Hearing this, Jiang Xuanjin nearly spat blood in her face!
What happened last night? How did it turn into a “moment of impulse,” and why did he need to give an “explanation”? If he remembered correctly, he had merely brushed against her calf—nothing more. How did it become something irreversible in her words?
Beside him, his elder brother Jiang Chong looked at him with a complex expression, his mouth opening and closing as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
Jiang Xuanjin could tell what he was thinking and darkened his face, shaking his head. “I’m not; I didn’t…”
Li Huaiyu dabbed at the nonexistent tears at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and nodded, saying, “You didn’t; it was all me… I was the overly sentimental one, left with nothing but regrets. I was the one who poured my heart out but couldn’t paint a picture of love. I was the one who misplaced my affection and will regret it for the rest of my life! It was me; it was all me!”
The last word was almost a shout, filled with sorrow, unwillingness, and regret. She looked at Jiang Xuanjin, her almond-shaped eyes carrying three parts anger but seven parts affection, struggling, wavering, and helpless. She reached out as if wanting to touch the corner of his clothing again but suddenly withdrew, choking back her tears and turning her head away.
Unable to love, unable to hate, she was willing to bear all the stigma, only wishing for him… to be happy…
Such a superb performance shocked everyone in the front hall.
What a lovesick girl, so regretful and with a fate so twisted! For a moment, even Old Master Jiang felt a pang of sympathy. He slammed his dragon-headed cane onto the ground and glared at Jiang Xuanjin, saying, “My Jiang family will not raise an ungrateful person!”
But how had he become ungrateful? Jiang Xuanjin looked at his father’s indignant expression, feeling quite bewildered.
If he remembered correctly, he had come here today intending to throw caution to the wind. After all, he would be discovered sooner or later; it was better to be proactive and marry this Fourth Miss Bai, thus silencing all those families who were always trying to introduce girls to him. Moreover… as she said, they had already embraced and kissed, so he should take some responsibility.
If someone was to be added to the backyard, Jiang Xuanjin felt it didn’t matter who it was.
But how had he, the one intending to take responsibility, ended up being scolded for being ungrateful?
After his confusion, Jiang Xuanjin glanced at the person beside him. He thought that this Fourth Miss Bai might very well be a cunning fox with a thousand years of experience.
She was too good at bewitching people’s hearts!
“Old Master, please don’t blame the Jun Shang,” Li Huaiyu said, still feeling wronged as she sighed. “It’s because I’m not good enough; I’m not worthy of the Jun Shang.”
Old Master Jiang frowned, pondering for a long time while gripping his dragon-headed cane, before finally speaking. “Fourth Miss, do not belittle yourself. The Jiang and Bai families have been friends for generations; the daughters of the Bai family are naturally worthy of Xuanjin. Moreover, Xuanjin has never been one to care for women. Over the years, you are the only one who has been close to him. Since he has spoken, Fourth Miss must have qualities that others do not possess.”
With Jiang Yan having run away from home, the marriage agreement between the Jiang and Bai families hung in the air. Now that Jiang Xuanjin had come out to save the day, wanting to marry a daughter of the Bai family, how could they possibly stop him?
Jiang Chong hesitated for a moment before echoing, “Father is right.”
Li Huaiyu paused, looking at the old master in surprise. Was he really this reasonable? She had planned to cry a little longer.
Jiang Xuanjin was so angry he gritted his teeth, but at least his goal had been achieved, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Since both my elder brother and father agree, I will first escort Fourth Miss Bai back,” he said. “As for the betrothal matter tomorrow, we can discuss it in detail when I return.”
“Good,” Old Master Jiang nodded. “Prepare a carriage; the earlier we go, the earlier we return.”
“Yes.”
Huaiyu was delighted, lowering her head to follow Jiang Xuanjin out, unable to hide the smile on her face.
“You intend to marry me,” she said, limping along behind him on tiptoe, her smile stretching from ear to ear. “To win the heart of Jun Ziyang is truly a blessing I’ve earned over several lifetimes!”
Jiang Xuanjin paused, turning to look down at her with a cold gaze. “Self-indulgent and left with nothing but regrets?”
Her smile froze, and Huaiyu took a weak step back, blinking. “I was just joking.”
“A heart full of sincerity that cannot be painted?” He took a step forward, narrowing his eyes.
She retreated another step. “That was also a joke.”
“Misplaced affections and lifelong regrets?”
“…Hehehe!” Seeing him press closer, Huaiyu felt a bit breathless and placed her hand against his chest, whispering, “It was all for the sake of rhyme!”
With a clenched fist, Jiang Xuanjin suddenly slammed it against the vermilion pillar behind her, trapping her between his arms.
“You still know about rhymes!” His ink-black eyes glared at her, carrying a hint of cold laughter. “Do you want me to set up a stall for you to tell stories?”
Huaiyu shrank her neck, pouting. “You can’t be so petty! You were the one who slandered me first; I was just returning the favor. Otherwise, how would I live in this mansion in the future?”
After saying that, she cheerfully reached out, wrapping her arms around his neck. “You’re so close to me; are you trying to kiss me?”
