A voice, consistently cool and imbued with the scent of incense, unexpectedly took on a touch of worldly affection as it spoke these words. The six characters lingered, sweetly slipping from between his lips, the final syllable tinged with a hint of laughter.
In the blink of an eye, the dark depths of his eyes suddenly lit up, one by one, illuminating her with a gentle glow. His hand brushed across his lips and then rested beside her ear, his thumb softly caressing her cheek.
“Beloved, as precious as a gem, must be cherished in the palm of one’s hand, lest one forgets.”
Each word felt like a promise, deep and earnest.
Li Huaiyu was stunned, her cheeks warming from the heat of his palm, her gaze lost in the tenderness of his brow, and as she listened to his low, melodic whisper, her heart felt as if it had exploded with a loud “bang.” The blush that erupted from her neck climbed to her forehead, making her face as red as if she had smeared on three boxes of rouge.
This man was truly… Wasn’t he just complaining? He ignored everything about Lu Jingxing and the thirty-six dowries, yet he only heard that last line.
Usually, no matter how she teased him, he wouldn’t laugh, but now, that slight curve of his lips seemed to blow in the spring breeze of the entire capital, spilling warmth all over his brow.
It was maddening!
She was dazed, and the crowd in front of the Bai residence was even more stunned. No one had ever seen Ziyang Jun in such a manner. Previously, he was like a flower on a high peak, untouchable and unapproachable, yet now he was the one reaching out, blooming right before the Fourth Miss Bai.
A flower without thorns, untainted by ice and snow, its colors enchanting.
As a gentle breeze passed, the sound of people swallowing their saliva filled the air in front of the Bai residence, and no one dared to utter another word.
—
The carriage curtain fell, and the horse-drawn carriage returning to the Jiang residence swayed along the official road.
Li Huaiyu was overjoyed, her face cradled in her hands as she immersed herself in the scene from earlier, her smile stretching from ear to ear, grinning foolishly for quite a while.
However, when she finally came to her senses and glanced sideways, she found Jiang Xuanjin staring at her with a blank expression, his eyes dark and filled with a chilling aura.
Her smile froze, and Huaiyu blinked, thinking she might have misread the situation. She quickly got up and squatted on the carriage shaft for a moment before lifting the curtain to take another look.
The carriage was dimly lit. Jiang Xuanjin raised his eyes to look at her, the coldness in his gaze more intense than usual.
Feeling a shiver run down her spine, Huaiyu rubbed her arms and asked in terror, “Who are you? Where’s my gentle and affectionate husband from earlier?”
Jiang Xuanjin let out a disdainful laugh, clearly unfriendly.
Sensing his anger, Huaiyu felt quite innocent. Everything had been fine just a moment ago; how could his tenderness vanish the moment the curtain fell?
“Come in,” he said coldly.
Huaiyu shook her head vigorously, clutching the carriage shaft. With his current demeanor, anyone who entered would be a fool. What if she froze to death?
But… seeing the look in his eyes, which seemed like he was about to freeze her to death, she thought it over and reluctantly sat back down beside him.
“What’s wrong with you?” she asked cautiously, trying to coax him. “Who upset you this time?”
Jiang Xuanjin lowered his gaze and remained silent for a while before saying, “I saw Lu Jingxing in your courtyard before.”
Hmm? Why was he suddenly bringing this up?
Huaiyu thought for a moment and nodded, “I think that did happen.”
“He is very close to you.” It was a statement.
“Well, not too close,” Huaiyu replied, scratching her ear with her index finger. “He’s just a bit reckless, flirtatious, and speaks without thinking.”
So she just let him be? Jiang Xuanjin sneered, recalling some of the situations he had witnessed, his eyes darkening with displeasure as he turned his head away.
Seeing him like this, Huaiyu knew she was in trouble; she had to coax him.
“You just said you would treat me well, and now you’re pretending not to know me?” She reached out to hug his arm, smiling as she leaned closer. “Ziyang Jun is known for keeping his promises; how can you act like this?”
Jiang Xuanjin ignored her.
Huaiyu persisted, “From now on, I will only be close to you, accompany you, peel oranges for you, and even pick stars and the moon for you. How about that?”
Jiang Xuanjin still didn’t respond.
With a light sigh, Huaiyu said, “You spoke so sweetly at the Bai residence; I took it to heart. Who would have thought it was all a lie? Are you upset about the dowries? If it weren’t for Lu Jingxing’s help, I would have embarrassed you on our wedding day. I owe him a thank you. If you’re angry, I still owe him a favor.”
“I told you last time, if you’re angry, you should tell me; you can’t keep it bottled up inside. I was so serious when I said that; why can’t you listen? Look, you’re sulking again. Doesn’t it hurt?”
After talking for a while without any response from him, Huaiyu felt a bit dejected. “If you’re not upset, I am. It’s like holding an ice block; no matter how much I try to warm it, it just stays cold, and you’re freezing me to death.”
“If you can’t warm it, then don’t bother.” The person beside her finally spoke, but his tone was very indifferent. “Find something warmer; just casually warm it up.”
After saying that, he knocked on the carriage and said in a deep voice, “Stop the carriage.”
