Chapter 79: Why is she her husband? Cheng Xi, sitting at the head of the table...
"I need to show you what he really is."
Which "he" is it, and what is the "real thing"?
Jiang Geyun remained noncommittal. Taking advantage of the moment when Pei Xueyi had released her and was speaking seriously, she got up and went to the desk in the room. She casually took out a small note and said, "Xueyi, you don't look well. Are you too tired?"
Seeing that Jiang Geyun didn't seem to want to leave, Pei Xueyi stood up indignantly and said, "What's wrong with me? You're the one who's wrong! Don't you dare say you're not leaving. If you don't come with me, I'll knock you out and take you away!"
"Alright, alright," Jiang Geyun wrote a few strokes, then waved her hand and said, "Since I already promised you, I won't go back on my word. I'll go with you."
Pei Xueyi was finally satisfied and chuckled to herself for a while. Then, realizing what was happening, she moved closer to Jiang Geyun to look at the letter on the desk. Unfortunately, Jiang Geyun had already finished writing and was just lifting it up to blow on it, so Pei Xueyi didn't see what was on it.
Pei Xueyi asked curiously, "Ayun, what are you doing?"
Jiang Geyun paused for a few seconds, then quickly folded the letter in her hand, placed it on the table with a paperweight, and looked up with a smile: "Leave something that will allow us to leave smoothly."
Pei Xueyi seemed a little curious, but Jiang Geyun sealed the letter without showing any emotion, preventing Pei Xueyi from seeing its contents.
Jiang Geyun roughly knew that Pei Xueyi intended to take her away from this place.
Whether there was something he really wanted her to see, or Pei Xueyi was in a bad state, it was obviously not a good choice to simply brush it off. So, he decided to accompany Pei Xueyi on the trip.
Before that, she naturally had to leave a note for Cheng Xi.
For reasons unknown, she did not tell the truth about what she was going to do, only saying that she was temporarily tied up with work and had to go out for a while, and she specifically wrote "Jiang Geyun" at the end of the sentence.
Normally, he would only call her "Geyun" in very special circumstances, and she would do the same. Therefore, using her full name was an unspoken implication that "this matter is of great importance."
Unable to see the content, Pei Xueyi didn't try to snatch it by force, but gave up and instead started talking about other topics: "It's really not easy to see you, after all, you are now... never mind, the princess has really given me a troublesome job."
Later in the original novel, Xuan Dujian sent Xie Jiming to handle the Jingzhou matter. It was during this opportunity that Pei Xueyi, while spending time with Xie Jiming, who had a new "good friend," realized her own feelings amidst jealousy and rivalry.
Thinking of this, Jiang Geyun asked, "Why did the princess entrust this matter to you and me? Couldn't it have been done by your brother, or Xie Jiming?"
Pei Xueyi sounded puzzled and said, "It's a task given to me to find someone. Of course I'd rather find you, we're friends... Why aren't you saying anything?"
"The letter has been left, let's go."
"Okay, wait, why aren't you replying! Why aren't you saying anything! Hey—"
...
Leaving the Cheng residence was not difficult in itself, but leaving it unnoticed was. Jiang Geyun thought she would have to put in some effort, but Pei Xueyi had already made all the preparations.
Pei Xueyi claimed that she often outwitted her family members when she was at home, and that this place was very difficult, but not insurmountable.
Then, she proudly introduced to Jiang Geyun that this road was unguarded and that the guards would change shifts during this interval. As if entering an empty place, she smoothly led Jiang Geyun away.
This wasn't a separate courtyard, so Jiang Geyun didn't feel much of a sense of belonging. However, being led to various places she had never even imagined before gave her a very strange feeling of exploiting loopholes in her own home.
The two left the Cheng residence without incident, and Jiang Geyun followed Pei Xueyi to the post station to retrieve their horses.
Just as she was about to lift her clothes and mount her horse, she turned her head and saw Pei Xueyi encouraging her from the side. After a while, she still hadn't mentally prepared herself and stood alone by the horse, showing no intention of getting on.
Jiang Geyun urged his horse forward, looked down at her, and said, "Why don't you ride with me?"
Pei Xueyi is not good at horseback riding. This was the case when she took Jiang Geyun to the capital from Jinghu. Although Jiang Geyun is now used to horses, she is still very bad at it.
She hesitated for a moment, glanced around at the sky, and looked up pitifully, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, A-Yun." Without hesitation, she mounted her horse cheerfully and said in a finally relaxed tone, "I'll show A-Yun the way, let's go!"
Jiang Geyun smiled helplessly and spurred her horse forward.
It's unclear why Pei Xueyi was in such a hurry; she urged her to leave the city that very night.
They rushed as fast as they could, and managed to get out of the city at the last minute before the city gates were locked.
