Chapter 81 Chapter 81 "I hope that what she wishes for will come true."...
Chu Yao entered Xie's house and was led by the servants into the main hall to sit down.
The fire in the hall was warm, and the tattered cloak she was wearing was finally taken off, revealing her thin cloth clothes and the slightly protruding bulge of her belly.
Mrs. Xie frowned when she saw her bulging belly. Mr. Xie was also stunned. The two of them looked at each other, as if they hadn't recovered from their shock.
Chu Yao, however, lowered her brows and stood up politely, bowing politely. Her voice was soft and gentle, "Madam, Master, my name is Chu Yao. I'm pregnant...with Jinglang's child."
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent.
Mrs. Xie could hardly stand, and Mr. Xie couldn't even swallow a sip of tea, and his face turned red from coughing.
"You...what did you say?!" Madam Xie clutched her chest and stared at her in disbelief. "Impossible! My son has already become a monk. How could he say such a ridiculous thing?"
Chu Yao's eyes reddened upon hearing this, and she caressed her abdomen with her hand. Her voice was so soft she could almost shed tears, "I know Madam doesn't believe me... but I didn't lie. Back then, he hadn't yet shaved his head, and I was still a maid in the Dongyang Marquis's mansion. We once spent a night of debauchery at the restaurant he was staying at in Fengdu City... but then he said I was of low status and the Xie family wouldn't accept me, so he... he left."
At this point, she lowered her head, as if trying hard to suppress tears. "I never asked him to marry me, nor did I dare to hope for a legitimate marriage... But now that the child is a few months old, I can endure the humiliation and live in seclusion, but I can't let him be left without roots and support."
Madam Xie's face turned grim. She turned to look at Mr. Xie and whispered, "If even one word of this is true, then it is the bloodline of the Xie family."
Mr. Xie said in a deep voice, "How can we know the truth if we don't investigate thoroughly? If the child in her belly is really Erlang's, then it is the flesh and blood of our Xie family. If not... we can't let such a person bring disaster to our family."
Madam Xie nodded and lowered her voice again, "I'll arrange for her to stay first. You send someone to find Erlang. If that doesn't work, tie him up and bring him back. I'll have to ask him thoroughly."
Mr. Xie said with a serious face: "Okay, I'll arrange it right away."
After the discussion, Madam Xie straightened her expression and looked at Chu Yao again with a proper smile on her face: "My Erlang has been away for a long time and has not returned yet. We will discuss everything after he comes back. You have had a hard journey and you are heavy. You should stay here and rest. Just tell us if you need anything."
Chu Yao raised her head, her eyes sparkling with tears, and she responded respectfully, "Thank you, Madam."
Madam Xie ordered the servants to arrange meals and accommodation, and specifically instructed: "Don't neglect her." Looking at Chu Yao's pitiful face again, she felt annoyed, but still suppressed her anger.
Soon, the food was served steaming hot.
Chu Yao sat at the table and took a few quick bites of food as soon as she saw it. She was so hungry that she ate quickly and even drank the soup in one gulp.
Suddenly she realized she had lost her composure, quickly put down her chopsticks, lowered her head and wiped her mouth, then said with a shy look, "Excuse me... It's just that I'm hungry, it doesn't matter. The baby in my belly is also hungry."
Mrs. Xie nodded slightly, forcing a friendly expression on her face, but she was secretly panicking in her heart.
The Xie family was a prestigious Zichuan clan, after all. How could they allow a woman of unknown origin to enter the family simply by claiming to be "pregnant"? With her background and appearance, it would be difficult for her to even enter the family as a concubine.
But Mrs. Xie didn't point it out after all.
She simply turned around and calmly instructed the servants, "Take her to that empty courtyard and have her stay there. And take good care of her. Remember, transfer two of the extra maids from the mansion there."
"yes."
Chu Yao was helped to stand up, bowed slowly, and thanked softly.
Mrs. Xie stood there, watching her figure walking away, her brows furrowed tighter and tighter.
"This Erlang too." She murmured coldly.
Mr. Xie sighed aside: "Whether it is true or not, when Erlang comes back, the truth will be revealed."
