Chapter 12 Chapter 12 He Likes Smart People
Jiang Shu shushered, feeling a chill rising from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. Her body seemed to be frozen in ice, and even moving was extremely difficult.
She opened her mouth and struggled for a long time before finally making a sound: "Uncle, I'm not plotting against my brothers for no reason. There really is a reason."
Although the Marquis of Xinyang is the lord of the Xinyang Marquisate, he has retired long ago, and now the entire Xinyang Marquisate relies on Lu Changji for its livelihood.
It would have been fine if she just wanted to harm others, but she actually used Lu Changji as bait. If she were in Lu Changji's shoes, she would definitely not forgive the culprit who used him to harm others.
If Lu Changji thinks that she is a malicious person and develops a prejudice against her, how can she survive in this mansion in the future?
Jiang Shu stared at Lu Changji nervously, observing his expression carefully, trying to find out what he was thinking.
Unfortunately, Lu Changji only said that one sentence and then stopped talking. He lowered his eyes, held the cup with his slender fingers, and sipped the tea slowly and leisurely.
The less he spoke, the more nervous Jiang Shu felt. She rubbed the corners of her clothes and recounted the whole story like pouring beans.
After he finished speaking, Lu Changji remained silent. Jiang Shu couldn't figure out his thoughts and was so anxious that she almost cried. The corners of her eyes were red, like the gorgeous sunset in the west at dusk.
Jiang Shu has never been the type to sit and wait for death. Whether it is to kill or shave, she always has to find out Lu Changji's attitude before she can feel at ease.
She clutched her sleeves, staring directly into Lu Changji's dark eyes, and whispered, "Perhaps Uncle believes that women should be virtuous, docile, gentle, and kind, but the environment I grew up in doesn't allow me to be a docile person."
"My stepmother is not as open-minded as the Marquis's wife. When she was in a bad mood, I couldn't even eat enough. Before I was thirteen, I never wore new clothes. My stepmother would give me the clothes that my second sister didn't like."
"I am two years older than my second sister, and her clothes always reveal a little of my wrists. In winter, my hands were so cold that they were covered with sores. Later, I took the opportunity to serve tea to my father and deliberately spilled it on my hands. From then on, I finally had clothes that fit me properly."
"As for my marriage, if the prince hadn't come and seen through my mother's scheme, my second sister would have been married to the Xinyang Marquis's mansion."
"I've suffered countless injustices since I was young. Whenever I didn't do what my stepmother wanted, she would torture me in every way. A few days ago, on her birthday, just because I refused her request, she plotted to destroy my innocence. I know my methods were cruel and vicious, but in the final analysis, it was just a matter of giving someone a taste of their own medicine."
Jiang Shu paused, a determined light flashing in her eyes: "If it happens again, I will still do it!"
Jiang Shu was used to being cautious and had never been so reckless as she was now. This was the most risky gamble she had ever made in her life. She cut open her heart and exposed her fatal side to him.
If she didn't gamble, she would definitely lose. If she gambled, at least there was a possibility of winning.
She bet he was a man with good intentions.
Jiang Shu stared at Lu Changji, waiting for his judgment.
She knew that if he didn't speak, the string in her body would break and there would be no way for her to turn around.
Time passed little by little, and when Jiang Shu was on the verge of collapse, Lu Changji finally spoke: "I never say anything sarcastic."
When he said she was good at it, he was just praising her for her cleverness.
He had been in the political arena for many years and had seen the vicissitudes of life. The people around him came and went like fleeting shadows, this mountain rose, that mountain disappeared, and the mansion that was blazing with fire one day was reduced to ruins the next.
Only those who are truly smart can last forever, and Lu Changji admires smart people.
Seeing that Jiang Shu's face was still as pale as paper, Lu Changji said something more thorough: "You did nothing wrong. If someone wanted to harm you, you should have crushed him under your feet and made him unable to stand up again."
