Chapter 82 My Cousin Blushed
To say that Temuran truly wanted to kill Jiang Ru is not entirely true; he simply disliked the other side and needed someone to act as a target.
Unfortunately, the target he chose happened to be Jiang Ru.
Killing a tea-serving maid is nothing; you can even see her weeping and begging for mercy on her knees. This is the kind of show Temujin loves to watch. He is a king who has the power of life and death, and the life of anyone is in his hands.
However, Jiang Ru remained unmoved. She didn't even show the slightest fear. Instead, she calmly looked up at Pei Wu, as if Pei Wu were her protector.
After that glance, Pei Wu indeed picked up the conversation, saying without changing his expression, "Although she is just a maid, she is still a citizen of my Great Xia. The relationship between the king and my Great Xia is very close. Why make such a fuss over a maid?"
Timuyan was only teasing the maid and didn't necessarily have any real intentions. Pei Wu's words were within his expectations, but he noticed that the reactions of the two people opposite him were a bit off.
It doesn't seem like officials are protecting their own people; it's more like they're protecting their close relatives.
Temuyan looked up in surprise and examined the two women. They hadn't actually done anything intimate, but it was enough for Temuyan to understand that they were not maids at all, but clearly his wife.
That's quite strange. Temujin was sensible at fifteen and ascended the throne at twenty-two. He had many favorites in his harem, but he couldn't bring them out. Just how much did he like the two people opposite him to keep them by his side all the time?
Timuyan put away his playful smile, sat up straight, and glanced at the two of them. His brown eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, taking in everything, and his gaze carried a strange meaning.
Even if he saw something, Temuyan wouldn't say it aloud; he only expressed a slight mockery of the two people's actions in his heart.
Then the two envoys shook hands. Timuyan appeared and naturally took the main seat, while the Prime Minister of Northern Yan became the deputy envoy. The Prime Minister of Northern Yan and the Deputy Envoy of Great Xia bowed to each other and then bowed to Pei Wu.
Since both sides are of equal status, the proper etiquette is observed; there is no need to kneel, only to bow.
However, normally Pei Wu should have shown the respect due to a subject to the ruler of Northern Yan. But at this moment, Temuyan stood up and extended his hand to Pei Wu.
His hands were those of a typical martial artist, thick calluses and numerous wounds, large and small. In the Northern Yan, where martial arts were highly valued, the more scars a man had, the stronger he was considered to be. So when he saw that Pei Wu's hands did not have many scars, he raised an eyebrow.
Pei Wu reached out and shook his hand.
Perhaps intentionally wanting to make Pei Wu suffer a loss, Tie Muyan used some force in his hand, and the two's clasped hands secretly competed. The clasping lasted for so long that Jiang Ru couldn't help but glance at him.
Timuyan gritted his teeth and exerted his strength. After a while, he withdrew his hand with a livid face. He had not gained the upper hand in this exchange. When he released his hand, Pei Wu also calmly withdrew his hand, as if he had not been affected by the previous silent battle.
Temuyan maintained his hypocritical facade, uttered a few perfunctory words, and left with his men.
The door to the private room closed, and the deputy envoy beside Pei Wu said impatiently, "Lord Pei, shall we make our move?"
The arrival of the Northern Yan ruler in Jinglong may be a turning point for the Great Xia. If the rebel leader can be captured alive, the Great Xia will gain countless benefits.
Seeing that Temuyan had already left the stilted house, Pei Wu withdrew his gaze from the closed door. He simply said, "Temuyan, the ruler of Northern Yan, was born to a Hu woman and was not favored from a young age. Do you really think he didn't have a backup plan to climb up from such a situation?"
Pei Wu asked, "Don't you know that Temuyan has a biological brother?"
The deputy envoy was taken aback: "That is indeed the case."
Who can say for sure whether the person visiting today is Timur or his twin brother?
The deputy envoy still harbored doubts: "Didn't they say that Temuyan had already killed all his brothers?"
"Even if it is indeed Temuyan who came today, we should not act rashly. Otherwise, it would be considered that our Great Xia has broken the agreement. Moreover, the fact that Temuyan dared to show his face shows that he is not afraid."
