Chapter 12
Shen Ji stopped walking, turned around, and asked calmly, "What is it?"
Jiang Mian suddenly became speechless. Her bold idea had only popped into her head on the spur of the moment, and now that she was actually in front of Shen Ji, she felt a little awkward. She could only bite the bullet and step forward, forcing a smile: "It's nothing, I just wanted to thank my cousin for bringing me back."
Shen Ji frowned, recalling her appearance that day.
Her rosy cheeks were clear and bright, and her eyelashes were covered with a thin layer of frost. Surprisingly, this made him, who was usually cold and indifferent, feel a touch of tenderness that he shouldn't have.
This feeling of being out of control was not something he should be experiencing; he knew he should stay away from Jiang Mian. But for some reason, upon hearing the sweet address of "cousin," he subconsciously stopped in his tracks.
Now that he realized what was happening, he saw her smiling brightly, took a step forward, and said in a clear voice, "Cousin, thank you."
A barely perceptible hesitation flickered in Shen Ji's eyes.
"You called me just to say this?"
Jiang Mian nodded vigorously, her hesitation replaced by a bright, sparkling light. To Shen Ji, it looked like a girl excitedly recounting past favors to him.
For a moment, her eyelashes drooped slightly.
After a long pause, he nodded, said nothing, and turned to go inside.
Jiang Mian froze, watching the pure white figure disappear, and suddenly looked worried and deflated.
Getting close to Shen Ji and gaining his protection is one way, but he is not so easy to approach.
She considered herself quite beautiful. Back in Yangzhou, a man had committed a grave mistake because he coveted her beauty, which is why she was disliked by some people.
She didn't actually like to be ostentatious, and she had never done anything based on her looks since she was a child. But as the saying goes, "possessing a treasure is a crime," and since her aunt and second aunt wanted to use her beauty to secure a good future, why didn't she use it in return?
In short, nothing is more important than living a peaceful life.
Jiang Mian lowered her head, not knowing why she had become like this. At the beginning, she had high hopes for everything, but now, it seemed that she was getting further and further away from her original intentions.
However, now is not the time for sadness. The most important thing is to gain her cousin's trust as soon as possible. If she can find a good match in the future, that would be great. If not, she will be alone. In short, she will never be manipulated by others like before.
When she returned to Birou Courtyard, it was still early. Knowing that Madam Jiang would definitely question her when she came back, she ordered someone to re-cook the medicine from the previous days and deliberately left it outside to freeze for an hour until her face turned pale before lying back on the bed.
Having a fever is not a pleasant experience. Her cold hadn't fully healed, and now, after all this, it had gotten even worse.
Yunji, who had just returned from shopping, was shocked to see her like this. She exclaimed, "Miss, what happened to you? Didn't you go to Tingzhu Pavilion with your maternal aunt? Why are you like this?"
Jiang Mian moved her lips, but before she could explain, outside the window, Jiang Shi and a group of people stormed in aggressively.
Where is Fifth Miss?
Granny Zhang's tone was unfriendly.
Jiang immediately spotted the person lying on the bed. She pushed through the crowd, about to confront him, but Jiang Mian spoke first: "Aunt, I'm sorry."
Jiang's words of reproach stuck in her throat. Looking at her weak appearance, she couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Wu, what's wrong with you?"
Jiang Mian struggled to sit up, but looked as frail as a willow in the wind, as if she might collapse at any moment. She bit her lip, revealing just the right amount of weakness, her eyes brimming with tears, and said, "It's all my fault, Mian'er, that I've failed my aunt's painstaking arrangements, cough cough..."
It was three parts acting and seven parts real; he really convincingly portrayed being sick.
Jiang initially thought she was acting, but when he touched her forehead, it was indeed alarmingly hot.
"Hasn't your cold been cured? Why is your fever rising again?"
"Cough cough..." Jiang Mian's face was flushed. Just then, a maid came in with a bowl of medicine. The room was filled with a bitter and astringent smell. Jiang's eyes darkened, and she couldn't bring herself to say anything.
That's fine, if it doesn't work once, there's always next time.
Next time, she wasn't so lucky.
