Chapter 85 The Right Time for the World in the Picture
Everything at the Jiang residence was as usual. Under Jiang Yuzhi's instructions, Zhisan called the children from the orphanage back to work.
Zhi Si still looked after the shop with Zhou Niangzi. With Yan Liu and Yan Qi helping out, it wasn't too busy.
There were other people in the house, so Jiang Yuzhi couldn't just show up inside.
Di Ting was left in the underworld by Di Yan to oversee the work, and only she returned.
Jiang Yuzhi walked out of a small alley next to the house, dressed in a pretentious manner.
Looking around and seeing nothing unusual, he swaggered toward the door.
Inside the main gate is a small courtyard where the gatekeeper can rest.
The young woman on duty today is currently talking to another young woman.
Jiang Yuzhi's hearing was exceptional; she clearly heard what the two were saying.
"I'm so angry!"
"What's wrong?"
"You don't know, I just went to the street to buy things, and I was picking things out at a stall with a servant from some unknown family. That person had a companion who said that Mr. Zhong's background was unknown, that he had no family background, and that he was not worthy of the Empress's position."
"Don't be angry. Those words sound so sour; I can tell you're just jealous that Mr. Zhong is about to become Empress."
"Hmph, I just can't stand their faces when they talk badly about people behind their backs."
"Alright, alright. You're still carrying things, hurry up and go inside."
"Sigh, I can't stand it."
The young woman stormed off in a huff.
Is Emperor Huizong of Tang going to marry Xiuxiu?
Jiang Yuzhi looked completely bewildered.
She remembered that the last time they met, Xiuxiu and Xiao Ji were like oil and water. How come they were together so soon?
The young woman guarding the gate had just seen one person off when she turned around and saw her mistress standing at the door. She immediately bowed happily and said, "Miss, you're back."
"Oh, you're back." Jiang Yuzhi was still in a daze and hadn't come to her senses. "By the way, when did your Mr. Zhong and the official's affair happen?"
The young lady scratched her head, clearly not quite sure either. "I don't know either. A couple of days ago, a eunuch from the palace suddenly came to the orphanage to deliver an imperial decree, saying that Mr. Zhong was to enter the palace to become the empress."
"Xiuxiu agreed?"
Mr. Zhong seemed quite embarrassed.
"I understand. Thank you for guarding the gate."
"It's not hard work at all, it's all what I should do."
Jiang Yuzhi was unsure what expression to make and wandered aimlessly into the hall.
Upon receiving the news, the umbrella weaver, who was busy dealing with trivial matters, rushed over to see her.
"Miss is back."
"Uh-huh."
"What... happened?" Zhisan noticed her strange expression and cautiously inquired.
Jiang Yuzhi first shook her head, and after a long silence, asked, "Xiuxiu and the Emperor..."
Zhisan slapped his forehead and finally remembered, "Eunuch Xu sent an invitation yesterday, saying that you are invited to attend the Emperor and Empress's wedding. I put the invitation in the study."
"I understand, you may leave." Jiang Yuzhi reluctantly accepted reality and was about to go to the study to check the invitation.
“Miss, during the days you were away, His Highness Prince Xiao sent people every day to ask if you had returned. Should I send someone to inform him?”
Jiang Yuzhi almost forgot about Bai Yan, then nodded, "Go and tell him."
"good."
After the serious matter of the "Map of the State" was resolved, which was a major concern, Jiang Yuzhi suddenly felt a sense of helplessness and having nothing to do.
After quickly glancing at the invitation, she didn't find anything amiss and figured she could only find out the truth after meeting Zhong Yuxiu.
Leisure time is hard to come by.
“Zhi Si”.
A response came from outside the door after a while.
"If anyone comes looking for you, don't let them in yet."
"Yes, Miss." Zhi Si dutifully stood guard at the study door.
After a long while, her young mistress's slightly hesitant voice came from inside again, "Bai Yan... please ask him to wait for me in the study."
"Yes, Miss." Zhi Si was still puzzled. When Prince Xiao came, he treated her like his own home, only asking where she was before going off to look for her on his own.
Why do I have to give you extra instructions today?