When the guards asked the two why they had left the city, Jiang Geyun was about to take out her jade pendant, but Pei Xueyi took out Zhengyi's letter first. The guards did not ask any more questions, and after confirming that the documents were complete, they let them leave.
After leaving the city, they rode their horses for a long time.
Pei Xueyi chatted with Jiang Geyun from behind.
Jiang Geyun knew that Pei Xueyi was worried that she would be tired if she walked at night, so she also cheered herself up and kept talking with Pei Xueyi.
After traveling a few miles from the city, the next rest stop came into view, and Jiang Geyun relaxed considerably, slowing down her pace.
Just then, Pei Xueyi suddenly gripped Jiang Geyun's clothes tightly and whispered, "Ayun, turn around and look now, where are we?"
Jiang Geyun's mind was still on the strange encounter in Jingzhou that Pei Xueyi had mentioned earlier, and the sudden change of topic made her heart tighten.
The horse has slowed down and changed from a gallop to a stroll.
Jiang Geyun turned around as instructed, met Pei Xueyi's gaze, and then looked back the way she had come, following her direction.
She didn't think anything was amiss; what she saw before her was just an ordinary official road, nothing special. But as she pieced together the location in her mind and matched it with reality, on a clear summer night, she suddenly felt a chill run through her body—the location she had been in before was clearly the capital!
Didn't she leave from Mirror Lake?
Pei Xueyi looked at the stunned Jiang Geyun and said meaningfully, "I know you won't believe me no matter what I say, Ayun, so let's see for ourselves."
After saying that, she dismounted and headed towards the post station.
Jiang Geyun also dismounted and stood silently in the deep night.
After a while, he led the horse to the post station.
Perhaps knowing that Jiang Geyun was upset, Pei Xueyi did not say anything more during their rest at the post station.
Both of them had stayed at inns before and knew the way well. After tidying up, they each rested.
...
When Jiang Geyun opened her eyes, she did not see the bright sky, but a vast expanse of pure white, in which a giant white dragon was coiled up and resting.
She retrieved the illusion she had witnessed in the case of the white-clothed ghost from her memory, and unexpectedly, even after leaving the illusion, she could still see such a magnificent scene again.
As Jiang Geyun was admiring the scene, the white dragon, who seemed to be part of the scenery, suddenly came up to her and winked as if to greet her.
Seeing this, Jiang Geyun quickly cupped her hands in greeting and said, "This, senior..."
She wasn't sure if this was the right title, nor whether the white dragon could communicate. If she remembered correctly, the white dragon in the illusion could only communicate with her through its tentacles, and couldn't communicate directly.
She was briefly caught in a dilemma when the white dragon took the initiative to speak to her: "Good evening."
Jiang Geyun looked up at Him, opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything for a moment.
Bai Long only moved slightly when he first saw her. After exchanging greetings, he returned to his coiled-up resting position without even glancing at her. He lazily said, "Your name is Jiang Geyun. You once saw me in an illusion. That wasn't me, or rather, it was me from the past. However, I have retrieved the memories from that time, so you can take it as me."
Jiang Geyun was unsure whether to process the fact that "the dragon spoke" first, or to process what the white dragon had said. After a moment of hesitation, she managed to regain her composure and was about to speak again.
Before she could speak, Bai Long continued, "You carry my scent, which I find strange. I summoned you to see me, but after we met, you never seem to remember me. It's quite amusing. Whenever I remember you, I'll come looking for you again. You told me that your wedding was recently, and I went to see it. You do remember things that happened outside of my dreams."
So... in her memory, this was her first encounter with the White Dragon after the illusion. From the White Dragon's perspective, she had met Him many times... Is it because this memory is so special that she can't bear it and forgets it every time she wakes up?
Bai Long took the initiative to explain a lot, covering all the questions Jiang Geyun wanted to ask before she even had a chance to ask them. At the end, he turned to look at Jiang Geyun and asked with interest, "Do you have any other questions?"
Jiang Geyun nodded.
Bai Long pretended to be deep in thought, then quickly said, "We've tried many methods, but you still can't remember me. However, there's nothing wrong with your body; on the contrary, you're very healthy."
Jiang Geyun nodded again.
Bai Long continued, "It has nothing to do with what's in your heart. I would have to see you in person to know, but you refused, so I didn't ask any further. Is there anything else?"
Jiang Geyun nodded again.
Bai Long straightened up and looked at Jiang Geyun.
The difference in size made the white dragon's posture appear very superior. Although it had no intention of displaying its majesty, a shock from the depths of its soul still made Jiang Geyun's heart tremble.
Bai Long asked, "What else?"
Jiang Geyun gestured with her hand and said, "I saw a small dragon before, which looked a lot like you, about this size, right?"
