Face to face
Jiang Yufan never imagined that she would see her so-called younger brother again.
Despite being related by blood and having a formal title, this was the first time Jiang Yufan had truly seen her living younger brother and spoken a single word to him.
The woodshed was dark and filthy, not a place a wealthy family could live in. As soon as Daoyun pushed open the door, dust fell from above. Jiang Yufan frowned, covered her nose, and waved her hand.
“He actually agreed to stay here,” Jiang Yufan said.
"No, it's not a matter of whether he wants to or not, he has no choice." Daoyun specifically reserved this place for Jiang Yurong, but even so, she still felt it wasn't enough.
Jiang Yufan knew Daoyun's thoughts. She smiled and came to Jiang Yurong. It was rare for Jiang Yurong to be so plain. Her clothes were so worn that they were unrecognizable, her hair was disheveled with a few strands hanging down, and her body was covered in dirt.
Hearing the noise at the door, Jiang Yurong looked up. Besides Dao Yun's face, he also saw a somewhat unfamiliar face that felt strangely familiar. He looked at the unfamiliar woman: "Who are you?"
Who do you think I am?
Jiang Yurong looked at Jiang Yufan. Jiang Yurong only felt that this woman looked like a married woman, with a face similar to his mother, but she also clearly resembled the statues of gods in temples. Jiang Yurong had never liked staying in temples since he was a child. He always felt that the faces of those gods and Buddhas were terrifying, huge and staring at people, and he always wanted to escape.
He remembered that his father, Jiang Yaoguang, had said that he had obtained his life in a temple, and that he should feel close to temples. Moreover, when his life was in danger, it was the temple that saved him. Although Jiang Yurong disliked it, Jiang Yufan didn't say anything more and perfunctorily agreed to his father's requests.
Looking at the person in front of him, he felt a surge of fear. He was cautious, restrained his emotions, and stared at Jiang Yufan.
"Aren't you going to guess anymore? They say you're very arrogant, but you seem a little afraid of me." Jiang Yufan stood in front of Jiang Yurong and looked at him carefully.
Jiang Yufan remembered Jiang Yurong as lifeless, like an inanimate object. Finally, she was able to see Jiang Yurong's vibrant appearance clearly. She smiled coldly at him and said, "Why have you fallen to this state?"
"Why should I tell you?" Jiang Yurong was very impatient. This person was very long-winded and always wanted to find out about his family.
"Is that so?" Jiang Yufan looked at Daoyun and nodded to her.
Soon, Dao Yun's sword reached Jiang Yurong's neck, poised to cut into the old wound.
"Will you talk or not?" Jiang Yufan was still holding a string of prayer beads in her hand. At this moment, she was fiddling with the beads and smiled slightly at Jiang Yurong. This was no longer some female bodhisattva with the face of Guanyin. She was simply the Yama who controlled life and death.
“My family suffered a misfortune, and I fled all the way here. I was on the verge of death and no longer have the wealth I once had,” Jiang Yurong said simply, unwilling to go into more details.
"Jiang Yaoguang got into trouble, didn't he?" Jiang Yufan's guess was pretty accurate, but that wasn't enough. She wanted to know what had happened to Jiang Yaoguang.
Dao Yun tightened his grip.
The Jiang family's many twists and turns were all driven by their desire to rise to the center of power and possess unparalleled benefits. Wealth and power bring glory to one's ancestors, but to obtain these things requires a great deal of maneuvering and effort. Once in a high position, jealousy will inevitably arise, and one day they will be brought down. Today they scheme against others, and tomorrow they will be schemed against.
Jiang Yaoguang was just like that. In the process of climbing the social ladder, he forgot himself and was determined to return to the top to pave the way for his own life and for Jiang Yurong's future. However, the struggle for power is not so simple. Soon, Jiang Yaoguang got his retribution. The Jiang family was raided and the servants were exiled. Jiang Yurong was Jiang Yaoguang's hope. Jiang Yurong had to live. So, in his last chance to survive, Jiang Yaoguang did his best to send Jiang Yurong out of the capital.
After a long and arduous journey, Jiang Yurong suffered a great deal of pain and collapsed in Chang Le City, where she was discovered by Jiang Yufan.
"You've had a long and arduous journey, how did you end up here?" Jiang Yufan asked curiously, frowning as she didn't believe it was a coincidence.
"My mother said that coming this way would bring me a benefactor. Are you my benefactor?" Jiang Yurong wanted to confirm this quickly, to find someone he could trust, so he wouldn't feel like a lost soul. He didn't like it here; he didn't want to live here anymore.
It turned out to be Madam Jiang, her own mother. Jiang Yufan understood. Although Madam Jiang had some affection for her, it was only a little. She would cherish any child of her own flesh and blood, but this affection and love came with constraints. It was to make Jiang Yufan remember her sibling bond and to entrust her with the heavy responsibilities of the Jiang family.
