Caiyan looked down and saw a small red stain on her sleeve.
"No, it's nothing, just a minor injury. I accidentally bumped the blade while cleaning the kitchen knife," Caiyan said, hiding her hands behind her back.
Su Peng followed closely behind, gently pinching Caiyan's chin. "Then tell me why you're secretly shedding tears here. Are you missing your parents?"
"No, no, it's nothing. I just got a little smoke from the stove. I'll be fine in a bit."
Caiyan's back was already against the wall, with nowhere to retreat. She turned her head slightly to avoid Su Peng's fiery gaze.
"Yan'er, you haven't eaten a single bite of food. Are you angry with your grandfather, or are you feeling unwell?"
Knowing he would be staying here tonight, Su Peng was certain he would have her serve him.
Caiyan blushed slightly. "My period isn't over yet, so I don't have a good appetite. I'll be fine tomorrow."
Su Peng lost interest and released his grip on Caiyan's chin, saying, "Mother has already proposed to the young mistress that you be made a concubine, so that you can be on equal footing with Kuihua from now on. Quickly come with me to the front to serve tea to the mistress."
Caiyan almost burst out laughing when she heard this.
A family that can't even figure out how to have a New Year's Eve dinner still dreams of having three wives and four concubines.
He was elevated to the status of a concubine, treated as an equal. He really thought that the concubines of the Su family were so noble.
It's like a toad jumping on your foot, it's disgusting.
She seemed to smell a sour, rotten odor, and a look of disgust unconsciously appeared on her lips.
Now that she was free, she walked to the table, sat down, and picked up her chopsticks.
"Young master, please thank Madam for her kindness later. It's not appropriate to serve tea to the mistress today. It would be too much to upset her during the New Year. I have served her for many years and care for her more than anyone else."
"You don't want to?" Su Peng looked at Caiyan in disbelief.
"That's not what I meant, sir. Think about it, what lady would want to have someone else by her husband's side during the New Year?"
Su Peng was stunned; he hadn't really thought about Jiang Jiaojiao's feelings.
Seeing Jiang Jiaojiao's gentle and obedient demeanor, he assumed that she had read "Admonitions for Women" and possessed the refined upbringing of a well-bred lady.
Caiyan took a small bite of rice; the food was already cold. She carried the food to the stove.
He lifted the pot lid and poured the entire bowl of rice and dishes into it.
The food was heated up quickly, and when I turned around, I saw Su Peng still standing there.
"Young master, please go ahead and keep the master and mistress company for the New Year. You can offer the young mistress tea after the Lantern Festival. The barbecue stall is not far from here. Just let me know and I will be back."
Su Peng thought Caiyan's words made sense and nodded slightly, "Alright, it will only take about ten days."
After Su Peng left, Caiyan felt that the air in the kitchen was much fresher.
As Caiyan shoveled rice into her mouth, she thought about her promise to Zhao Wu.
The two agreed to leave the city early the next morning, as neither the son-in-law nor the young mistress had the habit of getting up early.
She had already told the shop assistants and the women who did odd jobs to rest for two days before coming back.
She estimated that if the two of them traveled by carriage, they could cover a great distance in half a day.
Even if Jiang Jiaojiao quickly discovers that she has run away, the capital city has several gates, making it difficult to accurately determine the direction they escaped in.
Caiyan was certain that Jiang Jiaojiao wouldn't chase after her after she left; she would only get so angry that she would jump up and down and curse.
Out of consideration for their past relationship as mistress and servant, Caiyan didn't touch the silver in the makeup box.
Seeing the person she had lived with for many years go from a pampered young lady to a wretched housewife, Caiyan felt a pang of pity.
Su Peng came to the dining room and relayed Caiyan's original words, which stirred something in Jiang Jiaojiao's heart.
She put down her chopsticks, picked up a handkerchief to wipe her lips, stood up, and bowed slightly to Qin Shi and Su Zhengxing. "Daughter-in-law, go check on the kitchen."
Su Zhengxing continued drinking his wine, while Madam Qin raised her hand, indicating that Jiang Jiaojiao should go ahead.
Jiang Jiaojiao walked out of the dining room and stood on the veranda, looking up at the crescent moon in the sky.
She hesitated, wondering whether she should tell Caiyan about her plan to leave Su Peng.
She could tell that although Caiyan knew when to advance and retreat, Su Peng treated that girl differently than he treated her.
She worried that Caiyan had also fallen for Su Peng and wouldn't leave, so she took this opportunity to tell Su Peng, ruining her plan to abandon the divorce papers and run away.
A night breeze swept by, and Jiang Jiaojiao's mind immediately cleared up a bit.
We can't say anything now. We can lure that girl out of the city before we leave and then decide whether she stays or leaves.
Thinking of this, Jiang Jiaojiao glanced back and walked towards her own courtyard.
...
Inside the Jiang residence.
Laughter and cheers mingled with the crackling of firecrackers as fireworks burst forth, illuminating the entire garden sky.
Watching the colorful fireworks burst open, Sui Sui jumped up and down, clapping her hands and shouting happily, "Mommy, Uncle and Second Uncle, look! It's so beautiful!"
Fireworks burst open in the sky, their colors dazzling, as if fairies had scattered a handful of colorful stars into the brilliant night sky, radiating dazzling light.
In the sky above Beijing, dazzling fireworks soared into the night sky one after another.
The entire capital city is showing a new look, a scene of peace and prosperity for the country and its people.
In the military camp in the western suburbs, Nangong Zeyue found the highest spot and watched the fireworks rising slowly over the city.
He was accompanied by a soldier who shared a tent with him, watching Nangong Zeyue gazing at the fireworks with a silly grin.
The soldiers couldn't help but ask, "The Commandant is laughing so happily, he must be thinking of his fiancée."
Overwhelmed with joy, Nangong Zeyue pointed to the spot where the fireworks had just gone off, "There, did you see that? One of the fireworks went the highest; it must have been her who set it off for me."
The soldiers looked on with envy, thinking, "The captain's fiancée must be a quiet and gentle lady from a respectable family."
Nangong Zeyue shook her head, "No, she is the best, kindest, and most intelligent girl in Wanling, and also the only one in Wanling, a beauty that can topple kingdoms."
The soldiers thought to themselves, if the Commandant wasn't exaggerating, then the girl he was talking about must be a celestial being.
The soldiers didn't believe it in their hearts, but they still had to flatter them verbally.
"You are truly blessed to have such a beautiful woman. On the day of your wedding, we brothers will definitely come and ask for a drink at your wedding."
“Alright, no problem. The commander-in-chief said we can have a little wine tonight.” Nangong Zeyue patted the soldier on the shoulder, and the two turned and walked towards the main tent.
...
As the first watchman's gong sounded in the new year, a window on the second floor of an inconspicuous inn in the west of the city was suddenly pushed open with a "bang," and several men in black sprang out like startled birds.
"Chase!"
At a command, a group of Imperial Guards dressed in tight-fitting clothes leaped forward and followed.
A moment later, in an alley behind the inn, the Imperial Guards surrounded the men in black.
"We've been exposed! Kill!"
Suddenly, the sound of clashing swords rang out.
Before long, the fighting stopped, and a strong smell of blood filled the air.
On a wall in the alley, Xiao Jingzhao said to Xiang Song beside him, "Return to the palace."
...
On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, the alleyway, which had been the scene of bloodshed the previous night, remained clean and tidy, as if nothing had happened.
The city gates opened, and two figures hurriedly walked out.
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