Chapter 34, the Thirty-Fourth Meeting: Betrothal
The surveyor glanced arrogantly at Jiang Linzhi and said to Lu Huantang, "One rich mine, a chalcopyrite mine. And one ink oil mine."
Ink oil is even more precious than copper ore.
Lu Huantang looked at Jiang Linzhi, somewhat bewildered. Jiang Linzhi stared blankly, mouth slightly agape. After a long while, Jiang Linzhi came to her senses, "Holy crap, that's way too accurate."
Lu Huantang was in turmoil, unsure whether to be happy or disappointed. He was happy that the mine had been opened, meaning Jiang Linzhi's long-term efforts had not been in vain; however, he was conflicted because the deal was final, and Jiang Linzhi had no way to break the contract.
As expected, Jiang Linzhi didn't show any obvious excitement. She pulled Lu Huantang and said, "We can leave this to them. Let's pack up and go back to Beijing."
Throughout the journey, neither of them engaged in any flirting; the awkwardness between them was even more pronounced than when they were waiting for the mine.
Making an agreement is easy, but putting it into practice is another matter entirely, especially when it's a marriage agreement involving two living, breathing people. Lu Huantang, assuming she was somewhat unwilling, spoke first, "If Miss is unwilling to accept that bet, then consider it a joke."
Jiang Linzhi retorted, "What do you mean I'm unwilling? I am willing! What about you? You're now a Marquis of a Thousand Households, and you'll climb the ranks step by step. My status won't be of any help to you; in fact, it might even hold you back. You need to think this through." Jiang Linzhi's thoughts were always quirky yet realistic, completely ruining the romantic atmosphere from just moments before.
That's a very insightful point, but these words also reflect Jiang Linzhi's own thoughts; she also has other, better candidates.
Lu Huantang shook his head helplessly, then suddenly cupped Jiang Linzhi's head and kissed her fiercely, filled with anger and resentment at being played and used.
It was a kiss devoid of any romance, lips and teeth entwined and torn apart, a soft tongue breaking down defenses, conquering and overwhelming the other until they were powerless to resist and surrendered.
However, both sides were evenly matched, and both were veterans of the battlefield. In the end, Jiang Linzhi used magic to set Lu Huantang's clothes on fire, and the protracted battle came to an end.
Jiang Linzhi leaned back in her chair, panting heavily, her glistening lips slightly parted.
Lu Huantang waved his hand to extinguish the flames on the hem of his robe, wiped the glistening liquid from the corner of his mouth, and laughed, "Miss and I are such a perfect match, there could be no one better." With that, he turned and left gracefully.
Inside the door, Jiang Linzhi wiped the glistening tears from his lips, his eyes darkening slightly.
With the arrangements at the mine settled, the two set off back to the capital. Strangely, it was the Regent who invited them back, and they even changed the edict of conferring the title of Marquis of a Thousand Households to that of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households.
Jiang Linzhi was curious and asked as well. But all he got from Lu Huantang was, "When you're going to be my future husband, being bullied every day, you can't do without some tricks up your sleeve."
Her apprentice had long since graduated and could no longer help him in every way. Jiang Linzhi didn't investigate further.
Before returning, Jiang Linzhi heard that the lead surveyor had fallen to his death while chasing a wild rabbit down the mountain. He glanced at Lu Huantang, who remained expressionless. Jiang Linzhi shrugged and said, "The food isn't good enough. Let's dismiss them. Give his share of the money to his men. Make sure they eat and drink well these next few days."
There was no way they could ever leave these mountains again. Jiang Linzhi's trusted confidants knew this perfectly well and bowed their heads in agreement.
Upon returning home, the two exchanged birth certificates as is customary, but tacitly kept it a secret. However, despite their secrecy, their increasingly intimate behavior was obvious to everyone.
The first to be affected was Qi Lingjun. The day before the Qixi Festival, Qi Lingjun was reviewing documents and casually said, "Going out with Lord Lu?"
