The veins on the back of Jiang Yihuan's hand bulged as he gripped the sword. He caught a glimpse of Jiang Songyi still playing with the jade pendant, and just as he was about to explode, he heard a disembodied female voice suddenly chime in: "Tsk tsk, these tears are coming so suddenly. What a shame not to join the Southern Opera Troupe to sing."
The young general turned his head abruptly, meeting Jiang Songyi's innocent almond-shaped eyes. Her bright red lips were clearly sealed, yet the sound she had just made was clear. Before he could even consider it, Xue Xin wiped her tears and looked up. "Grandpa said before he died that my father was doing business in Beijing, but I don't even remember what he looked like."
When Xu put down the teacup, there was a crisp sound of "ding". "Zhu Sha, take Miss Xue to Weiyang Garden for resettlement."
"Mother!" Jiang Yihan hurriedly stopped at the door, "That's Yuyao's yard."
"You've been away on the expedition for three months, and a lot has happened in the capital." Madam Xu lowered her eyes and fiddled with her jade bracelet. "Hao is now the Fourth Prince's concubine, and last month she moved all her dowry back to the Chansibo Mansion." She looked up at her son, who looked surprised. "Weiyang Garden is closest to your study, and it's also cheaper for Miss Xue to live there."
Jiang Songyi suddenly chuckled, the silver bell on her wrist tinkling with her movements. Jiang Yihuan glared at this cousin, with whom he had been at odds since childhood, but she tilted her head closer to Xue Xin and sniffed, "Such a unique scent of perfumed powder, like..." The last syllable lingered, and when Xue Xin's back suddenly stiffened, she changed the subject, "Like the new rouge shop that opened in West Market?"
Xue Xin took a step back and forced a smile, "Sister, you're joking. I never do that."
"There's a peach orchard behind the Weiyang Garden wall, and the flowers are in full bloom these days." Jiang Songyi's skirt blossomed as she spun around. "If Miss Xue can't sleep tonight, just open the south window and you'll see them." As she spoke, she suddenly reached out and brushed Xue Xin's hair, her fingertips hooking around the wooden hairpin. "Ah, this pattern is quite unique."
The wooden hairpin fell to the ground with a dull thud. Xue Xin hurriedly went to pick it up, her long hair obscuring the cold light in her eyes as she lowered her head. Jiang Songyi, however, had already jumped up and grabbed her eldest cousin's arm: "Eldest sister said yesterday that she would teach me how to tie a double ribbon, and you are not allowed to go back on your word!"
Mrs. Xu looked at her little daughter's back and shook her head, "This girl." She turned to Xue Xin and said softly, "Since Yihuan has recognized you as his benefactor, the Marquis' Mansion will not neglect you. If you need anything, just ask Zhu Sha."
As dusk deepened, Jiang Yihuan sat alone in his study, lost in thought, gazing at a military manual. Outside the window, peach trees flickered in the distance, and suddenly, a very light knocking sounded. He gripped the short sword in his sleeve tightly: "Who?"
"General, it's me." Xue Xin stood at the entrance of the moon cave, holding a medicine cup, his thin figure almost swallowed by the night. "Your old injury was ruptured when the carriage was bumpy today, and this is a new one."
Jiang Yihuan looked at the blood-soaked gauze on her wrist and changed the tone of rejection on the tip of his tongue: "Come in."
Xue Xin placed the medicine bowl on the table, lowering her head to reveal the snowy skin at the back of her neck. "General, take it while it's hot. Ah!" She suddenly stumbled towards the inkstone, and Jiang Yihuan subconsciously reached out to take it. The moment the girl's soft body crashed into his arms, a silver bell suddenly rang outside the door.
"My cousin is in such a good mood." Jiang Songyi leaned against the door frame, the moonlight streaming down the butterfly embroidered on the hem of her skirt. "Do you want me to call Zhu Sha to bring the quilt?"
"Nonsense!" Jiang Yihuan hurriedly pushed Xue Xin away, causing the medicine bowl to fall over and splatter the military manual. Xue Xin knelt to pick up the pieces, oblivious to the cut on her fingertips. Jiang Yihuan frowned and was about to speak when Jiang Songyi spoke again: "Idiot! I've already smeared blood-clotting powder on my hands, just waiting for the blood to kill me."
He suddenly grabbed Xue Xin's wrist and ripped off his own clothes to bandage it in front of the other's astonished eyes: "Let the servants clean up these, you go back and rest."
After Xue Xin left, Jiang Songyi walked in, shaking a porcelain bottle in her hand: "Golden wound medicine, do you want it?"
"What are you up to?" Jiang Yihuan stared at the scarlet nails on her fingertips. "Why are you pretending not to know me in broad daylight?"
The girl suddenly leaned in close, her soft breath brushing against his ear. "Because." Her fingertips gently traced the boy's Adam's apple. "You'll be crying and begging for help soon~"
Jiang Yihuan frowned slightly, and instead of directly refuting Xue Xin's proposal to move in, he asked, "Is there really no other courtyard available in the Marquis' Mansion?"
Xu's hand, holding the celadon teacup, remained motionless as she responded calmly, "Your aunt lives in the west wing with her three cousins, and the Qinfeng Courtyard is currently occupied by three young ladies. As for vacant houses—" she blew away the foam and took a sip, "there are a few dilapidated courtyards, but Miss Xue is your savior. How could our mansion allow such a distinguished guest to live in a leaky house?"
Jiang Qingzhi's fingertips, gripping the handkerchief, turned white. She had clearly seen servants sweeping the Zhuying Pavilion the day before, a place overlooking the lotus pond that was so refreshingly cool. Now, it had become a dilapidated courtyard. She caught a glimpse of the cold light in her mother's eyes and suddenly realized she was trying to stop her brother from taking Jiang Yuyao back home. If someone else were to live in Weiyang Garden, Jiang Yuyao would never again be able to set foot in the Marquis's mansion.
"Great!" Jiang Songyi leaned against the carved chair, watching as Xu blocked Jiang Yihuan's escape route with a few words. [Tsk, in Jiang Yihuan's heart, who's more precious, his sister or his savior?]
"Jiang Songyi!" Jiang Yihuan suddenly slammed his hand on the table, the teacup clanging against the rosewood table. He had just clearly heard the girl's sarcastic tone, but when he looked up, he saw her leisurely peeling grapes, the crimson juice staining her fingertips as bright as nail polish.
Jiang Songyi slowly put the fruit pulp into his mouth and rolled his eyes: "Brother, are you hysterical? Why are you calling me for no reason?"
"You just cursed me in your heart!" Jiang Yihuan regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth, a suspicious red tinge on the tips of his ears. Ever since he'd been wounded by a poisoned arrow on the battlefield half a month ago, he'd woken up to hear the voice of this damned girl, yet he couldn't bring himself to speak it out in front of everyone.
"Young Master Jiang is so majestic." Jiang Songyi pulled out a silk handkerchief to wipe her fingers, her crimson skirt brushing against the blue brick floor. "Our laws don't stipulate that criticizing someone in one's heart is a crime." She suddenly took two steps closer, the golden hairpins and pearls dazzling the eyes. "But you, since you don't even acknowledge me as your sister, why are you acting like a brother?"
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