For a moment, the vast space became extremely quiet.
Bai Long broke the silence and said, "Yes."
Jiang Geyun said, "Then..."
Where did Little White Dragon go?
In her memory, the little white dragon was very close to her. Perhaps for this reason, she felt a strange pity for the little white dragon, which was such a powerful creature.
Bai Long said, "His affairs have nothing to do with me. I think he's not as interesting as you, so I can't be bothered to see him."
Jiang Geyun paused in her gestures.
She realized that the creature in front of her was not human, and it was normal for its concepts to be so different from those of humans. She had thought that there was some connection between dragons, but now it seemed that even if there was a connection, the white dragon would stop communicating with her once it said something boring.
For Him, Jiang Geyun was the same.
If one day she stops arousing the dragon's curiosity about her, no matter what situation she is in, the white dragon will probably never come to see her again.
As soon as the thought came to her mind, she suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.
She must have deduced this point many times in the past.
So what was the reason that she kept piquing the White Dragon's interest and making Him come to see her again and again?
Bai Long ignored the previous topic and asked impatiently, "Last time you only told half of what happened, that you learned about Liu Zhuozhi's past in the illusion. And then what did you do?"
Now I don't have to think about it anymore.
So that's how she caught the white dragon.
Before beginning her explanation, Jiang Geyun hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'm currently facing a troublesome matter..."
The white dragon seemed a little impatient and said, "I told you before how to call me, but you never remember."
His tone was impatient, but his actions were still relatively patient. His tentacles moved closer to Jiang Geyun, and the method of calling him appeared in Jiang Geyun's mind.
This was clearly the first time, but her instincts told her that the method had been in her mind for a long time.
Not wanting to delay any longer, Jiang Geyun began to tell Bai Long about her experiences, accompanied by various stories she had read before transmigrating into the book. However, she kept rambling on and on, as if she could never finish telling the whole story.
Bai Long listened with great interest for a long time, and as she narrated, he slowly closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Jiang Geyun slowed down her narration, and so she talked all night.
...
When I opened my eyes again, it was already broad daylight.
Jiang Geyun got up and looked around; she was in the same inn room she had stayed in the previous night.
She nodded silently, thinking to herself that this was more like what happened last night...
Wait, last night?
Have the memories from last night not disappeared?
Bai Long would never lie to her. They did meet time and time again, and she forgot Bai Long time and time again. Why didn't the memory of last night disappear?
Before she could think for long, there was a knock on the door.
Pei Xueyi's urging voice came from behind the door.
"Ah Yun, it's time to go."
"knew."
Jiang Geyun responded loudly, temporarily setting aside her thoughts.
*
"stop."
The city guard frowned and called out to the man who was leading his horse into the city.
The man paused, turned around, and his clothes and appearance were unremarkable, no different from the other people entering the city.
She turned around, her eyes filled with confusion.
The other person accompanying her seemed to suddenly remember something and stepped forward to the city guard, saying, "My sister has never been to Jingzhou before, but I have. I've come to tell her."
As he spoke, the other person handed over the official document.
The city guards checked it and found a familiar seal on it.
He handed the document back, took a few steps back, and waved for the two to go inside.
The other person retrieved the document, calmly entered the city, and did not forget to turn back to signal his companion, who had stopped in place after being called, to follow.
The two men and their horse entered the city. Before they had gone far, a vibrant and lively scene unfolded before them: carriages and horses flowed like a river, and the noise of people filled the air. The two men, who were nothing special to begin with, disappeared into the crowd.
They hadn't gone far when the man who wasn't leading the horse turned and went into an inn.
With its green tiles and red railings, and colorful banners fluttering in the breeze, the aroma of food wafts from the inside out, reaching the noses of every passerby. About seven or eight out of ten passersby stop in front of the door for a while.
Even worse, like the girl who didn't lead the horse, she went inside in the blink of an eye.
However, the horse handler remained unmoved, his expression calm. He was only slightly moved for a moment when the person next to him suddenly left, and then he smiled helplessly with his head down.
She stepped forward, handed the horse she was leading to the shop assistant waiting in front of the shop, exchanged a few words with the assistant, and then followed another assistant into the shop to find her companion who had entered earlier.
The hall was almost full. Under these circumstances, her companion somehow found a good seat. By the time she walked to the table and sat down with her, her companion had already ordered the food, and the two waiters went down to serve.
The room was noisy. She said softly, "Why did you come here?"
The companion also heard the soft voice and replied cheerfully, "I couldn't stop thinking about the snacks here before I left. I'm so glad to be back. You should try some too!"
The person who sat down after him gave what seemed to be the umpteenth helpless smile of the day.
She added, "I'm not just talking about this inn; the things you wanted to show me are also in Jingzhou?"
