Chapter 10 Chapter 10 "Can someone else give this game a try?" ...
In front of the Dongyang Marquis Mansion, a gentle spring breeze blew, the vermilion lacquered gate was half-open, and gatekeepers stood on both sides, solemn but respectful.
Before noon, a carriage slowly drove up to the door. The roof was covered with a crimson gauze curtain, and the curtains swayed slightly, revealing a faint figure swaying inside.
The first person to lift the curtain and get off the car was a woman in gorgeous clothes. She had a charming appearance and a jade pendant on her forehead, which swayed with every step. She was gorgeous but not vulgar, and her brightness was compelling.
She was graceful, one hand on the carriage eaves, the other covering her lips with a smile, and she turned around and called out, "Ji Qiu, get off the carriage, don't hold me back."
"My cousin is a bit cold, but he's prone to falling for your tricks. The more gentle and soft you are, the more he can't handle it."
A chuckle was then heard in the car.
The curtain moved again, and a woman in a light crimson silk dress and a silk sash around her waist came down slowly, her steps graceful and her expression shy. She had a gentle expression and a soft voice, and was exactly the close friend Shen Ru'an had mentioned.
She whispered, "Chen Ru'an, is it really appropriate for me to come here so rashly? What if... what if my cousin is already engaged..."
Shen Ru'an brushed the corner of his sleeve and said with disdain: "What engagement? If it really happened, how could there be no news at all? Let's talk about it later."
She blinked and smiled: "Even if there is, that girl may not be able to compete with you."
After saying that, he took Ji Qiu's hand and walked towards the mansion gate.
At this time, the gate of the mansion was wide open.
Jiang Ci stood quietly by the door, wearing a moon-white straight-hem dress with elegant sleeves and her hair tied up high. She looked plain yet elegant, and polite yet not weak. Behind her, Wanniang and Yinshuang stood on her left and right, both with solemn expressions.
She stood there, neither speaking nor smiling.
Shen Ru'an was originally talking and smiling, but when he raised his eyes, he suddenly stopped.
She stared at Jiang Ci's face for a moment, her expression obviously froze, and the smile on the corner of her mouth slowly froze.
"This is..."
She turned and asked the servant in a low voice, with a hint of uneasiness in her tone.
The servant bowed his head and replied, "My cousin, this is the second young master's newlywed wife, the second wife of the mansion, Mrs. Jiang."
Shen Ru'an seemed not to understand, frowned, and asked again:
"What did you say?"
"...My Lord Commander, we got married last month."
This time, the servant's voice was very soft.
The expression on Shen Ru'an's face was completely frozen, and the color faded a little in an instant. A trace of disbelief and astonishment flashed in his eyes, and he murmured:
"Cousin... is married?"
Ji Qiu, who was standing beside her, gently tugged at her sleeve, as if he wanted to speak, but ultimately did not dare to.
Jiang Ci, on the other hand, remained standing, his expression unmoved, his eyes gentle, and he bowed in a gentle and appropriate voice:
"My cousin has come a long way. Tea and a clean room have been prepared in the mansion. You are tired from the journey. Please come in and rest for a while."
The voice fell silent, like a spring of water entering a cup, calm and composed, yet with the composure and confidence that only the mistress of the mansion could possess.
Not long after Shen Ru'an was admitted to the hospital, Jiang Ci ordered someone to set up a tea table and personally served tea.
The spring orchids in the courtyard are fragrant, the wind is blowing under the curtains, a few cups of warm wine are placed on the table, and fine fruits are all prepared. Everything is elegant and polite.
Jiang Ci wore a jade plum blossom in her hair and asked Yin Shuang to bring the teacup to Shen Ru'an. She said softly:
"This tea is authentic Fengdu Huangya. It's slightly astringent at first, but the sweetness lasts for a long time. I hope you don't mind it."
Shen Ru'an took the teacup, smiling broadly, and looked at him with a look of scrutiny:
"My cousin is so polite! I thought you, the new bride, would stay in your boudoir all day after you got married, but I didn't expect you to be so respectful in handling social interactions."
Jiang Ci just smiled slightly and replied softly: "I'm new here and don't know the rules. If I'm rude, please bear with me, Miss."
Shen Ru'an held the teacup, glanced calmly at the furnishings in the courtyard, and asked casually:
"When I lived here before, this courtyard was vacant. Now it looks very well maintained. You are really thoughtful."
Jiang Ci's eyes were calm, and a smile still lingered on his lips: "Of course I dare not neglect my cousin's arrival. These are just some simple things."
