Chapter 1: It’s better to stay in the temple for one night than to stay in the Jade Pagoda
The setting sun melts gold, and the evening clouds merge into one.
Beneath the layers of verdant green, the sun cast a faint golden light. A horse-drawn carriage passed by, heading down the mountain. The crisp tinkle of royal bells echoed alongside the heavy thud of horse hooves kicking up dust. In the distance, Baoming Temple gradually disappeared among the mountains.
Lilan lowered the curtain, looked away from the window, and glanced at the woman beside her. She whispered nervously, "Girl, it's just ahead."
"knew."
A quiet voice came through the veil. The woman adjusted the white jade lotus pendant around her waist and stopped walking. The lotus petals bloomed on the delicate and translucent white flesh. Her slender fingers touched it, making her skin look even smoother than cream.
The woman's face was covered by the white gauze that fell to her chest, but it could not hide her graceful figure and elegant and gentle temperament. One could tell at first glance that she must be a pampered noble lady.
But that is not the case.
"By the way, today Cheng Jiancheng sent another letter saying that he wants to see the young lady. Does he still need the previous reason?" Lilan said indignantly. It has only been a few days since she arrived in Shengjing and stayed at Jiang Mansion, but he has already sent three letters. Lilan has never seen anyone more shameless than him!
"You're so impatient before we even get married. What do you think of a girl? How can Cheng Jiancheng still be so lustful even at the age of sixty?"
I heard that he has many concubines and maids in his backyard. No wonder his every move is so vulgar and he looks like he has indulged in excessive sexual activities.
Cui Yiluo said calmly, "If he weren't lustful, Yao wouldn't have had the opportunity to take advantage of him. Send him my painting of 'Peach Forest Chess Game' tomorrow. I'm currently staying at the Jiang family, and for my aunt's sake, he can't force me to stay, but don't provoke me either."
"Then I will return to Cheng Jiancheng tomorrow."
The master was calm and composed, but Lilan was on pins and needles. She said as if to comfort herself, "Miss, when you burned incense today, your heart was pious and sincere. The gods and Buddhas will surely grant your wish."
Cui Yiluo's tone was calm, but it was like the force of a cool mountain spring hitting the rocks.
"But for peace of mind, it's better to rely on yourself than on God."
The marriage must be called off. Yao wanted to sacrifice her for power and pave the way for her younger brother, but she didn't realize that the capital was full of cunning people who wanted to use the marriage to gain benefits. Cui Yiluo didn't know whether Yao was naive or confident.
What made her even more disgusted was that her father had condoned Yao's poor treatment of her for many years.
Surrounded by wolves, the only person who truly treats her well is her aunt who took her in to live with the Jiang family. Her aunt is the second wife of the Jiang family. Although she politely declined the request to help her break off the engagement, she agreed to take her into the Jiang family to prepare for marriage, which indirectly gave her another chance. That person is extremely powerful. If she can get his power, everything will be solved.
Judging from the time, it’s time.
“Zheng——”
The sharp sound of blades clashing suddenly rang out.
The carriage came to an abrupt stop, accompanied by the neighing of horses, and the two men fell heavily against the wall of the carriage.
Cui Yiluo quickly lifted the veil and exchanged glances with Lilan.
"There are thieves! Protect my cousin!"
Lilan anxiously went to support Cui Yiluo and said in a startled voice, "Miss, it would be bad if the horse got frightened and went crazy. Let the guards cover you and run!"
Cui Yiluo nodded, and ran out of the car with Lilan's support.
As soon as he jumped off the carriage, a loud voice suddenly rang out amid the chaos: "There's the man! Catch him!"
More than ten men in black were seen entangled with the guards of Jiang Mansion. The appearance of Cui Yiluo made these people try harder to break free from the restraints of the guards. They rushed towards her with red eyes and raised silver blades!
Something is wrong.
Cui Yiluo's brows, hidden under the white veil, suddenly turned cold. The next moment, she grabbed Lilan and ran backwards.
"Chase!"
There were footsteps approaching rapidly behind her. Cui Yiluo turned around and saw three or four bandits close at hand, their figures as fast as ghosts. If they took a few more steps, the sharp blades would have cut off her fragile neck.
With a "whoosh" sound, Mi Li was split into two halves by the sharp blade. Su Sha was blown away in the air by the swift sword wind, and after only a moment she fell straight down like a bird that was hit.
The beautiful face was exposed in the dim twilight, her eyebrows were as dark as distant mountains, and her eyes were like mist. Even when she was running in a hurry, people could not take their eyes away. The greenery and the afterglow were instantly eclipsed.
Cui Yiluo forced herself to remain calm and asked coldly, "Who are you? How much silver do you want?"
The bandit didn't stop and pointed his sword straight at Cui Yiluo's heart.
Cui Yiluo quickly pushed Lilan behind her with her left hand, and reached for the dagger at her waist with her right hand, about to pull it out.
But before he could pull it out, a silver light suddenly flashed before his eyes.