He wasn't afraid of the Great Xia at all, which is why he dared to reveal his identity there. He was also confident that he could escape unscathed. If they actually made a move, it would be their mistake, and they might end up losing more than they gained.
Seeing that the deputy envoy still seemed unwilling, Pei Wu solemnly said, "Without my order, no one is allowed to make a move."
The deputy envoy immediately wilted like a frostbitten eggplant: "Yes."
Jiang Ru walked to the window and leaned against it to look down. Tie Muyan was tall and strong, standing out from the crowd of Da Xia people. Even from a distance, Jiang Ru could spot him at a glance.
Perhaps sensing Jiang Ru's gaze, he turned around in the crowd, his hawk-like eyes shooting straight at Jiang Ru. For some reason, Jiang Ru felt a chill run down her spine.
Jiang Ru was certain that this person was extremely dangerous.
She turned to look for Pei Wu, who had just finished reprimanding the deputy envoy. He walked towards her, and the two stood at the edge of the window, exchanging glances with Temuyan, who was among the pedestrians in the distance.
It was Temuyan who first looked away, waved to the two of them, and then disappeared into the crowd.
Jiang Ru spoke up: "He doesn't seem like a ruler."
He is very unlike a ruler, both in personality and behavior.
Pei Wu said, "The Northern Yan is skilled in martial arts, and he has not been properly trained since childhood, so he will be more unruly in his actions."
In other words, he was simple-minded but physically strong. Of course, Timuryan cannot be described as simple-minded at all. He was extremely cunning, otherwise he would not have been able to fight his way out in such a bad situation.
None of those who have earned this position are incompetent.
However, upon seeing him today, it becomes clear that Temuyan is not entirely like the legends suggest.
Everyone says that Timuryan is ruthless and cruel, killing his brother and father, but Pei Wu doesn't think he is truly so cold-blooded.
If he were truly cold-blooded, the current Eighth Prince of Northern Yan would not have submitted to Qi; he should have died long ago. How could they tolerate him continuing to cause trouble?
Jiang Ru didn't have a good impression of Tie Muyan and didn't want to talk about him anymore, so she tugged at Pei Wu's sleeve: "Have you heard that the fish in Jinglong is delicious? Would you like to try some?"
There was no food on the table, only a few plates of pastries. Jiang Ru hadn't eaten much that morning, and now she had been standing diligently the whole time to listen to the conversation, and she was getting hungry.
Pei Wu wasn't concerned about the food; he simply asked her, "Does your leg hurt?"
Jiang Ru shook her head: "It doesn't hurt." Then she called out to the outside of the private room, "Waiter, bring the dishes."
Soon, the waiter brought out a table full of dishes.
The fish in Jinglong was indeed different from that in Bianjing. It was cooked until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and coated with a layer of yellow sauce. People in Jinglong love sour flavors, and although the fish had a sour taste, it didn't clash at all. On the contrary, it was very appetizing. The group had a meal at the restaurant and enjoyed it to the fullest.
Jinglong had only recently been incorporated into the Great Xia Dynasty, and the customs of its people differed from those of the Great Xia. Their New Year was not in the first month of the lunar calendar, but before Grain Rain each year. Therefore, although the New Year celebrations had already passed, the New Year in Jinglong was still a little late.
As Pei Wu said, the people of Jinglong would hold a rain-seeking ceremony during the New Year and also release lanterns at night.
The New Year celebrations last for three days, and it is said that the rain-seeking rituals are very effective. After the New Year, there is often a long period of heavy rain.
Pei Wu had previously promised his men that they could go on a trip, but he could not be careless in his defenses, so he divided all his men into three groups, and each of them was given a day off.
The next morning, the sky cleared up, and the sweltering heat was dispelled by a splash of water. The man was wearing a black jacket, while the woman wore a white short shirt and a black ankle-length skirt. Their jade pendants jingled, showing that the people of Jinglong were indeed very wealthy, as could be seen from their clothing.
Jiang Ru sat by the window, listening to the sounds of children playing outside. Her gaze lingered on a particular point in the sounds, and then she stared blankly at that point.
