How could one know? Through ancestral divination? Turtle shell omens?
Huaiju pondered silently for a while before deciding to adopt a profound and inscrutable expression. Imitating Jiang Xuanjin’s tone, she coldly replied, “How would I know? Does it matter?”
Liu Yunlie felt a bit annoyed. His temper was well-known among the court officials and military leaders, and few dared to confront him directly. Even Ziyang Jun would give him some leeway. Yet here was someone blocking his path and speaking so defiantly. If he were to endure this today, where would he put his face if word got out?
Clenching his fists, Liu Yunlie said, “If the Madam insists on obstructing me, then please bear with the collision.”
As he spoke, he drew back his hand as if to shoot an arrow, immediately taking a stance.
Seeing this posture, Huaiju felt a surge of excitement. Liu Yunlie was a martial general, known for his fierce and aggressive style. In her earlier training, she had often been sent to spar with him because her style was soft and adept at using skill to overcome brute force. However, due to her status, no matter how much she provoked him, Liu Yunlie had never fought her. She hadn’t expected to find such a good opportunity now.
“Peh, peh!” She spat into her hands and cupped them together, bowing slightly, “Please!”
Are we really going to fight? The nearby Cheng Xu and Yu Feng were taken aback and hurriedly stepped in to stop them. “Madam, Lord Liu, you absolutely must not!”
“Be quiet!” Huaiju snapped, glancing back at the main building, her eyes filled with determination and affection.
Cheng Xu and Yu Feng fell silent, both feeling a bit emotional. Their master was clearly Ziyang Jun, who stood above all others, yet in the Madam’s eyes, he seemed like someone who needed protection and care.
Liu Yunlie’s main goal was certainly not to fight a woman. His gaze was fixed on the main building behind her, thinking that he could slip past her during their exchange and rush inside.
However, Li Huaiju didn’t give him that chance. She lunged forward with a move called “Viper Strikes,” forcing him to retreat two steps.
“What…?” What kind of technique is this? It’s too wild!
Huaiju grinned, wiping her thumb across her nose. She dodged his powerful strikes and seized the opportunity to sneak in an attack.
This kind of street-fighting style infuriated Liu Yunlie. After exchanging ten moves, he found himself unable to break free from her encirclement. Growing impatient, he disregarded their statuses and struck out without mercy.
Huaiju fought while retreating, gradually feeling overwhelmed. Bai Zhuji’s body was too weak; she could withstand so many moves only by relying on her memory of previous techniques and some sly tricks. The moves she executed were merely for intimidation; if it came to a real fight, they would likely cause no harm.
Seeing Liu Yunlie closing in on the main building, Huaiju gritted her teeth and decided to attack his lower body, even if it meant taking a punch from him.
“Madam, be careful!” Cheng Xu couldn’t help but shout.
Huaiju’s leg swept toward Liu Yunlie’s knee just as his fist was about to land on her shoulder. In this comparison, even if their techniques were evenly matched, she would undoubtedly come out worse.
Liu Yunlie had thought it over; even if it looked bad to be fighting a woman, he had to teach her a lesson today. Otherwise, if she continued to be so arrogant, it would surely implicate Xuanjin.
However, his punch never landed.
In a flash, the door of the main building suddenly swung open, and someone flew out, meeting his fist with a powerful strike that numbed his hand. At the same time, his lower body was struck, causing his knee to buckle, and he staggered back awkwardly.
Huaiju was momentarily taken aback; she had braced herself for his punch and hadn’t expected to hear a loud bang beside her as someone pulled her back.
“Step back,” Jiang Xuanjin’s voice was hoarse, but his tone was terrifying.
Huaiju looked up to see him confronting Liu Yunlie, and without further ado, he launched an attack.
“Xuanjin!” Liu Yunlie widened his eyes in defense, “It’s me!”
Jiang Xuanjin’s expression was dark as he looked at him, his assault unrelenting. He deflected two of Liu Yunlie’s strikes and then delivered a powerful punch to his chest. Before Liu Yunlie could react, he turned and delivered a fierce kick to his right shoulder.
The blows were heavy, showing no mercy.
Liu Yunlie was stunned, and after the initial shock, he realized that Jiang Xuanjin was genuinely angry. He quickly did his best to defend himself.
“Master, please calm down!” Cheng Xu and Yu Feng rushed in, each trying to hold him back, urging him to stop.
Jiang Xuanjin half-closed his eyes, his anger still simmering, and pushed Cheng Xu aside, ready to continue his assault. However, another hand suddenly reached in, soft and gentle, grasping his hand.
Pausing slightly, Jiang Xuanjin frowned and turned his head, “Are you going to advise me too?”
Huaiju grinned widely, her eyes sparkling with admiration. She didn’t care about advising him; she pulled him closer and exclaimed, “How are you so strong? You look so good when you fight! Just now, when I saw your clothes flying, I really thought you were a celestial being descending to earth!”
Descending to earth—earth—!
Her affectionate tone echoed throughout the Mo Residence, completely dispelling the previously tense atmosphere.
Liu Yunlie’s muscles twitched. He wanted to say that this Madam was truly bold; she dared to provoke Jiang Xuanjin even when he was angry? And she was saying such nonsensical things…
However, the person who had been filled with rage was surprisingly calmed by her hand-holding.