With a cold snort, he straightened up, shaking off her hands. “I have something to say first.”
“What is it?”
“Marrying you is a suitable thing to do at the right time,” he said. “It’s not because of feelings.”
This statement was rather subtle; to put it bluntly, it meant: I’m marrying you out of necessity. If you hadn’t stubbornly entered my courtyard and made it impossible for everyone to back down, I wouldn’t have to marry you. I don’t like you.
Huaiyu, feeling quite hurt, pressed her hand to her heart, looking at him with teary eyes. “You’re so cold, so heartless, so stone-hearted!”
Jiang Xuanjin frowned. “If you can’t accept it, there’s still room for negotiation.”
“Don’t negotiate; let’s leave it as it is.” Instantly regaining her composure, Huaiyu said, “You having one more wife doesn’t make a difference, and I having one more husband doesn’t make a difference either. Since we get along well enough, if marrying you means I can eat and stay warm, then why not marry?”
She was quite open-minded; if being able to eat and stay warm meant she could marry, then she had many options!
Jiang Xuanjin looked at her indifferent expression and felt an impulse to lift her and throw her out the window.
Noticing the unfriendly gaze in front of her, Li Huaiyu paused, then grinned and said, “Besides, you have no feelings for me now; who knows what will happen in the future? There are so many girls in the capital who want to have feelings for you, but they don’t even have the qualifications to spend their lives with you. At least I’ve made a start!”
Saying this, she felt quite proud, placing her hands on her hips and puffing out her chest.
Jiang Xuanjin rolled his eyes.
“Miss.” From a distance, Lingxiu, who had been waiting, finally brought over the cane.
Seeing this, Jiang Xuanjin finally understood why he felt something was off earlier. Glancing at her dangling right foot, his face darkened. “Do you want to be a cripple?”
“No.” Huaiyu replied, “But I can’t go in front of your father with a cane, can I? That would be too embarrassing and wouldn’t leave a good impression. You should thank me for not using a cane; otherwise, he wouldn’t have agreed so easily.”
“Doesn’t it hurt?”
“Not really.” She answered quickly but then felt a bit guilty. Huaiyu rolled her eyes and immediately frowned. “It’s fine; I can endure it… It hurts! How can it not hurt? It’s killing me! You have to help me!”
Saying this, she reached out to grab his shoulder.
Jiang Xuanjin scoffed at her exaggerated performance, shoving the cane under her arm and turning to leave.
Embarrassed, Huaiyu touched her nose and asked the nearby Chengxu, “Was I that obvious?”
Chengxu held back a laugh and nodded. “Pretty obvious.”
Slapping her forehead, Huaiyu exclaimed, “Oh no!” and hurriedly leaned on the cane to chase after him.
Jiang Xuanjin intended to escort her to the Bai residence and discuss the betrothal with Bai Dezhong in advance. However, just as the carriage was halfway there, someone from the palace suddenly stopped them, looking very anxious.
“Jun Shang!” The eunuch from the palace stood in front of the carriage, panting. “His Majesty urgently summons you; please enter the palace immediately!”
Li Huaiyu, who had been laughing and telling jokes to Jiang Xuanjin, froze.
Jiang Xuanjin frowned and lifted the carriage curtain. “What’s going on?”
“Half an hour ago, Lords Han Xiao and Yun Lanqing entered the palace, claiming they would accuse Lord Li, the Prime Minister, of perjury. The two sides clashed in the Imperial Study, and His Majesty couldn’t stop it, so he sent me to summon you.”
Looking at the sky, he felt even more anxious. “I went to Jiang’s residence and chased all the way here, wasting a lot of time. We can’t delay any longer!”
After hearing this, Jiang Xuanjin almost immediately nodded, but after glancing at the person in the carriage, he hesitated slightly.
If he didn’t escort her back, she would probably have a hard time explaining herself, right?
“National affairs are urgent!” Unexpectedly, the person in the carriage was even more anxious than he was, dragging her right foot as she jumped out of the carriage, waving her hand at him repeatedly. “You hurry into the palace!”
He had always been carefree, but seeing her so serious, Jiang Xuanjin felt unaccustomed. However, he found her performance quite pleasing, even feeling it was somewhat commendable.
How many women today would prioritize national affairs over everything else? She didn’t even consider whether she would be punished when he left.
“Do you want me to go?” He asked one more time.
Li Huaiyu glared at him. “They’re fighting in front of His Majesty, and you still have time to say these useless things? How are you even the Jun Shang?”
As she spoke, she picked up the cane and poked it at the wheel of the carriage. “Hurry up, hurry up!”
This appearance was like a mother who was anxious for her son to achieve great things.
Amused, Jiang Xuanjin finally lowered the carriage curtain and instructed the driver to change direction toward the palace.
Li Huaiyu stood in place, watching the carriage head toward the palace gate, her worries unrelenting.
Han Xiao and Yun Lanqing were not impulsive people; if they were accusing Li Fengxing, they must have evidence. If she had been there before, this matter would have been no problem, but now… without the arbitrary decision of Princess Danyang, even if something was right, it might not have yielded the right result.