Huaiyu was taken aback, watching as he pulled his arm away from her embrace, his azure robe sweeping as he got out, slamming the curtain shut behind him.
“Take her back.”
“Yes.”
The carriage started moving forward again, and Huaiyu was a bit stunned. She reached out to lift the curtain and looked back, only to see that azure robe flash among the crowd before quickly disappearing.
Was it really necessary? She felt a mix of amusement and frustration, pulling the curtain and staring for a while. It seemed Ziyang Jun was quite angry this time, and she needed to think of a way to coax him.
However, Jiang Xuanjin didn’t even give her a chance to coax him.
After the hour of You, the sky gradually darkened. Huaiyu leaned against the door of Moju, looking out. The road ahead was empty, with not a single figure in sight.
“What are they doing? Why haven’t they returned so late?” she muttered.
Beside her, Cheng Xu bowed slightly and said, “Madam, please rest. The Junshang often returns late when he is busy.”
To coax someone, one must have the right attitude; how could she sleep when he hadn’t returned yet? Wouldn’t that just deepen the resentment? Huaiyu shook her head repeatedly, yawning and rubbing her eyes, her gaze fixed on the door.
However, as the hour of Xu passed and then the hour of Hai, Huaiyu waited from the main courtyard door to the main house door, finally collapsing onto the table inside and falling asleep.
In her dreams, there were flashes of swords and lights, bloodshed, and countless voices filled with resentment. She frowned and waved her hand, accidentally knocking over the lantern on the table, startling herself awake.
Outside, the morning light was already faint, and the room was quiet, with only her inside. The round lantern rolled to the ground, and the candle inside had long since burned out.
She moved her stiff neck and hoarsely called, “Lingxiu.”
The door opened in response, and Qing Si entered with a basin of water, her hands still shackled.
“Why are you here?” Seeing her, Huaiyu smiled, yawning and stretching, reaching out to her like a spoiled child.
Qing Si set down the basin, wanting to go over and hug her like before, helping her change and wash up. However, as she reached out, the shackles on her hands clinked, and she looked at them, shaking her head helplessly.
Huaiyu withdrew her hand and blinked, “You’re so obedient, yet they won’t let you go?”
Twisting a cloth and handing it to her, Qing Si whispered, “Ziyang Jun’s thoughts are much deeper than you see.”
Hmm? Huaiyu blinked, “What do you mean?”
Looking outside the door, Qing Si shook her head and didn’t say more.
Curious, Huaiyu tiptoed to the door and suddenly peeked out.
Yufeng stood quietly outside the door, a dagger tucked at his waist as if he were on guard for something. Upon seeing her come out, he was slightly startled, then bowed and greeted, “Madam.”
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
Yufeng lowered his gaze and said, “To follow the Junshang’s orders and ensure the safety of the guardhouse.”
What safety of the guardhouse? He was here to keep an eye on Qing Si. Huaiyu pursed her lips, finally understanding what Qing Si meant. Jiang Xuanjin had promised her not to involve Qing Si, but he hadn’t truly let his guard down. He might allow her to act recklessly, but he wouldn’t completely ignore her.
This kind of troublemaker truly couldn’t harm him.
Drooping her head, Li Huaiyu pouted, resigned to go back to change and wash up, then have breakfast.
“The Junshang didn’t return all night last night,” Cheng Xu whispered beside her, “There must be some urgent matter in the palace.”
Swallowing her food, Huaiyu thought for a moment, “Is it really something urgent, or is he just sulking and doesn’t want to come home?”
Cheng Xu shook his head repeatedly, “The Junshang is not such a petty person.”
That’s true; someone who cares for the country wouldn’t throw a tantrum over trivial matters. Huaiyu nodded and continued to squat at the door after finishing her breakfast.
As a result, she squatted there from dawn until deep into the night.
After not seeing Jiang Xuanjin for two days, Li Huaiyu finally understood one thing: “This petty man!”
What care for the country? He threw her out of the courtyard without a word, clearly holding a grudge against her! And he was so resentful that he didn’t even give her a chance to explain, leaving her to stew in her thoughts until she behaved herself.
She had wielded such authority before; if someone in the palace displeased her, she would ignore them and not give them any tasks, making them realize their mistakes and not repeat them in the future.
But now she knew she was wrong; it was just that she couldn’t be too close to Lu Jingxing, right? There hadn’t been any opportunity for closeness, yet he insisted on holding onto the past, leaving her with no way out.
The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. Huaiyu squatted at the door, staring at the ants scurrying back and forth on the ground, her tears almost spilling over.
A gentle breeze blew by, and suddenly a pair of black-bottomed brocade boots stopped in front of her.
Huaiyu stared at the patterns on the boots through her tear-filled eyes for a moment, then froze, quickly looking up.
The person she hadn’t seen for two days stood before her, frowning as he looked down at her, his face illuminated by the morning sun, glowing with a layer of light.
Blinking, Li Huaiyu suddenly stood up and grabbed his sleeve.
“You…” she pouted, her nose tinged with a hint of sadness, “You still know how to come back?”
Jiang Xuanjin paused for a moment, looking at the tears on her face in confusion.
