Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Likes and Dislikes
Madam Jiang paused for a moment, then couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Are you blaming me on his behalf?"
His previously cold face broke into a joyful smile, but his tone carried a subtle hint of disgust: "He should be thanking me. If it weren't for me, he wouldn't be alive today."
"A wicked ghost who caused his father's death before he was even born and killed his mother as an infant, can only go down to apologize to his elder brother and Sister Yue if he dies! Why should they all die, while he, a cursed star, can live a good life?"
“I left him in the neglected Red Cloud Garden. He survived by eating reptiles and leaves. Giving him chaff and wild vegetables was a great favor. If it weren’t for Sister Yue saying that she wanted him to grow up, he would have died long ago.”
Madam Jiang's words were far beyond her expectations...
Shang Yuji remained silent, unmoved by her words, and said knowingly, "Because you don't like him."
There are many complex reasons for Madam Jiang's confused perceptions, but Shang Yuji was too lazy to analyze them. The grudges of the previous generation had fallen on a newborn infant, whose life could be taken by a simple case of typhoid fever. To say that the infant was the culprit was utterly absurd; it was merely the transference of regret, helplessness, anger, and resentment onto an innocent person.
“Babies can’t harm people. You’re still alive, and he’s not a jinx.”
Madam Jiang knew this principle, but she had endured until now on a whim of resentment or anger. She dared not recall how she had taken her anger out on an infant, who was her brother and sister-in-law's only child. Because of her inaction and contempt, the child had suffered as he grew up, and she believed that this was the price he deserved to pay.
Her brother's death was inevitable; she even lived longer after being with her sister-in-law. Her sister-in-law had foreseen her own demise, entrusting her child to her before she died. She guessed that what drove her sister-in-law to her death was a force she couldn't overcome. Powerless to save her sister-in-law's life, and unable to avenge her, she hated her own incompetence. In the end, she channeled all her resentment into her infant child who couldn't even speak yet…
She had been deceiving herself for so many years, but now the maid in front of her had directly exposed her deception.
By pointing out this fact that she was unwilling to accept, she was no different from the villain who drove her sister-in-law to her death; her actions were forcing her sister-in-law's child to die!
Madam Jiang's shoulders trembled, and the room fell silent for a moment.
Knowing that Madam Jiang was not in a good state, Shang Yuji knew she wouldn't get any information out of her. Naturally, she lost interest in asking any questions either.
At worst, I can just make up some random analysis of the belongings; that's much better than asking any more questions and hearing even more hurtful things.
A soft rustling sound came from the beam. Shang Yuji looked up and asked, "Did you get the things?"
The dust motes dancing in the moonlight resembled twinkling stars, and amidst the rustling sounds, Jiang Xi responded in a muffled voice, "Mmm..."
"Come down, we should go."
In the blink of an eye, a long blue-purple robe embroidered with flowers, birds, insects, and animals fell to his side. Today, he listened to Hui Gu's words and painstakingly sketched himself into the likeness of his mother.
With upturned eyes, narrow corners, and blood-red lips, her features were further enhanced, giving her a sharp and striking appearance that seemed to pierce the viewer's eyes. She possessed an aggressive and alluring beauty.
Compared to her bright and dazzling beauty, Jiang Xiqu is more like a splashed ink painting.
The bright moonlight shone on his face, and the serene moonlight erased the last trace of dissimilarity. Jiang Xi stood in the moonlight with a sullen face, and in a daze, Madam Jiang seemed to see her sister-in-law standing in front of her.
Madam Jiang's lips trembled, and she was at a loss for words.
Shang Yuji interrupted her complicated thoughts: "It has been hard for you to accompany us today, Madam. Please decline the visiting invitations from seniors, old friends, and juniors who came to visit a few days ago. We will take our leave first."
The two turned and left the strange yet familiar residence. Madam Jiang ran out a few steps and called out to them.
Shang Yuji stopped, and Jiang Xi, who was carrying an old package, also stopped.
"Is there anything else, Madam?"
She hesitated for a long time before softly asking, "Do you... resent me?"
Realizing what she had said, Madam Jiang said dejectedly, "...It's only right that I blame myself."
Madam Jiang asked about Jiang Xi, so Shang Yuji wanted him to answer for himself. Regardless of love, hate, infatuation, or resentment, it was all his own understanding, and she wouldn't explain it for him.
He tilted his head, his expression both innocent and cruel, like a child saying:
"Who are you? I don't know you..."
"Ugh—" Shang Yuji raised her hand and quickly covered his mouth, ignoring Madam Jiang's pale face, which looked as if she had been struck by lightning and stood frozen in place.
Jiang Xi, whose mouth was manually gagged, did not resist and blinked, waiting for A Ji's next instructions.
Shang Yuji put on her standard professional smile and said hurriedly, "How could Xiqu possibly resent you, Madam? Without you, Xiqu wouldn't have had the chance to grow up. Of course, we also thank you for your hard work in guarding Aunt Yue's belongings for so many years. Otherwise, it would have been terrible if the belongings had fallen into the hands of thieves before we even arrived. We've all seen your hard work, Madam, so Xiqu naturally wouldn't hold a grudge against you. We have some urgent business to attend to, so we'll be leaving now."
Before Madam Jiang could ask if they could meet again, she realized that her words were merely a pretense, and after much deliberation, she didn't even have time to say goodbye before the two women had vanished without a trace.
After speaking fluently, Shang Yuji subtly gestured for them to leave immediately. Jiang Xi went to prepare a bundle with the belongings hanging in one hand and carried the person away with the other. However, worried that the belongings might fall on the way, she took the belongings with both hands, held them in her arms, and then let him take her with him.