After thinking for a moment, Huaiyu took out Lu Jingxing’s token and handed it to Lingxiu.
“Go to Lu’s residence again,” she said. “Deliver a message for me.”
Lingxiu listened to her mumble a few words, nodded repeatedly, and walked with her to the Chang’an official road. She returned to the Bai residence while Lingxiu headed to the Lu residence.
—
**Bai Residence, Backyard.**
Fourth Miss Bai had not returned to the Bai residence all night. In the past, if Lingxiu hadn’t reported it, the people in the residence wouldn’t have known. But now it was different; Bai Xuanji had just received Old Master Jiang’s approval to become Jiang Yan’s legitimate wife! Such a joyous occasion should have brought out Bai Zhuji, the former “future young mistress,” to be stepped on a few times for added celebration.
Thus, the people in the residence quickly discovered that Fourth Miss was not at home, and Lingxiu had also vanished.
“Could it be that she felt embarrassed and couldn’t stay in the residence, so she left on her own?” The gossiping old women squatting in the backyard chattered excitedly while cracking melon seeds.
“How pitiful! If I were Fourth Miss, I would leave too! It’s bad enough being inferior to Second Miss; now even the marriage has been snatched away by her!”
“How can that be considered snatching? Second Miss earned it with her abilities. Who told Fourth Miss to be so useless, right?”
“Exactly.” Someone echoed from behind.
The three old women were stunned, feeling the voice was somewhat familiar, and turned to look back.
A beautiful woman dressed in silk and satin stood not far behind them, picking up the fallen cane from the ground, smoothing her hair, and smiling at them. “I also think Fourth Miss is quite useless.”
After saying that, she leaned on the cane and walked toward the western courtyard.
The old women were taken aback, one asked, “Who is this?” Another said, “Wasn’t there no one here when we first arrived?”
The last one’s face turned pale, and she lost her grip on the melon seeds, dropping several.
“That’s Fourth Miss.” She stammered.
Having grown accustomed to the disheveled Fourth Miss, they found it normal not to recognize this radiant Fourth Miss at first glance. But once they did, the old women became flustered, quickly putting away their melon seeds and rushing to find someone to report.
So, when Li Huaiyu returned to her room, took a sip of water, and was about to rest, five or six servants rushed in front of her.
“Fourth Miss, the Madam requests your presence!”
Sighing, Huaiyu said, “I hurt my foot and can’t walk.”
The servants were taken aback, and the leader frowned, saying, “Does Fourth Miss not listen to the Madam’s orders?”
“I do, but you didn’t listen properly, did you?” Huaiyu raised an eyebrow, sitting in the chair with her legs crossed. “Didn’t the Madam say ‘please’ for me to go?”
“Yes.”
“That ‘please’ means you should ‘invite’ me, and you’re responsible for bringing me over!” She wore a look of disbelief. “You don’t even understand this basic rule? I hurt my foot, so you should carry me along with the chair!”
“…” The servants exchanged glances.
“Don’t just stand there; come and carry me! Otherwise, what are so many of you doing here?” Huaiyu leaned back comfortably against the chair, gesturing for them to come over.
After thinking about her words twice, they found it increasingly reasonable. The servants discussed it and decided that one would lift one leg of the chair while another supported her from behind, steadily carrying Li Huaiyu out.
—
**East Courtyard.**
Madam Bai sent several strong servants, intending to prevent her from resisting as she had before, planning to forcefully hold her down. Who would have thought that moments later, the servants would respectfully carry her in?
“What is going on?” Bai Mengshi frowned, slapping the table. “What kind of behavior is this?”
The servants were startled and quickly set the chair down, retreating in confusion.
Huaiyu stood up with a smile, casually bowing to her.
“Where have you been?” Bai Mengshi asked sternly. “You didn’t return all night; is this how a young lady should behave? Kneel!”
Li Huaiyu didn’t want to kneel, but being under her roof, she had no choice but to obey. After hesitating a bit, she knelt obediently.
Seeing her kneel, Bai Mengshi began to question her. “The Bai family has always upheld proper conduct; how did you turn out to be such a lawless person? Your second sister is about to marry into the Jiang family, and at this critical moment, you ruin the Bai family’s reputation. What are you trying to achieve?”
Bai Xuanji sat beside her, poised and smiling. Hearing this, she gently said, “Mother, there’s no need to be so harsh on Fourth Sister; she probably doesn’t know about the changes in the marriage.”
Looking at her, Li Huaiyu said, “I know.”
“Oh?” Bai Xuanji paused. Then she smiled even more gently. “It’s good that Fourth Sister knows; I didn’t know how to bring it up… I truly feel sorry for Fourth Sister.”
Though she said this, there was not a trace of guilt on her face, and her eyes even held a hint of pride.
Young girls, after snatching someone else’s marriage, naturally felt proud to show off. Li Huaiyu looked at her expression and thought of the runaway Young Master Jiang, feeling a bit amused. “It’s fine; I don’t blame you.”
Who knows who will blame whom tomorrow?
