Jiang Xuanjin and Li Huaiyu had barely taken a few steps when they were blocked by three individuals, who approached with an intimidating air. However, upon facing each other, none of them spoke first.
Seeing them hesitate, Jiang Chong pondered for a moment and said, “Third Brother, may I have a word?”
Jiang Xuanjin glanced at them. “What do you want?”
“Just a few words,” Jiang Yan glanced around and whispered.
Seeing their cautious demeanor, Li Huaiyu, being straightforward, said, “Then I will return to the Southern Courtyard.”
“Younger sister… No, Your Highness, please stay,” Jiang Shen raised his hand. “I also have questions for Your Highness.”
With a half-smile, Jiang Shen gestured to the side.
She went with Jiang Shen, while Jiang Xuanjin had no choice but to follow Jiang Chong and Jiang Yan to another corner to see what they wanted to ask.
“Your Highness and Third Brother shouldn’t be separating?” Jiang Shen sat on a stone stool, leaning on his chin, nonchalantly said, “Why are you still together as if nothing has happened?”
Li Huaiyu sat down, just as relaxed, and replied, “You should ask your Third Brother. He asked me to come and placate Father.”
Jiang Shen smiled, “I’ve always found it strange that someone from the Bai family could raise Bai Si Xia with such a carefree character. Now that the truth is out, it makes sense. Your Highness and a common family girl are indeed quite different.”
“This Second Young Master are not simple at all. Faced with her, they can still speak so beautifully!” Li Huaiyu smirked, looking deeply into his eyes and saying, “Both of us understand each other. Second Young Master, why not speak frankly?”
Nodding, Jiang Shen said, “Then let me get straight to the point. Your Highness, when you first approached Third Brother, you must have had some goals in mind. Have you achieved them?”
“That’s quite direct,” Li Huaiyu touched his nose and nodded. “I suppose I have.”
“And what are Your Highness’s thoughts now?” Jiang Shen pointed at the stone table in front of him and asked.
Li Huaiyu laughed, “What else could I think? Second Young Master, do you think I can still live with Lord Ziyang? There’s only one thing left between us, but nothing else.”
“Oh?” Jiang Shen raised an eyebrow. “Despite half a year of marriage, does Your Highness truly feel no attachment?”
It had already been over half a year.
Li Huaiyu lowered her eyes and subconsciously touched the scar on her neck.
Half a year wasn’t short, but it wasn’t long either. It hadn’t grown to the point where they were deeply attached. Nor had it given her the courage to be resolute in her heart; any conspiracy or event would prevent them from being together.
These six months were just a dream for her, where she could be carefree with Jiang Xuanjin and enjoy the affection she had never experienced before. But once she woke up, she had to accept the truth: as long as she was Dan Yang, Jiang Xuanjin would still despise her as he had before.
“Dan Yang…” On the other side of the temple, Jiang Chong sighed repeatedly. “Since you already know, why not let her go?”
Jiang Xuanjin leaned against the vermilion pillar and said coldly, “There are still things to be done.”
“What needs her to do?” Jiang Yan was puzzled.
The autumn wind blew through his fingers, with a sensation like flowing sand. Jiang Xuanjin casually said, “Many things.”
Jiang Yan frowned. Feeling a little anxious, he said, “Brother-in-law, you’re just making excuses! Nephew doesn’t understand what’s so good about her. Why won’t you let go, even now?”
His tone was urgent, with a childish complaint and anger. Jiang Xuanjin looked up and glanced at their nephew who was almost as tall as himself, asking softly, “Do you not see what’s good about her?”
It was a calm question, but it made Jiang Yan inexplicably guilty.
“Neph… Nephew doesn’t see what’s good about her.” His gaze shifted away, Jiang Yan clenched his fists and said, “She used someone else’s body to seduce you. Before, she was a notorious villain. She’s a bad person!”
Reaching out to flick the fallen leaves from his shoulder, Jiang Xuanjin said lightly, “Since you know she’s a bad person, stop looking at her. If you follow her and learn her bad ways, it will worry your elder brother.”