The towering walls of Hongyun Garden, which he had previously thought were impossibly high, were now easily scaled in just two steps. With a swift movement, he traversed half of the capital city under the hazy moonlight, heading from the west to the east.
The embracing shadows flashed by at lightning speed. The leader of the patrolling guards noticed the surging airflow, but before he could speak, the shadows disappeared from sight.
...This scene is so familiar. He had seen these two dark figures when he was patrolling the east of the city, but he couldn't stop them at all.
Make sure he doesn't see this again next time. One day he'll lock all these guys up for breaking the law!
"Your reply was good," Shang Yuji praised.
When faced with a stranger, ignoring them only makes them more defensive.
Madam Jiang's twisted and terrifying emotions left her completely bewildered by his casual "I don't know him."
Shang Yuji's feelings towards her were complex. She had saved Jiang Xiqu several times at crucial moments, and it was only through these basic acts of care that Jiang Xiqu was able to survive. Moreover, when Madam Jiang married Jiang Jinfu, she was still a young woman. To protect A Yue's belongings, she spent nearly twenty years of her prime in the Jiang family mansion, upholding her promise and refusing to let anyone take them away, even in the face of countless trials, until their arrival.
However, her harsh treatment of Jiang Xiqu... Although Jiang Xiqu did not experience much happiness in her childhood, she regarded the harsh treatment as normal. She was bullied by servants, ate spoiled and cold leftovers, and when she was not full, she would pull weeds and eat insects and birds raw to fill her stomach. Her clothes were tattered, and her skin was torn many times to endure one harsh winter after another...
If he were truly unloved and an orphan, that would be one thing, but he also has Madam Jiang. Even if Madam Jiang doesn't want to raise him, she can still put in a good word for him in the mansion. Servants are the best at reading their masters' moods. Knowing that Madam Jiang's attitude towards him is neither fond nor disgusted, they will keep a distance from Jiang Xi. Even if he doesn't receive the treatment of a young master, he won't grow up like a wild man.
Moreover, when he asked Madam Jiang why she treated him this way, he didn't like what she said. It was an unvarnished and harsh expression of disgust. Regardless of what she was thinking, what she said and did deeply hurt him.
Even if you feel a moment of guilt afterward, what does it matter? The baby died, and you only know to come for milk now. What were you doing before?
Shang Yuji whispered, "Don't be sad, I'll still be here for you. They don't want you, but I will."
The belongings she held in her hands restricted her expression, so she turned to the side and leaned her weight on him. Sometimes when she was unhappy, being close to family and friends made her feel much better.
"Changtian wants me, Changtian is good, don't be sad."
Without stopping, the scenery of half of Beijing flashed by.
"I'm not sad at all." She's the pillar of the family. If she were to fall, poor Jiang Xiaoxi would be left with nothing but tears every day!
“Yes, Changtian isn’t sad, so Changtian shouldn’t listen to her.” Jiang Xi pulled the person in her arms tighter, speaking logically, “What she said was unpleasant, unpleasant words are bad words, and people who say bad things are bad people, and we shouldn’t listen to bad people!”
“Listening to bad people will…” He paused for a moment, then said seriously, “will result in losing everything.”
"Qiu Shui doesn't want to be separated from Chang Tian, so Chang Tian shouldn't listen to bad people."
"..." Life is a giant boomerang; the words she used to tease him are now being used by him to coax her.
But after hearing him finish speaking, her heavy heart eased a little, and she replied, "Okay, I won't listen to her. I'll sleep it off and forget about it all."
Noticing that Aji was in a better mood, he added, "After hearing what she said that wasn't nice, I stopped listening!"
Shang Yuji chuckled, "Oh my, our Qiu Shui has become so clever."
"Hey, Changtian is smarter than Qiushui."
After two days of thievery, she felt a bit sore in her back and waist. Indeed, no job is easy, including being a thief.
She scaled the wall and entered the Jia mansion. When she finally touched the ground, her legs felt weak and she almost couldn't stand up.
After confirming that she was alright, Jiang Xi removed her hand from her waist.
After setting the package aside, the two quickly washed up, changed into their nightgowns, and Jiang Xi lit the candles. The flames shone brightly, illuminating the room.
As he lit the candle, she stretched her legs and asked, "How did you take this package down?"
Due to certain concerns, A-Yue did not tell Madam Jiang about her background. Even if Madam Jiang had used a spell on her, Madam Jiang would think that A-Yue had "tampered with" her. Perhaps Madam Jiang only knew that A-Yue was from the Southern Frontier because Hui Gu came to visit under the guise of an old friend and could guess some of her past from her attire.
Given this, she is likely a cautious person. Madam Jiang is the obvious obstacle; without getting past Madam Jiang, the location of the relics will remain unknown. However, if she manages to bypass Madam Jiang and learn the burial location, then safely retrieving the relics will become another difficult problem.
The candlelight was bright, and he carefully explained the process of retrieving the item.
Find the location - discover the card slot - solve the witchcraft question - enter the key - discover the wooden box - cure the witchcraft again - another wooden box.
"The last wooden box has a Gu worm in the lock. Only the blood of someone who has the Heart-to-Heart Gu Mother can stimulate the Gu worm to leave."
Otherwise, the highly venomous Gu worm would explode instantly, and the toxins it had refined would be enough to kill any person who stole the relics.
Shang Yuji was stunned. No wonder he was the owner of the keepsake, because the mother worm of the Heart-to-Heart Gu was planted in his body by A Yue herself.
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