“I’ve never seen someone so petty!” she glared at him, furious. “When have I not coaxed you when you were angry? When have I not spoken kindly to you even when you turned your back on me? I don’t expect you to like me, nor do I expect you to forgive me immediately, but can’t you at least give me a chance?”
The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she became, her eyes red and pitiful as she bit her lip. “I know you grew up spoiled, with everyone doting on you. You’re above everyone else and have never known what it’s like to care for others. Have you thought about how sad I would be if you ignored me like this?”
By the end, her voice was thick with emotion, and as she pouted, tears streamed down her cheeks, her brows drooping, her nose red, looking utterly heartbroken.
Just as he returned to the residence, Jiang Xuanjin was met with this barrage of words. Before he could even process it, he saw her crying and immediately frowned, pulling her in front of him and scolding, “What are you crying for?”
“Why do you care why I’m crying?” she shouted back angrily, pushing him away with one hand, and glaring at him. “You’re a high and mighty immortal; why would you care about the sufferings of mortals? If you want to ignore me, then go ahead! If I coax you again, I’ll be a fool!”
After saying that, she pushed him hard and turned to leave.
Her slender figure pushed him back half a step, and Jiang Xuanjin was displeased, watching her rush toward the main house, and he followed after her.
“Open the door.”
“I won’t!” She slammed the bolt down heavily, hissing, “You think just because you’re a tiger, I’m a sick cat? Want to come in and sleep? Climb in through the window yourself!”
As soon as she finished speaking, she turned to look, only to find Jiang Xuanjin had already climbed in through the window, standing casually in the middle of the room.
Li Huaiyu: “…”
With red eyes, she glared at him, gritting her teeth. “How could you climb in through the window?”
Wasn’t Ziyang Jun supposed to be a model of propriety? Was this considered a model? Should everyone enter the court through the window?
A scene flashed in her mind of officials in formal attire climbing through the window with serious expressions, and Huaiyu was momentarily stunned before bursting into laughter, snorting out a bubble of snot that popped on her face.
Jiang Xuanjin looked at her as if she were a fool, walking over slowly and handing her a handkerchief. “Are you dirty?”
Wiping her face with his hand, Huaiyu shot him a glare. “Weren’t you ignoring me? Why are you back?”
“This is my room.”
“Fine!” Huaiyu was furious, hands on her hips. “Then I shouldn’t be here; I’m leaving!”
With that, she turned to unbolt the door.
Jiang Xuanjin shook his head, reaching out to pull her back, gripping her waist, and pressing her into his embrace.
“Where did this temper come from?” he sighed. “Can’t you be a little quieter?”
The familiar and warm embrace made her throat tighten. As soon as she was held, the faint scent of incense filled her nostrils, and Huaiyu greedily inhaled, clutching his clothes tightly.
“Can’t you tell?” she mumbled, her voice muffled. “I miss you. No matter how much I think about you, you don’t come back, so I’m really angry.”
Jiang Xuanjin lowered his gaze, asking in confusion, “Shouldn’t I be the one who’s angry?”
“I don’t care about you!” Huaiyu gritted her teeth, raising her head. “Right now, I’m the angriest! I’m going to die of anger!”
Her eyes and nose were red, and the light in her eyes was fierce and menacing, indeed looking like she was about to die of anger.
Jiang Xuanjin looked at her, seemingly softening, and lowered his head to gently peck her lips. But after that, he felt it wasn’t enough, so he simply gripped her chin and kissed her deeply.
Huaiyu was taken aback, struggling as she stammered, “Don’t think… that this will make me stop being angry!”
His thumb brushed against the corners of her lips, which had curled up, and Jiang Xuanjin pressed his forehead against hers, speaking with irritation, “Who are you trying to fool?”
She was smiling so widely, yet she claimed to be angry.
“I… You think I want to smile?” Huaiyu pouted, huffing angrily. “I want to be like you, with a straight face, no matter how much I coax you, but then you’ll coax me for a while longer. But the moment you kiss me, I can’t help it!”
As she spoke, she pressed down on her uncooperative lips in frustration.
After looking at her deeply, Jiang Xuanjin asked, “Did you specifically seek a master to learn how to speak sweetly?”
“No!” she looked up proudly. “I became self-taught just by seeing you!”
Her bright almond-shaped eyes sparkled as if all her affection was contained within, gazing at him.
Feeling his heart soften, Jiang Xuanjin’s gaze darkened slightly. He tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her closer and kissing her again, sealing her enchanting lips.
The pent-up feelings dissipated, and Li Huaiyu boldly responded, clutching his clothes as she kissed him, pushing him backward until he stumbled and fell onto the soft bed.
“Where have you been these past two days?” she gently pecked his throat. “Did you sneak off to some brothel without me?”
Feeling a bit ticklish from her peck, Jiang Xuanjin lay on the satin-covered bed, his voice slightly hoarse. “No.”
“If not, then why didn’t you come back for two days?” she didn’t believe him, reaching out to tug at his clothes.
“Don’t move.”
“You don’t move either; I want to see!”