Jiang Chong was taken aback and understood the implication of his words. His expression darkened. “Yan’er?”
“I… I’m not… I didn’t…” Jiang Yan hurriedly waved his hand. “I had someone watch her before, trying to catch her mistakes and let you see her true face earlier…”
Standing up straight, Jiang Xuanjin gently patted his shoulder.
Jiang Yan bit his lip, his voice gradually lowering, and finally, he closed his mouth.
How could his uncle notice? Jiang Yan couldn’t understand. He had clearly shown his aversion and resistance to Jiang Bai Shi, but how did his uncle know his thoughts?
In addition to love and hate, there’s another kind of emotion. It’s called resentment. Bai Zhuji was the one he missed out on, and there was inevitably some lingering regret in his heart. Seeing her deep affection with his uncle, and witnessing her radiant smile every day, Jiang Yan couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by resentment.
He enjoyed picking on her faults, and relished provoking conflicts between her and her younger uncle. But each time he caused her distress, he felt deeply uneasy himself. About five steps apart, he could remain indifferent, but once he crossed within that distance, he returned to the Jiang Manor’s gardens of old, where he first encountered her while hiding.
His heart would race.
Jiang Yan didn’t know how to resolve these complex emotions. He understood it was wrong, not in line with what his younger uncle taught him, yet he couldn’t stop himself.
Now, finally, his actions were exposed by his younger uncle.
His face flushed hot, and Jiang Yan dared not utter a word. Jiang Chong’s expression behind him was also complicated; he had prepared many words to say to his third brother, but now he had no mood left, simply arching his hand towards him and saying, “I’ll go back first and have a good talk with Yan’er.”
Jiang Xuanjin nodded, calmly watching the two leave, then turned his gaze towards the stone table in front of the temple.
Jiang Shen and Li Huaiyu were chatting and laughing, their expressions not serious at all, as if they were friends coming out for tea, freely discussing various topics.
“Hey! ‘Ode to the Rogue and the Vixen’ was written by you guys? Your fabrication skills are quite impressive!”
“Your praise is too much,” Jiang Shen smiled, “It’s just that His Highness and that shopkeeper Lu are so interesting, worthy of literary and scholarly exploration.”
“How much interest I have with him depends entirely on your pen,” Huaiyu smirked, “While others use their pens to select officials and gain fame, the Second Young Master seems truly leisurely, using it to write these groundless tales of romance.”
“Is His Highness feeling embarrassed and getting angry?”
“A bit angry, not embarrassed,” Huaiyu said, “After all, I have thick skin. Even if you slander my writings across the entire Chang’an Street, my face won’t turn red.”
Jiang Shen choked for a moment, then bowed his hand and said, “Your Highness is formidable.”
“Mutual admiration,” standing up, Huaiyu smiled openly at him, “Instead of meddling in matters beyond your control like the Second Young Master, why not accompany Lady Lingfu properly? She seems a bit aggrieved.”
“Normal girls from respectable families know better, a few sweet words should do,” Jiang Shen lightly laughed.
Glancing at him, Li Huaiyu said, “Do you think a girl who is satisfied with a few sweet words knows better?”
“What insight does His Highness have?”
Huaiyu teasingly wagged his index finger, “Don’t waste someone’s true feelings, or you might face retribution like me.”
Jiang Shen focused not on “wasting true feelings,” but on narrowing his eyes, “His Highness has received retribution? Escaping now, Third Brother still defends you. You’re quite at ease.”
“At ease?” Li Huaiyu sneered and turned to look back.
Jiang Xuanjin stood far away, looking over here with no expression, cold and indifferent, as a cold wind tinged with fine snow, enough to chill anyone to the bone.
Who could be at ease with such a Lord Ziyang? He might decide to remember old grievances and thrust a knife into her heart at any moment.
Turning his gaze away, Huaiyu said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave first.”
“Wait.” Jiang Shen pursed his lips, “There’s one last request, please grant it, Your Highness.”
“Second Young Master, please speak.”
Taking a deep breath, Jiang Shen said, “Third Brother saved you, which will surely cause major trouble. If there are consequences, please ensure he has a way out.”
