Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Confession
But just when our lips were about to touch——
"Commander-in-Chief! Madam! Wanniang's ginseng soup is ready. Would you like to..."
Yin Shuang's voice came from outside the yard, startling the two of them at the same time.
Ji Yang paused slightly, then straightened up, coughed, and calmed down, returning to his usual calm and reserved self.
Jiang Ci's ears turned red as he tilted his head slightly and whispered, "I understand."
Ji Yang stood up and stood beside her. He was silent for a moment, and finally said lightly: "It's cold at night, you should drink some ginseng soup to nourish yourself first."
Jiang Ci responded softly, lowered his head to tidy up the messy hair on his temples. His expression seemed calm, but his eyes were slightly evasive.
Yin Shuang held the tray and glanced at the stagnant atmosphere between the two of them. Although she didn't say much, she lowered her eyes, regretting that she appeared at the wrong time.
Ji Yang took the teacup, half-knelt beside Jiang Ci, and held the porcelain cup to her lips. His tone was gentle but restrained: "While it's hot, drink slowly."
Jiang Ci took it with his fingertips trembling slightly, and whispered, "Thank you."
After she finished a bowl of soup, the redness on her face slowly faded. But no matter how she tried to avoid his gaze, the throbbing in her heart remained.
Ji Yang silently took back the soup bowl, stood up and put the tray aside. Just as he was about to turn around, he heard Jiang Ci call out softly:
"Commander-in-Chief."
He turned around.
Jiang Ci raised his eyes slightly and looked at him, with a half-smile on his face: "Did you want to say something just now?"
Ji Yang looked at her, his expression slightly moved, but he just said: "Wait until you feel better, then we'll talk."
Jiang Ci watched him walk away, her heartbeat uncontrollably quickening. She suddenly raised her hand and gently covered her cheek, feeling it burn again when her fingertips touched it.
Yin Shuang noticed something was wrong with her, so she carefully moved closer and asked in a low voice, "Miss, what's wrong with you?"
Jiang Ci retracted his fingertips slightly, his eyes hidden behind his palms, and smiled softly, but his tone was filled with a bit of unconcealable joy and shyness: "Nothing... just a little hot, haha."
Yinshuang looked up at the sky. It was already autumn, how could it be hot?
On the other side, Ji Yang returned to the room and raised his hand to close the door.
There was a light click, and his back slowly leaned against the door panel. His head was buzzing, as if the closeness just now was still lingering in his heart.
He lowered his head, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead. His throat rolled, and he took a deep breath. After a moment, he slowly exhaled.
He didn't know what was wrong with him.
He was just a little closer, just almost touching her lips... But at that moment, his heartbeat was so fast that it was almost out of control, even more panicked than when fighting on the battlefield.
Ji Yang lowered his eyes to look at his still restless palms, his expression gradually calming down. He was never used to losing control, especially of his emotions.
But the look she had just given him was too close, too soft.
He raised his hand, placed it between his brows, and murmured softly, "...Why am I like this?"
On the second day, by daybreak, the Dongyang Marquis Mansion had already become bustling with activity.
Today is Jiang Ci's birthday, the third day of August. Although there was no fanfare, a sumptuous meal was prepared in the mansion. The servants were busy coming and going, the kitchen was steaming, and the aroma wafted out of the corridor early.
Wanniang came into the room early in the morning and brought a bright red brocade robe to Jiang Ci's bedside. She said with a smile, "Miss, you are the birthday girl today, so you should dress festively."
Seeing that the robe was bright yet soft in color, dignified and adding a bit of liveliness, Jiang Ci did not refuse and let her help him change his clothes, comb his hair, and put on some lipstick.
After packing everything up, she took Yinshuang to the main courtyard to pay her respects to Madam Ji.
In the main hall, Madam Ji was already seated, dressed in a blue-patterned brocade robe, her expression both dignified and kind. Ji Yunfan was also nearby, wearing a moon-white robe, speaking quietly to Madam Ji. Upon seeing Jiang Ci enter, Madam Ji carefully examined her, then nodded and smiled, saying, "You look much better. It seems your injuries are healing well."
