18

18

The two stood there, each lost in their own thoughts. Ling Jingchu remained silent with a sullen face, while Jiang Yunshu pursed her lips and said nothing more.

The pastry in my hand was neither something I could hold onto nor something I could throw away.

Just when she was feeling incredibly embarrassed, a cheerful voice came to her rescue.

"Jiang Yunshu, you're finally willing to go out! These past few days I've thought you were going to go into seclusion to cultivate some evil technique!"

Chu Shuangfeng looked at her with surprise and delight. He put down his arm around Baili Chuan and quickly stepped forward to hand over the things in his hand.

"Here!" Chu Shuangfeng exclaimed proudly, "They're all for Ayao!"

After saying that, she raised an eyebrow smugly: "Isn't my uncle treating her better than her biological uncle?"

Jiang Yunshu looked at the box full of trinkets, all of them sparkly hair accessories.

It really is something Ayao likes.

Ayao has loved these things since she was a child.

She smiled and said, "You put some effort into this. You can deliver it yourself. Teacher Lin has taken leave to go back to her hometown, so she's not teaching right now."

A strange look flashed across the faces of Chu Shuangfeng and Baili Chuan behind him. Baili Chuan lowered his eyebrows, flicked open the folding fan in his hand, and fanned himself gently.

Chu Shuangfeng gave a strange smile and said, "You go ahead, I have things to do, haha~"

She was suspicious, but Chu Shuangfeng had already turned and left.

"Brother Li, I'll be going now. I'll come back to see you tomorrow!"

Baili Chuan nodded slightly, his smile amiable.

Jiang Yunshu thought to herself, "What a beast in human form."

After Chu Shuangfeng had completely disappeared from their sight, Baili Chuan slowly withdrew his gaze and looked at Jiang Yunshu.

“Miss Jiang, Young Master Chu originally intended to buy some pastries for you today, but the streets seem unusually lively. The pastries from Heweiju and Suxiangyuan have all been sold out.”

"That's why I went off to buy some trinkets."

She didn't quite understand why this person was saying these things. Baili Chuan just smiled meaningfully and muttered something under his breath.

"These past few days, Brother Chu and I have been drinking at Xiangyun Pavilion. Brother Chu seems to have a deep hatred for brothels."

Of course she knew that, because Chu Shuangfeng's father had brought his fifth concubine back from a brothel, which had angered his mother to death.

After this incident, he harbored a deep hatred for brothels, and his relationship with his father gradually deteriorated to a freezing point.

After Baili Chuan finished speaking, he went back to his room, while Ling Jingchu stood in front of her like an ice sculpture.

She looked at him, but Ling Jingchu's gaze was fixed on something else. He exuded an indescribable aloofness and a faint sense of danger.

Thinking of what Baili Chuan had just said, she asked awkwardly.

"...Ling Jingchu, how did you manage to get the pastries?"

Ling Jingchu's thoughts slowly returned, his eyes deep and gloomy, making it hard for her to breathe.

"You arrived early."

His voice was deep and cold, and his already deep voice sounded even more distant and aloof.

She chuckled: "That's pretty early... haha."

"Miss Jiang, you wouldn't believe it, I went there early this morning and there was such a long queue! Lately, so many people have been buying Su Xiang Yuan's pastries!"

Su Ye's words piqued her curiosity, so she turned around and asked a question.

Why?

Su Ye smiled: "Miss Jiang, you don't know yet, do you? Aren't two people coming to the capital? It's all over Jiangnan. People are saying that His Highness the Third Prince is kind-hearted and upholds justice for us common people, and has abolished that damned poll tax!"

"We've heard that His Highness the Third Prince enjoys eating pastries. Although we don't know exactly what kind he likes, everyone wants to buy him some good ones."

Su Ye spoke these words with reverence on her face and her eyes shining.

Jiang Yunshu suddenly remembered what he had heard in the dark room that day: the power struggles within the royal family were a matter of life and death for ordinary people like them.

They schemed against the court officials and the common people, and in the end, after achieving fame and success, they even had the people sing their praises.

How cruel.

The pastries in her hand suddenly lost their flavor, so she tossed them to Qing Shuang and went back into the house.

Su Ye scratched his head, completely unsure of what he had said wrong, and could only look at his young master.

"Young master, shouldn't you go back and prepare your lesson plans?"

Ling Jingchu glanced at him silently, then casually looked away and nodded.

He took a step and walked into his own yard.

Su Ye was so shocked that she broke out in a cold sweat.

He hadn't known the young master for long, only three short years. The young master was a very good person, and he could also sense the young master's intelligence.

Given time, he believed that the young master would surely pass the imperial examination with flying colors.

Although the young master was always aloof, he rarely showed any real emotional fluctuations. For some reason, he felt that in that one glance just now, the young master seemed extremely frustrated and angry...

He shook his head; he must have seen wrong.

Even when facing those students, the young master never showed any strong emotions.

With that in mind, the two walked back to the courtyard.

Ling Jingchu's daily life is quite monotonous. For example, when he returns to the mansion, he sits in his study preparing lesson plans.

Then he started studying again.

In Ling Jingchu's view, there was never enough time.

But for Jiang Yunshu, the long days and short nights of summer were the hardest to endure, but fortunately, it is now autumn.

But she still felt that these days were very difficult.

Whenever she thought about the Third Prince coming to Jiangnan, she couldn't help but have images flying through her mind. Even though A Yao was still young, she still felt that she had to hide A Yao away.

Last time, she originally wanted to find someone who knew martial arts to protect A Yao, but then this happened in the Jiang family and her mother forgot about it.

There aren't many servants in the house who are of any use, so we still need to buy one.