Like a rogue, she pulled open his outer robe and then tugged at the collar of his inner garment, which was usually tightly fastened, examining his collarbone seriously before concluding, “So beautiful!”
The man beneath her had his ink-black hair spread across the bed, his complexion slightly flushed, his collar open, revealing a striking collarbone that extended from his neck to his shoulder, the curve incredibly alluring.
Unable to resist, she lowered her head to peck at it.
“You…” Jiang Xuanjin frowned, reaching out to grip her shoulder, preventing her from moving.
Li Huaiyu laughed, her eyes filled with mischief as she teased him, “You’re acting like I’m a rogue bullying a virtuous woman.”
He shot her a fierce glare. “Shut up!”
Like a spoiled child, she nudged her head against his, whispering in his ear, “Just one peck, okay?”
It sounded like a pitiful plea, yet it was also a deadly temptation.
Jiang Xuanjin’s throat moved slightly, his gaze complex as he looked at her, feeling a bit at a loss.
Li Huaiyu didn’t care about that. Feeling his resistance weaken, she lowered her head and revealed her fangs, biting down on that seemingly delicious collarbone.
A tingling sensation spread from her shoulder to her entire body, touching her heart, and she felt herself heating up. Jiang Xuanjin frowned, letting out a soft breath, and then heard this enchanting person obediently say, “Just one peck.”
Then she tried to get off him.
Feeling slightly annoyed, he gritted his teeth, blocking her with his arm and flipping her over beneath him.
“Still trying to leave?” His voice was filled with anger.
Huaiyu was startled, shivering at his gaze, and looked at him with wide eyes. “Then… then can I have another peck?”
Her clear almond-shaped eyes held no hint of desire, as pure as a lake after rain. Jiang Xuanjin felt a surge of heat in his chest, and as he pressed down on her, he bit down.
How could there be such a person?
“Your lips are so soft,” she laughed, “You want to bite me but can’t bear to? This is a kiss.”
Her unfiltered words stirred emotions.
“Hey… stop, you’re going too far!”
But it seemed like only he was stirred by emotions.
“Hmm… don’t rush; let me help you, okay?”
Sometimes she was so gentle it was almost unbearable.
“Are you… are you serious?”
At times, she could be as cruel as a villain.
Jiang Xuanjin shook his head. He didn’t even know why he was drawn to such a person, but the feelings in his chest surged wildly whenever he encountered her, completely disobedient.
“Why do you always like to call me by my full name?” he embraced her, asking in a low voice.
A shiver ran through her exposed skin, and Li Huaiyu clutched his arm, her hands trembling, her throat constantly swallowing, looking extremely nervous.
However, upon hearing his question, she instinctively teased, “Because no one else dares to call you that, so I do. This name belongs to me alone.”
Domineering yet adorable.
His eyes darkened, and he caressed her soft waist, whispering, “Say it for me to hear.”
“Jiang… Jiang Juan.”
“Hmm.” His grip on her waist tightened suddenly, his voice even hoarser. “Say it again.”
“Jiang Juan…”
An uncontrollable desire surged from his heart to his throat, and he gasped heavily, his rationality completely collapsing as he finally couldn’t help but cover her with his body.
At dawn, the sun slowly rose, and the doors of each room and courtyard gradually opened. Servants were busy attending to their masters’ dressing and washing, bustling about.
However, in Moju, a group of people holding water basins and breakfast were all kept outside.
Cheng Xu’s face was red, and Yufeng’s face was also red. Both of them were too embarrassed to make a sound, while Lingxiu, who was beside them, was completely unaware, curiously asking, “Why hasn’t the master come out yet?”
Yufeng quickly covered her mouth, shaking his head repeatedly.
Lingxiu frowned, breaking free from him and saying, “Aren’t you worried? They were so angry just now; what if they start fighting?”
“They won’t fight; don’t worry,” Cheng Xu said in a very low voice, then paused and grinned, “If they do, that would be quite good.”
How could that be good? Lingxiu stared wide-eyed, turning to look at the strange expressions on the faces of the people around her, feeling like she was the only one anxious.
Why?
As the rain began to cease, the embroidered quilt with intertwined lotus flowers stirred slightly, and someone reached out, seemingly stretching lazily.
However, before they could finish stretching, the person beside them pressed them back down, tucking the quilt around them.
Huaiyu opened her eyes, lazily humming, “How can a rogue be bullied by a virtuous woman, and you’re still not happy?”
Jiang Xuanjin looked down at her, his jaw clenched tightly.
Huaiyu was both amused and angry, reaching out to pull him down and kissing his chin. “Ancestor, you should be feeling better now. Didn’t I just beg you enough?”
People were newlyweds, and what was said was all about “lowering one’s head to the dark wall, calling out a thousand times without a response.” Yet here she was, feeling no shame at all, opening her eyes to tease him again.
Jiang Xuanjin pursed his lips, staring at her for a while before saying, “After lunch, I’ll take you somewhere.”
What? Upon hearing this, Huaiyu shook her head. “I… I really don’t want to walk today.”
She had said that, and he didn’t say, “You should rest well,” nor did he show any concern for her. However, Jiang Xuanjin simply replied with two words, “Take the carriage.”
