Ji Chongli, the Heir of Duke Anguo, strode up to Ji Chongyi. Seeing his already frail younger brother pale and soaked, he felt both heartache and anger.
Ji Chongyi was a late-born child, more than ten years younger than Ji Chongli. Being weak since birth, the whole family had cherished him like a precious jewel. From a young age, if Ji Chongyi had wanted a star from the sky, his family would have tried to pluck it for him.
Ji Chongli’s gaze shifted to Qiao Niang, who stood close to Ji Chongyi.
Ji Chongyi stepped forward, shielding Qiao Niang behind him, his protective intent obvious.
Ji Chongli couldn’t help but stamp his foot. “Third Brother, you’re being so foolish! How can you face our parents after this?”
Ji Chongyi pressed his lips together in silence, instead taking Qiao Niang’s hand.
With so many eyes upon them, Ji Chongli couldn’t scold him further. He said coldly, “Fine, we’ll discuss this when we get home!”
“I want to bring Qiao Niang back with us,” Ji Chongyi spoke, his voice hoarse.
Ji Chongli glared fiercely at Ji Chongyi, then instructed the steward to handle the aftermath. He hurriedly left with Ji Chongyi and Qiao Niang.
The steward who stayed behind bowed to the crowd, handed a silver note worth one hundred taels to an elder respected by all, and quickly departed with the remaining people.
One hundred taels of silver was no small sum for the commoners who had come to fight the fire. They immediately surrounded the elder, discussing how to divide the money.
Ah Man took the opportunity to slip away to the meeting place agreed upon with Jiang Si. Seeing that the black cloth wrapped around Jiang Si’s head was soaked through, she asked softly, “Miss, are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Scatter the prepared joss paper and let’s hurry back,” Jiang Si replied. Although summer had arrived, it was nighttime, and having just come out of the water, she felt chilled to the bone when the wind blew. Her lips had already turned pale.
Ah Man quickly did as instructed.
“Miss, it’s done.”
Jiang Si nodded, and the mistress and maid quietly slipped away amid the chaos.
On the way back, Ah Man couldn’t contain her anger: “Miss, that Third Young Master Ji is too much! He’s already engaged to you, how could he… how could he be like that with another girl?”
The image of their lips pressed together, the sound of urgent breathing…
Recalling the scene by the lake, Ah Man felt disgusted and furious.
Jiang Si just smiled, saying nothing.
This time, she would never marry into that family.
If Ji Chongyi could marry Qiao Niang and treat her well, she might even think a bit better of him.
After all, even foolish people can have their redeeming qualities.
Getting no response from Jiang Si, Ah Man still couldn’t swallow her anger. She smiled tightly and said, “It’s a good thing Miss had me prepare the joss paper. We can just think of it as burning it for that pair of adulterers, hehe.”
Jiang Si glanced at Ah Man. “That joss paper has another use.”
“What use?” Ah Man asked curiously.
The night breeze blew, drying the two loose strands of hair that had fallen from Jiang Si’s headscarf. They playfully tickled her jade-like cheeks.
Jiang Si continued walking, tucking the loose strands behind her ear. Looking towards the deeper darkness in the distance, she said, “We need a plausible reason for the pavilion fire to give to the authorities.”
Ah Man’s eyes brightened. “Miss, you think of everything!”
The little maid then thought of Ji Chongyi again and pouted, “That Third Young Master Ji is truly blind!”
“Enough, don’t mention him anymore. We’re home,” Jiang Si said.
The hole in the corner of the wall was still hidden behind the vegetation. Ah Man pushed aside the grass and said softly, “Miss, you go in first.”
Jiang Si crawled through the hole and stood up, her expression freezing.
Less than ten feet away, someone was walking forward, clearly having just crawled through the hole as well.
At this moment, Ah Man had also crawled in. Seeing someone ahead, she was startled and quickly covered her mouth, but still made a sound.
The person in front stiffened and suddenly turned around. “Who’s there—”
Jiang Si, quick as lightning, picked up a loose brick near the hole and smacked it against that familiar face.