His companion's eyes flickered for a moment before he said, "...Of course, hey, trust me!"
These two were naturally Jiang Geyun and Pei Xueyi in disguise.
The two of them traveled day and night for several days, arriving in Jingzhou at an extremely fast pace.
If it weren't for the fact that the two of them were Night Watchers with extraordinary physical abilities, most people would probably find it difficult to endure such a journey.
Moreover, Jiang Geyun not only had to travel, but also had to negotiate with Bailong while she was sleeping. Bailong's temperament was really unpredictable. Whether he came or not depended entirely on his thoughts, and it seemed that what Jiang Geyun said or did had little to do with it.
Jiang Geyun has not yet told Him that she can remember Him now. Before that, she needs to take some time to study it herself. The method of controlling variables is not difficult to use. If she hadn't been in a hurry to get there, she probably would have known what was strange by now.
“I came here under a different identity before, and I was welcomed to a special post station shortly after entering the city, so I didn’t get to explore much,” Pei Xueyi said, rubbing her hands together excitedly. “This time, I’m definitely going to take a good look around!”
Jiang Geyun said, "It is indeed lively here."
As the fiefdom of a loser who failed to seize the throne, Jingzhou was far from the power center of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Under normal circumstances, the liveliness of such a place should be similar to that of Yingzhou. However, once you actually enter the capital of Jingzhou, it is hard not to be shocked by its prosperity, which is almost no less than that of the capital.
Pei Xueyi's eyes followed the shop assistant, eagerly awaiting the meal that was meant for the two of them.
Hearing Jiang Geyun's words, she replied somewhat absentmindedly, "I was also surprised at first, but then I thought about it, the Hua family is here, so this place can't be poor, not to mention that the more border areas are, the more unique the businesses are."
As they were talking, Pei Xueyi suddenly remembered something, her gaze shifting from the servants in the hall to Jiang Geyun, and she said, "Ah, do you remember the previous owner of the manor?"
Jiang Geyun replied, "Of course."
Flowers separate branches.
And her letters.
With many people around, the two omitted much information during their conversation, only giving vague hints. Once they saw that the other understood, they didn't delve any deeper.
Pei Xueyi said, "Back when I was at the manor, I hadn't been to Jingzhou yet. I only knew of the Hua family's name. I didn't expect them to be this good. It's quite a surprise."
Pei Xueyi didn't say it explicitly, but Jiang Geyun understood.
—I thought they were just country bumpkins, not comparable to the Pei family at all, but I didn't expect them to have some background, right?
Jiang Geyun said, "It is only fitting that he was able to raise that manor owner."
Pei Xueyi touched her nose, neither refuting nor agreeing.
Soon, she began to look at the items in the hands of the waiters in the hall.
Jiang Geyun recalled the incident at the city gate, which Pei Xueyi hadn't brought up herself. She went over it in her mind twice, making sure there was nothing unusual, before whispering, "Just now at the city gate, that was..."
Pei Xueyi turned her face and suddenly realized, "I almost forgot to mention it. It's my fault. I should have told him to tell you directly. This is something that must be explained. Newcomers to Jingzhou will be reminded of this—there is a place in the Jingzhou government that you should avoid. Whether you are coming to or leaving Jingzhou, it is best, no, absolutely do not pass through there."
Jiang Geyun asked, "Where?"
Pei Xueyi looked around, picked up the kettle on the table, poured some water onto the table, and casually used the water to draw a rough outline of the location on the table.
Her drawing was abstract, but Jiang Geyun could roughly make out the outline. She nodded to indicate that she understood, and then asked, "May I ask why?"
Pei Xueyi said nonchalantly, "Sure! Because... no one knows the answer! Just don't go that way, it wasn't a peaceful place back in the day."
"Is it related to people?"
"No, it's related to the things we deal with."
Jiang Geyun frowned. "Didn't they send anyone to resolve this?"
Pei Xueyi shook her head and said, "Compared to human intervention, it seems to be naturally formed there. There is no point in us interfering with such things. It will return to its original state. Instead of wasting manpower and resources to investigate, it would be more appropriate to designate that place and prevent people from going there."
Jiang Geyun lowered her eyes and noted the marks Pei Xueyi had drawn on the table.
The mark dried quickly, leaving no trace.
Just then, the waiter brought out all the dishes and placed them on top of the mark.
Pei Xueyi smiled broadly, picked up her chopsticks, and glanced at Jiang Geyun, puffing out her cheeks to signal her to start eating.
After finishing their meal, the two decided to stay there for the night.
While it was still bright, everyone rested, just like ordinary guests.
...
In the dead of night, Jiang Geyun woke up.
When she got up and pushed open the door, Pei Xueyi was already waiting for her in front of the door.
