That evening, the two went to the largest brothel in Jiangling. Usually, they would just ask a few questions and not let anyone get close. But today, there was a bold and clueless guy who came in and tried to sit on Jiang Chuting's lap. If Jiang Chuting hadn't stopped him, Lin Zhi would have almost broken his bones.
As Lin Zhi angrily dragged Jiang Chuting downstairs, a tall, handsome young man in a smart outfit walked towards them. He was looking around when his gaze suddenly met Jiang Chuting's. Startled, he exclaimed, "Chu..." The word "Ting" that he almost said was abruptly changed to "Ran" at Jiang Chuting's sudden gaze, sounding like he was stammering out "Chu Ran."
Lin Zhi glanced at him and asked Jiang Chuting, "You two know each other?"
Jiang Chuting hummed in agreement, "He's my friend." She never expected to run into Jiang Xian here.
Jiang Xian had known him for over a decade, so he naturally knew what he looked like in disguise and his alias. Fortunately, he was quick-witted and didn't expose himself.
Jiang Chuting walked towards him, and Jiang Xian also came forward. The two stood face to face. The good friends were very happy to be reunited.
Jiang Chuting asked, "Why did you come to Jiangling?"
Jiang Xian's face was full of smiles. "I'm here for the banquet. And you, what are you doing here?"
"I'm here to investigate some matters."
Jiang Xian's smile widened, and he patted Jiang Chuting on the shoulder, "The fact that we could meet unexpectedly shows that we have a deep connection."
From the moment they greeted each other, Lin Zhi sensed an unparalleled familiarity between the two, and her whole body tensed up involuntarily. Then, seeing Jiang Xian naturally put his arm around Jiang Chuting's shoulder, her eyes widened even more.
Jiang Xian naturally noticed Lin Zhi next to Jiang Chuting and said, "A new friend? Aren't you going to introduce me?" Jiang Xian blinked and looked at Lin Zhi. The boy's features looked somewhat familiar.
Besides his senior brothers, Jiang Xian was the one who knew most about his past with Zi Que. Jiang Chuting hesitated almost imperceptibly before saying to him, "His name is Lin Zhi."
Upon hearing Jiang Chuting mention the name, Jiang Xian paused for a moment. Lin Zhi? Well, if his fairly intelligent brain remembered correctly, this should be Yun Zique's son, right? No wonder he felt like he had seen him somewhere before.
But how could Chu Ting be with him?!
Jiang Xian was completely baffled. He exchanged a glance with Jiang Chuting, suppressed his surprise and doubt, and looked at Lin Zhi again without showing any emotion.
Jiang Chuting then said, "Lin Zhi, this is my friend, Jiang Xian."
The two people, each with their own thoughts, nodded slightly, as if to say hello.
It was too noisy to talk here, so the three of them went outside together.
On the way back to the inn, after hearing Jiang Xian's explanation, Jiang Chuting realized that the banquet he was referring to was the full moon celebration of the owner of Changliu Manor.
Jiang Chuting couldn't help but ask, "What is your relationship with Master Qiao?"
Jiang Xian explained awkwardly, "My mother and Master Qiao's mother were close friends and have kept in touch through letters. I missed Qiao Xun's wedding last time, but my mother asked me to come and join in the fun this time. Actually, I only met Qiao Xun when he was a child, but we weren't very close." To put it bluntly, his father wanted him to see how happy and fulfilled other men were with their beautiful wives and children, hoping to spur him to change his ways. He couldn't stand the nagging and had no choice but to come. He hadn't expected to run into his long-lost friend so unexpectedly, which was a pleasant surprise.
Jiang Chuting nodded in understanding: "I see."
Lin Zhi and Jiang Xian walked on either side of Jiang Chuting. Jiang Xian glanced at Lin Zhi several times out of the corner of his eye. He was full of doubts but couldn't bring himself to speak up. He could only keep them to himself and chatted with Jiang Chuting about random things, just like his style of writing letters. It was fragmented and made people feel that he had said a lot, but in fact, there was nothing substantial.
He was talking so fast that Lin Zhi didn't even have a chance to interrupt. Jiang Chuting was also lost in thought, seemingly unaware that he was being ignored, and could only follow beside him with a dejected look on his face.