The joy came unexpectedly. Jiang Shu felt like she had been pardoned. The tension in her body suddenly relaxed, and the tears in her eyes couldn't help but flow down her cheeks.
She didn't want to lose her composure, but she couldn't control herself at all. Her tears were like a flood that could not be stopped.
Jiang Shu wiped her face hastily and whispered to Lu Changji, "I'm sorry for my rude words and actions, uncle. I guess the prince will soon wake up, so I have to go back and have dinner with him. Uncle, please do as you please."
After she finished speaking, she didn't stay any longer. She lifted her skirt and walked out of the house. Her body had been tense for too long and suddenly relaxed. Her steps were weak and Jiang Shu held onto the door frame to avoid falling.
The rouge-colored sleeves slid to the elbows, revealing a part of the wrist, on which hung an emerald green jade bracelet. The contrast between the white and the emerald green made Jiang Shu's wrist look even whiter than snow.
Lu Changji quickly cast his eyes on the cup in his hand and said to Jiang Shu in a gentle voice, "Sister-in-law, take care!"
Jiang Shu bowed to Lu Changji and returned to Xinchun Garden.
In a blink of an eye, it was the day for the banquet hosted by the Governor's wife. The carriage of the Xinyang Marquis' Mansion was magnificent and luxurious. Yang wanted to take advantage of the power of the Xinyang Marquis' Mansion, so she asked her servants to inform Jiang Shu in advance, saying that she wanted to go with Jiang Shu.
Jiang Shu did not comment and asked the coachman to drive the carriage to Jiang's house. As expected, Jiang Ran was wearing a snow-green jacket that day, and a matching silver willow leaf hairpin on his head. Although this outfit was not eye-catching, it was elegant and refreshing, making people forget the world at first sight.
Jiang Ran still held a grudge against Jiang Shu, so she didn't even say hello to Jiang Shu and got into Jiang Shu's carriage. Jiang Shu didn't want to get too close, so she ignored Jiang Ran, exchanged a few words with Yang, and then stopped talking.
The carriage took about half an hour to arrive at the villa. As soon as Jiang Shu got off the carriage, she saw the governor's wife Pan who came to greet her.
Mrs. Pan was a straightforward person. If it weren't for Jiang Shu's face, she would never have invited Mrs. Yang to the banquet. Therefore, she always treated Mrs. Yang indifferently, but was very enthusiastic towards Jiang Shu.
Yang was unhappy, but she didn't dare to offend Pan. She just tried to get Jiang Shu away. After all, out of sight, out of mind. "There are many girls playing pitching pot in the apricot garden. Shu'er and Ran'er should go over there and play. There's no need to be restrained around the elders."
Jiang Shu nodded and went to the apricot garden with Jiang Ran. Unmarried girls were simple-minded and didn't value family background as much as the mistress of the house did. Therefore, although Jiang Shu and Jiang Ran's status was far lower than others, they quickly became one with the others.
After a few moments of playfulness, they removed the copper pot and began playing the game of flying flowers. Jiang Shu had never been to a girls' school and could only barely recognize a single word, so she naturally couldn't interrupt during the game.
Jiang Ran is quite talented and became quite popular at the poetry meeting.
After everyone had some fun, it was time for lunch. Since it was summer, the yard was cooler than the house, so Mrs. Hu set up the banquet in the yard.
There is running water in the courtyard, and the food flows slowly with the water. The winding stream and the flowing wine cups are accompanied by the prosperous scene, which is very elegant.
The villa covers a large area and it is impossible to explore it all in half an afternoon. After lunch, Pan asked everyone to take a rest in the room and continue the fun in the afternoon.
Jiang Shu and Jiang Ran are sisters and of similar age. Mrs. Hu arranged them to live in the same dormitory. The two were drinking plum tea in the room when they heard someone knocking on the door, and then Zhu'er pushed the door open and walked in.
