When An Jiu arrived at the county yamen entrance, she saw several horse-drawn carriages parked there.
A middle-aged woman descended from one of the central carriages and walked over to her.
“Your servant Lingxi pays respects to the Fourteenth Miss.” The woman bowed.
Lingxi had always been the right-hand of the Old Madam. Seeing her now, An Jiu couldn’t help but be reminded of the disaster in the Mei Manor, and memories came flooding back – the images of many of the Mei family members suddenly resurfacing, causing her to momentarily space out.
“Fourteenth Miss?” Lingxi gently called.
“Our Mei family’s Old Madam is dead,” An Jiu said flatly.
Lingxi’s expression darkened. “The Fourteenth Miss is joking. The Old Madam was gravely injured, and as soon as she recovered, she went to the capital to look for the other Mei family members. Hearing that the whole family had moved here, she’s come to join us.”
An Jiu sneered, “Isn’t the Second Old Madam still recuperating in the capital?”
“The Second Old Madam has never liked our Old Madam. How could she allow our Old Madam to stay?” Lingxi, blocked at the gate, was getting irritated. “Is the Fourteenth Miss unwilling to acknowledge your grandmother?”
“You won’t tell the truth, and you don’t even let people question it? I remember it’s been almost two years since the incident at Mei Manor. What kind of illness requires hiding and recuperating for two years?” An Jiu glanced at the carriage, “The carriage is clean and tidy, the wheels only lightly worn – are you telling me they traveled from Bianjing? Go find whoever you want, but Uncle Liu told me the Old Madam is already dead.”
“Lingxi, let’s go.” The Old Madam’s voice came from the carriage.
Lingxi gritted her teeth, glaring fiercely at An Jiu before quickly walking back to the carriage.
The old gatekeeper, watching the carriage leave, quietly said, “Miss, you didn’t need to come out and say it if you don’t recognize them.”
“How else would I know if it’s true or false if I don’t come take a look?” An Jiu couldn’t understand why this Old Madam had suddenly reappeared. If it was false, she wouldn’t recognize them, but if it was real, she’d refuse to recognize them even more.
Might as well go ask Chu Dingjiang about it.
An Jiu hurried back to the courtyard, but suddenly remembered the earlier incident of calling him “my lord”, and abruptly stopped in her tracks, her cheeks flushing.
After hesitating for a while, she resolutely strode in.
“You’re back?” Chu Dingjiang looked at her with a half-smile.
An Jiu pouted, “Let’s talk business.”
Chu Dingjiang nodded.
“The Mei family’s missing Old Madam has suddenly reappeared, and I feel like she’s up to no good. What do you think they’re planning?” An Jiu asked.
“The Old Madam was planted in the Mei family by the previous emperor, but she was also serving Ye Lüqiang.” Chu Dingjiang thought for a moment, “Now that the previous emperor is dead if they’re planning something, it’s most likely Ye Lüqiang’s plan.”
“They’ve failed so miserably at this undercover act, and you know everything.” An Jiu sat down next to him, smiling. “What does Ye Lüqiang want to do?”
Chu Dingjiang steered the conversation, “Do you know who was responsible for them?”
An Jiu went through the people she knew, “Gu Jingxing.”
“Mm.”
“So it was Gu Jingxing who convinced them to serve Liao?” An Jiu scooted closer to him. “How do you know?”
Chu Dingjiang leaned in and placed a light kiss on her forehead, “Your husband knows many things. I’ll tell you about them slowly, over time.”
Over time, I’ll tell you…
An Jiu’s heart raced, and she stammered, unsure of how to respond.
“First, take a look at this.” Chu Dingjiang handed her a notebook.
An Jiu took it suspiciously and glanced through it. Many entries were circled in red ink. “What am I supposed to do with this?”
“The betrothal gifts.” Chu Dingjiang said.
The notebook contained records of Chu Dingjiang’s properties and assets in various places, and An Jiu flipped through a few pages. Nearly all of them were circled in red. “You have so much money!”
