Chapter 86 Returning Home

Shang Yuji, who had taken the bait, never expected that Geng Zhi's small shop would lead to a completely different world.

Old Geng was the previous leader of the Mohist school. After retiring, he came to Yangzhou to open a small shop, and unfortunately, she caught him red-handed.

So, she actually asked a master craftsman who was once the leader of the Mohist school to sculpt clay figures.

This is more than just a waste of talent; it's like using a cannon to kill a mosquito!

How extravagant!

Several people were staring at her with such intense gazes that she felt like she was being stared at so intently.

It's foreseeable that if I don't burn out all my brain cells today, I won't be able to leave this shop alive.

When one of the three has a brilliant idea, one has spare money, and one has technical skills, it's not surprising that they create something extraordinary.

Coincidentally, she knew how the waterwheel worked, and any one of these Mohist disciples with shining eyes could almost pass for a perfect score in practical operation.

In addition, as a merchant, she has plenty of money. With her and this group of Mohist disciples joining forces, what is there to fear about not being able to take down this small waterwheel?

Elder Geng, your disciple is excellent, but unfortunately, she will be hers in the next moment!

No, Mr. Geng, you're very kind too, and she accepted it with a smile.

She's here to join this big family!

...As the sun set, leaving only its last rays, a slow, orderly knocking sound came from the shop door.

The candlelight flickered in the wall lamp. Hearing the noise, the eldest disciple, who had free hands, got up and opened the door.

The warm orange glow illuminated the newcomer's face, highlighting his handsome features. He held up a lantern and looked up into the courtyard: "Yunxiao... are you still not done with your work?"

The eldest disciple followed the gaze to Miss Shang, who was still being besieged, and realized that it was late. They had been holding Miss Shang back for a long time, so long that people from her home had come looking for her.

"Wait a moment... I'll go call her." The eldest disciple felt a little guilty, and secretly observed the other person's expression. He found that the other person's gaze had never left Miss Shang since the beginning, so he breathed a sigh of relief and went back to the courtyard to persuade Elder Geng to release the person.

Interrupted by his eldest disciple, Elder Geng almost made him recall the "earnest teachings" he had given him when they were still in the sect, but then he saw his eldest disciple pointing sullenly towards the door.

Old Geng turned his head and saw that the woman's husband had come to the door looking for her: ...

Oh no, I've lost track of time!

Just then, Shang Yuji got thirsty and stopped to drink some water, but Geng Zhi came over and told her to end her schedule for the day.

Looking at him with a strange expression, Shang Yuji almost wondered if this person was the same Old Geng who had just wanted to fight her until dawn.

Following Old Geng's gesture, she turned her head to look and saw Jiang Xi standing tall and straight in front of the shop, waiting.

Gazing at her from afar, she seemed to see clearly those eyes tinged with an orange glow, showing no sign of anxiety, only quietly watching her.

Wait a minute, then it will be done.

She was lip-reading, and knowing her so well, he was able to decipher her words.

Jiang Xi looked up, her long eyelashes trembling. She pursed her lips, nodded, and watched intently as Jiang Xi packed her things.

She greeted Geng Zhi, the purse at her waist bobbing with her light steps, and Shang Yuji smiled as she approached: "Let's go, I told Old Geng we'd come back tomorrow."

"Okay." He put the lamp in his other hand and took her hand in the direction she was coming from.

"Why did you suddenly come to see me today?" In the past, she would never mention it, and out of a desire not to disturb her, he would refrain from coming.

His hand, which was linked with hers, moved down, caressing her wrist bone, and then slowly slid down. His well-defined fingers climbed over her palm, and Shang Yuji took the initiative, interlocking her fingers to hold his mischievous fingers in place.

Jiang Xi's hand, which had been restrained for a moment, paused, then obediently returned to its original position. She asked softly, "Yun Xiao said before, 'Do whatever you want'... I miss Yun Xiao and wanted to come and see her. Does Yun Xiao not want me to come?"

"No, not at all." That phrase, "Do what you want to do," seemed to be what she said to him on the day of their wedding banquet when he wanted to lift the curtain of the bridal sedan chair.

