The early summer breeze, like a nimble spirit, gently carried the rich fragrance of pomegranate blossoms and slipped silently through the cracks in the windows of the Nianli Courtyard in the Xiangfu. Sunlight filtered through the mottled leaves, spilling onto the windowsill, casting a golden glow. Jiang Xiaohuang rested her hands on the windowsill, her bright eyes fixed on the two guards lingering at the gate. Her lips were pouting in discontent, so high it looked as if a bottle of oil could be hung on them.
"Miss, please give up on this idea." Lu'e, the personal maid, walked into the room with a bowl of sour plum soup and a brisk pace. Her tone was full of helplessness. "Madam said that if you sneak away again, all your precious storybooks will be locked up."
Jiang Xiaohuang whipped her head around, her almond-shaped eyes widening like two bright black gemstones as she shouted, "My mother is threatening me with the storybook again! It's just that she rode my second brother's horse up the city wall last time. Why make such a fuss?" She was just fifteen years old, the only daughter of Jiang Yan and Nianli. She had inherited not only her grandmother Su Jinli's dashing spirit but also her grandfather Jiang Yan's academic prowess. However, when it came to "keeping to one's place," she perfectly replicated the uninhibited and carefree nature of her great-uncle, Young Marquis Su, as if a restless soul resided within her.
Lu'e sighed softly and said, "Miss, you didn't even ride up to the city wall. You actually rode your horse around the wall three times, and even yelled 'Come and chase me' to the patrolling soldiers, scaring everyone!"
Jiang Xiaohuang stuck out her tongue playfully, her eyes accidentally catching a glimpse of the screen behind Lu'e. An idea instantly flashed through her mind, and she rolled her eyes as she feigned surprise, "Lu'e, look what that is?"
Lu'e subconsciously turned around and asked in confusion, "What... Hey? Miss!"
The moment Lu'e turned her head, Jiang Xiaohuang swiftly climbed out the window like a nimble little monkey. Her skirt brushed the flowerpot on the windowsill, making a slight noise that startled two sparrows foraging for food. Without even turning back, she rushed into the garden like a gust of wind, with only one clear goal in mind: the old locust tree in the backyard that could help her escape.
"Catch the lady!" The guards' shouts came hurriedly from behind.
Jiang Xiaohuang ran as fast as the wind, her feet trembling with fear. Her mind was filled with a single, burning thought: Jianghu is so vast, I must see it! She had recently heard of a renowned "Number One Baozi Shop" in Jiangnan. Just hearing the name made her drool, and she couldn't wait to try it. After all, her grandmother once said, life is short, and only good food and freedom are worth living by.
After successfully climbing over the wall of the Prime Minister's Residence, Jiang Xiaohuang dusted herself off and looked out at the bustling, bustling streets. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, as if she had discovered a whole new world. She had already changed into a servant's uniform, tied her hair up, and tucked the banknotes her grandfather had given her into her bosom. She looked like a handsome young man.
"Let me buy some sugar painting to satisfy my craving first!" She touched her hungry stomach and turned into the West Market with great interest.
A large crowd gathered in front of the sugar painting stall in West Market, captivated by the exquisite craftsmanship of the sugar painters. Jiang Xiaohuang struggled to squeeze in. Just as she was about to open her mouth to describe the style of sugar painting she wanted, she heard a muffled groan from the side. Curious, she turned her head and saw a young man in black leaning against the wall. His face was extremely pale, completely bloodless, with a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. He was holding a cloth bag tightly in his arms, as if it was his most precious possession.
"Hey, are you okay?" Jiang Xiaohuang came over with concern.
The young man suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with vigilance, like a wounded wolf cub, alert to its surroundings. He looked about sixteen or seventeen, with handsome features, but his complexion was pale, his lips tinged with white, and he looked particularly weak.
"What do you care?" The boy's voice was hoarse, with a hint of fatigue and vigilance.
Jiang Xiaohuang frowned slightly, thinking that the boy's attitude was really bad. But when she saw the wound on his forehead still oozing blood, she couldn't help but feel pity. She sighed and said, "I have some medicine in my bag. Let me rub it on you." After all, her father was the top scholar in the imperial examination, and her family had a lot of medicinal herbs in reserve for emergencies.
The boy stared at her closely, without saying a word or making any gesture of rejection.
Seeing this, Jiang Xiaohuang gently squatted down, carefully took out the golden wound medicine from her bag, and gently helped him apply it to the wound. The boy's body stiffened slightly, then slowly relaxed. Looking at her serious and focused expression, his eyes gradually softened.
"How did you do this?" Jiang Xiaohuang asked with concern while applying the medicine.
"I accidentally fell while walking." The boy answered vaguely.
Jiang Xiaohuang couldn't help but curl her lips, thinking that this lie was too tactful. But she didn't ask any further questions. After applying the medicine, she stood up and said, "Okay, be more careful when you walk next time." She turned around and was about to buy some sugar paintings when she suddenly remembered something. She pulled out an oil-paper bag from her bosom. Inside was the leftover osmanthus cake from the morning. She handed it to the boy and said, "Here, this is for you. It'll fill your stomach."
The boy looked at the osmanthus cake she handed him, then looked into her bright and kind eyes. For some reason, he reached out and took it.
"Thank you." The young man whispered. Although his voice was still hoarse, it contained a hint of gratitude.
Jiang Xiaohuang waved her hand, a bright smile on her face. Just as she was about to turn around to buy some sugar paintings, she heard the sound of hurried horse hooves approaching from afar. Several ferocious-looking men rode their horses and rushed over aggressively. The big man in the lead shouted, "We found that kid!"
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