"Tea, please." Chu Yening was soaking wet...
A thunderclap sounded from the sky, and rain poured down.
Jiang Yuanjun, still dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, stood motionless, holding the reins of a sturdy white horse in his left hand, his entire body soaked through by the rain. Water droplets streamed down his disheveled hair, making him look utterly wretched.
Luo Yuan followed behind Luo Ling, holding an umbrella. This was the first sight that caught Luo Ling's eye. He was surprised: "A-Jun, why are you here at this hour?" He hurriedly instructed Luo Yuan behind him: "No need to carry an umbrella for me, go and greet His Highness quickly."
Song Zijin, also carrying an umbrella and holding a closed one in his other hand, followed quickly behind them. It was nearly 9 PM; the palace gates were already locked, and it was raining heavily outside. Yet, Jiang Yuanjun arrived at the Luo residence at this hour, and A-Xiao was not yet with her. Qin Weixi's left eye twitched incessantly, sensing something was amiss. Seeing Luo Ling leave hurriedly with a surprised expression, she told Song Zijin to take an extra umbrella and go see what was happening outside.
Luo Ling took the umbrella from Song Zijin. Seeing this, Zijin took the reins from Jiang Yuanjun, intending to lead the horse to the stable. The horse lowered its head slightly but did not move its hooves to follow her. Zijin was puzzled and stared intently at the white horse, only to find that its eyes seemed to contain a layer of mist.
"Why is the horse crying?" Song Zijin blurted out, then subconsciously glanced at Jiang Yuanjun not far away. He was dressed in a moon-white belted long robe, wearing a jade crown, and had a handsome face, but tears kept streaming down his clear eyes.
Song Zijin was startled.
Seeing that he didn't move, Luo Ling patted his shoulder: "A-Jun, what's wrong? But even if it's something really important, we can't just stand here and talk, can we? Come in with your brother quickly."
Jiang Yuanjun trembled slightly. Only then did Luo Ling notice that he was holding a wooden box about six or seven inches long. The box was covered in mud and water, with black water droplets dripping from its edges. It looked as if it had been rolled in the mud or taken out of the ground. Then she saw him wiping the rainwater off the box with his sleeve again and again.
Jiang Yuanjun said hoarsely, "Brother, I want to see Seventh Sister."
A fleeting look of surprise crossed Luo Ling's eyes, but he quickly understood; the Chengxin Nunnery was already a prime example. After a moment, he sighed softly, "Alright, brother will take you there."
Inside Tingyu Pavilion, Qin Weixi sat absentmindedly on a small stool, wondering if there had been some clue at Woxue Pavilion. She quickly got up and saw the wet umbrella that Feng Hua had just held out was still lying under the eaves. She immediately picked it up and hurried down the wooden steps. Feng Hua called out from behind, "Miss, it's still raining outside."
The rain poured down, and the sky rumbled incessantly, a sound that unsettled everyone. Qin Weixi had just descended the wooden steps to the first floor, pushed open the door of Tingyuxuan, and opened her oil-paper umbrella when she saw Luo Ling and Jiang Yuanjun hurrying towards her. But the one walking in such a hurry was clearly Jiang Yuanjun, who was walking in front.
"Seventh Sister—"
Qin Weixi's heart pounded. She looked past him at Luo Ling, who was not far away. Luo Ling smiled slightly and nodded at her, but did not go forward.
He turned to Luo Yuan and said, "Let's go back to the study first. Arrange another room for A-Jun to stay in; the palace keys have been locked." He sighed softly again, "Give him some time."
"Fifth Brother? It's raining heavily tonight, what brings you here?" As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Jiang Yuanjun pick up a wooden box covered in mud and water, and then open it.
It was a short dagger that she and he buried together under the flowering tree in the East Palace years ago.
Jiang Yuanjun smiled gently and said, "Seventh Sister, do you still remember this dagger? It was a birthday gift you gave me on my twelfth birthday. You even had Brother Ashu carve a character on it. It's the character 'Jun'."