Shang Yuji affirmed, "You have a pretty good memory."

"Because that's what Yunxiao said."

She smiled and said, "Then how did you find me? I didn't say I would come to Old Master Geng's shop when I left home."

Jiang Xi carefully explained the process of searching for the person to her: "Yun Xiao said that she would come to the south of the city to see Miss Sun later, and then return to the mansion after seeing them. So I came to the south of the city and met Miss Sun again. She said that she saw Yun Xiao and an old man she knew leave."

I think it must be Elder Geng. A few days ago, Yunxiao came home late and exhausted several times because she had been kept up with Elder Geng.

"How can you be so sure that the old man I know is Old Geng? Maybe he's just Doctor Fang who's wandering around the south of the city."

“It’s different.” Jiang Xi shook her head. As dusk approached, the shops on both sides lit up their lamps early, the warm yellow light illuminating the way forward.

He explained, "Yunxiao's footsteps and breathing are different from others. As long as I get close, I can tell where Yunxiao is."

Shang Yuji couldn't help but glance at him a few times, then hesitated, thinking that it was as if he had placed a human tracking device on her.

After thinking it over, she admitted, "This is really amazing. I won't have to worry about getting separated when I travel in the future."

The warm yellow firelight reflected in the fox's eyes, as if seeping out flowing malt sugar: "They won't get separated; the Heart-Connecting Gu can also roughly determine the direction."

Even if they get separated one day, he can keep searching in the direction of Gu until he finds Aji.

"There shouldn't be a day when we need to use the Heart-to-Heart Gu's location function," Shang Yuji replied naturally. "We probably won't ever be separated."

Jiang Xi used to suffer from separation anxiety. Even though he seemed normal now, he could still obediently stay in the courtyard and wait for her. But this was on the premise that she hadn't been gone for long and had told him the specific time she would return before leaving. Only when he had the idea that she would come back could he relax and watch her leave.

But if she doesn't tell him anything and insists on leaving, he won't stop her. He'll just cry silently, not daring to let her think of him as a nuisance.

Shang Yuji glanced at him, and then their eyes met. Her bright eyes curved into a smile.

As he demonstrated, he would not interfere with her thoughts and decisions, like an oyster opening its soft flesh to her. Even if her actions hurt him, he would only silently accept and tolerate them.

He went even further, entrusting everything to her, becoming her tool, puppet, and shadow, but never himself, fearing that one day she would abandon him and he would be all alone again.

Now he has developed a strange obsession with things related to her, and occasionally tries to keep things that have passed through her hands. But compared to before when he had no thoughts of his own, he has made a lot of progress.

These are the results of her hard work over the years. If one day she were to leave for too long and end up back where she started, that would be truly exhausting and frustrating for her.

Fortunately, he is easy to please; he is content as long as they are together.

It's easy to care for and convenient to use, making it an essential item for home and travel!

For Jiang Xiqu, fine clothes, sumptuous food, gold and silver jewelry, and magnificent palaces—things that everyone pursues—are nothing but fleeting clouds.

That seemingly casual remark, "There will never be a time of separation," was the promise he most desired.

But ironically, whatever Aji promises, she will eventually fulfill it.

Even if she sometimes forgets what she said, her actions don't lie; she kept her promises.

"Let me tell you in advance, I'll be coming to Old Geng's shop a few more times in the next few days." She hadn't finished explaining the operating principles, working mechanism, and usage restrictions of the waterwheel, so she had to come over a few more times.

To make these waterwheels into physical replicas, we need to discuss cooperation with Mr. Geng again.

Although I really wanted her to provide the funding and land, it's common knowledge that experiments are expensive.

Shang Yuji was worried that the project would be halted halfway through due to a broken funding chain.

Therefore, she planned to have the government take over the waterwheel experiment project, and then personally fund the project.

Most importantly, waterwheels are a public service project, and no matter what, she cannot meet the entire demand for waterwheels in Da'an.

The government took over, and later local officials were able to build waterwheels for the people according to local conditions.

