Chapter 14

"The medicine is here!"

Not long after, Yun Qing came in from outside carrying a bowl of medicinal soup. Jiang Mian was sitting on the soft couch. Hearing the noise, she immediately got up and said, "Let me do it."

“This…” Yun Qing paused, before she could say anything, but Jiang Mian’s eyes curved into a warm smile.

"This matter started because of me, and I will feel guilty and uneasy if I don't do something for my cousin."

As she finished speaking, she took the bowl from Yun Qing's hand. By the time Yun Qing realized what was happening, she saw Jiang Mian already sitting by the young master's bedside.

The medicine in her hand was still a little hot, so Jiang Mian blew on it before bringing the spoon to his lips. However, Shen Ji was still unconscious, and half of the medicine spilled. She pursed her lips and patiently scooped out another spoonful.

She ate it spoonful by spoonful, and before long, the bowl of herbal soup was empty.

Looking at Shen Ji's face, she suddenly felt a strange sensation. Putting aside his cold and aloof personality, his appearance was truly impeccable.

Especially now that she's unconscious, her usual cold and aloof demeanor has vanished, replaced by a gentler and more approachable air.

Such a refined and gentle young man, who knows who he will end up with in the future.

"Cough...cough..."

Jiang Mian was so engrossed in staring that she was startled by the noise. She immediately got up. Although Shen Ji was gentle when he was unconscious, he was very cold when he was awake. She only dared to get close to him like this when he was unconscious. If he woke up, she didn’t know what would happen.

Fortunately, he only frowned slightly and did not regain consciousness.

Jiang Mian breathed a sigh of relief, got up and handed the medicine bowl to Yun Qing. For some reason, she felt her cheeks burning.

"It's late, I should go back."

After saying that, she left as if fleeing, leaving Yun Qing stunned and confused as to what had happened.

The cold wind was howling outside, but Jiang Mian didn't notice. She jogged all the way to Birou Courtyard. As soon as she entered, she drank a couple of sips of tea, and her thoughts calmed down a little.

Jiang Mian, Jiang Mian, how could you have such thoughts!

Her heart had raced for a moment, making her suddenly feel that something was growing uncontrollably in the shadows.

It could only be her cousin. She couldn't have any other thoughts about him. She was only getting close to him to seek protection. Besides, her grandmother had been so good to her. She absolutely couldn't have any other ideas.

Jiang Mian calmed down for a moment, suppressing the budding romantic thoughts. Her expression became indifferent as she repeatedly reminded herself not to let chaotic thoughts cloud her judgment.

Now she is all alone, with no one to plan for her. If she doesn't think about her own future, she may end up in a den of wolves and tigers, and by then it will be too late.

She lay on the bed, looked up at the roof beams, and sighed.

The road ahead is long, and who knows what the future holds?

...

The next day, Shen Ji woke up just as dawn broke.

He frowned, his mind still a little hazy, but this did not affect his judgment. He had suddenly fallen into a coma last night, and he only felt someone sitting in front of his bed, feeding him medicine.

Every now and then, a small hand would reach out and touch his forehead.

Soft and fragrant.

The aura was somewhat familiar, but not often seen. As he looked away, fragmented memories flooded back.

"Yun Qing".

A moment later, Yun Qing walked in from outside: "Young Master, you're finally awake!"

"last night……"

“Last night you suddenly fell into a coma. It just so happened that Doctor Chen from the manor had gone back to his hometown to visit patients. In my haste, I went to find Miss Wu and then brewed some medicine for you. By the way, it was Miss Wu who fed it to you.”

After Yun Qing finished speaking, he realized something was wrong and quickly added, "It was all Miss Wu's idea. She insisted on taking the soup bowl, and I couldn't refuse. I know I was wrong. If you want to punish me, please do so. I would never dare to have any complaints."

Shen Ji's gaze was cold and clear, precisely grasping the key point in the question: "Why did you bring her here?"

"It was that cloak, young master. It was chilly last night, and you wore that cloak. Who knew that the cloak... had a pollen scent on it, which caused your allergic reaction."

"..."

Shen Ji lowered his eyes, his thoughts unreadable. After a long while, he softly instructed, "This must not happen a second time."

"Yes." Yun Qing breathed a sigh of relief. It was his carelessness that caused this, and fortunately, the young master did not blame him.

For several days in a row, Jiang Mian did not leave Birou Courtyard.

The cat under the eaves ate and slept, slept and ate again, living a more comfortable life than she did.

