Chapter 25

Baili Chuan stood tall and elegant, reaching out to take A Yao's hand.

Manman glanced at Jiang Yunshu cautiously, then hugged Ayao in her arms even tighter.

The young lady had instructed Ayao not to have much contact with men outside the family.

Ayao was still crying softly. Qing Shuang stepped forward and took Ayao from her: "Young Master Li, please give her to me. I've been taking care of Ayao since she was little."

Baili Chuan lowered his eyelashes imperceptibly, concealing the gloom in his eyes, and slightly curved his lips: "I was away for a few days for some business, and I only found out about what happened to A Yao when I came back."

After letting out a soft sigh, he looked at A Yao and said, "She's really pitiful."

Jiang Yunshu looked at him without saying anything, then hugged A Yao in her arms and turned to go into the house.

Baili Chuan's voice came from behind.

"Miss Jiang, I have something to tell you."

She stopped and turned to look at Bailichuan.

Baili Chuan smiled and nodded slightly at her.

She carried Ayao into the house, and Qing Shuang didn't stop Baili Chuan; he followed her in.

After Ah Yao was in her arms, she calmed down a bit, but was still sobbing softly and trembling slightly.

She comforted her with great tenderness and gently urged her to take some medicine.

"Ah Yao, shall we have just a little bit?"

"This is home. There are no bad people here. How about your mother gives you your medicine?"

Ah Yao looked at her with her big, wet eyes, filled with fear and panic.

She waited patiently, and after a long while, Ayao finally nodded.

She fed Ayao little by little with a small spoon: "You'll feel better after taking your medicine. When you're better, Mom will take you boating on the lake."

Ayao, however, was not very interested and only nodded listlessly.

Her heart sank again. Back at the Shen residence, how envious Ayao had been when she watched the eldest daughter of the Shen family and the second son of the Shen family go on an outing.

But at that time she was unable to satisfy him.

Shen Xuhuai always gave her perfunctory answers.

After returning, she was busy with many things and had long forgotten about these matters.

Only now, when things have come to this, do I realize that she was truly a terrible mother.

Although Ah Yao was listless, she still obediently finished her medicine and said in a very soft voice, "Mother, I want to sleep with you tonight."

She reached out and patted Ayao's head: "Of course."

Ayao's face was still a little pale. She pulled the blanket over herself and said, "Take your medicine and sleep for a while. Mother will stay here with you. Don't be afraid."

Ayao stared at her with her round eyes for a long time before nodding, closing her eyes, and falling asleep.

After Ayao had fallen asleep peacefully, she got up and went to the door.

Baili Chuan was feeding the fish under the pavilion in the courtyard, looking quite relaxed.

She walked over, and Baili Chuan, hearing her footsteps, scattered all the fish food in his hand and turned to look at her.

"Miss Jiang."

She sat on one side of the pavilion, and Baili Chuan sat down opposite her.

"What is it?"

Baili Chuan smiled first, then said, "Miss Jiang, I've come to tell you some good news."

She snorted inwardly.

"Li Fei's younger brother is suffering from a rare disease. The doctor said he needs the Soul-Hooking Grass from Lingchuan, a grass that is only seen once every hundred years."

Baili Chuan paused for a moment, then looked at her with a smile.

The Jiang family's pharmacy had a collection of many rare and precious herbs, and she knew about the Soul-Hooking Grass.

This was acquired by the Jiang family in their early years. At that time, the father rescued a beggar who was about to starve to death outside the city, and the Soul-Snatching Grass was a gift from that man.

At first, even his father didn't recognize it, but fortunately, the old shopkeeper of the pharmacy was knowledgeable and recognized the Soul-Hooking Grass at a glance.

The effects of the Soul-Snatching Grass are just as its name suggests: it can revive the dead and heal bones.

But that person was Consort Li.

She wished that Mo Yanzhou was all alone and would even save his uncle.

funny.

“Miss Jiang, the Third Prince is benevolent and wise. If it weren’t for him, there would probably be no more babies in Jiangzhou. Making good connections with such a person would be entirely beneficial to the Jiang family.”

She raised her eyebrows and looked at Baili Chuan: "Young Master Li, the imperial examination is just around the corner. Are you perhaps planning to offer my Jiang family to the Third Prince?"

Bailichuan was speechless for a moment.

“Our Jiang family is not fortunate enough to have that kind of luck. My father and I don’t understand the affairs of the court, nor do we want to curry favor with the powerful. We just want to live our own quiet lives.”

Baili Chuan paused, then laughed loudly, "Miss Jiang, you're overthinking it. It's just that my cousin and I have received a great favor from the Jiang family, that's why..."

"Since Miss Jiang doesn't want to hear this, then I won't say any more."

Baili Chuan smiled at her, seemingly unconcerned, but his eyes remained fixed on her, shimmering and sparkling.

Baili Chuan poured tea for Jiang Yunshu, who accepted it with a smile in her eyes and her thin lips moving slightly.

Ling Jingchu, who was not far away, saw this scene as soon as he arrived.