Seeing her not angry at all, but rather a bit happy, Bai Xuanji frowned. “If Fourth Sister is dissatisfied, you can speak directly to Second Sister; she will compensate you.”
“No need, no need.” Li Huaiyu waved her hand generously. “I don’t need compensation.”
“Since you’re so open-minded, why do you still make things difficult for your second sister?” Bai Mengshi frowned. “We are all family; it’s fine if you can’t help your second sister, but why do you have to use underhanded tactics to hinder her?”
Li Huaiyu found it laughable. “How did I hinder her?”
“You didn’t return all night, ruining the Bai family’s reputation; isn’t that hindering?” Bai Mengshi glared. “Do you know that if this news spreads, it will lower your second sister’s standing?”
She truly didn’t know, and Huaiyu fell silent.
Bai Mengshi grew angrier. “Where did you spend the night last night?”
Regarding this question… Huaiyu hesitated for a moment and said, “I was at Jiang’s residence yesterday.”
Jiang’s residence?
This was truly absurd. Bai Mengshi almost immediately laughed coldly. “Are you daydreaming? Jiang’s residence? Why not say the palace?”
The maids and servants around them also laughed mockingly, their gazes filled with disdain and ridicule.
Bai Xuanji didn’t laugh. She examined Li Huaiyu’s attire and frowned. “So you dressed like this to go to Jiang’s residence?”
Only then did Bai Mengshi notice the person’s outfit. She walked up to Huaiyu and pulled out a hairpin from her hair.
“Indeed… you must be trying to drive your father to his grave!” Looking at the material and craftsmanship of the hairpin, Bai Mengshi scolded, “Did the residence owe you something, or what? Why would a noble young lady like you steal things?”
Huaiyu frowned and glanced at Bai Xuanji. “This hairpin was a gift from a friend; Second Sister had no idea. How can you just assume I stole it?”
Bai Xuanji shook her head. “A gift from a friend? Don’t you think that excuse is too absurd? You’ve been in the Bai residence for so many years, and aside from Lingxiu, you have no one else around. When did you meet such a generous friend?”
“Not to mention this hairpin. The clothes and jewelry you’re wearing add up to at least half a year’s salary for Father. Which friend would be so generous?”
Hearing this, everyone felt it made sense. Bai Mengshi was even more furious, slapping Li Huaiyu across the face. “You shameless thing!”
The wind from the slap was fierce, and with enough force, it would surely leave her face swollen. Li Huaiyu saw it coming, and her body reacted faster than her mind, tilting her head to dodge the slap.
“Whoosh—” The hand swept through the air, and the force was not controlled, nearly twisting her arm.
Bai Mengshi’s face turned a mix of green and purple. “You dare to dodge?!”
“Even if I’m going to be hit, I need to understand why first.” Huaiyu knelt on her left foot, looking up at her. “This thing isn’t mine; Second Sister has no evidence; it’s pure slander. You’re being unreasonable by hitting me without distinguishing right from wrong.”
As she spoke, she turned to Bai Xuanji. “If Second Sister thinks I can’t have such generous friends, then I want to ask Second Sister, with my delicate… well, I suppose I’m quite delicate, how could I steal so many things?”
Bai Xuanji elegantly held her handkerchief and said, “I’m certain you stole it, so I naturally know where you stole it from—these items are all on my dowry list. Last night, when I returned to the residence, I went with my mother to check the dowry and found many items missing. I thought it was some servant with sticky fingers, but I didn’t expect it to be you.”
“Wow—” The maids and servants standing nearby were shocked. Stealing from one’s own sister’s dowry? That was truly shameless!
Li Huaiyu was also shocked. She had always admitted to being shameless, but she didn’t expect this Second Miss Bai to be even more shameless than her.
“Your dowry?” She laughed in disbelief, reaching out to pluck a golden-inlaid jade peony from her hair and holding it in her hand. “Then may I ask Second Sister, where did you procure your dowry? Does the jewelry have any marks?”
Bai Xuanji choked slightly.
Bai Mengshi frowned. “You stole things, and yet you dare to question your Second Sister! Someone, take off her outfit!”
“Yes!” Several maids responded, coming forward to take action.
Li Huaiyu sneered, pushing herself off the ground with one hand and kicking the first maid who charged at her, sending her flying.
“Ah—” The maid screamed, crashing into the armchair behind her and falling heavily to the ground.
The others were startled and immediately stopped in their tracks.
Li Huaiyu turned her head to look at the person sitting upright above, coldly extending a finger toward Bai Xuanji. “Bai Xuanji, you’d better provide evidence today to prove that I stole your dowry. Otherwise, I guarantee that after stealing your dowry, not a single thread will remain!”
Bai Xuanji was taken aback, her face paling. “You’re threatening me?”
“You’ve gone too far!” Bai Mengshi angrily slammed the table. “Someone, tie her up!”
“Yes!” A group of servants rushed in from outside, instantly filling the hall. The timid maids retreated to the back, while the strong servants rolled up their sleeves and charged at her.