Like her, Pei Xueyi had washed off the disguise on her face, and the two of them had returned to their original appearances. However, their original appearances were hidden under the masks of their night clothes and could not be clearly seen.
There was no one around, and the lights in the inn were almost completely turned off.
Jiang Geyun lowered her voice and said, "Are you sure you're going to show me something, or are you just looking for fun?"
It didn't seem like a proper investigation, nor did it seem like they had anything to confess. When they were almost in Jingzhou, Pei Xueyi even had the leisure to suggest that the two of them disguise themselves and not reveal their true identities.
Jiang Geyun didn't yet know how this behavior would help her complete Zhengyi's instructions, or what significance it had for what Pei Xueyi wanted her to see.
Is the young lady perhaps looking for some kind of role-playing game to play out of boredom?
Jiang Geyun was reluctant to agree, but she reluctantly agreed after Pei Xueyi repeatedly urged her.
Upon hearing this, Pei Xueyi remained mysterious, only saying, "Don't worry! Let's continue our previous investigation and see if we can catch anything this time!"
What Pei Xueyi said she caught was related to her unfinished investigation in Jingzhou. She had come to Jingzhou on official business and was treated well by the local officials. In the end, it was concluded that there was nothing unusual and it was all a misunderstanding. She was then respectfully asked to leave Jingzhou.
Pei Xueyi presented Zhengyi with a rather unconvincing report. Zhengyi, however, was not angry. Her Highness the Princess had other undercover agents and had already uncovered more information. As for taking it a step further? She lightly tossed this hot potato back into Pei Xueyi's arms.
Right now, Pei Xueyi is pulling Jiang Geyun along to hug this thing that could be described as a sweet potato or a bomb.
Pei Xueyi remained completely calm, confident that she was well-prepared this time and had even brought in reinforcements. She was determined to avenge her previous defeat, and the Hua family would be the first to be targeted.
Under the cover of night, the two found their way to the Hua family's residence.
Looking at the building in front of her, Jiang Geyun was somewhat surprised.
It wasn't because the place was overly luxurious, but rather because, comparatively speaking, she felt that the Cheng residence was larger in scale.
No, there...
The Hua family guards were on patrol, so it wasn't good for the two of them to stay in one place for too long. Jiang Geyun also couldn't be lost in thought for too long. She composed herself and followed Pei Xueyi, concealing their presence, deeper into the Hua family compound.
However, that didn't stop her from thinking to herself that the two looked more like they were there to steal than to investigate. It was hard to say whether they did it because it was necessary or because of the peculiar interests of their companions.
It was late at night, and everywhere should have been quiet, but the Hua family mansion was unusually lively, as if it were a banquet in full swing.
We've already come all this way, and we haven't even encountered any good timing yet.
Jiang Geyun followed behind Pei Xueyi, shaking her head inwardly.
If she were in charge of this matter, she wouldn't handle it this way. However, since the young lady is the leader in this matter, the decision on how to proceed rests with her.
Now let's see how the young lady gives instructions—
Pei Xueyi was peering out at the banquet hall on the lake in the distance, her eyes full of curiosity.
Clearly, the young lady has no recollection of what she is doing right now.
Jiang Geyun patted her shoulder, but she kept staring at the lively scene, only leaning her body closer and tilting her ear towards Jiang Geyun.
Jiang Geyun leaned down and whispered, "What should we do now?"
The two were hiding among the rocks in the garden, a blind spot that was safe for the time being, but not safe to stay there for long.
Pei Xueyi then realized what was happening and turned around to speak, but Jiang Geyun suddenly pushed her aside. Immediately afterwards, two servants came to the rock where the two were hiding.
The two servants seemed to be slacking off, their expressions unlike those of Jiang Geyun and her companion, who were quite open and honest.
One of them said, "Which esteemed guest are we entertaining tonight? Even the Prefect of Jingzhou wouldn't deserve such treatment from our host, would he?"
Another person chimed in, "You're right, it's even higher than the governor's position. It's said to be that..." He pointed to the sky and lowered his voice, "...His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Your Highness, coming to a place like this?"
The person who answered jokingly said, "What, are you looking down on the host family?"
"Hey, I meant Jingzhou. Why would the Crown Prince come to Jingzhou? Maybe he's one of the Crown Prince's men."
"Why can't Your Highness come to Jingzhou?" the man whispered. "These days, things seem calm on the surface, but haven't many people suffered? Not to mention those far away..."
The speaker lowered his voice more and more, until finally, Jiang Geyun and the other person could no longer hear anything from their positions.
When Pei Xueyi was first held down by Jiang Geyun, she was quiet, but now the more she listened, the more she seemed to be moving closer to the two of them.
Jiang Geyun sighed silently and grabbed Pei Xueyi's sleeve.
Pei Xueyi stopped abruptly when she was pulled by her.