In the afternoon of the second day, the slanting sunlight shone on the boats at the ferry crossing at the border of Xiling, creating a thin layer of gold.
Shen Ting'an was wearing black armor, standing alone in front of his horse with a stern expression, and behind him was the Shen family army that was ready to go.
The wind blew across the water, blowing the cloak on his shoulders, but he did not move at all, only lowering his eyes to stare at the object in his hand.
It was a neatly folded piece of paper, its corners a bit frayed. He slowly unfolded it, revealing familiar handwriting, clear and elegant, each stroke beautifully executed. It was Jiang Ci's.
That day, when he returned to Xiling from Fengdu, he had expected Ji Yang to come and exact revenge and punish him. But after a long wait, nothing came. He only received a letter. It contained no rebuke or judgment, only a prescription.
The prescription exactly described the treatment for his stubborn illness. Now, much time has passed, and his asthma has improved by 80%. The pain of breathlessness that used to come with the slightest anger is now completely bearable.
He folded the paper back to its original shape and put it back in his arms. The emotions in his eyes were complex and deep, and no one could see clearly.
At this time, a deputy general rode up and asked in a low voice, "Young General, Xiliang and Beiting have been severely defeated. Should we really... launch an attack on Xiliang now?"
Shen Ting'an didn't answer immediately, but just looked at the other side of the river in thought.
After a long while, he suddenly said calmly, "The Lantern Festival is coming soon."
The deputy general was stunned and didn't react. He asked hesitantly: "Major General, what do you mean..."
Shen Ting'an's eyes turned colder, and he said calmly but without question: "Take down Xiliang for me."
His voice was low and without a trace of ripples, yet it was like the roaring river, overwhelming and intimidating.
=. =
As the days passed, the snow on the top of Zichuan City melted and fell, fell and melted again, and the streets gradually became lively, but the deep courtyard of Jiang Mansion remained silent.
Jiang Ci spent most of his time sitting quietly by the window, not knowing whether he was watching the snow or just daydreaming. Occasionally, he would write, but his strokes were extremely light.
Madam Ji came over and took away some old things that Ji Yang left in the mansion.
That day, it was snowing lightly. Madam Ji came in plain clothes. When she saw Jiang Ci, she didn't speak for a long time. She just sat quietly opposite her, looking at the little tiger amulet in Jiang Ci's hand, her eyes reddening.
"When he was little, he was afraid of the cold too. He couldn't even extinguish the brazier in the house," Madam Ji murmured. "He's been in the army all these years, and he's used to the hardships, but his body can't stand the cold. If you still remember, please save this fox fur for him, even if it's just for a little while."
Jiang Ci looked at her for a long time before speaking: "He is not dead, I believe it."
Madam Ji was silent for a moment, but a stubborn smile appeared on the corner of her lips: "If you think so in your heart, then live well and don't be depressed."
She paused, stood up and straightened her clothes. Before leaving, she looked back at Jiang Ci and said softly, "My son is more tenacious than weeds. If he is still alive, he will always be able to crawl back from the dead."
Since then, Jiang Ci seemed to have gotten much better.
She no longer stayed in bed all day, and occasionally took a walk with her stepmother in the small garden of the mansion. When she saw a newly blooming plum blossom, she would stop to look at it for a while and ask softly, "Does Fengdu have this kind of flower?"
She began to try to regroup, and started to comb her hair, write, keep accounts, and help her father look at the population statistics.
"I want to live," she said to Wanniang, "live well and wait for him to come back."
A few days later, Zichuan welcomed the Lantern Festival.
The streets were festooned with lights, and glass lanterns hung in front of many shops. Children chased each other with rabbit lanterns, and the people were filled with laughter. Teahouses were already telling the legend of the New Year's First Lantern Festival. Sugar painting stalls were steaming, and taverns were selling osmanthus wine and freshly steamed rice cakes at their entrances.
The wind was filled with the faint aroma of shredded sugar and firecrackers. Everything was the same as in previous years, yet it seemed like everything had changed.
Jiang Ci was leaning on the couch, the curtains were half-rolled up, and the sunlight slanted across her plain clothes, making her feel warm.
