The Hanlin Academy was the most prestigious government office. As its scholars moved into various positions, they formed a powerful faction of upright officials in the court, becoming a force that no other group could ignore.
This was an era where only those who passed the imperial examinations could enter the Hanlin Academy, and only Hanlin scholars could enter the inner cabinet. It was truly the golden age for scholars.
Everyone in the Hanlin Academy was envied as heaven’s chosen, with all manner of praise heaped upon them. Yet some, despite their outward appearance of humble gentlemen, werewolves in human skin.
The moment Jiang Si confirmed it was Zhu Ziyu, she didn’t know whether to feel angry or relieved.
It was good that it was him. With a clear target, everything became easier to handle.
Jiang Si looked up.
The sky was high and the clouds were sparse, evoking a sense of expansiveness that lifted one’s spirits.
She didn’t ask how Yu Jin had dealt with Old Yu. Since Yu Qi had intervened, she didn’t need to worry about the aftermath.
What needed to be done next was still to wait.
Earlier, she had said that if all else failed, they could just kill Zhu Ziyu and be done with it. But that was a last resort, and the worst possible option.
Killing was ultimately wrong, and not a true solution to the problem.
Not to mention, if her elder sister found out she had killed Zhu Ziyu, she would likely hate Jiang Si for life.
Jiang Si was greedy and petty.
Why should that beast who harmed others be remembered and thought of by her elder sister for a lifetime, while she and her sister became estranged?
People like Zhu Ziyu deserved to be utterly ruined, abandoned by their wives and children, and scorned by all. Her elder sister would return to the East Peace Earl’s Manor with Yan’er. Even if she was disheartened for a while, it didn’t matter. As long as she could see this man’s true face, Jiang Si believed her sister would eventually move on.
Sensing Jiang Si’s poor mood, Yu Jin came over to comfort her: “Asi, look, a woman marrying is riskier than gambling. If you marry a man who’s a beast in human skin, your whole life is ruined.”
“Mm.”
“So, marrying someone like me is the only way to feel secure.”
Jiang Si wasn’t in the mood to banter with him and casually replied, “No one has ‘villain’ written on their face.”
Yu Jin was stumped for a while, unable to find a retort. Finally, he squeezed out a sentence: “Time reveals a person’s true nature.”
Jiang Si found these words quite pleasing to hear.
Before resolving these vexing matters, she had no thoughts of marriage at all. Since Yu Qi said this, it would at least give her a long time to consider.
Jiang Si deeply felt that she was a coward when it came to emotions. On one hand, she couldn’t bear to let go of this person’s feelings, on the other hand, she didn’t dare to peek out from her hard shell.
She decided to raise a turtle in the future, cursing at it a few times each day, as if cursing at herself.
“By the way, what do you plan to do about Miss Chuchu?” Yu Jin asked.
Jiang Si thought for a moment and said, “Since she’s out, I’ll go meet her.”
With A-Fei and the others keeping an eye on Zhu Ziyu, and A-Ya watching over Qing’er on her elder sister’s side, there was nothing to be gained from anxiety. No matter how worried she was, she couldn’t focus solely on her sister’s affairs to the exclusion of all else.
Songzi Lane was quiet at this time.
The early bird catches the worm, and the common folk had left early to make a living, usually returning only in the evening. Those who remained were mostly the elderly and young children.
Chuchu finished her morning exercises in the courtyard and squatted by the wall, sighing in boredom.
Although staying here meant food and shelter and a chance to recover, the feeling of being unable to come and go freely was unbearable. How was this any different from being in prison?
She even began to miss those unlucky days. At least then she could go wherever she wanted, with no one to stop her.
Chuchu glared at the person watching her, cursing Yu Jin over and over in her heart.
There was a commotion at the door, and the very youth she was cursing in her mind entered with a young maid.
“Ahem.” Seeing Chuchu squatting casually by the wall, Yu Jin cleared his throat with a cold face.
Asi must be kept far away from this person, lest she learn bad habits.
Chuchu glanced at Yu Jin, then boredly looked away, not even raising her head as she spoke: “When is Young Master Yu’s fiancée finally coming? If she doesn’t come soon, I’m going to leave. Let me tell you, bringing a maid here is useless. I don’t need anyone to serve me…”
“Miss Chuchu.” Jiang Si spoke up.
Hearing this somewhat familiar voice, Chuchu was startled. She frowned and scrutinized Jiang Si for a while before exclaiming in surprise: “You’re that girl from the Golden Water River!”
“It’s me.”
Chuchu immediately glanced at Yu Jin, suddenly realizing: “So you’re his maid, not his fiancée.”
That made sense. How could a normal man take his fiancée to stroll along the Golden Water River? A philanderer taking his maid was more likely.
Yu Jin frowned in displeasure: “She is my fiancée.”
Chuchu’s expression clearly showed her disbelief.
“What? My fiancée sometimes likes to dress as a man, as a maid. Is Miss Chuchu envious?”
Chuchu’s gaze towards Jiang Si immediately became intriguing.
She had never met a girl who lived so freely. It was practically her life’s goal.
Chuchu gave Jiang Si a friendly smile: “I still don’t know how to address you, Miss. Thanks to you for taking me in during this mishap. I can’t not even know your name…”
Jiang Si glanced at Yu Jin.
Understanding Jiang Si’s meaning, Yu Jin nodded reluctantly despite his unwillingness: “You two talk.”
Seeing him leave, Jiang Si formally curtsied to Chuchu.
Chuchu was shocked: “What are you doing? Are introductions so formal here in the capital?”
The customs of the capital were so strange.
Jiang Si straightened up and smiled apologetically at Chuchu: “My surname is Jiang. Miss Chuchu can call me Asi. I came here today to apologize to you.”
Chuchu became even more confused.
“I had met Miss Chuchu before, on the way back to the city from Baiyun Temple…”
Chuchu scrutinized Jiang Si, trying hard to remember.
Jiang Si directly mentioned the incident with the startled horse, and Chuchu suddenly realized: “So it was you.”
She waved her hand casually: “There’s nothing to apologize for. The horse getting startled was an accident, not your fault.”
Jiang Si was silent for a moment, then said awkwardly: “I just found out that the people chasing Miss Chuchu were originally after me…”
Chuchu’s expression immediately changed. Her large eyes stared at Jiang Si as if trying to bore holes through her.
Having said what needed to be said, Jiang Si became calm.
She could certainly handle being scolded a few times for nearly causing someone to lose their life.
Of course, getting beaten was out of the question. Even if she was willing, given Yu Qi’s temperament, he would likely kill someone. She sincerely hoped Miss Chuchu wouldn’t be so unwise.
After staring for a good while, Chuchu suddenly smiled: “Forget it. In the end, it was just my bad luck. You don’t need to take it to heart.”
She had been unlucky so many times in her life, and in the vast majority of cases, the people she had taken the fall for never felt the slightest bit of guilt.
Asi was someone worth befriending!
Chuchu instantly made up her mind: Since she had lost her money pouch while being chased by those people, she decided to latch onto Asi and not leave. She would stay until she had saved up enough travel money.
Even as they left Songzi Lane, Yu Jin’s face remained cold.
It was outrageous! He hadn’t even managed to latch onto Asi yet, and now a woman had latched onto her instead!