The next second, she suddenly looked at Jiang Geyun, a strange light flashing in her eyes.
Jiang Geyun knew something was wrong!
However, before she could stop them, the silver flames drew out a thread, binding the two people who were talking tightly together, and threw them both in front of her.
Pei Xueyi stepped forward, hands on her hips with satisfaction, and asked in a high-pitched voice, "What exactly has happened in Jingzhou recently?"
The two servants were suddenly tied up and thrown in front of two people dressed in black. They were terrified and, upon hearing Pei Xueyi's question, showed no intention of answering. They kept shaking their heads, their mouths were sealed, and they could not say anything.
Pei Xueyi, who was having a good time, said patiently, "Don't struggle or shout. I won't do anything to you. We have no interest in you."
The two servants struggled for a long time, but seeing that the strange flames only bound them and looked extremely dangerous, yet had not harmed them after so long, they gradually calmed down.
With everyone tied up, Jiang Geyun had no time to do anything and could only become more vigilant and pay attention to her surroundings.
Pei Xueyi said, "I'll ask you questions. You can nod or shake your head. We'll leave after we're done and won't hurt you. But if you say anything you shouldn't, your lives might be in danger... Understand?"
The two servants nodded vigorously.
Pei Xueyi thought for a moment and said, "There have indeed been strange things happening in Jingzhou recently, haven't there?"
The two servants exchanged a glance and nodded, their expressions natural, as if the question involved no secret at all and was already common knowledge.
Pei Xueyi grumbled a few times in dissatisfaction, then asked, "Could these strange occurrences be related to supernatural forces and supernatural phenomena?"
The two servants nodded first, then shook their heads.
Pei Xueyi asked, puzzled, "What does this mean?"
“Both,” Jiang Geyun said.
The two servants nodded repeatedly.
"I see, so next, um..."
Pei Xueyi's face went blank; she couldn't think of any simple questions that could be answered with a yes or no. She turned to Jiang Geyun for help.
Jiang Geyun said coldly, "Why are you looking at me? Things need to be investigated step by step. Even if you tie someone up and interrogate them like this, you won't get anything out of them. If you think what I said is wrong, then continue."
She had been dragged along and cooperated with for so long, but Pei Xueyi was still acting like it was just a game, doing things very carelessly, which made her quite angry.
Upon hearing this, Pei Xueyi immediately became dejected.
She dejectedly knocked out the two servants and stuffed them into a crevice in the artificial rockery before hesitantly returning to Jiang Geyun's side and whispering, "I'm sorry, Ayun."
Seeing Pei Xueyi's appearance, Jiang Geyun couldn't help but soften.
Pei Xueyi's environment and personality are different from hers. She has never done anything similar before, so it is common for her to be careless and inexperienced in her investigations. Knowing this, she should take the initiative to guide her. If she lets Pei Xueyi act freely, she feels that she should also bear some responsibility.
Therefore, Jiang Geyun said softly, "Let's go back for now and discuss it later."
Judging from the conversation between the two servants, the Hua family is now not only an impenetrable fortress, but also has a major villain. Whether the villain comes to join or oppose them, in this place where fortunes are at stake, it would be best to end this hasty farce as soon as possible.
Pei Xueyi nodded in agreement.
The next second, an unfamiliar voice interrupted the two.
"What matter can be discussed later?"
The two looked up at the same time, and there was a person standing in the darkness.
Despite their high level of vigilance, they didn't notice anything at all!
Seeing that the two of them were looking over, the man slowly continued, "What do you two think the Hua family is, that you can come and go as you please?"
In a flash, golden and silver flames shot out and attacked the man, who also focused his attention and concentrated on fighting back.
They initially thought he was just an ordinary person, but Jiang Geyun and Pei Xueyi were, after all, Night Watchers, so it would be easy for them to silence an ordinary person.
Unexpectedly, that person also possessed some strange and unpredictable method. Centered on that person, the surrounding inanimate objects seemed to come alive, beginning to move and attack the two of them.
This tactic startled Jiang Geyun.
With such abilities, yet not being a member of the Xuandu Bureau, it seems the Great Zhou Dynasty has quite a few hidden talents and extraordinary individuals.
In fact, if it were a serious contest, it would be hard to say who would win and who would lose.
But for the opposing team, this is their home turf. If the fight drags on, and another group of people arrives, even just one more, the two of them will find it difficult to hold out.
The two of them had sneaked in without proper authorization, and if they were caught by the Hua family, they would probably be in a difficult situation. Moreover, tonight they might not only be caught by the Hua family, but they might also be handed over to the big villain.
Jiang Geyun was anxious and hesitated whether to draw Shouzhuo and use his blood to form an array.
Pei Xueyi decisively said, "You go first!"