The sharp blade that was coming straight at her was suddenly broken into two pieces, and the broken blade flew up. Cui Yiluo reacted quickly and dodged to the side. The fierce wind blew her black hair slightly, and she turned her face to the side and saw the long sword that had cut the sharp blade into two pieces and pierced several inches into the loess.
Seeing the black jade tassel hanging on the long sword, she immediately withdrew her hand that had drawn the dagger.
But in an instant, her expression quickly turned gentle, and a mist rose in her red eyes, filled with grievance, and she looked around.
Beneath the towering mountain wall, a man in a silver-gray, wide-sleeved brocade robe embroidered with bamboo stood tall and straight like a bamboo. His features were unparalleled in their beauty, yet his eyes and brows radiated a cold, distant aura, a chilling aura like the snow on a mountaintop, daunting and unapproachable. His black hair, held neatly in place by a silver crown, not a single strand out of place, was so straight and precise that it betrayed nothing of the swiftness and ferocity of his recent sword throw.
"cousin!"
Cui Yiluo called out, her voice soft and gentle, her straight nose slightly red, her expression both surprised and helpless, the look she gave the man was as if she was clinging to the only life-saving straw, full of hope.
Faced with the pitiful woman, the man only took one look and then decisively looked away.
The bandits were stunned for a moment by the man's sudden appearance, and then they quickly raised their swords and stabbed Cui Yiluo.
There was another clang. The man pulled out the long sword stuck in the loess and stepped forward to block it.
A tall figure stood in front of her, and the strong wind lifted his clothes. Cui Yiluo took advantage of the situation and grabbed the man's wide sleeves with one hand, and grasped his clothes at the waist with the other hand, and stuck to his back with a frightened expression.
"Cousin, be careful!"
When the sword came swinging, Cui Yiluo dodged it swiftly by turning to the side, while fearfully moving closer to the front.
In this way, Cui Yiluo almost hugged the man's waist and abdomen tightly from behind, and felt his body become stiff in an instant.
The softness clings tightly to the strength, and the heat flows continuously between the skins that touch each other through several layers of clothes.
It's like a baby bird cautiously seeking shelter, or like intimate lovers embracing each other.
Jiang Yunjin frowned as he looked at the slender wrist pressed against his waist, but the woman holding him tightly seemed not to notice and moved a little closer. He was about to push away when the bandit attacked again.
The attack was as dense as rain. He used his long sword to block all the swords and knives in a few rounds, but it was inevitable that he felt a little tired.
Cui Yiluo, who was behind him and took the opportunity to hug him tighter because he had no time to push her away, had heavy eyes and looked down at the broken blade at her feet.
Jiang Yunjin held several long swords with his sword, and suddenly, a ray of silver light flew past -
A bandit let out a shrill scream in an instant, and the sword in his hand fell to the ground with a clang. Bright red blood continued to flow out from the knee that he was covering with his fingers.
The broken blade he had just chopped off was now stuck in the man's knee.
Jiang Yunjin tilted his head slightly, and the woman behind him looked surprised and shocked, as if she had just kicked the broken blade accidentally.
The bandits did not care about their companions and launched another attack.
Two bandits, having escaped the Jiang residence's guards, rushed over. Jiang Yunjin's brows furrowed, his knuckles whitening from the exertion of his grip on the sword, his muscular arms bulging. His wide sleeves slid downward, revealing the black jade bracelet tied around his wrist, which reflected the sunlight.
He was forced to retreat uncontrollably by the attack, and Cui Yiluo, who was clinging to him, was unable to keep her balance for a moment and was knocked to the ground by him.
"ah!"
Suddenly, a suppressed but shrill cry of pain was heard from behind me. I could tell from the sound that he was in great pain.
Jiang Yunjin steadied his body and looked down quickly. He accidentally stepped on Cui Yiluo's ankle.
He quickly moved away, but before he could help the man up, he had to block the oncoming sharp blade again.
The situation was clear at this point. Jiang Yunjin, despite his impressive martial arts skills, was no match for several of them. The two of them were at the end of their rope. Cui Yiluo stared at the tall figure standing in front of her, biting her lip to endure the pain from her ankle, her mind racing.
Suddenly, the ground shook and the sound of horse hooves penetrated the thick earth.
Cui Yiluo's frown relaxed.
The thieves looked at each other with hesitation in their eyes.
Jiang Yunjin took this opportunity to swung away the attacking sword. With a quick turn of his wrist, the sword blade immediately cut through the leader's chest, staining it with blood. A few drops of blood sprinkled on the clean silver-gray robe like raindrops.
Seeing their leader injured and Cui Yiluo being protected, they could only injure Jiang Yunjin first and then take his life. However, reinforcements arrived...
The bandits made a decision in an instant: "Retreat!"
At the command, the bandits covered each other and retreated in a few breaths, leaving no trace. The surroundings were empty again. If it weren't for the bloodstains on the ground that showed where a fierce battle had taken place, this place would seem to be just a quiet mountain in the twilight.
Jiang Yunjin slung his sword behind his back and squatted down. His robes were still neat and tidy, and except for his stillness, he didn't look like he had just experienced a fierce battle.