His body stiffened, Huaiyu chuckled softly, “Isn’t that obvious? What’s the request for? Even if I, Danyang, lose all shame, I won’t repay kindness with enmity.”
“In that case, I’ll rest assured.” Jiang Shen nodded.
Appearing to be enjoying their conversation, they were exchanging barbed remarks. Li Huaiyu found it a bit tiresome and didn’t even greet Jiang Xuanjin behind him, walking straight towards the southern courtyard.
“Uh… Third Brother?” Watching the figure approaching from afar, Jiang Shen felt a chill down his spine. He stood up and said, “Have you finished talking with Big Brother and the others?”
There was no answer. Jiang Xuanjin stood before him and asked, “What did Second Brother just say?”
“What else could I say? Just casual chat to let you talk with Big Brother and them,” Jiang Shen smiled and turned aside. “It’s getting late. I should go back and take your second sister-in-law out for a walk. Goodbye!”
With that, he slipped away quickly.
Jiang Xuanjin furrowed his brow slightly, staring displeased at his retreating figure for a moment before following back to the southern courtyard.
It was customary for the Jiang family to spend two days on the mountain before returning to the capital, but on the second day, an imperial edict arrived unexpectedly.
Huaiyu, not yet fully awake, was summoned by Old Master Jiang to kneel before the temple, barely able to keep his eyes open. In a daze, he heard the eunuch announcing, “By the grace of heaven, the Emperor decrees: We govern the world with culture and quell disturbances with force. Lord Ziyang is indeed the cornerstone of the court and the bulwark of the nation…”
“… Now, the Prime Minister’s eldest legitimate daughter, of virtuous character and noble demeanor, is granted to be the lawful wife and immediately returns to the capital for the wedding. All ceremonial matters shall be handled jointly by the Minister of Rites and the Astronomical Bureau. Let it be known far and wide.”
“Thus is decreed.”
The words went in one ear and out the other for Li Huaiyu, who hadn’t bothered to listen carefully. Beside him, Xu Chuniang tugged worriedly at his sleeve, finally bringing him back to reality.
“Your Majesty personally grants the marriage; this is a momentous occasion, Your Highness!” The eunuch chuckled and handed the edict to Jiang Xuanjin, “Quickly accept the decree!”
Old Master Jiang was stunned, “How could His Majesty issue such an edict?”
Didn’t Xuanjin already marry Miss Bai from the Bai family? Why would he be granted another marriage?
Jiang Chong and Jiang Shen knew trouble was brewing and hastily signaled for their younger brother to accept the decree, and then figure out how to mollify their grandfather.
If he found out that Miss Bai was an escaped convict, his old illness might flare up again!
However, Jiang Xuanjin rose to his feet without reaching for the decree.
“Your Majesty?” The startled eunuch hurriedly extended the edict forward again, “You must accept it before you can rise!”
Lord Ziyang was always the most observant of propriety. To rise without accepting the decree was tantamount to defying the imperial order! However, the young eunuch thought perhaps His Highness was too excited, and if the decree was pushed closer, he could pretend not to have seen it.
But the decree was nearly shoved into his arms, and still Jiang Xuanjin didn’t move.
“Is everything packed?” He asked casually.
Today was the day the Jiang family was supposed to return to the capital, so naturally, the luggage had been packed early in the morning. Everyone stiffly nodded, looking at him in confusion.
Li Huaiyu lifted his eyes and caught the fleeting hostility in Xuanjin’s eyes.
A chill ran down her spine. She glanced at him, then at the eunuch delivering the decree whose expression was worsening by the moment, and suddenly had a very strong premonition.
This person… could it be that he wants to…
“Once everything is packed, we shall depart,” he calmly brushed aside the imperial edict in front of him.
With a resounding thud, the bright yellow scroll hit the bluestone ground before the temple. Everyone present, whether standing or kneeling, drew in a sharp breath. Jiang Chong reacted the quickest, picking up the edict and sternly calling out, “Third Brother!”
“Xuanjin!” Old Master Jiang frowned in confusion.
