Chapter 15 Chapter 15 "You bastard, why are you pretending to be so arrogant? ...
Ji Yang's expression remained unchanged, but he showed a hint of impatience. He frowned slightly, reached out and pressed his solar plexus, and said perfunctorily, "Well... I still have to read the memorials later, so I happen to have some free time right now."
Before he finished speaking, Jiang Ci walked out of the kitchen, holding a soup bowl in his hand. He was still wearing an apron, and there was a hint of warmth from the kitchen between his eyebrows.
She smiled softly, her tone gentle, "Thank you very much for your guidance, Commander-in-Chief. I already told my mother about your suggestion yesterday. I've changed my method today, and I'd like to ask you to give it a try."
Ji Yang pursed his lips slightly, walked towards the dining table with his hands behind his back, and looked absent-minded: "Okay, let's try again today."
Having said that, the look in his eyes that casually glanced at the soup bowl when he sat down was more focused than anyone else's.
The food had just been prepared and Ji Yang had just picked up his chopsticks when a chuckle suddenly came from outside the yard.
"I was wondering why the Lord was in such a hurry to leave his duties and rush back home today. It turns out that..."
Before he finished speaking, several people turned around and saw Lu Linchuan standing in the corridor with a half-open folding fan and a smile on his face.
Ji Yang's expression changed, and he glanced at him lightly. His tone became serious, and he immediately interrupted him and said, "I have a few memorials that need to be reviewed overnight and sent out early tomorrow morning, so I will return home early."
Lu Linchuan looked at the neatly arranged dining table beside him, then at the smiling woman in front of the table. He tapped his palm lightly with his fan bone, and the smile in his eyes became even more intense, but he did not expose her. He just pretended to be innocent and said:
"If that's the case, I've arrived just in time. My Lord, will you not invite me to sit down and dine with you?"
Jiang Ci spoke first, his tone a little colder than usual when speaking to Ji Yang. His words were clear and gentle, yet carried a distinct sense of distance:
"Since Sima Lu has asked, how can we refuse him? Yinshuang, go get some more bowls and chopsticks."
After she finished speaking, she turned around and poured the stewed chicken soup into bowls, placing them in front of Ji Yang and Lu Linchuan respectively.
Lu Linchuan wasn't polite either. He took a seat at the side of the table with a smile, glanced at the delicious side dishes, picked up a piece with his chopsticks, and said with a smile, "We've been fighting outside for many years, and we've been missing a hot meal. Most of the time, we just have to make do with a few mouthfuls of dry food. Today, I can taste the Madam's handmade food in the lord's mansion. It's really rare."
As he spoke, he gave Ji Yang a meaningful look and said in a teasing tone, "My lord, while you are in Fengdu, you must cherish this peaceful place."
Ji Yang glanced at him coldly: "Shut up."
Lu Linchuan tactfully stopped smiling, lowered his head to eat seriously, and stopped interrupting.
On the side, Jiang Ci was also silently picking up some food. Suddenly, she bit into a chili pepper. The spiciness quickly spread from the tip of her tongue. She frowned slightly, but forced herself to hold it back and swallowed it.
She remembered that she had previously told Ji Yang that she had a "poor sense of taste". If she revealed her mistake now, wouldn't all her efforts be wasted?
The spiciness surged, her face quickly flushed, her eyes slightly moist. She coughed, then hurriedly lowered her head, covering her face with the corner of her sleeve to hide the strange feeling, and spoke with forced calmness:
"I... am sorry."
Ji Yang glanced at her, his eyes fell on her bowl, he took a closer look, then turned to the dishes on the plate, and immediately understood.
He whispered to Yue Bai, "It's rare for Sima Lu to come to the mansion today. Go get some pear juice and pour a glass for everyone."
Not long after, Yue Bai brought the pear juice and poured it into the cups one by one. Jiang Ci immediately picked up the cup and drank it in small sips, which slightly relieved the spiciness.
Lu Linchuan watched the silent exchange between the two of them, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up, and finally he couldn't help laughing out loud.
Ji Yang raised his eyebrows and asked him coldly, "What are you laughing at?"
Lu Linchuan waved his fan and replied with a smile: "Nothing, I was just thinking...there are always mountains higher than the other."
His tone was vague, but his meaning was clear.
Ji Yang ignored him, just withdrew his gaze and continued to eat with his head down.
It was late at night and the candlelight flickered in the study.
