The tall, thin man struggled to raise his head, and happened to see the fox pendant on Su Jinli's hairpin. The copper coin held in the fox's mouth was exactly the same as the pattern of the bookmarks specially made by Jinyun Bookstore. This discovery made him feel a surge of despair. Remembering the instructions given by the shopkeeper Qian before leaving, he couldn't help but let out a desperate sob in his throat: "Please spare my life... It's... It's money... Money..."
"What money?" Su Jinli increased her grip, the tip of the hairpin piercing the bandit's skin. The seeping blood mixed with the chili powder, leaving a strange, glaring red mark on his neck. In the distance, the sound of Young Marquis Su smacking the bandit with the back of his broadsword could be heard, along with Su Qingyao's voice as she directed her maid to collect her rouge, muttering, "If this 'chili red' gets stained with mud, it'll ruin the color..."
Jiang Yan finally pulled out his Qingfeng Sword with all his might. Dewdrops condensed on the blade, mixed with rotten leaves, slowly slid down the blade. He quickly walked over to Su Jinli and carefully wiped the chili powder off her hairpin with his sleeve. His fingertips gently touched the back of her slightly cool hand, and a warm current instantly spread through his body. "Madam, it's important to first understand where we came from." He paused slightly, his eyes fixed on the bandit leader's twitching eyelids. "Look at this birthmark. I'm afraid it's closely related to the Jiangnan Booksellers Alliance."
A thick fog suddenly rose from the Taihang Mountains in the twilight. Fine droplets of water, like countless glittering pearls, quietly stained everyone's hair. Su Jinli gazed at the bandit leader's tearful eyes, and her thoughts drifted back to her past life. Back then, her stepmother, Liu, withheld disaster relief funds, yet tearfully proclaimed, "It's for your own good." Her hypocritical expression bore a striking resemblance to the bandit leader before her. With a sneer, she pulled a straw rope from her sleeve pocket—a remnant from her days weaving straw sandals in Yangzhou. She expertly tied it into a slipknot and, without hesitation, slid it around the bandit leader's neck.
"Tell me," she said, pulling the rope tightly. Listening to the bandit leader's coughing due to suffocation, a trace of determination flashed in her eyes. "How much silver did Manager Qian give you to dare to touch my people?"
The mountain breeze roared like a giant beast, tearing through the canyon and carrying Su Qingyao's complaints about her rouge staining far into the distance. Jiang Yan stood quietly beside Su Jinli, his Qingfeng sword hanging at his side, the blade reflecting her current appearance—brows slightly raised, eyes sharp as an eagle, without a trace of the frailty of the prime minister's daughter. His mind suddenly flashed back to the image of her squatting on the street, snatching sugar paintings. Back then, her eyes held such an inviolable light, like a bright star, leaving a deep impression in his heart.
"My lady," he whispered, the black jade ring on his thumb gently brushing against the edge of her sleeve, his voice gentle but firm, "When this is settled, I'll make you a pure gold fox hairpin with ten South China pearls embedded in the head. It's more magnificent than this silver one."
Su Jinli turned slightly and looked at him. The pearl headband in her hair brushed his chin lightly, as soft as a feather. "No need." She gently shook the straw rope in her hand, and the bandit leader let out another painful wail. "My silver fox hairpin is good. At least it can be used as a weapon." There was a hint of playfulness in her words, but also a firm confidence.
The fog grew thicker, as if to envelop the entire world. Just then, the faint sound of horse hooves could be heard in the distance, growing clearer as it neared. Young Marquis Su came running over, panting, his broadsword slung over his shoulder. Hanging from the tassel of his sword was a purse of money he had confiscated from the bandits. As he ran, the purse swayed in the wind. "Sister! Brother Jiang Yan! The soldiers are here! And... and Li Xiu with his secret guards!" Young Marquis Su's voice was filled with excitement and agitation.
Jiang Yan reached for the purse, weighing it in his hands. The silver coins inside clashed with each other, making a crisp sound. As the silver tumbled out, it brought out a piece of oil-paper—the secret order of the Jiangnan Booksellers' Alliance. The wax seal with the plum blossom pattern was still warm, as if proclaiming the plot had just been completed. He looked at Su Jinli and saw her using a hairpin to lift the bandit leader's mask, revealing a face that bore a striking resemblance to Mr. Qian's accountant.
"I see." Su Jinli thrust the secret order into Jiang Yan's hand. Her hairpin shone coldly in the twilight, like a flash of lightning piercing the night sky. "It seems that Shopkeeper Qian feels the lesson from Yangzhou wasn't profound enough." Her eyes were filled with anger and disdain, as if she wanted to completely shatter this conspiracy.
Jiang Yan silently sheathed his sword, then reached out to smooth her wind-torn hair, his movements gentle and affectionate. "No problem." He looked at the chili powder lingering on her fingertips, a surge of pity welling up in his heart. He suddenly remembered her hands weaving straw sandals in the dilapidated temple in Yangzhou, those hands, once roughened and strong from helping disaster victims. "This time, I'll accompany my wife to settle this account." His voice was low and firm, like a promise to Su Jinli, but also a declaration of war against the enemy.
Su Qingyao's cry echoed through the mist, "Ouch! My 'Chili Red' rouge has fallen!" Then came the scrambled sounds of maids picking it up, and the gloating laughter of Young Marquis Su. Jiang Yan, holding Su Jinli's hand, slowly walked through the scattered fallen leaves. Dewdrops from his Qingfeng sword landed on the bookstore plaque at the bandit leader's waist, illuminating the blurred "Qian" character with exceptional clarity, as if it were a judgment of fate, revealing the culprit behind the incident.
This terrifying night in the Taihang Valley will eventually be like chili powder scattered by the wind, leaving only a spicy aftertaste. But this couple, who started out as street sugar painters, have long been accustomed to forging ahead side by side through wind and rain, turning every crisis into something they can smile about in the days ahead. They know the road ahead may be full of challenges, but as long as they work together, nothing can stop them from moving forward. Together, they will write their own legend, leaving a lasting mark in the long river of time.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
