Chapter 13, Chapter 13: Sang Ji, I feel wronged.

"Why hasn't your flirtatious uncle come yet?" Mother cursed at Liu Jiao through gritted teeth.

Her usually gentle face was now somewhat distorted, but she spoke with great vigor when talking about her younger brother.

When she turned to face everyone, Mother resumed her virtuous demeanor and spoke softly:

"There's only one more dish to go! Let's start eating now, without waiting for my annoying little brother. I'm sorry for making this a laughing stock of you all."

As the last of the twelve red dishes, a yellow-red one, was served—t

Dinner is served.

Liu Jiao was just about to enjoy her meal. As she reached for the roast goose with her chopsticks, she suddenly felt a surge of heat beneath her.

I have a bad feeling.

She slowly lowered her head—

Blood red seeped down her thighs, staining a large area of ​​the hem of her ochre-colored dress.

Her blood volume was so high that she couldn't ignore it. Anyone at the dinner table who raised their chopsticks to pick up food would see her disheveled appearance.

Liu Jiao's hand, which was holding chopsticks to pick up food, was forced to stop.

Oh! It's my period! Why is it early?

Suddenly, I remembered what the barefoot doctor in the city market had said: if you are under too much stress, your period will come early.

That must be the reason. She's been having nightmares lately, and when she closes her eyes, she inexplicably recalls the vicious look in Xiulian's eyes when she caught Tie Niu and his father in bed together.

But when her period started, her skirt was stained with blood, yet Liu Jiao showed no shame whatsoever, and even acted quite openly and confidently.

There were no outsiders present, and she and the village chief were neighbors who had watched her grow up and were like her own mother, so there was nothing to be ashamed of!

Besides, menstruation is a recognized normal phenomenon. We didn't steal or rob anyone, so why can't we be open about it?

She stood up, tilted her head back, and was about to tell her mother, quite openly, that she had started her period and needed to change her clothes—

A fragrant breeze wafted over.

Liu Jiao's vision went black, and she was forced to slump back into her seat. Then a black silk cloak was draped over her legs.

Upon closer inspection, it features a pattern of an eagle with an icy, solid face.

She looked up blankly and met Sang Ji's cold, icy face.

Liu Jiao: ? ?

Realizing what had happened, she glared angrily, opened her mouth as if to rebuke him for meddling, but Sang Ji stopped her, speaking first and saying calmly, "No need to thank me, I just helped out."

"If I see a cat or dog bleeding, I'll lend a hand, so don't overthink it."

As Liu Jiao struggled, trying to jump up and throw the cloak over his head, Sang Ji leaned over before she could, pressed her back into the chair, and carefully straightened the cloak, which had become crooked from struggling, making sure not to reveal any inch of bleeding before he stopped.

Sang Ji moved meticulously, smoothing out and tidying the cloak as he said, "It is a precious gift for a woman to have her period. Today, your period has suddenly started in public, and you will probably feel ashamed and indignant... I hope that after I cover it up, you can feel calmer."

His voice was soft, and his grip was gentle.

Liu Jiao: "..."

She gave a fake smile.

Brother, I would have been calmer if you hadn't pulled this stunt.

"Okay, it's covered up now. You can go change your clothes."

Do you still have menstrual pads?

"Give me a change of clothes later. If your stomach still hurts, I'll go find something warm..."

After adjusting his cloak, Sang Ji asked the question naturally. His physical contact with Liu Jiao was very familiar, and he didn't realize that his behavior had already crossed the line...beyond friendship.

The two were so close that their breaths mingled together.

"Sang Ji, come out with me for a moment."

Suddenly, a clear and playful female voice broke the atmosphere.

Liu Jiao looked up and saw that it was a crescent fox.

Crescent Fox didn't look at her; her gaze was fixed on Sang Ji.

Liu Jiao inexplicably felt a sense of oppression.

But Sang Ji didn't notice anything amiss. As always, when the princess called, he immediately put down what he was doing to respond.

Sang Ji withdrew, the warm breath gone, replaced by a chill.

Liu Jiao was taken aback, and her gaze unconsciously followed him.

Sang Ji noticed this and comforted him:

"I'll be back in a bit, and I'll bring you a hand warmer when I come back."

"Okay!" Liu Jiao nodded obediently.

——

The night was cool and still, and in the backyard, two figures, one tall and one short, were bathed in the slanting moonlight. They resembled tiny figures from a mural, a perfect match.

Sang Ji and Xin Yuehu walked together to the backyard. As they passed through the corridor and the bedroom, he swiftly entered the house and reappeared with a hand warmer in his hand.

