Jiang Zhan played with an empty teacup, waiting for Jiang Si to eagerly ask for more details.
Jiang Si felt a mix of amusement and lingering fear. “So, you’re saying a third person saved Second Brother?”
“Indeed! That person is my lifesaver! I should have invited them to the best restaurant in the capital for a meal, but knowing my sister was waiting at home, I could only plan to visit and express my gratitude another day,” Jiang Zhan put down the teacup with a regretful expression. “It was quite impolite of me.”
Jiang Si carefully inquired about the details, growing increasingly worried for Jiang Zhan.
The people who tried to kill her brother were most likely the same ones who framed Magistrate Niu. Now that they had seen her brother’s face, would they try to harm him in the future?
“Second Brother mentioned visiting to express gratitude. Does that mean you know the name and address of your savior?”
“Yes, his name is Yu Qi. Coincidentally, he lives in Quezi Hutong, not far from our home—”
Jiang Si didn’t hear a word after that. She grabbed Jiang Zhan’s sleeve, gripping it so tightly that the veins on the back of her hand bulged. “He’s called Yu Qi?”
Jiang Zhan looked at Jiang Si’s dramatically changed expression in surprise. “What’s wrong, Fourth Sister?”
Jiang Si suddenly came to her senses and released Jiang Zhan’s sleeve. She tried to cover up her loss of composure by tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, but her face remained pale and difficult to conceal.
Jiang Zhan eyed Jiang Si suspiciously. “Could it be that you know Yu Qi?”
Jiang Si forced a smile, but the name “Yu Qi” kept flashing in her mind, making her uneasy.
“What does this Yu Qi look like?”
“Huh?” Jiang Zhan blinked.
Strange, why would his sister ask about a man’s appearance?
Seeing Jiang Zhan’s silence, Jiang Si asked again, “Is he exceptionally handsome, a rare beauty among men?”
Jiang Zhan was even more reluctant to speak now.
No wonder his sister was so curious about Brother Yu Qi. She must have seen him before. It was only natural that she couldn’t forget such a bewitchingly handsome man.
If his sister found out that this Yu Qi was the same Yu Qi she knew, wouldn’t that give her a chance to get in touch with him?
That wouldn’t do. The fact that Brother Yu Qi could appear near a brothel showed he was a philanderer. While such a person might make a good friend with shared interests, he wouldn’t approve of him as a brother-in-law.
“Not at all. Brother Yu Qi is a burly man. How else could he have saved your Second Brother from danger?” Jiang Zhan secretly gave himself a thumbs-up for his quick thinking.
Jiang Si let out a sigh of relief, her smile becoming more relaxed. “Then Second Brother must remember to treat him to a meal. We should repay a drop of kindness with a gushing spring, let alone a life-saving favor.”
It seemed she had been too sensitive. There were countless men in the world surnamed Yu and ranked seventh in their family. Besides, the Yu Qi she knew was only using an alias.
“Does Fourth Sister also know someone named Yu Qi?” Jiang Zhan asked, still concerned.
“I once encountered someone called Yu Qi by chance when I went out. There was some unpleasantness at the time, so it left an impression.”
“Was that person as handsome as Pan An?”
As handsome as Pan An? Jiang Si couldn’t help but recall.
That person was indeed exceptionally good-looking, shining like a bright pearl. She had only read about Pan An’s appearance in books, but if she had to compare… truthfully, that person probably had less of a powdered appearance than Pan An and more of a heroic air.
But what did it matter how handsome he was? The “Yu Qi” she knew was a scoundrel.
“Not at all. That person had a fierce face, looking like a vicious demon. He wasn’t a good person.” A string of unflattering words spilled from Jiang Si’s mouth.
“Then we must not be talking about the same person. Although Brother Yu Qi is burly, you can tell at a glance that he’s a good person.”
“Let’s not talk about this anymore. Second Brother, please don’t cause any more trouble in the future. This time, someone saw your face, and it might lead to problems.”
“Once that person finds out I’m the Second Young Master of the Marquis of Dongping’s household, they won’t dare to do anything rash,” Jiang Zhan said dismissively.
He wasn’t raised to be timid. He couldn’t just hide at home forever because of this.
Moreover, regardless of the Marquis of Dongping’s status among the nobility, the unexplained death of a young master would certainly cause panic, unlike the quiet death of a commoner.
“In any case, Second Brother should go out less often, and when you do, please be extra careful.”