Chu Dingjiang explained, “Half of it was earned by Zhu Pianji, the rest of the uncircled areas are for her reward.”
He looked at her tenderly. “I should have gone to the Mei family to propose, but thinking you might not even recognize them, I decided against it. Shall we wait for Sister Yan to return and discuss the marriage then? What do you think?”
Although An Jiu had called him “my lord”, at the end of the day, it was just two words. If they were to get married so suddenly, she still found it hard to accept. Chu Dingjiang’s suggestion to wait for Mei Yanran’s return before discussing it was exactly what she wanted, so she eagerly nodded.
Chu Dingjiang had anticipated this outcome, so he was not disappointed. He had ample patience to wait.
“All this is for me? What are you going to do?” An Jiu flipped to the end, finding that Chu Dingjiang seemed to have left nothing for himself.
“An Jiu, I’m entrusting the rest of my life to you.” Chu Dingjiang took her hand, half-jokingly. “What difference does it make whether these are in your name or not?”
Chu Dingjiang had never cared about wealth. He was highly adaptable – when conditions were good, he was particular, and when conditions were poor, he was casual. He could live through anything.
“I don’t want it, I don’t know how to manage these things.” An Jiu tossed the notebook aside.
“It’s just a matter of whose name is written on them. I’m not good at these either. You need to rebuild a powerful army, the meager rations from the court won’t be enough. There will be many places in the future that require money.” Chu Dingjiang picked up the notebook, then sighed, “Let’s discuss it with Sister Yan when she returns.”
An Jiu had a strange expression on her face.
Chu Dingjiang furrowed his brow, “What is it?”
“I just feel like you calling her ‘Sister Yan’ has a bit of a youthful vibe to it,” An Jiu said.
“Do I look that old?” Chu Dingjiang checked the mirror – his face was a bit rougher, but he was still clearly no more than thirty.
“I didn’t say you look old!” An Jiu hastily pushed aside his beard to confirm, then said, “It’s just that you’re older.”
“Forget it, as long as you don’t find me repulsive.” Chu Dingjiang gave up on arguing.
An Jiu shook her head, then returned to the previous topic, “You still haven’t said what Ye Lüqiang wants to do.”
“I don’t know, there are too many possibilities.” Chu Dingjiang pondered, “It could be to make preparations for attacking the Song, or he might have found out about Wei Yuezhi’s betrayal and sent people to eliminate him. As the Emperor of Liao, he has many things he could want to do… I’ll tell you once I’ve figured it out more clearly.”
Outside, it was high noon, the sunlight blazing. Chu Dingjiang narrowed his eyes, obscuring the deep, pool-like gaze in his eyes.
To the west of the street,
The Old Madam’s entourage had arrived at the Mei family’s temporary residence. Mei Tingzhu was returning from the wine house when she saw the carriages and horses at the gate, and Lingxi standing beneath the carriage. Her steps faltered slightly.
After a moment, she quickly approached, “Aunt Lingxi?”
Lingxi turned and saw Mei Tingzhu, hurrying over, “Fourth Miss, you’ve grown into a beautiful young lady.”
Mei Tingzhu gave a shallow smile, not responding. She glanced at the carriage, “Aunt Lingxi, who is this?”
“It’s the Old Madam.” Lingxi sighed, “It’s a long story…”
Mei Tingzhu smoothed her clothes, not asking further about what had happened. She spoke seriously, “Since it is the Old Madam, I should go pay my respects.”
“Fourth Miss is so well-mannered.” Lingxi smiled as she led her over.
Mei Tingzhu approached the carriage and politely bent down, “Old Madam.”
The Old Madam parted the curtain and glanced at Lingxi, “Well, why aren’t you helping Fourth Miss up?”
Lingxi reached out to help, but Mei Tingzhu had already straightened up on her own. “The entrance is not a place for conversation. Our house is small and the carriages can’t pass through, please pardon the Old Madam for having to alight and enter.”