Mudan smiled imperceptibly and said, “Is that so? If it’s true, then congratulations to you, Sir Jiang.” She had only noticed that the second young master Jiang seemed to have some interest in Xiao Xuexi but didn’t realize there was such a reason behind it. She surmised that young master Jiang’s attentiveness towards Xiao Xuexi was likely due to her status and position, and perhaps fear that Jiang Changyang might win her over. Having vaguely guessed at the second young master’s intentions, she began to form a plan.
Seeing Mudan’s calm expression, the second young master Jiang inwardly wondered if he had made a mistake. But having already made his move, there was no turning back. He had to try again, so he smiled and said, “Of course it’s true. How could I joke about such a matter?” He looked around and gestured for Mudan to follow him. “Miss He, this isn’t the place to talk. Let’s go over there.”
Mudan pretended to be nervous and afraid, looking around anxiously while forcing a smile. “Sir Jiang, this doesn’t seem appropriate. It’s dark, and we’re alone…”
Hearing this, the second young master Jiang quickly turned back. He saw Mudan nervously fidgeting with her clothes, looking as if she feared being taken advantage of or tricked. Her maid behind her was eyeing him warily as if he were some sort of scoundrel. He inwardly cursed. What kind of person did they take him for? This woman was indeed quite attractive, but he had never had a taste for damaged goods.
Que’er, being more cautious, whispered in his ear, “Young master, we must be careful in all matters.”
The second young master Jiang paused, realizing that it was no wonder the woman had misunderstood. It was indeed inappropriate for a man and woman to be alone in such a dark, remote place. This was a crucial moment, and he couldn’t afford any missteps or allow rumors to spread. With this in mind, he coughed and said, “Miss He, don’t be afraid. I’m an honorable man. I have no ill intentions towards you. You weren’t afraid of leopards, so why would you fear me?”
“Of course, how could the Zhu Guogong Manor produce villains? I was just being cautious. You are certainly upright and virtuous, but I fear malicious gossip that could tarnish one’s reputation. That’s something even a fortune can’t buy back,” Mudan agreed while thinking to herself that those who emphatically claim to be honorable are often not, just as those who insist they are the eldest legitimate son usually aren’t.
Hearing this, the second young master Jiang smiled happily. “Well said. I’m glad you understand.” He coughed again and continued, “Miss He, you may not know this, but Miss Xiao comes from an extraordinary background. She’s from one of the five noble clans, her father is the newly appointed Minister of Personnel, and she’s both beautiful and talented. She’s the perfect match for any man. Not just any woman can compare to her.”
He paused here, observing Mudan’s expression. But Mudan merely nodded and said, “She is indeed a fine young lady,” while maintaining a bewildered expression. She showed none of the shock, jealousy, disappointment, or sadness he had expected. Discouraged, his next words lacked energy: “By rights, my brother should be overjoyed at such an opportunity, but he seems to look down on this marriage prospect. Yet my father is determined to bring them together. As the saying goes, ‘Forced melons are not sweet.’ How can two people with no interest in each other have a good outcome if forced together? I’m really worried for them.”
Hearing his implication that Xiao Xuexi was also not interested in Jiang Changyang, Mudan knew that logically, she should agree with the second young master Jiang’s words. If she were more gossipy, or if she harbored feelings for Jiang Changyang, she should ask who Jiang Changyang and Xiao Xuexi’s true loves were. But she would never ask such a question. Instead, she turned to leave, saying, “Sir Jiang, I’m sorry, but I’m powerless in this matter and it’s none of my business. Hearing too much might damage that young lady’s reputation and I fear it might cause misunderstandings with my benefactor. Please forgive me, but I must take my leave.”
The second young master Jiang hadn’t finished speaking, especially the crucial part. Seeing her turn to leave without any hesitation, he panicked. “Wait… don’t go! I haven’t finished speaking…”
Suddenly, a voice laughed nearby, “What does Sir Jiang have to say to our Dannu?” It was Li Manniang, accompanied by Madam Dou and Xueniang.
The second young master Jiang cursed inwardly, smoothed his hair, and said, “I was apologizing to her and asking if she was hurt anywhere.” His eyes darted as he quickly added, “Also, I was conveying a message to her from my brother.” Whether it was true or not, he thought it best to spread the word and make Xiao Xuexi dislike Jiang Changyang.
Li Manniang frowned, “May I ask who your brother is?”
The second young master Jiang smiled slyly, “My brother is Jiang Changyang. I’m sure you ladies all know him. Everyone knows about how he saved Miss He during the festival.”
Xueniang pointed at him in shock, “What? Jiang-gege is your brother?”
