He offered the tea, and Li Huaiyu graciously accepted, replying, “Young Master Jiang is quite courteous.”
Her voice, melodious like a warbler, and her words with a hint of laughter, sounded somewhat familiar to Jiang Yan.
He lifted his head, casting a curious gaze at her. But as soon as he looked, he staggered back two steps, his eyes widening as he exclaimed in a low voice, “How could it be you!”
“Yan’er!” Jiang Chong scolded him from the side. “How can you make such a fuss?”
“It’s not… Father… Young Uncle… Isn’t this Miss Bai Si?!” Jiang Yan’s scalp tingled, rubbing his eyes hard and looked again, then shook his head repeatedly. “How could she be here?”
Surprised by his reaction, Li Huaiyu was also taken aback. Initially, when Jiang Xuanjin decided to break off the engagement, she had assumed that Young Master Jiang knew and left deliberately to facilitate his proposal to the Bai family… but it seemed not.
His shock was as if the sky had fallen.
Li Huaiyu looked at Jiang Xuanjin next to her with puzzlement.
Jiang Xuanjin seemed equally surprised by his strong reaction, his expression puzzled, but he calmly explained, “She’s your newlywed aunt, of course, she should be here.”
“But…” Jiang Yan’s face turned pale. He wanted to say that Fourth Miss Baishouldn’t be the one he was supposed to marry, right? But then he remembered what he had said to his Little Uncle earlier in the courtyard —
“There is a way, but have you thought it through? Truly unwilling to get married?”
“I have thought it through. I am unwilling!”
Jiang Yan was overwhelmed with regret. Why hadn’t he spoken up more at the time? Why hadn’t he resisted his grandfather’s decision? Why had he naively thought he could delay marriage for a couple more years? Now, the woman he could have married was being addressed as his aunt.
Damn, this aunt!
“Master Jiang, are you tired from your journey?” Li Huaiyu looked at him kindly. “Shall I have someone prepare hot water for you?”
“…”
Taking a deep breath, Jiang Yan bowed to her with a dark expression. “No need.”
Then he turned to his grandfather and said, “I have been unfilial, please punish me, Grandfather!”
The sudden change in his demeanor surprised Jiang Lao Taiye. Looking at Jiang Yan’s dusty appearance and tired expression, his heart softened slightly. He sighed and said, “Go bathe and change first before we discuss your punishment.”
“Yes, Grandfather.” Jiang Yan bowed his head in acknowledgment, then turned and left with heavy steps, deChengxu of the carefree demeanor he had when he entered.
Jiang Xuanjin glanced at his retreating figure, then looked at the person beside him, who was still smiling foolishly. His heart stirred, and his dark eyes narrowed slightly.
After the greetings were over, he pulled her to the garden.
“Is there anything you want to say?” he asked.
Li Huaiyu was barely able to contain her laughter, giggling uncontrollably. Looking around to ensure nobody was nearby, she grabbed his sleeve and said, “Isn’t it amusing to see Young Master Jiang’s expression? Haha, calling me ‘aunt’! He was just saying in front of me that Miss Bai was foolish, and now he wants to call me aunt!”
Jiang Xuanjin didn’t laugh. Standing in front of her, he looked down at her and said, “If I recall correctly, you were quite eager to marry him before.”
And she even asked him for help.
Her laughter stopped abruptly, and Li Huaiyu stood up straight. “Let me explain. At that time, I did want to marry him, not because of who he was, but because life in the Jiang family seemed comfortable.”
“And now?” Jiang Xuanjin narrowed his eyes. “Are you marrying me because life in the Jiang family seems comfortable too?”
Li Huaiyu was taken aback, then chuckled awkwardly. “Why are you so petty?”
Seeing his furrowed brow, she surrendered. “No, no! I’m marrying you because you’re handsome, elegant, and have a unique personality and temperament!”
He just wanted to hear her praise him, didn’t he? As long as he wanted to hear it, she could praise him in different ways every day!
Jiang Xuanjin, flattered by her words, graciously decided not to argue with her. He withdrew his sleeve and said, “I’ll go check on Yaner. You stay in Moju and don’t wander around.”
“Huh?” Huaiyu’s face fell. “What’s so good about staying alone in that courtyard? Can’t I come with you?”
“You said you wanted to mark your territory, right?” he replied. “Moju is yours, mark it as you wish.”
Her eyes lit up slightly, and Huaiyu jumped up, grabbing his arm eagerly. “Really? I can mark it however I want?”
“As long as you don’t tear down any buildings.”
“Great!” She clapped her hands happily. “Then I’ll go back and wait for you.”
Wait for him? That was a novel concept. Jiang Xuanjin snorted softly, bypassed her, and headed towards Jiang Yan’s courtyard. As he was about to leave the garden, he paused and glanced back discreetly.
The azaleas in the garden were in full bloom, vibrant and red. Someone stood amidst the flowers, gazing at him with a dreamy expression.
Seeing him turn back, she froze for a moment, then grinned widely, excitement shining in her eyes. She spun around in place, then waved at him.
What was there to be happy about? Ignoring her, Jiang Xuanjin disdainfully turned and walked away.
But he hadn’t walked more than a few steps.
“Master, why are you smiling?” Cheng Xu asked, puzzled.
