Chapter 8
The north wind blew snow, and the Shen Mansion was quiet.
Yun Qing silently slipped into Qinghui Hall, pushed open the door, and entered. The warm scent of sandalwood mingled with the fragrance of sandalwood. The swirling snow extinguished the warmth of the charcoal stove. He quickly added some charcoal and stepped behind the screen.
He slightly raised his eyes and immediately saw the person sitting at the front of the jade table.
"Young master."
Shen Ji responded lightly, his wolf-hair brush never stopping. He was frail, wearing only a cloak embroidered with winter plum blossoms. His jet-black hair fell gently down to his collarbone, the cloak's downy fur partially concealing his jade-like skin.
Yun Qing lowered his head and cupped his hands, saying, "News has come from the court that Song Mingyan ostensibly came to Jizhou to cultivate himself, but in reality, he has received a secret order from the Crown Prince to find someone."
Who is it?
"Sun Yuan".
Shen Ji's brow twitched slightly, and his expression instantly turned cold. The charcoal brazier in the room was burning brightly. He put down the wolf-hair brush in his hand, his eyes sharp and dark: "Sun Yuan, who once served the Crown Prince of Yong'an?"
Yun Qing nodded.
That's right, he was the eunuch who served Prince Yong'an back then. If he hadn't accidentally discovered this, he would have thought that Eunuch Sun had died in that fire. He never expected that there were still survivors from the former Prince's residence who escaped.
"In addition, I have also found out that after Sun Yuan escaped death, he lived in the capital under an assumed name. Later, for some unknown reason, he was hunted down and headed south. The last place he was seen was three months ago... at the Shen family in Jeju."
With a snap, the wolf-hair brush broke, and a gust of cold wind swept in, howling and pounding against the doors and windows, as if an unseen hand was pressing down from the darkness. After a long while, Chen Ji's voice rang out again: "What is he called now?"
“…Cui Xuezhong.” Yun Qing paused for a moment before speaking slowly.
The sound of wind and snow gradually subsided, and everything seemed to connect.
Six months ago, Shen Yuan saved a person on the verge of death and they became fast friends. After spending two months together, Shen Yuan asked him to go to Yangzhou to bring Jiang Mian back. Later, for some unknown reason, Jiang Mian returned alone, while Cui Xuezhong disappeared. Looking back now, it seems that none of this was a coincidence.
"There is another matter. When the young master asked me to investigate the Fifth Miss's past, I found out that the Fifth Miss was engaged to someone when she was in Jizhou. Later, that person went to the capital to take the imperial examination and fell off a cliff. In the same year, the Marquis of Anyang found his long-lost heir... The person engaged to the Fifth Miss was Song Mingyan."
The tea had gone cold. Shen Ji took a small sip, looking somewhat surprised.
“Young master, Song Mingyan will be going to Jing’an Temple in three days.”
Yun Qing's voice was somewhat low, and he spoke slowly and deliberately.
...
Three days later, the warm sun peeked out from the dark sky. A low-key carriage was parked at the back gate of the Shen residence. Soon after, a young woman came out of the gate. She was wearing a light pink cloak with a pale yellow dress underneath. Her face was covered by a hood. She had a slender figure and was none other than Jiang Mian.
"My lady, everything is ready."
Jiang Mian nodded. Madam Jiang had left home early in the morning, and she heard that she had gone to a banquet in the west of the city. She had wanted to inform her, but now she couldn't make it. The weather was good today, and the snow on the road had melted, making it easy for the carriage to travel.
Jing'an Temple was still outside Jizhou City, and going there and back would take most of the day. She planned to go today and return tomorrow.
Along the way, Jiang Mian lifted the curtain, her gaze filled with curiosity.
In the past six months, she has only left the mansion a handful of times. Recalling the embarrassment and anxiety she felt when she first arrived in Jeju six months ago, she is now much more calm and composed.
The journey was long, but once she left the city, she completely lowered the curtain.
The carriage swayed and rocked, and it was unclear how long it had been traveling.
Suddenly, there was a sharp screech of brakes.
The coachman shouted, and Jiang Mian lost her balance and almost bumped into the sharp corner of the table. Fortunately, Yun Ji reacted quickly and caught her from the side.
"What's wrong? What happened?"
Yunji helped Jiang Mian sit up steadily while speaking loudly.
"Reporting to my wife, the road ahead is blocked."
Jiang Mian was somewhat surprised. She lifted the curtain to the side and was startled. She saw several guards with swords at their waists standing in the vast snow-capped mountains. The guards all had cold and stern faces, which made people feel scared.
They stood silently on both sides of the road, stretching out to a pavilion ahead, where two figures could be vaguely seen.
The temple bell rang.
There were indeed two people sitting in the pavilion.
Just like the black and white chessboard in front of them, one person is wearing a black robe, and the other is wearing a white cloak.
The man in the black robe slightly curled his lips, but the smile did not reach his eyes. His skin was pale, as if he had never seen the sun for many years, and he exuded an aura of gloom and nonchalance.
Compared to his unruly demeanor, Shen Ji beside him was clearly much more dignified, his long eyelashes drooping slightly. After a long while, he suddenly said, "Thank you for your kind words."
Song Mingyan looked down, his face showing no displeasure: "I have long heard of Young Master Shen's superb chess skills, and seeing them today, it is indeed true."
"I lost. The previous bet stands. What would you like to ask, young master?"
Shen Ji smoothed the wrinkles on his clothes and was about to speak when a guard hurriedly approached and whispered a few words in his ear.
Song Mingyan raised an eyebrow and reached out to play with the jade pendant at his waist.
He had practiced martial arts since childhood and had excellent hearing. Moreover, the other person did not deliberately lower his voice. Sure enough, after listening, Shen Ji suddenly stood up and looked apologetic: "Excuse me, I must take my leave."
