Chapter 9 Rainy Night

Although it is said that Yangzhou is beautiful in March, with its misty willows and flowers, June is just as beautiful.

March is full of spring, while June is shrouded in mist and rain.

Small bridges, flowing water, green walls and black tiles, pink and white lotus flowers blooming in various postures in the waterways that flow through the town, green round leaves and sails leaving ripples on the water create a colorful picture.

As the sky fell and a continuous drizzle descended, everything seemed to be immersed in a hazy ink painting, elegant and beautiful, living up to the reputation of Jiangnan as a land of misty rain.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone, leaving tracks on the clear bluestone washed clean by the rain, which then gradually disappeared into the flowing rainwater.

Shang Yuji opened her oil-paper umbrella and walked with Jiang Xi toward Fulai Inn.

The waiter stepped forward, took the luggage Jiang Xi was carrying, and led them to the guest rooms on the second floor.

Pushing open the wooden window, Shang Yuji took a deep breath of the cool, fresh air.

Since entering the Jiangnan region, it had been raining frequently, and the carriage was prone to getting stuck in the mud. So she asked Old Chen to stop the carriage and wait for the weather to improve before continuing the journey.

After a long and winding journey, taking nearly a month and a half, they finally arrived in Yangzhou.

Yangzhou has recently entered the rainy season and is experiencing frequent rainfall.

She figured that since they had just arrived and were unfamiliar with the place, they should book a room in an inn to rest first, and then find time to get to know the area.

Jiang Xi listened to her and went to the next room to change out of her wet outer clothes. After changing, she knocked on her door: "Yun Xiao, may I come in?"

"Enter."

He closed the door and saw Shang Yuji, dressed in blue, leaning against the window. He approached with a smile and leaned against the other side of the wooden window.

Jiang Xi imitated her posture, reaching her hand out of the window to catch the trickling water falling vertically from the edge of the wooden window.

“Yangzhou,” he continued, “is different from the capital.”

The rain in the capital city is concentrated in the summer, and it doesn't come very often. It usually comes in a sudden downpour, lasting for an hour or two before quickly leaving, as if it's rushing to the next rain feast.

After the rain stopped, the sky was clear and cloudless.

In Jiangnan, the rain is continuous, fine and long, and it doesn't hurt when it hits you, but it does make you feel a little itchy. The sky is full of thick, persistent clouds, and the sun is rarely seen for several days.

Shang Yuji's gaze extended, landing between the green walls and black tiles: "It is very different."

She was born in the south in both her previous and current lives, and in her previous life she was even further south than Jiangnan, which means she was located at the border between the southern border and Lingnan.

Therefore, she was more suited to the misty, rainy, and babbling environment than to the windswept, dusty capital city.

She looked at him: "Do you like it here? The place where we'll be living for a long time."

"I like it." He looked straight back without the slightest hesitation.

He likes to be wherever Ah Ji is.

Seeing how well-behaved he was, Shang Yuji couldn't help but ruffle his hair. A few strands of his dark blue hair stood up because of the ruffled hair. The upturned hair, combined with his blank and unresisting face, made him look innocent and pitiful.

She tried to smooth his hair down, but it suddenly became unruly and kept sticking up no matter how much she pressed it. It was almost lunchtime, so she reluctantly took out a sandalwood comb and tied his hair into a simple high ponytail.

His exquisite and stunning face was complemented by a touch of youthful spirit.

Jiang Xi looked through the bronze mirror at his dressing table, his breathing unconsciously becoming lighter. He didn't look at himself in the mirror; all he could see was Shang Yuji, her eyelids lowered, gently combing his hair.

After tying her hair into a high ponytail, he took the sandalwood comb, turned around and looked at her, saying, "Aji, let me do your hair too."

Shang Yuji pressed down on his shoulder, leaned forward from his side, looked at his hair in the mirror from left to right. It was still neat and not messy, so she rejected his suggestion.

He was disappointed for a moment, but quickly regained his spirits: "Then I'll come and dress up Aji again when she needs it!"

Shang Yuji couldn't resist pinching his soft cheek: "Okay, then I'll thank Xi in advance."

After staying at the inn for two days, Shang Yuji learned from the innkeeper about the list of people who could buy houses at a good price.

It took another three days to buy a three-courtyard mansion on Lotus Road in the west of the city at a good price.

Upon entering the courtyard, there is a hall, kitchen, and servants' quarters. Although they haven't hired anyone yet and the servants' quarters are empty, they'll keep them for when they hire long-term workers, so they can move in after a short rest.

The second courtyard is the residential area, with a main house, study, guest rooms, east and west wing rooms, etc., with a spacious layout, fish ponds, waterside pavilions, terraces and rockeries, creating a tranquil environment.