His tone was indifferent, and his gaze was also cold. If it weren’t for the marks on her body, Li Huaiyu would almost doubt that everything that had just happened was a dream.
She felt a bit unhappy, even a bit sad. She thought he had suddenly developed feelings for her and wanted to consummate their marriage, but who knew it was just a moment of impulse? After the deed was done, he turned his back on her. Even if this wasn’t her body, she was still hurt by it; how could he be so indifferent?
Outside, hot water had already been prepared, and someone gently knocked three times on the door, signaling them to move to bathe and change.
Huaiyu, feeling annoyed, threw off the quilt, intending to put on her clothes and go over herself.
However, the person beside her reached out and pulled her back, wrapping the quilt around her, then stood up, carrying her along with the quilt.
“What are you doing?” she asked, glaring.
Jiang Xuanjin didn’t answer, carrying her to the next room, reaching out to check the water temperature before placing her in the bath and going behind the screen.
There was also a bathing tub behind the screen.
Hearing the sound of water, Li Huaiyu laughed in anger, wiping her face and laughing for a while, shaking her head helplessly. What was Jiang Xuanjin’s problem? He had done everything that needed to be done, yet he was still avoiding bathing with her?
Looking down at herself, Huaiyu pursed her lips. Her body wasn’t exactly presentable; it was covered in scars, and even though the bruises had faded, there were still marks left. It was normal for him not to like her.
But where were they going later?
After lunch, Jiang Xuanjin looked somewhat tired, yet he still carried her onto the carriage outside.
Huaiyu didn’t want to pay him any attention. But glancing at the dark circles under his eyes, she couldn’t help but ask, “How long have you not slept?”
He glanced at her and replied, “Not long.”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t had a good rest these past two days?” Huaiyu frowned. “What’s so important that you’ve been so busy?”
Without answering her, Jiang Xuanjin countered, “Why were you so concerned about Xu Xian’s imprisonment before?”
Upon hearing this, Li Huaiyu’s heart sank, and she looked at him nervously, saying, “Haven’t I already explained? He is Lu Jingxing’s sworn brother and has helped me before. He was harmed by others, so of course, I care.”
“He came to help you at your family’s banquet, and it was also arranged by Lu Jingxing?”
“Of course, otherwise, how could I have invited him?”
Nodding, Jiang Xuanjin fell silent.
Feeling a wave of panic in her heart, she lowered her head, repeatedly thinking about whether she had revealed any flaws that he could catch onto. But after thinking it over, she found nothing. Xu Xian didn’t know her true identity, so how could Jiang Xuanjin possibly find out from him?
What did his words mean?
After half an hour of anxiety, the carriage stopped at a location.
Huaiyu lifted the curtain to look outside, and her eyes went dark.
The Tingwei Yamen!
Oh no, oh no, he didn’t discover the truth and directly bring her here to await her fate, did he? This situation seemed to suggest that. So the consummation of their marriage was just a moment of indulgence before she was imprisoned?
Her heart sank, and Huaiyu turned pale, looking back at him with a sorrowful expression.
Meeting her gaze, Jiang Xuanjin looked somewhat perplexed. “What are you thinking about now?”
As he spoke, he raised his hand to point outside, signaling her to look.
Slightly taken aback, Huaiyu followed his finger and saw many people waiting on the other side, the leader looking somewhat familiar.
“Lu Jingxing?” she exclaimed in surprise. “What are they doing?”
As if to answer her, the tightly shut door of the Tingwei Yamen suddenly creaked open. Two yamen runners emerged, bowing to the people inside.
When she saw the person stepping out from behind them, Li Huaiyu was so shocked that she almost hit her head on the carriage roof.
“General Xu?!”
Xu Xian walked out in prison garb, with some bruises on his face, yet his demeanor remained dignified. He didn’t hear her shout from afar and walked directly toward Lu Jingxing and the others waiting outside.
“Elder Brother.” Lu Jingxing stepped forward to drape a cloak over him, bowing with a smile. “To celebrate Elder Brother’s safe return, I’ve prepared a feast. Please, Elder Brother, grant me the honor.”
Xu Xian glanced at him and said, “Aren’t you afraid people will say you bribed me?”
“If two or three cups of light wine count as bribery, then half the court should be arrested.” Lu Jingxing chuckled, casually waving his fan, inadvertently sweeping it toward the distant carriage.
His smile faltered, and he straightened his expression.
Seeing his reaction, Xu Xian thought something was wrong and turned to look, also restraining his expression. After a moment’s thought, he stepped forward.
Huaiyu was still in shock, watching them approach, and suddenly remembered that Jiang Xuanjin was still in the carriage. Almost instinctively, she let the curtain fall.
Jiang Xuanjin glanced at her, puzzled.
Li Huaiyu was even more confused. With Xu Xian’s charges, he definitely couldn’t be easily released. Who knew if they had bribed someone or switched things around? After finally getting out, how could he run into Jiang Xuanjin again? What if he was sent back?
Just as she was thinking, she heard Xu Xian’s voice from outside.
“Thank you, Junshang, for your rescue. This kindness, Xu will repay in the future.”
