Master Chi’s body trembled as he stared motionlessly at the figure that had appeared out of nowhere.
The door creaked in the wind, but he no longer found it grating. His entire attention was drawn to the young woman at the desk.
“Jiao Jiao, is that you?” Master Chi quickly walked inside, but after a few steps, he suddenly felt dizzy and weak.
The young woman sitting casually at the desk stood up and slowly turned around.
“Jiao Jiao, where have you been? Don’t you know how worried your father has been!” After the initial joy, Master Chi’s face turned ashen.
The young woman blinked gently, and tears streamed down her face.
“Jiao Jiao, what’s wrong?” Master Chi became very anxious.
In his eyes, his daughter was as mischievous as a boy and rarely cried.
“Father, your daughter is already dead…”
Master Chi was stunned at first, then became furious: “Nonsense! You naughty girl, do you think saying this will save you from punishment?”
He looked around and picked up a feather duster from a nearby table, walking towards the young woman. But after just two steps, he froze.
Tears of blood flowed from the corners of the young woman’s eyes, trickling down her beautiful cheeks.
With a clang, the feather duster fell from Master Chi’s hand.
“Father, please listen to me…” The young woman, with bloody tears in her eyes, slowly recounted her experience.
Time passed, and a gust of wind blew in, making Master Chi’s thin robe flutter.
The wind was warm, but Master Chi’s back was covered in cold sweat, chilling him to the bone.
When he came to his senses, he found that the young woman had disappeared.
“Jiao Jiao—” Master Chi quickly walked to the desk, but there was nothing there, only a faint fragrance lingering.
It was the scent of the perfume his daughter usually used.
Master Chi seemed to realize something and suddenly turned towards the door, only to find it closed.
“Jiao Jiao, Jiao Jiao!” Master Chi cried out in anguish.
Soon, servants resting nearby rushed over: “Master, what’s wrong?”
“Did you see the young miss?” Master Chi grabbed a servant’s sleeve and asked loudly.
The servant looked bewildered: “Master, what are you talking about? The young miss isn’t home, remember?”
Master Chi’s hand loosened, and he staggered backward, finally falling to the ground, muttering, “It can’t be, it can’t be. Jiao Jiao can’t be gone.”
He found it hard to accept that his daughter was no longer in this world, but remembering the nightmares he had before leaving home, he felt an ominous premonition.
As if remembering something, Master Chi ran back to the desk and searched carefully.
This time, he found a long black hair near the inkstone.
Holding that hair, Master Chi began to tremble violently.
The two successful accomplices walked on the unlit street. Yu Jin asked with a smile, “Well, wasn’t I more useful than your maid?”
Jiang Si’s mouth twitched.
Comparing himself to a maid, he had made progress.
“Silent agreement?” Seeing Jiang Si not speaking, Yu Jin deliberately teased her.
The task was completed, and they were about to return to the capital. It wouldn’t be so easy to spend time together like this anymore, so he naturally wanted to cherish the opportunity.
“Don’t be so full of yourself. A-Man can make beds, serve tea, comb hair, draw eyebrows… A little maid knows much more,” Jiang Si said. In the dim starlight, she saw his eyes curve into a beautiful arc, filled with sparkling light.
The young man smiled, “I can do those too. And I can do even more, things your maid absolutely can’t do.”
Hearing this, Jiang Si’s face inexplicably heated up, and she blurted out, “Shameless!”
He had said similar things before but in bed…
Yu Jin looked innocent: “How is that shameless? I’m at least well-versed in both civil and military arts. Surely I’m better than a little maid?”
Suddenly noticing the young lady’s neck turning red, Yu Jin blinked: “Hey, what are you thinking about?”
Jiang Si was greatly embarrassed. She glared at Yu Jin and walked away.
Yu Jin hurried to catch up, reaching out to hold the young lady’s hand. But the atmosphere was just right, and he feared ruining everything with a rash move, so he had to restrain himself, secretly smiling under the cover of night.
A-Si seemed less cold towards him now.
But what exactly had A-Si been thinking about?
The next day, the group stayed in Yanzi Town for half a day more.
Jiang Si heard that Master Chi had hurriedly left early in the morning with several servants, which eased half of her worries. She then proposed to Jiang Zhan that they return home.
Away from Jiang An Cheng’s bamboo paddle and whip, Jiang Zhan was like a bird freed from its cage, enjoying himself immensely. But when Jiang Si wanted to go back, he agreed without hesitation.
This trip was only possible thanks to Fourth Sister, so of course, he had to go along with her wishes.
The journey back was much quicker than the leisurely trip there. In just a few days, the group returned to the capital.
Standing on the bustling street, Jiang Zhan sighed, “Although it was fun to go out and play, I find I’m quite happy to be going home too.”
Jiang Si leaned against the carriage window and smiled, “Second Brother must miss Father.”
Jiang Zhan’s face wrinkled, “Nonsense.”
When his father saw him, there were usually two choices: either a bamboo paddle stew or a salt-water-soaked whip. He certainly didn’t miss that.
“Second Brother Jiang, I’ll take my leave first. Come to my place for a drink later,” Yu Jin cupped his hands, then smiled slightly at Jiang Si before riding away on his horse.
Jiang Zhan secretly pouted.
What did he mean, smiling so nicely at Fourth Sister? It was an attempt to win Fourth Sister’s heart with his good looks.
Fortunately, Fourth Sister wasn’t so shallow!
Jiang Zhan worriedly glanced at Jiang Si, only to see his not-at-all-shallow sister’s gaze following the handsome young man as he rode away.
Jiang Zhan coughed heavily, “Fourth Sister, what are you looking at?”
Jiang Si calmly withdrew her gaze: “I just feel that Young Master Yu is quite mysterious. Second Brother, don’t let him fool you.”
Hearing Jiang Si say this, Jiang Zhan immediately felt relieved, but couldn’t help defending Yu Jin: “Don’t worry, Fourth Sister. Seventh Brother Yu is a good person.”
Jiang Si smiled and lowered the carriage curtain.
Better to save money, she thought. One day when Yu Seventh sells Second Brother, she’ll need to buy him back.
Returning to the East Peace Marquis Manor, Jiang Si and her brother first went to pay their respects at the Hall of Kindness. A-Man, following Jiang Si’s instructions, quietly told Old Qin to find A-Fei.
During this trip, A-Fei had never openly appeared in front of Jiang Zhan and the others. After getting news about Miss Chi at Lingwu Temple, Jiang Si sent him back to the capital first.
With May 19th approaching, Jiang Si needed A-Fei and Old Qin to keep an eye on the tofu seller’s movements and watch the courier station, respectively. These arrangements naturally needed to be made in advance.
On the way to the Hall of Kindness, they encountered Fifth Miss Jiang Li and Sixth Miss Jiang Pei.
“Second Brother, Fourth Sister,” Jiang Li curtsied in greeting.
Jiang Pei followed with a greeting and smiled, “Fourth Sister, you’re back. We thought after you accompanied Third Sister back to her manor, you might come to play with us. We didn’t expect you to go out on your own.”
“How is it Fourth Sister going out alone? Is your Second Brother not a person?” Jiang Zhan, disliking this sister who spoke with hidden meanings, said dissatisfied.
Although Jiang Pei looked down on Jiang Zhan in her heart, she didn’t dare talk back. Her eyes rolled as she said, “When we came back, Second Sister and the Marchioness gave us many gifts. It’s a pity Fourth Sister missed out. Fourth Sister, why don’t you come to my room later and see if there’s anything you like? You can take it if you do.”
Jiang Si smiled gently, “That’s not necessary. I’m glad Sixth Sister is happy.”