The eunuch delivering the decree sensed the impending trouble and tried to escape, but he hesitated, glancing back at his master before stepping forward to intercept him.
“Father, haven’t you visited Ziyang before?” Jiang Xuanjin arched his hand towards him. “Let me take you to see.”
“You’re absurd!” The mahogany dragon-headed cane struck his arm hard, resonating with a dull thud!
Li Huaiyu stood up. Almost instinctively, she ran to Jiang Xuanjin’s side, intercepting the second strike that Old Master Jiang swung.
“Father, please calm down!” Jiang Chong and others hurried over to support the old master, gently pressing down his raised hand.
“Are you… trying to anger me to death?!” Old Master Jiang stared at Jiang Xuanjin, struggling to break free and hit him again. “That’s an imperial edict! An imperial edict! What do you think it is, to brush aside like this? Do you know what you’re doing?!”
“I do.” Jiang Xuanjin replied calmly. “I am defying the decree.”
His demeanor was composed, showing no signs of impulsiveness, as if he had made this decision long ago.
Old Master Jiang was stunned, his face pale as he asked, “Why?”
Before waiting for his answer, the old man looked towards Li Huaiyu beside him. “Is it because of her?”
Was it because he already had a legal wife, so he refused the Emperor’s decree of marriage?
Huaiyu forced a laugh, waving her hand. “This has nothing to do with me.”
Jiang Xuanjin must have planned this defiance since the moment he left the capital. After Emperor Danyang, the next target would be Lord Ziyang, and issuing this decree was merely a ploy to lure him back to the capital, continuing to keep him under control.
But Li Huaiyu hadn’t expected Jiang Xuanjin to openly defy the decree like this. Seeing the old master’s reaction, she understood that defying an imperial decree was a bold move for the Jiang family.
Chaos erupted before the temple. Jiang’s family members tried to calm down the old master and persuade Jiang Xuanjin. More people arrived upon hearing the news. Li Huaiyu felt uncomfortable being squeezed among them and was about to leave when someone grabbed her wrist.
Jiang Xuanjin didn’t look at her, still dealing with his agitated family members, but his grip didn’t loosen, indicating any intention to let her go.
“What are you doing?” She asked softly.
He didn’t answer, appearing not to have heard her, calmly conversing with others.
Huaiyu lowered her head and saw his long fingers, knuckles slightly white, his thumb firmly holding onto the other four fingers, tightly but not hurting her.
Was he nervous? This composed person seemed to need something to hold onto to feel at ease.
Huaiyu raised an eyebrow, chuckled lightly, and stood still.
It took Old Master Jiang half an hour to recover. Jiang Yan hurriedly spoke up for his younger uncle, “Grandfather, please calm down. It’s not a bad idea to take a walk to Ziyang.”
To go to Ziyang meant something that Jiang Yan might not have known, but Old Master Jiang understood very well. He looked over at Jiang Xuanjin and his face showed extreme disappointment for the first time.
“Summon the family law!”
“Father?” Jiang Shen was startled.
“Don’t understand?” Old Master Jiang thundered, “I said to summon the family law!”
The last time Li Huaiyu made a mistake, the family law punishment was copying Buddhist scriptures, which she considered light compared to the Bai family. So hearing these words now, her reaction wasn’t very strong.
However, when Jiang Xuanjin knelt on the cushion, and the old master brought forth a thick wooden board to stand behind him, Huaiyu was dumbfounded.
“This…,” Xu Chuniang said quietly, her face pale. “In the Jiang family, when women make mistakes, they receive a literary punishment, but when men err, it’s a martial punishment.”
“I see,” Huaiyu nodded in realization, glancing at Jiang Xuanjin, a lump forming in her throat.
“Worried?” Xu Chuniang asked her, watching intently.
“How could I be,” Huaiyu shook her head. “Others may not know, but can you not? Between him and I, our bond is long severed…”
“Thud!” The muffled sound of the board hitting flesh made everyone’s heart skip a beat.
Huaiyu abruptly fell silent, looking at the person kneeling so uprightly, her brow furrowing.
