Time flew swiftly, and soon it was the seventh month.
The summer heat still lingered in the capital, causing people’s clothes to become drenched in sweat after just a brief walk outside. However, according to the calendar, early autumn had already arrived.
The early autumn sky stretched high above, with thin scattered clouds. The vast expanse of deep blue, along with sunlight even more intense than midsummer, somehow lifted people’s spirits during this season.
Yet Jiang Si’s heart grew heavier with each passing day.
The death of her Second Brother in her previous life weighed on her like a massive boulder. As that fateful day drew nearer, she found it increasingly difficult to breathe.
After experiencing the deaths of Marquis Yongchang and his wife, she dared not act rashly.
It was a bitter lesson that taught her how an inadvertent change could sometimes bring unpredictable misfortune.
Jiang Si didn’t dare risk her brother’s life.
Rather than desperately trying to prevent Second Brother from going boating on the day he died in her previous life, she preferred to let events unfold as they had before and save him at the crucial moment.
She couldn’t possibly stay by Second Brother’s side all day. Who knew if preventing this boat trip would only lead to another incident? Or some other unforeseen accident?
Jiang Si, at least knew the time and place of Jiang Zhan’s death from her previous life. This was far better than facing the unknown.
However, it was impossible not to feel anxious.
Worry comes with caring – it’s only natural.
“Miss, you’ve grown thinner these days. Is it because the heat’s affecting your appetite?” A Qiao set a plate of desserts on the table and urged, “I specially made some cold fruit sweets. Please try some.”
A Qiao was a skillful maid with a natural talent for making desserts. The plate of cold sweets was decorated in pale green and light pink, coated with fine coconut shavings like frost. In this hot weather, just looking at them increases one’s appetite.
But Jiang Si shook her head. “You and A Man can eat them. Just bring me some honey water.”
A Qiao wanted to persuade her further, but seeing Jiang Si’s grave expression, she gave up and turned to fetch the honey water.
Jiang Si stood up and paced back and forth in the not-so-spacious room.
Today was the day Second Brother would go boating on a pleasure craft with Yang Shengcai, the grandson of the Minister of Rites.
Although she had gone over every detail repeatedly and was certain nothing had changed from her previous life regarding this matter, Jiang Si couldn’t rest easy until she received news from Jiang Zhan’s side.
“Miss, Miss—” A Man came running in, out of breath.
Just then, A Qiao returned with the honey water. Jiang Si took it and handed it to A Man.
After A Man gulped down the water and returned the empty bowl to A Qiao, she quickly reported, “A Ji brought news that someone invited Second Young Master to go play at the Jin Shui River.”
Jiang Si bit her lip hard and angrily kicked a small stool near her feet.
She knew her Second Brother never learned from his mistakes and had indeed gotten involved with Yang Shengcai and his crowd again.
After her initial anger, she felt somewhat relieved.
Everything was indeed proceeding as it had in her previous life, which gave her confidence in saving her Second Brother.
“When is Second Young Master going?”
“They arranged to meet in the evening.”
Jiang Si pressed her lips together. Though she wanted to find Jiang Zhan and give him some warnings, she worried it might cause changes to the timeline. She had to suppress this impulse and ordered A Man to fetch Old Qin.
The meeting place with Old Qin was a pavilion connecting the front and back courtyards.
Jiang Si didn’t wait long before A Man led Old Qin over.
Arriving before Jiang Si, Old Qin cupped his hands in greeting and silently awaited instructions.
Old Qin’s attitude gave Jiang Si great reassurance.
Sometimes she needed someone clever like A Fei to handle matters, while at other times she needed someone like Old Qin who would execute her orders without question.
With her brother’s life at stake, she couldn’t allow for any mistakes.
“Old Qin, are you familiar with the Jin Shui River?”
Old Qin shook his head.
He wasn’t from the capital; his choice to settle here was driven by a personal aspiration. He hadn’t even heard of the Jin Shui River.
“Then go learn about it. I need you to become as familiar as possible with the Jin Shui River and hire a boat to wait for me there,” Jiang Si instructed.
Old Qin didn’t show even a hint of surprise, immediately nodding: “Rest assured, Miss.”
After explaining some more details, Jiang Si finally said, “Old Qin, tonight’s matter is extremely important to me. I’m counting on you.”
Old Qin clasped his hands: “I will do my utmost to complete what Miss has entrusted to me.”
After parting with Old Qin, Jiang Si returned to Haitang Residence to prepare her things.
A Qiao had an ominous feeling and tentatively asked, “Miss, are you going out again?”
Hmm, why did she use the word “again”?
“Yes, A Man and I might return very late tonight. A Qiao, I’m leaving the residence’s matters to you, especially make sure no one discovers that A Man and I are gone.”
A Qiao’s mouth turned bitter: “Miss—”
This was already the third time!
In the end, the poor A Qiao couldn’t voice her concerns. After seeing Jiang Si and A Man off, she silently recited countless “Amitabha Buddhas.”
If this continued, she would have to convert to Buddhism and become vegetarian.
The Jin Shui River banks were relatively quiet during the day, with the most bustling activity occurring at night. When the moon rose above the willows and lights blazed bright, countless pleasure boats and painted barges drifted along the Jin Shui River. The faint sounds of music and laughter carried on the wind, along with the scent of powder and perfume reaching people’s noses.
This was the paradise that scholars yearned for, and even more so the pleasure ground where the wealthy and powerful spent their gold. The phrase “Nights never end by the Jin Shui River” perfectly describes this spectacular scene.
Jiang Si and A Man were both dressed inconspicuously, quietly watching as the exquisitely decorated pleasure boats docked along the shore began lighting their large red lanterns and slowly moving toward the middle of the river.
“Miss.” A deep voice called out as Old Qin rowed the boat to shore.
Besides the dragon-and-phoenix-decorated pleasure boats, the Jin Shui River also had many nimble smaller vessels. Some belonged to vendors selling fresh fruits and snacks between the pleasure boats, while others carried common-looking courtesans who couldn’t qualify for the grand pleasure boats and instead conducted their business from these small crafts.
The Jin Shui River’s pleasures weren’t exclusively for the wealthy.
Old Qin skillfully maneuvered the boat, blending inconspicuously among these vessels.
Jiang Si and A Man boarded the boat.
A Man remarked with surprise: “Old Qin, who knew you could row a boat!”
“Mm.” Old Qin responded simply.
Where he had grown up with Xi Mei, there had been a river. In his youth, he had often played in the water with his companions. As for rowing, it wasn’t difficult for someone with his martial arts training to master.
“Miss, what should we do next?” A Man asked eagerly.
Jiang Si kept her eyes fixed ahead.
A pleasure boat was moored there, the most magnificent one in sight.
At that moment, several young men were walking toward the pleasure boat, laughing and talking. Among them was one she knew all too well – her Second Brother, Jiang Zhan.
A Man’s eyes widened as she tugged at Jiang Si’s sleeve: “Miss, Second Young Master is here!”
At this crucial moment, Jiang Si had become remarkably calm. She commanded quietly: “Old Qin set off. Follow that pleasure boat.”
Without a word, Old Qin dipped the oar into the water, and their small boat quickly merged into the flowing traffic of vessels, drawing closer to the pleasure boat.