“Are you hurt anywhere?” Jiang Xuanjin turned his head and asked her, his tone not very pleasant.
Huaiju smiled and flexed her strong arm for him to see. “I’m very strong! I’m not hurt at all!”
He reached out to pinch her arm and looked her up and down twice. His expression softened, and he relaxed.
Huaiju gently touched his face, “Did I wake you? You must be tired. Want to go back and sleep a bit more?”
“No need.” He lowered his head, allowing her to touch him. “I couldn’t sleep well today. Being able to rest this long is already a blessing.”
“Whose blessing?” Huaiju raised an eyebrow, smiling flirtatiously, hoping to coax him into calling her “Madam” again.
However, Jiang Xuanjin was not fooled. He lightly snorted and pushed her toward the main building. “You should go rest for a while.”
Liu Yunlie stood by, dumbfounded, watching until Jiang Xuanjin escorted her back to the main building and returned to face him. He was still in a daze. “You…”
With his hands clasped behind his back, Jiang Xuanjin’s expression was cold. “Lord Liu, you barged into my Mo Residence and harmed my Madam. What exactly do you intend?”
Liu Yunlie wanted to say, “I didn’t harm your Madam!” But seeing the expression on Jiang Xuanjin’s face, he resigned himself to bowing and greeting him. “It was my carelessness. In a moment of urgency, I will certainly prepare a generous gift to apologize to the Madam tomorrow. However, I did come today to ask the Lord about something.”
Jiang Xuanjin stepped aside and still welcomed him into the side hall.
This couple took turns, and in the end, Liu Yunlie still couldn’t step into the main building. His mood was complicated as he sat in the side hall and said in a low voice, “Does the Lord know about the recent rumors in the court?”
Jiang Xuanjin poured a cup of strong tea. “Please speak, Lord.”
“The Lord has taken action against Li Feng and saved Xu Xian,” Liu Yunlie said, slightly annoyed. “Such actions are tantamount to openly telling the entire court that Ziyang Jun favors the faction of the Eldest Princess! The Eldest Princess has been deceased for nearly two months, yet her remaining influence in the court has not been completely eradicated. Many are exhausting themselves over this, and the Lord is doing well; not only do you not help, but you also oppose us?”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuanjin was somewhat puzzled. “Li Feng accepted bribes and embezzled. Is that false?”
Liu Yunlie paused. “No, it’s not.”
“Then Xu Xian really accepted a bribe of two hundred thousand taels?”
“…Also not true.”
“Since neither is true, what are you here to tell me today?” Jiang Xuanjin was displeased. “Lord Liu, when did you start to blur the lines between good and evil, only looking at party affiliations?”
Liu Yunlie was taken aback, then frowned. “But… I just feel that your recent actions are too unusual. If it’s not your intention, then someone else is deliberately leading you to this.”
Someone else leading him? Jiang Xuanjin chuckled lightly. “Who can lead me in my actions? If what I do is right, what does it matter if someone leads me?”
This statement was upright and unyielding, leaving Liu Yunlie feeling quite vexed and unable to refute.
Huaiju lay on the bed in the main room, deep in thought.
After interacting with Jiang Xuanjin for so long, she decided to believe that he truly wasn’t intentionally trying to harm her. As for the imperial edict and the poisoned wine, it must have been someone scheming behind the scenes, deliberately making him act.
So, who was this person behind the scenes? Who could manipulate both her, the Danyang Eldest Princess, and Ziyang Jun without either of them noticing? What role did Liu Yunlie play in all of this?
With so many thoughts, her face tightened, and her expression became very serious.
However, upon hearing the sound of the door opening, she instantly transformed into a look of deep sleep.
“Tired?” Someone sat down beside her bed and gently asked.
Li Huaiju yawned and opened her eyes, smiling brightly as she reached out to pull him closer. “Not tired!”
Jiang Xuanjin looked down at her, his dark eyes unreadable, and it was unclear what he was thinking. Huaiju blinked, feeling a bit tight in her chest, and quickly pulled him down to lie beside her, wrapping her arms around him. “Do you have something you want to ask me?”
“Mm.”
“Then ask away! I will definitely answer honestly!”
“Who taught you your martial arts?” he asked in a low voice.
Huaiju laughed and rubbed against his chest. “Do you think what I have counts as martial arts? I only know a few basic moves, have no internal strength, and my body is as weak as a bamboo stick.”
As she spoke, she offered her wrist to him, generously allowing him to examine it.
If she were a martial artist, her bones and meridians would be sturdier than ordinary people, and her pulse would be clear and strong. But Bai Zhuji was not only weak but also looked like she could fall ill at any moment. Her palm was soft, with no calluses at all.
Jiang Xuanjin felt he had overthought it. This girl was just clever; her body truly wasn’t suited for martial arts.
“Then how dare you block Liu Yunlie?” he pressed his lips together. “Aren’t you afraid of getting hurt?”
Huaiju reached out to touch his brows and smiled. “I care about you! I want you to sleep more. Even if the King of Heaven comes, I would still block him!”