The old master spared no effort with that strike, yet Jiang Xuanjin remained unmoved, enduring it without even a flinch.
“What is the first rule of the Jiang family?” the old master demanded angrily.
“Loyalty to the sovereign.”
The board came down hard again on his back. The old master scolded, “Then what are you doing?!”
“…,” he didn’t answer, his face showing no hint of shame.
The old master was so furious his eyes turned red, hitting him again and again with increasing force. “What are you doing? Tell me! What are you doing?!”
At this rate, wouldn’t they beat him to death? Huaiyu pressed her lips together, turning to Xu Chuniang. “Shouldn’t we intervene?”
Xu Chuniang shook her head repeatedly. “In the Jiang residence, when family law is being enforced, it’s not advisable to interfere. Look at the eldest young master over there, so anxious, yet he hasn’t stepped forward either.”
Family rules again! Huaiyu sneered inwardly.
If Danyang died from being too rebellious, then the Jiang family was too strict, excessively so. There might not be a good ending for anyone.
“Thud!” Another board struck. Jiang Xuanjin’s rigidly kneeling figure finally swayed.
Xu Chuniang looked on with a touch of pity. “His Highness is indeed stubborn. A few soft words might have prevented the old master from being so harsh… Oh? Where are you going?”
Despite her earlier claim of no worry, Huaiyu strode forward just as the next board was about to fall from the old master’s hand, standing directly behind Jiang Xuanjin.
“…,” The suspended wooden board froze in mid-air, just above her head, causing a breeze that brushed a few stray hairs from her forehead. Huaiyu glanced up, then reached out to gently press the board back down to the ground.
The temple erupted in commotion! After so many years, she was the first to dare to intervene in the punishment of an elder in such a manner.
Jiang’s old master stared at her, his expression turning incredibly ugly.
“You… little sister!” Jiang Chong hurriedly exclaimed. “Step back quickly!”
As if she hadn’t heard him, Huaiyu met the old master’s gaze and smiled. “Even if you were to kill him, with his temperament, he wouldn’t explain the whole story behind his actions.”
“And what of it?” the old master retorted. “For someone who defies imperial orders, what does it matter if he dies?”
“Step aside,” Jiang Xuanjin’s voice was low, a clear rebuke.
Huaiyu didn’t move, instead, he turned to Old Master Jiang and said, “Your health isn’t good either. After so many strikes, your arm will surely ache tomorrow. How about sitting down, having some tea, and letting me explain?”
Old Master Jiang’s gaze darkened. “Do you think a few words from you will make me drop this matter?”
Huaiyu pondered for a moment. “If you insist on holding it, I will listen.”
“Impudence!” Old Master Jiang angrily declared, “Anyone who obstructs family law shall be punished! Kneel!”
Wow, it was so serious that no one dared to intervene. Huaiyu was speechless for a moment, then smiled again. “Can we finish talking before the punishment?”
He was being cheeky and defiant, completely unlike the usually honest Jiang Bai Shi.
Old Master Jiang was even more furious, his hands trembling as he held the wooden board, and his head began to spin.
“Father!” Seeing this, Jiang Chong and Jiang Shen hurried over to support him.
“You should rest for a while and calm down!” Jiang Shen said, gesturing to Huaiyu.
Huaiyu understood and grabbed Jiang Xuanjin’s arm, dragging him towards the back door of the hall.
“Let go,” Jiang Xuanjin frowned.
Huaiyu rolled his eyes impatiently, “If I let go, can you walk on your own? At this point, can’t you just let it go? Just treat me as a breeze passing by.”
Chengxu and Yufeng followed behind them. Upon hearing this, Chengxu stepped forward to help, but Yufeng reacted quickly and grabbed him.
“What are you doing?” Chengxu was puzzled.
“If you want a good life, don’t go helping,” Yufeng whispered.
Why? Chengxu frowned and looked up, suddenly realizing that his wife was almost half embracing and half supporting his master, while his master, who was usually strong and liked to show off his martial arts skills, was putting half of his body’s strength on his wife.
Chengxu: “……”
“Does it hurt a lot?” Huaiyu asked sarcastically.