Shen Ru'an smiled and nodded, lowered his head and took a sip of tea, and suddenly his tone became lighter, as if he was chatting casually, but also as if he was not paying attention:
"I remember when I was little, my cousin was most afraid of people mentioning the word 'wife'."
"He often said at that time that if anyone forced him to marry in the future, he would drive that woman out of the house."
Jiang Ci said nothing, just listened quietly with a clear expression.
Shen Ru'an seemed to be unable to wait for a response, and added with a smile:
"He has a cold personality and is difficult to approach. If you don't have some skills, you won't be able to keep him."
"My cousin's wife is quite capable of getting him to marry her."
Jiang Ci remained calm, slowly putting down the teacup, his smile as gentle as water:
"That depends on my mother-in-law's favoritism."
Shen Ru'an was stunned for a moment, as if he had not expected Jiang Ci to speak so calmly about marrying without love, and a subtle light flashed in his eyes.
After a moment, she laughed again, her tone seemed nonchalant:
"My cousin has always been a playboy. He's especially popular with women. I know he has had several old mistresses."
She paused, a smile on her lips, but her tone was so light it hurt:
"I guess my cousin doesn't know yet?"
Jiang Ci lowered his eyes and touched the veins of the tea leaves. His voice was gentle, like a gentle breeze:
"Thank you for the reminder, cousin."
"But..." She raised her eyes, her gaze was gentle but not cold, "It's a real skill to be able to marry him, isn't it?"
After hearing this, Lian Jiqiu was slightly stunned. Shen Ru'an's smile froze, and he covered his lips with his hands and laughed softly, but did not respond. He just lowered his head and drank tea.
The tea gradually cooled down and the curtains moved slightly.
Shen Ru'an suddenly raised his eyes, his tone seemed to be understated, but it concealed a few unintentional inquiries:
"By the way, cousin...are you feeling better lately?"
Her voice was not loud, but her eyes were very steady, filled with a bit of uncontrollable anticipation.
Jiang Ci's eyes turned slightly, and a polite smile still hung on his lips. He answered gently: "I saw him a few days ago, and he seemed to be in good spirits. I think he should be getting better."
Shen Ru'an nodded after hearing this, and gently rubbed the edge of the teacup with his fingertips. Suddenly, he put the teacup down, stood up, straightened his clothes, and said with a smile:
"That's good. Thank you for the hospitality, cousin. The tea and snacks are very much to my taste."
She paused and leaned slightly, "I won't bother you any more - I think I should go see my cousin."
After saying this, she lifted the hem of her skirt slightly, walked leisurely, but her smile revealed her feelings that could not be concealed.
Jiang Ci just lowered his eyes and gently stroked the teacup, smiling softly:
"Take care, cousin."
Jiang Ci returned to the courtyard, took off his hairpin, and casually draped his outer robe on the couch.
Yin Shuang brought her some warm water to help her wash her hands, and said softly, "Miss, you've worked hard today. That cousin... doesn't look easy to deal with."
Jiang Ci wiped his fingertips, a faint smile flickered across his lips: "It's okay, it's just a welcoming and seeing off."
She paused, put the handkerchief down, and spoke in a tone that was not harsh but a little distant: "Yinshuang, since the governor has relented and allowed me to leave the palace, we finally don't have to sit on the bench in this deep-walled courtyard all day long."
Yin Shuang was stunned for a moment, then understood and replied with a smile: "That's right."
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Shen Ru'an and Ji Qiu walked through the flower-draped corridor and slowly headed towards the bamboo courtyard where Ji Xu lived. The path was quiet and peaceful, the bamboo shadows swaying in the wind, and the ground was covered with colorful light and shadows.
Ji Qiu whispered, “Chen Ru’an, your cousin-in-law is really hard to deal with.”
Shen Ru'an snorted, sneered and shook his head: "What are you afraid of? I've inquired about it. My cousin has no feelings for her. That woman is just a pawn in exchange for Liangzhou. There is no harmony between the two of them."
As she spoke, she raised her hand to smooth her hair, her eyes slightly bright, her tone a little excited and calculating:
"Don't worry, I have my own way. I'll set up a trap, arrange a hero-saving-a-damsel drama, and let you and your second cousin interact more often. After all, love is a thing, and if you stay together for a long time, you'll fall in love. How can you not win it over?"
Ji Qiu opened his mouth hesitantly, but ultimately didn't say anything to persuade him.