Jiang Linzhi picked out the clothes and jewelry she would wear tomorrow and asked, "Yes, which one do you think looks best?"
“They’re all the same, Lord Lu can’t tell the difference.”
Jiang Linzhi put down the clothes and leaned closer, asking, "Are you jealous?"
Qi Lingjun turned his head away, avoiding her touch: "Miss should be more careful about the separation of men and women now, Marquis Lu will not be happy about it."
Jiang Linzhi frowned and said with certainty, his hand frozen in mid-air, "You're blaming me."
"I wouldn't dare, Miss is like a second parent to me, how could I dare?" He said he wouldn't dare, but his tone and posture were really disrespectful.
Jiang Linzhi was initially willing to coax him, but seeing that he didn't know how to be pleasing, she turned cold: "Yes, of course you can't argue with a marquis, so you come and give me, a commoner, a cold shoulder." After saying that, she didn't even bother to pick out her clothes and strode away.
This wasn't the first time the two of them had such a tense argument. Every time, Jiang Linzhi would be the first to offer a way out. This time, however, Jiang Linzhi lost her temper and dragged Lu Huantang out on the Qixi Festival without even saying hello.
Having not eaten at a roadside stall for a long time, Jiang Linzhi hurriedly went to the noodle stall and ordered a medium-spicy bowl of noodles as usual.
The spiciness made me sniffle constantly, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on my nose and forehead. My face was also slightly red from the spiciness, but it gave me a healthier complexion.
Lu Huantang took out a handkerchief and handed it to Jiang Linzhi, saying with a face full of doting affection, "You really like their noodles."
Behind them, steam rose and people chatted idly. Jiang Linzhi was among them, slurping noodles with his legs apart, hissing repeatedly from the spiciness. "Hiss, it's definitely going to sizzle. Aren't you going to eat?"
Meals at the border are irregular, and Lu Huantang's stomach couldn't handle such spicy food. He smiled, shook his head, handed over a tissue, and said, "Watching you eat makes me so happy."
"You smooth talker," Jiang Linzhi poked a hole in the stinky tofu and let it simmer in the soup, "Come with me to release river lanterns later, hmph."
"There are also archery and riddle games, let's go and have some fun."
Someone at the table behind him was urging him to bring his noodles, so the old man hurriedly took the noodles over. As he passed Jiang Linzhi, his hand suddenly slipped, and the whole bowl of steaming noodles splashed towards Jiang Linzhi.
Just as a bowl of noodles covered in chili oil was about to be dumped directly on Jiang Linzhi's head, Lu Huantang reacted quickly, grabbing Jiang Linzhi's shoulder and pulling her to the other side of the table.
The sound of shattering porcelain shattered, silencing the noisy conversation. Scalding soup and broken pieces of porcelain splashed everywhere, releasing white steam even in the summer heat. It was so hot that if it got on you, it would surely burn your skin.
The old man was terrified and rushed forward to check. After confirming that he hadn't been burned, he kept bowing and apologizing. His hunched back was like a withered branch, and it seemed that once bent, he would never straighten up. It was truly heartbreaking to see.
Jiang Linzhi waved his hand and hurried over to help him up, laughing, "It's alright, it's summer, hands get sweaty and slippery. I've eaten here so many times, it's no big deal."
But the old man still kept going forward to apologize in fear.
Suddenly, a flash of cold light stung the onlookers, blinding them. His martial arts instincts, honed since childhood, compelled Lu Huantang to instinctively push Jiang Linzhi away, but it was too late; a dagger was already embedded in Jiang Linzhi's abdomen.
Lu Huantang kicked the old man onto the stall, which instantly collapsed. The old man's tendons and ligaments had been broken by the kick, leaving him limp and unable to move, only able to let the boiling water in the pot pour over him.
Despite the excruciating pain, the old man gritted his teeth and remained silent, his withered face turning bluish-purple.
The people eating noodles screamed and scattered.
