Chapter 20: Everything is for the Princess's benefit.
After Xiulian spread rumors that nearly cost Liu Jiao her life by drowning her in a pig cage, and after being betrayed and besieged by the villagers, Liu's parents realized that something was wrong.
They believed that the seemingly peaceful and tranquil Caocun might be a den of demons.
They thought that the wise way of forbearance was actually a trap.
The harm suffered by Liu Jiao will not be lessened by her yielding and forbearance.
This wasn't childish play; it was real bullying.
As night fell, everything around became blurry and indistinct.
The bedroom felt oppressively low.
Liu Jiao's parents were sitting face to face on Liu Jiao's father's bed, both staring at the things written in ink on the small table on the bed.
They pieced together Liu Jiao's past in Caocun.
Looking around, one word can describe it: torture.
Liu Jiaoniang covered her face and wept.
“My Jiaojiao is living such a miserable life in Caocun!”
"I thought that giving up wealth and status would bring me peace! Who would have thought that by being tolerant and living a life of poverty, I would encounter an even bigger jackal and tiger!"
"So poor and bullied! What's going on here... Waaaaah..."
Liu Jiao's father sighed repeatedly, even the wine he had been drinking in his hand became bitter and hard to swallow, no longer as fragrant and mellow as the most precious treasure on earth or heavenly nectar.
Liu Jiaoniang looked at her father with a distressed expression and red, swollen eyes from crying: "Husband... what should we do?"
Liu Jiao's father was furious and glared at this moment.
Originally, because of his fierce appearance, his deliberately kind demeanor changed in an instant.
He suddenly smiled slyly, his tiger-like eyes narrowing into slits: "We shouldn't be so tolerant. Constantly giving in will only embolden others."
"We already have the resources to fight back, so why should we cower and behave ourselves?"
"you mean?"
"Let's go back to our old ways."
"Since they've resorted to such despicable means, then we should retaliate in kind, exchanging insults for insults."
Liu Jiao's father's smile was sinister and chilling; he would reach into your wallet as soon as you passed by.
"Do you want to go back to being the mistress of the Gu family? To be the Xiao family of Lanling?" Liu Jiao's father asked Liu Jiao's mother.
Liu Jiao's father was the eldest son of the Gu family, the most prestigious family in Jiangnan, and was known as Gu Su.
In recent years, after reaching a certain age, he naturally became the head of the Gu family, the core of the Jiangnan aristocratic families, and the backbone of all local aristocratic families in Jiangnan.
Having been the eldest son since childhood, Gu Su became arrogant and stubborn, which offended many people.
The person he offended the most was his own younger brother.
Born a little later, its radiance faded considerably.
Seeing his arrogance, his younger brother became even more twisted.
After reaching adulthood and getting married, Gu Su fell in love with Liu Jiao's mother, who was also known as Lady Xiao of Lanling.
But love is always full of twists and turns.
Xiao was born into a northern immigrant family, while the local gentry of Jiangnan looked down on these northern immigrants.
However, Gu Su's attitude was particularly firm, saying that he insisted on marrying the daughter of a prominent family with a prominent overseas Chinese surname.
He wanted to marry a member of the Lanling Xiao family.
However, when the Xiao family proposed marriage, Gu Su easily gave up:
Upon hearing that the other couple's parents felt sorry for their daughter and were unwilling to let her marry, he lacked confidence for the first time and said that maybe they should give up.
Unexpectedly, Xiao, who seemed weak but was actually strong, insisted on marrying him.
Therefore, Gu Su and Xiao Shi offended their own grandmother, who hated the northern overseas Chinese the most.
After that, she was determined to kick out her grandson, who had married a woman from an overseas Chinese family, and replace him with her younger brother.
After his daughter Liu Jiao was born, his grandmother felt that Liu Jiao, being from an overseas Chinese family, had slandered his family's bloodline and went mad, wanting to kill Liu Jiao.
After marriage, Gu Su became incredibly responsible.
His usually lawless and arrogant nature changed when his infant daughter and wife were assassinated by his younger brother and grandmother. Fearing that his daughter would be wronged or in danger, and that his wife would be bullied, he immediately separated from his family and went to a grass village to live in seclusion under an assumed name.
I don't want my daughter to get involved in those sordid things.
The Gu and Xiao families possess immeasurable wealth and power, something even the royal family wants to win over but cannot.
*
"Mother, what are you doing? Why haven't you been arranging marriages for me lately..."