Jiang Xuanjin snorted lightly, not bothering to respond to her, but his face was pale and there was sweat on his forehead. It didn’t look easy at all.
Unable to help, Huaiyu muttered, “How come your old man’s hand is so heavy and fierce? I’m not good enough. Ba Dezhong would have beaten me, but you, such a well-behaved child, are you willing to fight so hard?”
“You too. If you had just told them that the emperor wanted to harm you and that going to Ziyang was a wise move to protect yourself, wouldn’t it have been enough? Just endure one beating!”
“I’ve always told you that your stubborn nature of not explaining things isn’t good. If you keep suffering, you should learn a lesson, shouldn’t you?”
While speaking lightly, sweat was oozing from his palm. Jiang Xuanjin glanced at her sideways, his eyes flickering.
Upon stepping into the southern courtyard, Qingxian immediately spotted them and hurried over, asking, “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”
Huaiyu chuckled, “How could it be about me? Lord Ziyang is injured.”
“Ah,” Qingxian glanced at Jiang Xuanjin and his expression turned cool. “The injury seems quite serious. Let me support you; my strength is greater than His Highness’s.”
With that, he reached out and grabbed Jiang Xuanjin’s other arm.
“Ugh.” Jiang Xuanjin, who had been silent, uttered a muffled groan when he was pulled, his ink-black eyes filled with pain.
Startled, Huaiyu quickly said, “Qingxian, don’t touch him!”
“Is there an injury on the arm too?” Qingxian asked incredulously. “I didn’t exert much force!”
“Forget it. We’re almost there anyway. I’ll support him over, and you can open the door for me.” Huaiyu gestured towards the room ahead.
Qingxian nodded in confusion, took a few steps forward, and then instinctively looked back.
Jiang Xuanjin was leaning half against Huaiyu, and sensing Qingxian’s glance, his pitch-black eyes stared at him, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
Provocation! This was a provocation!
Qingxian was furious. He stopped in his tracks and said sharply, “As the esteemed Lord Ziyang, playing such tricks, don’t you find it shameful?”
Using the injured ploy? Huaiyu was left baffled by his sudden outburst, furrowing his brow and looking up. “What’s wrong?”
“Your Highness, let go of him!” Qingxian exclaimed angrily. “This person has ulterior motives!”
Huaiyu didn’t catch Jiang Xuanjin’s expression just now; she only witnessed him receiving punishment, and assisting him was her voluntary choice. Why was Qingxian suspicious?
Considering Qingxian’s penchant for competing with others, Huaiyu sighed helplessly. “Just open the door.”
Seeing her complete lack of trust, Qingxian was infuriated. He forcefully pushed open the door, then declared, “I’ll go find Bai Ai and Chi Jin first.”
“Fine.” With Qingxian’s fiery temper, Huaiyu didn’t want to delay further. She supported Jiang Xuanjin into the room and said to Chengxu, “Fetch some medicine.”
Chengxu nodded absent-mindedly and went to find the monks in the temple. Yufeng stood by the bed and quietly said to Huaiyu, “His Highness needs to change his clothes.”
“Why don’t you do it?” Huaiyu retorted. “Are you implying I should do it myself?”
Yufeng replied seriously, “His Highness has never needed me to assist with changing.”
It felt odd for a man to help another man change clothes, and since there were no maids around Jiang Xuanjin, he usually managed on his own. But now…
Huaiyu thought for a moment and decided to accumulate some good karma for the little one in her belly.
Yufeng said, “I’ll fetch water,” and left the room. Huaiyu stood in front of Jiang Xuanjin, slowly unfastening the clasps of his outer garment, feeling a bit awkward. “Hold on for a moment.”
Jiang Xuanjin sat with half-closed eyes on the edge of the bed, allowing her to remove his outer garment and then his inner one. As her fingers touched the collar of his inner garment, she coughed lightly, feeling somewhat uneasy.
In the past, it was under romantic and intimate circumstances, but now, looking at it again, it felt rather complicated.
