Chapter 35 Huanhua Creek Jiang Ce pulled her into his arms

Xue Chan pinched herself secretly, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"I was drunk and didn't even see clearly before I found myself here..."

Her misty eyes were filled with confusion and lingering fear.

"I'm most afraid of this kind of thing. I just didn't react in time, but now just thinking about it makes my head spin."

As she spoke, a few tears slid down her face, but she held them back, making her appear even more frail.

Jiang Ce thought: That's true, most young women are afraid of these things. After all, she's just a sheltered young lady, so it's normal for her to be afraid.

As for last time...

He did speak too harshly last time, and Xue Chan is a proud person, so it's normal for her to retaliate when she got angry.

Xue Chan clutched Jiang Ce's sleeve, her voice trembling even as she tried to suppress her fear: "Second Young Master, your skills are excellent, please protect me a little more."

"Thud"

A tear fell and landed on the back of Jiang Ce's hand. He felt an intense heat where the tear had spread, like a spark, as if it were about to ignite.

He stammered, "Don't worry, I'll protect you."

She lowered her head and spoke softly.

"Thank you, Second Young Master."

Xue Chan blinked and wiped away her tears. She regretted pinching too hard; the flesh on her leg was now throbbing with pain.

"Let's go down."

"There are snakes down there, it's very dangerous."

“But…” she looked at Jiang Ce, her voice low and gloomy, “snakes prefer to stay in trees, and they might be watching us right next to us.”

Jiang Ce felt a chill run down his spine, and his voice trembled slightly.

"real?"

She looked at him intently.

"Yes, really."

Jiang Ce immediately carried her down from the tree.

As soon as Yun Sheng came down, she immediately stepped forward and pushed Jiang Ce away. He staggered from the push, but he was neither angry nor said anything.

Chu Tao pulled Xue Chan up and down, asking, "Are you alright, Miss?"

Xue Chan patted her hand and comforted her with a smile, "It's alright."

“There was a snake just now, and Young Master Jiang climbed the tree to protect me.” She called Yun Sheng back, looking at him with a smile, “Isn’t that right, Young Master Jiang?”

Jiang Ce straightened up: "Of course, just as your daughter said."

He felt awkward as soon as he finished speaking, so he hurriedly fled, only to bump into someone who was coming over unexpectedly.

Fang Youxi asked in surprise, "Second Brother Jiang?"

He coughed a few times and then said, "It's getting dark, the night market should be starting up along the Jinliu River. Come find us when you're done having fun, I'm off now."

Before Fang Youxi could say anything, Jiang Ce fled into the distance.

Xue Chan then lowered her head and covered her face with a smile.

Fang Youxi saw a folded piece of paper on the ground, picked it up, unfolded it, looked at it with a slightly surprised expression, and then walked over and handed it to Xue Chan.

"I don't know who left it behind."

Xue Chan looked at the words on the paper, her smile faltering slightly.

"I saw you by the Huanhua Stream, your eyes were bright and your eyebrows were delicate."

She lowered her eyes, concealing the emotions within, but her face remained smiling.

No wonder, that explains it.

Fang Youxi looked at Xue Chan, paying attention to her expression, and saw her slowly tear the paper into pieces.

The tiny piece of paper lay in her palm, letting the wind scatter it, eventually drifting onto the green water and floating away with the current.

"Why did you tear it?" Fang Youxi asked her in surprise. "Does Miss Xue not like this poem?"

Xue Chan looked up at her, her smile gentle.

"Hmm, I don't like it."

——

At four quarters past dusk, a night parade began along the banks of the Jinliu River.

Peddlers hawking their wares, couples traveling together, and children laughing and playing made this Shangsi Festival very lively.

The group first crossed the bridge and walked along the long street by the river. Suddenly, they saw a tall umbrella with all sorts of exquisite trinkets hanging from it.

"This is quite interesting." Fang Youxi pulled Xue Chan up.

Seeing that there were several young girls, the peddler's eyes lit up, and he quickly put on a smile and said, "When it comes to novel and fun things, outside of western Beijing, I won't say I'm second, and no one dares to say they're first. Take a look, ladies?"

Xue Chan listened to his sweet words and couldn't help but look over.

Besides the umbrella beside the peddler, there were several long wooden poles with beads, purses, tassels, knots, palm-sized drums, copper bells, and even small short knives and swords hanging from them.

