Chapter 25 Chapter 25 “Your men see me as a thief…
At the gate, the setting sun cast a pale shadow on the stone steps. Jiang Ci stood before the door, her sleeves ruffling in the breeze, her gaze fixed quietly on Ji Qiu before her.
She spoke slowly, her voice revealing an unconcealable weariness and calmness: "I know there's someone else who truly wants to harm me. You're just an accomplice being manipulated."
Ji Qiu lowered his head, his eyes red, and tugged at the edge of his clothes with his fingertips. He choked out a sob and said, "What's the point of saying this now?"
Jiang Ci didn't ask any further questions. He simply changed the subject and looked at her intently, "I want to know, when you clearly had the opportunity to poison me that day, why did you only use the fake death drug?"
Ji Qiu raised his head upon hearing this, his expression surprised, yet his eyes were calm. "I... I couldn't bring myself to do it. I couldn't bear to watch a good person die in my hands, so I changed the medicine."
Jiang Ci was silent for a moment, and without saying anything else, he simply stepped aside and said, "Let's go."
The guard took Ji Qiu away. Jiang Ci did not look back, but turned around and stepped into the door.
In the evening, the lights in Ji Yang Courtyard began to light up and dusk fell.
Jiang Ci returned to his room, only to feel the accumulated fatigue of the past few days finally rushing up at once, making even his steps feel heavy.
Wanniang came out, her tone somewhat relieved: "Miss, the water is ready. You can finally sleep well tonight. Yinshuang is going to the kitchen to make you a midnight snack."
Jiang Ci nodded, his eyes showing his fatigue: "Let's take a break first."
The hot water was swirling and the wooden barrel was filled with mist.
Jiang Ci leaned against the barrel and closed her eyes, but her mind was filled with the events of the past two months: the difficulties she encountered when entering the city, the near-death experience on her wedding day, the forged letter, the cold and dampness in prison, the burning pain after the poison entered her throat, Ji Qiu, Chen Ru'an, Ji Yang... all of these events came to her mind one after another, disturbing her and making her upset.
She raised her hands to cover her eyes, as if this could block out all the troubles.
On the other side, the study was dimly lit with candles and piles of paper rolls.
Ji Yang sat alone at his desk, examining the tiger amulet in his hand for a long time. Suddenly, his childhood memories came to mind.
At that time, he was always afraid of the dark and would sneak into the room of Marquis Dongyang in the middle of the night.
Instead of getting angry, the Marquis of Dongyang laughed, patted his head, and said, "A man should be upright. How can you go to the battlefield if you are afraid of the dark?" Then he casually took out a tiger-head pillow and handed it to him, "If you are afraid, just hold it when you sleep. It is your comrade in arms and will accompany you in the face of all odds."
He used that tiger-head pillow for many years. Finally, the fabric was worn white and the edges were frayed, so he stuffed it under the old cabinet.
He had never mentioned this matter before, but he didn't expect that Jiang Ci saw it.
Ji Yang gently stroked the cloth talisman with his fingertips, a complex look flashing across his eyes. He was silent for a long time, and finally put the talisman away, calling out in a calm tone, "Yue Bai."
Someone came in from outside the door: "I'm here."
"Take a shower and change clothes."
"yes."
The next morning, just as the sky was breaking, the flowers and leaves in the yard were covered with morning dew.
Ji Yang got up early, changed his clothes, picked up the medicine that Yue Bai had picked up from the table, walked out of the study, and happened to meet Yin Shuang who was going to the kitchen. He handed the medicine to Yin Shuang.
He instructed calmly, "Take it once before bed, once a day, according to the doctor's prescription, and drink it on time."
Yin Shuang took it with both hands and nodded quickly: "I'll remember this."
Ji Yang glanced at her and said in a gentle but unquestionable tone: "She is still weak and can't make any more mistakes. You all should be careful."
After saying this, he straightened his clothes, turned around and walked out the door. Without the sound of horse hooves, he was already heading straight to the Governor-General's Office.
The sun was shining brightly that day, and the cicadas chirped intermittently outside the window.
Jiang Ci slept soundly until almost dusk. Lying on the couch, her features were gentle and still, as if lost in a dream. It wasn't until a ray of golden light slanted in, illuminating the tip of her nose, that she frowned slightly and slowly opened her eyes.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she looked a little confused. It took her a moment to come back to her senses. Looking around at the familiar yet quiet house, she suddenly thought she was back to yesterday.