To be honest, facing so many people, Li Huaiyu knew she was doomed today. However, the descendants of the Li family had royal pride; even if she knew her outcome, she would fight to take a few pieces of flesh from the enemy to accompany her in death!
Thus, the East Courtyard became lively, filled with screams, the sound of dishes breaking, and fists hitting flesh, all echoing in the air.
At first, Bai Xuanji could still calmly watch from the side, but when she saw Li Huaiyu smash a servant against the wall, causing blood to splatter everywhere, she finally screamed in fright.
“You’re insane!”
Her injured right foot was not agile, and someone seized the opportunity to step on it several times. Li Huaiyu grinned, putting her strength on her left foot, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, and turning to strike at another servant.
Almost everything in the room that could break was shattered. Bai Mengshi’s face turned pale with distress. At first, she wanted to shout for it to stop, but soon she became furious, shouting at the top of her lungs, “Beat her to death!”
The servants had initially held back, but upon hearing this, they let loose and struck even harder.
Half an hour later, Li Huaiyu, with a gash on her forehead and blood streaming down her face, was pinned down by the last servant, kneeling in front of Bai Mengshi.
In the room, some were down, some were slumped. Amidst the chaos, only the eyes of the person kneeling on the ground still shone like stars.
Bai Mengshi was both shocked and afraid, glaring at her. She almost trembled as she began to tear off the jewelry from her body one by one.
“Do you… do you know how many family rules you’ve broken?”
Li Huaiyu curled her lips, looking at her with a smile in her eyes.
Seeing her not in the least bit pained, Bai Mengshi’s anger intensified. “Staying out all night, stealing treasures from the residence, defying authority, fighting, and destroying everything in my house! With these charges combined, I could punish you with twenty lashes, and it wouldn’t be excessive!”
“I advise you not to,” Huaiyu smiled. “Otherwise, my father will surely blame you tomorrow.”
Upon hearing this, Bai Mengshi laughed. “Do you think the master still cares about you? He has Bai Xuanji as a daughter; that’s enough. How could he have time to care about your life or death? Even if I beat you to death, he wouldn’t know about your death for years.”
Impressive! If her hands weren’t restrained, Huaiyu would have applauded her.
“I’ve reminded you of what you should know; you can do as you please,” she said. “Just don’t say I harmed you on purpose later.”
Bai Mengshi didn’t understand what she meant, thinking she was just trying to scare her. She waved her sleeve and said, “I am the head matriarch of the Bai family. It’s only right to deal with matters according to family rules. Even if the master asks, I’m not in the wrong! Someone, drag her to the courtyard and administer family law!”
“Yes!”
At noon, with the spring sun high in the sky, Jiang Xuanjin was in the Imperial Study, listening to Han Xiao and Yun Lanqing speak. Suddenly, he felt a tightness in his heart.
Frowning, he reached out to touch his chest, feeling somewhat inexplicable.
“Jun Shang also finds this absurd, right?” Han Xiao said solemnly. “The dignified Prime Minister’s a long history, yet he is so narrow-minded that just because Princess Danyang once said he ‘lacks the talent to assist the country,’ he has held a grudge. For so many years, he has made things difficult for the princess, and now, in the case of Prime Minister Sima, he even perjured himself out of personal hatred!”
Jiang Xuanjin came back to his senses and looked at the documents the emperor handed him.
These were the testimonies of several servants from the Li residence, stating that on the evening of the twentieth day of the second month, around the time of Sima Xu’s death, Li Fengxing had returned home drunk and was not present.
During the investigation of the Sima Xu case, Li Fengxing had testified that he was accompanying Sima Xu as they left the palace when they happened to encounter Princess Danyang, who invited Prime Minister Sima to rest nearby. This testimony had been crucial, directly shifting all suspicion onto Danyang.
But now, this testimony was false?
Jiang Xuanjin was stunned, suddenly recalling what Qingsi had said yesterday—“You’re just a knife for a petty person; do you think you did the right thing?”
His heart sank. He put away the testimony in his hand and looked at the kneeling Li Fengxing below. “Does Lord Li have anything to say in your defense?”
Li Fengxing snorted lightly and cupped his hands. “This case has been closed; I don’t know what the two lords are still entangled in this matter for. Just based on a few words from the servants, do you and His Majesty intend to convict me?”
“A few words?” Yun Lanqing’s brows furrowed, glaring at him. “One of the two servants in the testimony has been in your residence for seven years, and the other is your wet nurse. They are now being hunted down and risked their lives to come forward, and you dare say it’s just ‘a few words’?”
Glancing at him, Li Fengxing straightened his back. “So what? Why are they being hunted down? I do not know of it. But this testimony is indeed false. If you and His Majesty believe this, then I can present dozens of other servants’ testimonies when I return, proving that I did not return home at the time of the incident.”
“You…”
Li Huailin sat on the dragon throne, watching the three high-ranking officials argue until their faces turned red. He turned to Jiang Xuanjin beside him. “Does the Jun Shang have any thoughts on this?”
Jiang Xuanjin said, “The case has already been closed; there’s no need for further debate.”
Han Xiao was furious, almost cursing, but Yun Lanqing quickly pulled his sleeve, shaking his head.