He clenched his fists. It was laughable that a dissolute and frivolous person like Baili Chuan dared to flaunt his charm in front of Jiang Yunshu.

When the two returned to the mansion together, he noticed that Baili Chuan had a faint, unusual fragrance on him, unlike the incense that ordinary men would use.

It seems more like something a woman would use.

Doesn't Jiang Yunshu like Chu Shuangfeng?

Why are you looking at Bailichuan like that again?

He narrowed his eyes, and Baili Chuan said something that made Jiang Yunshu laugh.

Jiang Yunshu's almond-shaped eyes seemed to sparkle when she smiled, and the red hairpin on her head trembled slightly with her movements, making her look like a fairy who had mistakenly fallen into the mortal world.

Some dark seeds silently sprouted in his heart and quickly rose within him.

Soon, it twisted around him like vines, making it hard for him to breathe. The more he tried to see the person's face and voice clearly, the more his vision blurred.

"Young Master Jingchu?"

Qing Shuang's voice was low because A Yao was sleeping soundly inside the house, and the crackling sound of burning herbs in the yard made people drowsy as well.

When Qing Shuang saw Ling Jingchu, she suddenly remembered what her mistress had said earlier.

Then she thought her idea was really good. It would be great if Young Master Jingchu could become the son-in-law of the Jiang family.

Ling Jingchu had no idea what the people behind him were plotting, because he hadn't heard Qing Shuang's words at all; he was only staring intently at the people under the pavilion.

Qing Shuang followed Ling Jingchu's gaze and saw that the young lady and Young Master Li were talking about something, and they were smiling so warmly.

She knew her mistress best; the mistress deeply resented Young Master Li, and especially hated his approach to A Yao.

It was probably just an act.

She stepped forward to block Ling Jingchu's view and said with a smile, "Young Master Jingchu, you've come at the right time. Miss was just saying she wanted to give you a sachet!"

Ling Jingchu's melancholy and unfocused eyes gradually regained their focus.

He glanced at Qing Shuang, then shifted his gaze to Jiang Yunshu behind her.

What should I give as a gift?

"The sachet, Miss even said she wanted to give it to you!"

Qing Shuang grinned broadly, showing no remorse whatsoever. In fact, it was Madam who specially sent it to Miss. Since she couldn't find anyone at Tingyu Pavilion, she gave them Young Master Jingchu's gift instead, and asked Qing Shuang to deliver it along with the gift later.

Ling Jingchu felt a faint heat rising in his chest, and when he looked into that person's eyes again, he felt a burning sensation that made his whole body go numb.

Sachet...

A woman's sachet should not be given away casually.

Ling Jingchu's eyes deepened, and his thin lips pressed even tighter.

"That young master Li is really something. He knows that Miss is worried about A Yao right now, but he still keeps talking to her. Young Master Jingchu, is that really your distant cousin?"

Ling Jingchu was pulled back to his senses by Qing Shuang's voice, and looked at Baili Chuan's head with a hint of anger.

He had completely forgotten that Yun Shu had told him that Baili Chuan was a very dangerous person.

She was now determined to make a move on him.

Thinking of this, his gloomy eyes fell on Baili Chuan.

This person had close ties with the Third Prince, but seemed to dislike Jiang Yunzheng, perhaps harboring some other intentions.

Then I thought about how this person had been visiting A-Yao frequently lately.

He scoffed inwardly, his gaze flickering slightly. Jiang Yunshu was rubbing her temples, looking quite troubled.

It's utterly disgusting that Baili Chuan had such thoughts.

"Ling Jingchu." A soft, clear voice suddenly rang out, "What are you doing here?"

Jiang Yunshu saw him after leaving the pavilion, but Ling Jingchu looked somewhat gloomy.

She leaned closer and asked in a low voice, "Do you also know that the Third Prince is investigating that matter?"

"Are you... alright?"

Jiang Yunshu was wearing a light jasmine fragrance, a refreshing scent in autumn that could instantly dispel any gloom or irritability.

The strong aroma of mugwort in the courtyard created a sense of tranquility.

Ling Jingchu paused for a moment before saying, "It's nothing."

"Then what are you doing here?"

Jiang Yunshu asked casually, and Ling Jingchu's eyes darkened slightly, his voice lowering.

"Tomorrow is Chu Shuangfeng's wedding day."

She was taken aback. Who had come up with this terrible date for Chu Shuangfeng?

The wedding is tomorrow, but with so many refugees outside, the bride's dowry will probably be stolen before they even get her into the sedan chair.

She thought about it and decided she still had to tell Chu Shuangfeng, since he was truly foolish.

"Wait a moment, I'll write a letter to Chu Shuangfeng right away."

He then ignored Ling Jingchu and went straight back to his room.

Just as Qing Shuang was about to say something, Bai Lichuan walked over.

"Cousin, you've come to see Ayao too?"

Baili Chuan looked worried: "Ayao isn't in good condition right now, let's wait a while."

Ling Jingchu glanced at him with cold eyes, as if a chilling and damp wind enveloped him, causing Baili Chuan to shudder inexplicably for a moment.

