As expected, Yue Qingyang had no interest in studying the Thousand Character Classic; he simply needed a legitimate excuse to immerse himself in books. As a young emperor who had conquered many lands and was well-versed in the art of war, how could he still be obsessed with enlightenment books as an adult?
Yue Qingyang lowered his eyelids slightly to hide his inner surprise. "This book was given to me by the eldest lady. Yue Qingyang treasures it like a treasure and dares not damage it in the slightest."
Jiang Songyi raised his eyes, his gaze as cold as ice.
What a two-faced person.
However, in her previous life, she had fallen for this very trick. Her deep affection had been trampled upon time and again by those so-called brothers, but Yue Qingyang was the only one who cherished her so much, so she took special care of this young man who lived under someone else's roof, as if to make up for the warmth she lacked.
"I heard that the eldest lady brought back two carts of books from the outside world today? Since I left my hometown, I have never seen such a rich collection of books." When Yue Qingyang spoke, his brows slightly frowned, and his eyes revealed a hint of sadness and fragility, which made people feel pity.
He knew very well that Jiang Songyi knew nothing about writing after returning from the countryside, so she brought back two carts of books.
Even though he didn't need those books, if Jiang Songyi had given them to him, there must have been a purpose. For example, hiding something in them that might be able to drag the Yongding Marquisate into the abyss in the future.
He had thought that after such a pitiful mention, Jiang Songyi would give him alms out of sympathy as in the past. However, unexpectedly, Jiang Songyi only nodded slightly and said coldly: "You are really pitiful."
After she finished speaking, she shut up.
Yue Qingyang gently clenched the hand that was hanging under the gray and wide sleeve. Although he often showed weakness in front of others in order to achieve his goals, what he hated most was the sympathy of others.
He asked, "Young Miss, you brought back so many books this time. Are you planning to follow the example of the Second Miss and study diligently to practice calligraphy?"
Jiang Songyi scoffed, "Do you also think I'm just imitating others and trying to imitate them?"
Ever since she brought the books back home, her ears were filled with the whispers of the servants. After all, everyone knew that she knew almost nothing about writing after returning from the countryside.
However, Yue Qingyang shook his head gently. "Young lady, your diligence and eagerness to learn are truly remarkable. I have memorized the Thousand Character Classic by heart, so you can use it as a starting point. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. On the road to knowledge, you and I will support each other."
If it weren't for the trap he set before returning to Dongling in his previous life, in which he and Jiang Yuyao accused her of treason, Jiang Songyi would almost have believed his sweet words.
Jiang Songyi smiled calmly, "That's not necessary. I'm not as lonely and helpless as His Highness the Hostage. If I were interested in learning, my parents would naturally find a respected teacher to teach me poetry and song."
A hint of gloom flashed across Yue Qingyang's eyes.
He felt that Jiang Songyi's attitude towards him seemed not as friendly and kind as before.
Yue Qingyang gazed at the blossoming peach blossoms in the garden, his voice low and lost, "By this very moment, the crabapple blossoms on Mount Taibai must also be in full bloom. Back when I was a hostage in Jindu, I passed by Mount Taibai and lit an eternal lamp for my biological mother at Rong'en Temple. At that time, the crabapple blossoms on the mountain were in full bloom."
Jiang Songyi sighed softly: "Alas, you are such a pitiful person."
The veins on Yue Qingyang's forehead throbbed slightly.
Is this all Jiang Songyi can do? What he needs is not her sympathy, but her understanding, not her constant emphasis on his pity!
Yue Qingyang sighed softly, "I learned of my mother's passing while on my way to the internment camp. Sadly, I never got to see her for the last time, nor was I able to mourn for her until her death. I can only light a long-lasting lamp for her from afar in a foreign country."
Jiang Songyi lowered her eyes and stared at him.
In his previous life, Yue Qingyang had also confided his tragic past to her.
At that time, out of sympathy and pity for him, she agreed without hesitation and took him out of the house to Rong'en Temple, asking him to personally offer a long-burning lamp for his mother. However, offering the lamp was just a pretext for him to leave the house in order to secretly contact Ling's informant.
Shortly after that lamp-offering ceremony, the news that the crown prince of the Western Jin Dynasty had been assassinated spread.
With the death of the crown prince, the undercurrent of the struggle for the throne immediately surfaced. In order to fight for power, the powerful people in the Western Jin Dynasty did not hesitate to frame their colleagues and even use innocent people as sacrifices. The Western Jin Dynasty fell into chaos and suffering.
The marriage contract between the Yongding Marquisate and the Fourth Prince naturally implicated Jiang Dinglian's family. Amidst this turbulent situation, Jiang Dinglian was unable to focus on other matters, and his surveillance and attention on Yue Qingyang also relaxed, providing Yue Qingyang with an opportunity to escape back to Dongling.
"I heard that the old lady of the Marquis' Mansion would lead the women of the mansion to Rong'en Temple to pray every mid-month. Perhaps if you were to go there during these few days, could you please offer a new eternal lamp to my biological mother's spirit tablet on my behalf? My biological mother loved crabapple flowers when she was alive."
Yue Qingyang's voice was filled with sadness. He stared at Jiang Songyi with eyes as clear as autumn water. His thin and handsome face was filled with cautious pleading, which made it difficult to refuse at first sight.
Jiang Songyi sighed slightly in his heart.
Why didn't she realize before that Yue Qingyang was even better than Jiang Yuyao at playing the role of weakness and pity?
No wonder he later mobilized troops to seize Jiang Yuyao's marriage. It turned out that they were of the same mind.
In her previous life, she had sympathized with Yue Qingyang, feeling that he was too miserable—he hadn't been able to see his mother for the last time when she died, couldn't offer sacrifices in person, and could only offer a lamp in a foreign land. Now, imprisoned in the mansion, unable even to offer a lamp in person—that's why she secretly took him to Rong'en Temple.
And in this life...
Jiang Songyi agreed without hesitation: "How difficult is this? It's just an offering of a perpetual lamp. How much silver does it cost, Your Highness? Just give it to me first, and I will go to Rong'en Temple to offer the lamp for you tomorrow."
Yue Qingyang was slightly stunned.
Jiang Songyi's reaction was completely different from what he expected?
She was so sympathetic to him. Given her personality, shouldn't she have offered to take him to Rong'en Temple to light a candle and pray for his biological mother?
Moreover, she even asked him for silver for the eternal lamp? Didn't she just get two boxes of gold beads from the wife of the Duke of Huguo? Could it be that she still lacked this little money?
Even Xiang Zhu, who stood by with a lantern, was surprised. The eldest lady had always been known for her kindness and generosity. When had she become so unkind?
Jiang Songyi asked in confusion, "Why, His Highness, is you short of money? I see the jade pendant on your waist is of high quality."
Xiang Zhu thought to himself: Has the young lady fallen into the trap of money?
Yue Qingyang subconsciously clutched the jade pendant around his waist, his tone revealing unspeakable pain. "This is a relic left to me by my mother. It's my only comfort in this foreign land. Since the matter of offering the Eternal Lantern has been entrusted to someone else, then the silver shouldn't be paid by the eldest lady. You can pawn this jade pendant, perhaps you can get some silver in exchange."
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