Jiang Ci bowed and said, "Thank you for your concern, mother-in-law."
Ji Yunfan smiled and handed over an exquisite box: "This is the fragrant mud that Zhu Niang and I carefully selected. It is said to calm the mind and spirit. May Sister Jiang be safe and sound every day."
Jiang Ci smiled gently: "Thank you, Afan." When he took the gift box, he did not forget to touch Ji Yunfan's head.
Madam Ji also ordered someone to fetch a jade longevity pendant, which she handed to her personally: "This is what I wore when I was young. Although it is not expensive, it has been with me for half my life."
Jiang Ci thanked him repeatedly, and his eyes were moved when he took the jade pendant.
At this time, Madam Ji looked at Ji Yang who was sitting quietly beside her and raised her eyes: "As a husband, you should prepare something, right?"
Ji Yang raised his eyes to look at Jiang Ci, and said slowly: "I have prepared it, but... it's not the right time yet."
Madam Ji snorted softly, "Have you learned Lu Linchuan's coyness? You're a military commander who leads troops into battle."
Ji Yang did not make any excuses, but just lowered his head, took a sip of tea, and listened quietly to his mother.
Jiang Ci accompanied Madam Ji in drinking tea and chatting. The atmosphere in the room was relaxed and warm.
As they chatted, Madam Ji talked about the past: "I was not so free when I was young, unlike you. Nowadays, all the wars are fought in the camp outside, and we are not allowed to intervene. Back then, I followed your father-in-law to fight the enemy on the front line, and carved out the territory of Tingzhou with swords and spears." Her eyes were bright when she said this, and her demeanor still carried the heroic spirit of a female general in the past.
Yin Shuang's eyes lit up as she listened, and she couldn't help but whisper, "Madam, you are truly as capable as any man!"
Jiang Ci also smiled and said, "Mother-in-law is good at fighting, which is really admirable."
Madam Ji raised her hand, took Jiang Ci's, and patted it gently: "Child, although you don't wield a knife, you plan carefully before acting, and you can clear the way for Zisu and protect the situation. In this world, what men can do, women can do too. Either you stand behind him to watch over the country, or you walk side by side with him."
She paused, her eyes becoming more tender. "Now it seems that Ji Yang is really... blessed."
Ji Yang was still sitting aside, not saying a word, sipping his tea with lowered head. It was unclear whether he agreed or was unwilling to say more at this time.
At noon, the three of them had lunch together. The table was filled with Jiang Ci's favorite things. Madam Ji rarely kept Jiang Ci for half a day, and they talked about many old stories.
After dinner, Madam Ji prepared to take a nap, and Ji Yang accompanied Jiang Ci out of the main courtyard.
The sun was slightly warm outside the courtyard, and the wind carried the coolness of early autumn. When they reached the corner of the corridor, Ji Yang suddenly stopped, looked at her and said, "Come back in the evening, I'll spend your birthday with you."
Jiang Ci glanced at him, a smile flickering in his eyes, and nodded gently: "Okay."
After saying that, Ji Yang turned and left, heading towards the Governor's Office.
Jiang Ci and Yin Shuang walked side by side under the corridor. The afternoon sunlight fell on the eaves, casting mottled light and shadows.
She suddenly turned to look at the girl beside her, a smile on her lips: "When I saw you looking at my mother-in-law just now, your eyes were clearly full of envy."
Yin Shuang was stunned for a moment, pursed her lips and lowered her head, but the tips of her ears turned red.
Jiang Ci asked casually again, "You haven't told me yet, when did you... learn Kung Fu?"
Yin Shuang was silent for a moment before she whispered, "When I was six, my mother sold me to a butcher in town... He was a cruel man, and every day I was either toiled or beaten. I couldn't stand it any longer, so I escaped at night and hid in the woods outside the city. When I was starving to death, I was saved by the governor."
