Su Jinli frowned slightly and slowly squatted down. She gently lifted the bandit leader's chin with the tip of her hairpin, and the silver fox pendant swung before his bloodshot eyes. The light reflected from the garnet diamonds on the hairpin was like a sharp blade, piercing him and making him blink violently. Her voice was extremely low, but it carried a chilling fierceness. "Go back and tell Manager Qian," she said word by word, "If you dare to have any evil thoughts again, next time it won't be just chili powder." Her eyes were like cold stars, staring straight at the bandit leader, as if she wanted to see through his soul.

Jiang Yan watched Su Jinli's actions, a complex wave of emotions welling up in his heart. He silently plunged his Qingfeng sword into the mud beside the bandit leader. The trembling sound of the blade startled the moths nesting on the rock wall. The moths flapped their wings and disappeared into the misty night sky. He looked at the mist lingering in Su Jinli's hair, and his thoughts drifted back to the scene in the dilapidated temple in Yangzhou three days ago. Back then, she had also squatted quietly in the mud, concentrating on weaving a wrist guard with straw rope. The calluses on her fingertips glowed softly in the candlelight. That image, like a brand, was deeply engraved in his heart.

"When did you learn all this, Madam?" Jiang Yan asked softly, a hint of curiosity and heartache in his tone. He reached out and gently smoothed her wind-twisted hair. His fingertips touched the cool skin behind her ear, and a wave of emotion welled up in his heart.

"In my last life, when I was sick," Su Jinli gently pushed his hand away. The oil-paper bag in her sleeve rustled, as if responding to their conversation. She paused, a complex emotion flashing across her eyes. Then, seeing Jiang Yan's suddenly dimmed gaze, she added, "But now that I have you, I'm learning this just in case." Her voice was soft, yet it carried a firm strength, as if telling Jiang Yan that they had walked through those difficult times together and would face everything in the future together.

The fog grew thicker, as if it were about to swallow the entire world. Just then, the faint sound of horse hooves could be heard in the distance, gradually becoming clearer as it neared. Young Marquis Su jumped up excitedly, nearly stabbing Jiang Yan's butt with his toy sword. "It's Li Xiu with his secret guards! And... and soldiers!" he said, pointing excitedly to the valley entrance. The lanterns cast warm yellow circles in the fog, like a ray of hope in the darkness, slowly approaching them.

When Su Qingyao heard this, she hurriedly snatched the dressing box and carefully smoothed the surface of the paste with a silver hairpin, muttering, "Just right, let the soldiers drag these dirty guys away and don't let them stain my rouge." Her eyes suddenly lit up, and she pointed at the bandit leader's straw sandals and said, "Oh, the pattern of the patch on the sole is the same as the curtain fabric in Manager Qian's back house." Her eyes were sharp, as if she had discovered some important clues.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan immediately squatted down and examined the sole of the bandit leader's shoe. He saw that the coarse linen patch was indeed embroidered with half a withered peony. The delicate needlework and unique pattern were exactly the same as the curtain pattern at the Jiangnan Booksellers' Alliance headquarters. He slowly stood up. The secret order in his sleeve pocket made a slight rustling sound. The plum blossom pattern on the wax seal was faintly visible in the mist, as if revealing the complex relationship behind this conspiracy.

"Madam," he whispered in her ear, his warm breath dispelling some of the chill, "It seems that Manager Qian is determined to make things difficult for us." His eyes were serious, and he knew that this struggle would not end easily.

Su Jinli gazed at the gradually brightening sky outside the valley, her thoughts drifting back to her past life. She recalled her stepmother Liu's sinister smile, and a surge of rage welled up within her. She clutched the oil-paper bag in her sleeve tightly, the pungent aroma of chili powder wafting through the thin fabric, a stark echo of the rage surging within her heart.

"Can't get through?" She suddenly sneered, the fox pendant on her hairpin swishing an arc through the mist, like a ray of cold light. "I want to see how many times his old bones can withstand the chili powder." Her eyes were filled with determination and resolve, as if she was ready to fight Manager Qian to the bitter end.

Jiang Yan watched the glint in her eyes, and suddenly remembered the way she'd snatched the sugar painting when they'd first met. Back then, her eyes had been just as bright, brimming with a stubborn, unyielding determination. A warm feeling welled up in his heart. He reached out and gently grasped her hand, his fingertips touching the calloused skin on her palm, a testament to the hardships she'd endured. "No matter what, I'll be with you." His voice was deep and resolute, echoing through the mist like a vow.

Young Marquis Su pretended to retch and said, "Oh my god, this is so corny! Sister, Brother Jiang Yan, the soldiers are coming!" His voice broke the slightly solemn atmosphere and made the air around them become a little more relaxed.

Li Xiu's loud voice came from the fog: "Sir! Madam! I am late to save you!" There was a hint of anxiety and guilt in his voice.

Su Qingyao rolled her eyes and said as she packed up her dressing table, "Alright, alright, hurry up and drag these people away. Don't delay me from going back to the capital to mix new rouge." There was a hint of impatience in her words, but it also made people feel her persistence and love for life.

The bandit leader lay on the ground, listening to the chatter, a sigh welling up in his heart. He glanced up and saw Su Jinli wiping her hands with Jiang Yan's handkerchief, while the top scholar gently blew the chili powder off her fingertips, as if he hadn't just been kicked into the mud. He was secretly surprised. This group didn't look like a group of businessmen attacked by bandits, but rather like wealthy and idle people on an outing. They were so calm and composed, as if the previous danger was just a trivial incident.

As time went by, the mist in the Taihang Valley gradually dissipated, as if an invisible hand had slowly lifted the mysterious veil, revealing a night sky dotted with stars. The stars twinkled, like brilliant gems inlaid on the black sky, illuminating the valley that had just experienced a storm. Su Jinli sat quietly in the carriage, looking through the window at Jiang Yan and Li Xiu who were explaining something seriously outside the carriage. The mud on the hem of Jiang Yan's blue shirt was mottled with gray and white in the moonlight, like a unique painting. She subconsciously touched the oil-paper bag in her sleeve pocket, and a special warmth welled up in her heart. She suddenly felt that this terrifying journey with the bandits was like another piece of honey sent by God - letting her know that no matter when and where, the person next to her would always protect her silently in his own way, and she could also be the straightforward Su Jinli in front of him without any scruples.

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