Under the cold, austere moonlight, Sang Ji, holding a hand warmer, remained as respectful as ever, bowing with his hands clasped in greeting.

"Princess."

Instead of accepting the unnecessary formalities he usually offered, Crescent Fox took small steps closer to him, her face showing the shyness of a young girl.

Her voice was low and drawn out, with a long trailing tone:

“Sang Ji, do you know, you seem to be ignoring me lately…”

She tugged at Sang Ji's sleeve.

The words never expressed grievance, yet every word conveyed that meaning.

Sang Ji was extremely intelligent. He was born with boundless strategic acumen and profound knowledge. Almost instantly, he understood why the princess was wronged.

Because of Liu Jiao.

All the past events were suddenly brought back to mind.

A fact was laid bare before him:

He and Liu Jiao got too close.

Sang Ji answered quickly and fluently:

"Princess, please don't be sad, it's my fault."

The princess shouldn't be sad; he hates to see her sad.

I hate the person who hurt her, and I hate myself for being so useless and stupid that I couldn't protect her.

His mistake.

The clouds in the sky roll and unroll, eventually returning to calm.

The princess tugged at his sleeve, and he stood still.

The hand warmer in his hand was so hot it burned his palms, causing them to bleed, but Sang Ji seemed completely unaware.

He let the princess do as she pleased, afraid of disturbing her.

*

Seeing that Sang Ji had not returned for a long time, Liu Jiao was also very anxious. She even changed her clothes halfway through, but Sang Ji still did not return.

Finally, Liu Jiao got so bored that she tried to slip away from the dinner table—

"Jiaojiao! Wait until your uncle shows up before you go play!" Both Mom and Dad are extremely particular about etiquette and can be quite eccentric.

Liu Jiao: "..."

well.

I waited a while longer, feeling bored, before I heard footsteps.

She was resting her chin on her hand at the dining table, about to fall asleep, when a hand warmer was pushed in front of her.

Liu Jiao's face lit up with joy.

Sang Ji is back!

She was instantly wide awake, her energy as sharp as a nimble chick.

Turning his head, he saw the person—

But his eyes met those of a beautiful woman, bright and lively like a fox.

When she saw Liu Jiao looking over, she pushed the hand warmer towards Liu Jiao's side.

It's not Sang Ji.

"A fairy, a fairy..."

Liu Jiao's smile remained awkwardly frozen on her face.

"Keep it," Crescent Fox gestured. "Brother Sangji asked me to give it to you."

He said he was tired and didn't like noise.

Liu Jiao thanked her and looked behind Crescent Fox. But all she saw were the empty wine vat, water ladle, and bamboo broom in the courtyard; the person she was looking for was nowhere to be seen.

Sang Ji...

Where are the others?

After a few brief words, Crescent Fox also left the table. Liu Jiao lightly touched the hand warmer with her fingertips; the lingering warmth was the last remaining trace of Sang Ji.

Why has Sang Ji suddenly become so cold...?

Liu Jiao slumped onto the table, her whole body slumped down, her face turned to the side, her head resting on one arm.

Daydreaming.

Didn't he say they were good friends?

"Jiaojiao! Why does your face look even more bitter than that of the beautiful Xi Shi?"

Just as she was feeling down, a strikingly beautiful man suddenly tilted his head, met Liu Jiao's gaze as she rested her head on her arm, and poked her cheek:

This man had a bewitching, fox-like appearance, with thin lips, peach blossom eyes, and a nature that was both aloof and passionate.

At this moment, her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as she smiled, and as she observed, a fleeting, sharp, cold light flashed by, like a hidden bamboo viper.

She waved a flamboyant wisteria folding fan, wore a flowing sky-blue thin shirt, and had her black hair loosely tied up with a bamboo-shaped jade hairpin.

Debonair and dashing.

Liu Jiao, who had just looked dejected, suddenly perked up: "Uncle!"

She rushed forward and tackled him to the ground.

This is her mother's younger brother, also her maternal uncle, and I think his full name is Xiao Xiao...

Liu Jiao usually just memorizes his number.

Forget-Worries Lord.

"Uncle, you've been hanging around in Beijing for almost half a year. Didn't you say you wouldn't be back in Jiangnan for a year or two? Why are you suddenly back today!"

"Tell me, which new sister-in-law am I going to call this time! Give me a bigger 'change of address' fee this time, I've been waiting for you for so long!"