Cui Yiluo's red lips had lost their color, her hair, which had been neatly combed, was now disheveled, with a few loose strands of hair scattered. One of her earrings had fallen off, and the veil covering her head had been broken in two and scattered to the side. Her dress was covered in dust from running and falling, and the pearls and tassels on her headband were tangled together.
This look can't really be called neat, but her beautiful eyes were full of autumn water when she looked up, and her nose and eye sockets were red, which made her look a bit like a down-and-out beauty, pitiful and delicate.
She called out with trembling lips: "Cousin..."
Jiang Yunjin lowered his eyes and looked at the slender ankle.
The woman's white silk stockings and clean white skirt were stained with black and gray footprints, which were abrupt and glaring.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. Can you still go?"
The man had a cold aura and a calm expression, with only a slight frown between his brows. Although he spoke with concern, his attitude always maintained the strict rules between men and women. At this moment, he didn't even help her, let alone take off her stockings to take a closer look at her ankle injury.
There was no longer the intimacy of their bodies touching each other just now.
Lilan had rushed to help Cui Yiluo when she fell. Cui Yiluo, her face pale as gold, took a few steps under her support.
Jiang Yunjin's brows relaxed slightly: "No bones are injured. I will ask a doctor to come when I return home."
Cui Yiluo smiled despite the pain, "I know, my cousin just stepped on it accidentally to protect me."
Jiang Yunjin glanced at her and then looked away.
While Jiang Yunjin was saying these words, his subordinates had already rushed to his side on horseback. If they had arrived a few moments later, the blood on the ground now would probably not have belonged to the thieves.
"Lord, I am late..."
Jiang Yunjin raised his hand to stop him from speaking, and said to Cui Yiluo, "Get in the car first, I'll take you home."
Li Lan, who was standing by, suddenly said, "Master, it's getting late. I'm afraid we won't be able to make it back before the city gates close..."
Jiang Yunjin glanced at the sky after hearing this. The sun was about to set. The city gate was about half an hour's walk from here, and it would close at 3:30 PM. He could have ridden back quickly, but...
Seeing Jiang Yunjin's silence, Cui Yiluo quickly suggested a solution: "Cousin, this place is not far from the Baoming Temple where I'm burning incense today. Why don't you stay there for the night? Then send someone to rush back to the city to inform my aunt and the others, and then return home after the city gates open tomorrow."
Baoming Temple is a place where wealthy families in Beijing often go to burn incense. The Jiang family is a frequent visitor and occasionally stays overnight in the temple. There is nothing wrong with this arrangement.
Jiang Yunjin nodded slightly.
"Thank you, cousin, for escorting me."
Having survived the disaster, the woman had lost all her strength, and her voice was also weak. It was soft, yet still beautiful, and to the ears it sounded a bit like a coquettish act.
Jiang Yunjin's eyes were cold and emotionless. He hummed softly and turned to walk towards the carriage with a very distant attitude.
Cui Yiluo was injured and walked very slowly. Jiang Yun observed the etiquette and did not walk with her. He strode onto the horse and waited beside the carriage.
Cui Yiluo walked to the carriage and smiled at the man sitting on the horse, as gentle as a peach blossom blooming in spring.
Jiang Yunjin remained expressionless, quietly watching her maid help her into the carriage.
But the carriage was too high, and Cui Yiluo's legs were injured and not as flexible as before. She tried five or six times but couldn't get up, and she almost fell to the ground again.
Lilan had no choice but to ask Jiang Yunjin for help: "Master, I am weak, can you help me?"
As soon as the words fell, silence fell all around, and everyone looked at the man sitting on his horse as still as a mountain.
Although Cui Yiluo lived in the Jiang family as the niece of the second wife of the Jiang family, her status was humble, and Jiang Yunjin was the only son of the first wife of the Jiang family, so he could ignore the affairs of the second wife.
But since she was a cousin, the guards were not in a position to step forward and help her. Looking around, it seemed that among the people present, only Jiang Yunjin, her cousin, could help.
But Jiang Yunjin didn't move, just looked at Cui Yiluo, his eyes calm and oppressive.
Cui Yiluo sympathetically came to the rescue: "How can I trouble my cousin with such a trivial matter? Lilan, let's try again."
"yes."
Lilan responded and lifted Cui Yiluo's arms and waist.
Seeing this scene, the guards couldn't help but feel sorry.
It’s a pity that such a beautiful lady like my cousin is gone.
Everyone present knew that the eldest son of the Jiang family was young and promising, a man of distinguished character and high position. However, he was aloof, with few close friends and aloof attitude towards others, especially women. At twenty-one, he had never touched a woman, and his aloofness was like that of a banished immortal.
"ah!"
A scream was heard, and Cui Yiluo lost her balance and grabbed Lilan with her fingers in panic, almost falling to the ground. Her ankle twisted again during the movement, and the color that had just returned to her face disappeared completely, and a few drops of cold sweat appeared on her forehead.
A burst of strength came from her arm, easily stabilizing her body.
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Note: "The setting sun melts gold, the evening clouds merge into one" is from Li Qingzhao's "Eternal Regret·The Setting Sun Melts Gold"
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