“…I don’t need you to protect me.”
“Whether you need it or not is one thing; whether I want to protect you is another.” She looked into his eyes, very serious. “You’ve never liked anyone, so you don’t know this feeling. Even a firefly that likes the moon will want to give all its light to it.”
It doesn’t matter how strong you are; it’s the beating heart that counts.
Jiang Xuanjin was stunned, his fingers brushing against her soft hair. He couldn’t help but gently twirl it. “Why do you talk so much every day?”
Huaiju raised her eyebrows. “Do you think I want to? Isn’t it because you talk so little? If I don’t say something for you, wouldn’t you feel uncomfortable?”
“Talking nonsense again.”
“Who’s talking nonsense? Don’t you want to tell me that you like me too?” She said earnestly, “But you can’t say it, so I have to say more to you.”
“Jiang Jian, I like you!” Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled.
Jiang Xuanjin closed his eyes and pressed her head against his chest, muttering, “Shut up.”
Following his lead, she rubbed against his chest, giggling softly and holding onto him tightly. Feeling the rare warmth from him, the joy in her heart overflowed uncontrollably.
It was hard to move Jiang Xuanjin’s heart, but once it was moved, everything became much easier.
“By the way, is your second brother going to participate in the selection?” She asked casually.
Jiang Xuanjin replied with a low “Mm.”
“Then I’ll make some snacks tomorrow and send them to their courtyard.” Huaiju said, “Today, my second sister-in-law came over and brought two plates of delicious melon pastries.”
Second sister-in-law? Jiang Xuanjin paused, as if recalling who she was, and said softly, “If you want to send something, then go ahead.”
“I heard that the second sister-in-law is from the Xu family.” She murmured, “She seems like a good girl, but why does it seem like she’s not well-received?”
Jiang Xuanjin replied, “It’s not that she’s not well-received; it’s just that she’s not favored by the second brother. He has always preferred beautiful women.”
Clearly, Xu Chuniang did not possess any beauty.
Huaiju frowned. “Then why did he marry her? The Xu family is a prominent household; can’t their daughter marry a good family?”
If someone else had come to Jiang Xuanjin with such talk, he would have been annoyed and wouldn’t have bothered to respond. But hearing the person in his arms chatter on, he found it quite interesting and couldn’t help but answer, “The second brother was also forced to marry the second sister-in-law.”
Looking displeased, Huaiju squinted. “What do you mean by ‘also’?”
He stroked her hair to soothe her displeasure and continued, “The second brother had concubines since he was sixteen, but when he turned twenty, he still didn’t want to establish a main wife, fearing that the main wife would bully all his beautiful women. No matter how beautiful the matchmaker praised the other family’s daughter, he wouldn’t agree.”
When Jiang Shen first met Xu Chuniang, he had stared at her face in disdain for a long time. But after spending a day together, he excitedly returned to Jiang Xuanjin and said, “I found someone who can be my main wife!”
At that time, Jiang Xuanjin was still young and looked at him in confusion, only to hear his second brother shamelessly say, “I need someone who isn’t good-looking but has a good temperament. She won’t be jealous or scheme against me. After all, she has no qualities that match me; if she can enter my door, she will be grateful and won’t bully my beautiful women.”
Huaiju’s mouth twitched. “So he married the second sister-in-law just to have a decoration?”
Jiang Xuanjin nodded. “The second sister-in-law rarely leaves the courtyard.”
So pitiful? Huaiju was taken aback. Her eyes turned, and she said, “Then I’ll go see her tomorrow!”
Girls are soft-hearted; upon hearing someone is having a hard time, they easily feel sympathy. Jiang Xuanjin didn’t think much of it, gently rubbing his chin against her head, feeling drowsy as he slowly drifted into a dream.
In his dream, he was climbing a high cliff, struggling to ascend. Suddenly, someone reached out to him.
“Grab my hand.” The person smiled and extended a warm, soft palm.
He was stunned, instinctively grasping it, and was effortlessly pulled upward. However, just as they were about to reach the top, she turned her head, her voice suddenly cold: “Did you really think I wanted to save you?”
His hand was abruptly released, and his pupils constricted as he felt himself plummeting rapidly into the abyss—
He jolted awake, frowning.
The sensation of weightlessness lingered. He pressed his hand against his dull pain in the chest. His expression was grim.
“Master?” Cheng Xu brought water and placed it beside him, pulling back the bed curtains. “Did you have a nightmare?”
Looking around the room, Jiang Xuanjin frowned. “Is it dawn?”
“Yes.” Cheng Xu nodded. “You slept extremely well.”
Sleeping for a full ten hours was simply unbelievable.
“What about her?”
“The Madam has already gone to Shaohua Courtyard. She instructed me to ensure you drink some congee when you wake up.” Cheng Xu answered, stealing glances at his master’s expression.
Indeed… Upon waking and not seeing the Madam, he was sulking, and his expression was heavy.
Cheng Xu couldn’t help but feel a bit resentful. Why did the Madam leave so hastily? It would have been better to stay a little longer and wait for the master to wake up before leaving.
