That night, Jiang Li couldn’t sleep. During the day, Lin Yao had received the snacks Jiang Li bought for him and had been much happier. Children were always easy to coax, so tonight Wenren Yao finally didn’t need to comfort the crying Lin Yao anymore and went to sleep early.
Ji Heng’s room was opposite Jiang Li’s. Opening the window, she could see that the lamp in his room was still lit. Ji Heng also hadn’t slept.
Jiang Li sat at the table, staring blankly at the slowly burning candle on the table. She didn’t go to find Ji Heng to talk, truly because her emotions were not calm. Or rather, when she discovered her own feelings, she was at a loss and didn’t understand that she could no longer act the same way as before.
Her feelings toward Ji Heng, based on their friendship, had somehow deepened beyond what they were before. She had loved someone before and understood what it felt like to be moved. Even if it was just a fleeting moment, it wasn’t an illusion.
This was not a good thing. Never mind that in this lifetime, she had resolved not to marry anyone and to live alone. Right now she was still a Miss of the Jiang family, and Jiang Yuanbai and the Duke’s mansion had no connections whatsoever. Of course, most importantly, Jiang Li knew of Ji Heng’s emotional detachment. He was a fine person, extraordinarily beautiful, and always extended a helping hand when she was in dire straits, helping her quite a lot. Although at first he was a spectator watching the drama with his hands folded, after Tong County, he fulfilled his agreement and even exceeded it. He didn’t demand repayment; even an ordinary fan pendant could satisfy him.
When people are in difficult circumstances, they tend to feel deeply grateful toward those who help them. But this gratitude had somehow transformed into a bit of affection. Jiang Li knew this perhaps shouldn’t be blamed on herself. If Ji Heng truly wanted to be good to someone, no one would remain unmoved.
But being good to someone didn’t necessarily mean liking them.
Someone like him probably would never fall in love with anyone. Just as he himself said, he didn’t need sincerity, so naturally he wouldn’t give sincerity either. If one liked Ji Heng, it was destined to be a desperate and endless wait. Jiang Li understood this better than anyone. She still carried the solitary courage and hope from her time as Xue Fangfei, yet was far more calm and rational than Xue Fangfei. She knew what should be done and what shouldn’t be done. Cutting losses in time was more important than anything.
Ji Heng wasn’t Shen Yurun, but liking Ji Heng might not be any better than having liked Shen Yurun.
She should sever her mistaken thoughts.
Thinking this, Jiang Li blew out the lamp in the room. The room plunged into darkness, and everything returned to silence.
Everything was no different from before.
…
Over the next few days, even Wenren Yao and Lu Ji noticed something was wrong. Wen Ji was naturally silent and wouldn’t say anything, but when Zhao Ke crouched at the doorway, his gaze often moved between Jiang Li and Ji Heng.
Wenren Yao secretly asked Jiang Li, “Second Miss Jiang, did you quarrel with A Heng?”
Jiang Li asked in surprise, “No. Why do you say that?”
“Something seems strange between you and A Heng,” Wenren Yao thought for a moment. “I can’t put my finger on it, but something’s not right.”
Jiang Li said, “Young Master Wenren must be mistaken. Xiao Yao is calling for you.”
Wenren Yao hurriedly went to take care of Lin Yao.
On the rooftop, Wen Ji and Zhao Ke were also chewing grass stems. Zhao Ke asked Wen Ji, “Brother, do you think His Lordship said something harsh to Second Miss Jiang?”
Wen Ji: “…”
Zhao Ke: “Second Miss Jiang is different from before. Last time I saw them go out together, everything seemed fine. How did things suddenly become like this? Although they still talk the same way, I always feel they’re not as close. Second Miss Jiang doesn’t even go find His Lordship to talk anymore.”
Wen Ji: “…”
Zhao Ke: “Come on, say something. What’s going on?”
Wen Ji: “…”
Zhao Ke spat out the grass in his mouth, looked at Wen Ji with disdain, and said, “You really are a blockhead!” Then he turned and jumped down from the roof.
Inside the room, after Lu Ji finished discussing matters with Ji Heng, he also asked, “Your Lordship, did something happen between you and Second Miss Jiang?”
Ji Heng raised an eyebrow: “Don’t understand.”
Lu Ji said meaningfully, “Second Miss is avoiding you.”
Ji Heng smiled slightly without saying anything, stood up, pushed the door open, and walked out. Outside, Jiang Li was wiping the table. Since there were no maids here and she had nothing else to do on ordinary days, she cleaned up a bit, not finding anything wrong with it. The first time Wenren Yao saw her doing these trivial tasks, he had made a fuss as if he’d seen a ghost, and even called Ji Heng out to witness it, as if Jiang Li had done something momentous. Later, as the situation in the city became chaotic, there was no time to worry about such things, and besides, Wenren Yao still had to take care of his young disciple Lin Yao.
Seeing Ji Heng and Lu Ji come out from the room, Jiang Li smiled and said, “Duke, Master Lu.”
Her tone was gentle, her smile polite, everything just right. Ji Heng couldn’t help but raise his eyes to look at her. Jiang Li was so proper that not a single fault could be found, but anyone could feel that Second Miss Jiang was different from when she first arrived in Huangzhou City.
She seemed to be deliberately maintaining her distance from them again.