“Xueniang!” Madam Dou gently rebuked her, and Xueniang quickly held her tongue. She thought to herself that they did indeed look somewhat alike. Not knowing the truth, she wondered silently, how strange, Que’er said he was the eldest legitimate son of the Zhu Guogong Manor, and Princess Xingkang called him the second young master Jiang. Could it be that Jiang Changyang was an illegitimate eldest son?
The eldest legitimate son was most likely to inherit the title, Xueniang sighed inwardly. How could someone like this be the eldest legitimate son? In every aspect, Jiang Changyang was far superior to him. Heaven truly was unfair. No wonder Jiang Changyang had never mentioned his background. If she were in his position, she would be incredibly frustrated and refuse to mention it too.
The second young master Jiang raised an eyebrow at Xueniang, “So Miss Huang knows my brother too. You’re close to Miss He, and since she left before hearing what I had to say, I might as well tell you, and you can pass it on to her.”
Xueniang blurted out, “What?”
Madam Dou quickly and gently reminded her, “Xueniang, if Miss He didn’t want to hear it, you shouldn’t listen and then tell her. What if she gets angry with you? Since that’s the case, there’s no point in you hearing it, and it would just waste Sir Jiang’s time.”
Xueniang realized she was right and thought to herself that she had almost made another mistake. This man was not a good person. If Jiang-gege never mentioned him, how could he possibly ask him to relay a message to Mudan? She smiled sweetly at the second young master Jiang and said, “Sir Jiang, my mother is right. Sister He has quite a temper, and I dare not provoke her. You’d better tell her yourself.” With that, she skipped ahead. Madam Dou and Li Manniang frowned at the second young master Jiang before following.
The second young master Jiang was extremely frustrated and wanted to call Xueniang back, but Que’er quickly advised him, “Young master, you must not.”
He frowned, “Why not? If this method doesn’t work, then give me another good idea.”
Que’er said softly, “Young master, this matter is not proper and can’t be rushed. By now, almost everyone knows that you haven’t been able to secure the title of heir. Some things can’t be hidden, so we must be even more careful. This method could work, but it shouldn’t come from your mouth. Let alone what the Duke might think, even others would find it distasteful if they heard such words from you, his younger brother. Whether or not she truly has a relationship with the eldest young master, the opportunity has passed and can’t be regained. What you need to do now is to continue being modest and gracious as before. If anyone asks about the eldest young master, you should speak well of him, constantly praising him. You must not say anything negative.”
The second young master Jiang was irritated and cursed under his breath, “How annoying! This hypocritical schemer, why didn’t he die in the Anxi Protectorate? Why did he have to come back and cause trouble?” He glanced at Princess Xingkang and the others chatting nearby, seeing Xiao Xuexi surrounded by four young men and smiling brightly. Feeling jealous, he said, “Then I’ll go sit with them.” As long as Xiao Xuexi took a liking to him, what could the old man say?
Que’er patiently said, “Young master, it’s getting late. Instead of wasting your energy drinking and chatting with them now, you’d be better off resting early and aiming to make a splash tomorrow, taking first place. Then, who would dare look down on you? Those imperial clan brothers may sound impressive, but when it comes to true talent and family background, who can compare to you? What you need to do now is to show them your true abilities.”
The second young master Jiang pondered for a moment, then looked up at Que’er with a smile and patted his shoulder hard. “Zhengde, you’re right! With so many people, if each one says something good about me, my father can’t say I’m not good! I’ll listen to you. But what about this matter?”
Que’er said seriously, “Leave this matter to the madam. She will consider it more thoroughly and handle it more appropriately than you could. You just focus on showing your best, most heroic side to Miss Xiao.”
The night deepened, with the mountain wind howling mournfully outside the tent. Xueniang slept soundly, occasionally smacking her lips like a child. Mudan, wrapped tightly in her blanket, lay motionless with half-closed eyes, lost in thought.
Earlier, when Li Manniang and the others had returned, Li Manniang had called her over and quietly asked about the second young master Jiang’s matter. Mudan had told her the truth but didn’t voluntarily mention Jiang Changyang at all. Li Manniang sighed and also refrained from mentioning Jiang Changyang, only saying, “It seems the brothers are in fierce competition. Be careful not to get caught in the middle. To be safe, it’s best not to associate with him if there’s no need. Wait until this blows over before reconsidering.”
Although she had told Li Manniang that she hadn’t seen Jiang Changyang for a long time, temporarily reassuring her, she knew it wasn’t simply a matter of being careful or careless. Since making that promise with Jiang Changyang, she had become inextricably linked to him. He had said he would be cautious, shielding her from turmoil, but she understood that if someone was determined, they could always stir up trouble. After all, upon his return to the capital, she was the woman he associated with most closely. There was no escaping it. If rumors spread, so be it. She was prepared to face the consequences.