“I’m not smiling.”
“But…”
“Shut up.”
Watching his figure disappear beyond the Moon Gate, Li Huaiyu immediately returned to Moju. She wandered around casually, then gradually approached the washbasin, trying to look nonchalant.
“Madam,” someone intercepted her as she stepped in, “Why don’t you go elsewhere?”
Pouting unhappily, Huaiyu retorted, “His Majesty said I could move around freely in Moju. Doesn’t this place belong to Moju?”
“…It does.”
“Then why can’t I move around?” She looked suspicious, “Could it be His Majesty is hiding a girl inside?”
“…No!”
“He is hiding a girl?” Seeing his guilty expression, Li Huaiyu immediately became furious. “He deceived me! He said I was the only one in his life, but he’s keeping a mistress in a golden chamber?”
“That’s not it!” The guard shook his head repeatedly, “That girl inside is not…”
“Get out of my way!” She didn’t want to listen to any explanations. Huaiyu furrowed her brows and rushed inside.
The guard was helpless. He wanted to stop her, but thinking of the trouble the young madam could cause, he didn’t dare. He could only follow hurriedly, shouting, “Madam, it’s a misunderstanding!”
How could it be smooth if there were no misunderstandings? Huaiyu smirked to herself. She wore a jealous expression on her face and marched straight to the locked bamboo house.
“Open it for me.”
The guard sighed. “Madam, His Majesty ordered that no one should approach the person inside freely.”
“You’re protecting her quite well, huh?” Huaiyu raised her chin, sneering. She pointed at the lock. “Open it for me, or I’ll have someone break it. You choose.”
The guard knelt with a mournful expression. “Madam, think twice. If His Majesty blames you…”
“I’ll take responsibility, it’s none of your concern.” She pointed confidently at her nose. “Give me the key!”
“You… you could have understood what’s going on just by looking at the door, no need to come in,” the guard handed over the key, trembling.
Huaiyu snatched it, her hand shaking. After a while of fumbling, she aimed at the lock and pushed open the bamboo door with a single shove.
“Whoosh—”
The person inside the bamboo house, barely conscious, was startled by the sound. They frowned and squinted, avoiding the sunlight streaming in through the door for a while before adjusting and looking up at the newcomer.
It wasn’t Lord Ziyang, but a delicate young girl.
The sight of Huaiyu seemed to terrify her greatly. Her pupils contracted, she gasped, and her face paled.
“What’s this?” She shouted at the guard beside her.
The guard answered in a hushed voice, “She’s an assassin captured by His Majesty, to be interrogated. It’s not what you think.”
“You’re talking nonsense!” The girl stomped her foot in anger. “How could you possibly keep a captured assassin here instead of taking them to the yamen? It’s clear as day that she’s a respectable woman your Majesty abducted, and when she refused to submit, you locked her up here to torment her!”
“…” The guard wanted to argue, finding the accusation absurd.
However, the girl, visibly agitated, burst into tears, her large eyes brimming with tears streaming down her cheeks. She wiped at them with her small hands repeatedly, unable to stem the flow, looking pitiful.
“Madam!” The guard was terrified. “Please don’t cry!”
“I liked him so much, and he lied to me!” Huaiyu cried bitterly, tearing at her heart. “How could he deceive me like this!”
“Miss,” Lingxiu urged anxiously, “please calm down!”
“I’ve only been married for one day, and he’s hiding a woman in the mansion. And he tells me to calm down?” Huaiyu glared defiantly. “Go and fetch him for me. I want to hear what he has to say face to face!”
At the mention of this, the guard’s legs turned to jelly. Who in the mansion didn’t worship His Majesty? And here she was, demanding his presence, her commanding presence shocking everyone into stunned silence.
Lingxiu was the first to regain her senses and nodded. “I’ll go right away.”
The other guards watched her leave, too stunned to move.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xuanjin was speaking with Jiang Yan in the Wangshu Courtyard.
Jiang Yan looked very aggrieved, kneeling on a cushion with his head drooping, and asked softly, “Why did you suddenly get married, Uncle?”
“When you left and there was no one to go on the marriage proposal, the old master flew into a rage, so I had to step forward,” Jiang Xuanjin said calmly.
Because of him? Jiang Yan felt a pang of guilt. “I’ve inconvenienced Uncle.”
“It’s nothing. Getting married reduces some trouble,” Jiang Xuanjin shook his head. “But why aren’t you happy?”
He hesitated, wanting to tell the truth, but swallowed his words. How could he trouble Uncle with those things when he was so protective of him?
Swallowing his bitterness, Jiang Yan forced a smile. “I’m just surprised that Uncle married Miss Bai. Does Uncle really like Miss Bai?”
Without hesitation, Jiang Xuanjin replied, “I don’t.”
Jiang Yan was startled. “Huh?”
“That woman, there’s really nothing good about her.” His expression hardened. “She’s rude, lacks manners, always talks nonsense, and eats a lot.”
Jiang Yan was dumbfounded, stuttering, “But… but when I saw her before, she seemed… quite well-behaved?”
Jiang Xuanjin shook his head regretfully. “She may seem well-behaved, but it’s all a facade. The rumors outside are not groundless. Although Miss Bai may not seem foolish, when she acts foolish, she’s worse than a real fool.”
