Chapter 56 Reminiscing: You've Been Chosen
Kyoto hasn't changed much in the past few months.
The inns and rented houses in Kyoto were filled with students taking the imperial examinations.
Half of the convoy headed towards the palace, while the other half returned to the Jiang residence.
The escorting officials awaited joint trial by the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review, and awaited their judgment.
Di Ting greeted Jiang Yuzhi with great joy at the gate. Except for Zhao Pingfeng, who couldn't stand the sunlight, all the creatures in the Jiang residence came out.
Zhong Yuxiu hadn't seen Jiang Yuzhi for a long time, but after receiving news from Xiao Yao, the two of them were now waiting together at the Jiang residence.
The first one to get off the carriage was not Jiang Yuzhi, but Chichi, who still had a dog leash around her neck.
Di Ting's rapidly wagging tail suddenly froze. Where did this little devil come from?! It let out a long howl and pounced on Chi Chi's leash.
Chichi, wary of the unusual scent emanating from Diting, cautiously tried to avoid it. However, Diting relentlessly attacked, and the sheep and dog began to fight in broad daylight.
"Ah Ting! Chi Chi!" Jiang Yuzhi hurriedly got out of the car. She grabbed the dog leash and sternly scolded Di Ting and Chi Chi.
"Awoooooo, awoooooo!" That's my rope, how could you give it to another beast! Di Ting howled more and more righteously, completely forgetting that Jiang Yuzhi couldn't understand dog barks.
"Alright, alright, little one, let's talk about it when we get back." Jiang Yuzhi squatted down, holding the rope behind her back to comfort Chichi, while using her other hand to hug Diting's furry neck and pat it gently.
Once both of them had calmed down, Jiang Yuzhi finally had a chance to greet her friends one by one.
Xiao Yao: "Xiao Zhi, was the journey alright? Did that brat Mingze bully you? Speaking of which, where is he?"
Jiang Yuzhi: "It went very smoothly. Mingze is also doing well. He went to the palace with the officials from the Ministry of Personnel to report to the Emperor. Aunt, you don't need to worry."
Xiao Yao looked at Jiang Yuzhi with affection, stepped forward and held her hand, rubbing it against her, insisting on checking whether she was alright. "You and Xiuxiu... and your family haven't seen each other for a long time, have you? How about coming to the Princess's residence for dinner tomorrow? Your aunt will host a welcome dinner for you."
Jiang Yuzhi smiled affectionately and readily agreed.
Xiao Yao: "Auntie won't bother you any longer. Mingze will probably come to your place first after he leaves the palace. Tell him not to rush, he can come to see me after he has rested."
Jiang Yuzhi: "I understand, Auntie."
After giving her instructions, Xiao Yao left with peace of mind.
"Let's go inside and talk, Xiuxiu." Jiang Yuzhi took Zhong Yuxiu's arm and was about to lead her inside.
Zhong Yuxiu had wanted to go in for a long time, but there were too many people outside, and she always felt uneasy. "Why are you calling him by the same name as His Highness?"
Jiang Yuzhi: "What, is it not allowed? Xiuxiu?"
Zhong Yuxiu: "No, I'm just a little... embarrassed."
The two young women walked into the house chatting and laughing, followed by a large group of people.
Jiang Yuzhi noticed the unfamiliar faces in the group, but with Zhong Yuxiu present, she could only hold back and not ask for the time being.
The ghosts and gods didn't disturb them and went about their own business. Di Ting, with the dog leash in his mouth, led Chi Chi away, and they managed to coexist peacefully.
The main room was spotless, having been cleaned by Zhi'er. Zhong Yuxiu clearly had something to say, so they sat down on the small couch. Zhi'er placed the prepared snacks and tea on the table on the couch and then closed the door and left.
"What do you want to say? You seem hesitant."
Zhong Yuxiu picked up a cup of warm flower tea. "You've been gone for so long, I don't know who to talk to. Although I get along very well with Her Highness the Princess, and she even protected me from being arrested by the officials, there are some things I can only talk to you about."