Jiang Geyun glanced at her sideways, but remained standing beside her.
Pei Xueyi added, "Even within the Pei family, there aren't many with his strength. It wouldn't matter if I stayed. Tonight, I was too reckless. Besides, given my status, even if I were caught, what could they do to me?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Geyun sighed softly and, in coordination with Pei Xueyi, suddenly intensified her attack, causing the man to be unable to resist for a moment and retreat a few steps.
Then, using the dust and smoke stirred up by the colliding rocks as she tried to crush them, she concealed herself and fled away.
The wind whistled past her ears until the sounds of the battle became almost indistinct. Only then did Jiang Geyun slow down, casually find a hiding place under the eaves, and try to calm her breathing.
Breaking into the Hua family's house at night was really not a good idea; she shouldn't have gone along with Pei Xueyi.
However, although the young lady is willful, she is also responsible.
Taking a moment to think, Jiang Geyun fell into deep thought.
She left decisively because she considered that what Pei Xueyi said was true.
She could visit later as the Night Watcher, then feign an apology, saying that Miss Pei had simply wandered in by mistake out of curiosity, and that the two of them had not caused any real harm. She could say that the matter was minor or major, and that it was not impossible to let it go.
The only pity is that the advantage they originally had of being in the shadows has now been completely destroyed.
Well, what's done is done, let it fall apart!
An open and aboveboard investigation isn't going to yield no results, and this isn't the first time she's been in a passive position.
Jiang Geyun turned around and looked at the brightest spot in the mansion in front of her.
...
Jiang Geyun returned along the same route, being quite cautious along the way.
If that person fails to capture Pei Xueyi, and Pei Xueyi finds a chance to escape after she leaves, then there is no need for her to show herself. Before confirming the situation, it is better to remain hidden in the shadows.
The commotion just now seemed to have had no effect on the banquet in the mansion.
If everything had remained this calm from beginning to end, it would have been fine. But after the commotion beforehand, the mansion remained so calm. Even though one knew something was wrong, it was as if nothing had happened. For a moment, the mansion exuded a rather eerie atmosphere.
The closer they got to the seemingly bustling place, the fewer people they saw. The mansion was exceptionally bright, and they couldn't see a single person at a glance, making it seem more like a trap to lure people into a snare.
Thinking that Pei Xueyi was still missing, Jiang Geyun had no choice but to bite the bullet and carefully head towards the center of the lake where the banquet was being held.
Jingzhou is mountainous but has little water; Huajia Lake was artificially created.
This size might not seem exaggerated in modern times, but in this era, especially considering it was carved out for a private residence, it's no wonder Pei Xueyi had to admit that the Hua family did indeed have some resources.
The winding corridor, like a jade ribbon, floats towards the center of the lake. At intervals along the corridor, a glass lantern hangs, reflecting on the lake. The light and shadow are shattered by the water's ripples, creating a dreamlike scene. As you walk along the corridor and approach the lakeside pavilion where the banquet is held, a cacophony of noise breaks through the air, followed by the scent of perfume.
Jiang Geyun steadied her rapidly trembling heart, tiptoed around the pavilion in the middle of the lake, found a gap, and peered into the pavilion.
This banquet was indeed special.
Not only is there a camel hair carpet with auspicious patterns on the ground, but also a twelve-panel sandalwood screen inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and a coral tree standing in the corner with precious jewels hanging from its branches... It is extremely luxurious, like stepping into a painting.
Or rather, even a painting would struggle to depict such exaggeration; perhaps it's a bit of a waste for Hua Biezhi to be the owner of Yunling Manor.
More importantly, it's not just about the people at the banquet.
Not to mention the pale, almost transparent skin of some of the "people" at the banquet, and the almost visible aura of evil sea swirling around them, or the silk landscape screen on the other side, where the clouds and mist were slowly flowing, it was unclear whether it was the work of that person. Most obviously, some of the spirits did not even take human form. At a glance, a white bear was talking to a fox beside it.
The bizarre and gorgeous style immediately comes into view.
This scenario is still going too far.
Jiang Geyun took two steps back and calmed down for a moment.
A few seconds later, she finally prepared herself and stepped forward again, looking around more cautiously, trying to find a familiar figure among the guests.
Whether it's Pei Xueyi or the person who fought against her.
Let's get some humans.
After focusing her search on the humans, Jiang Geyun discovered that there were quite a few people at the table, roughly half of them, along with the ghosts and monsters. However, she hadn't expected to see the other half, which was why she was so shocked.
Thinking about it carefully, it's not actually that strange.
...Never mind, no need to explain, it's just very strange.
Jiang Geyun's gaze swept across the people at the banquet.
The space left for her was not large, and she struggled to search. Fortunately, before she could look around too much, she suddenly spotted a familiar face.
