Chapter 27 Chapter 27 "Sister-in-law, I wonder if you are willing...
Ji Yang felt a pang of embarrassment upon hearing this, like a guilty thief. He paused, then coughed calmly, "I... I just got here."
Before he finished speaking, he bent down and put the picture albums he had placed on the ground into his arms. He moved so quickly as if he was afraid of being seen.
Ji Xu smiled, his eyes clear and bright. He looked at Jiang Ci and said softly, "It's getting late. I need to take my medicine and rest. Take care, both of you. I won't see you off."
Jiang Ci followed Ji Yang. The summer night breeze blew through the corridor, making the lights flicker slightly. The two of them walked toward the courtyard, one in front of the other, neither speaking a word. Their footsteps were slow and dull on the blue brick floor.
The atmosphere was somewhat awkward.
Jiang Ci walked seriously with her head down, when suddenly the figure in front of her stopped. She had no time to react and bumped into Ji Yang's back.
"...hiss." She groaned softly and raised her head, just in time to meet Ji Yang's gaze. Her brows were slightly frowned, as if she wanted to say something but stopped herself.
Jiang Ci's heart tightened. He thought he was going to say something harsh about his own decision-making, but he was silent for a moment before speaking out, "There are only a few people in the mansion who can talk to Big Brother, and Afan likes you. I'm...very grateful that you're willing to spend more time with him and Big Brother."
He spoke briefly, but not as cold and heartless as usual. Although his tone was calm, it contained a restraint and hesitation that he was not used to expressing.
Jiang Ci was stunned. Before he could respond, Ji Yang turned around and continued walking, as if he was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he would take back his words.
She stood there, looking at his calm and stern back, and suddenly felt an inexplicable pity in her heart.
This man, tricked into being a hostage in Xiliang at the age of fourteen, spent three years alone in a foreign land. When he returned, his father had passed away and his eldest brother was seriously ill. He single-handedly supported the entire Dongyang, shouldering the burdens of countless troops, the people of the region, and the turmoil of the country.
But along the way, no one asked him whether he was happy or not.
With light footsteps, he walked back to the courtyard and turned towards the study as usual.
"Governor, please wait a moment." She called him from the corridor.
Ji Yang stopped, turned around and looked at her, his eyes as calm as the night.
Jiang Ci trotted back into the house, took the bamboo tube from the desk, and walked out quickly.
She ran a few steps forward and handed the rolled-up bamboo tube to him. "I've drawn the map. Just think of it as wishful thinking. If you really can't use it, it doesn't matter if you throw it away."
After saying this, she bowed her head, turned around and left without even looking up.
She turned around and took two steps when she heard a slightly stiff whisper behind her: "...Thank you."
She paused slightly, and the corners of her mouth slowly raised into a faint arc.
It was late at night and the dew was heavy, but the candle in the study was still burning.
Ji Yang changed out of his outer robe, sat at the desk, pondered for a moment, picked up his pen and wrote a secret letter. After writing, he sealed the letter into the envelope.
"Yue Bai." He called out.
Yue Bai immediately pushed the door open and came in: "I'm here."
Ji Yang handed him the letter, his tone unquestionable: "Tell someone to prepare the horses, and you will set out tonight and deliver it to Liangzhou at full speed."
"Yes." Yue Bai took the letter, but couldn't help asking, "Commander-in-Chief, what happened in Liangzhou?"
"Liangzhou now relies on Dongyang for its survival. I have already sent Chen Liang to garrison there, so there is nothing to worry about." Ji Yang said calmly, his tone neither hurried nor slow. "Give this to him and ask him to collect all the items listed in the letter and send them to Fengdu as soon as possible."
Yue Bai nodded in agreement, but still couldn't help but say something: "Commander-in-chief... what exactly does the letter ask for? It's so urgent, it can't be..."
Before he finished speaking, Ji Yang frowned, glanced at him, and said in a cold tone: "Just do what I told you to do. Why are you talking so much nonsense?"
Yue Bai shrank his neck, closed his mouth, and nodded obediently: "Yes, I'll do it right away." After that, he hurried away with the letter.
Ji Yang watched him leave, his eyes fell on the bamboo tube and the map on the table. His fingertips tapped the table lightly, his expression difficult to discern.
The next morning, the sky was gloomy, dark clouds like ink pressed down from the sky, and a faint smell of damp rain could be heard in the air.
Shen Ru'an had already ordered her maid to pack her bags. She stood alone in the corridor, looking up at the sky. A dark cloud slowly drifted in from the distance, pressing the sky down. Her eyes were dim.
She changed into plain clothes and went to Ji Xu's courtyard in person.
Ji Xu had been ill recently and was sitting in the courtyard, wrapped in a thin blanket, basking in the sun. Seeing her walk in, his eyes no longer had the familiar warmth and gentleness of the past. He spoke calmly:
"When will my cousin return to Xiling?"