Jiang Yuzhi hadn't spent time with friends her own age in a long time. "Pfft, go ahead and say it. I'd like to hear what you have to say."
Zhong Yuxiu: "Sigh, Her Highness doesn't know that I made an enemy of her because of writing the Emperor's novel. I always feel bad for her. If Her Highness knew that I wrote about her brother like this, would she..."
Jiang Yuzhi: "Don't worry, don't you know what kind of person His Highness is?"
Zhong Yuxiu drank a whole cup of flower tea with a sad expression. "It's only when I found out that I felt so sorry for her."
Jiang Yuzhi refilled the cup, saying, "In that case, let's find a suitable time to tell His Highness."
Zhong Yuxiu: "Yes, yes! That's what I was thinking too. There's a customer who often comes to me to order storybooks. I've finished writing my latest one, but Manager Jin says he hasn't come to pick it up yet. Maybe it's because I didn't write it well, and he doesn't want to read it anymore?" That customer is considered her big spender; he pays readily and asks for little.
Jiang Yuzhi's curiosity was piqued: "Which one is it?"
Zhong Yuxiu: "I can't tell you the title of the book, I promised to keep it a secret, but I can tell you a little bit about the content. It's a story about a fairy and a mortal."
Jiang Yuzhi immediately thought of Bai Yan's approach, and couldn't help but twitch her lips, "Have you ever written anything else with this kind of content?"
Zhong Yuxiu shook her head.
Jiang Yuzhi casually comforted him, "It's okay, he probably had something to do recently, he'll probably go back and get it soon."
Zhong Yuxiu: "How did Yuzhi know?"
Jiang Yuzhi: "I think I've read the book you mentioned."
Zhong Yuxiu: "?"
Jiang Yuzhi: "There's a set of white inkstones there."
Zhong Yuxiu was stunned at first, then her cheeks flushed red instantly. "You mean Young Master Bai? My guest?" She burst out with a sharp scream, "Aaaaaaaahh ...
Xiuxiu was speaking in a language she couldn't understand, probably the language of her original world. Her attitude was far too agitated.
"Miss, what happened?" It was Zhisan who came looking for her after hearing the noise.
"It's alright, it's alright, you go ahead with your work," Jiang Yuzhi replied loudly.
"Yes, miss."
Zhong Yuxiu realized she had spoken too loudly and quickly covered her mouth. "I'm sorry, I was too... Yuzhi, you don't understand. Anyway, I... I can't accept it. Sigh, I don't know how to describe it to you."
Jiang Yuzhi: "It's okay, you wrote very well."
Chung Yu-hsiu: "That's not the reason."
Jiang Yuzhi didn't understand, but she wouldn't delve into it. "Then I won't say anything. The scenery in Wannan is very different from that in Kyoto. You must go and see it when you have time."
Chung Yu-hsiu: "What kind of?"
Jiang Yuzhi tried to distract Zhong Yuxiu and soothe her mood. "Hmm... there's a lot of water, with streets and waterways combined. During the dry season, vendors set up stalls along the riverbanks and in the waterways, while during the flood season, they set up their stalls on small boats, which is quite interesting."
Zhong Yuxiu's eyes lit up when she heard this.
Jiang Yuzhi continued to tell her about what she had seen and heard in Wannan, and Xue Yi's story was combined with the truth and told as a rumor version of Manager Miao's story.
The story of Prince Huai'an and his beloved little lamb was told to her, with the unusual details omitted.
Still wanting more, Zhong Yuxiu suddenly remembered an important question she wanted to ask Jiang Yuzhi. She leaned closer to Jiang Yuzhi mysteriously and asked, "Yuzhi, do you believe in ghosts and gods?"
Jiang Yuzhi paused. "Hmm?" Ghosts and gods? She was a ghost, and there were immortals and strange beasts in the mansion.
Zhong Yuxiu: "Lately I've been having strange dreams. They're bizarre and surreal, and I can't see anything clearly. No, I should be able to see things when I'm dreaming, but I don't remember them when I wake up. There's only one voice..."