"Seventh Sister, back then, Fifth Brother failed to protect Brother A-Shuo, and he also failed to protect you."
"Seventh Sister, you live your whole life like a walking corpse, without a soul, only a physical body, a shell visible to the world. If you wish, you may end me with a single dagger."
"Seventh Sister, if you want this world, one day when I ascend the throne, you can take this Great Xia Dynasty and this vast land."
The two stood under the eaves of Tingyuxuan, where rainwater pattered incessantly onto the gray tiles, producing a series of crisp tapping sounds.
Qin Weixi's heart was pounding just moments before, but after seeing the short dagger, she was left with only a sense of melancholy. After a long while, a smile appeared on her lips: "Fifth Brother, I don't blame you."
"One day, I will also believe that you are a good ruler."
Jiang Yuanjun looked up at her.
She still had a smile on her lips: "Although I've been in Jiangnan all these years, I know everything that Fifth Brother has done. He worked for the Qin family, tried to kill Li Sheng with his sword, injured Liang Xu with his sword in front of Taihe Gate, and built a nunnery to protect his sister-in-law Zhu Ruo. Fifth Brother, do you understand? I know all of these things, and I remember every single one of them."
Jiang Yuanjun's clear eyes were red, but a sudden thought flashed through his mind: a midsummer ten years ago. She wore a pale yellow dress, her smile radiant, her every gesture exuding frankness, cheerfulness, and vitality. But now, many times when he saw her, she was as cold and aloof as autumn frost. He also suddenly recalled the little incident that occurred when she first returned to the capital, at Liang Shuwen's youngest son's coming-of-age ceremony—that earring.
Those earrings were meant for her, completely hers. But that day, she hid in the drizzling rain, holding an oil-paper umbrella, seemingly oblivious. She ignored them, didn't ask, and pretended not to see them. She must have been utterly disappointed.
Qin Weixi saw the tears streaming down his face, turned around and took a handkerchief from Feng Hua's hand, then handed it to him.
Jiang Yuanjun said, "Seventh Sister, it's good that you're still alive. Just wait a little longer. Now that Gao Jian is dead and the Woxue Pavilion has come to light, it's my fault for being useless. But it won't take another ten years. I will definitely clear the Qin family's name." He looked at her, hesitant to speak, then suddenly smiled bitterly, remembering the day his father wanted to bestow a marriage between him and "Little Star." He forced a smile, but said very solemnly, "Seventh Sister, from now on, your fifth brother will do everything in his power to protect you, to keep you safe, and to keep you healthy."
Qin Weixi watched as his lips moved, but after a moment he still didn't say a word. Her bright eyes, like autumn water, looked at him with a smile: "Fifth Brother, please speak."
Jiang Yuanjun stood there, when suddenly a clap of thunder rang in his ears. The rain grew heavier and heavier, and the sound of the rain hitting the bluestone slabs was like a pounding on his left atrium.
His eyes were red as he took a step back and bowed slightly in a gesture of respect. Qin Weixi's pupils contracted sharply in an instant; he held the umbrella in one hand and reached out to help him up with the other.
Fifth Brother.
Feng Hua then opened her mouth wide; she had never seen the Crown Prince like this before.
Jiang Yuanjun refused to rise, saying, "Grandfather, if you are watching from heaven, please bear witness for your grandson. I, Yuanjun, have pledged my heart to one person in this life, and I will remain steadfast with you for life, never betraying you. If I fail to clear the name of the Qin family in the future, I am willing to atone with my death and face my grandfather with my sins. If I successfully ascend the throne in the future, I am willing to give everything for one person."
He looked up at the girl in plain clothes standing in the rain, who was no more than a child then, but was now nearing the age of blossoming youth. Jiang Yuanjun's throat tightened, and she said again, "Seventh Sister, would you be willing..."