Huaiju was already seated in the main hall of Shaohua Courtyard. Upon seeing her, Xu Chuniang’s previously wrinkled face instantly relaxed, and she happily said, “Sister-in-law, you’re so thoughtful.”
“I heard that the second brother is going to participate in the selection, so I brought this small gift to show my goodwill.” Huaiju looked around and asked, “Where is the second brother?”
Mentioning this, Xu Chuniang’s expression dimmed slightly as she lowered her gaze. “He hasn’t been in a good mood these past few days and has been listening to music in the side room.”
Being forced by Jiang Xuanjin to participate in the selection, how could he be in a good mood? Huaiju secretly chuckled. She then asked, “In your opinion, do you think the second brother will be selected this time?”
Xu Chuniang nodded repeatedly. “If he takes it seriously, he will definitely succeed! His writing is top-notch; I’ve read quite a few of his works. Although some were written in a fit of anger, when he is calm, his talent is truly remarkable!”
This person spoke without reservation when praising her husband. Huaiju listened and couldn’t help but tease her, “But when it comes to the selection, it can’t rely solely on talent.”
“He has more than just talent!” Xu Chuniang said anxiously. “Many of his essays also have profound insights!”
“Is that so?” Huaiju sighed regretfully. “I still don’t know what he has written.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Chuniang stood up and pulled her along. “Sister-in-law, come with me!”
Huaiju obediently followed her, and they left the main hall for a nearby study.
Xu Chuniang excitedly rummaged through the bookshelf for essays. Standing by the desk, Huaiju casually glanced around and noticed a seal casually placed aside, engraved with Jiang Shen’s name and courtesy name.
This item was very important; it had to be stamped on the answer sheet during the selection for identity verification. Yet Jiang Shen had carelessly left it lying around, clearly not taking the selection seriously at all.
A slight smile crept onto her lips as she discreetly tucked the item into her sleeve.
Xu Chuniang found several bound books and happily turned back to hand them to her. “Look, these are all his writings.”
Her tone was filled with pride.
Huaiju took them and flipped through them casually, nodding in approval. “They are indeed good. Did you only discover these after marrying him?”
Xu Chuniang shook her head, slightly shy. “I read his essays when I was sixteen and admired him deeply. Later, being able to marry him was my fortune.”
So it was like this? Huaiju blinked, recalling Jiang Xuanjin’s thoughts about Jiang Er Gongzi, and couldn’t help but feel a bit emotional. “For him to marry you, it’s his fortune.”
This made Xu Chuniang feel quite embarrassed, and she waved her hands repeatedly. “Sister-in-law, you flatter me. I… I’m not that good; he… he is particularly good!”
She was not good with words, stammering as she spoke, but the light in her eyes was bright, like the first rays of dawn, warming the hearts of those around her.
Li Huaiju smiled, thinking that perhaps when one likes someone, their eyes will tell the truth.
So when Jiang Xuanjin returned to the residence in the afternoon, he found her staring at him eagerly as soon as he entered.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, puzzled.
Huaiju said, “Look at me seriously! Do you see what’s in my eyes?”
Jiang Xuanjin stared at her expressionlessly for a while. Suddenly, he took a handkerchief and reached over to wipe the corner of her eye, shaking his head in disgust. “It’s filthy.”
“…” Angrily swatting the handkerchief from his hand, Huaiju said, “I wanted you to look at my eyes, not this!”
What’s wrong with my eyes? Jiang Xuanjin was confused. Following her words, he looked carefully and gradually noticed the affection swirling in her eyes, shimmering like a stream in March adorned with peach blossoms.
He pursed his lips and turned his head away. “Are you bored?”
Can’t you tell? Huaiju’s face fell, and she sulked, reflecting that she indeed lacked the skill; she should practice in front of a mirror more often, like Xu Chuniang, to make him feel moved at first glance!
“I’ve been waiting for you here for a long time.” She pouted. “Every day, besides eating and sleeping, I’m just waiting for you. How can I not be bored?”
By the end, she looked quite aggrieved.
Jiang Xuanjin thought for a moment and asked, “Do you want to go for a walk?”
Her eyes lit up, and Huaiju jumped up. “Sure! I heard there are many people in the capital lately; it’s lively!”
People from all over had come to the capital to participate in the selection; how could there not be a crowd? Jiang Xuanjin didn’t like crowds; he preferred to stay in the residence after court, but seeing her look like she was about to suffocate, he pursed his lips and turned to walk outside.
Li Huaiju was very excited. As soon as she got into the carriage, she asked him, “Can we go to the Academy to take a look?”
A vein throbbed at his temple. Jiang Xuanjin replied, “Can’t we choose a place with fewer people?”
The Academy was currently the most crowded place, as half of the candidates were there purchasing writing supplies.
“Ah, but I like crowds!” She glanced at him, a bit dejected. “Then… how about going to the outskirts to see the flowers?”
He shot her a sideways glance, annoyed. “Fine, let’s go to the Academy. If you want to buy something, you can go down and squeeze through the crowd yourself; I won’t get out of the carriage.”
As Ziyang Jun, how could he get out? If someone recognized him, he would be stuck in the crowd! Huaiju understood and nodded, then turned her face to smile, cheerfully holding his hand and playing with his fingers.