They have been in Nanzhao for several months now, and according to the contract signed between Pei Wu and Bei Yan, they should have to stay in Nanzhao for a long time.
Outside, glistening water droplets floated on the horizon, mingling with laughter and chatter. Jiang Ru saw the sky filled with water droplets, and Jinglong's rain-seeking ceremony had begun.
There was the clanging of gongs, and the people were singing songs that Jiang Ru couldn't understand. It sounded like some kind of mysterious language, or like they were performing an ancient ritual. Jiang Ru was a staunch materialist, but at this moment she couldn't help but mutter, "Is it really useful?"
She had been in Jinglong for three days, and the weather there had been consistently hot and humid, without a single drop of rain. Looking up, the sun shone brightly under a clear blue sky. Jiang Ru began to doubt whether praying for rain could truly bring about such a thing.
Just then, a guard knocked on the door and told Jiang Ru that if she wanted to go out to play, they would escort her out. Jiang Ru glanced at the noisy crowd and hesitated, only asking, "Where is Pei Wu?"
Pei Wu left early this morning, and Jiang Ru didn't even see a trace of him. The guard said, "Lord Pei is discussing official business with the Prefect of Jinglong."
As expected, Jiang Ru listlessly slumped back onto the table: "Then I'll wait for him."
Despite saying she would wait, Jiang Ru couldn't resist going out in the afternoon. After wandering around, she only bought some dried fruit and then went to a jade shop. The shop had all sorts of strange and wonderful jewelry, with ivory, agate, jade, and other beads filling the shelves. Just one glance was enough to make her feel dazzling, and her wallet seemed about to be emptied.
Jiang Ru couldn't afford the jade, and there were plenty of such things in Bianjing. She originally just wanted to take a casual look, but before long, her attention was drawn to it.
She was mesmerized by a piece of kesi leather belt. The belt was finely woven with dense stitches and embroidered with a peacock. The green feathers were so lifelike that they seemed to come alive. Jiang Ru was mesmerized and thought that Pei Wu would look very good wearing it.
However, after inquiring about the price, Jiang Ru's restless heart gradually cooled down.
It's too expensive. Even though she's not short of money now, she was still shocked to hear this price. Spending so much money on a leather belt is too extravagant. Jiang Ru gritted her teeth and said, "Let's go, we won't buy it."
She hurried away from the jade shop as if fleeing, seemingly having forgotten about the leather belt. However, just as she was about to step into the post station, she paused.
That leather belt is really beautiful; it would suit Pei Wu very well if he wore it.
But it's really expensive.
After a fierce internal struggle, and thinking about how Pei Wu looked wearing it, Jiang Ru steeled her heart, turned around, and went back the way she came. Her heart was bleeding, but she still spent the money to buy the leather belt.
The leather belt was packed in a box and covered with a layer of silk cloth. Jiang Ru took this very expensive leather belt back to her residence.
Pei Wu still hadn't returned. As night fell, the people of Jinglong began to release lanterns. The lanterns illuminated the darkness, making the sky as bright as day. The stars stretched as far as the eye could see, and the long streets were brightly lit. The countless lanterns in the sky were the people of Jinglong's prayers for the future.
Jiang Ru looked up and watched the lights slowly rise. Some gradually drifted away and disappeared into the horizon, while others, under Jiang Ru's gaze, slowly floated to her window and hung on the windowsill without moving.
The wishing lantern struggled against the window frame, but got caught and couldn't fly far. Jiang Ru raised her hand, intending to rescue the lantern. When her hand touched the lampshade, she saw the note on the wishing lantern.
It wasn't that she intentionally wanted to see it, but the words on the note were right next to her, and she saw them with a casual glance.
The note read: May Ah Lang live a long and healthy life.
Jiang Ru stared at it for a while, then couldn't help but wonder, is it really useful?
Can the gods in heaven see their wishes and then grant them one by one?
But with so many wishing lanterns, can everyone's wishes really come true?
Jiang Ru freed the entangled prayer lantern. Unbound, the lantern slowly flew away, merging into the sky full of lights, and disappeared without a trace.
Jiang Ru looked up when she suddenly heard a knock on the door. With her permission, Pei Wu opened the door.