Her eyes were somewhat empty, but her tone was calm. "He didn't ask who I was, only saying that I was alive because I was lucky. Then he brought me back home and assigned me to the Dark Guard Battalion. From swordsmanship to tracking, stealth, and bone breaking... He had people teach me everything, so that one day, I could be by your side, young lady."
When Jiang Ci heard this, she was shocked and reached out to gently hold her hand. She had never looked at her palm carefully and thought it was left from work. She never thought that it was the thin calluses caused by the girl's years of martial arts training. She couldn't help but feel a little distressed for Yin Shuang.
Her voice was gentle, "When you showed up to protect me that day, I realized you had hidden so much... Were you moved when you heard your mother-in-law talk about the battlefield today?"
Yin Shuang raised her head, a glint in her eyes. "I'm moved. Before, I only cared about protecting you, but now... I suddenly feel like I want to be that person, too."
Jiang Ci looked at her, a hint of relief in his eyes, and said softly: "If you really want to, then do it. When you protect a place, you are also protecting a person."
Yin Shuang was slightly startled, as if she had never considered the meaning of this sentence. Her fingertips trembled slightly, and her eyes suddenly turned red. She slowly knelt down and choked out, "Miss..."
Jiang Ci's heart ached. He leaned over and helped her up, his movements extremely gentle. While tidying up her messy hair beside her ear, he whispered, "I hope that one day you can also put on armor and fight in the battlefield, and become a heroine like Madam Ji."
Tears welled up in Yin Shuang's eyes, but she nodded heavily: "I will."
As the sun sets, the sky turns a pale gold. The courtyard of the Dongyang Marquisate is dyed a soft orange by the sunset glow. The shadows of the trees sway in the breeze, creating a tranquil painting.
Jiang Ci had ordered Wanniang to set up wine and food in the courtyard pavilion early in the morning. The emerald porcelain cups, carved wine pots, and several dishes of fresh delicacies were all carefully selected by her. Her face was clear and her eyes were bright as she sat quietly in the pavilion, waiting for the man to arrive.
Soon, familiar footsteps came from afar.
Ji Yang approached from the side of the corridor. Today, he seemed to have changed into his usual attire, a black robe and silver belt, and he looked very graceful. His sword-like brows and bright eyes held his usual calmness, but the slanting evening light added a touch of warmth. As he walked against the wind, he no longer looked like the austere governor, but rather like the man she had been waiting for to return home.
As soon as he entered the pavilion, he washed his hands, then sat down and looked up at her: "Have you been waiting for a long time?"
Jiang Ci smiled and shook her head. Before she could reply, Ji Yang took out an ebony box and pushed it in front of her.
"Birthday gift."
Jiang Ci was slightly startled, and reached out to open the lid of the box, only to see a set of exquisite jewelry lying quietly inside.
She touched the end of the hairpin with her fingertips, surprise in her eyes: "I have never seen such a style before."
Ji Yang smiled faintly: "I asked my eldest brother to draw the pattern myself before, and then asked a craftsman to customize it. It can be regarded as... a token of my eldest brother's love. I hope you like it."
Jiang Ci's nose felt sore, and she stroked the jewelry in the box for a long time without saying a word. She lowered her eyes and took off the hairpin on her head, then suddenly looked up at him, her tone soft but solemn:
"Since it's a birthday gift for me, could you please put it on me, Governor?"
Ji Yang was slightly stunned, looking hesitant, but he still stood up and walked slowly to her side.
He took out the twin lotus hairpin and, with careful movements, leaned over to insert it into her hair. His fingertips brushed against the strands, feeling warm and cool. They were so close that their breaths seemed to entwine.
At this moment, there was silence in the pavilion, but it was like the tacit understanding between an ordinary couple, quiet and gentle.
Not far from the pavilion, Yinshuang and Wanniang were standing in the corridor. When they saw this scene, they were moved and their eyes were filled with some relief.