Jiang Li sighed softly in her heart. She didn’t know what to do, so she could only use a clumsy method. Right now she was in Huangzhou and had no choice but to see Ji Heng every day. After returning to the capital, if there was no particular reason, she would avoid seeing Ji Heng as much as possible. This way, as time passed, that bit of affection in her heart would slowly wear away and fade, dispersing with the wind.
But she was still being too obvious about it.
“Pack your things,” Ji Heng said. “We return to the capital tomorrow.”
Jiang Li was stunned at first, then said, “Tomorrow?”
“The Wuwei General has already arrived in Huangzhou and joined forces with the city garrison. Prince Cheng’s troops have already withdrawn fifty li outside the city and will evacuate overnight tonight,” Ji Heng said. “There’s nothing more to worry about in Huangzhou.”
Jiang Li asked, “Will I be returning alone?”
Ji Heng looked at her strangely, as if not understanding why she would say such a thing. He said, “I’m also returning to the capital.”
So they would be traveling together. A flash of disappointment crossed Jiang Li’s eyes. This disappointment was caught by Ji Heng. His eyes moved slightly, but the corners of his mouth curved up as he said, “You wish to return alone?”
“Of course not,” Jiang Li had already sorted out her thoughts. “Traveling with the Duke will naturally be much safer. Along this route, I’m afraid there are still Prince Cheng’s soldiers lying in ambush. If we encounter them, it will be very dangerous.”
“Very dangerous indeed,” Wenren Yao also stepped forward and said. “A Heng, must we return to the capital now? Can’t we wait a bit longer, until Prince Cheng’s matter is settled before returning? It’s definitely safe in Huangzhou. Prince Cheng is probably heading to the capital.”
“We depart tomorrow,” Ji Heng’s voice was calm. “Yin Zhan is about to return.”
Yin Zhan—Jiang Li was startled. General Zhaode? So Ji Heng was indeed doing this for General Zhaode. However, General Zhaode’s speed was truly beyond people’s expectations. After all, there was quite some distance between Yunzhong and the capital. And General Zhaode hadn’t appeared before others for decades.
Wenren Yao seemed to understand the importance of the matter and stopped trying to dissuade him.
“I’ve already discussed with His Lordship that when traveling, we still need to disguise ourselves,” Lu Ji said. “To avoid Prince Cheng’s troops. We’ll be half a day slower, but it’s still dangerous, especially for Second Miss. Prince Cheng already wanted to kill you before. If he discovers your whereabouts, he won’t show mercy.”
Jiang Li replied, “I understand.”
At the same time, she felt very puzzled. She had originally thought that when Ji Heng came to Huangzhou, besides Wen Ji and Zhao Ke, he should have arranged for his own people. But looking at it now, it seemed he hadn’t. In other words, they had ventured deep into dangerous territory just like this. Ji Heng acted without restraint—although Jiang Li had known this for a long time, he was truly too reckless, not even taking his own life seriously.
After all, with so few people, if they really encountered Prince Cheng’s troops, they would still be outnumbered.
Jiang Li’s worry was apparently too obvious. Seeing it, Ji Heng chuckled and said, “Don’t worry, nothing will happen to you.”
His tone, tinged with a smile, made Jiang Li’s heart tighten. She thought that this was nothing more than poisoned wine—it looked delicious and intoxicating, but one must not become lost in it. She smiled slightly and said, “Thank you, Duke.”
She had thanked him many times before, but the subtle differences in voice and tone could still convey different emotions. For instance, this time she spoke politely, not like familiar acquaintances.
Wenren Yao and Lu Ji hadn’t noticed yet, but Ji Heng had already furrowed his brow slightly. He always smiled, especially when facing Jiang Li. This expression made Wenren Yao and Lu Ji baffled.
Jiang Li only smiled at him, pretending not to know. She knew her reaction and alienation were clumsy and obvious; Ji Heng couldn’t possibly not notice, but she had no better method and could only grit her teeth and persist. If Ji Heng asked why she was suddenly avoiding him, Jiang Li could make up countless reasons; she just didn’t know if these reasons could fool Ji Heng.
Because she couldn’t even fool herself.
Fortunately, Ji Heng didn’t continue dwelling on this matter. After giving a few more instructions about tomorrow’s departure, he left.
After Ji Heng left, Jiang Li returned to her room. She actually didn’t have much to pack, because she had been abducted to Huangzhou City and brought nothing with her. She only had a few clothes bought later, which together amounted to just one small bundle.
She didn’t want to think about matters concerning Ji Heng, as that would leave her helpless as well, so she turned to thinking about other things instead.
After returning to the capital, she would be honest with Xue Huaiyuan. That day should have been when she was honest with Xue Huaiyuan too. If she hadn’t been abducted by bandits midway, she might have already recognized her father. She didn’t know how her father would react when he saw her.
There was also Jiang Yuanbai. The matter of her being with Ji Heng and staying in Huangzhou—when she had asked Wenren Yao before, both the Jiang family and the Ye family already knew. Jiang Yuanbai would definitely be suspicious. With Ji Heng’s temperament, why would he save her, and why would she remain in Huangzhou, together with Ji Heng? Jiang Yuanbai was also an old fox. The Xue family matter had been safely concealed before because Jiang Yuanbai had been turning a blind eye. But regarding matters concerning the Jiang family, especially those involving the court, and given Duke Su’s sensitive position, Jiang Yuanbai definitely wouldn’t take it lightly.
She still needed to find an excellent reason to properly handle Jiang Yuanbai’s suspicions.