Li Fengxing smiled and bowed to him. “Jun Shang is wise.”
“There’s nothing else; Lord Li can go back to his duties. The new Prime Minister has yet to take office, so please work hard,” Li Huailin said.
“Micro臣 takes his leave.” After glancing at the two beside him, Li Fengxing sneered and turned to leave.
Han Xiao had a bad temper, but in front of the emperor, he couldn’t be too rude, so he had to hold it in, his face turning red.
The hall doors closed, and Jiang Xuanjin looked at Han Xiao. “I have a question I’d like to ask the lord.”
“Han is lacking in knowledge; how can I answer Jun Shang’s doubts?” Han Xiao said coldly, cupping his hands. “I’ll take my leave first!”
As he spoke, he stepped out.
Li Huailin watched from above, shaking his head. This Lord Han truly had the worst temper among the officials. He even dared to offend Jun Ziyang.
However, Jiang Xuanjin was not angry. Seeing him about to leave, he quickly stood up and blocked his way.
“Lord, please stay.” He looked up at him. “This question can only be answered by you.”
Han Xiao had always disliked Jiang Xuanjin, and now, with his previous attitude of favoring Li Fengxing, he was even more furious. Being blocked now, Han Xiao could no longer hold back and threw a punch at him!
“Lord Han!” Li Huailin stood up from the dragon throne, frowning and shouting.
Yun Lanqing was also startled, first bowing to the emperor before quickly stepping forward to mediate.
However, this fierce punch did not land on Jiang Xuanjin. Yun Lanqing stared wide-eyed as he saw Jun Ziyang catch Han Xiao’s fist, the force softening in his hand, drawing a diagonal arc in the air, and then returning the force perfectly.
Bang—
Han Xiao stepped back half a step, his heels digging into the ground to steady himself. When he looked up again, his anger had lessened by half, and he turned back to kneel before the emperor.
“What question?” he asked, annoyed.
Following him back a few steps, Jiang Xuanjin said softly, “Lord Han, you are wise; why would you willingly ruin your reputation to support Princess Danyang?”
“This is a question I also want to know.” The emperor looked at them. “Although the princess is not a bad person by nature, her actions are not worthy of praise. Why would you two protect her to this extent, even risking your reputation after the case has been closed?”
This question, coming from Jiang Xuanjin, made Han Xiao and Yun Lanqing feel complicated. But when it came from the emperor’s mouth…
Han Xiao smiled bitterly, feeling a sense of desolation wash over him, from the tip of his heart to his back.
In the past, Princess Danyang had been present, dressed in a fiery Yaochi peony palace gown, sitting high on the stage, looking down at him.
“Lord Han,” she said, “Have you thought it through? If you’re in the same boat as me, you will never receive praise or admiration again. The good reputation you’ve built over twenty years will all be wasted.”
At that time, Han Xiao had answered beautifully: “The princess, as a woman, is fearless. Why should I be afraid?”
Hearing this, Danyang clapped her hands and laughed, then, not satisfied, said, “I’m not just an ordinary woman! I have an extraordinary emperor brother!”
Regarding this, Han Xiao was dismissive. Li Huailin had been in power for five years without any achievements; how could he be considered “extraordinary”?
Danyang saw his expression and guessed his thoughts, immediately placing her hands on her hips and glaring. “Don’t look down on people! In a few years, Huailin will surely be praised by the people! He will be a great emperor!”
As she spoke, she turned her gaze toward the distant fluttering imperial flag, her eyes filled with certainty. “He absolutely will!”
Looking at her, Han Xiao understood. It was not her identity that gave Princess Danyang the courage to plunge into countless disputes, but rather Li Huailin. Everything she had done over the years was to ensure her royal brother could sit securely on the throne.
And now, Li Huailin was asking them: why?
Han Xiao’s eyes turned red, and he opened his mouth, wanting to pound the imperial desk and tell him everything! No matter what, he couldn’t let Princess Danyang die while still bearing so many charges!
However, glancing at the testimonies carelessly tossed on the table, Han Xiao closed his mouth.
No one would believe him, even if he spoke up for Danyang. Writing a hundred or eighty testimonies would be just like these two pieces of paper, casually placed here, serving as unconvincing nonsense.
Dejected, he lowered his head and said with a bitter smile, “I believe the princess is a good person.”
Jiang Xuanjin frowned, and Li Huailin was dissatisfied with this answer. “There are no outsiders here; why is the lord unwilling to speak frankly?”
Han Xiao remained silent, but Yun Lanqing stepped forward, looking at Jiang Xuanjin. “Jun Shang personally determined the princess’s crimes, wrote the charges himself, and delivered the poison himself. Now you still ask us this question; do you not find it absurd?”
The one who wanted to kill her was him. He had already determined that Princess Danyang was a heinous person deserving of death. No matter how many good words they said, it would be useless, so why ask?
Jiang Xuanjin lowered his head and remained silent for a moment. “I only did what I had to do; it was not directed at her.”