What? Huaiyu was stunned, quickly turning her head to look at Jiang Xuanjin.
Jiang Xuanjin’s expression remained unchanged as he lifted the carriage curtain and said, “It was merely repaying a favor; General need not take it to heart.”
Repaying a favor? Xu Xian was surprised, while Lu Jingxing looked behind him, shaking his fan and smiling. “Then this person’s face must be quite large.”
After glancing at him, Jiang Xuanjin half-closed his eyes and said lightly, “Shopkeeper Lu, may I have a word with you?”
“Please.” Lu Jingxing gestured to the side.
Jiang Xuanjin got out of the carriage and followed him, leaving Li Huaiyu in the carriage, dumbfounded.
“What’s going on? Did the Junshang help the general?” she asked Xu Xian as she squatted on the carriage shaft, astonished.
Xu Xian didn’t have a deep impression of the Fourth Miss Bai, but knowing she was a friend Lu Jingxing valued, he smiled and replied, “I was wrongfully imprisoned. The charges against me were solid, but the Junshang saw through it and discovered that Li Fengxing had embezzled funds. After interrogating him for two days, he finally admitted to framing me, clearing my name.”
Two hundred thousand taels of silver had appeared out of thin air in his residence, and immediately afterward, Liu Yunlie had come to catch him red-handed. This was clearly a frame-up, but he had no evidence and could only be convicted. He had been somewhat desperate in prison. Who would have thought that Ziyang Jun would suddenly send Li Fengxing to prison as well?
How many years had Ziyang Jun been deceived by Li Fengxing’s righteous words? Who would have thought he would finally see through him? Xu Xian felt relieved, and even more so when Li Fengxing’s case was brought to light, he was cleared of his grievances.
This didn’t seem like a coincidence; Jiang Xuanjin sending Li Fengxing to prison seemed to be to save him.
Huaiyu was stunned for a long time, then slowly realized—was Jiang Xuanjin’s kindness actually to repay her?
Blinking, she finally remembered what she had said to him before:
“Is your relationship with Lu Jingxing really that good?”
“It’s just that we met early; he feels sorry for me and takes care of me more.”
“And you?”
“What about me? I have nothing to repay him with; I can only remember his kindness.”
… So Jiang Xuanjin had been busy these past few days, thinking of repaying this favor for her?
Her heart trembled, and she couldn’t believe it as she raised her hand to cover her mouth, staring wide-eyed for a long time before slowly looking toward the distance.
Jiang Xuanjin stood in front of Lu Jingxing, his posture elegant and his expression calm. Lu Jingxing leaned casually against the wall behind him, fanning himself with a relaxed demeanor. The two were engaged in conversation, exchanging words. Lu Jingxing even seemed slightly annoyed.
Huaiyu was curious, lifting her skirt and tiptoeing over to eavesdrop. However, just as she got closer, Jiang Xuanjin turned around and said, “Let’s go.”
“Hmm?” She looked at him and then at Lu Jingxing, grabbing his sleeve. “What were you just talking about?”
Jiang Xuanjin replied gently, “We were just saying the weather is nice today.”
“Do you think I’m a fool?” Huaiyu glared at him, turning to look at Lu Jingxing.
Lu Jingxing straightened up, covering his face with his fan, and laughed, “Isn’t the weather nice? Perfect for a mountain outing.”
Her lips twitched, and Huaiyu laughed in anger. “You all think I’m a fool!”
Jiang Xuanjin wrapped his arms around her waist, looking down at her. “Didn’t you say you didn’t want to walk today?”
Feeling slightly choked, Li Huaiyu realized she was a bit uncomfortable, her face turning red.
Jiang Xuanjin smirked, effortlessly lifting her up and saying to Lu Jingxing, “Until we meet again,” before turning away and heading toward the carriage.
Lu Jingxing frowned, watching their retreating figures with a complex expression, his fingers absentmindedly stroking the jade bone of his fan, feeling somewhat restless.
Huaiyu was stuffed back into the carriage, watching Jiang Xuanjin bid farewell to Xu Xian, propping her chin and staring off into space. But as soon as he got into the carriage, she burst into laughter, wrapping her arms around his arm and rubbing her chin against his shoulder.
Jiang Xuanjin shot her a glance. “Sit properly.”
“Hehe!” She ignored his words, smiling sweetly at him, even reaching out to pinch his arm. “Are you tired?”
Just a moment ago, she had looked anxious and fearful, yet in the blink of an eye, she was all smiles? He shot her a sideways glance, remaining silent.
Huaiyu sighed deeply, reaching out to touch his face. “You’re such a strange person. Can’t you tell me what you’re doing? You make me wait and get angry, and then I find out I misunderstood you, which makes me feel bad. You take on both the good and the bad roles; what am I supposed to do?”
Tell her? He didn’t have complete confidence in this matter. If he told her in advance and it didn’t work out, wouldn’t that make her feel worse? Jiang Xuanjin snorted softly.
“If you keep silent, I’ll kiss you!” Huaiyu raised her eyebrows, pinching his face. “You have to answer my questions!”
Letting her pinch him, Jiang Xuanjin said, “You’re questioning me, not asking; how can I answer?”