“Behave yourself outside.” He frowned. “Stop pulling and tugging; it’s inappropriate.”
Upon hearing this, she turned her head and asked, “Before I married you, did I also pull and tug outside?”
“How dare you say that?”
“Exactly! If I could pull and tug before marrying you, why can’t I do it now that we’re married? Isn’t marriage just to make pulling and tugging reasonable?”
“…” He really didn’t think marriage was for that.
“If you’re really embarrassed, then I’ll just hide it when I want to pull and tug with you, like this!” As she spoke, she moved to sit beside him, grasping his hand and pulling his wide sleeve over to cover their hands. She raised an eyebrow and asked, “How about that?”
The silver cloud-patterned sleeve looked elegant and proper, but the hand beneath it was playfully scratching his palm, teasing him for a while. She intertwined her fingers with his, one by one.
Jiang Xuanjin stiffened. “Let go.”
“No one will see; why let go?” Huaiju refused to comply, holding on tightly. But after a while, she felt his palm becoming slightly damp.
“Eh?” She asked curiously, “Are you hot?”
The person in front of her sat upright against the carriage wall, his gaze fixed ahead, his tone indifferent. “Not hot.”
He was merely feeling her warmth and softness, recalling the terrifying dream he had last night.
“Are you really not going to let go?” he asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Huaiju heard him and beamed brightly, answering loudly and firmly, “I won’t let go!”
His dark, deep eyes sparkled with light at those two words.
The Academy soon arrived, and as Huaiju prepared to get out, she realized she couldn’t let go of his hand. If she wanted to get down, he wouldn’t be willing to leave the carriage.
So she turned back and whispered, “I’ll go buy something and come back, okay?”
The expression that had just softened instantly hardened again. Jiang Xuanjin glanced at her hand but said nothing.
Huaiju was both amused and exasperated. “Then why don’t you come with me?”
He still didn’t respond. His long fingers lightly curled around hers, neither pulling away nor holding on tightly.
Huaiju felt helpless. She grasped his wrist with one hand and slowly pulled her other hand free, then tucked his hand into his sleeve. “Wait for me to come back!”
After saying that, she quickly jumped out of the carriage and dashed into the crowd with Lingxiu.
Jiang Xuanjin frowned, watching the swaying curtain of the carriage, feeling a bit annoyed. “Cheng Xu.”
“Yes, Master?” Cheng Xu replied from outside.
“Don’t wait for her; let’s go.”
“Uh…” Cheng Xu was taken aback. What was his master throwing a tantrum about now?
Lifting the curtain, he cautiously asked, “Are we really not waiting?”
“She said one thing and did another; why should I wait?” Jiang Xuanjin said with a stern face. “Let’s go immediately!”
“…Yes.”
Li Huaiju wound her way through the Academy, completely unaware that the little prince behind her was throwing a tantrum. She just clutched the seal in her sleeve, instructed Lingxiu to wait for her at the entrance, and then plunged inside.
“What would the guest like?” A handsome attendant asked without looking up upon seeing a customer.
Huaiju glanced at him, a bit surprised. “Why are you here?”
Bai Ai, who had been looking down, froze and suddenly looked up, gasping, “Your Highness…”
“Is there no stock in the store?” Li Huaiju interrupted.
“Ah… Yes, the kind of rice paper you want needs to be fetched from the storeroom.” Looking around, Bai Ai stepped aside. “Please, this way.”
Huaiju nodded, lifting her skirt to follow him. The surrounding crowd was bustling, and no one noticed them.
Bai Ai led her to the back courtyard and said, “Your Highness, Manager Lu has been trying to contact you these days. The selection is coming up soon.”
“I know.” Huaiju nodded. “That’s why I’m here. I just didn’t expect you to be here too.”
Bai Ai replied, “It’s convenient to be here.”
Thinking about it, it made sense. This place had many literati and students coming and going, so news spread quickly. Bai Ai came from a scholarly family, making it most suitable for him to socialize here.
After watching him for a while, Huaiju suddenly reached out and beckoned him.
“…Your Highness?” Bai Ai felt a chill at her gesture. Every time she wanted him to do something difficult, she would do this, and the deeper her smile, the more challenging the task.
Now that she was smiling like a flower, Bai Ai had a very bad premonition.
Three incense sticks later, Li Huaiju emerged from the Academy’s main gate, clutching a pile of rice paper. She gathered Lingxiu and headed back. However, when she returned, she found that the carriage was gone, leaving only Cheng Xu standing there.
“Where’s your master?” Huaiju asked curiously.
Cheng Xu looked helpless. “The master said he didn’t want to wait for you, so he left first.”
“Hmm?” Huaiju raised an eyebrow. “Where did he go?”
“The master won’t let me say.” Cheng Xu gestured toward a nearby teahouse with his chin.
Li Huaiju suddenly understood, giving him an appreciative look. She stuffed the rice paper into his hands and lifted her skirt to head toward the teahouse. The first floor was crowded, and she didn’t even look around, heading straight up to the most secluded private room.
Jiang Xuanjin was holding a teacup when he heard the commotion at the door. He turned to glance at her, his expression cold and indifferent.