While it's inevitable to exaggerate when selling things, it's certainly novel.

Xue Chan was thinking about Cheng Huaizhu and wanted to bring some things back to amuse her, so she stopped and carefully selected some items.

"Wow! This is really nice." Zheng Shaoyu came closer, took the beaded necklace and a few small pouches, and spread them out in his palm. "It's really nice. I'll buy it and give it to my mother. She'll definitely like it."

His eyes darted around, revealing a mischievous and playful glint in them.

Buy things to take home to her mother, make her happy first, so that when the old man wants to beat or punish her, someone will help her.

This is called being prepared for a rainy day.

He grinned, secretly pleased, as Li Wu and Jiang Ce slowly walked over.

Upon seeing Jiang Ce arrive, Zheng Shaoyu pointed to the small drum and the wooden carving and said to him, "A Yao is young, so I'll buy her a few too. Could you please take them to her for me?"

“Okay,” Jiang Ce said, standing with his arms crossed. He noticed the hanging copper bell, which swayed in the wind and made a clear, crisp sound.

He took down the copper bell.

This is something that Xituan would like to play with.

Jiang Ce didn't say much, but his eyes darted around as he slowly picked and chose.

The peddler was shrewd; if his eyes lingered on the item for too long, he would immediately take it down and give it to him.

As Zheng Shaoyu picked out some items, he talked to him, "Why didn't you bring Youyu out to play?"

Jiang Ce: "He said he had something to do."

"What could possibly be wrong with him?"

"Who knows? Let it be."

He turned his head to the side, his gaze sweeping casually around.

Xue Chan reached out and took down a tassel from a vase adorned with a hundred flowers; the red, blue, and green floral ribbons were woven into an extremely beautiful knot.

She asked Yunsheng and Chutao, "How is this? Is it pretty?"

The two nodded: "It looks good, Miss Huaizhu will definitely like it."

Li Wu walked over and looked at the person who was struggling with the decision, saying softly, "If you like them, just buy them all."

Yuheng and Yingxing exchanged a glance and stepped back slightly.

Fang Youxi looked at him and smiled, "What? Are you going to buy it for me?"

Li Wu's eyes softened: "So many years have passed, why are you only saying these things now? Didn't you buy enough before?"

“That was before.” The girl lowered her head slightly, looking at the beaded necklace in her hand. “Back then, I was young and didn’t know anything. Now that I’m all grown up, things are always different.”

Li Wu smiled slightly, paid the money directly, and the peddler wrapped up the goods for him.

"Whether it was before or now, it's all the same."

Xue Chan was originally standing with the two of them, and was looking at things at first. But when she noticed that the atmosphere was a little different, she slowly moved to the side.

She watched the two of them thoughtfully, thinking that Fang Youxi's special treatment of her was probably because of Li Wu. So she quietly moved to the side, avoiding other shoppers, and bumped into someone.

Xue Chan swayed slightly, and one hand supported her shoulder to straighten her up, while a few more annoying voices fell from above.

Why aren't you watching where you're going?

Xue Chan looked up, and Jiang Ce raised an eyebrow arrogantly: "You bumped into me, aren't you going to say anything?"

She stood up straight and gave a slight curtsy.

"sorry"

Jiang Ce smiled, his eyes crinkling with satisfaction: "It's alright."

Xue Chan walked away from him, and he followed closely behind her with his hands behind his back.

Despite her repeated attempts to circle around her, she remained beside her. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she stopped and turned around: "Why are you following me?"

Jiang Ce put his hands on his hips and raised his chin: "This isn't your road, why can't I walk on it?"

Xue Chan: "......"

She knew it; this person was really annoying.

Li Wu said to her, "It's a holiday today, so pick whatever you like and I'll buy it for you."

Jiang Ce stood to the side with his arms crossed, listened for a moment, and his face immediately darkened.

Xue Chan smiled and said, "It's alright, I've asked Yun Sheng to bring the money."

Li Wu smiled and prepared to pay, but her wrist was blocked by a hand.

Jiang Ce pushed the hand that was paying back away, his eyes crinkling with laughter: "How could I let Brother Li spend money? I'll pay."

Zheng Shaoyu, carrying the things, approached him, her eyes sparkling with anticipation: "Erlang, can you settle the bill I just paid?"

Jiang Ce glanced at him: "You don't have any money?"