Just as they were speaking, Cheng Xu rushed in, looking flustered.
“Master,” he said, “something has happened at Ink Residence. Please come back quickly!”
Jiang Xuanjin frowned and said to Jiang Yan, “See, it must be her causing trouble again.”
Standing up, he said, “I’ll go back first. You take care and rest well.”
“Yes,” Jiang Yan nodded as he watched his younger uncle leave.
Standing at the door for a moment, Jiang Yan comforted himself foolishly, perhaps not being able to marry Miss Bai was a blessing in disguise.
Jiang Xuanjin’s face darkened as soon as he left the Wangshu Courtyard. “What’s going on?”
Lingxiu followed him and whispered, “Master, when she saw you hiding a girl in the courtyard, she got angry and insisted on inviting you back to talk.”
A girl? Jiang Xuanjin was bewildered. When did he hide a girl in the courtyard?
Thinking of the only girl in Ink Residence, his expression changed, and he reprimanded softly, “Nonsense!” Then he quickened his pace and headed back.
He had forbidden anyone from entering the area near the washbasin. If she found Qing Si, she must have forced her way in! With so many people around, why didn’t anyone stop her?
Filled with anger, Jiang Xuanjin walked hurriedly, eager to catch her and give her a piece of his mind.
However, as soon as he stepped into the washbasin area and heard the sobbing, he froze.
Li Huaiyu was sitting on the doorstep of the bamboo house, looking up with tears streaming down her face, her eyes red and swollen, her voice choked with sobs.
“You…” He walked over, furrowing his brow as he lifted her up. “What’s wrong?”
Ignoring him, Huaiyu cried uncontrollably, shaking off his hand, her grievance evident in her sobs.
Jiang Xuanjin cast a cold glance at the nearby shadow guard.
The guard quickly bowed, “Your Highness, I tried to stop her, but the madam insisted on entering.”
“Who upset her?” he asked, his voice heavy.
He didn’t blame her for intruding upon his moment in the inkstone pool? The guard was taken aback, immediately lowering his head even further. “Your Highness… Your Highness, I’m not sure. The madam has been crying since she opened the door.”
Crying for so long? Jiang Xuanjin’s brow furrowed deeply. He reached out and pinched her shoulder, scolding, “Aren’t you afraid of crying yourself unconscious?”
“If I faint, then so be it!” Huaiyu sniffled, glaring at him. “You’ve been keeping secrets from me, sneaking around with someone else. Surely, you don’t care for me anymore!”
He looked at her face with a hint of disdain. Grabbing a handkerchief, he covered her nose. “Blow.”
Huaiyu complied, blowing her nose forcefully, tears welling in her eyes.
Jiang Xuanjin found it slightly amusing, squeezing her shoulder as he made her turn around, pointing at the tangled hair on her head. “Do you think anyone could sneak around like this?”
“Why not?” she muttered, wiping her nose. “Maybe someone refused to be with you, so you imprisoned them here!”
Jiang Xuanjin sighed. “What goes on in a woman’s mind, really?”
“What else could I think?” Huaiyu retorted boldly. “I only want the person I love!”
He choked back a response, lips pursed, tossing the soiled handkerchief aside and replacing it with a fresh one, pressing it against her face. “Stop making baseless accusations. This person inside has their uses to me, nothing more.”
After wiping her face, Huaiyu muttered, “What uses? Does she have something I don’t?”
“You certainly lack something,” Jiang Xuanjin shook his head, “After all, she understands the Eldest Princess of Danyang very well, something you don’t even grasp.”
Li Huaiyu paused, glancing down at herself, wanting to say, “Big brother, your wife is the one who truly understands the Eldest Princess of Danyang.” In front of her, this tangled hair was just a superficial understanding!
However, she couldn’t say that. Instead, she feigned surprise and asked, “The Eldest Princess of Danyang?”
Jiang Xuanjin hesitated for a moment, then said to the people behind him, “You all may leave.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Once everyone had left, he glanced at her and asked, “Curious?”
Huaiyu nodded vigorously.
After a moment’s thought, Jiang Xuanjin took her into the bamboo hut.
From the moment he appeared, Qing Si’s eyes had turned sharp. Now, seeing him enter the room, she moved the chains as if she wanted to pounce.
Instinctively, Huaiyu tugged at his clothes, urging him to step back.
Jiang Xuanjin glanced at her, a slight smirk playing on his lips. Then he said, “This is a maidservant from the side of the Eldest Princess of Danyang. She knows all of Danyang’s secrets but refuses to speak. So, I had no choice but to keep her here.”
Huaiyu looked astonished. “Just because she’s loyal to her mistress and won’t betray her, you’ve locked her up?”
“It’s not that I wanted to lock her up,” Jiang Xuanjin sighed. “It’s that even after I released her, she persistently tried to take my life. So why should I release her again?”
Huaiyu shot Qing Si a glare.
What a fool, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, or a mere ant shaking a tree! Couldn’t she just leave and live peacefully? Did she have to come back seeking death?
Qing Si was puzzled by her glare, furrowing her brow slightly as she looked at Huaiyu.
Huaiyu continued, “So you plan to keep her locked up until she dies, since she won’t talk?”