Jiang Yuzhi: "A voice?" Could it be that I've really encountered a ghost?
Jiang Yuzhi subtly sensed the presence of another ghost, but found none.
Zhong Yuxiu: "Hmm! They said I was chosen. I thought it was because I've been writing too many stories and my dreams are all nonsense."
Jiang Yuzhi: "And then?"
Chung Yu-hsiu: "Every time I wake up, I feel like I've been beaten up, especially my neck is sore and my throat feels like it's been slashed by a razor blade."
Jiang Yuzhi frowned; it seemed the situation was not simple.
Zhong Yuxiu continued to complain with a worried look on her face, "At first I didn't take it seriously because I always have to bend down to write, and the calligraphy brush is particularly difficult to use, and my neck always hurts. But after a while I couldn't take it anymore."
Jiang Yuzhi: "Why don't you sleep with me tonight?"
Zhong Yuxiu didn't think much of it and said, "Great! We can talk by candlelight all night and sleep side by side."
Jiang Yuzhi: "The little lamb I brought back from Wannan still needs a place. Xiuxiu can rest here now, or go to the study. You know where it is."
Zhong Yuxiu: "Okay, you go ahead and get busy. I don't consider myself an outsider."
After settling Zhong Yuxiu in, Jiang Yuzhi hurried off to find Diting.
In the backyard, several immortals and two dogs were loudly discussing something while eating, and there was also a curious living dead person secretly observing.
A strange man and a strange dog.
Jiang Yuzhi could roughly guess their identities. The man had a thin slit on his forehead and an imposing presence. The dog was a greyhound with long limbs, and it was quite intimidating when it wasn't panting.
Why are Erlang Shen and Xiaotian Dog in her house?
Di Ting spat out the dog leash from its mouth. "Zhi Zhi, this is Yang Jian and Xiao Tian Quan. They're staying at our house for a few days to help that person from heaven come down to inspect things. But don't worry about them."
Despite saying that, Jiang Yuzhi still maintained basic etiquette and bowed slightly to Erlang Shen, saying, "Please forgive me for the poor hospitality, Erlang Shen."
Yang Jian didn't seem to mind. "We were the ones who were bothering you." He waved his hand. "Shall I take Sui Gu and Fang Xiangshi to help unload the luggage?"
"Thank you for your trouble, Yang Erlang." Jiang Yuzhi understood that he was avoiding suspicion and not keeping anyone around.
Only Diting and Chichi remained in the backyard. Inside the house, Zhao Pingfeng and Jiang Yuzhi exchanged a glance, lightly clasped their hands in greeting, and then closed all the windows and doors.
In this way, Jiang Yuzhi wouldn't need to take the dog and sheep to other places.
The leash that Chichi was wearing was taken off and put back into the small bag.
Di Ting squatted down contentedly. "Now tell me, how did you bring this guy back?"
Jiang Yuzhi strolled to the recliner in the courtyard. Even a ghost would be tired from the long journey. "I found Granny Huang. She said there was a poor little guy and told me to take him with me when I met him. He was raised by the Prince of Huai'an in Wannan and never ate anyone."
Di Ting looked at Jiang Yuzhi with disdain, snorted, and nudged her waist with its head. "Ouch! You're so affectionate, why don't you let me hear you call out too! You just bring Taotie home like that? Aren't you afraid it'll open its mouth and eat us all up!"
Chichi valued this ghost that could suppress its appetite and couldn't bear to see the ghost being bullied. It immediately bleated and nudged Diting hard with its head, which hadn't grown any horns yet.
"Stop, stop, stop! Listen! Eat, eat!" Jiang Yuzhi was almost pushed to the ground. "Listen to me..."
The dog and the sheep started fighting again.
"I'll count to three. If you keep hitting me, I'm going to complain to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva! I'll take away three days' worth of snacks!"
The two chickens instantly fell silent, sitting upright on the ground, pretending to be obedient as they waited for Jiang Yuzhi to count.
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Author's Note: [Hugs]
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