Zhu'er has always been carefree and speaks in a loud voice, but this time she was out of character, as if she was on guard against something. She leaned over and whispered a few words in Jiang Shu's ear. Jiang Shu curled her lips and smiled slightly, and the master and servant walked out the door together.
Seeing Jiang Shu acting suspiciously, Jiang Ran was worried that she might not make it to Luanshu Forest in time, ruining their plans. He quickly stood up and stopped Jiang Shu, asking, "Sister, what are you going to do?"
Jiang Shu's fair cheeks flushed red. She pursed her lips and whispered, "The prince is here to take a rest in the garden. I'll go see him."
She seemed to be afraid that Jiang Ran would have wild thoughts, and added: "The prince is resting with his father and brother. I just went to say hello and will be back soon."
Hearing that Lu Changyi and Lu Changji were together, Jiang Ran's heart immediately surged. She said to Jiang Shu, "Since the Marquis is here, as a junior, I should go and pay my respects to the Marquis. Why not go with my sister?"
Jiang Shu shook her head: "Maybe the Marquis is taking a nap. Second sister, please don't disturb him rashly."
She was determined not to show her face. Although Jiang Ran was angry, he had no choice but to give up the good opportunity to meet Lu Changji.
She suddenly remembered the time she had agreed with the bandits, and fearing that Jiang Shu might be delayed, she said, "Sister, please hurry up. I heard that the Luanshu forest in this villa is very interesting. When you come back, let's go to the Luanshu forest together."
Jiang Shu replied "OK" and walked out the door.
Seeing Jiang Shu's impatient look, Jiang Ran stomped his feet in anger. Jiang Shu, this bitch, always gave in to her in everything when they were still in the boudoir. Now that she was married to Lu Changyi, she dared to put on airs in front of her.
She threw the pear in her hand to the ground and stomped on it a few times before she finally vented her anger. Fortunately, her mother was considerate and waited until those men raped Jiang Shu. She would see how arrogant she could be.
Jiang Ran was still feeling proud of herself when someone knocked on the door again. She opened the door and saw an unfamiliar servant standing there. The servant was not good-looking, but his clothes were made of fine material. She had seen servants passing by when she went to the Xinyang Marquis' Mansion for a banquet.
Jiang Ran thought the boy had strayed from Jiang Shu's path and was here to look for her, so he asked unhappily, "What are you doing here?"
The servant pretended not to notice her angry expression and said gently, "I am the follower of Master Lu. On Master Lu's orders, I invite the Second Young Lady to the Crape Myrtle Forest to enjoy the flowers."
Lu Changji wanted to have a tryst with her? This unexpected pie almost knocked Jiang Ran unconscious. Under normal circumstances, Jiang Ran might have had some doubts, but when she thought about the fact that Jiang Shu had already gone to visit the Lu family and the father and son, and that the messenger was wearing the clothes of a servant in the Marquis' Mansion, she no longer had any concerns.
She hurried back to the dormitory and glanced at the time. It was just 15:15 pm, and there were still 45 minutes left until 5:15 pm. After she finished talking to Lu Changji, she would still have time to lead Jiang Shu to Luanshulin.
Jiang Ran curled her lips into a smile, and after dressing herself in front of the bronze mirror, she followed the servant to the Crape Myrtle Forest. The servant was very tactful and stopped when he dropped her at the entrance of the Crape Myrtle Forest.
Seeing the servant's actions, Jiang Ran became even happier. She thought that Lu Changji wanted to say something heartfelt to her, so she quickened her pace and walked deeper into the woods.
The crape myrtle was bright and pink, and the scenery was beautiful, but the peach forest was empty and Lu Changji was nowhere to be found.
For some reason, Jiang Ran suddenly felt a little scared.
"Lord Lu!" Jiang Ran was a little anxious and called out in a low voice.
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard a rustling sound of footsteps. She was very happy and thought that she and Lu Changji had a telepathic connection, so she hurriedly looked in the direction of the sound.
The people who came were not Lu Changji, who looked like a banished immortal, but three men with wretched expressions and lustful faces.