“It’s better than letting her fall into someone else’s hands,” Jiang Xuanjin shook his head. “Her death is just one life lost, but if I release her and she falls into the wrong hands, who knows how many others might be endangered?”
Li Huaiyu was taken aback.
He really thought this way? She had assumed he kept Qing Si locked up so persistently just to extract information, but it seemed he had put much more thought into it.
If Qing Si were released, who would she endanger? It was evident that none of the “Three Great Villains” could escape. Currently, Xu Xian and others remained safe within the court because there was no direct evidence linking them to any actions on behalf of the Eldest Princess.
Last time when Li Fengxing came to take Qing Si, it was to use her testimony to implicate Xu Xian and others. At that time, Jiang Xuanjin didn’t hand her over, and she had thought he had other ulterior motives. She hadn’t expected him to genuinely value talent, disregarding factional positions, and wanting to protect key figures of the nation.
Could it be that he had been manipulated into giving her the poisoned wine?
Huaiyu felt a bit perplexed.
“What else do you want to know, just ask,” Jiang Xuanjin said calmly. “Since we’re husband and wife now, I won’t hide anything from you.”
So forthcoming? Li Huaiyu was a bit incredulous. She grabbed his arm, widening her eyes. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll betray you?”
“What benefit would you gain from betraying me?” he replied coldly. “Since the moment we were married, your fate has been tied to mine. If I suffer, you won’t have a good life either.”
It made sense. If she truly were a white pearl, there would be no flaw in this statement.
But unfortunately, she wasn’t.
She grinned, moved, and hugged his arm. “I would never betray you!”
Side-eyeing her, he remarked, “Crying so much for a criminal, is it worth it?”
“It’s worth it!” Her eyes, still moist from tears, gleamed as she looked at him. “If you were honest with me, I wouldn’t mind even if I cried myself unconscious!”
With that, she leaned up and planted a kiss on his chin.
Jiang Xuanjin froze, glancing at Qing Si nearby, his expression darkening. He pulled her away, gritting his teeth. “Do you really think there’s no one else here?”
Qing Si stared at them in astonishment from the corner, her expression resembling someone who had seen a ghost.
Huaiyu waved her hand dismissively. “She won’t say anything anyway. What’s there to be afraid of?”
“… There’s no reasoning with someone so shameless.” Jiang Xuanjin shook his hand off, turning to leave.
“Hey!” Huaiyu stopped him. “I find this girl quite interesting. Since we’re bored right now, I can chat with her here.”
Chat? Jiang Xuanjin retorted, exasperated, “If you can get her to say a word, the Fallen Flower River might as well flow backwards for half a month!”
“Is that so?” Huaiyu retorted defiantly. “Then I’ll make her speak!”
Glancing back at her, Jiang Xuanjin said, “Just don’t cross that line at your feet, and the rest is up to you.”
Though his tone wasn’t friendly, his words were indulgent to an extreme. Huaiyu beamed with joy, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
Seeing her happy, Jiang Xuanjin pressed his lips together, forgetting his earlier intention to scold her. He simply called for someone and whispered, “Bring her a chair.”
The shadow guard trembled in the wind. “Your Highness, is this… alright?”
Wasn’t it said that no one could enter here? Yet now, not only was she allowed in, but she was also being given a chair to chat?!
Expressionless, Jiang Xuanjin asked, “What’s the problem?”
The guard bowed and didn’t waste words, swiftly bringing a chair into the room and then hurriedly retreating.
Huaiyu sat down, her eyes fixed on Qing Si. Jiang Xuanjin wondered what she would say, but her first words were unexpected: “Miss, how long has it been since you last bathed?”
“…,” Qing Si frowned, giving her a glance but remaining silent.
Huaiyu sighed. “Why put yourself through this? Just obediently tell me what I want to hear, and you can bathe, eat, and sleep comfortably in bed. Being tied up like this must be painful, especially with your wounds.”
“I was injured before too. The healer said if wounds get dirty, they can easily cause a high fever that’s hard to control, leading to death. Look at you, in your prime. Why choose such a difficult path?”
“His Highness is a good person. He doesn’t truly want to harm your mistress. Why glare at him so fiercely? Haven’t you noticed how handsome he is after staring at him for so long?”
“You’re talking nonsense again!” someone behind her scolded.
Pretending not to hear, Huaiyu gazed deeply at Qing Si and said, “Since you can live well, why choose death?”
The chains in the corner rattled as Qing Si looked up, staring at her in bewilderment.
Huaiyu smiled at her, a gentle smile.
Although Qing Si didn’t speak in the end, when they left the inkstone pool, Jiang Xuanjin was quite surprised. “Why were you so talkative?”
After talking for so long, she hadn’t even run out of breath!
Huaiyu replied, her throat dry, “Isn’t it all for you?”
“Hmm?” What did she mean?
“You said she’s useful to you, so I helped persuade her. Maybe she’s more receptive to gentleness than force. If I convince her, she might be willing to help you,” she said earnestly. “I’ll come back tomorrow.”
“Why bother?” he shook his head.
Suddenly, Li Huaiyu stopped in her tracks and motioned for him to lean down. Puzzled, Jiang Xuanjin lowered his head.