In her hazy state, Mudan heard a strange noise outside her tent, as if something was gently tapping and scratching at the felt walls. She sat up, frightened, and looked around warily. Snow Maiden was sleeping soundly, as were the two maids by the door. It seemed no one else had heard the noise.
Perhaps she was imagining things. After all, there were night guards outside. Surely they would raise an alarm if they saw anything suspicious. Mudan lay back down but soon heard more soft sounds. Undoubtedly, something was scratching at her tent. As she was about to wake Snow Maiden, she heard the sound of a leaf whistle.
She shuddered, thinking she had misheard, but then the leaf whistle sounded again. It was almost like a bird call, but not quite. To her, it sounded more like someone calling “Dan’niang, Dan’niang.” Her heart raced as she clutched her blanket tightly. She wanted to get up and go outside immediately but feared waking the others and exposing herself. So she lay rigid, not daring to move.
After a moment, when the scratching on the tent resumed, she tentatively scratched back. Suddenly, all was quiet, and the leaf whistle ceased.
Mudan quickly dressed donned a hooded cloak and sat quietly for a while. Once certain everyone around her was sound asleep, she mustered her courage and tiptoed past the two maids’ feet. She gently pulled open the tent flap and stepped outside.
Nearby, several fires burned brightly. Five or six men on night watch were drinking and talking in low voices. Apart from the crackling of the firewood and the men’s laughter, only the occasional night wind through the forest could be heard. Otherwise, all was quiet, with the distant sky pitch black. Mudan stood at the tent entrance, her hood covering her face, unsure where to go.
“Dan’niang…” someone called softly from the darkness behind her.
Mudan turned quickly to see a tall figure standing there, peering at her. It was indeed Jiang Changyang, the least likely person to appear here! Although she had suspected it might be him, having her suspicion confirmed still made her grin. She looked around to see if anyone had noticed. Jiang Changyang gestured to her, saying softly, “Come, just come.”
Mudan decided to trust him and turned towards the shadows. Jiang Changyang led the way, with her following. Once out of the camp, it was pitch black. He stopped to take her hand, guiding her forward. They quickly turned into a nearby forest. Mixed with the wind, the sound of crushed leaves underfoot wasn’t so jarring. After walking for about half a cup of tea’s time, he stopped and stood before her, calling softly, “Dan’niang.”
Mudan nervously pursed her lips, wrapped her cloak tighter, and responded quietly, “How did you come here? And at this hour? How did you find me?”
Jiang Changyang moved closer, whispering, “Dan’niang, what did you say? I can’t hear you. Let’s move closer to talk.”
In the dim light, Mudan couldn’t see his face clearly, but she could smell the familiar scent of fresh grass on him. She could hear his breathing and feel his warm breath almost penetrating her hood, tickling her face and neck. Sensing danger, Mudan instinctively tried to step back but was held firmly by a pair of strong arms around her shoulders. She said softly, “Ah, don’t…” This shameless fellow was taking advantage of her again, all while maintaining a serious demeanor.
“Dan’niang…” Jiang Changyang’s breath was unsteady. He could hear his own heart pounding violently, almost bursting from his chest. He steadied himself and said in a low voice, “The situation has been unstable these past few days. I heard he came too, and I was very worried about you. Are you alright?”
He was so concerned that he had come looking for her in the middle of the night. Mudan felt that her earlier fear of the leopard on her shoulder and the unpleasantness with Jiang Ergong were nothing compared to this. She looked up at him and said cheerfully, “Don’t worry, I’m fine. It’s not safe to travel through the mountains at night. Did you bring many people with you? It’s getting colder. You’re wearing so little, aren’t you cold?”
“Of course I’m cold. Warm me up. I’m cold and tired.” Jiang Changyang pressed his lips together and suddenly pulled her into his embrace. Mudan didn’t struggle, quietly resting against his chest. She could hear his heart beating strongly beneath her ear, experiencing an unprecedented sense of tranquility and happiness. Noticing Mudan’s quiet compliance, Jiang Changyang tightened his arms around her even more.
Neither spoke, simply standing there in each other’s embrace. The chilly mountain wind swirled around them, yet neither felt cold. After a long while, Mudan finally pushed him gently and asked, “How did you know I came here?”
Jiang Changyang released her, playfully inserting his large hand into her hood and tousling her hair. He then let his hand linger on her neck, saying softly, “Of course I knew. I also know that he had a leopard frighten you by putting it on your shoulder today.” Such a significant event, yet she didn’t mention it, instead asking first if he was cold if he had brought enough people if he was safe. Receiving her thoughtful concern, he was willing to run any distance for her.
Mudan was surprised and asked, “How do you know?”
Jiang Changyang smiled and said, “I just know.” He placed his hand on her shoulder and murmured affectionately, “Good girl, so brave.”