She sat up, her hair wet with sweat, and even her underwear stuck to her body.
At this moment, the door was gently pushed open, and Wanniang came in carrying a bowl of rock sugar mung bean soup. When she saw that she had woken up, a smile immediately appeared on her face: "Miss, are you awake?"
She put down the soup cup and walked forward quickly. Seeing that Jiang Ci's forehead was covered with sweat, she quickly took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the wetness from her temples and neck.
Jiang Ci's voice still carried the hoarseness of someone who had just woken up, and he slowly spoke: "How long have I been sleeping?"
"The girl slept very soundly," Wanniang said softly while wiping her sweat, "From last night till now, it's been a whole day and night."
Jiang Ci leaned against the soft pillow, smiled slightly, and said softly: "It's really time to get a good night's sleep."
She closed her eyes, her eyelashes casting a light shadow under her eyes. This sleep temporarily shut out the past disturbances in her dreams, and also slowly let go of the heavy depression in her heart.
Jiang Ci had just put down the bowl of mung bean soup in his hand when he heard a burst of footsteps outside the door.
"Be careful, don't fall." Yin Shuang had just reminded her when Ji Yunfan ran in happily.
He held something carefully in his arms, and looked at Jiang Ci with sparkling eyes. He ran to the bed, stretched out a small hand, holding a grasshopper made of green grass, and said as if offering a treasure:
"Sister Jiang, you're finally back. Daddy said you weren't feeling well and forbade me to disturb you, but I missed you so much. I asked Brother Baiyang to fold this grasshopper for me and give it to you to cheer you up."
Jiang Ci was stunned for a moment, then curled up the corners of his lips, took the grasshopper, carefully held it and looked at it for a few seconds, then smiled at him and said, "I like it very much, Afan, thank you."
Seeing her smile, Ji Yunfan also smiled like a flower: "Sister Jiang, I won't bother you anymore. I'll come and play with you when you feel better."
"Okay." Jiang Ci stroked his soft head with a gentle smile. The little guy left the yard with brisk steps, turning back and waving at her as he ran.
The room returned to silence.
Jiang Ci looked down at the grasshopper, his eyes softened for a moment, then became calm.
She slowly said, "Yin Shuang, please help me prepare the pen and ink."
Yin Shuang was packing up her teacups when she heard this and was startled: "Miss, what are you doing?"
Jiang Ci raised his eyes and said calmly, "We need to draw a new map."
Yin Shuang's brows twitched, and she hurriedly advised, "The governor specifically told us this morning that you were weak and wanted us to take good care of you, not to overwork you. You've only just come back to rest for a day, and you're already drawing. Can your body handle it?"
Jiang Ci's fingers gently stroked the grasshopper, and he paused for a moment, "Did the governor say that?"
"Hmm... that's probably what I mean," Yin Shuang curled her lips. "You know what I mean, but don't expect the governor to say nice things."
Jiang Ci smiled softly, a subtle warmth in his eyes: "I understand. You go and prepare it. If I get tired, I will rest."
Yin Shuang hesitated for a moment and had to do as he was told.
Soon, the pen, ink, paper and inkstone were ready, the sunlight outside the window was bright, and the chirping of cicadas in the courtyard gradually rose.
Jiang Ci sat at the desk, lowered his eyes and concentrated, his mind quickly recalling every water vein and every terrain he had drawn previously.
Her eyelashes drooped, her expression focused and calm, the pen in her hand moved across the paper, the lines were fine and neat, outlining the mountains and canals.
There was not much business to do in the Military Governor's Office today, so Ji Yang left early after finishing the last document.
He rode alone, slowly walking along the broad street. Before his eyes was the bustling crowd of Fengdu City in summer, but in his ears echoed the words the doctor had said last night - "Madam, your health is already weak, and you need to rest now."
Jiang Ci was so weak now because of the cold and poisoning he had contracted in prison. But the flood control issue was urgent, and that map was crucial. Although he had Jiang Ci's old notes, he needed her to draw a detailed map of the location and sequence of the waterway renovation before he could begin. This would save him a lot of trouble.
Ji Yang frowned slightly.
He was always decisive and calm, but for the first time, he hesitated before speaking. Knowing she hadn't recovered yet, if he brought up the painting now, wouldn't she think he only cared about using her, not her suffering?