Jiang Yufan gave a cold laugh, feeling no gratitude whatsoever. She looked at Jiang Yurong and said, "I'm not your benefactor, I can't save you. Here's some money, good luck to you, and live on your own."
"Then how did you know about my connection with the Jiang family?" Jiang Yurong wasn't stupid when she needed to be.
“I remember I was sick a few years ago and I seemed to have seen a woman who looked similar to you, with the face of Guanyin. Did we meet around that time?”
Jiang Yufan was about to turn around when she stopped and looked at Jiang Yurong: "No, we have never met before. I just know a little about your past."
Jiang Yufan was unwilling to acknowledge him or care for this brother she had no feelings for. She severed ties with the Jiang family, and these were not outcomes she needed to make amends for.
She whispered a few words to Daoyun, then went to the door to wait, no longer lingering.
Seeing this, Jiang Yurong became anxious. He wanted to get up and try to keep the person, but Daoyun stopped him. Daoyun said, "We've given you the money, so you should leave now. As long as you don't bother or harass us, we won't bother you."
The heavy money bag was tossed into Jiang Yurong's arms. Daoyun didn't even glance at it before walking straight outside. All the restraints on Jiang Yurong's body were removed. He clutched the money bag and quickly walked outside, silently following Jiang Yufan and Daoyun.
Although the two women didn't want him, he had a nagging feeling that he should follow them and try to capture them. Jiang Yurong followed them all the way to their residence before turning and leaving.
Dao Yun and Jiang Yufan were unaware of all this. Jiang Yufan returned to the house, and the first person she faced was Gu Sidu. Gu Sidu sat upright in his chair. Seeing Dao Yun and Jiang Yufan return together, he cleared his throat and asked, "Where did you two go today?"
"Of course I have important things to do." Dao Yun rolled his eyes at Gu Sidu, who was acting so pretentious and affected.
“Buddha, I’m going back now.”
“Okay,” Jiang Yufan said to Daoyun, “Be careful on the road.”
“Why should she be careful on the road? Who can beat her?” Gu Sidu said aggrievedly. After he finished speaking, he saw Jiang Yufan and then composed himself. He said to Jiang Yufan, “Madam, why didn’t you call me if you had something important to do? I can protect you if I’m by your side.”
“Gu Sidu,” Jiang Yufan said bluntly, “I met Jiang Yurong today.”
"Who did you say?" Gu Sidu thought he had misheard. He stood up abruptly. "Jiang Yaoguang's son, your brother, the one you saved by cutting your wrist?"
Jiang Yufan nodded.
"Why would he come here? Was it Jiang Yaoguang who ordered him to? Then you need me to go even more. If I go, I can fight for you." Gu Sidu paced back and forth anxiously.
“Something happened to the Jiang family, and he was the only one left,” Jiang Yufan said. “Madam Jiang guided him all the way here, because I followed you here.”
Jiang Yufan recounted to Gu Sidu how the Jiang family had fought for fame and fortune, and how their property had been confiscated. Gu Sidu listened in silence for a long time, and then let out a deep sigh.
What is fame and fortune? They are all fleeting. Gu Sidu used to think those things were very important, but now he thinks they are not important at all. All that fame will eventually dissipate. Gu Sidu dares not think about whether he would survive if he were still in the capital and caught up in such a struggle.
He felt fortunate because he was the first to be eliminated and escaped, thus saving his life.
Gu Sidu said to Jiang Yufan, "Madam, Jiang Yaoguang deserved this ending. He brought you many bad memories and almost caused you to lose your life because of these empty fame and fortune. Heaven will not let the bad people who have done wrong go unpunished. You don't need to be sad."
“No, I’m very happy,” Jiang Yufan shook her head. “At first, I felt that I was losing out by letting the Jiang family go like this, but now I think that these cycles of fate are not something we can control. Heaven has its own arrangements. I have no regrets in my life, and I have long since let go.”
“But,” Jiang Yufan said, “Madam Jiang wanted me to support Jiang Yurong, but I didn’t agree. I gave him some money and told him to figure it out himself. Gu Sidu, I don’t plan to acknowledge him. Do you think I’m being heartless?”
"What are you saying? You're the kindest person in the world, and you even gave him money."
Gu Sidu added, "If you ask me, I would pretend I don't know him. Whether he lives or dies is none of my business. I'll just live my own life."
This was also Jiang Yufan's wish. She was a little tired today, and she rested her head on Gu Sidu's shoulder, hoping to get some comfort from him.
But things don't always go as planned; some things don't develop the way you want them to.
The next morning, a child, dressed in new silk and satin, stood at the gate of the official residence. The child was still quite young, but spoke with great confidence, saying to the servants, "Bring out your master and mistress!"
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