Chapter 3 Chapter 3 I want to sleep with Sister Jiang, is it okay...
Jiang Ci did not reply, but only bowed and said calmly:
"Thank you, Commander-in-Chief, for not killing me and allowing me to live."
She spoke politely and courteously, but every word she said was devoid of any flattery.
Once the words were spoken, it sounded like he was trying to gain favor through politeness, leaving no one to hold him accountable or to respond.
When Ji Yang heard the word "survive", his eyebrows remained unchanged, but his heart seemed to be scratched by something, and he felt a trace of unspeakable unhappiness.
She was not weak and asking for mercy, but she simply disdained to beg for mercy.
Just as he was about to speak, Jiang Ci turned around, walked away briskly and quietly with Yin Shuang, leaving him alone standing in the garden, the wind blowing on the green tiles, and the night darkening.
—
The next morning.
Jiang Ci got up early, boiled a bowl of lily and lotus seed soup, served it himself on a tray, and took Yin Shuang to pay his respects to Madam Ji in her courtyard.
The Dongyang Marquisate was still waking up, the flowers and trees in the inner courtyard slightly damp, the dewy air refreshing and cool. She was about to turn into the hanging flower gate when she heard a startled cry and a small figure suddenly rushed out from the corridor.
“Be careful!”
Before Jiang Ci could dodge, the child bumped into her side, and the soup bowl in his hand tilted with a clang, and the hot soup splashed out and splashed on her wrist. A burning pain came over her, and her wrist quickly turned red.
Yin Shuang rushed over and her face suddenly changed when she saw this. She rushed forward and said, "Miss, be careful..." She was busy taking out a handkerchief to wipe Jiang Ci's hand, and her tone was hurried.
Jiang Ci stopped her first, took the handkerchief, squatted down, and gently wiped the child's clothes that were wet by the soup.
The child stared at her with wide eyes. His clothes were wet, but luckily it didn't touch his skin, so it was nothing serious. His eyes were dark and bright, and his temperament was noble. His face was not open, but his eyebrows and eyes were clearly defined, and he looked quite similar to Ji Yang.
Jiang Ci wiped him gently and asked in a low voice:
"May I have your name?"
The child blinked, a little childish but not timid: "My name is Ji Yunfan. Are you here to see Grandma too?"
Jiang Ci was startled, her eyes flickering slightly. It turned out to be the son of Ji Yang's eldest brother, Ji Xu. She came back to her senses and nodded gently: "Yes, I am here to pay my respects to the madam."
Ji Yunfan's eyes lit up, and he suddenly lowered his voice and leaned closer: "So, are you the bride that Second Uncle is going to marry?"
Jiang Ci smiled but didn't answer. He looked at her seriously again, nodded like a little adult and said, "You are so beautiful."
Jiang Ci smiled gently and asked Yin Shuang to open the food box she was carrying. He took out a small cake made with candied osmanthus flowers and handed it to him.
"I made this this morning. Try it. If you like it, I'll make it for you next time."
Ji Yunfan took the cake with both hands, his eyes curved. Just as he was about to speak, a maid came quickly from behind him and bowed to Jiang Ci:
"Greetings, Miss Jiang. I'm sorry for disturbing you, young master, as you've been naughty."
Jiang Ci stood up, smiled and waved his hand: "It's okay."
The old woman advised gently, "Young Master, it's time to go back and study."
Ji Yunfan glanced at Jiang Ci reluctantly, then looked down at the osmanthus cake in his hand before nodding obediently: "Can I come see you again tomorrow?"
Jiang Ci said gently, "I'm in that courtyard. You can come anytime you want." Jiang Ci said, pointing to the courtyard not far away.
The young master smiled with his eyes curved, and was led away by the old woman with brisk steps.
Yin Shuang whispered beside him, "He looks exactly like him... so relatable."
Jiang Ci nodded, said goodbye to the young master and the old woman, and then returned to his own courtyard.
It was not until she turned over the threshold that she revealed a look of pain that had been suppressed for a long time.
