Chapter 13 Immersed in His Masculine Aura

Although Shen Ci'an found it difficult to refuse, he couldn't help but remind her, "Practicing calligraphy requires burning the midnight oil. Although you had a foundation in calligraphy when you were young, you have neglected it for a long time. You still need to study hard and practice diligently to achieve something."

Jiang Zhi respectfully agreed.

After practicing calligraphy with Shen Ci'an for so many days, she had come to understand his temperament.

Shen Ci'an was easy to talk to in other places, but he was extremely strict when it came to calligraphy.

She had learned many ways to get close to men at Qifeng Tower, but unfortunately, they didn't seem to work well on Shen Ci'an.

On one occasion, she deliberately wrote her words crookedly, causing Shen Ci'an to frown frequently. She implied that she lacked the strength in her hand and needed someone to teach her "hand in hand".

Shen Ci'an only glanced at her before suspending a small sandbag on her wrist, allowing her to improve the strength of her wrist and fingers by resisting the weight of the sandbag.

He's such an old-fashioned person who doesn't understand romance!

However, she does have important business to attend to today, and she has been preparing for it for a long time.

Shen Ci'an put down his book after watching Jiang Zhi leave.

His recovery was largely thanks to Jiang Zhi's tireless efforts; otherwise, he might not have been able to hold on on the day he developed a high fever.

Although he was already teaching her calligraphy, it was the old lady's request, and he still wanted to thank her properly.

As a young lady from a wealthy family, Jiang Zhi lacked nothing in terms of food and clothing, and I had nothing of value to offer her. Moreover, giving her something rashly might give the impression of a secret exchange.

After thinking it over, he decided to go to the bookstore and personally choose a calligraphy copybook for her. This would be both proper and avoid any gossip.

Thinking of this, Shen Ci'an got up and went out.

As Jiang Zhi came out of Zhizhi Pavilion, she asked Qingxing beside her, "Have you found out where the Second Miss is?"

"The second young lady is currently picking roselle flowers in the garden, saying she wants to brew flower wine to offer to the master," Qingxing reported.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhi stroked the jade pendant hanging beside her and led Qingxing to the garden.

Just as they turned a corner, they bumped straight into Jiang Yunqian, who was carrying a basket and picking flowers with her head down.

"Where did this little brat come from, so blind as to bump into me! Are you in a hurry to be reincarnated?"

Jiang Yunqian's basket fell from her hands, and all the flowers she had painstakingly picked over an hour scattered on the ground, instantly covered in mud.

Damn it!

She looked up angrily and scolded him, but when she saw Jiang Zhi's face, she became even angrier.

That bitch! I haven't even gotten revenge for slapping her in front of her parents last time, and she still dares to come back.

If her mother hadn't strictly forbidden her from causing trouble for Jiang Zhi or angering her father these past few days, she would have thought she was really afraid of her.

Jiang Zhi was also knocked back a few steps, and Qing Xing hurriedly helped her up from behind.

She seemed to have something urgent to attend to. After only whispering "sorry," she didn't even glance at Jiang Yunqian before lifting her skirt and hurrying away, as if someone was chasing after her.

"You've ruined my flowers, don't think you can just leave so easily..." Jiang Yunqian realized what was happening and tried to pull her away, but was stopped by her personal maid, Taozhi.

"Second Miss, what do you think that is?"

Jiang Yunqian looked closely in the direction she pointed, and saw a jade pendant lying quietly in the lush grass.

Jiang Yunqian said irritably, "It's just a jade pendant, what's the big deal..."

She swallowed the rest of her words.

She pushed aside the peach branch, picked up the jade pendant, and examined it carefully in her palm.

It is a dragon pendant with its head and tail connected, exquisitely carved, with superior jade quality and a warm touch, making it a rare treasure.

To Jiang Yunqian's utter surprise, she recognized at a glance that the jade pendant was actually a personal item of Xie Qi, the heir of the Marquis of Wuyi.

When she saw that Xie Qi wore this jade pendant every day and never took it off, she silently memorized the pattern and drew it when she returned to her residence. Every few days, she would take it out to look at and admire it.

The jade pendant in front of us, not to mention the details of the pattern, even the pattern and color of the hanging net are very similar.

"Second Miss, this jade pendant is clearly a man's design. How did it fall off the Eldest Miss? Should we tell Master and Madam that the Eldest Miss was having an affair with a man? Master will surely punish her severely."

Jiang Yunqian's already unpleasant expression turned even more gloomy. "Shut up! If anyone else finds out about this, I'll skin you alive!"

Taozhi, who had originally wanted to take credit, was so frightened that she dared not say another word.

But she really couldn't understand why the second young lady, who clearly hated the eldest young lady to the core, would keep it a secret now that she had such a good opportunity.

Jiang Yunqian hurriedly returned to her Xia Yin Garden with the jade pendant in her hand. She took out the piece of paper with the pattern drawn on it from under her pillow in her boudoir. She had touched it countless times and carefully compared it with the jade pendant. Finally, she confirmed that it was indeed Xie Shizi's jade pendant.

She lost even the last shred of hope and collapsed onto the edge of the bed.

Why is this jade pendant on Jiang Zhi?

Could it be that Prince Xie and Jiang Zhi...

No, that's impossible.

Jiang Yunqian immediately rejected this idea.

The Prince Xie is far away in the northern border and has not returned to the capital for more than a year. Jiang Zhi has only gone out a handful of times before. The Prince Xie does not know her at all, so how could he possibly give her his personal jade pendant?

She preferred to believe that Jiang Zhi had stolen the jade pendant.

But no matter what, I must not tell my father about this.

Jiang Yunqian thought of a possibility.

Jiang Zhi didn't know that she recognized the jade pendant. Could it be that she deliberately let her find it, wanting her to expose the matter to her father, and then Jiang Zhi would pretend to be innocent and take the opportunity to reveal that it was Xie Shizi's jade pendant, make up some specious stories to attach herself to Xie Shizi, make a big fuss, and finally force her father to find the Wu Yi Marquis's Mansion to take responsibility for the sake of his reputation?

Jiang Zhi could take this opportunity to refuse the marriage proposal from the Earl of Zhongqin's family with a clean record.

Otherwise, why didn't she take it out earlier or later, but only after her mother said she would marry her off to Yan Wenkang, did she find this jade pendant?

Jiang Yunqian grew angrier the more she thought about it, and spat angrily.

Want to step on her to marry into the Marquis of Wuyi's family? That's just wishful thinking.

Fortunately, I remained calm enough and didn't fall for her trick.

Jiang Yunqian gently stroked the jade pendant in her hand, as if it still carried Xie Qi's warmth. She pressed the jade pendant against her cheek, revealing a look of infatuation.

Imagine Xie Shizi wearing this jade pendant at his waist on ordinary days, walking with a calm and unrestrained air, exuding his masculine charm.

Jiang Yunqian felt her heart pounding so hard she could hardly breathe.

Her gaze fell upon the loose and dirty tassel beneath the jade pendant, and she frowned, quickly ordering Taozhi, "Quickly, bring me my sewing basket."

The young master's personal belongings must not be defiled like this.

Although Taozhi didn't know why her young mistress valued the jade pendant so much, she still obediently brought it over.

However, after comparing them for a long time, the two could not find a silk thread of the same color and material as the original sky-blue net.

Jiang Yunqian's face was clouded with anger as she angrily threw down the ball of yarn in her hand, "Damn it."

Taozhi's eyes lit up, and she gave her an idea, "Miss, don't be angry. The material and craftsmanship of this tassel look like it's from Linglongzhai. Should we go there and ask?"