He stood at the doorway, dressed in a simple blue robe. When he saw Jiang Ru turn around, her face was illuminated by countless stars, and her eyes held countless bright lights. Her profile was gentle and tender. The moment she saw Pei Wu, her previous disbelief vanished. She smiled and said, "Pei Wu, let's release wishing lanterns together."
Pei Wu said, "Okay."
There were many vendors selling lanterns on the street. A lantern cost ten coins, and Jiang Ru bought two. She also borrowed paper and a pen.
Pei Wu carried two lanterns and watched as Jiang Ru looked around for a place to write, but there were too many people on the long street, and it seemed that there was no platform that could provide Jiang Ru with a place to write.
Pei Wu stretched out his arm: "You can write on my arm."
With no better option, Jiang Ru pressed the note onto Pei Wu's hand, holding the edge of the note with one hand and picking up a pen with the other.
As the pen touched the paper, Jiang Ru looked up and met Pei Wu's gaze, who was looking down at her. Afraid that he would see what she was writing, Jiang Ru said, "Close your eyes."
So Pei Wu closed his eyes and refused to look at her.
A tingling, itchy sensation came from his arm. Jiang Ru was writing on his arm. Jiang Ru's hand was pinching his arm and slowly moving down. Jiang Ru wrote ten characters.
Even though Pei Wu didn't want to peek, he couldn't help but be able to tell what Jiang Ru had written by observing the direction and shape of her brushstrokes. The little brush Jiang Ru used to write brushed against his arm and scratched at his heart. What Jiang Ru wrote was: May Pei Wu live a long and peaceful life.
She reserved her only wish for Pei Wu, and didn't even pray for herself.
After Jiang Ru finished writing, she put the note away and then told Pei Wu, "You can open your eyes now."
Pei Wu opened his eyes and saw Jiang Ru's smug eyes, which seemed to think he had covered his tracks perfectly. He saw the corners of her mouth curving up in satisfaction, and he decided to keep the fact that he already knew what Jiang Ru had written a secret from her.
After Jiang Ru finished writing, she handed the paper and pen to Pei Wu, then took the lantern from his hand and extended her arm in return: "You can borrow my hand."
Having learned from Jiang Ru's experience, Pei Wu would not walk into a trap again. He said, "No need."
Then Pei Wu turned his back, used his palm as a table, and wrote his wish on the paper: May Jiang Ru live a long and peaceful life.
It wasn't that he was imitating Jiang Ru; it was simply because his wishes were the same as Jiang Ru's.
The paper trembled slightly in the night breeze. As Pei Wu put pen to paper, the breeze stopped blowing. Only after he finished writing did a gentle breeze slowly return.
They handed the pens back to the vendors, who then took their own slips of paper and wishing lanterns. They tied the slips of paper securely to the lanterns, and Jiang Ru held the lanterns, gently releasing them. The lanterns were lifted by the wind and slowly flew into the sky, merging into countless wishes.
Pei Wu's lantern and hers were released into the air at the same time. The two wishing lanterns touched lightly in the air, then flew up together in a sticky mess, only to be scattered by a gust of wind, each drifting to different places, never to be connected again.
The two looked up, their eyes following the lights until they could no longer see them, before reluctantly turning their gaze away.
Jiang Ru asked Pei Wu, "Will our wish come true?"
Pei Wu immediately replied, "Yes."
He looked at Jiang Ru intently and repeated, "Yes."
Jiang Ru was delighted by his words. She tilted her head back, a bright smile blooming on her face, and secretly added a small wish for herself.
If she could, she wished she could be with Pei Wu forever and ever.
After releasing the lanterns, the two strolled around the market, buying some local Jinglong delicacies and odd little trinkets before heading back in high spirits.
Shopping with Pei Wu is so much better than shopping alone. No matter what she wants, Pei Wu will never say no. He will only feel that she hasn't bought enough, as if he wants to give Jiang Ru all his wealth. He will give Jiang Ru whatever she wants.
Back at their lodgings, Pei Wu carried loads of small items that Jiang Ru had bought for the two of them, and he still had to take them back to Jiang Ru's room.