Yes, this person was her good-for-nothing brother, Jiang Zhan.
Jiang Zhan let out a miserable cry and fell backward.
Ah Man, recognizing Jiang Zhan’s face, trembled as she spoke, “M-Miss, did you just kill the Second Young Master?”
“He’ll be fine. Quick, let’s go!” Jiang Si said.
Jiang Si was confident in her control of her strength. She knew this blow would at most knock Jiang Zhan unconscious for a moment, without causing serious harm. Moreover, Jiang Zhan’s cry would undoubtedly attract people, so there was no need to worry about him lying unconscious on the ground for too long and catching a chill.
Sure enough, lights soon appeared in the distance as people came to investigate the commotion.
Jiang Si led Ah Man quickly back along their original path. They pushed open the side door that had been left ajar, locked it from the inside, and after making sure they had left no trace, quietly returned to Haitang Residence.
The begonia flowers in the courtyard were in full bloom, their delicate pink and white petals shimmering under the moonlight, breathtakingly beautiful.
Jiang Si’s courtyard was planted only with begonia trees.
People often lamented that begonias had no fragrance, but this was precisely why she loved them.
Her sense of smell was naturally more acute than most people’s, and being constantly surrounded by strong floral scents would make her uncomfortable.
“Ah Qiao, we’re back,” Ah Man called softly as she knocked on the door.
Ah Qiao opened the door to welcome Jiang Si and Ah Man inside. Seeing that they were both unharmed, she smiled with joy. “Miss, I’ve already prepared hot water for your bath.”
Steam rose from the wooden tub. Jiang Si submerged herself completely, leaving only her head and shoulders above water.
As the comfortably warm water gently caressed every part of her body, Jiang Si took a soft breath. The anxiety and pain she had felt since her rebirth seemed to dissipate with tonight’s success, leaving only relief.
“Miss, it’s time to get out. The water is getting cold,” Ah Qiao reminded her.
Jiang Si opened her eyes and allowed Ah Qiao to help her change into a snow-white undergarment before returning to the inner chamber.
Ah Qiao used a soft towel to dry Jiang Si’s hair bit by bit.
The young woman’s hair, wet from the bath, cascaded down like a waterfall, reaching her waist.
The bronze mirror reflected the young woman’s image: snow-white skin, jet-black hair, cherry-red lips, and pearly white teeth. Her eyes, which had once seemed somewhat restless, had become as calm as still water, making her beauty even more captivating than before.
Ah Man, who had also hurriedly bathed, couldn’t help but exclaim, “Miss, you’re truly beautiful.”
Jiang Si couldn’t help but smile.
News of Ji Chongyi and Qiao Niang’s attempted suicide would surely spread throughout the capital tomorrow. When that happened, no matter how innocent she was, some people’s mockery would be inevitable.
For a girl of ordinary background who had seemingly secured an excellent marriage in the eyes of the world, beauty itself was a sin.
“Miss, how did you know that Third Young Master Ji would be meeting that woman at Mochou Lake tonight?” A’man finally voiced the question she had been curious about for a long time.
Ah-Qiao’s hand holding the comb paused mid-air, clearly piqued by the same curiosity.
The young girl in the bronze mirror blinked her eyes and responded, “Not long ago, at the flower-viewing banquet hosted by the Yongchang Earl’s Estate, Third Young Master Ji sent someone to inform me.”
Jiang Si couldn’t offer a proper explanation and simply made up a casual excuse.
“Why would he tell you about meeting another woman?” A’man was even more perplexed.
Jiang Si spoke unhurriedly, “I suppose he wanted me to witness it for myself and finally give up on him.”
With a loud smack on the dressing table, A’man gritted her teeth, seething with anger. “What a scoundrel!”
Had she known earlier, she would have delayed beating the gong for just a bit longer—drowned that bastard right there and then.
Jiang Si smiled sweetly and nodded. “Yes, I think he’s utterly shameless as well.”