As if she didn't notice his cold tone, Shen Ru'an calmly sat down, poured herself a cup of tea, and chuckled, "The taste of this tea is not as fragrant as before."
Ji Xu lowered his eyes and responded, "I am no longer the same person I used to be."
The sky was dark, clouds covered the ground, and there was a coldness in the words of both men.
Shen Ru'an gently put down the teacup and said in a gentle tone, "I'm afraid it's going to rain today, so I can't leave for now. Cousin Zixu, you and I have known each other for many years. After this separation, I'm afraid I won't be back. We probably won't meet again."
She paused, her tone lowering. "Tonight, I'd like to hold a small banquet in your courtyard as a farewell for myself. By the way, I'd also like to invite my second cousin's wife to join me... so I can use this opportunity to apologize to her."
Although her words were gentle, her intentions were clear. Ji Xu looked at her and didn't answer immediately. He knew that Shen Ru'an was scheming, but since she had already said she would hold a farewell banquet, and he was there, there would be no trouble. He couldn't do anything to Jiang Ci either. After thinking for a moment, he nodded: "Okay."
Shen Ru'an smiled, nodded slightly, and said in a soft voice: "Thank you, cousin Zixu, for your help."
She stood up to say goodbye, and as she turned to leave, the smile gradually faded into the darkness in her eyes.
After returning to her own courtyard, Shen Ru'an pushed open the wooden window, sat in front of the dressing table, took out a small white porcelain bottle, and looked at it quietly.
Late at night a few days ago, she had quietly left the Dongyang Marquis Mansion and walked through the back alley to meet Qingyu from Yunhetang. Qingyu was an old friend she had met in Fengdu when she was young. He had wandered the streets in his early years and now mingled with the underworld.
That night, the moonlight was dim. As soon as Qingyu appeared, Shen Ru'an stepped forward and whispered, "I need you to help me make a medicine." His voice was as soft as a mosquito, but it was filled with an urgency that could not be refused.
Qingyu frowned and asked, "What medicine?"
Shen Ru'an came closer and whispered a few words in his ear, his tone was calm, but his expression was so cold that it made people's spines chill.
At this moment, the porcelain bottle was lying quietly in her palm, the bottle was cold, as if it condensed all her obsessions.
She summoned her personal maid and solemnly handed her a secret letter: "Leave the city before me and return to Xiling as soon as possible. Be sure to personally deliver this letter to my father. There must be no mistake."
The maidservant carefully hid the letter in her bosom and replied, "I understand."
Shen Ru'an looked at the low-hanging dark clouds outside the window, his fingertips slowly stroking the porcelain vase, his eyes reflecting the scenery of the distant mountains under the pressure of rain, his expression indifferent.
When Shen Ru'an entered the courtyard where Jiang Ci lived, it was midday, the sun was bright but not glaring. The osmanthus trees in the courtyard swayed slightly, and a fragrant breeze blew.
At this time, inside the house, Wanniang was sitting in front of the window embroidering clothes, Yinshuang was busy dealing with the residue after boiling medicine, and Jiang Ci was leaning in the pavilion, wearing a light plain dress, holding a thread-bound book in his hands, with a calm expression.
Yin Shuang was the first to see the figure at the door. Her expression froze, and she whispered, "Miss, your cousin is here."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ci slowly raised his eyes, his gaze swept across the green shadows in front of the pavilion, and fell on the familiar figure.
Shen Ru'an was dressed in a light blue dress, dressed appropriately, with a gentle expression, looking no different from before. She was the first to speak: "I wonder if my second cousin-in-law can lend me a hand to talk."
Jiang Ci's eyes were calm, and he simply said, "Yin Shuang is not an outsider. If you have anything to say, you can come forward and tell me."
Shen Ru'an nodded slightly, lifted her skirt and walked into the pavilion, sitting opposite Jiang Ci with elegant and calm movements.
She first glanced at the surrounding arrangements, then spoke gently, "Second cousin, you are much smarter than I thought. You broke into my room that night, so you must have known everything. You clearly found evidence, but you didn't tell my second cousin. Why?"
Jiang Ci flipped through the pages of the book and said calmly, "When have I ever been to your room? I'm afraid you've got the wrong person."
Shen Ru'an smiled and said softly, "Sister-in-law, you don't have to pretend to be confused. I'm not here to argue with you. I won't keep you in suspense, and you don't have to pretend to be confused with me."
She raised her head slightly, her eyes falling on the osmanthus tree in the courtyard. "This courtyard has remained unchanged since I was a child. I remember when I was a child, my second cousin always loved to sit under this tree to enjoy the cool air."
Jiang Ci didn't want to hear her reminiscing about the past, so he interrupted her and said, "Since Miss Cousin has mentioned this, why not just say it directly?"
She turned back to look at Jiang Ci, an unfathomable light flashing in her eyes. "Originally, I didn't know who entered my house. At that time, I thought you were dead, and wondered if it was cousin Zixu who sent someone to investigate secretly."