Huaiju smiled and sat down beside him, grasping his hand and taking a few sips from his teacup. Then, with a mysterious air, she said, “Guess what I just heard?”
Not coaxing him or asking why he left, she just jumped straight to this? Jiang Xuanjin didn’t want to give her any reaction, maintaining a stern silence.
She continued, “I heard that this year’s academic official is Liang Daren again! I didn’t know who this Liang Daren was at first, but the attendant who sold me the rice paper got excited when he mentioned him, and it seems the students around also have some complaints about him.”
“Liang Sixian?” Jiang Xuanjin was taken aback, instinctively saying the name.
Huaiju’s face lit up with curiosity. “You know him?”
Of course, he knew him; after all, he was a thousand stone official. How could he not know? However, mentioning this person piqued Jiang Xuanjin’s interest. “Why do they have complaints about him?”
“I’m not sure. I just overheard some complaints while buying things, something about being unfair and misleading students,” Huaiju shrugged nonchalantly. “Perhaps it’s just casual grumbling.”
In past selections, it was normal for there to be disgruntled candidates, so it was not unusual for them to criticize the academic officials. Jiang Xuanjin didn’t think much of it and simply turned his head to place the teacup in front of her. “My tea.”
She had drunk it all, leaving not even a tea leaf behind.
Huaiju smiled brightly. “Drinking strong tea isn’t good. Should I get you a lighter one?”
Jiang Xuanjin was about to say that this pot of tea was all strong and that if she wanted a lighter one, she would have to brew it anew. But before he could finish, the person beside her leaned in, her silken garment wrapping around him. She tilted her head up and pressed her lips against the corner of his mouth.
“How about this? Isn’t it much lighter?” She licked her lips and grinned mischievously.
The person in front of her was slightly pushed back by her, and a glimmer of light crossed his dark eyes, but he said unhappily, “No.”
Not lighter? Provoked by this, Huaiju puffed her cheeks and immediately turned his head to kiss him deeply.
The faint scent of tea instantly filled their lips and teeth.
Cheng Xu and Lingxiu, who had been following behind, were just about to enter the private room when they saw the two of them locked in a kiss. Ziyang Jun leaned back on the bench, half-closing his eyes as he looked at the person in front of him, his gaze seemingly holding the first rays of dawn, dazzlingly bright.
Both of them were momentarily stunned.
With her eyes closed, Li Huaiju couldn’t see any of this. She was kissing him with a teasing attitude, and when she sensed that he wasn’t angry anymore, she finally released him, smiling brightly as she reached out her hand. “Let’s go home!”
His gaze shifted slightly, and Jiang Xuanjin placed his hand back in hers.
“Alright, let’s go home,” he said.
In the blink of an eye, it was the day of the selection. Huaiju accompanied Jiang Xuanjin to send Jiang Shen off. She saw him yawning at the door, looking quite sleepy.
“Are you going to sleep on the field?” Jiang Xuanjin asked expressionlessly.
Jiang Shen lifted his eyelids to glance at him. “That’s a good idea.”
“That won’t do!” Huaiju shook her head and handed him a talisman-like object. “This is for the second brother, to bless you with a surge of inspiration today!”
Jiang Shen raised an eyebrow, took it, and glanced at his second brother’s expression. He immediately smiled and said, “Sister-in-law is so thoughtful, bringing such a detailed gift. I will wear this well.”
As he spoke, he took a few sniffs, praising, “This scent of Buddhist incense is truly refreshing; I need to smell it more!”
Huaiju didn’t pay attention to anything else, just watching Jiang Shen’s actions, feeling quite satisfied. “As long as the second brother likes it.”
Jiang Xuanjin remained silent. After Jiang Shen left, he turned to her and asked, “When did you ask for this talisman?”
Huaiju replied, “Just yesterday. You went to court, so I made a trip to the temple.”
She was indeed thoughtful. Jiang Xuanjin coldly withdrew his gaze, flicking his sleeve as he turned back. Huaiju hurried after him, cheerfully holding his hand and slipping him another one. “This is for you; it’s much thicker than the second brother’s, a peace talisman.”
“Who cares?” he said disdainfully.
However, two days later, Ziyang Jun stood in the imperial study, having replaced the insignia at his waist with a thick peace talisman.
Li Huairen was listening to the academic officials’ report on the selection’s overview, nodding as he listened. Unintentionally, he glanced to the lower right and saw Jiang Xuanjin lightly fiddling with the peace talisman, looking lost in thought, as if enveloped in a soft glow, completely devoid of his usual seriousness.
A thought crossed his mind, and he called out, “Your Highness?”
Jiang Xuanjin came back to his senses, his fingers suddenly loosening.
Seeing this, Liang Sixian smiled and said, “Your Highness seems very happy today!”
“Hmm?” Jiang Xuanjin asked, slightly puzzled. “Why am I happy?”
Liang Sixian was taken aback and then bowed his hands. “Your second son has topped the selection today; isn’t that worth celebrating?”
Jiang Shen topped the selection. Jiang Xuanjin paused. He hadn’t heard it before, but now that he knew, a smile appeared on his face. “That is indeed worth celebrating.”