“Then I’ll question you!” she said, hands on her hips. “After consummating our marriage today, are you happy or not?”
Her loud voice startled Cheng Xu, who was driving the carriage, nearly causing him to fall off!
Jiang Xuanjin’s face darkened, and he quickly covered her mouth, his eyes filled with a murderous glare. “You…”
“Umm, umm, umm!” This was the truth!
“Not all truths can be spoken like this.” Jiang Xuanjin was about to explode. “Do you have no shame?”
Huaiyu blinked, shaking her head seriously, then stuck out her tongue and softly licked his palm.
His hand, which was tightly covering her mouth, felt as if it had been struck by lightning, and Jiang Xuanjin stared at her, feeling both angry and helpless. He stammered, “You…”
Li Huaiyu laughed heartily. “Who told you to make me angry? With that straight face and not saying anything, even bathing separately from me, I thought you wanted to kill me and eat me after consummating our marriage!”
“… Only you would talk so much afterward!” He turned his head away, his ears slightly red. “Bathing separately, what do you mean? Should we bathe together?”
With the Jiang family’s proper decorum, Jiang Xuanjin would never learn the concept of “couple bathing.”
Huaiyu was stunned, staring at him for a moment before slapping her thigh in realization. “So you’re not angry with me; you’re just shy?”
“Shut up!”
“Ha ha ha—” Not only did she not shut up, but Li Huaiyu also laughed loudly, slapping the carriage wall, causing the entire carriage to shake with her laughter.
How could such an absurd thing happen? This man had been so beastly when he pressed her down, yet he was shy when it came to bathing together? She had thought so much, only to realize she had been completely wrong!
Her bright laughter echoed along the official road, drawing the attention of passersby, who turned to see a carriage speeding by, shaking and laughing all the while.
Had the carriage come to life? Someone murmured.
The lively carriage brought the two of them back to Moju, and as soon as Huaiyu entered the main house, she pushed Jiang Xuanjin onto the bed.
“What are you doing?” he frowned.
She reached out to remove his outer robe, saying, “You haven’t slept for two days. If you don’t care about yourself, I care about you. Hurry up and rest!”
After saying that, she pulled the quilt over him.
Rubbing his forehead, Jiang Xuanjin said, “I can’t sleep during the day; who knows what will happen later…”
“Don’t worry about anything; I’ll protect you.” She shoved his hand back under the quilt, saying, “If anyone dares to disturb you today, I’ll tear their mouth off!”
Cheng Xu, who was nearby, touched his mouth in fear, glancing at his master.
Jiang Xuanjin sighed lightly, shaking his head at Cheng Xu before closing his eyes.
He had barely closed his eyes when Lingxiu entered. “Master…”
Li Huaiyu sprang up, swiftly grabbing Cheng Xu and pushing both of them out of the room, then followed them out and shut the door behind her.
“Whatever it is, tell me!”
Hearing her voice, one could imagine how she had pounded her chest and spoken fiercely. The person on the bed curled his lips, truly relaxing and falling into a deep sleep.
Outside, Lingxiu said softly, “The Second Madam sent you some snacks.”
Second Madam? Huaiyu blinked, recalling Jiang Er Gongzi, feeling somewhat dazed. “Please have her sit in the side hall for now.”
Jiang Shen was someone Huaiyu had heard of before. Lu Jingxing had once wisely said, “In all of Kyoto, I recognize second place in flirtation; no one dares to claim first!”
But he added, “Jiang family’s second son, Xuan Song, could be recognized as third.”
Jiang Shen, whose name was Xuan Song, was the one who had taken the most concubines in the Jiang family. He had married for less than half a year and had taken three concubines, leading the people of Kyoto to look at the Second Madam with disdain.
Huaiyu felt a bit worried. Would such a despised woman have a bad temper and be hard to get along with?
However, when she entered the side hall and saw her, she was taken aback.
“Little sister-in-law.” The woman before her was dignified and graceful, stepping forward to greet her, her clear eyes making one feel quite comfortable. However, her appearance was rather plain; if not for her luxurious attire, she would be indistinguishable from the crowd of maidservants.
Regaining her composure, Huaiyu smiled and returned the greeting, then invited her to sit down.
“I’m sorry to disturb you at this hour; I have no other intentions.” Xu Chunyang smiled gently, pointing to the pastries on the table. “I just made these and thought to bring some for my little sister-in-law to try.”
Two identical plates of sunflower seed pastries were presented, the porcelain plates differing in design—one was beautifully ornate, while the other looked like it had been taken from a set of everyday dishware.
Huaiyu raised an eyebrow and looked at her again. “Is there really nothing else?”
Not expecting her to ask this, Xu Chunyang was momentarily taken aback, then shook her head. “I’ve only met my little sister-in-law once during greetings. What else could I have come for?”
“It’s not that you’re looking for something; it’s that… did something happen to you?” She picked up a piece of sunflower seed pastry and stuffed it into her mouth. “You rushed over without even bringing the other plate of pastries for someone else.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Chunyang was startled, her eyes widening slightly. “How did you know the other plate was for someone else?”
“Just one plate of pastries is enough, and this plate of yours…” She lightly tapped the plain one with her finger. “This is for your own household.”