"This young master seems to be in a hurry; has something important happened?"
Song Mingyan feigned surprise and stood up as well.
"My younger sister is going up the mountain, but she is being stopped at the foot of the mountain. I hope that Your Highness will be kind enough to let her up."
"I see. Changqiu, I told you not to bring so many people. It would be bad if you frightened the beauty. Quickly let them up."
Song Mingyan pretended to blame him, but his eyes were full of interest.
"Young Master Shen is so extraordinary, your younger sister must also be exceptionally beautiful. Why not invite her up for a cup of hot tea before you leave?"
"No need, my sister is not yet married. I appreciate your kindness, Your Highness."
"In that case, Changqiu, see the guest out."
...
The pavilion returned to silence. Shen Ji's figure disappeared into the distance. Song Mingyan slowly withdrew his gaze and lowered his eyes to stare at the clearly defined chess game.
He hadn't used his full strength just now.
He could also sense that the other party wasn't going all out either.
Unexpectedly, the small Jeju Island is full of hidden talents. It seems that this trip has yielded unexpected gains. If we can recruit this person into the Crown Prince's faction, it would be a great achievement.
He sat casually, then suddenly seemed to remember something. He dropped the playful expression on his face and asked in a deep voice, "Have the Shadow Guards returned?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, I just received news this morning that the person you asked to investigate might still be alive."
Upon hearing this, Song Mingyan froze, his hand holding the teacup trembling slightly, and he asked in disbelief, "What did you say!"
"Your Highness, Miss Jiang might still be alive."
Changqiu said in a low voice.
He came to Song Mingyan's side three years ago and didn't know what had happened to Song Mingyan before, but he remembered that when the young master was first found three years ago, he was covered in blood, lying at the foot of a cliff, clutching a jade pendant tightly in his hand. He had been unconscious for several days, and only kept repeating two words... Mian'er...
Three months later, after the prince woke up, the first thing he did was to look for Miss Jiang.
However, the lady brought back Jiang's keepsake, and her expression was sorrowful. She said that Jiang missed her parents too much and had also passed away.
The prince didn't believe him and immediately wanted to throw away everything—his identity, reputation, and status. He said he only wanted that talkative and cheerful little girl.
The lady threatened the prince's life, forbidding him from leaving the capital for three years.
Although the Marquis of Anyang's family was prominent, it had begun to decline during the time of the old master's lineage. The return of the heir was not only a hope but also an expectation to revitalize the family's reputation. The lady cherished this son who had been found with great difficulty. Various obstacles caused the heir to stay in the capital for three whole years.
During these three years, he worked hard and not only passed the imperial examinations but also gained the emperor's favor. Just as the Marquis's mansion was about to return to its former glory, the lady gradually stopped restricting the heir's freedom.
Changqiu saw it all and understood that the prince, who appeared capricious and ruthless to outsiders over the years, was actually just a lonely, aloof, and misunderstood man.
Changqiu often saw that only when the night was deep and quiet did the young master dare to drop all pretense, pick a peach blossom, warm a pot of wine, and sit quietly at the table.
If Miss Jiang is really alive.
Perhaps then the Crown Prince wouldn't have to suffer so much.
Coming to his senses, Changqiu continued, "I've discovered that after the young master left, Miss Jiang was adopted by her grandmother, but her grandmother passed away six months ago. Miss Jiang was then adopted by her uncle's family..."
"Prepare the horses, we'll go to Yangzhou tomorrow... no, we'll go now!"
Song Mingyan could hardly contain his nervousness and excitement. He had waited for three whole years, thinking he would never see her again in this life, but he never expected that she was still alive.
Jiang Mian is still alive!!
He longed to see her immediately; for three whole years, he had missed her every moment.
“Your Highness…” Changqiu frowned: “Your Highness has forgotten that you are to attend the poetry gathering next month.”
"Since Miss Jiang is alive, it's only a matter of time before we meet. Your Highness, don't forget the true purpose of your trip to Jeju."
Song Mingyan paused as he was about to take a step, his eyes immediately darkening. "You're right. Only by completing this task can I completely break free from their control."
However, in a short while, he returned to his nonchalant demeanor, lowering his eyes slightly and standing with his hands behind his back.
However, the heart in my chest seemed to have been resurrected from the dead.
Scalding hot, intensely hot.
After everything is over, he will meet her cleanly as Song Wenshi.
***
Jiang Mian sighed. If the way up the mountain was impossible, it meant she would have to come another day. She could be given more time to deliver the knee pads to her grandmother, but she couldn't wait that long with her mother's belongings.
Jiang Mian hesitated, wondering who the noble person in the pavilion was, when suddenly a familiar figure came into view.
Jiang Mian was taken aback; the man was Yun Qing, her cousin's bodyguard.
"Fifth Miss, the young master said that if we want to go up the mountain, we can take his carriage," Yun Qing said respectfully as she dismounted.
Jiang Mian was somewhat surprised.
What's my cousin doing here?
"Is my cousin also going to Jing'an Temple?"
Yun Qing nodded.
Jiang Mian glanced at the guards with swords on either side of her without showing any emotion. Although she didn't know where these people came from, this opportunity to go up the mountain was indeed rare. She only thought for a moment before saying without hesitation, "Thank you, cousin."
Immediately afterwards, the master and servant got off the carriage, but Yun Qing suddenly reached out and said with difficulty, "Young Master said that only you are allowed to get on the carriage."
Jiang Mian:......
Although she didn't know why her cousin had suddenly been so kind, she was already very fortunate not to have missed her mother's death anniversary. She dared not delay and told Yunji to go back to the mansion and wait for her. She then picked up her luggage and walked to Shenji's carriage.
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