Besides, she didn't believe that the eldest princess wouldn't covet these Mohist disciples who were highly skilled in practical application. When the government provided the land and funds, and these disciples provided the technology and ideas, it would be much easier to develop new collaborations after the waterwheel cooperation was established.

It's all for the sake of the future.

"When is Yunxiao coming home?" Jiang Xi asked after a while.

Shang Yuji said with a rising tone, "This is what I need you to do!"

Jiang Xi was puzzled, but that didn't stop him from immediately accepting the task: "Okay, what does Yunxiao need me to do?"

"Come pick me up after you finish your martial arts training. Once you're here, they won't be able to keep me any longer."

He usually stopped practicing martial arts at 5 PM, which is the time when the sun sets.

Converted, that's from 5 PM to 7 PM. Jiangxi doesn't specify a particular time when he stops training each day, but it's always within the 5 PM to 7 PM range.

The timing of returning home was just right; it was still bright daylight, unlike today when it was dark and the road wasn't very safe.

"I'll come over as soon as I finish martial arts!" Jiang Xi's eyes widened with delight upon hearing that the task was to pick someone up. This meant that he and A Ji could spend more time on their way back to the manor by themselves.

His joy was palpable, but Shang Yuji reminded him, "Don't rush on the way, it's not good to get tired."

"I'm not tired. I'm not tired at all when I'm with Yunxiao!"

Seeing that he was truly delighted, Shang Yuji stopped trying to persuade him. Passing by the pastry shop owned by the Youyun Chamber of Commerce, she pulled the beaming Jiang Xi around a corner and into the shop.

"We're a little hungry, let's buy some sweet cakes to tide us over."

Finally, the two left the Youyun Cake Shop, their hands full of spoils, and returned home laden with their purchases.

·

After Zhou Ao had a prophetic dream that could be described as a miracle, he felt that everything was inauspicious.

In his dreams, he felt completely at ease and successful, while in reality, he felt utterly defeated and powerless. This huge gap between his dreams and reality tugged at his thoughts, making him restless and agitated, and he always wanted to destroy something to relieve his inner turmoil.

Ah Shuang informed Zhou Chaoyun about the secret location he had set up in the suburbs of the capital. Fortunately, he reacted quickly and took away the confidential documents and items inside, preventing Zhou Chaoyun from noticing anything amiss.

The witchcraft case intended to frame him failed, the secret territory was lost, and he didn't even benefit from the flood in Jingzhou...

And then there's that Jiang Xiqu from the Princess's residence, whose authenticity is uncertain...

Each incident, each one more stark than the last, reveals the stark reality of the situation.

Fortunately, the emperor was on his deathbed, and even without Jiang Xiqu's military guarantee, he could still make the outcome happen as he wished.

There was one thing that Shang Yuji hadn't expected—Zhou Ao was also unaware of the truth behind the emperor's critical illness.

·

In the lotus garden, someone hummed softly, and a few bait pellets fell into the pond, attracting a whole pond of brightly colored and magnificent fish to chase after them:

"Don't be impatient, the fish will eventually take the bait."

The man hummed a tune, then suddenly laughed and muttered to himself, "Moon Pearl, Moon Pearl, did you think that by committing suicide you could no longer be of my use?"

"—The naive people of southern Xinjiang."

·

Lan Yuanzhi, standing under the eaves, felt something and stopped sewing the brocade handkerchief in her hands. She raised her head and looked out into the deep courtyard at the four corners of the sky.

A tear rolled down her cheek, and the maidservant, seeing this, asked anxiously, "Madam? Are you feeling unwell?"

She covered her face and wiped away her tears, then smiled and said, "It's nothing, my eyes are just a little sore from embroidering the handkerchief for so long."

Lan Yuanzhi's smile returned to normal as she lowered her head and quietly looked at the half-embroidered picture of colorful birds playing in the forest on the handkerchief.

Her delicate hand gently caressed the brocade surface, but her heart sank to the bottom of the lake.

When will that knife held to her throat fall?

She... doesn't have long to live.