Lian’s false appearance. When Ye Shijie first came to Yanjing, if Jiang Li hadn’t discovered something amiss from scattered clues and promptly reminded him to keep his distance from Li Lian, who knows what purpose Li Lian might have ultimately used Ye Shijie to achieve.
Li Lian had also followed the Right Chancellor to various large and small banquets. To say he had never seen Jiang Youyao was impossible. Back then, Jiang Youyao as the Chief Minister’s daughter was beautiful and charming—most of Yanjing City’s noble sons knew of her. Even if on that day Jiang Youyao had secretly left the mansion in disguise, Li Lian would most likely still recognize her.
Or to put it another way, if it were someone else who brought Jiang Youyao back to the mansion, Jiang Li would believe they perhaps hadn’t recognized Jiang Youyao’s identity. But since it was Li Lian, Jiang Li had reason to believe that Li Lian had recognized Jiang Youyao and only then made his subsequent moves toward her.
“Obviously your younger sister doesn’t think so,” Ji Heng said calmly. “Otherwise she wouldn’t have returned to the mansion with Li Lian.”
Jiang Li frowned. “What happened between them afterward?”
“Afterward…” Ji Heng said leisurely, “Naturally things took their course. After bringing her back to the mansion—revealing identities, explaining difficulties, begging for shelter—one person showing pity, one person grateful, like-minded, inseparable as glue…” The more he spoke, the more outrageous it became, his tone full of mockery.
“I understand.” Jiang Li interrupted him. She could imagine what Jiang Youyao would do—exactly as Ji Heng described. After returning to the Li family, washing her face clean, finding she could no longer hide things, and seeing this Second Young Master Li as elegant and refined, gentle and considerate, she would have engaged in earnest words and tearful crying, arousing the sympathy of the Second Young Master Li who knew the “truth,” deciding to help this little white rabbit who had gone astray by concealing and sheltering her, and further taking care of her future.
“What’s their situation now?” Jiang Li thought for a moment and asked. “Have they already reached the ‘inseparable as glue’ stage?”
“Only excess, no exaggeration,” Ji Heng answered.
Jiang Li’s heart didn’t know whether to feel angry or find it laughable. Although she had long known Jiang Youyao was brainless, even the most brainless person—even the selfish Jiang Yu’e—understood that the Li family and Jiang family had always been at odds. Forget about pledging lifelong commitment to someone from the Li family—even having a bit more interaction was unacceptable. That was personally handing the Jiang family’s weakness to others, handing them a knife. Although Jiang Li didn’t think sacrificing individuals for the family was something particularly glorious, the principle of “when the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact”—as long as Jiang Youyao wasn’t a three-year-old child, she should understand this.
Probably even three-year-old children understood this principle.
“She truly doesn’t care about the Jiang family’s life or death at all. Knowing full well what kind of identity the Li family holds, she still dares to throw herself at them,” Jiang Li said resentfully.
“Perhaps she thinks she’s the female lead in a play and Li Lian is the male lead—hereditary enemies, love faithful and true, moving heaven and earth, ultimately composing a legendary tale that earns people’s tears.” Ji Heng said with a straight face.
Today he didn’t know what had gotten into him—he spared no effort in mocking Jiang Youyao. Jiang Li looked at him. “How did you find out about this?”
“The Right Chancellor’s mansion also has my people.” Ji Heng said casually. “We didn’t search the Right Chancellor’s mansion before because we didn’t think your younger sister would be bold enough to such an extent. Later, someone there accidentally discovered something amiss and returned to the Duke’s mansion. I had them confirm again, only to discover—” he smiled slightly, “—there truly are people this stupid in the world.”
Hearing this, Jiang Li’s heart couldn’t help but skip a beat again. Ji Heng actually had planted informants even at the Right Chancellor’s mansion. All the secrets of the noble households in Yanjing City were grasped in his palm—no wonder he was so fearless. He knew all the deeply hidden secrets of all the great households, perhaps even the imperial family’s.
“Regardless of everything else, thank you,” Jiang Li said. “If you hadn’t told me, perhaps the Jiang family would never have discovered that Jiang Youyao was at Li Lian’s mansion.”
“What do you plan to do now?” Ji Heng rubbed the surface of his teacup and asked her. “Go back and tell your father immediately?”
“I haven’t thought it through yet.” Jiang Li hesitated. “Although my father says he feels disappointed in Jiang Youyao, the truth is he still dotes on her. If I tell him now, I believe he’ll impulsively go demand the person from the Right Chancellor’s mansion. First, Li Lian might hide the person away in a very short time, coming up empty. Second, it would also give the Li family leverage, saying our Jiang family is deliberately slandering them. Now is already a troubled time—adding another matter, who knows what it might bring.”
“I also believe,” Ji Heng said, “if Jiang Youyao were only an insignificant figure to the Jiang family, Li Lian wouldn’t care about this.”
Jiang Li probed carefully. “Do you mean letting Jiang Youyao stay at the Li family for now and first observing what Li Lian actually wants to do?”
Ji Heng spread his hands. “This is your Jiang family’s business.”
Jiang Li only felt a headache coming on. Jiang Youyao had truly made an already complicated matter even more complex. But Ji Heng’s words weren’t wrong either. Telling Jiang Yuanbai now that Jiang Youyao was at the Li family—who knew what methods the Li family would use? Either catch them off guard and suddenly demand the person, or wait—wait until after some time when Li Lian’s interest in Jiang Youyao faded, then find a way to get Jiang Youyao out.
From the current situation, Li Zhongnan probably didn’t know about this—it should be Li Lian’s own idea. Perhaps obtaining the daughter of a mortal enemy was a particularly proud matter for Li Lian. At least for now, he was still tender and sweet toward Jiang Youyao.