As the two were talking, they had already arrived in front of Ji Xu's courtyard.
The courtyard door was not closed, and the wind blew the curtains. A man was seen standing among the bamboo trees in the courtyard. He had a slender figure and was wearing a plain homely robe with the corners of his sleeves fluttering slightly.
He was gently folding up a drawn kite, his fingertips brushing over the ink line of the eagle's eye on the paper, his expression gentle and focused.
When Shen Ru'an saw the figure, his eyes brightened instantly, and even his steps quickened.
After five years apart, he is still as handsome as before, and still as eye-catching as before.
That was her obsession in her youth, and the first heartbeat she felt under the sparse bamboo shadows through the window.
And now, she is back, and she doesn't plan to miss it again.
"Cousin Zixu!"
Shen Ru'an called out happily, with a hint of unconcealable joy in his voice.
Ji Xu turned around when he heard the voice, his brows slightly lifted, and a smile appeared on the corners of his lips:
"Chen Ru'an? Why are you here? Is your aunt doing well?"
"I'm fine. I've been thinking about you." Shen Ru'an walked forward quickly, his tone familiar.
After she muttered a few words, she turned around and pulled the woman behind her forward, introducing her with a smile:
"This is my good friend, Ji Qiu. We came to Fengdu to stay for a while."
Ji Qiu bowed slightly and saluted politely: "Greetings, Prince."
Ji Xu nodded in return, his expression gentle and his tone still gentle:
"Since you're here, let's sit together."
He ordered, "Go prepare tea."
In the evening in Fengdu, the sky has not yet darkened and the afterglow of the sun is still in the city.
Jiang Ci stood in the corridor, looking at the swaying bamboo shadows in the courtyard, and said softly, "I can't be trapped in this yard all day. I want to go out for a walk." Yin Shuang's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she smiled and went to get a cloak, "Wait a moment, young lady. I'll get you a windproof one."
A blue-gray brocade cape draped over his shoulders, Jiang Ci walked with an umbrella, accompanied by Yin Shuang. They exited the Dongyang Marquis's mansion from the back door and slowly walked down the street.
This was the first time she had left the house since she came to Fengdu.
The streets are still busy, and the spring market is filled with heat and fireworks. Stalls are lined up in the cobblestone alleys, kites are flying high, scented powder fills the air, and in the distance, storytelling and singing can be heard from tea stalls.
Jiang Ci walked slowly, her gaze sweeping across the landscape, all fresh and new. Unlike Zichuan, Fengdu was home to many literary gatherings, and students could often be seen discussing poetry and history on the streets. She paused briefly, her expression clear, a hint of initial interest in her eyes.
She glanced around calmly, but she was unaware that she was wearing a moon-white dress, with bright eyes and eyebrows, just like the spring snow after the sun had cleared, with a heart and bones as beautiful as an orchid, which had already attracted passers-by on the street to look back frequently.
Someone whispered, "Whose daughter is that?"
"Why do I feel that this face is unfamiliar..."
Suddenly, there was a burst of cheering and noise coming from the front. Yin Shuang looked over with her umbrella. "Miss, that place up ahead looks like it's a chess club."
Jiang Ci looked in the direction he was looking and saw a crowd of people under the eaves of a house on the corner of the street. There was an ink plaque hanging at the door of the chess club with clear and elegant calligraphy: "Yiping Zhai".
Outside the door stood a notice that read: "Anyone who can solve this unfinished game will be presented with a jade brush."
The jade pen was placed on the table in the room. It was warm and smooth all over, like frost and snow. Two lines of fine seal characters were carved on the end of the pen. The craftsmanship was elegant, and it was obviously made by a famous hand.
Jiang Ci liked it very much.
She asked softly, "Can someone else try this game?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the scholars who were watching turned around to look at her, their expressions slightly changing.
"Miss, this isn't the place to enjoy flowers and write poetry. How can you allow a woman to act recklessly?"
"No matter how popular it is, it cannot ruin the elegance of the chess field."
Jiang Ci was not annoyed when he heard this, he just smiled lightly and said calmly:
"Talent in this world is not divided by status. Ban Zhao was able to compile the Dongguan Hanji, and Cai Wenji was able to master hundreds of musical instruments. It would be narrow-minded to deny someone the opportunity to try their luck just because they are women."
The onlookers looked surprised but did not say anything.
At this time, a person spoke from behind the curtain. His voice was cold and measured. Although his tone was not loud, it suppressed all the noise in the room.
"Let this girl have a try."
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