The burning red spot on her wrist became more and more obvious, and a thin red had appeared where the soup had spilled. When it was rubbed by her sleeve, the pain made her frown slightly.
Yin Shuang saw this and felt distressed: "Miss, why don't you apply the medicine first before going to the Madam?"
Jiang Ci shook his head gently, his tone gentle: "The soup is spilled, luckily I made some extra this morning. Go back to the kitchen and warm up the remaining portion. I'll wait for you here."
Yin Shuang retreated immediately.
Jiang Ci straightened his clothes slightly and gathered his sleeves to cover the red mark. When Yin Shuang came over again, the two of them went towards the main courtyard.
There was a guest in Lady Ji's courtyard.
She sat upright in the main seat, and in front of her sat an old Taoist priest with white hair and a youthful face, and a Taoist bell hanging diagonally from his robe. He was holding a whisk and whispering to her.
Seeing Jiang Ci come in, Madam Ji's eyes lit up and she quickly waved, "Come and sit down, I was just talking about you."
Jiang Ci bowed and said, "Greetings, Madam."
Madam Ji stood up and pulled her to sit beside her, saying with a smile, "This is Taoist Li from Pingjiang Temple. He is an old acquaintance of mine and is very good at predicting fate."
"When I received your father's letter earlier, I was only thinking of bringing you to Fengdu first and leaving the rest for later. It was really rushed. When I saw you yesterday, I was very pleased with you. Today, I thought that we would eventually have to get married, so I asked him to come and take a look at your horoscopes and see if you and Zisu are compatible. When would be the most suitable day for the ceremony?"
The Taoist priest swung his whisk, put on a serious expression, and cast a glance at Jiang Ci. He stroked his beard and smiled, "Is this the daughter of the Jiang family? She has a noble bearing and a face that hides a sharp edge. She must be a person of great fortune."
Jiang Ci nodded slightly and said gently, "Thank you, Taoist Priest."
The Taoist priest asked her to write down her birthday, and the maid handed her paper and pen. Jiang Ci took it, subconsciously hiding the burn, covering it with his sleeves, and wrote calmly.
Her handwriting was elegant and vigorous, with a subtle yet powerful quality. The Taoist priest took one look and nodded in praise, "Her handwriting reflects her personality; restrained yet powerful."
Jiang Ci smiled politely and said softly, "Meng Kuo."
The Taoist spread the paper flat, pinched his fingers together, muttered something, frowned for a moment, then relaxed, and joy appeared in his eyes:
"What a coincidence—three days later, it will be the twenty-eighth day of the third month of the Guimao year. Heavenly virtue and lunar grace will both appear, which is a perfect omen for a good family."
"Furthermore, on this day, metal and wood combine, and Chen earth supports the body, indicating a harmonious marriage and a long and stable life. Even more rare is that the conflicts in fate can be resolved. This is a sign of misfortune turning into fate and turning misfortune into blessing."
Madam Ji nodded repeatedly after hearing this, clapping her hands and smiling, "That couldn't be better."
She immediately called the maid and ordered, "Pass the word down. The wedding ceremony will be held three days later. All places in the mansion must be prepared from now on. No delay is allowed."
The old woman responded and then asked, "Should we tell the Second Young Master first?"
Madam Ji waved her hand and said, "It's settled now. Just ask him to come back and get married when the time comes." The old woman nodded and left.
Madam Ji turned back to look at Jiang Ci and said gently, "Although everything is a bit hasty, don't worry. This marriage is a serious one. The pomp and ceremony will not let you suffer any injustice."
Jiang Ci's eyes moved slightly, and he replied in a low voice: "Thank you, Madam, for your kindness."
Madam Ji suddenly turned around and ordered, "Ah Ci, go to my study and get something for me. There's a sandalwood box on top of the cabinet. I remember putting it there."
She was still discussing the details of the wedding date with the Taoist priest, her tone was light, and it was obvious that she did not want others to hear.
Jiang Ci responded softly, stood up and left the inner room, walking in the familiar direction towards Madam Ji's study.