Thinking of her family in the map of the state, Jiang Yuzhi didn't say anything more.
The little paper figure connecting the world in the picture was still brand new. She rubbed the paper a couple of times, and the direction of the power flowing within the paper figure became clear.
Next, Jiang Yuzhi, without any instruction, was able to freely move inside and outside the Sheji Map without using paper figures.
It's not surprising, since the Sheji Tu (a map of the land and its people) originally belonged to both her and Bai Yan.
Jiang Yuzhi had only been in the painting for half an hour when Zhisi was greeted by His Highness Prince Xiao, who was walking very fast.
There was a young woman leading the way for him.
"Is your young lady free right now?" The polite tone made Zhi Si even more uncomfortable.
What's going on with these two? Did they have a fight?
Zhi Si was completely baffled. After letting the young lady who had led the way leave, she respectfully said, "Miss is inside. Your Highness can go in and wait."
Since everything is here, why wait? Bai Yan frowned in confusion. Recalling the story his uncle and A Zhao had told him about Miss Jiang and him, Bai Yan decided to leave it aside for the time being.
He had experienced all sorts of strange and supernatural things, and although he didn't remember them, there was nothing he didn't understand.
Zhi Si opened the door for Bai Yan and waited for him to go in.
There was no one inside.
Bai Yan felt a chill run down her spine for some reason, but she still took a firm step and walked in.
He had been staying at Prince Xiao's residence these days, listening to A Zhao tell him about all the forgotten matters.
Based on what Ah Zhao and his uncle said, he had forgotten everything about this Miss Jiang.
Bai Yan didn't know exactly what had happened, but from snippets of conversation between his parents and those around him, he learned that Miss Jiang had saved his life and that the two of them were about to get engaged.
For some reason, there is still no formal marriage certificate.
Even though he had amnesia, the flutter in his heart when he first saw her was undeniable.
Based on Bai Yan's understanding of himself, the two should get married.
Judging from my parents' attitude, they didn't seem to be against it.
...
Jiang Yuzhi's entry into the story was entirely at her own discretion, allowing her to choose where she wanted to leave the scene.
With a thought, she appeared in front of the thatched hut.
The picture shows a dramatic change.
Flying birds, running rabbits, insects and fish; green bamboo, weeping willows, and streams.
It was a scene full of vitality.
A fence surrounds the front of the house, where two pheasants with their feet tied and a rabbit are kept.
Jiang's mother held a few handfuls of green grass and fed the rabbits with a kind expression.
"Mother!" Jiang Yuzhi called out from afar.
Hearing the noise, Jiang's mother stood up and greeted her with a smile, "Xiao Zhi is here! Come and see the little animals your mother is raising."
"Mother is amazing!" Jiang Yuzhi praised sincerely.
Her mother was not only bad at cooking, but everything she raised died.
Now we've successfully raised chicks and rabbits.
The two pheasants looked quite lively, trying to flap their wings to escape their restraints.
Jiang's mother squatted down again, watching the rabbit eat. "The pheasant was caught by your brother. He and your father are cutting down trees in the forest right now."
Jiang Yuzhi: "Why didn't Mother go with us?"
Jiang's mother stroked the rabbit's soft back and said without looking up, "I'm waiting for you. What if you miss us and come in but don't see us? You'd be so disappointed."
Jiang Yuzhi was stunned for a moment, her nose tingling slightly, and she hugged her mother, who was squatting down, from behind, "Mother..."
"Oh dear, you're so old and still acting like a child with your mother. But I love it when you act like that." Jiang's mother patted her daughter's arm, which was draped over her shoulder, with a touch of nostalgia.
"Xiao Zhi?" Jiang Yuchuan was carrying a chubby gray rabbit and was somewhat surprised to see Jiang Yuzhi there.
Jiang's father, carrying timber, walked behind Jiang Yuchuan. Seeing the mother and daughter's affectionate interaction, a smile appeared on his face.
"Yu Chuan, you've worked hard." Jiang's mother took the little gray rabbit, hugged it to her chest, stroked it a couple of times, and then put it together with the original rabbit.