In the past, Xiulian would have at least three suitors to look at her every day, but now half a month has passed, and her mother is getting busier and busier, yet not a single suitor has been introduced to her.
As she asked this question, Xiulian's mother was packing her bags.
My mother emptied the house.
Her mother ignored her.
This is the first time I've given her the cold shoulder.
After a long time, Xiulian was suddenly dragged out of the house by her mother.
Xiulian witnessed her home being seized.
Xiulian shook her mother's shoulder in horror: "Mother, what happened to our family!"
"Sir, you've sealed the wrong seal."
"Get out! You worthless bastards!"
Xiulian's mother simply dragged the shrewish Xiulian away without saying a word.
At the cemetery, Xiulian's mother is sweeping the ancestral tablets.
When Xiulian finished crying and stared blankly at her—
In the cold wind of the desolate land, Xiulianniang said with a sigh:
"It will be difficult in the future."
Xiulian's family was completely driven out of Caocun.
As for Xiulian's marriage—
The Gu family declared to the entire Yangzhou that anyone who dared to marry Xiulian or take in her family would be going against the Gu family.
Fight evil with evil, and violence with violence.
Xiulian disappeared without a trace after that.
*
A summer night stroll, a dance of fish and dragons.
The enormous fish-dragon lanterns traversed the entire village.
It gleams brightly.
After failing to reconcile with Liu Jiao that day, Sang Ji suddenly realized:
Has she turned me away?
But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, Sang Ji dismissed it.
After all, just a brief recollection of the past revealed how warmly Liu Jiao had treated him; her smile would overflow whenever she saw him, and he couldn't bear to accept her hospitality.
Sang Ji understood perfectly well that Liu Jiao must have a special place in his heart and care about him.
Having realized this, Sang Ji composed himself, got up, straightened his clothes, and went to find Liu Jiao.
We are preparing to seek a settlement again.
They also prepared a bunch of embroidery patterns that they had asked Wangyou Jun to obtain some time ago.
The Forget-Worry Gentleman arrived today.
She likes embroidery, so if he gives her embroidery as a gift, the chances of successfully reconciling will be higher.
He went out and came to the winding bridge, no matter how lively the surroundings were, how noisy the crowds were, or how turbulent the water was.
Sang Ji was completely unaffected; his heart was already numb.
At the bridgehead, a pair of fish lanterns, a young woman in yellow.
There is a stone arch bridge over the Xiaoqing River, with two giant fish-dragon lanterns shining brightly on either side of the bridge.
In the very center was Liu Jiao, dressed in yellow.
She was still holding a lotus-shaped fan embroidered at the end of spring.
Only then did a hint of warmth and spirit return to Sang Ji's cold and stern eyes.
He planned to stand beside her.
And so, just as Sang Ji's smile began to bloom, and the corners of his lips were about to curve slightly—
A man in moon-white robes blocked his view.
Before her, the man in the white robe was bowing slightly, and Liu Jiao effortlessly smiled and pinned a flower in his hair.
That look in his eyes was so passionate... just like when he looked at Sang Ji.
The man was Chen Chi, and Sang Ji remembered him.
Sang Ji's unborn smile was thus abruptly cut short by his own hand.
Sang Ji tried to discern a subtle difference between Liu Jiao and Chen Chi in Liu Jiao's loving yet innocent eyes.
But the concern in her expression and actions was exactly the same as it was for him.
Oh.
Sang Ji's rose-colored lips parted slightly, and a light, cold laugh escaped from the corner of his mouth.
So you treat everyone like this?
He turned around immediately and walked back without hesitation.
Their steps did not falter or linger for a moment.
He casually tossed away a bundle of expensive and exquisite gold embroidery patterns that he had carefully prepared in his hand.
Anyone who likes it can pick it up.
This embroidery pattern can fetch a good price if pawned.
"Sang Ji, you dropped something!" There was no sound of it hitting the ground as expected.
Instead, a light, melodious female voice reached my ears first: "There's an embroidery pattern inside! Wow! Who are you planning to give it to!"
Sang Ji didn't stop, and even sped up. Liu Jiao was puzzled, but she still jogged to catch up.
"Sang Ji, what do you want to embroider?"
"Who is it for?"
"It seems like I can't give it to anyone... It won't be for me, will it?"
Liu Jiao touched the exquisite gold thread embroidery pattern in her hand, so fond of it that she couldn't put it down, as if she were glued to it.
With a look of shock and joy at discovering the truth, she looked expectantly at Sang Ji.