"But you don't know that I'm used to using a special kind of incense. It has a very unique scent that stays on clothes for seven days. That day when you were rescued, I smelled the scent on your clothes and knew it was you."
Jiang Ci slowly closed the book, his expression clear, his eyes looking directly at Shen Ru'an: "It's me, I went in. I really want to clear my name and find evidence that you framed me."
"But when the governor returned that day, your sister took the blame for everything. The evidence points to her. Now that my innocence has been restored, what's the point in bringing up the past and accusing you of that?"
Shen Ru'an looked at Jiang Ci, his expression suddenly softened, and his tone was somewhat frank: "You are quite insightful. Yes, I did it."
"I'm leaving anyway. Now that we've spoken frankly, there's nothing more to hide."
She paused, her tone lighter, "I like cousin Zixu. I've liked him since childhood. For him, I've broken off several engagements and turned down many other marriages. But now, my fate with him is over, and there's no reason for me to stay."
"It's just that—before I leave, I want to hold a small banquet in his courtyard tonight. Firstly, to apologize for your sin, and secondly, I want to say goodbye to my cousin Zixu."
She looked at Jiang Ci with sincere eyes: "Sister-in-law, I wonder if you are willing to help me?"
Jiang Ci looked at her, his expression indistinguishable from sadness or joy. Her tone was sincere, without any deception, unlike her usual pretense. Now that she was about to leave, the storm had subsided, and Jiang Ci didn't bother to dwell on it any further.
She nodded gently: "Okay, I agree to you."
Shen Ru'an smiled and stood up: "Thank you, sister-in-law."
After saying that, he bowed and turned to leave.
The night was dark and the rain was drizzling. A spring thunder rolled over the city walls of Fengdu, and the rain gradually got heavier.
Jiang Ci, dressed in plain clothes and holding an oil-paper umbrella, walked alone through the corridor dappled with flower shadows and came to Ji Xu's courtyard with the sound of rain.
The lights in the corridor were dim, and Shen Ru'an had been waiting in the corridor for a long time. When she saw her figure appear, she smiled and came forward, holding an umbrella to lead the way for her: "Second cousin, please."
Jiang Ci nodded lightly and put the umbrella away at the door.
The lights in the hall were bright. Ji Xu was already sitting in the main seat, wearing light-colored casual clothes and with a gentle expression. When he saw Jiang Ci come in, he just nodded slightly as a greeting.
Shen Ru'an walked slowly to the table and tapped the table lightly with his hand. "Today's banquet is all from the kitchen in Cousin Zixu's courtyard. To reassure you, even this pot of wine was taken from the cellar of Dongyang Marquis's Mansion and opened in front of Cousin Zixu."
Jiang Ci said nothing, only glancing at the dishes on the table. Ji Xu raised his hand to interrupt, "We don't doubt you. Since this is a farewell banquet, don't say such meaningless words."
Shen Ru'an chuckled when he heard this: "I don't want to spoil the fun either."
She sat back down, picked up a wine glass, filled it, stood up and raised it to Jiang Ci: "This glass is for my second cousin. I was wrong about what happened before, I apologize to you."
After she finished speaking, she raised her head and drank it all in one gulp, looking calm.
Jiang Ci looked at her, silent for a moment, and did not refuse. He just picked up the wine glass, nodded slightly, and drank it all in one gulp.
Shen Ru'an turned to Ji Xu again, his smile deepening: "This cup is for cousin Zixu, and for the friendship we shared in the past. After all these years, I will not bother you again."
Ji Xu lowered his eyes, twirled the wine glass between his fingers, said nothing more, just sighed softly and drank the wine in one gulp.
After several rounds of drinking, the food gradually cooled. Shen Ru'an seemed to be deliberately delaying time and talked about the past with Ji Xu:
"Do you remember? When I was little, I was climbing a tree to pick fruit and I slipped. You were the one who caught me." Her eyes drifted, as if the memory was right before her eyes. "I was hiding in your arms, my heart beating so fast... From that moment on, I knew that the best years of my life were all given to me by you."
She spoke seriously, Ji Xu lowered his head and drank silently, and when he heard Shen Ru'an talking about his childhood, he only felt sad. The girl who was so bright and innocent back then, now was like a snake and scorpion, making him want to escape.
Ji Xu felt his head was a little swollen and his body was a little hot, but he thought it was because he hadn't drunk alcohol for a long time.
Jiang Ci listened quietly with a calm expression, only occasionally raising his glass to socialize.
Before long, the pot of wine was empty. Jiang Ci felt the alcohol was getting to him, frowned slightly, and whispered, "I can't drink any more."
Shen Ru'an smiled and waved his hand. Seeing Jiang Ci's face flushed, he said, "If you don't want to drink, then don't drink. I'm not an unreasonable person."
She stood up, as if to tell the maid, "I'll ask someone to make two bowls of soup to sober you up."
After she finished speaking, she walked out of the door, but when she was about to close it, she paused, suddenly took out a copper lock from her sleeve, and locked the door with a click of her hand.
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