One must also have a clean family background.

Just thinking about it gives me a headache.

"Qing Shuang, do you have any older or younger sisters who also know martial arts?"

She raised her eyes lifelessly.

“I have sisters at home, but I don’t know where they were sold. I remember they don’t know martial arts.”

Qing Shuang spoke softly, but then suddenly looked away.

She already knew about Qing Shuang's family situation, and this time it still hit a nerve... really...

"You can have the pastries."

Her gaze fell on the pastries Ling Jingchu had brought, and she said guiltily.

Qing Shuang looked at her suspiciously, but seeing the expression on her face, she smiled again.

“Miss, there’s no need to blame yourself. I was indeed unfortunate, but fortunately I was sold to the master. After meeting you, I no longer care about those things from before.”

"I don't like eating these anyway, so let's save them for A-Yao."

She felt even more embarrassed, as Qing Shuang had been with her the longest and was the most loyal.

He pulled the hairpin from his head and gave it to her: "Take it. I want to find a maid for Ayao who is skilled in martial arts and has a clean background. I'll let you handle this."

Qing Shuang then took the hairpin and replied, "Yes."

"Why didn't Ayao come today?"

Qing Shuang smiled helplessly: "Miss forgot, the Qixi Festival is coming soon, and A Yao went out to play with the second young lady of the Zhong family."

It turns out the Qixi Festival is almost here.

She sighed softly. It turned out that when they were in the Marquis's mansion, the Marquis would spend the day with Madam Chu, but at night he would secretly spend time with her.

At that time, she actually thought that this was what it meant to value something highly.

Come to think of it, it was more fun going to the night market with Jiang Shuyue when we were at home.

Is someone following us?

"The lady sent servants to follow, and Aono is also there."

She nodded, her gaze seemingly drifting to the bustling street outside the wall, where she saw vendors hawking their wares and beautiful women adorned with various headdresses…

“Miss, it’s not safe for A-Yao to be out there. Why don’t we go together? I happen to know some martial arts and can protect you and A-Yao.”

She looked at Qing Shuang with great satisfaction; no one understood her better than Qing Shuang.

As dusk approached, she was about to go and tell her parents when she passed by the front hall and saw Jiang Jinhong carrying a large pot of flowers and a bag of pearl and jade headdresses.

Ruan Qingshang's eyes crinkled into crescents with laughter, but he still muttered, "Oh dear, these are holidays for young people these days, why are you making these things!"

Jiang Jinhong just laughed: "What are you talking about? In my eyes, you've always been the same as when you were young."

"Father, Mother." Jiang Yunshu looked at the two of them with a big smile. She had seen this scene for more than ten years, so she always had her own understanding of family.

At first, she thought that the Marquis and she were like parents. Although the Marquis was constrained by the Chu family, he truly cared for her.

Looking back now, it was truly naive and laughable.

“Ah Yun?” Ruan Qingshang’s smile remained unchanged as he casually picked out a bracelet from the box and handed it over. “This one would only look beautiful on someone with my daughter’s looks.”

Jiang Yunshu accepted the gift with a smile and then told her that she wanted to go out for a stroll.

Ruan Qingshang and Jiang Jinhong nodded in unison: "It's good to go out more. You're always cooped up, and I'm afraid I'll have to take care of Ayao for you in the future."

After kicking her out, she heard Ruan Qingshang's laughter and curses and Jiang Jinhong's deep laughter coming from inside the house.

She had only intended to take a casual stroll, but with the Qixi Festival approaching, the streets were bustling with activity.

The Daheung Dynasty was known for its open-mindedness. Although there were strict rules separating men and women, some daring individuals would still throw handkerchiefs at men in the street.

"Jiang Yunshu!"

She was still startled when she suddenly heard her own name in that situation.

Jiang Shuyue waved and ran towards her.

"You've come out to the street too! I thought you'd be staying home and crying silently all day!"

Jiang Yunshu rolled her eyes speechlessly. That's just how this person is; they never think before they speak.

"Let me tell you, Luchun Garden planted a batch of rare flower varieties this year, and I heard there are even seven colors of flowers!"

"It's only for the Qixi Festival to show us; afterwards, it'll probably be sent to the Jade Capital. You've come at the right time!"

Jiang Shuyue grabbed her hand and led her into the crowd, winking at her: "I'll take you to the very front!"

Although Jiang Yunshu was very uncomfortable being squeezed, she was also very curious: could there really be flowers with seven colors?

Could it be dyed on?

The float at Luchun Garden was very long, with brightly colored peonies at the front. As the float slowly passed by, she actually saw the seven-colored flower that Jiang Shuyue was talking about.

The night was dim, so she couldn't see how beautiful the flowers were, but she was still amazed.

There really are so many colors of flowers!

The crowd on the street was amazed and captivated by the float.

Jiang Yunshu was suddenly pulled forcefully. Just as she was about to shake off the person, a sword pierced straight into her heart.

"Murder!"

"Help!"

The crowd began to stir. Jiang Shuyue, still shaken, pulled her into her arms, but Jiang Yunshu lost her strength and soon collapsed to the ground.

Qing Shuang, her face full of annoyance, picked her up and carried her around the waist.

The street was crowded with people, and Qing Shuang was walking slowly, sweat dripping from her forehead onto her face as she hurried.

She thought to herself that Qing Shuang's arm strength was probably much better than that of a scholar like Ling Jingchu. Look, she didn't even need to hug Qing Shuang's neck; Qing Shuang could walk as fast as the wind.

Jiang Shuyue was still nagging in her ear, and the screams of the crowd were giving her a headache.

So she closed her eyes and prepared to rest for a while.

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