"Since you're sick, you should take good care of yourself." Madam Jiang turned and left.
Only after her figure completely disappeared from Birou Garden did Jiang Mian finally exhaust all her strength. Her head was dizzy and heavy, and she was covered in hot sweat.
**
"So Madam let her off so easily?" After they came out, Zhang Mama asked in a low voice.
Jiang snorted coldly, "She's lucky this time. With such a seductive look, I'll feel uneasy if she doesn't get married soon. Besides, Qi Yu is still thinking about her. We need to put an end to that child's thoughts as soon as possible."
“What you say is true, Madam. With Young Master Jiang’s talent, what kind of woman could he not find? I don’t know what kind of magic Jiang Mian used to make Young Master Jiang so obsessed with her.”
Jiang looked worried and suddenly said, "Go and call Yan'er. She's reached the age where she needs to be. If we let her continue to act recklessly like this, I'm afraid it will be difficult to find her a husband in the future."
Zhang Mama responded, and the two walked away.
Jiang Mian took the medicine and slept for an unknown amount of time before finally waking up. Yun Ji had been staying by her side the whole time. When she saw that she had woken up, she asked with concern, "Miss, are you still feeling unwell?"
Jiang Mian shook her head. After a nap, she felt much better, but her mind was still a mess. Thinking about her future life made her feel sad.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside, and a maidservant said respectfully, "Miss, this was sent by the eldest young master."
Jiang Mian was stunned, almost doubting that she had misheard.
"I heard that you have not yet recovered from your cold, so the eldest young master sent these medicines to you specifically to treat your cold."
Yunji, listening from the side, was somewhat puzzled. When did the young lady become so close to the eldest young master? In the entire Shen mansion, only he had sent herbs.
She turned to look at Jiang Mian, only to see the girl with her eyelashes lowered, seemingly lost in thought. After a long while, she looked up and asked, "Did he say anything else?"
The maid shook her head.
Jiang Mian was somewhat disappointed. It seemed that gaining Shen Ji's favor was not so easy. However, when she looked up at the herbs, she could say that she had made progress.
If she puts in more effort and wins Shen Ji's favor, she will have the confidence to stand up to Jiang's coercion in the future.
After all, no one in the entire Shen family dared to disobey Shen Ji's orders.
Even if it's his uncle, he still has to give him some face.
After realizing this, Jiang Mian's thoughts became clearer.
She got up and went to the bronze mirror. She was only wearing an undergarment. Her black hair was soft and flowing, hanging obediently down her back. Her lips were pale after her illness, but she had an extra touch of pitifulness.
She used to see this physical appearance as a calamity, and she had experienced all those disgusting words and overwhelming insults. But now, she only feels that fortune and misfortune are intertwined. Perhaps, she really can rely on this appearance to find a good way out for herself.
First, he would use his cousin's influence to climb the social ladder, and then he would find a place to settle down for himself.
Since no one was making plans for her, she decided to forge her own path.
Thinking of this, Jiang Mian lowered her eyes, cut off the split ends of her hair with scissors, and then raised her eyes. The innocence in her eyes faded, revealing a cunning and calculating look.
"Oh no, oh no, girl!"
Yunji looked flustered and came to Jiang Mian's side: "When I went to the kitchen just now, I saw the Second Madam tie up the Fourth Miss."
Fourth sister?
Jiang Mian was somewhat surprised. Jiang was her fourth sister's biological mother. Could it be that she wouldn't even spare her own daughter?
Without time to think too much, she immediately got up and walked outside. It was already late at night, and the maids and servants had all gone to bed. Only the side gate of the backyard was brightly lit.
When Jiang Mian arrived at the back gate, she saw Jiang Shi leading a group of people, who, without saying a word, took Chen Yan onto the carriage.
Shen Yan's head was drooping, and she appeared to have fainted.
"stop!"
As soon as the girl's clear voice rang out, everyone on the other side turned to look at her.
Jiang narrowed her eyes: "Xiao Wu, what are you doing here?"
"What is Aunt doing? What did Fourth Sister do wrong that you are treating her like this?"