This matter couldn’t be figured out right now. Better to think it through slowly after returning to the mansion tonight. Jiang Li thought for a moment and asked Ji Heng, “What about the good news His Grace the Duke mentioned?”
What Ji Heng wanted to tell her were two matters. Jiang Youyao’s matter counted as one. There was still another that hadn’t been mentioned until now.
“Situ’s fake pregnancy medicine has been completed,” Ji Heng curved his lips in a smile. “Yongning has already taken it.”
Jiang Li was stunned. “When?”
“On Shen Ruyun’s wedding day, after Yongning and Shen Yurun met,” Ji Heng said.
Princess Yongning found opportunities to meet with Shen Yurun every few days. Meeting with Shen Yurun naturally meant being intimate as well. Ji Heng had someone use the medicine after the two had their tryst—at least the timing couldn’t be more appropriate. Shen Yurun was suspicious and cautious. This way, he couldn’t find anything wrong.
Jiang Li was overjoyed. This truly was good news—probably the best news for her during this period. This meant her plan could advance a great step forward. She didn’t need to continue waiting endlessly.
“This is truly wonderful,” she murmured.
“How will you thank me?” Ji Heng raised an eyebrow.
His features were deeply beautiful. This smiling manner of asking for gratitude was so stunning one couldn’t look away. Jiang Li said, “Whatever His Grace the Duke needs, you can tell me. In fact, even if I gave everything I had, it would be difficult to repay you.”
If not for Ji Heng, for her to personally deliver the fake pregnancy medicine to Princess Yongning and have Princess Yongning smoothly take it would require considerable effort. It might even fail, and once it failed, Princess Yongning would become wary, making it very difficult to act again.
Ji Heng had essentially allowed the most difficult step of her plan to be successfully completed.
Ji Heng looked at her for a while, smiled, took a sip of tea, then said, “I can’t think of anything for the moment. However, I’m very curious about what you’re going to do next.”
“What comes next?” Jiang Li was puzzled.
“After Yongning shows signs of pregnancy, what will you do?” he asked, as if truly very curious.
Jiang Li thought for a moment. “I don’t know when Miss Jiuyue’s medicine will take effect?”
“Twelve hours later.” Ji Heng pondered briefly. “Counting it out, it’s already taken effect.”
“Then it’s very simple.” Jiang Li smiled slightly. “An unmarried maiden suddenly becomes pregnant. For ordinary families encountering such a thing, the young lady’s entire life is ruined. Great households, to preserve their reputation, might even have the young lady hang herself. Of course, Yongning is of royal blood, Prince Cheng’s own younger sister. No one dares make her hang herself, nor does she need to hang herself.”
Her words also carried considerable mockery.
“So before the pregnancy signs become too obvious, they must definitely find a good marriage match for Yongning. Happily marry the young lady off—first to conceal the pregnancy signs, second because this princess has conveniently reached the age for marriage discussions. This way, obtaining a good marriage alliance would be something everyone envies—a joyous occasion.”
“So,” Ji Heng looked at her serious expression and couldn’t help but slightly curve his lips, speaking deliberately, “you plan to have her marry Shen Yurun?”
“Of course not.” This answer made even Ji Heng’s face show some surprise.
“Lord Shen is deeply devoted to his late wife. Even though that Lady Shen cuckolded him, he remains deeply devoted without regret. He absolutely won’t remarry someone else in such a short time. Moreover, if he married Princess Yongning, wouldn’t others say they had an affair all along? In the previous Tong County case, there were rumors saying that Princess Yongning was the one who instigated Feng Yutang to harm County Magistrate Xue! So she harmed County Magistrate Xue because she had long admired Lord Shen and was taking revenge for him.”
“Lord Shen has always valued his reputation. He won’t let such a thing happen,” Jiang Li said.
Ji Heng’s hand stroked his fan handle as he also smiled. He said, “Then who does Second Miss Jiang plan to have Princess Yongning marry?”
“Who Princess Yongning marries isn’t something I can decide. It’s decided by His Majesty.” Jiang Li smiled. “At most I can only analyze it. In any case, Grand Consort Liu won’t approve of Lord Shen. Although Lord Shen looks acceptable, his family background is too thin—rising from nothing. To match a princess would always be climbing above his station. Among the current young talents at court who are of suitable age and appearance, with substantial family backgrounds and matching social standing, whose marriage wouldn’t make Princess Yongning marry beneath her station—I’ve actually discovered one person.”
She smiled as she uttered a sentence: “The Right Chancellor Li Zhongnan’s eldest son, Li Xian.”
Ji Heng was stunned, then suddenly laughed. He laughed extremely happily, his eyes showing undisguised admiration and appreciation.
“This is very interesting—having Princess Yongning marry the cut-sleeve Li Xian is truly unusual.”
Jiang Li said, “What’s even more interesting is that this Young Master Li, who couldn’t possibly fall for women, after marrying, quickly fathers a son. The Li family has an heir to continue the line—Right Chancellor must be very happy.”
“It’s just that this green hat isn’t something everyone is willing to wear. In this world, there’s only one Shen Yurun who can tolerate it and even wear it with relish. I wonder when the Li family wears it, will they feel it’s acceptable? Will they let the matter rest?”
By that time, the alliance between Prince Cheng and the Right Chancellor would be like a plate of sand—blow on it and it would scatter.
Author’s Note:
His Grace the Duke: I gave you the name Little Blue. Are you moved?
Little Blue: I don’t dare move…
(Why call it Little Blue? Because since ancient times, red and blue make a CP~ It’s definitely not because the author was too lazy to think of something else)