"Matsumoto!"

She called softly, and the white cat opened its eyes and jumped straight onto the table.

For some reason, Jiang Mian suddenly felt that the cat looked very much like its owner. She put her hand on it, and it rolled over and lay down on it, as if enjoying her service.

"They are quite humane."

Meow~

Jiang Mian couldn't help but chuckle at her words, then suddenly remembered something: "What does your master like?"

Meow~

Trying to please someone is never a bad idea, but her cousin was cold and indifferent, and she really didn't know what could possibly catch his eye.

"You said my cousin fainted because of me, so it wouldn't be wrong for me to feel guilty and do something about it, right?"

"Meow meow meow~"

“You agree too!” Jiang Mian’s eyes suddenly lit up. She reached out and picked up Song Yuan. The white cat suddenly whimpered a few times, then jumped and disappeared in a flash.

Jiang Mian didn't care where it went, because she suddenly thought of another way to get closer to Shen Ji.

While catering to his preferences is good, she doesn't know Shen Ji's likes and dislikes, and she might end up making things worse, just like with that cloak.

After much thought, she realized that she could only try to appear in front of Shen Ji more often. Fortunately, she knew more about Shen Ji than he did. For example, she knew that he liked to drink tea but not alcohol, and that he didn't like to be disturbed when he was reading, but he needed someone to serve him his brush and ink when he was painting.

Just a few days ago, her fourth sister sent someone to bring her some storybooks. She used to read them for entertainment, but recently she has truly come to understand them.

For example, while catering to someone's preferences might not work, you can start from your own perspective and do something that you believe is good.

Suddenly, hope arose in the girl's eyes, and she was filled with longing and anticipation that she herself was unaware of.

A few days later.

Yun Qing was taking a nap in the courtyard when a cat suddenly darted out. His eyes lit up, and he crouched down: "Song Yuan? Haven't seen you for days, where have you been running around?"

"Huh, how come it's gotten so fat?" Yun Qing reached out to pick up the cat, but Song Yuan wagged its tail, turned its head haughtily, and left.

Then, a bright and clear voice rang out: "Guard Yun!"

He turned around.

The girl, dressed in a pink silk skirt, looked just like a light and beautiful butterfly flying by in spring.

Yun Qing was stunned for a moment, and before she could react, she saw her head straight for the young master's study.

"Fifth Miss, you are not allowed to trespass!"

He quickly stopped him.

Jiang Mian stopped, her eyes crinkling, and a dimple appeared on her lips: "A few days ago, it was my carelessness that caused my cousin to suffer. Today, I specially made some pastries to apologize to my cousin. I wonder if Guard Yun could be lenient with me."

Yun Qing frowned and looked at the food box in her hand.

It wasn't that he didn't want to make an exception, but the young master had gone to a banquet hosted by the eldest son of the Wen family and hadn't returned yet.

"Miss Fifth, your timing is truly unfortunate; the young master is not here at the moment."

Jiang Mian was taken aback, and her initial excitement clearly faded. She had been looking happy just moments before, but now she hung her head, seemingly somewhat disappointed.

However, she still looked at him with bright eyes and said, "Then I'll trouble Guard Yun to give this box of pastries to my cousin."

Yun Qing accepted it and bowed apologetically to her.

When she returned to Birou Courtyard, Jiang Mian suddenly sighed. This kind of gradual, incremental way of showing goodwill was taking too long and might not even work. She rested her chin on her hand, feeling a little lost.

Just then.

Wang Niangzi, who was in charge of purchasing for the kitchen at the side gate, hurried over: "Fifth Miss, someone is looking for you outside!"

Jiang Mian was stunned and blurted out, "Who is it?"

"He said he was your uncle's son. This old servant wanted to invite him in, but he refused to come in no matter what, saying he had something important to discuss with you." Recalling the man's furtive appearance, Madam Wang couldn't help but remind him, "Fifth Miss, you must be careful. He might just be some beggar trying to claim kinship. This old servant thinks he's probably a fraud."

Jiang Mian's heart sank. It was probably that damned greedy man who had come knocking on her uncle's door again!

"Thank goodness for the reminder from Granny, I'll go out and see her."

After saying that, she lifted her skirt and rushed towards the back door, leaving Madam Wang to chase after her and warn her to be careful.

That person didn't look like a kind person.

Jiang Mian rushed out and immediately spotted Jiang Chong acting suspiciously in the back courtyard of the Shen family mansion.