A mischievous smirk flashed in her eyes as Huaiyu quickly wrapped her arms around his neck, capturing his lips with hers for a brief moment, then pulled back with a soft pop.
“You taste so sweet, I don’t feel any bitterness at all,” she chuckled.
Their foreheads still touching, with a tingling sensation on his lips, Jiang Xuanjin was momentarily stunned. When he finally understood what she said, his throat moved slightly, a mix of annoyance and blush coloring his cheeks. He tried to say something, but choked on his words.
Seeing his reaction, Huaiyu couldn’t help but laugh. She hugged his waist and coaxed, “Don’t be shy, don’t be angry, don’t rush to scold me. I’m serious! If I could, I’d pluck all the stars and moon from the sky and put them in your arms!”
He turned away, his ears turning slightly red, his tone a bit stern, “If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll throw you into the pool!”
A gentle breeze blew by, causing ripples in the nearby inkstone pool, carrying the scent of ink. The petite girl stood in front of the tall young master, hugging his waist, looking up at him with a smile. He turned his head away, a hint of annoyance in his expression, but he allowed her to hold onto him, not making her let go.
At noon, the old master sent meals to each room and courtyard. Jiang Shen hummed a tune as he walked along the path, just passing through the Moon Gate when he came across the newlywed couple.
Huaiyu held Jiang Xuanjin’s hand as they walked ahead, her mood seemingly good, her feet dancing with small steps. Jiang Xuanjin followed behind, his gaze appearing somewhat disdainful towards her, but he obediently let her lead him, like a docile wolf.
Jiang Shen’s jaw nearly dropped, and he smiled as he stepped forward to intercept them. “Third Brother, Sister-in-law, what a coincidence!”
Looking up at him, Jiang Xuanjin’s disdain only seemed to grow. “We’re both heading to the Hongyuan Pavilion.”
It was inevitable to run into them. What’s so coincidental about that!
Startled by his response, Jiang Shen turned his head, feigning sadness. “Sister-in-law, you see, Third Brother hasn’t been treating me well these past few days.”
“It’s okay,” Huaiyu replied. “He hasn’t been treating me well either.”
“It’s not the same,” Jiang Shen shook his head. “Sister-in-law, you don’t know, when you were injured…”
Jiang Xuanjin gave him a cold look.
Jiang Shen gulped and swallowed his words, innocently blinking.
Li Huaiyu’s curiosity was piqued. “What happened when I was injured?”
“Nothing,” Jiang Xuanjin interjected, pulling her forward. “It’s getting late. Let’s not keep the elders waiting.”
“Hey, let him finish his sentence!” she pouted, displeased. “I want to hear!”
“There’s nothing worth hearing.”
“Jiang Xuanjin~” she coaxed.
“It’s no use.” He pulled her into the Hongyuan Pavilion and glanced back at his second brother from a distance.
Watching the scene unfold, Jiang Shen felt a chill down his spine under his brother’s stare, causing him to shiver involuntarily. Dining under the watchful eye of the old master, Jiang Xuanjin had been worried that his companion would eat hastily and end up scolded. However, to his surprise, from the moment Huaiyu picked up her chopsticks, she hadn’t uttered a word. Not only did she eat slowly and gracefully, but she also wore a smile on her face, exhibiting flawless manners in every movement.
The elders at the table couldn’t help but cast approving glances at Huaiyu. She smiled and nodded in response. Jiang Xuanjin wondered if she had truly learned to behave properly.
However, just as this thought crossed his mind, a foot under the table hooked onto his, lightly tracing his shoe before winding around his leg. Almost choking on his soup, Jiang Xuanjin glanced at her in astonishment.
Huaiyu continued to smile innocently, but when she smiled at him, her eyes held a mischievous glint. Her foot movements were bold, and she sat up straight, exuding a hint of audacity.
“What are you doing?” he glared at her.
“What else? Just teasing you!” She smiled demurely.
Jiang Xuanjin’s face turned slightly blue. He tried to pull his leg away, but she skillfully entwined both of her legs around his, refusing to let go.
“What’s wrong, Third Brother?” Jiang Chong, sitting opposite him, noticed something amiss and set down his chopsticks, concern evident in his voice. “Feeling unwell? Why is your face so red?”
At his words, everyone turned to look at him.
Stiffening his body, Jiang Xuanjin put down his chopsticks and replied, “It’s nothing. Just feeling a bit warm.”
Immediately, he heard a suppressed chuckle from beside him.
The vein on his forehead throbbed, but he clenched his teeth, picked up his chopsticks, and continued to dine, maintaining his composure.
After lunch, as everyone bid their farewells, Jiang Xuanjin stopped Jiang Shen.
“Second Brother, are you ready to participate in this year’s imperial examination?” he asked with concern.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Shen took two steps back. “No need to worry, Third Brother. Second Brother has no intention of entering official service.”
“Is that so?” Jiang Xuanjin was surprised. “Then why does your name appear on the memorial submitted by the Imperial Censor?”
“What?” Jiang Shen was bewildered. “That can’t be! I didn’t submit anything!”
After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Xuanjin said, “Perhaps I made a mistake.”
“Hey, hey! Third Brother, don’t leave. How could you mistake my name?” Jiang Shen hurriedly followed him, “If it’s true, it’s probably Big Brother’s doing. You know I have no intention of entering official service. Please help me figure out a solution!”