But by the time Baili Chuan took a closer look, Ling Jingchu had already turned his gaze away.

"You're not feeling well; you started coughing outside. It would be better if you stayed inside."

Ling Jingchu's voice was calm, but Baili Chuan suddenly found himself speechless.

Under Qing Shuang's wary gaze, Baili Chuan had no choice but to turn and leave.

"How could this man be like this? What if he catches the plague outside? My young lady is delicate and frail; how can she compare to that brute man's physique!"

Qing Shuang was upset and had no desire to say anything more to Ling Jingchu, so she took some mugwort leaves and burned them by the pavilion.

Jiang Yunshu wrote a single sentence to Chu Shuangfeng while she was inside the house.

An epidemic has broken out outside the city; the wedding must be postponed.

After she finished folding the letter, she walked to the door and then remembered that Ling Jingchu was just a weak scholar, and it would be better to give the letter to Qing Shuang than to him.

So when she arrived at the door, she handed the letter directly to Qing Shuang.

"I will personally hand it over to Chu Shuangfeng."

Qing Shuang took it and left.

Ling Jingchu's eyes grew even darker, but he froze when Jiang Yunshu leaned closer.

What are you doing here?

Before Ling Jingchu could speak, she shook her head and frowned: "Ayao was quite frightened and can't see outsiders easily now."

Moreover, Ayao was a little afraid of him.

"I'll figure something out about that."

As long as Mo Tingyu cooperates with the Jiang family, she can use this opportunity to protect Ling Jingchu.

Ling Jingchu swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. The damp, cold wind scattered the vines, and his heart finally caught its breath.

So what if she likes Chu Shuangfeng?

Chu Shuangfeng is nothing but a fool. The Chu family can keep him firmly under control. Why would he need to do it himself?

Only him.

Only he can always be by her side.

Only him.

It wasn't until he returned to his room that he realized he hadn't given Jiang Yunshu the sachet yet.

At this point, Jiang Yunshu had just learned of the existence of the sachet.

Qing Shuang quickly sent the letter out, and only told her about the sachet when she returned.

Why didn't you just give it to him when Ling Jingchu was here?

Jiang Yunshu looked at Qing Shuang silently. She wanted to stay with A Yao a little longer, so that if A Yao woke up, she wouldn't be unable to see her and would be trembling with fear.

Qing Shuang chuckled twice: "I forgot..."

Autumn nights come much earlier than summer nights. The night was hazy. She looked at A Yao, who was sleeping soundly with a relaxed expression.

"Let's go. Let Manman watch over her. If anything happens, have someone call me immediately."

Qing Shuang summoned Manman, and then they went out.

The night was cool and still, and the wind made people feel a little cold.

Autumn has arrived.

"Miss, please put on another coat when you go back; it's getting a bit chilly."

Qing Shuang spoke softly behind her.

The two walked one after the other in the corridor. Shuhua Garden was not far from Tingyu Pavilion, and they soon arrived at Ling Jingchu's courtyard.

Ling Jingchu was reading in the courtyard when Su Ye led him over.

Qing Shuang was pulled back by Su Ye, and the two stopped far away to the side.

There is also a small pavilion in the courtyard of Tingyuge, where it is a very comfortable place to sit and listen to the sound of rain.

Even the name of the courtyard was chosen by Ling Jingchu himself.

His father initially hung up a rain shower tower.

The pavilion was in the backyard. She walked over in the night. There was a graceful figure under the pavilion. A cool breeze blew by from time to time, making the person's clothes flutter. He looked like a fairy.

If he had some knowledge of astronomy and geography, he might just be able to charm the emperor to death.

As she thought about it, she inexplicably burst into laughter.

There was a small table in the pavilion, and Ling Jingchu sat on a low stool, turning the pages of the book in his hand with his slender fingers.

A lamp sat on the table, but there were no lights on either side of the pavilion, making it seem as if the thick darkness had swallowed Ling Jingchu up completely.

He suddenly stood up, his gaze still fixed on the book in his hands, looking extremely serious.

It was only when he stood up that she realized where Ling Jingchu's otherworldly and refined demeanor came from.

He...

Why don't you get dressed properly after showering?!

He was wearing several layers of clothing, but the belt around his waist was hanging precariously, which showed the owner's carelessness.

His jet-black hair cascaded down his back in the wind, and a gust of wind lifted the hem of his clothes, but he was completely unaware.

His inner garment was also loosely worn, and with his movements, the lines of his chest unfolded before her eyes.

The person finally regained some consciousness and casually tugged at one side of their clothes, but it was unclear whether the force was too strong or too weak.

His undergarment straightened up a bit, but the belt around his waist suddenly came undone.

The dim candlelight swayed gently in the wind, making the muscle lines on the man's abdomen exceptionally clear.

He instinctively reached to adjust his clothes.

As she held the clothes at her waist, she inadvertently raised her eyebrows and saw a figure standing not far away.

The lamp in the room cast a long shadow of Jiang Yunshu.