eavesdropping
After several days of rain, the gloomy weather finally cleared up, and Shen Ji got busy again. After walking for a long time, Jiang Mian sat in front of the window, embroidering a sachet with an intricate pattern of a spring crabapple.
Her embroidery skills were mediocre; she embroidered for only a few strokes before casually setting it aside, her gaze occasionally drifting to the window. Not long after, Yunji appeared.
Jiang Mian's eyes lit up. She closed the window. Today, she had deliberately sent He Yue away so that she could make a good plan.
Shen Ji was here a few days ago, so she couldn't send letters out. Now that he's gone, she can discuss marriage with Brother Wen Shi.
Shen Ji must not know about this, otherwise things might change. Once she and Wen Shi have completed their wedding ceremony, no matter how capable Shen Ji is, he cannot force her.
Jiang Mian took the letter from Yun Ji, feeling both nervous and excited. She didn't tell Wen Shi the whole story, only that she had her reasons and that the wedding couldn't be a grand affair, but it had to be done as soon as possible.
Song Mingyan's reply to her did not disappoint her.
The third day of next month is an auspicious day.
At that time, there will be many brides getting married in Jeju City. She can get married without leaving the mansion, but instead go to a house ten kilometers west of the Shen mansion. No one will suspect anything then.
Jiang Mian pursed her lips, thinking that her brother had thought of everything for her and hadn't asked her what her troubles were.
She owed him a favor, and if he ever needed her in the future, she would do everything in her power to help him.
Is it the third day of next month?
There are still two weeks left.
Although it was a fake marriage, all the necessary etiquette was observed. Due to the short notice, she didn't have time to prepare a wedding dress, so she could only try on a dress at the tailor shop that her brother Wen Shi had mentioned.
Jiang Mian got up. He Yue wouldn't be back for a while, so she figured she could make it while it was still early.
Half an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of a shop in the west of the city. As soon as they entered, a still charming woman warmly greeted them.
Jiang Mian felt a little awkward, but seeing Song Mingyan made her tense mood relax slightly.
After trying on and changing clothes, only two outfits were chosen in half a day. It would take at least seven days to alter them according to her measurements. Jiang Mian didn't care. Even if the wedding dress didn't fit, as long as the wedding ceremony could proceed smoothly, everything would be fine.
Song Mingyan felt a little regretful; he wanted to give her the best.
Although she looks good in everything, he always felt that she wasn't quite perfect.
"Mian'er is beautiful, but she's a bit too young. Otherwise, she would definitely have a dress made to her measurements." Song Mingyan's eyes softened as he looked at the slender figure before him.
Jiang Mian felt a little embarrassed; he always praised her.
The wedding ceremony was complicated and tedious. To save time, they skipped all the steps that could be omitted. They waited for half a month until the bridal sedan chair stopped outside the courtyard. After she and he went through the wedding ceremony, they were considered husband and wife.
Thinking of this, Jiang Mian's expression became dazed for a moment.
"However, you're right. To avoid any unforeseen complications, it's best to get married as soon as possible." Although Song Mingyan felt regret, he was mostly happy and looking forward to it.
He couldn't help but step forward, take her hand, and place it on his heart.
"To be honest, I think half a month is a bit long. It would be best if we could get married tomorrow, no, tonight." The young man's burning words rang in her ears, and the fingertips he held tightly in his hand felt hot.
Jiang Mian lowered her eyes, smiled, and her smile was as dazzling and beautiful as a bright begonia. She tried hard to ignore the strange emotion in her heart and kept telling herself that marrying Song Mingyan was much better than her illicit relationship with Shen Ji.
She was finally able to get rid of him.
After the woman finished measuring her, Jiang Mian parted ways with Song Mingyan.
On the car frame, she suddenly frowned. Everything was arranged now, and the only variable was Shen Ji.
How she will disappear from his sight in two weeks is the question.
Jiang Mian thought about it all afternoon. Although she had a few immature ideas, it would be difficult to actually implement them.
If any link in the chain goes wrong, the entire plan will fail.
Jiang Mian leaned weakly to the side, deciding not to think too much for the time being. Shen Ji might be back soon, and she would try to gauge his reaction when he returned.
Perhaps he won't be there that day, or perhaps she will find an excuse to leave; in any case, there are still ways.
Back at the mansion, He Yue was already back. Jiang Mian looked normal, took off her hood, and went into the house. In recent days, she had often gone out for a stroll, sometimes to listen to music, sometimes to appreciate paintings, going out during the day and returning at night, so He Yue did not suspect anything.
She warmed the porridge and served him attentively. If only she weren't someone who worked for Shen Ji.
Jiang Mian felt a little regretful. Although Yun Ji would consider her in everything, she was naive and had never told her about Shen Ji.
He Yue was humble and respectful, and her actions were almost flawless. It was just a pity that she wasn't on the same page as He Yue, but instead, she was someone else's spy planted next to her.
Jiang Mian lowered her head, scooped up a spoonful of porridge and put it in her mouth. The temperature was just right. She looked up at He Yue and couldn't help but think of that cold and aloof face.
If she can successfully marry Song Mingyan, then from now on, her relationship with Shen Jizhi will only be that of cousins.
**
Qizhou.
Inside the western mountain camp, Commander Wang put away the military defense map. Seeing the absent-minded young man sitting at the head of the table, he couldn't help but call out, "Young master, is something on your mind?"