Shaking his head, Jiang Xuanjin replied, “It’s already been presented to His Majesty. There’s no other way.”
If he couldn’t pass the examination, it would be a disgrace to the Jiang family and his father would be furious. If he did pass, it would be even more infuriating, as he had no desire to be involved in officialdom. Jiang Shen’s face turned bitter, feeling like his world was crumbling.
Ignoring Jiang Shen’s lamentations behind them, Jiang Xuanjin pulled Huaiyu towards the Ink Residence.
Huaiyu glanced back at Jiang Shen several times and asked him, “Are you seeking revenge?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“It’s too obvious, even he hasn’t realized it,” Huaiyu sighed. “What happened to your broad-mindedness?”
Jiang Xuanjin sneered and looked at her sideways. “I hold grudges.”
Her heart skipped a beat at his words. Glancing around nervously, she forced a smile. “The weather is nice, shall we take a stroll in the garden?”
With that, she shifted her weight backwards, pulling the person beside her.
However, Jiang Xuanjin couldn’t be bothered to respond to her. Feeling resistance, he turned back, stooped down, and effortlessly lifted her up.
“Whoa!” Huaiyu screamed. “Mind your manners! Manners!”
“My manners are just fine.”
“But I can’t maintain mine like this!”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Huaiyu found herself in a dilemma, struggling futilely as he held her tightly. As soon as they reached the main building, he carried her down and laid her on the bed.
“Having fun?” he asked.
Huaiyu naturally knew what he was referring to and giggled foolishly. She looked up at the canopy and said, “It’s alright.”
With a scoff, he reached out and grabbed her ankle.
“Wow! Stop it! Don’t pinch!” Huaiyu was startled by his sudden movement, hastily making gestures of apology, “I just recovered from a leg injury not long ago, and there are still scars!”
Initially, to feign injury, she had smashed her foot with a stone, resulting in some skin being scraped off her ankle, which had scabbed over but was still tender to the touch.
“Just recovered not long ago?” Jiang Xuanjin said expressionlessly, “You seemed quite agile just now.”
Pouting, Huaiyu retorted, “Who told you to keep things from me? This morning you said we should be open with each other, but now you’re denying it.”
Irritated by the mention of it, Jiang Xuanjin said, “What good words would he have?”
“Then you tell me,” Huaiyu smiled, blinking at him, “What did you do when I was injured?”
Jiang Xuanjin remained silent, his gaze wandering.
Naturally handsome, he exuded an imposing presence when focused, but in moments like these, his expression became somewhat childish, revealing a hint of innocence and guilt.
Seizing the opportunity, Huaiyu swallowed nervously and rolled over, pinning him down beneath the covers. She pressed her nose against his, resting her head on his chest.
“Are you going to tell me?” She grinned mischievously, “If you don’t, I’ll kiss you.”
Their warm breaths intertwined, leaving Jiang Xuanjin momentarily stunned. He was slightly annoyed, “Clearly, I should be the one questioning you. Why are you the one interrogating me?”
Lowering her head, she pecked him lightly and grinned, “Because your skin isn’t as thick as mine?”
He couldn’t argue with such shameless reasoning, her audacity indeed knew no bounds.
Jiang Xuanjin thought about pushing her off, but she seemed to anticipate his move. She immediately grabbed both his hands and straddled his waist, pinning him down. She pecked him again and teased, “If you dare resist, I’ll kiss you!”
“I’m not resisting,” he huffed, a little exasperated. “But why are you kissing me?”
“Oops, my bad.” She pecked him again and chuckled, “You’re just too good-looking, I couldn’t resist.”
With dragonfly-like kisses, she landed them on his cheeks, nose, and forehead. She seemed addicted, kissing him multiple times before looking up at him, her eyes full of affection. She then caressed his palm and planted another kiss on his lips.
Jiang Xuanjin wasn’t a lustful person, and he had almost transcended worldly desires over the years. However, being toyed with like this, his gaze darkened, and his throat couldn’t help but roll up and down. At the moment her lips met his, he lifted his head and met her halfway.
Their lips met, and one party suddenly became more dominant, reaching up to caress the back of her neck and pressing her down firmly.
Huaiyu widened her eyes, trying to resist by pressing against his chest, but the difference in strength was too great. After struggling for a moment, she was pinned down. Then, the world seemed to spin as the person in front of her leaned over, pressing her against the innermost wall of the bed, kissing her greedily.
Not retaining the earlier calm and stiffness, Jiang Xuanjin’s breath was hot, and his movements were somewhat urgent. As he kissed her, he reached out to grasp her soft waist, his fingers protruding and knuckles turning white. A wave of heat spread from his throat to his chest, and his body trembled slightly.
“Jiang Xue?” Huaiyu was breathless from his kiss. She managed to push his lips away, her voice hoarse and nasal.
Jiang Xuanjin paused for a moment, taking a deep breath, then kissed her even more deeply.
Huaiyu tenderly accepted his advances, her mind clouded by his kisses, forgetting what she wanted to say in an instant. She just vaguely thought that this person’s face looked so stern, but his lips were so soft…
The room felt a bit hot, and her consciousness was a bit hazy. She vaguely heard a knocking at the door.