The third courtyard contained mostly functional rooms, including general stores, warehouses, outhouses, stables, and more—everything one could need.

If the homeowner hadn't faced a sudden and drastic change in their family situation, they wouldn't have been in such a hurry to sell, allowing Shang Yuji to snag this bargain.

The weather cleared up on the day the mansion was purchased. Old Chen looked after the house and also supervised the cleaning staff he had hired.

Shang Yuji then took Jiang Xi to buy household items with Wang Si. They rented a small cart and put the purchased bedding, pillows, pots, pans, and other utensils on it. By the time they returned after shopping, the mansion had already been cleaned.

As it was getting late, and everyone had worked hard all day, it was inconvenient to cook. Shang Yuji bought some ready-to-eat dishes. After the four of them ate, they each took their belongings and tidied up their lodgings.

Jiang Xi went to act with Shang Yuji. They stayed in the main house of the second courtyard, while Wang Si and Lao Chen stayed in the west wing near the hall, so they could be alerted immediately in case of any accidents.

Shang Yuji and Jiang Xi made up her bed first, and then Jiang Xi made up hers. As is customary, their bedrooms are the closest to each other.

As night deepened, Shang Yuji yawned and left. Jiang Xi went to see her and only went back inside to extinguish the candle after entering the room.

With the scented new bedding, Shang Yuji quickly drifted off to sleep.

Jiang Xi, who lived just a wall away, turned her pillow toward her room, pulled the thin blanket up to her chin, lay flat on the bed, and drifted off to sleep, recalling her time with A Ji that day.

As night deepened, a light rain began to fall again, and the wind made the wooden windows creak. The person sleeping in bed seemed to be disturbed by the sound of the wind and rain, and their delicate brows furrowed uneasily.

Jiang Xi's breathing gradually became rapid, his slender, jade-white hands gripped the edge of the blankets tightly, and he let out a helpless moan. But it was as if something was dragging him in his dream, his eyelids were heavy, and he couldn't wake up no matter what.

It was as if he had returned to Hongyun Garden. The garden was no longer dilapidated, but it was no longer as neat and vibrant as it had been when he and Aji had tidied it up together.

The doors were inlaid with gold and jade, the eaves were brand new, and he couldn't tell what the decorations inside were, but he knew they were mostly valuable items.

As if overnight, Hongyun Garden had become a place of extravagance and wealth that he didn't recognize at all.

But he didn't like that. He wanted the blooming forsythia in the broken vase, and the wardrobe that creaked every time it was opened...

The surroundings were empty and quiet; there was no one else around except him.

Ah Ji

What about his Ah Ji?

Why can't he find Ah Ji anywhere?

Ah Ji! Ah Ji! Ah Ji! Ah Ji...

Where did you go?

He called out from inside the house to outside, stepping barefoot on the ground, seemingly unable to feel the coldness of the floor.

If Aji were here, she would definitely urge him to put on his shoes, but he couldn't find Aji.

He searched everywhere for Aji, becoming more and more frightened as he called out, but no one would comfort him like Aji had.

Ah Ji, where are you? He's so scared.

"Knock—knock knock—"

There was a knock on the courtyard gate. Was it Aji who had returned?

It must be, right?

Why not the three long and one short code phrase?

It's not Aji! The code is wrong!

Ah Ji has said what to do in this situation!

He needs to hide, hide, he needs to hide.

No one can see him!

Jiang Xi immediately ran into the house, hid in the wardrobe, ignoring the pile of seemingly expensive silk clothes inside, roughly covered him with them, and cowered away.

The person outside couldn't wait any longer and broke down the door. He was used to not seeing Jiang Xi and walked into the house talking as he went.

"Third brother, following me is much better than following your eldest brother. Guess what I heard in the study? Your eldest brother is going to send you away."

"Hehe, do you know what you'll face if you're sent out? At least I'll protect you in the Jiang family mansion, but outside you'll be ridden by thousands and trampled by tens of thousands!"

"But don't be afraid, I will hide you well and not let my brother find out."

Third brother, my dear third brother, come out! Your second brother has been missing you terribly. Let your second brother see you and ease this pang of longing!

"Where is he? Where is our good third brother hiding?"

Help me, waah! Ah Ji, Ah Ji, Ah Ji, Ah Ji, help me, help me, help me, Ah Ji!

"Found you, Third Brother."

Ah Ji, I'm scared...

"Ah Ji!"

Jiang Xi suddenly sat up in bed, fear still lingering in her heart, large tears falling from her eyes, but the memories of the dream quickly faded.

He couldn't remember the contents of his dream for a moment; all he knew was that Aji wasn't in the dream, and he couldn't find her no matter how hard he looked.

No, he doesn't want to be without Aji.

The wooden windows opened and closed repeatedly, making a creaking and groaning sound, mixed with the howling wind, the pattering rain, the muffled thunder, and the chaotic, piercing sound of a heartbeat.