Zheng Shaoyu snorted and muttered, "How stingy."

Jiang Ce sighed and said helplessly, "I'll treat you to a meal."

"How did you know I was hungry? I was just thinking of going to eat the wontons at Chen's house up ahead." Zheng Shaoyu pinched his sleeve, slightly shy. "We're so in sync, Erlang."

Jiang Ce's smile vanished instantly.

"......"

Everyone stifled their laughter. Li Wu smiled, Fang Youxi burst out laughing, and Xue Chan lowered her head to cover her laughter.

Jiang Ce glared at Xue Chan: "You're not allowed to laugh."

Xue Chan was immediately displeased and gave him a cold glance.

Why are you interfering? What gives you the right to criticize her?

When Xue Chan passed Jiang Ce as she left, she deliberately raised her head and smiled.

"Ha ha"

She was about to laugh.

Jiang Ce pulled out his sleeve, pushed away Zheng Shaoyu who was half-hanging on him, and said coldly, "I'm going back to tell Youyu."

Zheng Shaoyu stuffed the jingling little trinkets into his sleeve and followed with a grin.

"It's okay, I'm not afraid."

The group sat down at a food stall at the bridgehead. The food was sold by an elderly couple, who greeted them with smiles as soon as they saw them.

"What would you like to eat?"

The old woman was taken aback when she saw Jiang Ce and Zheng Shaoyu, and nudged the old man who was busy preparing food.

Jiang Ce smiled: "It's been several years. How are you two doing? Is Grandma's illness any better than before?"

"Either is fine, neither is fine," the old man replied, then asked, "Would you like shepherd's purse wontons again?"

Jiang Ce nodded, and Zheng Shaoyu stepped forward and said, "Uncle Chen, I'd like shrimp wontons."

Old Chen smiled and nodded: "Yes, yes, we have them all."

The old woman gestured for them to sit down, but the table was too small for them to sit at once. Jiang Ce quickly put everything back together and said to them, "Although the stall is small, Uncle Chen's skills are excellent. Zheng Shaoyu, Xiao Huaiting, and I often come here."

Xue Chan didn't say anything and sat down first.

She smiled gently and said, "Grandma, I'd like shepherd's purse wontons."

Li Wu: "Today is the Shangsi Festival, so we really should have a bowl of shepherd's purse wontons. We are so lucky."

Zheng Shaoyu sat down opposite the group, while Jiang Ce stood by the stall talking to the two old men.

Li Wu asked him, "It seems that Young Master Zheng and Second Master Jiang have some connection with these two old men."

"It's not really a connection. It's just that when we were young, Xiao Huaiting, oh, that is, the heir and second son of the Mingyi Earl's Mansion, studied at my family's school. The group of us often came out to play together and ate wontons here."

Zheng Shaoyu waved his fan and waved his hand: "It was also the Shangsi Festival, right? Someone got drunk and rode his horse recklessly, overturning a stall and injuring people. Erlang got into a fight with that group of people, and it even caused a scene at the government office. When he got home, he got a good beating."

"The old man's son was too badly injured and couldn't be saved, leaving only his grandson." Zheng Shaoyu closed his fan and gently tapped his chin. "It just so happens that Brother Jiang took over the case after taking office."

He stroked his chin and said, "My old man told me that His Majesty was furious in court. The case was closed not long after, with some people imprisoned and others dismissed. It was a satisfactory resolution."

Zheng Shaoyu gave a brief, understated explanation; there was really no need to go into too much detail.

His father told him that Cheng Qingpei, the eldest son of the Cheng family, was in charge of investigating the case at the time, and that His Majesty was quite dissatisfied with Consort Shen's family.

After saying that, Jiang Ce sat back down.

Several bowls of wontons were served, steaming hot. The wrappers were as thin as paper, the fillings were generous, and the soup was clear.

Jiang Ce handed out spoons to the group and sat down opposite Xue Chan.

Xue Chan slowly ate her wontons, the dim yellow light from the lamp hanging in front of the stall quietly illuminating half of her face.

She seemed to have gained some weight and wasn't as thin as before. Her once gaunt cheeks had become fuller, and her complexion looked much better after applying makeup, radiating a soft, peach-like glow.

Jiang Ce thought to himself, it's better for her to be healthy. He wondered what she liked to eat. If they got married in the future, he could have the cook prepare it, or they could go to Ningcui Tower.