Although it was the season when grass grows and orioles fly, the weather was still a bit chilly, especially after nightfall. Even with his full armor, Wang Shou still felt cold, let alone the young man in the upper position who was dressed in thin clothes. He winked at the people behind him and ordered them to add more fire to the charcoal brazier.
Shen Ji lowered his eyes, it was unclear whether he had heard or not. His fingertips idly stroked the jade ring in his hand, his long eyelashes just obscuring the expression in his eyes.
Wang Shou, still thinking about the intelligence he had just received, repeated, "Those who followed His Highness the Crown Prince are still here. As long as you give the order, your men will be able to charge straight up from Qizhou to the capital to avenge His Highness."
Wang Shou was indignant. He was nearly fifty years old, with gray hair at his temples, but he still wore armor and drilled his soldiers every day, all for the sake of avenging the blood feud of that year.
Back then, that scoundrel rebelled, not only forcing the Crown Prince of Yong'an to his death, but also causing his entire family to be trapped in the mansion by fire and die. He should have been enjoying the happiness of family life, but instead his family was destroyed and his people died. The thought that kept him alive was that one day he would personally kill that scoundrel sitting in the Golden Palace.
"If I raise an army, General Wang, have you considered what will happen to the people of Qizhou?"
The flickering candlelight illuminated the young man's features with exceptional brightness, and for a fleeting moment, Wang Shou seemed to see the gentle and refined man from the depths of his memory.
His fists were clenched, and his eyes were filled with an unconcealable hatred.
In the first half of his life, he fought for the country and the people, guarding the border year after year, but the court allowed Prince Sui to act recklessly and harm the innocent.
With no way to seek justice, he had no heart to think too much. If he could take that person's life, what did it matter if the knife was stained with innocent blood?
"This matter is not urgent," Shen Ji said calmly.
"Young Master, have you forgotten the calamity that befell the Crown Prince twelve years ago? Or has His Highness been living too comfortably all these years, allowing..."
"General Wang." Shen Ji finally raised his eyes and called out to him in a neither too loud nor too soft tone.
He put away the jade ring in his hand, his eyes cold and deep.
Do you know why I chose you from among my father's many attendants?
Wang Shou was taken aback. He knew that his words had been somewhat inappropriate, but the resentment and injustice that had accumulated in his heart over the years were like a raging fire. As long as dry wood was added, it could burn everything without warning.
However, after calming down, he suddenly felt a bit self-deprecating. If he rebelled, not to mention the people of Qizhou, even the long-stable world would be thrown into turmoil again.
He had witnessed the suffering that war brought to people countless times, and just now, he was about to become the creator of that suffering.
“Because you have the people in your heart, you and my father both care for the people.” Shen Ji stood up, took a few steps forward, looked at the general in front of him who was blinded by hatred, and said word by word: “I will never forget this blood feud.”
“I will make him pay a thousand times the price and make him repent to my father in person.”
Shen Ji's voice was cold.
The way to destroy a person is not to kill them, but to make them watch as everything they have worked so hard to achieve is ultimately taken by someone else.
It's like cutting your own flesh piece by piece with a knife.
Although it is still death, it is a hundred times more painful.
**
After Wang Shou stepped out of the tent, a gust of wind brought back some of his composure. He recalled the scene from just moments ago and sighed inwardly.
He was well aware that if he launched an attack on the capital, the world would be thrown into chaos, and not only Qizhou, but all the people in the world would face disaster.
However, he couldn't bear to watch his enemy sit high on a platform, enjoying the worship of the masses every day.
He was merely reminding the young master not to forget the hatred of that year.
When Yun Qing returned from outside, he saw Wang Shou standing in front of the tent and respectfully greeted him, "General Wang."
Wang Shou nodded in agreement and was about to leave when he suddenly heard a conversation coming from inside the tent. He hesitated for a moment, then quietly went around to the back of the tent to try to hear it clearly.
"Young master, news has come from Jeju that the Fifth Miss goes out every day."
Sparks crackled and popped in the charcoal brazier, and ashes lay scattered to the side. A corner of the tent was lifted by the wind, revealing a soldier patrolling outside.
"You're in a hurry, aren't you?" He smiled, but there was no emotion in his eyes. During the days he was there, she was well-behaved and obedient every day, and it was impossible to tell that she had anything on her mind. But once he was gone, she made no attempt to hide or pretend.
Little did she know, her men were watching her every day.
He knew everything about her, who she met, and what she did.
For example, she secretly got engaged to someone else behind his back.
They completely disregarded his feelings.
Or perhaps he spoiled her too much, and she should be hidden away, only able to see him and speak to him every day. That way, no one else would covet her, and she could stay by his side forever.
"Keep following her. Report back on whatever she does, but don't let her find out." Shen Ji's voice was somewhat cold. Suddenly, he turned to look at the other side.
Yun Qing immediately understood, stepped forward, and lifted the curtain without hesitation. A mouse scurried away from under his feet. He turned around and looked at Shen Ji, only to see that the young man's expression was somber and there was nothing unusual about him.
Wang Shou, who had just slipped away, returned to his tent, still catching his breath, his palms clenched with cold sweat.
A moment later, he summoned a subordinate and whispered a few instructions.
After that person left, his eyes were filled with coldness and ruthlessness.
If he finds anything hindering the young master's great cause, he will certainly not be lenient.
He let that scoundrel live peacefully for twelve years, and on his path to revenge, he would not allow anyone to become a hindrance to the young master.
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