When her cold fingers touched his slightly warm skin, Huaiyu pursed her lips and murmured, “Turn sideways.”
Obediently, Jiang Xuanjin turned his head, exposing his back to her.
Seeing his back, Huaiyu couldn’t help but frown and say with a serious tone, “You know how to handle things.”
It had only been a short while, yet his back was already swollen and bruised like this. If she hadn’t intervened earlier, would he have ended up wandering at the gates of the underworld like when he endured the punishment before?
Listening to her tone, Jiang Xuanjin’s back stiffened slightly, and then he calmly asked, “Do you feel sorry for me?”
Huaiyu hesitated for a moment. In the past, it had been difficult for her to say such things teasingly to him, yet now it felt strangely natural. She chuckled, wiping her face, “Why would I feel sorry for you? I’m just a bit angry. You were hit so hard. If you had been beaten to death, who would rescue Qingsi?”
Understanding now that it was about Qingsi, Jiang Xuanjin lowered his gaze, his eyes coldly staring at the bedding on the bed.
“But Your Highness, if you resist the imperial decree, the consequences will indeed be severe,” she changed the subject abruptly, “Have you thought about how to arrange your family?”
This sudden shift in topic was as hard as grinding beans. Jiang Xuanjin sneered coldly, “Your concern is unnecessary.”
“Fair enough,” Huaiyu sighed, realizing the conversation had turned sour. She rubbed her chin and stood up. “I’ll take people and leave first. Once in Danyang, I promise to fulfill Your Highness’s wishes, and I hope you will keep your promise to bring Qingsi.”
Leaving again?
Jiang Xuanjin’s jaw tightened. He spoke with a stern face, “If you defy the imperial decree, do you think you can smoothly cross through all the cities of Ziyang and reach within Danyang’s territory?”
Huaiyu paused, turned back, and chuckled awkwardly, “That’s because I can’t. That’s why I asked Your Highness earlier if it could be easier.”
“No.”
“If you can’t, then what are you saying?” Huaiyu was a bit angry, waved his sleeves, and said, “Then we’ll have to cross the mountains ourselves.”
“But this prince wants to send people from the Jiang family to the main city of Ziyang,” Jiang Xuanjin interrupted before continuing, “If Your Highness is honest and no longer resorts to such devious means, it’s fine to travel together.”
Huaiyu was surprised, then her eyes lit up, “You… You’re willing to accompany me?”
“If Your Highness doesn’t return to Danyang, who will fulfill the obligations at the frontline cities?”
So that’s what it was about. Huaiyu blinked, thinking it over. Even if their relationship didn’t work out, they still had business to conduct. She cared about Qingsi’s life, and returning to Danyang to plan major matters meant she could temporarily set aside this bit of resentment with Lord Ziyang.
On Lord Ziyang’s side, he was already cornered by the emperor, and now the lives of everyone in the Jiang household were at stake. Jiang Xuanjin wouldn’t continue to dwell on old grievances with her. They could truly pretend that nothing had happened and mutually benefit each other.
They exchanged a silly smile. Huaiyu gently pressed her small abdomen and couldn’t help feeling a twinge of sadness. How had things come to this?
“Your Highness!” Just as she was lost in thought, Bai Ai’s voice suddenly sounded from outside the door. Agitated, he hurriedly entered the room.
Jiang Xuanjin immediately straightened his inner garment and frowned at him.
“What’s wrong?” Huaiyu asked, “Why are you so flustered?”
Bai Ai glanced at Jiang Xuanjin, pursed his lips, and then said, “I just received news. Lu Jingxing has been waiting at the post station all this time. When he didn’t see you, he returned to the capital. However, he encountered an ambush and is now being protected by Wuling and others, retreating to the border of Ziyang.”
Huaiyu was slightly shocked. “Lu Jingxing was ambushed?”
“Yes, and he’s reportedly injured.”
Taking a sharp breath, Huaiyu stomped her foot. “How could I forget to send him a message!”
With pursed lips, Jiang Xuanjin glanced at her, his gaze sweeping over her genuinely anxious expression, unable to suppress a cold scoff.
She cared a lot, didn’t she?