After returning to Haitang Residence, Jiang Si immersed herself in the medicinal herbs.
The white-horned grass collected from the willow embankment needed to be dried and ground into fine powder. Taking advantage of the good sunlight, A-Qiao and A-Man carefully spread and dried them in the courtyard.
Jiang Zhan walked in carrying a bundle of items. Seeing the two maids in the courtyard, he asked with a smile, “Where is your young miss?”
A-Qiao hurriedly set aside her work. “Young Miss is inside. This servant will go inform her.”
Glancing at the items in his arms, Jiang Zhan quickly stopped her. “No need. Wait until I set this up before calling your young miss out.”
A-Man and A-Qiao curiously gathered around.
“Oh, a swing!” A-Qiao’s face lit up with excitement.
Jiang Zhan surveyed the area and selected two appropriately spaced crabapple trees. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he had installed the swing and was wrapping colorful ribbons around the ropes. As he worked, he explained with a smile, “These ribbons not only look pretty but also prevent rope burn. There, who wants to try it first?”
A-Man and A-Qiao were surprised and, despite their eagerness, demurred: “Young Miss hasn’t tried it yet. How could we servants go first?”
“If I say try it, just try it. Why so many words?” Jiang Zhan said impatiently, thinking to himself that of course, they needed to test if it was secure before letting his sister play.
Hmm, A-Man had good physical skills, so she would do it.
“A-Man, come on,” Jiang Zhan patted the swing invitingly.
“Then this servant will test it for Young Miss.” A-Man stepped onto the footboard and with a slight push, soon was swinging high into the air.
“A-Man, be careful!” A-Qiao watched nervously as A-Man swung higher and higher, far above the wall height.
A-Man paid no attention. At the highest point, she suddenly performed a backward flip, executing a beautiful somersault in mid-air before landing steadily back on the swing.
A-Qiao covered her eyes and shrieked.
Hearing the commotion, Jiang Si came out and stood in the corridor, watching the scene in the courtyard.
“Young Miss, swinging is so much fun!” A-Man jumped down from the swing, her face flushed with excitement.
Jiang Zhan’s face had grown pale. He rose on his tiptoes to untie the newly fastened ropes. “I just remembered this swing was borrowed. I should return it.”
Jiang Si quickly walked over, lifting her skirts. “Second Brother is trying to fool me. I’ve never heard of anyone needing to borrow a swing.”
“Fourth Sister’s health is delicate. What if you catch a chill from the wind while swinging? Better to take it down.”
Good heavens, his sister’s maid was too wild – trying to reach the heavens on a swing! What if she gave his sister bad ideas?
Just imagining Jiang Si falling from the swing made Jiang Zhan quicken his movements.
Jiang Si held onto the colored ribbons tied to the ropes and smiled. “Second Brother, I like this swing.”
Jiang Zhan’s hands paused as he met the young girl’s smiling eyes. After only a moment’s hesitation, he quickly gave in. “Since Fourth Sister likes it, we’ll keep it. But promise me you won’t swing like A-Man did. It would be terrible if you fell.”
Fourth Sister had just had her engagement canceled; she must be feeling down. A swing might help lift her spirits.
“I understand, Second Brother needn’t worry.”
“Then I’ll be going now. I need to head out later.”
“Second Brother is going out? Perfect timing – I need to buy some things too. Let’s go together.” Jiang Si thought of the one medicine ingredient she still needed.
Jiang Zhan naturally wouldn’t refuse. He patiently waited for Jiang Si to change into her outdoor clothes, and the siblings set out together.
“Young Master, Fourth Miss,” a maid they encountered on the way hastily curtsied.
“Fourth Miss—ah, Young Master,” after a few more steps, an elderly servant woman hurriedly bowed.
Jiang Zhan gradually sensed something amiss and whispered to Jiang Si, “Fourth Sister, have you noticed the servants being particularly attentive today?”
He had thought that after his sister’s broken engagement, these servants might look down on her, but surprisingly, they seemed quite conscientious.
“Really? Sister hasn’t noticed,” Jiang Si replied innocently.
The elderly servant who had just rushed over to bow overheard these words.
She secretly rolled her eyes, thinking to herself: As if you don’t know why we’re being so attentive!
“If you’ve paid your respects, move along. Why are you still blocking the way? Waiting for a reward?” Jiang Zhan frowned at the servant woman still standing in their path.
The woman trembled and hurried away.
How dare she expect a reward from Fourth Miss, who was bold enough to render Second Madam speechless!
Jiang Zhan touched his finely shaped chin, puzzled. “They’re usually not this afraid of me. Looking at that servant’s expression, you’d think I eat people.”
“Second Brother is overthinking. Let’s hurry out of the mansion.”
As soon as they left Yukian Lane, they entered the main street, which was flowing with people and filled with vendors’ calls.
“What does Fourth Sister need to buy?” Jiang Zhan casually beckoned a street vendor and bought several candied haw skewers, choosing the one with the best-looking fruits for Jiang Si and giving the rest to his servant A-Ji.
A-Ji cleverly shared one with A-Man and asked Jiang Zhan ingratiatingly, “Young Master, aren’t you having any?”
“What kind of grown man eats candied haws?” Jiang Zhan glared at A-Ji, then noticed Jiang Si just holding hers without eating. “Does Fourth Sister not like it?”
Jiang Si pointed to the veil covering her face: “It’s inconvenient.”
“Ah, that’s true.” Jiang Zhan sighed regretfully, then added, “Better keep it on though.”
His sister was too beautiful; he couldn’t let those young dandies catch a glimpse of her.
Seeing they had reached the capital’s largest pharmacy, Jiang Si went inside with A-Man to buy medicine. Jiang Zhan, disliking the medicinal smell, waited outside.
“Give me one!” Jiang Zhan held out his hand.
“Young Master, didn’t you just say grown men don’t eat candied haws?”
Jiang Zhan smacked A-Ji’s shoulder. “I’m a grown man in front of my sister, but I’m the master to you! Does the master wanting a candied haw bother you?”
A-Ji stuck out his tongue and quickly handed a skewer to Jiang Zhan.
Jiang Zhan bit into a red fruit, his eyes scanning the bustling crowd.
The young man was handsome; even casually standing against the wall, he drew occasional glances from passersby. Several people approached, immediately noticing Jiang Zhan eating his candied haw.
“Well, if it isn’t Second Young Master Jiang,” the leader, dressed in brocade robes and wearing a jade crown, held a folding fan and revealed a malicious smile. “Last time you ran away quickly, but this time won’t be so easy.”
Jiang Zhan’s expression changed slightly.
The man dressed as gaudily as a golden pheasant was Cui Yi, son of Princess Rongyang and General Cui Xu. From their first meeting, this peacock had been constantly at odds with him.
Given Jiang Zhan’s temperament, he couldn’t tolerate being repeatedly provoked. The last time he finally fought back, thoroughly offending Cui Yi.
He wasn’t afraid of fighting, but Fourth Sister was still in the pharmacy. It would be terrible if these people encountered her.
Looking at the men surrounding him, Jiang Zhan gave a cold laugh. “Young Master Cui, this street is crowded. If a fight breaks out, the guards will arrive before we can properly settle things. If you want to fight, I’m game – you pick the place!”
Cui Yi gave Jiang Zhan a thumbs up. “You’ve got guts. Then follow me.”
Jiang Zhan secretly sighed in relief. “Let’s go.”
A gentle feminine voice came from behind: “Second Brother, where are you going?”