Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Warm the stomach first, then warm the heart?
Ji Qiu was shocked when she heard this, and her heart skipped a beat. She was originally just vaguely uneasy, but now she could actually feel a bone-chilling chill rising from her back. She swallowed involuntarily, and her fingertips trembled slightly.
At first, she thought that Shen Ru'an asked her to steal the map just to take this opportunity to expel Jiang Ci from Dongyang Marquis Mansion. She never expected that Shen Ru'an actually wanted to kill her.
The Shen Ruan in front of him still had that smiling look on his face, but he looked terribly unfamiliar.
Shen Ru'an saw her hesitation and suddenly grabbed her chin. His smile remained unchanged, but his tone was oppressive: "Don't you like my second cousin? I'll get rid of her for you and ask her to give up her position. Are you unhappy?"
Her voice was soft. "Are you thinking of backing out now? Huh?"
Ji Qiu's lips trembled, and his voice tightened: "I... I'm just afraid that if the truth comes out and the governor finds out..."
Shen Ru'an then let go of her chin and patted her cheeks twice with his fingers, as if to comfort her, but also as if to humiliate her.
"Don't worry." She said slowly, "I've made all the arrangements. When the time comes, someone will take the blame for us."
After saying this, she turned back to her desk, picked up her brush and ink again, her expression calm. But for a moment, a hint of impatience crossed her face, as if she was extremely annoyed by Ji Qiu's timidity.
The wind outside blew through the curtains, and the light that came in made her eyes and eyebrows look as beautiful as a painting, but there was also a hint of viciousness in her.
As evening fell, the rosy clouds gradually faded and darkness began to fall. Jiang Ci, wearing a thin moon-white shirt, sat in the courtyard under the light, threading a needle between her fingers, carefully embroidering a dark blue cloak.
There were several delicious side dishes on the low table, all of which she had personally instructed her stepmother to prepare. There were not many varieties, but they were exquisite and warm. Soup was stewing next to a warm stove, and wisps of white steam were rising.
She sat from sunset to starlight, the night wind picking up, the bamboo shadows swaying in the courtyard. Wanniang approached and called softly, "Miss, should we...wait any longer?"
Jiang Ci looked up at the sky, his expression unhurried, his tone extremely calm: "He trains his troops every day, and his government affairs are very heavy, so it's not uncommon for him to forget to eat."
"Besides, now that we're living under his roof and our relationship is so cold, I should back down. My mother-in-law can't support me forever. It's time for him to approach me and tolerate me... but I have to show some attitude first."
She lowered her eyes, her fingers still sewing, and whispered, "I've made up my mind. No matter how late it is, I must give him a hot meal."
"Liangzhou once chilled him to the bone. I want to see if I can warm him back up a little bit. If his heart is no longer cold, perhaps... he will be willing to relinquish the sword that hangs over Liangzhou's head."
After hearing this, Wanniang's eyes moved. She gently held Jiang Ci's hand and smiled softly, "It's great that the young lady can think it through now."
Yin Shuang tilted her head and asked curiously, "Is this what they call... warming the stomach first, then the heart?"
Jiang Ci smiled and nodded with Wanniang.
At this time, a servant hurried into the courtyard to report: "Second Madam, the governor has just dismounted and is coming this way."
Jiang Ci stood up, straightened his clothes slightly, turned around and said to Wan Niang, "Take a quick look at me, is my outfit okay today?"
Wanniang looked at her carefully for a moment, a smile forming in her eyes: "Miss, you spent half an hour in front of the mirror drawing your eyebrows today. I've never seen you care so much about your appearance."
Jiang Ci chuckled softly, took out a bronze mirror, looked at himself, and whispered, "Everyone denounces the beauty trap as a crooked and unorthodox method, but since ancient times, countless heroes have been defeated by this smile."
"If it can reduce the tension between us... that's also a plan." She said with a faint smile, her gentleness revealing a certain firmness.
The night breeze blows gently and the candlelight sways.
Ji Yang's footsteps came from far away in the corridor, steady and crisp.
Jiang Ci sat quietly in the small pavilion in the courtyard, brushing her hair with her hand, her posture serene. She had already changed into a gentle, elegant dress, her brows and eyes restrained, a plain hairpin tucked diagonally into her hair, and she was as quiet as a painting.
Ji Yang originally did not look around as he followed Yue Bai into the courtyard and went straight to the study.
Unexpectedly, a light sneeze was heard not far away. Jiang Ci covered it with his sleeve, tilted his head slightly, and had a somewhat obedient and tactful expression.
The subtle sound made Ji Yang pause and his eyes subconsciously swept over.
The pavilion was sparsely populated. Jiang Ci had already stood up, folding his sleeves in greeting, his expression gentle yet measured. "Commander-in-Chief, your mother prepared a few side dishes today and even braised the beef herself."
"I caught a cold a couple of days ago, and my tongue is very bland, so I can't taste anything... If the governor doesn't mind, would you be willing to help me taste it? If there's anything lacking, I can tell my mother later."
Her tone was gentle and a little cautious, but she was neither flattering nor subservient, and she walked the steadiest line between courtesy and affection.
Ji Yang lowered his head and pressed his palm unconsciously on his abdomen - he was indeed a little hungry.
He tilted his head and said, "Yue Bai, take the things to the study first."
After saying this, he didn't say anything more even though he still had a cold. He turned around and walked towards the pavilion and sat down opposite Jiang Ci.
Jiang Ci's eyes flickered slightly, a faint smile appeared on his lips, and he held the chopsticks in front of him, his voice soft and clear:
"Excuse me, Governor, could you please take a moment to test the food for me?"
Ji Yang took the chopsticks and his eyes fell lightly on the side dishes on the table.