Wangyou-jun, with his arm around his shoulder, didn't struggle and said:

"Sure, but don't rush and make a fool of yourself, it'll bring bad luck. We need to treat your uncle to a meal first, a welcome-back dinner for him, and then we can talk about it."

*

How lonely the night is! Ah, my heart is cold... Eh?

The moon has set and the stars are scattered; the night is deep.

In the simple pavilion in the courtyard, the two drank wine and tea and chatted happily, and Liu Jiao sighed.

Having been through many romantic encounters, Wangyoujun knew at a glance why she was heartbroken.

Seeing her so desperately trying to win over a man, he looked disgusted and pouted.

"Uncle, why are men so hard to deal with! One minute they're so nice to you... the next they're so cold!" Liu Jiao was on the verge of tears, pointing to the stars to ease her pent-up emotions.

Wangyoujun, however, looked pleased and completely ignored the pained Liu Jiao: "At such a young age, she has already grasped the profound principles of the world of romance. Indeed, like uncle, like niece! The younger generation is truly formidable!"

Liu Jiao: "..."

The most noteworthy thing about my uncle is his romantic history, which is inseparable from his good looks.

He was once the most handsome man in Beijing. Even though he was naturally a womanizer, his face was a source of mixed opinions.

As for why it was once number one?

According to his own account, it was because one day when he was traveling in Mingzhou, he passed by a river on the outskirts of Beijing. Being vain, he looked at his peerless face reflected in the water and asked who was the most handsome man in the capital. At that time, he met a shepherd boy, who scoffed and said that he was not the most handsome man.

Sang Ji is truly the most handsome man in the capital.

The Forget-Worry Lord went to find them in a huff, only to run into them—

He smashed his favorite little hand mirror that he always carried with him.

Because I felt ashamed of my appearance.

I feel it can't compare to Sang Ji.

Wait a minute... Sang Ji!

My uncle definitely knows something about Sang Ji!

Liu Jiao had a sudden inspiration and felt that the stuffy feeling had found an outlet.

My uncle has lived in Beijing for a long time and has met Sang Ji before, so asking him is the most appropriate thing to do!

And so, under Liu Jiao's hopeful and expectant gaze, Wangyoujun confidently spoke:

"That little girl's always thinking about other people! But he's someone I really know! You've come to the right person~"

He clicked his tongue: "This person is great in every way except for his aloof personality!"

"His family background is incredibly powerful! With powerful families in power now, he is the heir of the Sang family, the head of the four major families. It is widely rumored that if the crown prince succeeds to the throne, the king and the Sang family will share the world."

"His family fortune is even greater. He can casually advance military expenses for the emperor, and his estate is nineteen times larger than the imperial palace!"

"He was also quite capable. Although he was a military officer, he was very learned and had a photographic memory. In official circles, he could verbally abuse the ruthless and heartless Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince would still be very respectful the next day."

After rambling on and on for quite a while, Wangyoujun took a sip of cold wine to soothe his throat, and then glanced sideways at Liu Jiao with a sarcastic look:

"Well, are you dumbfounded now? Do you know where the gap between you and Sang Ji lies?"

If you know that, don't even think about it; we're not on the same level.

"Stop, stop, stop! What do you mean by 'gap'? I'm asking about his romantic relationships!"

Liu Jiao slapped her thigh and angrily interrupted.

Just moments ago, Forget-Worry-Free Jun was so confident that he choked on his words.

Uh... this.

He suddenly realized that he wasn't very familiar with Sang Ji either.

He lost his confidence, scratched his head, and his self-conscious appearance was indeed much more pleasing to the eye.

"Actually, I know a little bit, but not much."

Wangyoujun pondered for a moment: "It's said that Sang Ji's family's power is enough to surpass the royal family and make him emperor himself, yet he has always been loyal and respectful to the princess. People speculate that it's because of the princess that he hasn't rebelled..."

"Furthermore, when he once stormed into the enemy camp to rescue the princess, he was so beautiful that he almost lost his virginity to a man. This humiliation drove him to the peak of anger. He killed everyone in a bloody manner, causing a river of blood to flow, in order to rescue the princess."

"I don't know the details of his relationship with women, but the only thing I know is that he treats the princess very specially."

Upon hearing this, Liu Jiao rested her chin on her hand, lowered her eyes, and concealed her complicated emotions.

In fact, she had guessed that the fairy was Princess Xin'an.

For some reason, Liu Jiao, who was usually very open-minded, felt particularly lost, as if a piece of her heart had been hollowed out.

I should have found Sang Ji terrifying.

But now, Liu Jiao felt no fear.

Only... a soreness and swelling.