“Knock, knock, knock—”
The door was knocking!
Struggling to push the person of her, Huaiyu gasped, “Someone’s there!”
Annoyed, Jiang Xuanjin grabbed her hand impatiently, muttering, “Ignore it.”
What do you mean, “ignore it”? Huaiyu couldn’t help but laugh and cry. She moved away from his kiss and said, “The door isn’t locked!”
Looking up at her, he seemed displeased.
She quickly coaxed him softly, “Let’s see what’s going on first, okay?”
Princess Jiang snorted coldly, releasing her and striding to the door, opening it with great impatience.
After calling out for a while with no response, just as she was about to push the door, it suddenly swung open, letting in a gust of wind.
His master stood at the doorway, his gaze piercingly cold like the depths of winter.
“M-master…” The servant’s legs turned weak with fright. “Urgent… urgent matter!”
“Speak.”
“General Xu Xian’s residence was searched an hour ago, and they found two hundred thousand taels of gold and silver. Right now, he’s been personally escorted to the dungeon by Judge Liu!”
“What?!” Both people in the room exclaimed in unison.
Jiang Xuanjin was momentarily stunned, turning to see Huaiyu hastily getting off the bed, her clothes disheveled, and running towards him.
“Snap!” The door suddenly closed, and a gust of wind swept through, leaving the servant feeling bewildered.
Jiang Xuanjin walked a few steps to block her, frowning. “What are you doing?”
“It’s Xu Xian!” Li Huaiyu grabbed his sleeve urgently. “Something’s happened to him at this critical time. Someone must be trying to harm him!”
As the words left her mouth, she suddenly remembered her current status and hurriedly added, “He’s General Lu Jingxing’s elder brother. Didn’t he come to help me yesterday?”
Jiang Xuanjin replied, not pleased, “You don’t know the facts yet, so why jump to conclusions so quickly?”
Huaiyu looked at him in astonishment. “You don’t know General Xu? Even I, a sheltered maiden, know that he’s a loyal and meritorious general for the country!”
“That doesn’t prove he’s flawless.” He gently lifted her back onto the bed. “I’ll go check first.”
Huaiyu was slightly annoyed by his calm demeanor, but upon second thought, she realized that he didn’t have much acquaintance with Xu Xian, so it was reasonable for him to speak rationally. She suppressed her emotions and helped him change clothes.
After dressing neatly, Jiang Xuanjin suddenly asked her, “Is your relationship with Lu Jingxing really that good?”
Huaiyu was taken aback, thinking he was suspecting something. She quickly shook her head. “It’s just that we’ve known each other for a long time. He sees me as pitiful, so he takes care of me more.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?” Huaiyu looked puzzled. “I have nothing. I can’t repay his kindness, so I can only remember his favor.”
Jiang Xuanjin glanced at her but didn’t say anything. He then took the servant and left the room.
Huaiyu sat on the bed in a daze for a while, then remembered something, tidied up her clothes, and hurried to the washbasin.
“Madam.” This time, the shadow guard didn’t stop her. He opened the lock for her without her needing to say anything.
Huaiyu entered and closed the door, taking several deep breaths to calm herself down.
“Qing Si.” She whispered, “Xu Xian is in trouble.”
The chains in the corner rattled as Qing Si suddenly opened her eyes, frowning as she looked at her.
Listening intently to the silence outside the door, and hearing no suspicious sounds, Huaiyu took a step forward, crossing the line on the floor.
In a split second, Qing Si sprang to her feet, reaching out to grab her neck and pulling her forcefully.
Breath caught in her throat, but Huaiyu didn’t scream. Her first instinct was to reach out and grab the chain hanging beside her, preventing it from making too much noise.
Qing Si gripped her throat, tilting her head to scrutinize her with a puzzled expression.
“You…” Huaiyu gasped for air, chuckling weakly. “You’ve been with me for eight years, and this is the first time you’ve laid hands on me.”
Eight years? Qing Si was taken aback by the realization. Just then, she heard Huaiyu continue, “Didn’t we agree to protect each other for a lifetime, never to abandon each other?”
“I, Qing Si, vow to protect Your Highness for a lifetime, never to abandon you!”
Whose forehead knocked against the cold marble floor as they solemnly made their promise to the crying little girl on the marriage bed? Each word was pronounced with utmost sincerity.
Shaken to the core, Qing Si abruptly released her grip, looking at Huaiyu in confusion and panic.
Huaiyu gently let go of her chain, coughing lightly as she smiled. “I was worried about your injuries, but it seems I don’t need to be concerned about your strength.”
Opening and closing her mouth, Qing Si stared at her, reaching out as if to touch her face but recoiling in horror as she noticed the blood on her hands, hastily wiping them on her back. Her eyes were wide with shock and bewilderment.
Huaiyu was about to say something else when the bamboo door was suddenly pushed open.
“Madam!” The shadow guard rushed in, seeing her sitting on the ground covered in dust and holding her neck. He gasped and immediately aimed his knife at Qing Si.
“Hey hey!” Huaiyu frowned. “What are you doing?”
The shadow guard gritted his teeth. “I’m here to protect you!”