Sang Ji quickened his pace: "If you don't want to talk, don't ask."
Liu Jiao ran up, panting heavily, saying, "No, no, you have to tell me. Look me in the eyes before you answer."
Her eyes were bright and full of emotion.
When she looked at Sang Ji, it was as if he was the only person she could see.
Sang Ji's chest heaved violently, and he suddenly stopped.
He lowered his head, getting very close: "Look into your eyes? Who have you looked at with those eyes, in that expression?"
Liu Jiao didn't understand what he was saying.
But seeing that he was not right, I just patted his back gently to help him catch his breath.
Looking down at the person in his arms who had been scolded but was still eagerly leaning towards him, Sang Ji remained silent.
Forget it, don't take it too seriously.
After a long silence, he said in a muffled voice:
Why did you ignore me when I went to find you?
Liu Jiao: ?
When did he come to see her?
Trying hard to recall from memory—
Liu Jiao then remembered that she seemed to have indeed seen Sang Ji when she was sleepy last night.
I thought it was a dream.
Who would have thought they were really coming to find her?
Liu Jiao subconsciously apologized: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry... Actually, I wanted to talk to you that night, but I was too sleepy and my mind just wouldn't cooperate..."
Sang Ji nodded, barely managing to acknowledge her apology: "Okay, I forgive you."
Liu Jiao tentatively asked, "So, are we still friends?"
Sang Ji gave a soft "hmm".
Liu Jiao then held onto the gold embroidery pattern with a clear conscience, refusing to let go.
It was only after a long time that Liu Jiao understood Sang Ji's intention.
Sang Ji's words mean:
He doesn't like her ignoring him, and he wants to... make up?
Liu Jiao was secretly delighted.
My heart was first filled with immense joy, my heart pounded, my face beamed, and I felt a deep sense of happiness.
Liu Jiao suddenly realized something was wrong—
Wasn't it Sang Ji who came to sue for peace?
If he was the one who sought reconciliation, how did it become that she was the one comforting him?
Men, sigh.
This is really difficult...
*
"Your Highness, Sang Ji and the princess are in Caocun, Yangzhou."
The shadow guard clasped his hands, knelt on one knee, and appeared submissive.
A man dressed in a purple official robe and wearing a rhinoceros horn and gold belt stood in front of the desk, bowing slightly, and calmly wrote with flowing strokes on the Xuan paper.
Finally, a red stamp quietly appeared.
The person practicing calligraphy is Xin Pingyan, the current crown prince of Huaimeng Kingdom.
Such a calm demeanor, yet the words that followed were:
Those who oppose me will be killed.
For Xin Pingyan, Sang Ji's absconding with the princess was a minor matter, as was disobeying his orders.
But if it interferes with his main purpose of seizing power, then that won't do.
Shinpei is extremely suspicious.
If Sang Ji fails to gain the support of the Jiangnan gentry in time, no matter how many mouths he has to explain, Xin Pingyan will suspect that he loves his younger sister, Xin Yuehu, and he will kill him because of this.
After all, it's better for a princess to marry someone who is more useful to her.
Xin Pingyan felt that it was better to kill the innocent than to let the guilty go free.
He believed that Sang Ji was probably not helping Xin Yuehu escape her arranged marriage out of duty as a guard, but rather out of personal motives.
Sang Ji wanted to elope with Xinyuehu.
Shinpei's suspicions are not unfounded.
Everyone in the palace knew that Sang Ji was protecting Xin Yuehu.
The two had been childhood sweethearts since they were young. Sang Ji had watched Crescent Fox grow up since she was a child and had taken care of her for so many years without wavering.
At least for Xin Pingyan, as a fellow man, he didn't feel that Sang Ji's sacrifices were merely out of a guard's sense of duty to the princess.
Xinping spoke calmly:
"Then tomorrow I will go and visit my old friend and my dear sister."
"yes."
"His Highness is going to Grass Village tomorrow."
"Okay!"
*
In the middle of the night, Wangyoujun was awakened by a nightmare and came to Sangji's study with a panicked expression:
"I feel uneasy all day, and I keep sensing that something is wrong."
"What will you do if the Crown Prince arrives early?"
Sang Ji remained expressionless, only saying, "Unexpected events are inevitable."
"I will make one thing clear: everything must be done in the best interests of the princess."
A note from the author:
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They're getting married soon! [kissing emojis] [kissing emojis] [heart eyes emojis]
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