Liang Sixian sighed in relief, and Li Huairen added, “Jiang Er Gongzi should have entered the officialdom long ago; this time, it’s well deserved.”
Jiang Xuanjin nodded in gratitude, collected his thoughts, and returned home to share the good news with his family. The entire hall erupted in joy, cheering and celebrating Jiang Shen’s success.
However, Jiang Shen looked anything but happy. He frowned at Jiang Xuanjin and asked, “Are you sure you didn’t hear wrong?”
“Not wrong.” Jiang Xuanjin replied. “Lord Liang said it in front of the Emperor himself.”
Li Huaiju smiled brightly, blending into the crowd, only to see Jiang Shen’s expression darkening as he spoke, “Impossible.”
“What’s wrong?” Everyone was confused.
Taking a deep breath, Jiang Shen clenched his fists and said, “I didn’t write a single word; I didn’t even stamp the seal. How could I have topped the selection?”
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent.
Jiang Yan whispered, “Second Uncle, you can’t say such things.”
“Why would I say something like that?” Jiang Shen was annoyed. “But I didn’t write a single word. I felt so sleepy when I went on stage that I fell asleep until the end!”
Upon hearing this, the old master slammed his cane on the ground. “Absurd!”
“Father, this isn’t my fault.” Jiang Shen said helplessly. “I don’t know what happened; I was just so tired. I thought I would rest for a moment and then get up to answer the questions, but I ended up sleeping through it. It was only when others finished that they woke me up.”
Jiang Xuanjin frowned slightly. “Lord Liang wouldn’t have any reason to speak nonsense in front of the Emperor.”
“But he did speak nonsense.” Jiang Shen insisted. “We can’t accept this; if we do, it will look like I cheated. You need to go to the palace and clarify this.”
How could such a matter be clarified? Jiang Xuanjin pondered for a moment and then said, “I’ll check it out first.”
Seeing him step outside, Huaiju hurriedly followed.
“Are you leaving again?” She said softly behind him, “Can you take me with you?”
Jiang Xuanjin turned back, frowning at her. “What kind of decorum is this?”
“If I change into a different outfit, will it be more appropriate?” She said, quickly removing her outer robe.
“You…” Jiang Xuanjin was about to scold her when he saw that she was wearing Lingxiu’s dress underneath. She had taken off a few hairpins and wrapped them in her outer robe, instantly transforming into a little maid.
Jiang Xuanjin frowned. “Did you plan this all along?”
“Yeah!” Huaiju admitted boldly, then took his hand. “I’ve been waiting in the courtyard for you every day; it’s too painful. Please let me follow you; I can serve you tea and water!”
Seeing him about to object, she immediately pouted, wrinkled her nose, and shook his hand. “Take me with you; I promise I won’t be a bother!”
This look made it seem like if he said “no,” she would burst into tears.
Jiang Xuanjin shook his head, not wanting to waste too much time. He took the clothes from her hand and handed them to Cheng Xu, then pulled her along as they headed outside.
Huaiju immediately cheered up, walking along and saying, “I knew you couldn’t bear to part with me! Don’t worry, I… I will serve you well!”
Is she learning this well? Jiang Xuanjin snorted, bringing her into the carriage and coldly asking, “As a maid, what should you be called?”
Huaiju didn’t think twice. “Yuer!”
Jiang Xuanjin was puzzled. “Why this name? It has nothing to do with your name.”
Her expression turned complex as she looked at him. “For Bai Zhuji, which character do you think is suitable to drop?”
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Xuanjin pursed his lips. “Then let’s stick with Yuer.”
The two of them made a trip to the Academy of Literature. Jiang Xuanjin stated that he wanted to check the selection answer sheets, thinking it wouldn’t be a big deal. However, the people at the Academy of Literature all looked troubled.
“This… After the selection, the papers are destroyed after being reviewed.”
Jiang Xuanjin frowned upon hearing this. “The top three answer sheets should be presented to the Emperor.”
Knowing they couldn’t fool him, the officials could only invite him to the hall for tea and quickly send someone to inform the academic officials. When Liang Sixian arrived, he greeted Jiang Xuanjin with a smile and immediately had someone bring Jiang Shen’s answer sheet.
“Is this what Your Highness wants to see? The second young master’s literary talent is indeed well-deserved!”
Jiang Xuanjin took the long scroll, glanced at it, and flipped to the end to see the seal. “Can I borrow all the top three answer sheets for a look?”
“That’s against the rules.” Liang Sixian said seriously. “Even though Your Highness holds a high position, these things are generally only seen by the civil officials and academic officials and then presented to the Emperor. If Your Highness wants to know something, I can answer.”
“Perhaps you can’t answer.” Jiang Xuanjin folded the scroll. “If I truly can’t see it, then I’ll take my leave.”
“Your Highness!” Liang Sixian quickly stood up, slightly flustered. “Did I do something wrong? Does Your Highness think the second young master’s achievement is inappropriate?”
“If it’s truly his work, then there’s naturally nothing inappropriate about it.”
But the handwriting on this scroll was not Jiang Shen’s, and it even bore his seal. What was the academic official thinking?