The woman had a cold and expressionless face. She attended the banquet as if she were going to work, looking exactly like someone who had been molded by life but had endured it because of the good treatment she received. Another person next to her was toasting her in a rather obsequious manner.
If Jiang Geyun's eyes are not mistaken, the lip movements should have been saying—
Chapter, Shang, Book.
...
Zhang Jing pushed the wine glass back and said indifferently, "I don't drink."
The person next to him froze with a smile and was about to say something when Zhang Jing turned his head and said in an extremely flat tone, "Why bother with all this effort? Do you think you can survive this banquet? Such confidence makes me envious."
The man's smile was forced, and he seemed uneasy.
Zhang Jing casually turned his gaze away, waiting for the banquet to end, or rather—for the cleaning to end.
She either goes off work or never goes off work again.
But when she looked up, she seemed to see a pair of familiar eyes.
My breathing faltered.
...
Jiang Geyun was certain that Zhang Jing had made eye contact with her just now, and she was also certain that Zhang Jing already knew that she knew her identity.
The indifferent expression on the face of the junior clerk she had promoted, whom she had previously perceived as cold, froze completely. Then, he slowly closed his eyes and lowered his head further and further.
Jiang Geyun recalled her past confession, and now everything had an answer.
She sighed inwardly, thinking that everyone has secrets, and given the current urgency, there was no need to pursue them.
Then his gaze shifted to the head of the pavilion.
Jiang Geyun hadn't expected this.
She could be even more shocked.
Her husband, Cheng Xi, was seated at the head of the table.
...
Her husband was dressed in a light gold casual robe, the type he usually wore after she casually praised him. There were no patterns on it, but she knew exactly how the subtle patterns on the robe moved, and she also knew who made the simple ebony hairpin in his hair when he wasn't wearing a crown.
It was carved by her own hand and given to him.
The banquet was bustling with noise, and everyone seemed to be doing their own thing, but their eyes were all subtly focused on him at the head of the table.
At the very center of everyone's attention, he remained relaxed, as if it were just an ordinary family dinner, holding a letter in his hand and looking down at it.
Jiang Geyun knew what was written on the letter, and naturally knew how long it would take him to read it at his pace, but he did not put it away. He simply continued reading, repeatedly reading the words she had left behind amidst the bustling banquet.
Jiang Geyun looked away.
He took a step back, then another.
They retreated to the edge and were blocked by the fence.
She dared not look too long, because she could feel his gaze among the crowd.
He was the same.
She didn't want him to find out.
From the moment I saw that one glance, the buzzing in my head never stopped.
She leaned against the railing, looked up blankly at the moon tonight.
The noise in the pavilion faded away for a moment.
She still hadn't figured out what she was thinking, but then she heard herself ask: "System, check the task progress."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Yun: (Seeing Sister Zhang) Oh, it's just this little thing? (Looks away) No, it's... ah, wait, no, no, right, right, no, what a complicated scene (crashes)
—The next chapter will officially reveal the true identity + there will be an interaction in the last paragraph of the synopsis [droopy-eared rabbit head]. This chapter is late, so there are still red envelopes. Remember to comment, everyone!
Also: While slice-of-life scenes are great, I'm worried that writing too much will slow down the pacing, so I'm starting to push the plot forward. If you adults want to see more of the couple's daily life at this stage, perhaps I can release a compilation of purely sweet and slice-of-life scenes as a side story after the series is finished? (Lost in thought)
And again: The banquet was inspired by *The Night Tales of Dongyang* (but it's not the original source, and they're quite different in every sense). While many works feature banquets with various species, this one left the deepest impression on me. Strangely, my previous impression was of opening a door on a snowy night to find a room full of "strange people." Today, to reread it and get a better feel for the atmosphere, I discovered the original text actually uses a more nuanced, sequential introduction, rather than immediately seeing "Frog Fun, what kind of other world is this?" Apparently, the latter was just my personal aesthetic preference… But I really enjoyed writing this, hehe~ I love the eerie and gorgeous atmosphere that hits you right in the face~
Again and again: I knew this chapter would be long before I started writing, but I didn't want to break it up because the romance in the first half is quite subtle. I thought I'd write it all in one go so the adults wouldn't have to wait. Yesterday, I was planning to rush back and write like crazy, but I got stopped on the way for a sales pitch. I thought it was a flyer, and since it was so cold, I figured it would be good for them to finish handing them out early so they could leave work sooner, so I just took it. Turns out, they were trying to sell me a gift card! So, under the salesperson's persistent pressure, I kept giving perfunctory replies while trying to shove the thing back at them—it was like a New Year's red envelope tug-of-war! This dragged on for ages. Then I went back and picked up some more packages, and the whole day was gone… Ugh! This story teaches us never to accept things randomly!!
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