Madam Jiang raised her hand, and the old women withdrew. She came to Jiang Mian, smoothed the hair at her temples, and said with a smile, "Yan'er is my own daughter, so of course I'm thinking of her. However, she's unruly and doesn't listen to reason. I'll send her to her maternal grandfather's side to be raised for a few days. Is there any problem with that?"
Upbringing?
It wasn't what she thought.
In an instant, Jiang Mian breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that she had overreacted, so she lowered her head: "Mian'er was too anxious, thinking that Fourth Sister had been kidnapped..."
Madam Jiang's eyes flickered: "Xiao Wu, your aunt knows that you and Yan'er have a very special relationship. Now that she's leaving, you have to make something of yourself. Your aunt has always been concerned about your marriage. As long as you behave well, your aunt promises to find you a good family and let you get married in style."
Jiang Mian felt a chill run down her spine. What a good marriage?
Her so-called good marriage was nothing more than a plan to offer her as a gift to a minister who would benefit her uncle's career.
Now she has no power to resist and can only pretend to obey.
"Mian'er will definitely work hard and live up to her aunt's painstaking efforts in raising her."
"That's right." Madam Jiang nodded in satisfaction. After watching the carriage disappear into the darkness, she led her people away without looking back.
In the cold wind, Jiang Mian was only wearing a thin outer robe. She had rushed out and hadn't even tied her hair up. Standing there all alone, she looked like a cute little kitten.
"Meow"
Suddenly, a soft meow came from beneath her feet. Jiang Mian looked down and saw that Song Yuan had appeared at her feet at some point. Then, she looked over in the shadow of the tree.
Her eyes widened in surprise: "Cousin?"
Beside the bare branches, a man wearing a cloak stood in the shade of the tree, the bright sunlight falling on him as if bathing him in a soft glow.
For a moment, Jiang Mian felt her heart race.
She had never seen such a handsome man before; he was aloof, otherworldly, and like the bright moon in the sky.
It seemed to dispel all the gloom.
Shen Ji raised his hand, and Song Yuan nimbly jumped into his arms. He had not expected to meet Jiang Mian here.
His eyes paused, his gaze falling on her slender figure.
Then, he actually released Matsumoto and stepped forward.
Jiang Mian stared at him blankly until she saw him pull off his cloak. A gust of wind swept by, and the cloak was now covering her.
His eyes were very dark, as if they held no light.
He glanced at her once, then turned to leave.
But to his surprise, the little girl reached out and grabbed his sleeve. Shen Ji was slightly taken aback, his gaze falling on the fair and delicate little hand, and he raised his eyes slightly.
"Cousin, could I stay in your courtyard for a while? I won't bother you. I'll just stay with Songyuan."
Jiang Mian sniffed and said in a low but urgent voice.
Her fourth sister had passed away, and she was saddened by the loss of her only good friend in the household. The thought of what lay ahead only added to her complicated feelings.
Perhaps the calm and gentle atmosphere tonight made her forget that he once held a sword to her neck.
She was simply desperate to get help.
She is willing to pay any price to save anyone from her suffering.
Shen Ji frowned, looked at her delicate and sleepy face, and suddenly pursed his lips.
"No outsiders are allowed to enter Qinghui Hall. It's late, you should go back early."
Then, without any hesitation, he brushed her hand away and turned to leave.
Jiang Mian was left standing there, stunned and at a loss.
She thought that by giving her herbs and lending her a cloak, he was tacitly approving of her approach. Little did she know that this was just a casual act of kindness, and that perhaps anyone else would have done the same.
She was no different from the others.
She was just being delusional.
Jiang Mian lowered her eyes, reached out and tightened her cloak. When she walked to Birou Courtyard in a daze, Yun Ji greeted her with a puzzled look on her face.
"Miss, the young master just sent someone to deliver the cat. What is the meaning of this?"
cat?
Jiang Mian turned around, and Song Yuan, who had just been nestled in his master's arms, appeared in her courtyard at some point.
It lay lazily on the table, completely unlike its owner.
Jiang Mian walked over and picked up the cat, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
Yunji looked at Jiang Mian from behind and suddenly realized that the cloak the girl was wearing looked very familiar. She remembered that the eldest young master seemed to have one as well.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com