While helping his father organize the wood, Jiang Yuchuan kept an eye on his mother and sister's movements. "Does Mother still like this rabbit? If she wants another one, I'll go look for more."
Jiang's mother led Jiang Yuzhi out to prepare a new rabbit hutch and casually replied, "I like it, I like it. The two of them can keep each other company."
Jiang Yuchuan: "When did my sister arrive? Is there any progress?"
Jiang Yuchuan had witnessed all the changes in the small world depicted in the image over the past few days. He didn't know what stage it would take to be considered complete, but he still looked forward to the day it would be fully realized.
Jiang's father: "Alright, Yuchuan, take your mother and sister inside to talk. There's not much work left to do here."
Jiang Yuchuan nodded, and together with Jiang Yuzhi, they led Jiang's mother into the house and sat down, then brought out some roasted dried fish.
"Try it," Jiang Yuchuan said, looking at Jiang Yuzhi with the same loving expression as his mother.
The dried anchovies were very fresh, but without any extra seasoning, they tasted dry.
Compared to the empty space I visited last time, the world depicted in the picture is now much more complete.
Jiang Yuzhi had a premonition that this place was just one opportunity away from being fully formed.
After chewing the whole dried fish, Jiang Yuzhi was about to say something when she suddenly felt a tremor in her heart.
Bai Yan came to find her.
Since she understood everything from the Heavenly Dao, Jiang Yuzhi could roughly guess why Bai Yan didn't remember anything related to her after waking up.
The bond between them was too deep; it should have been Huang Qi, but instead, two independent consciousnesses emerged.
In order to coexist better, Bai Yan chose to temporarily seal away the part of herself that belonged to Huang Qi, while everything that belonged to Huang Qi was related to Jiang Yuzhi.
When the time is right, Bai Yan will naturally remember.
Jiang Yuzhi was no longer worried about these things; there was no need for them to argue about whether or not someone remembered.
With that in mind, Jiang Yuzhi decided to mention it to her family first.
Jiang's father neatly arranged the firewood, washed his hands, and came in.
Seeing that everyone was present, Jiang Yuzhi carefully chose her words, "Father, Mother, Brother, I will bring Bai Yan back in a while."
There are no stupid people in the Jiang family. As soon as these words were spoken, it was basically clear what Jiang Yuzhi meant.
They had all learned from Jiang Yuzhi that Bai Yan was He Ji, and they were only a little worried.
Jiang's mother: "I will support whatever you do... Xiao Ji, although we know him somewhat, is he good to you?"
When asked about this, Jiang Yuzhi replied without hesitation, "Very good."
Jiang Yuchuan's voice carried a hint of resentment, "I knew this day would come. That kid's eyes were never right when he looked at you."
"Did I know this day would come?" Jiang Yuzhi asked hesitantly, "When? Brother..."
"The night before he left," Jiang Yuchuan's expression became somewhat unnatural, "he didn't leave secretly, he kept it from you. He not only said goodbye to his parents, but also begged me not to tell you, to tell you that he left secretly, so you wouldn't worry."
Jiang Yuzhi always felt that there was a hint of resentment in her brother's last words.
"Of course I'll grit my teeth!" Jiang Yuchuan thought bitterly.
Before leaving, He Ji pulled him aside and spoke to him alone for a long time.
The implication was simply that they wanted the Jiang family to wait for him and not to arrange a marriage for Jiang Yuzhi too soon. If he returned safely a year later, they hoped the Jiang family would give him a chance to propose marriage.
However, the one-year agreement has been extended to this point and must eventually be fulfilled.
"He... Bai Yan is quite good." Jiang's father, who had been unable to get a word in edgewise, finally found an opening to add a sentence.
"He... I will bring him to see you soon. It won't be long before Father, Mother, and Brother can leave!" Jiang Yuzhi held her mother's hand and made a sincere promise.
"Don't worry, don't worry, we've lived here for so long, we don't need anything." Jiang's mother patted her daughter's hand reassuringly.
Jiang's father: "Xiao Zhi, is there something else going on outside? Let's not delay you."
Escorted by her family, Jiang Yuzhi returned to her study.
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