Ah Ji, he's going to see Ah Ji!

Without thinking, Jiang Xi threw off the covers, put on her white nightgown, and ran barefoot out of the room.

He strode into the rain, the gentle drizzle wetting his hair. His thin nightgown clung stickily to his body after getting wet, but he was oblivious to it as he stood in front of Shang Yuji's door.

He wanted to knock on the door, but he was worried that Ah Ji was asleep and he would wake her up.

Ah Ji has been working very hard lately, she needs to rest well.

But he only wanted to take one look, just one look, and then he would leave.

No, Ah Ji will hate anyone who disturbs her sleep.

Waaah, Ah Ji, Ah Ji, Ah Ji...

Jiang Xi sat softly against the door, close to it, as if this would help her get closer to her.

That's fine, he can stay close to Aji now.

The fear of not having Aji lingered in her heart, and her small sobs blended with the sound of the continuous rain, forming a strange, mournful melody in the rainy night.

Shang Yuji, who had already been awakened by the thunder, was inside the house: ...

Imagine being woken up by thunder, and half-asleep, you see a dark figure running quickly past your window. You try to convince yourself it's a hallucination, but then the door is slammed shut, followed by intermittent sobbing. What should you do?

Shang Yuji, who wanted to act as if nothing had happened but in reality everything had: What a disaster!

Left with no other choice, Shang Yuji slowly sat up from the bed, put on her shoes and socks, took a deep breath, picked up the wooden stick that had not yet been cleared away from the wall, and prepared to open the door with her other hand.

Whether it's a real supernatural or terrifying event or just someone's silly prank, keeping people up in the middle of the night like this means they'll all be in deep trouble if she catches the culprit!

It's Jiangxi that's going... It's not that we can't give them good treatment.

Jiang Xi, who was sitting by the door, did not expect the door to open. He looked up at Shang Yuji in a daze, and then heard a clanging sound that brought him back to his senses. In an instant, the tears that were about to stop flowed out again.

It's Ah Ji...

He was both aggrieved and overjoyed. In his anxiety, he crawled on all fours, his hands gripping the ground and his knees scraping the earth, crying and calling out, "Ah Ji, I can't find you... I'm scared, Ah Ji, Ah Ji..."

After leaping over the door frame and moving to her legs, he reached out to hug them, but when he looked up at his wet, dirt-covered hands, he was afraid of getting Shang Yuji wet and dirty.

He quickly wiped his clothes, but they were still wet and he couldn't dry them no matter what he did. Jiang Xi sat on the ground anxiously and said, "Aji, hug me, I want to hug you."

Shang Yuji resigned himself to his fate, turned around, kicked away the discarded wooden stick, lit the candle, and thought to himself: It seems he will have to stay overnight tonight.

Forget it, I'd better get this sorted out and go to bed early for a nap.

Fortunately, the noise of the rainy night did not wake Wang Si and the others. If they had seen Jiang Xi, soaking wet and pitifully squatting in front of her door, she would not have been able to explain herself no matter how many mouths she had.

Shang Yuji took out a new nightgown that was a bit too big, helped Jiang Xi up from the ground, pushed him behind the screen, and urged him to change into dry clothes first.

The wet white nightgown was laid out on the wooden chair to dry. Jiang Xi came out from behind the screen, and Shang Yuji had him sit on the edge of the bed, taking clean towels to wipe his face and hair.

“Ah Ji, I dreamt that I couldn’t find you no matter what I did, and I’m scared.”

"Dreams are always the opposite of reality. Look, I am right in front of you right now."

"Yes, Ah Ji is right!"

Jiang Xiqu's head swayed from side to side with her movements. Seeing that she was tired, he took the towel and vigorously rubbed his black hair dry.

In the past, she might have brought him warm water to wash his muddy feet, but now she was a big boss who paid him a monthly salary without any remorse.

Who dares to order the boss around!

"There's still warm water in the kettle on the table. Take the wooden basin under the bed, fill it with water, and wash your feet. You can only go to bed after you've washed them clean."

Shang Yuji was so sleepy that she put the handkerchief on his shoulder, squinted, and lay down in the quilt that still held the warmth of her body, slowly moving herself back into bed.

They were in a warm, cozy bed, and no one could separate them.

"Ah Ji, you're so kind."

"Um……"

He disturbed her sleep, but she didn't get annoyed with him. Instead, she found him dry clothes and let him wash up before going to bed. No one is better than Aji.

Jiang Xi calmed himself down, his happy mood making him ignore the swelling and pain in his eyes from crying for so long.

He laboriously carried water, carefully washed and dried himself before cautiously lifting a corner of the quilt and climbing onto the bed, feeling for an empty spot.