Ji Yang was bent over his desk, reading a paper with a focused expression. Light footsteps were heard outside the door, and Yue Bai pushed it open and walked in. After a bow, he placed something respectfully on the desk.
"My Lord, I found this near the flood in the Second Madam's courtyard."
Ji Yang looked up and saw that it was a red rope tassel covered with dirt and ash. The originally delicate knot had been dimmed and broken by the flames.
His fingertips paused, and he slowly picked up the bunch of ears of corn, his expression suddenly becoming serious.
"This knot... belongs to Afan." He spoke in a low voice, his brows furrowed. "Where was he... that day?"
Yue Bai nodded, "I asked a few maids, and they said they saw the young master playing nearby this afternoon." Then, his expression became more cautious, "I have secretly investigated as you requested, and the fire in the Second Madam's courtyard was not staged by her, but was indeed set by someone else."
"Also, the palace has always kept a record of how much kerosene was used. The date, person, and quantity were all recorded. When I checked the records, I found that a few days ago, Zhu Niang from the eldest son's courtyard came in person to collect a pot of kerosene."
Ji Yang's eyes suddenly darkened, the tassel in his hand tightened, and a cold look appeared between his brows.
Seeing his gloomy expression, Yue Bai paused for a moment before cautiously probing: "I personally checked, and there's no open fire in the eldest son's courtyard... My lord, I dare not speak rashly, but if it's really connected to Afan..."
Before he finished speaking, Ji Yang suddenly raised his eyes and said in a cold voice: "Impossible."
He spoke each word with great clarity, his tone firm and unwavering, "Ah Fan isn't that kind of child. He's eight years old, and he knows right from wrong. He would never do something so absurd."
He paused, then gently placed the tassel back on the table. The coldness in his eyes remained, but with a hint of confusion and doubt:
"But how did this object end up near the fire scene, and why did it appear in that place? We must thoroughly investigate."
"Keep investigating. Perhaps someone is acting in his name."
"I understand." Yue Bai clasped his fists and stepped back.
Amidst the flickering candlelight, Ji Yang sat at the table, holding the smoky red tassel in his hand, and remained silent for a long time.
At the same time, Shen Ru'an, wearing a light silk dress and holding a yellowed copy of "Taiping Qingyu", walked to Ji Xu's courtyard. Moonlight shone on the swaying bamboo shadows. She walked to Ji Xu's bedroom, raised her hand and knocked on the door, speaking softly:
"Brother Zixu, I've read this far today, and the moral is obscure and I don't quite understand... I wonder if you could bother me for a moment and give me some guidance."
The house was quiet and silent.
Shen Ru'an frowned. She knew Ji Xu had always been used to a quiet life. There weren't many servants in the mansion, and even fewer waiting staff in the courtyard. She was about to knock on the door again when she heard footsteps at the courtyard gate.
Ji Yunfan and Zhu Niang returned from outside. It was getting dark and the lights in the courtyard were not all on, making the light and shadows dim.
The young master saw the woman leaning against the door from afar. Her figure was slender and her back was graceful. He was delighted and thought it was Sister Jiang Ci. With a childlike heart, he immediately let go of Zhu Niang's hand, ran forward quickly, and hugged Shen Ru'an's waist.
"Sister Jiang!" he called happily.
Shen Ru'an was caught off guard and screamed at the sudden movement, nearly dropping her book. She turned and lowered her head, only to be met with a pair of clear, bright eyes. The face was exactly like Ji Xu's, except for the childish look.
Her face darkened and she suddenly pried open his little hand that was clasped on her skirt.
Ji Yunfan was also stunned. He looked carefully in the dim light of the courtyard and saw that it was not Jiang Ci. His face changed immediately: "You are not Sister Jiang."
Shen Ru'an looked at this childish face that had some of Ji Xu's charm, and felt an indescribable displeasure in his heart, but he still suppressed his tone and asked gently: "Afan, do you know where your father went?"
He looked into Shen Ru'an's eyes, and for some reason he felt a chill on his back. He took a step back, without saying a word, his eyes filled with instinctive rejection.
Zhu Niang stepped forward at the right time, stood in front of Ji Yunfan, and said gently: "Young Master, this is your cousin, Miss Shen Ru'an."
Ji Yunfan then reluctantly bowed and whispered, "Greetings, cousin."
After that, he pulled Zhu Niang's sleeve and whispered, "I want to go back to the house."
