Chapter 96 Moving the Wedding Ahead

“It’s getting late today. I’ll accompany you to the Jiang residence after court tomorrow morning.” Shen Ci’an’s expression was also not good.

Xie Qi sneered, "What's the use of you going with them? The Jiang family has been kind to you, are you going to impeach Jiang Zhengting?"

Shen Ci'an looked at him coldly, "Could it be that you can go tomorrow?"

Xie Qi choked.

He has to go to the army tomorrow and really can't spare the time.

But he wasn't comfortable leaving Jiang Zhi alone like that.

"I'm leaving these two personal guards with you on this expedition," Xie Qi said to Jiang Zhi. "Just give them any orders you may have."

He raised an eyebrow at the two guards at the door, and the two immediately stepped forward and knelt on one knee. "Wei Yu and Wei Shu are at Miss Jiang's behest, and we will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

These past few days, it has been the two of them who have been helping to guard the mansion.

However, Jiang Zhi took a step back, avoiding the two men's greeting.

“A true man should go to the battlefield to make a name for himself. It is really unfair for him to stay in my small mansion. Prince Xie, please take them with you to the northern border.”

Now that the matter of the Earl of Zhongqin's mansion is settled, she can no longer accept Xie Qi's favors.

Furthermore, they are different from the shadowy guards like Dark Moon Shadow, who are not exposed to the light of day, and should not be wasted on her.

Seeing that Xie Qi still wanted to say something, Jiang Zhi said again, "After I return to the Jiang residence in the future, it will be inconvenient to bring two men with me. I would like to ask Prince Xie to reconsider his decision."

Xie Qi had no choice but to give up.

Wei Yu and Wei Shu exchanged a glance and bowed respectfully to Jiang Zhi, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Jiang."

But Xie Qi was still not at ease, so he took out another item from his bosom.

"This is my private order. If you encounter any trouble in the capital, you can take this order directly to the Ministry of War to dispatch personnel."

The privately ordered ebony lacquerware features a sharp, bold "谢" character in the center, surrounded by intricate patterns outlined in gold thread.

Jiang Zhi thought about it for a moment, and finally accepted his private order.

She'll keep this order with her and return it to him when he returns.

Xie Qi then lowered his eyes and smiled, "I'm going to war in three days. Remember to come and see me off."

Jiang Zhi glanced at Shen Ci'an without showing any displeasure, and seeing that he did not seem displeased, she nodded. "Alright, I wish Prince Xie a safe journey, invincible in battle, and that you will soon pacify the Northern Barbarians. I look forward to your safe return so we can drink a celebratory toast together!"

"Good!" Xie Qi laughed loudly, "I certainly won't let you down."

After speaking, under Shen Ci'an's icy gaze, he stretched out his arms and hugged Jiang Zhi briefly before leaving with two guards.

The surroundings quieted down.

“Master…” Jiang Zhi glanced at Shen Ci’an somewhat guiltily.

She was wrong in what she did today.

Although Shen Ci'an had feelings for her, he was always strict.

In the past, when he practiced calligraphy under Jiang's tutelage at the Jiang residence, he would often be criticized by Jiang, and punishment was a common occurrence.

Seeing that he looked unwell today, she sighed, fearing that she would inevitably be scolded again.

Seeing her standing there obediently waiting to be scolded, Shen Ci'an raised his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why aren't you going in yet?"

Jiang Zhi bit her lower lip. "Doesn't the teacher have anything to say to me?"

Shen Ci'an sighed.

He naturally had a lot to say.

I want to ask her what she did and what she said with Xie Qi today.

I want to ask her if she regrets agreeing to marry me.

But the current situation at the Jiang family's residence has already caused her great distress, and he doesn't want to trouble her any further.

"I'm busy with court affairs before the New Year, so I'd like to move the wedding to October. Is that alright?" he asked her in a gentle tone.

Jiang Zhi was somewhat taken aback.

Having lived two lifetimes, it seems she has never had a normal marriage.

Yan Wenkang carried her directly into the Zhongqin Earl's Mansion in a small sedan chair. There was no red decoration in the courtyard, not even a trace of joy.

Following Xiao Xuanyou only brought them more darkness and obscurity, leaving them nameless and without status.

Only after Shen Ci'an solemnly mentioned it today did she realize that she was finally going to get married properly.

A hint of shyness crept into her eyes, and her usual carefree and natural demeanor vanished. She simply lowered her head and said, "I'm fine with anything."

"Alright, then you should go back and rest early. Wait for me after court tomorrow." His usually aloof and distant eyes rippled with a gentle light, and his voice was like a warm spring.

*

The next day at the Jiang residence.

Jiang Zhengting glanced at Jiang Zhi and Shen Ci'an below him and snorted coldly, "So you finally decided to come back?"

Jiang Zhi said calmly, "Father is joking. The Jiang residence is my home, so of course I have to come back."

Jiang Zhengting was too lazy to say anything more to her. "That maid should have explained everything to you. Your mother's memorial tablet should no longer be kept at the Jiang residence. Choose an auspicious time in the next couple of days to send it to Puzhao Temple."

Why is that?

Jiang Zhengting didn't speak, but Jiang Ningzheng, who was standing next to him, said, "Eldest sister, Father felt that the Jiang family had been quite unsettled lately, and there was a fire a few days ago, so he instructed me to find a master to come and take a look."

"As soon as the master entered the door, he pointed out that the yin energy in our Jiang family ancestral hall was overwhelming the yang energy, which caused the family to be restless. If this continues, the male members of the family will surely suffer a misfortune."

Although Jiang Ningzheng's face showed apology, he couldn't suppress the smugness in his eyes.

"The master has calculated that this is because your mother's memorial tablet was left at the Jiang residence. You need to immediately find a temple with pure Yang energy to invite the tablet to be enshrined, severing the connection between Yin and Yang, in order to ensure the safety of your home."

Jiang Zhi listened quietly as he finished speaking, her heart growing colder and colder.

"This is utterly absurd," Shen Ci'an scoffed. "You're a scholar, destined to take the imperial examinations. How can you so easily believe the words of such charlatans?"

Jiang Ningzheng's expression immediately turned sour. "Lord Shen, although you are now a favorite of the Emperor, you are not yet married to my elder sister and cannot be considered a member of the Jiang family. This is a matter between our household and we need not trouble you, Lord Shen."

Jiang Zhengting interrupted him, "Alright, you mustn't be rude to Lord Shen. But Ning Zheng is right, this is a family matter of the Jiang family, so please excuse us, Lord Shen."

Shen Ci'an said, "Since I am engaged to Zhi'er, the deceased Madam Jiang can be considered my half-mother, so it is only right that I take care of her."

“Lord Shen,” Jiang Ningzheng smiled, “no matter what her mother’s memorial tablet looks like, your relationship with our Jiang family through marriage will not change. If you and my eldest sister don’t end up together, you can still be with my second sister.”

Jiang Ningzheng didn't take Jiang Zhi seriously at all.

Shen Ci'an only agreed to marry Jiang Zhi to repay a debt of gratitude to the Jiang family. If it weren't for his second sister's reluctance to marry him, how could Jiang Zhi have gotten such a good opportunity?

Shen Ci'an's gaze darkened, and he retorted without mercy, "Breaking your promise and changing your ways, is this how Lord Jiang educates his children?"

Shen Ci'an usually appears aloof and unassuming, but when he gets truly angry, his aura is terrifying. In addition, now that he is immersed in officialdom, he carries an invisible, oppressive aura that sends chills down people's spines.

Jiang Ningzheng was quite young, and he was startled, immediately becoming speechless.