Jiang Si suddenly remembered that in her previous life, Jiang Zhan’s death was caused by a wastrel named Yang Shengcai, who was the grandson of the Minister of Rites…
Could there be a connection?
But that wasn’t right. In her previous life, she hadn’t sent Second Brother to that alley near Bichun House.
“Young Miss—” A-Man’s voice called from outside.
Jiang Si snapped back to reality and called for A-Man to enter.
A-Man quickly walked to Jiang Si’s side. “Young Miss, Second Master has returned and is currently stopping the Old Master from counting the betrothal gifts.”
“Second Uncle is indeed trying to ruin things!” Jiang Zhan said hatefully.
His Second Uncle was usually kind, but he was most filial to his Grandmother and would listen to her on this matter.
“Let’s go take a look.” Jiang Si stood up and walked out.
Jiang Zhan hurried to follow.
The betrothal gifts sent by Duke Anguo’s household were placed in the small storeroom of Huaming Hall. In front of the storeroom, Jiang Ancheng was angrily shouting, “Second Brother, get out of my way quickly. Don’t delay me from going to Duke Anguo’s household to break off the engagement!”
A gentle voice replied, “Elder Brother, please hear me out. I know everything now. Isn’t it just that the young man from Duke Anguo’s household did something foolish in his youth? We can resolve this properly.”
“How do we resolve it?”
“Duke Anguo’s household wants to make that woman a concubine. Not only is Elder Brother angry, but I, as the Second Uncle, am also dissatisfied. She’s just a commoner woman; give her some silver and send her away. When Si’er marries over, won’t she be able to make that rascal behave with her talents? Elder Brother, breaking off the engagement is truly unwise. It might feel good for the moment, but what about Si’er’s future?”
Jiang Si stood quietly at a distance, listening to Second Uncle’s speech. She almost couldn’t help but applaud.
The second Uncle was truly eloquent!
Just as Jiang Zhan was about to speak, Jiang Si gently pulled him back and stepped forward.
“Si’er is here.” Second Uncle Jiang saw Jiang Si approach and revealed a gentle smile.
Jiang Si curtsied slightly and said directly, “Second Uncle need not worry about your niece. In my view, being able to stay away from a man like the Third Young Master Jiang is worth celebrating, even if it means being an old maid for life.”
“Si’er, you’re still young. How could you understand the difficulties of being an old maid—”
Jiang Si gave Jiang Ancheng a sweet smile. “Father, if I wanted to be an old maid for life, would you be willing to support me?”
“Of course I would!” Jiang Ancheng replied without hesitation.
Jiang Zhan immediately patted his chest. “Don’t worry, Fourth Sister. If you don’t want to get married, you still have your brother. I’ll beat up anyone who dares to gossip!”
The smile on Jiang Si’s lips grew more genuine.
Her father and brother might not be the smartest people, and they might even make wrong judgments due to others’ eloquence, but their love for her was pure and unwavering.
“Second Uncle, you see? Father and Second Brother don’t mind at all. Or do you think your niece will bring you shame if she can’t get married?”
Jiang Ancheng glared at Second Uncle Jiang with an unfriendly expression.
He hadn’t complained about his daughter yet, so who was this person to complain on his behalf?
“How can Si’er say such things? That’s not what Second Uncle meant—”
Jiang Ancheng kicked Jiang Zhan. “I asked you to help me, and you went off gallivanting again? Hurry up and get to work!”
Second Uncle Jiang, having been put in an awkward position by Jiang Si’s words, stood silently watching as Jiang Ancheng and his son directed the servants to move the betrothal gifts.
“Second Uncle, please move aside. It would be terrible if something fell on your foot,” Jiang Si said with a smile.
Second Uncle Jiang stared at Jiang Si for a while before smiling and leaving.
Second Uncle’s temper was truly good; he didn’t even get angry at this.
A faint smile flashed across Jiang Si’s lips.
Meanwhile, when Madam Guo returned to Duke Anguo’s mansion, her carriage was stopped by the gatekeepers. “We’re not receiving guests today. Please come back another day.”
The gatekeepers naturally didn’t recognize the ordinary rented carriage.
“Open your eyes and look carefully. The Young Madam is in the carriage!” Madam Guo’s maid scolded, lifting the carriage curtain.
The gatekeeper was startled and quickly opened the gate.
Madam Guo went straight to Duchess Wei’s quarters.
“How did it go? Did you reach an agreement?” Duchess Wei asked, looking exhausted.