Yunyi walked over and gently tapped her forehead: “If we could figure it out, wouldn’t we become the same kind of assassins as them?”

Jiang Caiping rubbed her forehead and muttered: “I’m just curious!”

“You have time to be curious, but no time to finish sewing the rest of that shoe sole. You even said you’d make them for Uncle Jiang to wear when you go back for New Year’s Eve. After tonight, there are only two days left.”

When she said this, Jiang Caiping also remembered and quickly said: “Oh right! I would have forgotten if sister hadn’t mentioned it.” Speaking thus, she hurriedly took the shoe sole out of the cabinet and while sewing said with a giggle: “When I went to see my parents last time, they said that with the wages I brought back, the family could finally have a good New Year. They even bought new clothes for both my younger brothers—the village people were so envious.”

Speaking to this point, she became somewhat sentimental: “How fast time goes. In the blink of an eye, another year has almost passed. In two more days, I’ll be fifteen. I wonder how much longer I can stay here.”

Jiang Caiping’s words surprised Yunyi: “What? You don’t like life in the music quarters?”

“Of course not, it’s just…” Jiang Caiping’s face reddened slightly as she lowered her head and said softly: “My parents say that once a girl reaches fifteen, she should marry. If she’s late, people will laugh at her. If… if I’m really betrothed to someone, then I can’t continue staying in the Governor’s residence, otherwise my husband’s family will have things to say.”

Hearing this, Yunyi covered her lips and laughed softly: “I wondered what it was. Turns out someone is thinking of romance—at such a young age already thinking about marriage.”

Being teased like this made Jiang Caiping’s face even redder, and she quickly said: “I am not! Sister is talking nonsense.”

“You even mentioned a husband’s family, and you say you’re not?” Faced with Yunyi’s teasing, Jiang Caiping quickly said: “That’s what my parents said, not me.” Looking up to see Yunyi still laughing endlessly, she said shyly: “Sister, you… if you keep laughing, I won’t talk to you anymore!”

Seeing that even her ears had turned red, Yunyi stopped teasing and patted her shoulder: “Alright, alright, I won’t laugh at you anymore. Actually, when men reach marriageable age they should marry, and when women reach marriageable age they should wed—it’s perfectly normal, nothing to be shy about. By the way, do you have anyone in mind?”

The redness that had just faded from Jiang Caiping’s cheeks became crimson as fire again due to this question, and she said in a voice like a mosquito: “No, but my mother says I should find someone from a better family, so I won’t have too hard a life later and can also help support my two younger brothers.”

“Actually, while family circumstances are important, what matters most is character and virtue. Only then will you live happily and peacefully after marriage. Otherwise, no matter how much money there is, you won’t be happy.” Yunyi thought of her mother, the Empress, far away in the Luoyang palace. From her earliest memories, the Emperor had always treated the Empress extremely well. The Empress’s palace contained the finest things in the world, and over the years, no matter how many young and beautiful women entered the palace, none could shake the Empress’s position. Yet she had never seen the Empress truly laugh with joy. Those beautiful eyes always contained sorrow that could never be resolved.

She had once asked the Empress why she wasn’t happy. The Empress hadn’t answered, only saying there was one thing she could never obtain and could never let go of.

“Sister, what are you thinking about?” Jiang Caiping’s voice pulled her back from her contemplation. She shook her head and said evasively: “Nothing, just thinking about father, wondering how his health is.”

Jiang Caiping was about to speak when she suddenly remembered something and clapped her hands with a laugh: “I know! Sister isn’t thinking about Uncle Wu at all—you’re thinking about Young Master Du! You say I’m thinking of romance, but sister is the one truly thinking of romance!”

Yunyi hadn’t expected her to connect this to Du Ruhui and said with mixed laughter and tears: “You little girl, you’re becoming more and more loose-tongued. Stop talking nonsense!”

Jiang Caiping thought she had guessed correctly and made a face while saying: “I knew it! Sister is blushing, blushing!”

Faced with this mischievous girl, Yunyi really had no way to deal with her. Since some things weren’t convenient to explain clearly, she could only let her continue to misunderstand.

After the laughing and joking, she urged Jiang Caiping to go to the kitchen to get their meal. When only she remained in the room, her expression immediately darkened. She had originally thought that with Xia Houduan absent, the poison mixed into the tendon-healing powder would surely take Li Jiancheng’s life. Who could have known that Li Zhiyun would appear halfway through and save Li Jiancheng’s life, causing all her efforts to come to naught? It was truly regrettable.

Early on, when she learned that Jirong was developing tendon-healing powder for Li Jiancheng, she had thought of the poison she had left over from her previous assassination attempt on Li Yuan. This Western Regions poison was extremely potent—given enough time, it could even penetrate into the body through the skin. If it were mixed into the tendon-healing powder, Li Jiancheng would be poisoned without knowing it. Xia Houduan had already left Honghua Prefecture, and with those ordinary physicians, there was no way to neutralize this strange poison.

In this way, not only would Li Jiancheng die, but Jirong would also be executed as an assassin. If this had happened to someone else, she might have felt some reluctance, but not for Jirong. She hadn’t forgotten how Jirong had framed her for Ah Mu’s death.

However, she hadn’t expected that Zhang Chenyue would follow closely and sneak into Jirong’s room to steal the tendon-healing powder formula. Even more unexpected was that Li Zhiyun would have antidote medicine on him, allowing Li Jiancheng to escape disaster!

But she wouldn’t give up. She would definitely take the lives of the Li family father and sons to comfort Moping’s spirit in heaven!

On the morning of the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth month, fine snowflakes began falling from the sky. Li Shimin had just risen when he received news that Wang Wei and Gao Jinya had entered the city and were now on their way to the Governor’s residence. They would arrive in about half an hour.

Hearing this, Li Shimin couldn’t spare time for breakfast and quickly informed everyone to brave the snow and go outside the residence to welcome them. In a moment, except for Li Yuan and Li Jiancheng who was inconveniently mobile, all the Li family members stood outside the residence. Li Shimin, being the eldest of the Li descendants present, stood at the very front.

Li Xuanba was the last to arrive. Rubbing his hands, he muttered in Li Shimin’s ear: “They’re just two minor officials. Is it necessary to make such a big fuss?”

Li Shimin stared at the red carpet laid out for more than ten zhang at his feet and said coolly: “Though their official ranks aren’t high, don’t forget who sent them here. We absolutely cannot show them any neglect.” As he spoke, a group of several people appeared in view. Li Shimin recognized the two in front—they were Wang Wei and Gao Jinya. They had arrived!

“Remember, absolutely do not neglect those two.” After giving Li Xuanba this low-voiced instruction, Li Shimin stepped forward and respectfully cupped his hands: “Shimin leads the Li family members in respectfully welcoming Lord Wang and Lord Gao!”

After him, Wan Shi and the others all bowed in unison: “We respectfully welcome Lord Wang and Lord Gao!”

Wang Wei was about thirty years old, wearing a sky-blue brocade robe. He was plump and white, with a perpetual smile on his face that gave him an amiable appearance. Gao Jinya looked much more serious, with little expression on his long face.