Upon arriving at the inn, Jiang Xian chose the room to their left. Seeing that Jiang Chuting and Lin Zhi were sharing a room, he asked in surprise, "There seem to be empty rooms available. Why are you all squeezing into one?"
Lin Zhi had been waiting all this way, and just as he was about to speak, Jiang Chuting took his hand that was hanging by his side and confessed to Jiang Xian, "Because I'm with him." Upon hearing this, Lin Zhi immediately stared at him with bright eyes, and the tips of his ears turned slightly red.
Jiang Xian was stunned and bewildered upon hearing this. He looked at himself, then at Lin Zhi.
Being together? Is that what he means?
He's with Yun Zique's son?!
Jiang Xian finally reacted, his eyes widened, he gasped, and blurted out incredulously, "You're with him? You, you, you, are you crazy?!"
Jiang Chuting had no rebuttal.
Jiang Xian's reaction made Lin Zhi uneasy. Even if Chu Ran liked men, he didn't need to react so strongly. Staring sharply at him, Lin Zhi raised her voice slightly and asked, "What's wrong with Chu Ran being with me? Is that a problem?"
So, judging from the current situation, Lin Zhi has no idea of his true identity! Jiang Xian suppressed his inner roar, his lips twitched violently, and he said with difficulty, "Sorry, sorry, I was making a big fuss. Um, Chu Ran, we haven't seen each other for a long time, and I have a lot to say to you. I'll go downstairs and wait for you."
After saying that, he left with a strange look on his face.
As soon as he left, Lin Zhi grabbed Jiang Chuting's hand, becoming suspicious. "What does your friend mean? Why did he say you're crazy? He seems dissatisfied with me? What does he want to tell you? That you should leave me? You're not allowed to go!"
"No, you misunderstood him. He's just naturally prone to making a fuss," Jiang Chuting reassured him. "I'll go for a bit. You go back to your room and sleep first."
Lin Zhi refused, frowning as she said, "I don't want to. Something feels off. You're not just going to leave me like this, are you?"
Jiang Chuting raised her hand to touch his face, helplessly saying, "What are you thinking? I've known him for over ten years, I'm just catching up and coming back."
Lin Zhi was uneasy. Seeing that no one was around, Jiang Chuting took the initiative to kiss him and looked at him tenderly, "How could I bear to leave you? We really just wanted to catch up."
Lin Zhi remained anxiously locked in a stalemate with him, still unwilling to let go. Jiang Chuting pushed open the door, escorted him inside, and kissed him for a while before he reluctantly released her. "Then come back quickly." Her lonely gaze followed his departing figure.
On the top of a corner tower overlooking the water in Jiangling City, Jiang Xian handed a small jar of wine to Jiang Chuting, who was sitting next to him.
To be honest, it had been a long time since the two of them had drunk together.
Jiang Chuting took the wine jar but didn't drink it, her calm black eyes looking back at him.
Jiang Xian sighed and said, "Tell me, what exactly is going on between you and him?"
"As you can see."
"So tell me, does he still not know your true identity?"
“Yes.” Jiang Chuting said truthfully, “Moreover, he thought that I ruined his parents’ relationship and hated me very much.”
"So he hates you, but he also loves you?" Jiang Xian was completely convinced and asked sincerely, "Friend, you've made such a big fuss, how do you plan to clean up the mess?"
Jiang Chuting took a sip of wine, the evening breeze ruffling his hair, and gazed into the distance without replying.
Seeing this, Jiang Xian also took a swig of wine, shook his head, and sighed heavily. Things were already as they were; there was no point in saying anything more.
So I had no choice but to ask him, "Then tell me, how exactly did you and Lin Zhi get together?"
Jiang Chuting: "On your birthday last time, after we parted ways after drinking, I ran into Lin Zhi on my way back to the Nine Heavens."
Jiang Xian was taken aback. "Okay, so it turns out it has something to do with me."
There was no need for Jiang Xian to hide anything. Jiang Chuting told him everything that had happened during this period, including things about Pei Jing that were difficult to say in the letter.
For Jiang Xian, this was undoubtedly one blow after another. His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He held his breath and waited for him to finish before urgently asking, "You mean, not only are you with Yun Zique's son, but you've also become the Ninth Prince's teacher, and the Ninth Prince... he... he... he's fallen for you and wants you to wait for him to come and take you back to the palace??"