The beef was neatly cut, bright red in color, and the broth was thick, steam still rising from the edges. His eyes narrowed slightly, his Adam's apple moving slightly, and he swallowed silently. He had indeed not had a proper meal today, and his stomach was already empty.
Not wanting to show too much, he casually picked up a piece of beef with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth, chewing it slowly and steadily, his expression unchanged. Jiang Ci also lowered his head to pick up his chopsticks and sat beside him, his movements neither hurried nor slow, with a gentle and calm demeanor.
She asked softly, "How is it? Does it taste okay?"
Ji Yang's eyes did not move, and his tone was as cold as ever: "It's so-so, not as good as the small stove in my mother's yard."
Jiang Ci just nodded when he heard this, his tone steady: "Then I will tell Wanniang the truth and ask her to improve it. She has been thinking about new recipes these days, and I can't taste it. Tomorrow, I will have to ask the governor to help me try it."
Her voice was neither too loud nor too low, as if she was stating something very ordinary.
Ji Yang's hand that was picking up the food suddenly paused, and he turned to stare at her. He suddenly put down his chopsticks, leaned back in his chair, and said in a sinister tone: "You are not going to use this to slowly drug me so that you can find an opportunity to poison me, right?"
Jiang Ci was slightly startled, then shook his head repeatedly. He raised his eyes and said seriously, "How is that possible? Wanniang prepared these dishes for me. I've been picky about food since I was a child, so she always tried new ways to make fresh food. Now that I'm sick, she's afraid I won't be used to it, so she tries three different dishes a day."
"If the governor feels it's not appropriate, then you can ask Big Brother or Afan to help me taste the food."
As soon as these words were spoken, Ji Yang's eyebrows moved slightly.
He was silent for a moment, then suddenly snorted, "You're quite good at lending people."
Changing the subject, he picked up the bowl, his tone still indifferent, but very clear as he said, "No need to look for them. I've traveled extensively for many years, and have tasted all sorts of cuisines from north to south. My tongue is more sensitive than anyone else's."
Jiang Ci hummed softly and continued to eat with his eyes downcast, but a faint smile involuntarily curled up at the corner of his mouth.
After the meal, Ji Yang put down his bowl and chopsticks, turned around and walked towards the study without saying anything more.
After he left, Wanniang and Yinshuang came over from the side. Wanniang smiled until fine lines appeared at the corners of her eyes. She whispered, "Young lady, you are indeed amazing. The governor is trying to save face and doesn't want to speak. Your method is just a way for him to get out of this situation."
Yin Shuang also murmured in agreement: "And he handed it just right, without seeming deliberate. It would be unreasonable for him not to come next time."
Jiang Ci didn't respond, but just gently moved the leaves in the bowl with an indifferent expression.
At 9:00 the next day, the sun was not yet high in the sky, but Ji Yang kept looking out the window, his fingertips tapping the corner of the desk inadvertently, his eyes clearly wandering.
Inside the house, Lu Linchuan was reporting on flood control matters with his deputy general. When he talked about the deployment of the Ningling dike, he saw that Ji Yang's expression was becoming increasingly absent-minded. He simply stopped, raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile: "My lord, since your mind is already wandering, why don't we go to the teahouse and discuss it while we eat?"
Ji Yang came back to his senses and said calmly, "You guys go, I have something else to do, so I'll go ahead."
After saying this, he stood up, put on his robe, turned around and walked out. His movements were quick and decisive, and his steps were quite fast.
Lu Linchuan watched him leave, gently waving his white bone-fragmented fan, and glanced at the deputy general: "This matter... must be strange."
The deputy general whispered, "Although what we're discussing today is merely a continuation of an old matter, the Lord has never been in a hurry to return home. He usually stays at the Governor's Office until midnight before leaving. But today he's so impatient..."
Lu Linchuan closed his fan, a meaningful smile on his face. "Go to Engineer Cao and explain the details of the drawings to him. I'll go there myself."
At this time, in the Dongyang Marquis Mansion, the light in the courtyard was just right and a breeze was blowing.
When Ji Yang stepped into the courtyard, smoke was rising from the small kitchen and a faint fragrance came with the wind. He walked over.
Just then, Jiang Ci's soft voice came from the kitchen: "I simmered this chicken soup for two hours. I added some sour fruits to it. The meat is more tender and the taste is more refreshing."
Wanniang responded from the side: "Miss, you are very skillful. You can make this soup just by your first try."
Jiang Ci smiled, scooped a spoonful and brought it to his lips. He took a sip and his eyes lit up: "Hmm, the soup is rich but not greasy, it's exactly the right taste."
"Then I'll take these out first." Wanniang said as she picked up the plate.
Before he finished speaking, Ji Yang had already swiftly slipped behind the corridor and hid in the shadows on one side.
He looked through the crack in the window lattice and saw Jiang Ci with her hair tied up, wearing an apricot apron and her sleeves rolled up high. She was bending over to get the soup. She looked gentle, with calm and peaceful eyes.
His gaze paused slightly, his expression dazed for a moment, but he quickly sneered, lowered his eyes and whispered:
"What about loss of taste and cold? It's just clichés."
"It's because you admire me, want to gain my sympathy, and find an excuse to spend some time with me."
Ji Yang quietly left through the small door in the backyard, walked around for a while, and then pretended to be calm and walked slowly into the main gate of Dongyang Marquis Mansion.
At this time, in the courtyard, Wanniang was busy setting the dining table with her head down, and did not notice his presence.
Ji Yang coughed lightly on purpose.
Wanniang finally looked up, and upon seeing him, she hurried forward to greet him. "The governor has returned. I've specially prepared a few new dishes today, and I want you to try them. I wonder if the governor is free?"
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