Cheng Xu, who was about to lead Jiang Yan back to report, paused upon hearing the voice and chuckled, “Fourth Miss Baiis here too?”
“Right here, right here. Come over quickly, I have something to discuss,” Huaiyu said with a smile.
Jiang Yan had already taken a few steps out but couldn’t resist turning back curiously. “What’s the matter?”
“Young Master, don’t worry about it. It’s more urgent to go to the old master’s side,” she said, “Just send Cheng Xu over.”
Seeing that Fourth Miss Baiand Cheng Xu knew each other, Jiang Yan didn’t say much. He patted Cheng Xu and said, “You go, I’ll head over myself.”
“Understood.” Cheng Xu nodded and watched Jiang Yan head towards the pavilion before circling to the back of the artificial hill.
“What’s the matter?”
Huaiyu leaned against the artificial hill, pretending to be in pain. “Could you ask your master to come and fetch me? I’ve injured my foot.”
Cheng Xu looked puzzled, then glanced down at her suspended right foot. Scratching his head, he said, “You’re injured… but if someone from the Bai Manor comes, what’s the use of asking my master to come?”
“You fool!” Huaiyu scolded him with a glare. “I sneaked into the Jiang Manor just now, and I’ve been avoiding the Bai family all this time. If they send me back now, won’t my father almost kill me? I’m already injured and pitiful enough, do you want me to lose half my life too?”
Cheng Xu hesitated. “But I don’t think my master… would come.”
With folded hands, Huaiyu pleaded with him, “Just tell him my foot is seriously injured, my bones are broken, and beg him for help. At least I’ve asked for medicine for him, haven’t I?”
Cheng Xu, feeling reluctant, said, “I’ll do my best to try.”
“Of course, you’re the best!” She grinned. “Hurry up and come back, I’m really in pain.”
With a doubtful glance at her foot, Cheng Xu returned to the pavilion and whispered the situation into his master’s ear.
Jiang Xuanjin sneered coldly.
Injured and seeking him out? Wasn’t Lu Jingxing with her? Why come to him?
“Are you going?” Cheng Xu asked quietly.
Jiang Xuanjin wanted to refuse outright, but sitting in the pavilion drinking tea was boring. After a moment of silence, he stood up.
“I’ll go for a stroll,” he told Cheng Xu. “You stay here. If Jiang Yan tries to run away later, catch him.”
“Understood.”
After bidding farewell to the old master, Jiang Xuanjin retreated and casually headed towards the artificial hill.
There, Huaiyu was groaning and feigning near-death, sprawled over the rocks. When she saw him, her eyes lit up. “I knew you’d be concerned about me!”
Glancing at her foot, Jiang Xuanjin asked, “How did you injure yourself?”
Huaiyu shrugged. “Just twisted it.”
Without another word, Jiang Xuanjin turned and walked away.
“Hey, hey, hey! It’s not just a twist, my bone is broken!” Reaching out towards him, Huaiyu pouted. “I can’t walk, please come and help me.”
Stopping in his tracks, Jiang Xuanjin turned back. “You’re so cunning, who knows what tricks you’re up to now?”
Just as I thought, this person is so guarded! Li Huaiyu huffed and lifted her skirt, revealing her stockings and pointing to them. “Look!”
On her slender and fair ankle, there was a large bruise, with several small cuts oozing dark blood.
Jiang Xuanjin was slightly taken aback, furrowing his brows as he pulled her skirt down. “This is improper!”
“You didn’t believe me, did you?” She pouted. “If I didn’t show you, how would you know I’m really in pain?”
Glancing around, he said in a low voice, “I’ll have a servant carry you to the guest room.”
“No!” Huaiyu pretended to be clueless. “I’m still a young lady, how can I let a servant carry me? If anyone’s going to carry me, it should be you!”
“That’s impossible,” Jiang Xuanjin said. “There are many people here today, and if we’re seen, your reputation as a young lady will be ruined even more.”
So it’s not that he doesn’t want to carry her, but he’s afraid of being seen?
Huaiyu was stunned, looking up at Lord Ziyang in surprise, momentarily forgetting her pretense of helplessness. Meeting her gaze, Jiang Xuanjin slightly turned away. “Either let a servant carry you, or you can walk to the guest room yourself. You choose.”
“I don’t want to choose either!” Huaiyu grabbed his arm and pulled him towards her stubbornly. “You carry me!”
Her demeanor seemed a bit domineering, and Jiang Xuanjin found it quite troublesome. If he had known, he wouldn’t have come over. This person was indeed like a sticky candy, once stuck, it was difficult to shake off. Of course, having used all sorts of tactics to cling to him, how could she easily let him go? Huaiyu hugged his arm tightly, refusing to let go.
As the two of them stood in a stalemate, unsure of what to do, there suddenly came the hurried calls of servants from outside:
“The courtyard is on fire. Please move to the front courtyard! Esteemed guests, this way, please!”
In the middle courtyard of the Jiang Mansion, there is no water, and there are many wooden and bamboo utensils placed around. Today, with many people here, it is inevitable that a fire has broken out somewhere.
Jiang Xuanjin frowned upon hearing this, but Huaiyu was delighted.
Talk about being in the right place at the right time—this is exactly what that means!
“Do you hear that? Everyone is heading to the front courtyard. When they’re all gone, you can carry me back to your room,” she pouted at him. “The sooner, the better, so no one sees us.”
“Absurd!” Jiang Xuanjin frowned. “Me carrying you is already a wild idea, and now you want to go into my room?”
“Well, if not your room, then at least the guest room. I’m all alone there, and you won’t stay to keep me company. I’m scared!” Huaiyu’s eyes reddened with a tearful gaze. “You, at least we’ve shared a bed before, yet you’re so heartless…”
“Shut up!”
“No, I won’t!” She grew more pitiful as she spoke. “I like you so much, have you ever thought about your reputation or honor? I just want you to treat me a little better. But no, not only do you refuse to help, you even scold me… sniff…”
“…”
“No response? Feeling guilty? Lord Ziyang, your heart is smaller than mine. Despite how much you disliked me before, haven’t I always been good to you? Being kind is important! If you see injustice, you should help. Extend a helping hand to those in need!”
“Everyone says that a girl’s boudoir is off-limits, but you’re not a girl, so why can’t we go into your room? I’m not thinking of anything else, I just feel safer in your territory. You won’t even agree to this small request, I’ve liked you for nothing…” Unable to bear it any longer, Jiang Xuanjin glared at her and then bent down, swiftly lifting her.
Huaiyu was taken aback, immediately wrapping her arms around his neck, staring at him as if seeing a ghost.
“You… I told you to carry me!”
“Wishful thinking!” With a cold glance, Jiang Xuanjin held her and walked out.
The guests in the mansion were all heading to the front courtyard, and there was no one along the way as they exited through the Moon Gate on the left side of the garden. Huaiyu lay in his arms, her heart pounding hard.
Finally, she had the chance to enter Moju and take a look!