It was clear that she had made two plates, intending to give one to the people in her courtyard, but something must have happened, and she hurriedly brought both to her.
Xu Chunyang was stunned for a moment, but she didn’t plan to answer that question. Instead, she looked at Huaiyu with admiration. “Little sister-in-law is truly intelligent!”
“Thank you for the compliment.” Huaiyu chuckled. “Right now, many people outside are calling me Bai Si the Fool.”
“You’re not foolish!” Xu Chunyang shook her head repeatedly, her eyes bright as she praised her. “You’re much smarter than I am!”
Hearing this praise, Li Huaiyu felt quite pleased and handed her a piece of sunflower seed pastry. “Let’s eat together.”
Xu Chunyang caught it, laughing helplessly. “I’ve made this many times and am already tired of it. But you can eat more. When the Junshang wakes up, you can let him try some too.”
“Okay.” Huaiyu nodded in agreement, and then she saw Xu Chunyang stand up to take her leave.
Watching the slender figure leave, Huaiyu couldn’t help but ask Lingxiu, “Which family did this Second Madam come from?”
Lingxiu replied, “I heard she is a concubine from General Xu Xian’s family.”
Oh, from Xu Xian’s family.
Hmm? Wait a minute? Li Huaiyu was taken aback, standing up abruptly. “You said whose family? General Xu’s family?”
Startled by her reaction, Lingxiu said, “Yes, from General Xu’s family. I heard that when she married, General Xu was fighting at the border, and there was a shortage of food and supplies. She voluntarily sold her dowry to buy rice and grain. She’s quite an impressive woman.”
Staring blankly at the pastries on the table, Huaiyu suddenly understood. She must have received wind of Xu Xian’s release and rushed over to thank Jiang Xuanjin.
Xu Xian had previously been a trusted aide of Danyang, but he had never mentioned his wife and children, so Huaiyu didn’t know he had a daughter who had married into the Jiang family. However, since Jiang Shen didn’t involve himself in court matters, this Second Madam had little status in the residence, and this marriage likely hadn’t caused any impact, which was why she was unaware.
Thinking for a moment, she said to Lingxiu, “You should go to the residence more often. If anything happens in any family or courtyard, you can come back and tell me, and I can pass the time.”
“Okay!” Lingxiu nodded in agreement.
After sending off the Second Madam, Huaiyu thought about sneaking back to Jiang Xuanjin’s bed to sleep in for a while. However, before she could reach the door, Cheng Xu came over to bow to her.
“Madam.” He looked somewhat troubled. “Lord Tingwei Liu Daren has come to visit; I’m afraid we’ll have to wake the master.”
Liu Yunlie? Huaiyu paused, then waved her hand. “Even if the emperor comes, it won’t matter. Let your master sleep; I’ll handle it.”
“But…” Cheng Xu wanted to say something, but this person was hard to deal with. However, seeing the determined expression on Madam’s face, he swallowed his words.
Liu Yunlie arrived with a fiery temper, and along the way, the household servants saw him and hurriedly avoided him, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire. However, when he reached the courtyard gate, someone blocked his way.
“Lord Liu, this way please.” Huaiyu greeted him and gestured toward the side hall.
Liu Yunlie paused, bowing and asking, “Where is the Junshang?”
“He’s resting,” Li Huaiyu replied. “He hasn’t slept for two days, so I hope you can understand.”
The fire was already burning to his eyebrows; how could he understand? Liu Yunlie’s face darkened. “I have urgent matters to discuss; I hope you can make it convenient.”
Li Huaiyu smiled gently, yet she didn’t step aside.
Liu Yunlie was somewhat surprised. But thinking that a mere woman couldn’t possibly block him, he sidestepped, intending to rush into the main building.
However, as he moved, Huaiyu also moved. Although her movements didn’t seem very nimble, they were light and agile, blocking him effortlessly from all sides, clearly a trained fighter.
Slightly startled, Liu Yunlie finally raised his head to examine her.
The woman before him appeared delicate and slender, yet there was an inexplicable aura about her that made him feel uncomfortable.
“What do you mean by this, Madam?” he frowned.
Huaiyu smiled. “It’s broad daylight, and you’re trying to barge into my home to wake my husband. I’m just stopping you; why are you asking me what I mean?”
Her expression was indeed gentle, but her words were sharper than chili peppers. Liu Yunlie was taken aback; he had heard some not-so-good rumors about Bai Si before and thought that with Jiang Xuanjin’s discipline, she would be much more obedient. Who would have thought she would be so overbearing?
His expression darkened as he said, “I hope Madam will consider the bigger picture and not delay the Junshang’s important matters.”
“What important matters could there be?” she replied. “You’re here now, most likely because General Xu has been released and you’re feeling disgruntled, wanting to ask him for a stance—do you think such trivial matters should disturb my husband’s rest? Dream on!”
As soon as she spoke, Li Huaiyu felt something was off! She was Bai Zhuji, and how could Bai Zhuji know so much about Liu Tingwei’s style?
Liu Yunlie was even more shocked, his eyes filled with suspicion. “How do you know this?”