The door was gently pushed open.
It’s Jiang Lian.
She walked into the room and called out with a smile, "Aci? Today is the Lantern Festival. Would you like to go out for a walk with me and your brother-in-law tonight? I still remember that when you were a child, you loved eating sweet-scented osmanthus wine dumplings."
Jiang Ci smiled softly and laid down on her legs, playing with her hair as he used to. "This is the first Lantern Festival after you and your brother-in-law got married. You two should go. If I go, wouldn't it be an eyesore? I can ask Wan Niang to accompany me."
Jiang Lian reached out and touched her hair, sighing softly, "Seeing that you've been in better spirits these past few days, I'm relieved."
The two sisters chatted for a few more words, and then Jiang Lian got up and left. The room fell silent again.
Jiang Ci sat up, glanced at the darkening sky outside the window, and suddenly, as if deflated, he leaned back onto the couch.
In the evening, Wanniang came in with a cloak in her hand.
As she spread the clothes, she said, "Miss, a friend of yours is here."
"Who is it?" Jiang Ci asked lazily without even raising his eyelids.
"Prince Yan, he said he came back from Youzhou specially to celebrate the Lantern Festival in Zichuan and invites you to go out for a stroll."
Jiang Ci hummed, didn't respond, and just pulled the quilt over his head: "Tell him I'm not going. It's boring, you can take my sister with you."
"Oh." Wanniang sighed, "You are right. The young lady is clinging to the master and won't leave."
Just as he finished speaking, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from outside the window, with a hint of frivolity: "Don't you want to go to the river with me to light lanterns and pray for your lover to come back soon?"
Jiang Ci was stunned.
She slowly crawled out from under the quilt, sat up, looked at the dim sky outside the window, and gritted her teeth after a moment.
"Wan Niang," she said softly but seriously, "go and dress me up."
Wanniang's eyes lit up and she quickly replied "Okay!" Then she prepared a mirror, jewelry and the light red skirt that she had never worn.
Night was slowly falling, and the lights in Zichuan were lighting up one by one.
As the night deepened, the lights in Zichuan City were like a web, lanterns were hung high on both sides of the street, colorful banners swayed gently in the wind, and the sound of flutes and pipes was faint, as if revisiting an old dream.
Jiang Ci sat before the mirror, letting Wanniang secure the last of her silver hairpins. The tassel dangled gently between her brows. She wore a simply tailored orange gown with a curved hem and a dark red cape that matched her lips. As she sat quietly, her expression was subtle and possessed a tranquil beauty.
She stood up, straightened her clothes, and walked out of the house quietly.
Lou Qi, who had been waiting outside the door, heard the noise, looked back, and was suddenly stunned.
Lou Qi was a little dazed for a moment, but after a few moments, he coughed as if nothing had happened, his usual smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, he walked forward, took out a dragon head lantern from behind, and handed it to her.
"It's for you."
Jiang Ci glanced down at the lantern. It wasn't exquisitely crafted, but it was unique and interesting. It was even painted with a few bamboo leaves and star-shaped lights. She took it and said softly, "Thank you. Let's go. I wonder where the King of Yan would like to go today?"
Lou Qi sighed and whispered helplessly, "Haven't I told you many times, just call me by my name."
Jiang Ci looked at him, nodded, and said calmly, "Okay~ Lou Qi."
The two of them walked out of the Jiang Mansion side by side. The streets were already bustling with people. Lou Qi walked beside her, occasionally looking back at Wan Niang who was following behind, to make sure she was not separated by the crowd.
Jiang Ci clutched a lantern, but seemed uninterested in the festive atmosphere. Her gaze swept indifferently over the street vendors selling lantern candies, the laughing and playing children, and the folk dance troupe draped in flowery silk, her expression remaining unchanged.
Lou Qi turned his head to look at her a few times, and found that she was quieter than usual, but her quietness was so distressing.
At that moment, a running child accidentally bumped into Jiang Ci from the side. Lou Qi was quick to react and immediately leaned down to half-crouch, blocking her and holding the child with one hand.