The fear was infinitely magnified. Jiang Ran knew that she was being plotted against. Lu Changji was clearly a pretext to deceive her.
She was so scared that her legs and feet were weak and she couldn't even stand steadily, but she knew that if she showed fear now, it would only make the people opposite her even more aggressive.
Jiang Ran straightened his back and pretended to be calm: "Whose followers are you from? If you see any sign, leave here quickly. The governor's wife will come to appreciate the flowers soon. If you are slow, I'm afraid you will be blamed by the master."
Jiang Ran was naturally beautiful, and after dressing up carefully, she looked even more beautiful.
The three men looked at each other, all making obscene noises and laughing. Today's job was very profitable. Not only could they get money, but they could also taste the beauty. It was not an exaggeration to say that they got both money and beauty.
The ladies and young ladies had their afternoon nap and gathered in the flower hall to discuss where to go to enjoy the flowers that afternoon. Jiang Shu, having broken her quiet morning demeanor, spoke up, "I've heard before that the crape myrtle forest at the Governor's house is picturesque. I wonder if I'll be lucky enough to enjoy its beauty today?"
Jiang Shu was a distinguished guest, and Pan was eager to curry favor with her, so naturally she would not go against her ideas.
She smiled and said, "There are few flowers in summer, and the crape myrtle is the most gorgeous. The Crown Prince's wife and I have the same idea. Let's go to the crape myrtle forest and take a look!"
As she spoke, she walked to the front to lead the way for everyone.
It was only then that Yang noticed that Jiang Ran was not there. She moved closer to Jiang Shu and asked in a low voice, "Where's Sister Ran? Why did you come out alone?"
Her palms were sweaty, and Jiang Shu was a little nervous. She coughed lightly and tried her best to look normal. "My second sister thinks it's too hot and wants to sleep a little longer. She said she'll get up at 5:45 pm, and then we can go to Luanshulin to enjoy the scenery together."
Jiang Ran was used to being spontaneous. She never followed the rules, and Yang didn't really control her. Sleeping a little longer was nothing, as long as she could lead Jiang Shu to Luanshulin.
Jiang Ran was lazy, but Yang Shi didn't want Jiang Shu to bring this up openly. She squinted at Jiang Shu and whispered, "Sister Ran is respectful and diligent. She definitely wouldn't stay in bed just because it's hot. She must have gotten some heatstroke, so she's resting a little longer."
It was natural for a stepmother to scold her children. Jiang Shu just lowered her head and listened to the lecture: "My daughter said something out of turn. Mother, please don't get angry. If you get sick from anger, it will be my fault."
Normally, since Jiang Shu admitted her mistake, Yang Shi shouldn't have been so persistent. However, she was used to being domineering in the Jiang family and didn't know how to restrain herself outside. She snorted and said unhappily, "Since you know you're wrong, you should be more careful with your words and actions in the future. Apologize to your second sister later, and this matter will be over."
This was a bit too much. Anyone with a discerning eye would know that Yang was covering up for Jiang Ran. It would have been enough to just scold Jiang Shu a few words, but why was she still so persistent?
Normally, others shouldn't meddle in the Jiang family's affairs, but Pan couldn't bear to see it. She stepped forward to smooth things over, "It's such a trivial matter, is it worth it, Madam Jiang? Let's hurry to the crape myrtle forest. When the sun sets, we won't be able to see the crape myrtles in their full glory."
Hearing Pan's plea, Yang couldn't get angry anymore. She shut up awkwardly and followed Pan towards the crape myrtle forest. Just as they reached the entrance, they heard a woman's scream and the sound of clothes being torn.
They were all experienced people, and just by listening to the voice, they could guess the situation in the forest. Those who came to the villa to attend the banquet today were either rich or noble. If something unexpected really happened, it would be difficult for the host Pan. Her face changed drastically and she rushed into the forest.
Unexpectedly, Yang was faster than her and flew into the crape myrtle forest.
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