Jiang Chong, with his sharp eyes, surveyed his surroundings, his narrow eyes glancing around from time to time, and finally spotted Jiang Mian.

"Good sister, please save your brother."

No wonder Madam Wang felt he had ill intentions. Even Jiang Mian was startled. The man in front of her was dressed in dirty cloth clothes, his hair was tied in knots, and his face no longer showed any of his former handsome features. She took a step back, but Jiang Chong knelt down without hesitation.

"Sister, I can't go on living!"

"What's wrong? Who's stopping you from living?" Jiang Mian frowned. Since her parents died, her family property had been seized by her uncle's family. Although her uncle was a playboy, he had damaged his health in his early years, which resulted in him having only one son, Jiang Chong.

Although the siblings had no conflicts and even had a good relationship when they were young, their father and uncle gradually developed a rift, and the two families had severed ties for more than ten years. If their father had not passed away, they probably would not have been able to reconnect.

Now that he hastily comes to her and says these words, it's like a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken—who knows what he's up to?

"My father gambled away all the family's shops and land deeds. Now, a group of thugs are blocking our door and loitering around every day. My younger brother had no choice but to come to my older sister for help. He hopes that my sister will help him out of consideration for our childhood friendship."

Jiang Mian sneered inwardly. Her gambling-addicted uncle had learned his lesson several times before. Each time, he would run to his grandmother crying and begging her to settle things. His grandmother would reluctantly help him a few times, but instead of making him restrain himself, he would become even more outrageous.

A year ago, her aunt offered her to that county magistrate with this intention in mind: to exchange her for some gold and silver jewelry to fill the hole in her uncle's account.

Thinking of this, Jiang Mian took a step back.

"Jiang Chong, don't forget, we're no longer siblings. Twelve years ago, you almost caused my death in a fire. Now, what face do you have to come begging to me?"

A hint of guilt flashed in Jiang Chong's eyes, then he quickly put on a fierce expression.

“If my sister doesn’t help me, then the family fortune left by my grandmother will be lost.”

"Jiang Chong, what are you doing!"

Jiang Mian had a bad feeling, and sure enough, the boy who had just looked weak and helpless stood up and threatened, "Father said that if I can't bring the money back, he will sell Grandmother's old house." After saying that, his eyes darted around and he looked at Shen Fu: "Sister, you must have accumulated a lot of gold and silver in this grand mansion every day. If you are willing to give some, Grandmother's house can be saved. Grandmother treated you the best when she was alive. I'm sure you don't want to see such a situation happen."

Shameless! Absolutely shameless!

Jiang Mian was so angry that her hands were shaking. She really wasn't being reasonable at all!

His grandmother was good to him, but she never mistreated him. She even prepared his betrothal gifts well in advance. Over the years, she has helped his family openly and secretly. But his greed is a bottomless pit that can never be filled.

“Sister, please don’t blame your brother for being heartless. It’s all because Father is forcing me. Look, he beats and scolds me all the time. If I hadn’t been desperate, I wouldn’t have come to you for help. Father said that if I can’t bring back any money this time, he will sell my mother and me. Sister…”

Jiang Chong rolled up his sleeve, revealing a patchwork of bruises and scars on his arm, both new and old, making him look pitiful.

However, at this moment, Jiang Mian only found it laughable.

She had seen this kind of trick since she was a child.

This family all know how to gain sympathy by playing the victim.

"I understand. You can leave now. I can't raise the money right away. Once I do, I'll have Yunji deliver it to you."

"Sister, you're not lying to me, are you?" A hint of suspicion flashed in Jiang Chong's eyes. He originally thought that he would have to feign weakness and use threats and inducements to force Jiang Mian to agree, but he didn't expect that she would agree so easily when he was only halfway through his act. It was really unbelievable.

"Why would I lie to you? You should leave now and stop loitering around the Shen residence."

Jiang Chong pursed his lips, thinking to himself, "So that's how it is."

It seems her life isn't very good. Yes, how good can a woman from another family have?

Thinking of this, he rarely showed a smile: "Then I'll be going now. I'll be at Yunfu Inn. Sister, please send your brother some money as soon as possible so that I can set off soon."

Yunfu Inn?

They really think they can fool her!

Jiang Mian nodded haphazardly, and only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Jiang Chong's figure disappear around the corner. Just as she was about to turn around and go inside, she unexpectedly saw a carriage parked not far away. After a short while, a person got out of the carriage.

He wore a deep purple robe and had a cool and handsome face.

It was a time of calm and clearing skies.