Zhu Niang smiled apologetically and said to Shen Ru'an, "The eldest son went to the ancestral hall today. If you want to see him, you should go to the backyard."
Shen Ru'an's face remained expressionless, he nodded slowly, with a dignified smile on his lips: "Thank you for your help."
When the two walked away, her smile instantly cooled. She lowered her eyes to look at the hem of her skirt that was wrinkled by the child. Her eyes darkened. As she turned to leave, she cursed in a low voice:
"Little beast."
It was a cold night, the moon was bright and everything was silent.
Ji Yang tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. When he closed his eyes, the old dream kept coming back to his mind. The three years he had spent there haunted him like a nightmare.
He dreamed of that midsummer, in the Xiliang camp, the sun was scorching the sky and the ground was as hot as an iron.
He was shirtless, with thick iron chains around his neck and wrists. His body was sunburned and covered in sweat and blood.
He was forced to carry logs on the muddy ground at the edge of the military camp, carrying heavy wooden beams, and walking across the gravel and scalding ground with stuttering steps.
The sun was scorching, my ears were buzzing, my lips were dry, and my throat felt like it was on fire.
Every time he took a breath, his chest felt like it was burning. The laughter of the Xiliang soldiers beside him filled the air. Someone slowly walked up to him with a bowl of water, held it in front of him, and suddenly poured it onto the ground.
"Want to drink? Lick it yourself." The voice of ridicule erupted from the life.
He didn't move, just lowered his eyes and panted softly. The man cursed again: "You son of a bitch, why are you pretending to be so stubborn?"
He raised his eyes and stared at the other person coldly. That look was like an ice thorn in the blazing wind.
The next moment, a whip came, leaving behind a mess of blood and flesh.
He gritted his teeth and said nothing, just carried the wooden beam on his shoulder again. His figure stood tall as iron in the sunlight, without bending, kneeling or saying a word.
He bit his lip, and blood and sweat flowed down, but he still walked around and around without stopping.
Some, displeased with his silence, poured hot porridge on his back, a hot, sticky, insulting mess. He simply stood there, like a bound wolf, its fangs still hidden in its bones and blood.
On the high platform, brocade curtains fluttered gently, and the generals of Liangzhou sat around drinking, clinking cups and plates, and laughing.
Only Jiang Huaice gave him an indifferent glance, as if he was just an insignificant beast of burden in the camp, not even worthy of being recognized as a living person.
At that moment, he swore that as long as he could get out of here alive, he would cut off the heads of those who had humiliated him and offer sacrifices, including those from the Jiang family.
He suddenly let out a low roar in his dream, his shoulders twitched, and cold sweat soaked the pillow.
When he woke up, he found deathly silence all around and he was the only one left sitting in the dark room.
The night wind blowing through the window was still as hot as the wind in that hot summer.
He sat there for a long time without moving, his breathing as heavy as a broken bellows.
It was a long time before he realized that he was already in Fengdu, and this was not the old Liangzhou.
He donned his outer robe, pushed the door open, and walked out into the empty courtyard. He drew his sword from the porch, and without a word, he swung it with ease. The sound of it breaking through the wind streaked across the night sky, creating streaks of cold light. With each strike of the sword, the repression and torment in his expression deepened, as if he were about to shatter the nightmare.
At this time, Jiang Ci also woke up from his dream.
In the dream, my mother was still alive.
She sat at the embroidery frame, stitch by stitch, embroidering Jiang Ci's wedding gown. She smiled as she embroidered, promising that she would personally send her off to marry. The crimson silk was like clouds, the golden thread like light, tenderness and warmth woven into the fabric inch by inch.
"Mother..."
Jiang Ci murmured, his eyes already wet.
She slowly rose and lit a small oil lamp. The room remained utterly silent. She gazed at the cold, gloomy dormitory, feeling no sense of belonging. With sleepiness gone, she threw on a light cloak and quietly left.
She strolled in the night, her footsteps unknowingly leading to the front yard.
Suddenly she heard a sound of breaking air, and she looked in the direction of the sound, only to see a man in the courtyard under the corridor swinging a sword as fast as the wind, with an aura as powerful as iron breaking and full of sand.
It was Ji Yang.
She was about to open her mouth to salute and greet him, but she saw him suddenly turn around, his eyes as cold as ice swept over her, and the next moment, he came at her like a beast breaking through the wind -
The sword flashed and was already across her neck.
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