Huaiyu sighed, holding her neck. “With your reaction, if she wanted to kill me, you would have found a corpse when you came in. Put the knife away.”
The shadow guard was stunned. He lowered his head to see that she had crossed the line on the ground, but Qing Si hadn’t made any move.
“I’ve made a deal with her. She won’t harm me anymore,” Huaiyu said.
The shadow guard squinted, clearly not believing. Huaiyu immediately stood up and stretched her neck towards Qingsi.
“Madam!” The shadow guard exclaimed in a low voice, taking a step forward, but he saw that the girl in shackles not only didn’t make a move but also chuckled softly.
She laughed!
Now, it wasn’t just the shadow guard who was astonished; even Li Huaiyu was taken aback, quickly turning to look at her, wanting to see what Qingsi looked like when she smiled.
However, her hair fell over her face, hiding the smile inside, fleeting.
With a disappointed sigh, Huaiyu straightened up and looked at the shadow guard, asking, “In this Moju, is there a more concealed place, somewhere to hide people, where even a search wouldn’t find them?”
The shadow guard shook his head. “His Highness hasn’t established any private dungeons.”
Even this bamboo house was specifically allocated as a study for detaining Qingsi.
Huaiyu furrowed her brow, murmuring, “This won’t do. We need to find a place quickly.”
“What does Madam intend to do?” the shadow guard asked.
“To save someone,” Huaiyu replied.
“… “
When Jiang Xuanjin arrived at the Ministry of Justice, there were already quite a few people inside. Seeing him, Minister Liu stepped out from the crowd and personally greeted him.
“Your Highness,” he said with a pleased expression, “you’re here too?”
Glancing at the people in the courtyard, Jiang Xuanjin said, “I heard you caught Xu Xian.”
“The news travels fast indeed,” Yunlie laughed and shook his head, leading him to the rear courtyard. They stopped in front of a storeroom, and Yunlie opened the door for him to see inside.
“This time we caught him red-handed. Xu Xian has no defense!”
The piles of gold and silver were quite impressive. Jiang Xuanjin frowned. “Were these found in his house?”
“Naturally, otherwise how could I easily throw him into prison?” Yunlie said, sensing his tone wasn’t quite right, he gradually restrained his smile.
“Your Highness,” he looked at him, “many in the court lately have been saying you’re starting to associate with people like Xu Xian and Han Xiao. Is it true?”
“Where do these rumors come from?” Jiang Xuanjin said, “I’ve been in office for over eight years, have you ever seen me associate with anyone like that?”
“But…” Yunlie said with a strange look in his eyes, “Some say you’re reopening the old case of the Eldest Princess of Danyang, and with your recent wedding, Xu Xian and others unexpectedly showed up… It inevitably leads to speculation.”
After a pause, he continued, “If not, Yunlie will first offer His Highness an apology.”
Tucking his sleeves slightly, Jiang Xuanjin asked, “Who told you I was reopening the old case of Danyang?”
“In this world, there are no walls that can’t be breached,” Yunlie said, lowering his gaze. “It’s like when I just caught someone, and you rushed here upon hearing the news. As long as something happens, someone will know about it.”
Jiang Xuanjin fell silent.
A person ran into the courtyard as if searching for something. Spotting them, his eyes lit up, and he hurried over, lifting his robe as he strode.
“Minister Liu, Your Highness!” Li Fengxing’s face was filled with smiles as if he hadn’t clashed with Jiang Xuanjin before. He came over and bowed.
Jiang Xuanjin looked at him expressionlessly, but Yunlie spoke up, “Is there something, Minister Li?”
“Hearing that Minister Liu caught the worm, I’ve come to offer congratulations and also…” He glanced at Jiang Xuanjin and smiled. “Also to provide Minister Liu with a bigger clue.”
“What?” Yunlie was curious.
“General Xu isn’t just guilty of embezzlement; he’s also involved with the Eldest Princess! There’s an important witness, Qingsi, detained in Lord Ziyang’s residence. If Minister Liu questions her, there will surely be gains.”
Qingsi? Yunlie was surprised, turning to ask, “She’s in your residence, why didn’t you tell me?”
Jiang Xuanjin’s expression darkened, his gaze chillingly fixed on Li Fengxing as if trying to bore a hole through him.
Li Fengxing smiled innocently. “Your Highness, please don’t be upset, I’m just speaking frankly.”
Then, he leaned in and whispered to Yunlie, “Hurry and catch her, don’t give His Highness a chance to divert.”
Listening to the logic in Li Fengxing’s words, Yunlie immediately shouted, “Guards!”
“You intend to search the Jiang residence?” Jiang Xuanjin frowned.
“If you directly hand over the person, there will be no need for a search,” Yunlie looked at him with slight irritation. “But you kept such an important person hidden from me. Xuanjin, what are you thinking?”
“Naturally, I’m thinking about how to protect the remnants of the Eldest Princess,” Li Fengxing smiled, bowing. “I’ve seen it firsthand.”
“Minister Li,” before Jiang Xuanjin could get angry, this time Yunlie glared at him first, his tone chilly. “Accusing His Highness before the truth is revealed is a grave offense.”
Li Fengxing was taken aback, quickly lowering his head.
Yunlie looked back at Jiang Xuanjin. “Come with me.”