Liang Sixian panicked, wanting to retrieve the scroll from Jiang Xuanjin’s hand, but Jiang Xuanjin had no intention of returning it. He stood up and walked toward the door.
No one could stop him.
Liang Sixian was anxious and quickly had someone follow them. Jiang Xuanjin walked quickly, not taking a carriage. He casually pulled the obedient little maid beside him and headed into an alley.
Huaiju frowned as she heard the footsteps behind them. “There’s no way forward.”
“Who told you that?” Jiang Xuanjin walked without hesitation.
Feeling both amused and exasperated, Huaiju pointed ahead. “Look for yourself; there’s such a high wall!”
With a snort, Jiang Xuanjin strode to the wall, pinching her waist and half-embracing her as he leaped up. With one hand, he grabbed the top of the wall, his veins bulging as he used his strength to pull her up with him.
Huaiju stared in shock, still not reacting when he set her down safely on the ground.
“You… are you this strong?” She was astonished.
Jiang Xuanjin shot her a glance. “What’s so strange about that?”
“No, with your strength…” Huaiju swallowed hard, curious. “How could I have ever subdued you before?”
Jiang Xuanjin: “…”
Clearing his throat, he casually handed her the scroll. “Don’t worry about anything else; just keep this safe for now.”
“Oh.” She responded absentmindedly, taking it and casually glancing at it. Suddenly, she exclaimed, “This handwriting looks so familiar!”
Jiang Xuanjin paused. “Familiar?”
“Yes! Look at this ‘de’ character; this style is very unique. I saw it at the Academy before and even praised it. How come it’s written like this here too?”
Following her finger, Jiang Xuanjin looked at the character, and his eyes flickered. “Let’s go to the Academy.”
The Academy of Literature was very close to the Academy. The two of them shook off their pursuers and headed straight there. Upon entering, Huaiju pointed to a piece of calligraphy hanging on the wall. “Look, doesn’t this look very similar?”
It was a brand-new piece of calligraphy, inscribed with the phrase “Zhong Shi Zhi De,” and the last character indeed resembled the one on the scroll, or rather, the brush strokes were identical.
Jiang Xuanjin lowered his head to look at the signature. When he saw the name, his heart skipped a beat.
“What’s wrong?” Li Huaiju innocently leaned over to take a look. “Bai Ai? Oh, we share the same surname!”
“This person.” Jiang Xuanjin’s expression was complicated. “Don’t you remember?”
Huaiju shook her head. “I haven’t heard of him; why should I remember?”
…That was also true; they had only met twice, once in the main building and once at the wedding banquet, and neither time had they exchanged a word, so she didn’t even know his name.
Reaching out, he took down the calligraphy. “This person is hard to find; we might have to go to the Lu residence.”
“To the Lu residence?” Huaiju clapped her hands in delight. “I know the way!”
Jiang Xuanjin shot her a cold glance.
Li Huaiju paused, immediately adopting a serious expression. “After all, the Bai residence is over there too.”
After saying a few words to the shopkeeper, Jiang Xuanjin bought the calligraphy, rolled it up, and ignored her as he walked straight out. Huaiju hurriedly followed, smiling all the way.
Upon arriving at the Lu residence, Lu Jingxing personally came out to greet them, looking surprised as he stared at Jiang Xuanjin. “What a rare guest.”
“Where is Bai Ai?” Jiang Xuanjin asked, not even bothering to enter. He opened his mouth to ask.
Lu Jingxing smiled, fanning himself. “Why are you suddenly asking about him? He likes to wander around, and I don’t know where he is right now…”
“I need to find him for something important.” Jiang Xuanjin interrupted his evasive answer, raising his gaze. “It’s a matter of great significance.”
Lu Jingxing wanted to say that your important matter has nothing to do with me. However, he caught a glimpse of the little maid behind Jiang Xuanjin.
“Who is this?” He closed his fan, frowning. “You’ve only been married for a short time, and you already have a maid by your side?”
“What does it have to do with you?”
Lu Jingxing’s expression darkened. “Does Zhuji know?”
Jiang Xuanjin paused, turning to glance at the person hiding behind him. He suddenly smiled. “What does it matter if she knows? What if she doesn’t?”
Lu Jingxing stepped down the stairs, his phoenix eyes fixed on him, his tone unfriendly. “If she knows and allows you, I’ll find her trouble. If she doesn’t know and you’re hiding it from her, then I’ll find you trouble.”
As he spoke, he stood right in front of Jiang Xuanjin, his imposing aura evident.
Jiang Xuanjin stared at him for a moment and said, “She’s just a maid; why is this so serious?”
“Who doesn’t know that Ziyang Jun never had a maid by his side? Suddenly bringing one now, what kind of maid could she be?”
Realizing this, Jiang Xuanjin took half a step back and turned to ask the person behind him, “What kind of maid are you?”
Li Huaiju, adhering to the principle of “when celestial beings fight, mortals should stay away,” planned to play dead. Unexpectedly, the person blocking the way suddenly stepped aside, and the light in front of her brightened. She saw Lu Jingxing in his soft silver and snow silk robe.
Chuckling awkwardly, she looked up and met his astonished gaze. After thinking seriously for a moment, she tentatively replied, “A… a concubine maid?”