Before he could finish speaking, a gray tile suddenly fell from the eaves of a distant house, shattering on the ground. Feng Hua was about to cry out in alarm when Pu Niang, who had followed, pulled her inside. Feng Hua frowned, her eyes blazing with anger, and glared fiercely at the roof beam: "Pu Niang, where did this wildcat come from! I even took some dried fish, but I couldn't catch it!"
Under the eaves, Jiang Yuanjun's eyelashes trembled, but she waited for a long time without receiving a response from the girl opposite her.
He trembled slightly, pursed his lips, and looked up at her with a gentle smile.
"Fifth Brother, if that day really comes, what identity should I hold?" Qin Weixi asked, looking at him.
"Should it be in the guise of Luo Jia's daughter, or the guise of the daughter of a criminal accused of treason?"
Jiang Yuanjun felt a sudden, sharp pain in his heart, but before he could speak, the aloof girl opposite him said again, "Fifth Brother, but that world will trap me there. I, Seventh Sister, have no intention of entering the Jiang family."
The sudden rain had not yet stopped at the Marquis of Jingning's residence.
Chu Yening, dressed in black, was also soaked through by the rain. His face was gloomy, as if he were filled with intense dissatisfaction, and he stormed back to Fanyin Hall. He then casually tossed his dark purple cloak onto a chair, and Jiuqu caught up with him, asking, "My lord, it's raining so hard outside, where have you been?"
"Tea, please." Chu Yening, dressed in a wet, belted brocade robe, sat down in the armchair, raindrops dripping from the hem of his robe onto the ground.
Jiuqu was secretly alarmed. He had gone out alone in the rain and returned soaked, but instead of immediately changing his wet clothes, he wanted to drink tea. He hurriedly ordered the servants in the mansion to brew a pot of hot tea and quickly poured it for him.
He asked tentatively again, "Lord Marquis?" He grinned, laughing heartily, "Which fool has offended you?"
Chu Yening took a sip of tea, slightly raised her eyelids, and said, "Get out."
"Huh?" Jiuqu opened his mouth, but his body subconsciously turned around. "Yes." Chu Yening kicked him hard in the butt, her voice clear and cold: "Does being robbed count?"
"Ouch!" Jiuqu was caught off guard by the sudden kick. Chu Yening had already gotten up and was walking outside, saying coldly, "Call Lao Zhong and Songyang, and go to the secret prison!"
"Yes!" Jiuqu hurriedly agreed, but in his heart he already knew that Sun Daban was going to be in trouble in this pouring rainy night. And the Marquis's voice just now clearly had a hint of gritted teeth. He hurriedly chased after Chu Yening, who had already left Fanyin Hall and headed towards the secret prison, and then got close to Songyang, who followed closely behind. While looking at the living devil in front of him, he couldn't help but ask, "Stealing the house. Old Song, what did you mean by stealing the house?"
Songyang patted him on the shoulder expressionlessly and said earnestly, "Ninth Brother, worry less and get things done!"
Jiuqu glared at him angrily, then turned and left to find Zhong Ti, who had arrived last. This so-called "living devil" wasn't really a living devil after all. Although the old lady had passed away early, with the old Marquis still alive, the young master of that time was still a happy and fulfilling young nobleman.
In the Imperial Academy, which young master didn't give way to the heir apparent? Some even dared to call him the little tyrant of the Jingning Marquis's mansion, that carefree and irresponsible heir. But the heir apparent was truly remarkable! With rosy lips and white teeth, he was extremely handsome, bearing a striking resemblance to the late Marquis's wife. Back then, the heir apparent had led them in beating up those truly dissolute young masters who dared to provoke the gates of the Jingning Marquis's mansion—how prestigious he was!
But later that winter month, he witnessed the capital city turn into a living hell. The young master was ruthless and decisive, returning with a bloody storm, like a demon coming. With each stroke of his blade, slaughter followed. He was insane.
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