Lu Huantang quickly checked Jiang Linzhi's wound. Fortunately, he pushed him away, and the dagger only went in about a finger's width.
Lu Huantang breathed a sigh of relief, but thinking that Jiang Linzhi, who was used to a life of luxury, could dislocate his wrist by cracking a whip, he was worried and wanted to take Jiang Linzhi to a clinic.
Jiang Linzhi nonchalantly pulled out the dagger, letting the blood slowly stain his clothes red. He walked up to the old man, squatted down, tilted his head, and asked with an innocent look, "We've known each other for a long time, so why did you want to kill me?"
That's the way a cat plays with a mouse after catching it; it's a warning sign that it'll tear its prey apart and swallow it whole.
The usually busiest streets were deserted, and the evening breeze swirled around the flickering lanterns, making a "whooshing" sound like the low howl of a wolf.
Apart from this street, the rest of the place was bustling with activity, and no one knew what was happening here. Laughter and cheerful voices filled the air, making this street eerily quiet.
The old man sneered, his rough laughter echoing through the empty street, sending chills down his spine. He mocked, "You've committed too many sins to remember?"
Even with his tendons and veins severed, the old man still tried to pull open his collar with his aged hands, revealing a brand on his collarbone with the character "反" (rebel) clearly visible.
Lu Huantang had never seen this mark before. If it were a prisoner, they would definitely have it tattooed on their face. Why would it be carved in such an inconspicuous place? And looking at the old man's expression, why does he seem so proud?
Upon seeing the brand, Jiang Linzhi's playful expression vanished. She even reached out her hand, disregarding the filth, as if to touch the brand.
Lu Huantang quickly drew his sword and placed it against the old man's neck, wary of his every move, fearing that he might do something else to Jiang Linzhi.
Jiang Linzhi saw the blood on his hand, paused for a moment, and as if not wanting to smear the word "rebel," silently withdrew his hand and said to Lu Huantang, "I have something to say to him. Please keep an eye on the person who comes."
Lu Huantang had never seen any emotion in Jiang Linzhi's eyes other than teasing, inquiry, and boredom. But at this moment, that mark was like a boulder, smashing a huge hole in Jiang Linzhi's icy surface that revealed all her true nature, exposing the unfathomable depths within her.
Jiang Linzhi's eyes overflowed with sorrow, which lingered in the rising steam.
Lu Huantang felt a little reluctant. He felt that if he stayed any longer, Jiang Linzhi would burst into tears. He retreated to the street corner five zhang away, with his back to them.
Jiang Linzhi said softly, "I remember you, Duan Silang. You and your five brothers came to join my sect." As he spoke, Jiang Linzhi placed his other clean hand on Duan Silang's shoulder.
Where his palms touched, it seemed as if countless energies flowed through him. Old Man Duan instantly felt his body filled with energy, and he could move his arms and legs again, even becoming stronger than before.
In an instant, he came back to life, bringing the dead back to life and healing bones.
He looked at Jiang Linzhi in disbelief, and after a long while, he said with realization, "They gave you this, so you gave up what you insisted on?"
His tone remained contemptuous and disdainful.
The wind died down, and the "whooshing" sound gradually faded away.
Jiang Linzhi glanced at the sky, stopped her lingering tears, immediately got up and walked towards the street corner without looking back, saying indifferently, "Go quickly, go far away, and don't come back."
Seeing that she didn't take him seriously, the old man felt a deep resentment rising in his heart.
He had assumed she was long dead, but one day he saw her while selling noodles. Her face showed no signs of aging, her habits were exactly the same, even the notch in her ear was identical. He suddenly realized—he had been deceived, and his comrades had been deceived too. She hadn't died at all; instead, she had abandoned them, kneeling before the powerful and wealthy who were loudly promoting the medicine, begging for a life of luxury and honor to survive.
But it doesn't matter. Thinking of his meticulous plan, the old man laughed heartily and raised his dagger again. "My dagger is smeared with powder from my snuff bottle. In less than five years—"
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