The study is in the west courtyard. The windows are open, light shines in, and the air still has the scent of old wood and ink.
She pushed the door open and walked in. The room was silent. On the desk lay several unopened military books and a letter.
She was about to go straight to get the box on the cabinet, but inadvertently glanced, she caught a glimpse of half a line of handwriting on the letter.
It's my father's handwriting.
That was the style of calligraphy she had seen since she was a child, thin and hard yet strong, and the familiar style was hidden between the characters.
Jiang Ci paused and stood in front of the table, his fingertips hovering above the page of letter, not letting go for a long time.
She knew that reading other people's letters privately was a taboo, especially in the Dongyang Marquis Mansion, where every move was connected to others.
But that was a letter my father wrote to Madam Ji.
Finally, she reached out her hand and gently pulled the letter out from under the pages.
When the letter paper was unfolded, the familiar scent of ink hit me.
The first line I saw was: My old friend Jiang Huaice, I wish you all the best in Tingzhou.
Jiang Ci was stunned, his fingers tightened, and he couldn't help but continue reading:
"Thirty years ago, Huai Ce saw his wife and his late wife, Shen, walking side by side. They held fans in the spring breeze, laughed softly at the same table, and exchanged poems and letters. People at the time called them the Liangting Twins. The old memories are so elegant that I cannot forget them.
Huai Ce felt guilty about what happened in the past. Back then, the war was at a stalemate, and the young master was held hostage in Xiliang. Huai Ce was ordered to guard him, and he also secretly tried to help him, which allowed the young master to escape and return to Tingzhou safely.
However, as a man in the enemy camp, holding the position of a general, I could neither defend him with words nor persuade him with words. All I could do was feign illness and, at night, lead a scout to allow him to escape. This was a dangerous move, kept secret, but Huai Ce knew of it and considered it a blessing.
Liang Province is facing imminent danger. Border troops are unable to resist, with Ji Yang's army pressing in from the front and Beiting threatening from the rear. Huai Ce is unable to hold out. In desperation, he sends his daughter, A Ci, to Ting Province as a marriage partner to try to ease the situation. While this move is humiliating, it is a strategic move to save the city.
If Madam still remembers our old friendship, remembers the deceased soul of Shen, and thinks of the affection they had for each other in the past.
If Madam has not forgotten what she did in the past, she still remembers Huai Ce's secret help in escaping.
I would like to take this opportunity to ask for your help, madam.
If Liangzhou cannot be defended after all, I only hope that my daughter A Ci can keep her life safe.
A Ci is calm by nature, with decent talent and knowledge. He does not beg for mercy or favor, but is willing to serve the king, and only asks not to be abandoned.
Huai Ce is over fifty years old. If Liangzhou is lost, it will be the time for him to die.
All I ask for in this letter is to preserve a line of Jiang family bloodline and allow them to return home.
If this can be done, Huai Ce will have no regrets even if he dies.
Jiang Huaice greets you.
She suddenly realized that she had lost her composure and hurriedly refolded the letter. However, her fingers trembled and the pages could not be closed. She had to press hard to press them back into place.
Breathing is slightly disordered.
She stood there, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and forced herself to suppress her emotions into the deepest part of her chest.
After a while, she returned to normal, turned around, took the sandalwood box from the cabinet, gathered her sleeves, and walked out of the study with steady steps.
She slowly walked back to the main hall. Madam Ji was still talking to the Taoist priest. When she saw her come in, she raised her hand and asked with a smile, "Did you find it?"
Jiang Ci nodded slightly and presented the sandalwood box with both hands: "I have found it."
Madam Ji took the box, smiled and nodded: "Thank you for your help, Aci."
Jiang Ci returned the greeting, his voice gentle and measured: "I dare not."
She turned slightly sideways, glanced indifferently at the hall, and without looking any further, she retreated to the door with Yinshuang and bowed to say goodbye.
"Madam, I will take my leave now."
Madam Ji turned around and smiled, watching her leave without trying to keep her.