Ji Yang took a step back and said softly, "Okay."
Jiang Ci raised his hand and touched the new hairpin in his hair, smiling: "I like them very much. They will be treasured for the rest of my life, and in the future... they will be buried with me."
Ji Yang's expression changed, and he frowned: "Pfft, pfft, don't say such an unlucky birthday. If you like it, I will find it for you whenever you want."
Jiang Ci, however, was neither anxious nor annoyed. He just looked up at him with clear and serious eyes: "Commander-in-Chief, I have something to ask of you."
Ji Yang paused for a moment: "You go ahead."
Jiang Ci turned her head to look at the distant corridor, where Yin Shuang stood, standing straight. She said slowly, "You've seen Yin Shuang's skills. I want her to follow your soldiers and learn how to fight together."
Ji Yang was silent for a moment after hearing this. After a moment, he asked in a low voice, "Is this your birthday wish today?"
Jiang Ci nodded: "Yes. She has been with me for a long time, I know her feelings, now that she has that ambition, I want to... help her."
Ji Yang looked at her, his eyes flickering slightly. After a moment of contemplation, he finally nodded: "Okay. You never ask me for anything easily. I agree to this."
As soon as the words fell, Yin Shuang, who was not far away, trembled suddenly, her eyes turned red, and she raised her hand to quietly wipe away the moisture from the corners of her eyes.
The aroma of food lingers after dinner, the remaining cups in the pavilion are still warm, but the night has quietly deepened.
The wind is calm in the courtyard, and the stars and the moon are bright.
Ji Yang suddenly stood up, walked to Jiang Ci and extended a hand to her.
Jiang Ci was startled, then gently placed her hand into his palm. At that moment, the coolness of her fingertips met the heat of his palm, and a silent throbbing seemed to pass between them.
Ji Yang said softly, "Follow me."
He led her by the hand, through the moonlit corridors, and arrived at a secluded and spacious courtyard in the Dongyang Marquis's mansion. It was a place rarely visited by people, and it was quiet, with only the murmuring of the night wind and the swaying shadows of the trees.
The two stood side by side in the courtyard. The moonlight was so bright that the ground was covered with a warm and cool sheen.
Jiang Ci looked up and looked around, then asked softly, "Why did you bring me here?"
Ji Yang did not answer immediately, but just stared quietly at the eastern sky, his expression calm but with a hint of nervousness.
She frowned slightly and was about to ask again, when suddenly——
"Bang--"
A beam of bright light suddenly exploded in the night sky.
It was an extremely bright flame, like a star that suddenly bloomed, lighting up the dark night.
Immediately afterwards, several "boom, boom" sounds rang out one after another, and fireworks bloomed one after another, spreading on the sky like a sea of flowers, golden red, aqua blue, crimson purple, and silver white, each more dazzling than the last.
Jiang Ci raised his head slightly and looked at the flames in surprise. He seemed to be frozen in place. Seeing such a gorgeous scene, an unconcealable joy and innocence gradually appeared on his face.
The fireworks illuminated her face, and her eyes seemed to be lit up as well.
She laughed softly, like a girl who had never been tainted by the world.
Ji Yang tilted his head to look at her.
At that moment, all the calmness and coldness in his eyes seemed to be swallowed up by the flames, leaving only Jiang Ci's figure reflected in his pupils.
Her eyebrows were full of smiles and the corners of her lips were slightly raised.
Jiang Ci suddenly turned around to look at him, and their eyes met, neither of them backing down.
There was silence all around, with only the sound of fireworks exploding one after another, as if knocking on each other's hearts.
The next moment, Jiang Ci gently stood on tiptoe, moved forward without warning, and kissed him on the lips.
It was a very light kiss, like the moment when fireworks brushed across the sky, but it was enough to shake people's hearts.
"I really like it." She whispered, her voice carried by the night wind. "I like today's wine, I like today's sunset, I like today's fireworks..."
There were stars in her eyes as she spoke word by word:
"I like you, too."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com