For anyone, as long as the evidence was conclusive and the crime was unforgivable, he would write the charges himself and deliver the poison personally.
Yun Lanqing and Han Xiao did not believe this. Yun Lanqing cupped his hands and said, “If Jun Shang truly has doubts, it would be better to thoroughly investigate the case of Prime Minister Sima again. Prime Minister Sima was not killed by Princess Danyang; this can be considered one of the reasons we supported her back then.”
After saying this, he bowed to Li Huailin. “Lord Han acted recklessly today; I am willing to take him down to receive punishment.”
Li Huailin stared at the two of them for a long time before nodding.
Yun Lanqing took Han Xiao away, leaving only two people in the Imperial Study.
“Jun Shang,” Li Huailin asked, “Do you suspect the princess is innocent?”
Jiang Xuanjin shook his head and remained silent.
It was originally a clear murder case, but because of those two pieces of paper on the table, it seemed to have become somewhat foggy.
What he had just said about there being no need to pursue the case was false; it was merely to stabilize Li Fengxing. Princess Danyang had once been his student and had fought with him for many years. If her death raised doubts, he would investigate.
However, Han Xiao and Yun Lanqing probably wouldn’t tell him the truth for the time being.
Collecting his thoughts, he changed the subject and said to Li Huailin, “I am about to marry; I hope Your Majesty can grant me leave around the twenty-first of next month.”
Li Huailin was still pondering the matter regarding the princess when he heard this, and he stood up in shock. “You’re getting married?!”
“Yes.”
“Which girl is so remarkable that she can make the Jun Shang think of starting a family?” Li Huailin was both delighted and curious.
The image of that face, which was always unserious, flashed in Jiang Xuanjin’s mind, and he instinctively shook his head. “She’s not remarkable; at most, she’s just good with her words.”
After thinking for a moment, he added, “And she’s quite bold.”
Li Huailin stared at him, feeling as if the sky was about to rain red.
What was this look in his eyes when he mentioned her? He had known Jun Ziyang for nearly eight years, and hadn’t he always been indifferent to women?
“From what you say, I must go see the wedding when the time comes,” Li Huailin said with a smile. “First, congratulations to the Jun Shang.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Jiang Xuanjin cupped his hands, glancing at the hourglass, his expression slightly serious. “If there’s nothing else, I will take my leave from the palace; there are still matters that need to be handled.”
“Alright.” Li Huailin nodded.
Carefully folding the testimonies on the table and placing them in his bosom, Jiang Xuanjin strode out of the palace, heading straight for the Bai residence.
Bai Dezhong was busy with affairs today and had not yet returned home. When Jiang Xuanjin arrived, it was still Bai Mengshi who came out to greet him.
“Jun Shang, your esteemed presence is a great honor; I apologize for not welcoming you properly.” Bai Mengshi’s eyes lit up when she saw him. “Why have you come at this time? Do you have any instructions for Xuanji?”
Looking at her, he only saw Bai Xuanji standing gracefully beside her, bowing to him. Jiang Xuanjin felt a bit puzzled. “Where is Fourth Miss Bai?”
Bai Mengshi was taken aback, and her expression became somewhat strange. “What does the Jun Shang want with her?”
Why was she asking like this? Jiang Xuanjin felt slightly confused. “Didn’t she say anything when she returned?”
With her carefree personality, shouldn’t she have announced to everyone that she was marrying Jun Ziyang? Why was Bai Mengshi reacting this way?
“Jun Shang!” Before Bai Mengshi could speak, Lingxiu broke through the servants blocking the door and knelt in front of him. “Jun Shang, please save my young lady!”
Her voice was piercing, almost breaking, and when she raised her head, her eyes were red and swollen.
Jiang Xuanjin was shocked, and that sudden tightness in his heart returned.
“How dare you!” Bai Mengshi hurriedly ordered the servants to drag Lingxiu away. “In front of the Jun Shang, how dare you speak! Drag her away and slap her!”
Several servants quickly moved to grab her, but Jiang Xuanjin shouted, “Wait!”
Bai Mengshi was startled. “Jun Shang?”
Walking up to Lingxiu, Jiang Xuanjin asked, “What happened?”
Lingxiu choked back her sobs, pointing at Bai Mengshi and her daughter. “I was just sent to deliver something elsewhere. When I returned, I found the young lady beaten half to death and locked in the woodshed, covered in blood! I wanted to go in and check, but they locked the door behind me!”
His pupils constricted, and Jiang Xuanjin glanced at the two people beside him.
Bai Mengshi didn’t react at all. She knew that Jun Ziyang and Bai Zhuji were acquainted; the last time they had returned together. But how could these two possibly have a deeper relationship? After all, this was Jun Ziyang!
But what was going on now? Just because of a servant’s misdeeds, Jun Ziyang was looking at her with cold and sharp eyes.
Bai Mengshi felt confused, her legs inexplicably feeling weak.
Waving her hand for Chengxu to take Lingxiu away, Jiang Xuanjin said nothing more and stepped into the residence.
“Mother, what should we do?” Bai Xuanji panicked. “The Jun Shang is Jiang Yan’s uncle. If he sees us treating Zhuji like this, will he go back and tell Jiang Yan? The young master will think I’m cruel!”