A gentle breeze blew outside the courtyard, the curtains rustled slightly, and Jiang Ci's figure gradually disappeared into the depths of the corridor.
It's late at night.
Jiang Ci had just had his hair done, and his black hair fell down like silk. He took off his coat and washed off the dust on his body. He looked lonely and tired.
There was a dim light in front of the bronze mirror. Wanniang wrung out the handkerchief for her and put it away, while Yinshuang was packing up the toiletries. The only sounds in the room were the sound of running water and the swaying candlelight.
Just then—
"Boom, boom."
A gentle knock on the door came from outside the yard, the rhythm was gentle, as if afraid of disturbing something.
Yin Shuang paused, exchanged glances with Wan Niang, and muttered softly, "Who else could it be at this time? It can't be the governor, can it?"
Jiang Ci was getting a haircut. He chuckled lightly when he heard this, his tone light and a bit self-deprecating:
"He looked at me like a poisonous snake."
"Don't worry, it won't be him."
She raised her chin slightly and motioned Yinshuang to open the door.
Yinshuang put on a coat and walked out, gently opening the door. The night wind blew in her face, bringing a hint of coolness.
A teenage boy was standing outside the door, barefoot, hugging a quilt, with disheveled black hair, but he was staring at her without blinking.
"Is Sister Jiang here?" His voice was soft, with a nasal sound from crying.
"I... I had a nightmare. I missed my mother..."
He lowered his head and kicked his toes, then added softly, "I want to sleep with Sister Jiang, is that okay? I promise I won't move around."
Yin Shuang was stunned for two breaths, then turned to look at Jiang Ci in the room, her eyes drifting subtly.
Jiang Ci was stunned for a moment, holding her hair in her hands. She didn't say anything, but a layer of emotion she had never had before slowly melted between her eyebrows.
Without waiting for the child to speak a second time, she stood up, put on her clothes, and walked to the door.
Through the light from the porch, she looked down at the boy's still-unformed eyes and eyebrows, and asked gently:
"What did you dream about?"
"I dreamed that my father didn't wake up and my grandmother didn't want me anymore." He spoke softly, but his eyes were red.
Jiang Ci squatted down and tidied his messy hair, saying softly, "Don't be afraid."
"Sister will sleep with you tonight."
Yin Shuang said, "Sister? This isn't a generation difference. My daughter will be your second uncle's wife in the future."
Jiang Ci raised his hand gently and interrupted her:
"He's not even ten yet, that's all right."
The tone was gentle but unquestionable.
After she said this, she leaned over and took Ji Yunfan's little hand. The child's palm was still a little hot, and his knuckles gently grasped hers with the dependence and trust unique to children.
Jiang Ci looked back at Yin Shuang, nodded slightly, and led him step by step towards the bed.
As the candlelight flickered, the tall and short figures were cast on the tent.
Almost at the same time, in the front yard on the other side, the night was dark.
Ji Yang had just returned home from outside, and the coldness still lingered on his body. As he was crossing the screen wall, he saw Zhu Niang leading two servants running towards him in a hurry, with unsteady steps and anxious expressions.
Zhu Niang saw Ji Yang as if she had found her savior, and hurried forward, bowing and speaking urgently:
"Commander-in-Chief, the young master is missing!"
Ji Yang frowned, his eyes instantly turning cold: "Gone?"
"I just went out to fetch a basin of water. Before I left, I saw that he was sleeping soundly. I didn't light a candle or leave anyone to watch over him. But when I came back a cup of tea later, he was gone!"
"It's cold in the room. I wanted to change him to a thinner blanket..."
She became more and more panicked as she spoke, her voice trembling and sweat on her forehead: "I have asked all the servants in the backyard, and they all said they didn't see it. This servant...this servant deserves death!"
Ji Yang's face darkened, his clothes fluttered, and murderous intent suddenly rose.
He turned around, his eyes sweeping towards the inner courtyard like arrows, his tone restrained but with a hint of chill: "Looking for it."
"Search everywhere in the entire Dongyang Marquis Mansion."
"I will find him even if I have to turn this house upside down."
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