He gripped the reins tightly, and the sound of horse hooves slowly pounded the cobblestones of the long afternoon street.
Suddenly, a flash of color caught his eye from the corner of the street: a jewellery shop sign with gilded characters. Ji Yang reined in his horse and glanced at the open wooden door.
He suddenly remembered something. Before the wedding, he had looked at Jiang Ci's birthday. It turned out that her birthday month... was the third day of August.
Ji Yang stopped on the horse for a moment, but finally got off and walked into the jewelry store.
When the shopkeeper saw him, he immediately came forward and greeted him with a respectful smile: "Oh, Commander, you are a rare guest. Are you looking for some fine jewelry for Madam Ji? Our shop has just received a batch of pearls and jade from Nanling."
Ji Yang glanced at him calmly, without answering, and asked in a low voice: "What are the most popular styles at the moment?"
The boss immediately called out to his waiter, who immediately brought out a tray of intricate gold jewelry, adorned with pearls and jadeite. The shopkeeper enthusiastically introduced, "These are the most popular with noble ladies. This phoenix hairpin, inlaid with southern gold and eastern pearls, is our shop's top-selling item."
Ji Yang glanced at the intricate and intricate gold hairpins and jade pendants, but shook his head: "Too vulgar, too similar."
He said calmly, "Can it be customized?"
"Of course," the shopkeeper agreed quickly. "But you have to decide on the design. Do you want the governor to draw the pattern himself, or do you want us to design it for you?"
Ji Yang pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I'll decide for myself. I'll have someone send the blueprints and the deposit over later."
"Okay, Governor, don't worry. We will use the best materials and the best craftsmanship."
Ji Yang nodded, turned and walked out.
In the sunlight, he squinted his eyes and climbed onto the horse again.
The horses' hooves kicked up dust, and the streets were filled with noise, but for some reason, he gradually felt a softness in his heart that he had never felt before.
When I returned home, the sunset glow in the sky had faded, and the night was as dark as ink, staining the eaves.
The lights in the courtyard were already on, and the breeze carried the scent of gardenias. Ji Yang stepped inside, and Yue Bai came to greet him. Before he could say anything, Ji Yang raised his hand to stop him, saying, "Talk to you later."
He paused, and happened to catch a glimpse of an open window on the side of the courtyard from the corner of his eye. The moonlight fell into it, and the candlelight flickered slightly, illuminating a slender figure.
That is Jiang Ci's room.
She was sitting at her desk, concentrating on every stroke of her pen, seemingly unaware that someone was watching her not far away.
Ji Yang frowned slightly, and said in a low voice: "Didn't I tell her to have a good rest? What is she doing there?" There was a hint of impatience in his tone, but his feet unconsciously moved closer to the window.
Standing outside the window and looking inside in the light, I saw a thin woman with a slight turn of her wrist, holding the pen like water. She lowered her head and concentrated, carefully tracing the water veins and ditches on the drawing.
Suddenly, she paused, as if her chest felt tight. She gently covered her heart with her other hand, her brow furrowed, as if she was trying to hold on. Just as she looked up to breathe a sigh of relief, her eyes met the tall figure outside the window.
She was startled and almost stood up.
"Governor..." she called softly.
Ji Yang's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes fell on the map. After a moment's silence, he spoke, "Didn't the doctor tell you to get some rest?"
Jiang Ci paused, then lowered his head again, speaking softly, "I heard the flood control map was accidentally lost. Flood control is imminent, and there's not much I can do, so I thought I'd try my best."
She didn't look up, nor did she ask for praise, she just stated the facts lightly.
Ji Yang's voice suddenly turned cold: "Who said we have to use your map? We can still cure it without your map. Do you think I have no one else in Dongyang and need a woman like you to help?"
His tone was indifferent, as if he was trying to hide some kind of panic, or as if he was deliberately denying something. "Besides, whoever is so talkative told you about this, I would definitely not let him off easily if I knew."
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around and was about to leave, his steps were decisive, as if he didn't want to stay any longer.
Jiang Ci watched his departing figure and did not say anything to keep him. He just withdrew his gaze, lowered his head and continued to paint, but a hint of sarcasm and helplessness appeared at the corner of his lips.
"Who will come and tell me?" she murmured. "Your men are wary of me like a thief."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