“Don’t panic.” Coming back to her senses, Bai Mengshi held her hand to steady her. “Bai Zhuji deserves this; it doesn’t matter who comes. Besides, this is our Bai family’s business; even if it’s Jun Ziyang, he can’t interfere. Let’s go and take a look!”
Bai Xuanji bit her lip and nodded, lifting her skirt to follow Bai Mengshi.
Lingxiu ran quickly, almost rolling and crawling as she led the way. From a distance, she pointed. “It’s the room right ahead!”
Jiang Xuanjin quickly walked over, looking at the lock on the door, and shouted, “Chengxu!”
Chengxu understood, drawing his sword and cutting the chain in two.
“Bang—” The door was pushed open, sending up a cloud of dust, revealing a person leaning against the wall, covered in blood.
“Cough, cough, cough…” Li Huaiyu coughed, half-lifting her eyelids to look at the person, taking a long time to recognize who it was. She grinned and said, “What brings you here?”
Jiang Xuanjin was shocked as he took in the scene in the woodshed, stepping inside and reaching out to touch her forehead. But halfway through, he was startled by the blood on her head.
“What’s with that expression?” Huaiyu tried to shift her body but froze again, taking a breath. “Jun Ziyang is suited to have a face that doesn’t change; that way, he looks profound and inscrutable. You looking like this with a frown is a bit scary.”
As she spoke, she pouted. “But right now, I’m stuck against the wall; I need you to hug me to get up.”
Jiang Xuanjin opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but the smell of blood coming from her body choked him.
He fell silent, his fingers curling into fists, his knuckles turning white. It felt as if something was gripping his chest, making it hard to breathe.
It must be the air in the woodshed that’s too foul, he thought, slowly bending down to pick her up.
“You’re going to hug me?” Huaiyu smiled, glancing at his clothes. “You’re such a clean person; if I get my blood all over you, you can forget about keeping that robe.”
It’s just a robe; if it’s gone, then it’s gone. He turned to face the people outside while holding her.
Bai Mengshi and Bai Xuanji stood outside, their mouths agape in shock.
“Jun Shang, this…” Bai Mengshi pointed at the person in his arms. “She has broken many family rules and fought with the servants to end up like this. This is a matter of the Bai residence.”
Pausing, she felt her authority was insufficient, so she put on a stern face. “In the backyard of the Bai residence, everything is decided by the matriarch!”
The implication was: Aren’t you overstepping your bounds?
Jiang Xuanjin stepped toward her.
Bai Mengshi was taken aback, instinctively grabbing Bai Xuanji’s hand. Jun Ziyang’s imposing presence was overwhelming; even in her territory, she dared not look him in the eye. Although she knew he wouldn’t strike, his approach was still frightening.
“This is all…” She wanted to say that this was all the rules of the residence and couldn’t be blamed on her.
However, as she opened her mouth, Jiang Xuanjin walked past her, holding Bai Zhuji as if he hadn’t seen her at all, striding forward.
“Lingxiu.” His voice came from behind. “Where does your young lady live?”
Lingxiu, who had been stunned, finally came to her senses and hurriedly followed. As she passed by the two women, she frowned at them and then ran even faster.
Bai Mengshi’s face instantly turned ugly.
There were many servants around, all of whom had witnessed the scene. This matriarch, who held considerable authority in the residence, couldn’t even say a word in front of Jun Ziyang.
What was this?
—
**West Courtyard.**
Jiang Xuanjin carried Li Huaiyu into the small room, scanning the interior for a long time in silence.
Previously, he hadn’t believed her when she said she was having a hard time in the Bai residence. After all, she was Bai Dezhong’s biological daughter; how bad could it be?
However, seeing it with his own eyes, he felt a strange sensation rising in his heart, as if he were back in that woodshed, surrounded by dust, making it hard for him to breathe.
He walked to the bedside and gently laid the half-conscious person down, pulling off her dirty outer garment and helping her lie down on the bed.
As he moved, his sleeve slightly opened, and he looked down to see the bruises on her arms. Frowning slightly, he thought for a moment and reached out to roll up her sleeves.
Blue, purple, and black bruises spread from her wrist up her arm. The more he rolled up her sleeves, the more bruises he revealed.
Jiang Xuanjin’s face turned pale as he looked at her, contemplating for a while before saying to Chengxu, “You go back to the residence and inform them.”
“Inform them of what?” Chengxu asked, bowing.
Casting a deep glance around the small room, Jiang Xuanjin said, “Just say I’m at the Bai residence and won’t be returning tonight.”
Chengxu was shocked. “Master?”
Even if Fourth Miss Bai was seriously injured, he couldn’t just not return! If Old Master Jiang asked about the reason, how would he explain it?
“If the family asks, just tell them the truth,” Jiang Xuanjin said calmly. “Tomorrow morning, please ask Father to bring Eldest Brother and Second Brother to deliver the betrothal gifts for me.”
After a pause, he added, “Let them all come; not a single person can be missing.”