"Hello"

Xue Chan raised her head, and Jiang Ce propped his chin up to look at her. His bright face was like a sparkling gem flower.

Have you gained weight?

Li Wu and Fang Youxi paused in their eating of wontons, and Zheng Shaoyu's wontons fell back into his bowl before he even put them in his mouth. He stared wide-eyed at Jiang Ce.

What on earth is he saying?!

Does this guy even know how to win a girl's heart?

Zheng Shaoyu kicked him under the table and blinked frantically, signaling Jiang Ce to say something quickly to salvage the awkward situation.

Jiang Ce turned his head and frowned: "Are you out of your mind?"

Zheng Shaoyu closed his eyes and rolled them, utterly dejected.

Forget it, it's hopeless.

Xue Chan simply swallowed the wontons calmly and responded with a sound of agreement.

"Um"

Li Wu tried to change the subject and asked the stall owner, "There's a custom of eating flower pancakes during the Shangsi Festival. Do you have that custom?"

The old woman nodded: "Yes, what kind of flower pancakes would you like to eat?"

Li Wu glanced at Xue Chan: "Do you have crabapple jelly?"

Uncle Chen looked up, his face showing difficulty: "Oh dear, what bad luck, there are no more crabapple blossoms left. How about we use magnolia blossoms instead?"

Li Wu asked Xue Chan softly, "What do you think?"

Xue Chan lowered her eyes in thought; she still preferred the crabapple fritters. Since none of them were available, anything else would do.

Seeing that she hesitated for a long time, Jiang Ce couldn't help but say, "Anyway, once those flowers are fried in oil and boiled in a pan, they're pretty much the same as flower pancakes. Don't be picky, just make do with it."

Upon hearing this, Xue Chan, who was still hesitating, looked up. Her long eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her eyes turned cold.

Seeing that things were going badly, Li Wu was about to speak when Xue Chan spoke up, her voice cold and indifferent.

"Settle? Why should I settle?"

Jiang Ce frowned. Why did he suddenly get angry?

Was he wrong?

She's truly unpredictable and has a very strange temper.

When the old woman brought out the flower-fried dough, she was a little nervous, but Li Wu smiled to comfort her.

Jiang Ce handed the fried flower to Xue Chan, but she sat there with a cold face and didn't move.

Seeing that he was about to speak again, and fearing that Xue Chan would get angry, Li Wu quickly took the flower-fried cake and pushed it in front of Xue Chan.

Xue Chan then picked up her chopsticks.

Jiang Ce was even more annoyed. Wasn't this already making do? Did she say those things just to spite him?

Zheng Shaoyu didn't want to say anything anymore, and listlessly picked at the wontons in his bowl.

It's hopeless, hopeless.

To ease the awkwardness, Fang Youxi said with a smile, "The Gaomei Temple is just ahead. I heard that people draw flower fortune sticks to pray for blessings and ward off disasters. Let's go there together."

Zheng Shaoyu quickly slapped his thigh and agreed: "That's right, that's right, let's take a walk to digest our food."

Jiang Ce wanted to say something, but Xue Chan stood up and left.

He took out some silver coins and put them on the table. The old woman wanted to say that it was too much, but Zheng Shaoyu had already pushed Jiang Ce forward.

Zheng Shaoyu turned back and said, "We'll come again next time. Remember that I love shrimp wontons."

The Gaomei Temple is located in Shangjing West, right at the foot of Fantai Mountain at the end of the street.

The group slowly walked along the riverbank.

Xue Chan walked ahead, with Jiang following behind her. The closer he got, the further away Xue Chan would intentionally or unintentionally distance herself.

After several back-and-forths, Jiang Ce took a few long strides to walk alongside her. He crossed his arms, bent down, and asked her.

Are you angry?

"What does the Second Young Master think?"

Oh, it seems you're still angry.

But he wasn't happy either. Why couldn't they just talk things out instead of targeting him?

Jiang Ce: "Is it necessary to get angry over such a small thing?"

"..."

Xue Chan glanced at him, said nothing, and quickly walked forward.

-----------------------

Author's Note: Xiao Xue: +1 for teasing the dog.

Note: "I saw you by the Huanhua Stream, your eyes bright, your eyebrows delicate." — Zhang Mi, "Jiang Cheng Zi: By the Huanhua Stream" (Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period)