Pleased with the praise, Mudan smiled at him slightly and said, “Tell me quickly, how do you know?”
Jiang Changyang refused to say, teasing her: “Guess.”
“Never mind if you won’t tell me.” Seeing that she couldn’t get an answer out of him, Mudan reached out to pull his hand away. “Take your hand off. I need to go now. I’m afraid Snow Maiden and the others will wake up and cause a scene if they can’t find me.”
“I’ve left people to watch over there. It’s fine to stay a bit longer,” Jiang Changyang sighed, taking the opportunity to hold her hand. He said softly, “I went to Fangyuan to look for you today. I have good news to share with you. Only when I got there did I learn that they had called you here. I also found out that he had followed, and knowing his temperament, I was very worried, so I came after you.”
There was another concern, regarding Xiao Xuexue, but he hesitated whether to tell Mudan about it.
While he was hesitating, Mudan said, “Jiang Ergong is very sympathetic towards you. He said Grand Duke Zhu is forcing you and Xiao Xuexue together, which is tough on you.”
Remembering how she had stopped paying attention to him after hearing Liu Chang say those words that day, and now having heard such things from Jiang Er herself, Jiang Changyang nervously said, “Even if he dared to arrange it behind my back, I would dare to go to the Xiao family and call it off. You…”
“I believe you,” Mudan interrupted him, smiling. “Although I didn’t hear everything Jiang Ergong said, I think he probably wants to cooperate with me. In his imagination, I should be targeting you, and his target should be Xiao Xuexue.”
Jiang Changyang was slightly taken aback, then chuckled softly, “Well, that’s just great. I’m afraid people will come looking for you in a day or two.” Even though it was dark and he couldn’t see Mudan’s expression clearly, he still watched her carefully. She had mentioned before that she was afraid of trouble. Now that someone might come to bother her, he wondered if she would find it annoying.
Mudan was silent for a moment, then said softly, “After I made that promise to you that day, I was mentally prepared. What do you want me to do?”
Jiang Changyang felt warmth in his heart and said, “I don’t want you to do anything. Just stick to the old way. No matter what they say, don’t respond. Neither confirm nor deny, just pretend to be confused. We won’t let them use us as pawns. Let them jump around as they please.” He paused, then added, “I noticed there aren’t many strong men in your Fangyuan. When you go back, buy one, alright?”
Mudan smiled and said, “How much does it cost? Is it expensive? If it’s too expensive, I won’t buy it.”
Jiang Changyang sighed, “I never knew you were so stingy before. I’ll cover the cost, okay?”
Mudan chuckled softly, “By the way, didn’t you say earlier that you had good news to tell me? What good news?”
Jiang Changyang was silent for a moment, then said softly, “Do you remember when Monk Fuyuan went on a long journey?”
Mudan replied, “I remember. I even gave him travel money.”
Jiang Changyang smiled slightly, “That’s right. On that journey, he helped me capture a group of evil monks.”
Mudan’s mind raced, and she quickly asked, “Is it about the incident at Mount Luhun?”
She had heard about it before. There was a group of evil monks on Mount Luhun who specialized in swindling people out of their money and lives. Several people had died. The case had caused quite a stir at the time. She didn’t know that Jiang Changyang had been involved in resolving it.
Jiang Changyang smiled slightly, “That’s right.”
Mudan could sense his hidden pride and smiled gently, saying softly, “You never told me you were so capable. Will you tell me about it now?”
Like all men, even Jiang Changyang wanted the woman he admired to think he was impressive. Although he was pleased to hear Mudan say this, his steady nature made him deflect, “There’s nothing much to tell. It wasn’t just my achievement, it was everyone’s effort.”
Mudan insisted, “Just tell me how they carried out their scam. If I know their tricks, I can be more cautious if I ever encounter something similar.”
Jiang Changyang pursed his lips and explained concisely, “They wore gold-leafed cassocks and sat in a dark room. From the outside, it looked like they were glowing with golden light, claiming it was the radiance of Buddha. They lit fires at the bottom of a cliff and had people wearing gauzy clothes walk along the cliff top. From a distance, the light fabric floating in the wind looked like celestial beings flying. They tricked followers into eating ritual food laced with datura, then persuaded them to climb the cliff. After consuming the drug, the followers were disoriented. Seeing the ‘celestial beings’ flying on the opposite side, they tried to fly too, falling off the cliff and into the fire below, ensuring their death. Then they would conveniently take over all the followers’ property and wealth. We found several charred corpses at the bottom of the cliff.”
Mudan was silent for a moment, then said, “That’s truly despicable.”
Jiang Changyang nodded, “Yes, this time the case details and charges have been fully investigated and established. The relevant personnel have been rewarded according to their merits, and I’ve also received a commendation…”