"Don't run so fast." His voice was not loud, but it was full of authority. "There are a lot of people on the Lantern Festival. It would be bad if you bumped into someone."
The child was startled and quickly bowed to him and Jiang Ci, apologized, and ran away with a red face.
Jiang Ci stood there, watching Lou Qi straighten his cloak, and couldn't help but say, "I didn't expect you to have such a friendly side."
Lou Qi grinned and said jokingly, "So you think I'm a ferocious monster. I've always been gentle." Without waiting for her to reply, he turned and looked ahead, "There seems to be a lion dance performance over there, shall we go and check it out?"
Jiang Ci nodded, and the two of them slowly followed the crowd until they arrived at the lion dance stage in the East City Square.
The drums roared, two colorful lions tumbled and leaped, and the audience below applauded continuously.
At this moment, the host's loud voice came from the stage: "Today we will dance the lion, pick flowers, and throw the hydrangea! Whoever grabs the hydrangea will have their wish come true next year!"
The crowd roared and stood on tiptoe to look at the red hydrangea on the stage.
Lou Qi stood still, his eyes never leaving the red ball. Suddenly, drums began to beat, and the red ball was thrown into the air, and several figures leaped out of the crowd.
Lou Qi leaped up with a deft, quick movement, and caught the red ball steadily amidst the exclamations of the crowd. The crowd erupted in applause and cheers, praising him for his "agile skills" and "obviously a trained athlete."
He had no intention of showing off. He just walked straight through the crowd back to Jiang Ci and handed the hydrangea to her.
"You need this more than I do." He spoke in a gentle tone, his eyes clear and frank. "I'm giving it to you as your Lantern Festival gift."
Jiang Ci was slightly startled, took the hydrangea, and said nothing.
She slowly lowered her head, closed her eyes, and made a wish. Everything around her seemed to be quiet, with only the lights swaying gently in the wind.
After making a wish, she raised her hand and threw the hydrangea back into the lion dancer's hands.
The hydrangea was thrown high up again and passed around among the crowd, as if it was delivering her wish to the heavenly palace, so that the gods there could help her fulfill it.
The two of them walked slowly along the long alley with street lights hanging high, and came to the river.
The riverbank was already crowded with people waiting to light lanterns. The water shimmered, and the lights dotted the water like stars. Lou Qi grabbed Jiang Ci's cloak and squeezed forward, finding an empty spot on the riverbank. Wan Niang stood a little further away, giving them some space.
Jiang Ci sat down, took out an orange lantern, and wrote down his wish: "May Ji Yang return soon, safe and sound."
She wrote with great earnestness, and after finishing her pen, she gently placed the lamp in the water. The lamp floated on the surface of the river, gently pushed by the waves, and drifted downstream, just like the thoughts that had been weighing on her mind for so long, drifting away with the lamp.
Lou Qi turned around, facing away from her, and was also writing.
He wrote very quickly, as if he didn't want others to see. After finishing, he stared at the river in a trance for a moment, then slowly lit the lantern, with only one short wish in his mind:
"I hope her wishes come true."
He watched the light drift downstream before turning back.
Jiang Ci asked him what he had written, but he just smiled and said, "It won't work if I tell it to you."
Jiang Ci was puzzled for a moment, and thought that he seemed more serious today than usual.
Just as the two of them were lighting the lanterns one by one, they suddenly heard someone behind them calling, "Miss Jiang."
The voice was clear and direct, and both of them turned around.
It was a man in formal attire, walking steadily. He stepped forward, bowed, and said, "I've been entrusted to deliver a Lantern Festival gift."
Lou Qi narrowed his eyes, took a step forward, and protected Jiang Ci behind him: "Who are you?"
The man remained calm and took out a long, cylindrical scroll that looked like a brocade bag from his back. He held it up with both hands and handed it to Jiang Ci: "Miss, please take a look."
Jiang Ci approached suspiciously, but Lou Qi remained vigilant and didn't retreat an inch. Jiang Ci took the scroll, which was tied with a heavy red ribbon. She untied the ribbon and slowly opened it.
On the scroll was a complete letter of surrender from Xiliang.
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