Jiang Chuting: "Mm."
Jiang Xian took a deep breath, then suddenly put the wine jar aside, stood up, and peered out at the lake below the corner tower.
Jiang Chuting: "What are you going to do?"
Jiang Xian: "I think it's very necessary for me to jump down and calm down."
Jiang Chuting pulled him back to sit down, and Jiang Xian looked back at him in frustration: "Chuting, how many more surprises do you have that I don't know about? Can you just tell me all at once?"
That's all.
Jiang Xian laughed in anger, gritting his teeth, "Is that all? Do you even know what situation you're in? You've been hiding your identity and getting together with your ex-lover's son, and you've even provoked the Ninth Prince, who might ascend the throne soon? I don't know what will happen to Lin Zhi in the future, but the Ninth Prince is notoriously ruthless and capricious. How many lives do you have to play with him? And you actually dared to lie to him? I think not only you, but that Lin family brat will also be in trouble!"
Jiang Xian said this now, so it seems that Pei Jing becoming emperor is beyond doubt. Jiang Chuting's breath hitched slightly, and he said firmly, "I will not let him make a move against Lin Zhi. If he makes a move, I will deal with him myself."
Jiang Xian stared at him silently for a long time, his feelings extremely complicated.
Before we broke up, I never imagined he could cause so much trouble. And no matter which side we're on, there's a risk of things going wrong, and the outlook isn't optimistic.
Jiang Xian stopped asking questions because he was speechless.
After a period of quiet drinking, Jiang Chuting thought of something and turned to ask him, "What were you doing at the brothel just now?"
"What could I do there? Just wander around aimlessly." Jiang Xian looked at him and asked, "And you, are you here to investigate that male prostitute you mentioned who jumped off the building?"
"Um."
Jiang Xian rolled his eyes, holding the wine jar, pondered for a moment, and suddenly looked at him and said, "I have an idea, but don't be angry when I tell you."
"I won't be angry with you, you said."
"From what you've said, I feel..." Jiang Xian's eyes seemed to see through everything as he confidently said, "Actually, whether she jumped off the building or not, whether she has a strange illness or not, is just a coincidence. She simply has an illness. It's all because Lin Zhi knows you are kind and righteous, and in order to meet you, he deliberately made these things seem extremely suspicious. He also deliberately assigned people to investigate, forcing you to continue meeting with him so he could use this opportunity to entangle you. To put it bluntly, he set a trap to lure you in. Otherwise, why wouldn't there be any important clues after so long? Now you're hooked, and he's continuing to accompany you on your investigations to cover up his lie. But just wait, this matter will soon make a huge breakthrough, because he can't keep up this act forever."
As Jiang Xian spoke these words solemnly, a full moon was directly behind him, and the bright moonlight seemed to be the light of wisdom emanating from him.
Jiang Chuting was stunned, then chuckled and denied it: "Lin Zhi wouldn't do that. There are indeed many suspicious points in this matter, and even if he wanted to meet with me, he wouldn't go to such lengths."
Seeing his disbelief, Jiang Xian immediately became somewhat deflated. "Chu Ting, you're very smart, but you become confused when it comes to matters of the heart and are easily deceived. Don't think I'm trying to sow discord; I just want you to be okay. Just remember my words for now and see if they come true. Whether you think this is a trap or not doesn't matter; I just don't want you to be kept in the dark, especially by the Lin family. If I'm wrong in the end, then I apologize to them."
Because of Zi Que's situation, even after so many years, his senior brothers and Jiang Xian all subconsciously felt that he was always too naive in matters of the heart and couldn't judge people well.
Jiang Chuting said gently, "I know you mean well, thank you." But regardless, he felt that Lin Zhi was at most going with the flow in this matter, and hadn't fabricated anything out of thin air. He trusted Lin Zhi.
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Chuting's eyes narrowed slightly.
From their elevated position, they could see far ahead. At that moment, in a distant alley, someone seemed to be cornered with no way out, and the situation looked dire.
By the light of the moon, Jiang Xian noticed it too, stood up and looked around, then said to Jiang Chuting, who had also gotten up, "Should we go over and take a look?"
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