After putting his things down, Pei Wu glanced at the sky outside the window; it was already 9 PM.
Jiang Ru had gone out for a stroll during the day, and Pei Wu knew that she must be tired after walking such a long way tonight. So Pei Wu said, "I'll have someone bring you hot water. Go to bed early tonight."
Jiang Ru nodded. She was indeed a little tired tonight, so she sat down at the table, intending to see Pei Wu off. However, Jiang Ru soon noticed that the box she had bought today was still on the table, and she hadn't had time to give it to Pei Wu.
She quickly grabbed Pei Wu, who was about to leave, and handed him the packaged box, with a hint of boasting: "Look what I bought for you."
Pei Wu cooperated and opened the box. Inside, wrapped in silk, was a leather belt with unique embroidery and exquisite patterns. It was not hard to guess the appearance of the belt, and its price was probably correspondingly high.
Pei Wu praised, "Very beautiful, thank you, cousin."
He had already decided that since his cousin had spent so much money on him, he should ask the guards who were with Jiang Ru how much Jiang Ru had spent on these things, and he would have to reimburse Jiang Ru from other sources.
As soon as she received his approval, Jiang Ru immediately beamed with joy. She urged, "Hurry up and put it on so I can see. I've never seen such a beautiful leather belt before. It will look great on you."
Putting it on now would mean Pei Wu would need to remove his leather belt. Removing his belt in a woman's room late at night seemed inappropriate to Pei Wu, so he suggested, "I'll put it on tomorrow, and my cousin can see then, okay?"
Jiang Ru didn't want to look at it again tomorrow: "Change it now."
Pei Wu hesitated for a moment: "Then I'll go back to my room and change before coming over."
Jiang Ru wouldn't listen to anything at that moment: "No, right here."
Pei Wu couldn't persuade Jiang Ru against her insistence. Fortunately, it was only a matter of loosening the leather belt, not taking off his clothes. Pei Wu had no choice but to lower his head and raise his hand to untie it.
His long, slender fingers were fastened to the jade belt around his waist. In truth, his actions had no romantic intent whatsoever, but at this moment, with only the two of them present, even if his actions were perfectly gentlemanly, it was hard not to make people think something.
Jiang Ru's usually slow-witted mind finally caught on at this moment. She looked at Pei Wu's waist, blushed for a moment, and looked away, not daring to look at Pei Wu anymore.
This was like shooting oneself in the foot; Jiang Ru was in great distress and could only watch as Pei Wu untied the knot and put on a new one.
Actually, she didn't dare to lift her head anymore, but Pei Wu called her name as if he were listening to her, and said, "I'm all tied up."
Jiang Ru glanced at it casually and said perfunctorily, "It looks good. You can go back now."
Just moments ago she was enthusiastically calling him "sister," but now she's ignoring him. It's hard not to wonder what's going on. He hesitated, looking at Jiang Ru's lowered head, then looked at himself suspiciously and asked, "Do I look bad in it?"
Actually, it looks good. Pei Wu's cyan robe and cyan leather belt are the perfect match, but Jiang Ru is feeling guilty and doesn't dare to look at Pei Wu, so she says insincerely, "It looks good."
Pei Wu could tell she was distracted, and he could only fall into self-doubt again. Jiang Ru had spent a lot of money to buy him a leather belt, but he didn't look good wearing it. Pei Wu said in a low voice, "If it doesn't look good, we'll pawn it tomorrow. It would be a waste to leave it with me."
Jiang Ru's flushed face finally cooled down a little after hearing those words. She was just a little perfunctory in her reaction, but Pei Wu, on the other hand, started thinking about all sorts of things.
Helpless, Jiang Ru had no choice but to look up, no longer avoiding Pei Wu's gaze. Instead, she carefully scanned his waist and then looked up at his face. Even though her heart was in turmoil, she still had to make time to coax Pei Wu: "It really looks good. I knew it would suit you well without even looking, which is why I didn't look closely."
If he could really tell what Pei Wu would look like without even looking, he wouldn't need to change it now. But Jiang Ru was praising him so sincerely, without the slightest hint of embarrassment, so Pei Wu decided not to expose her lie.
As for why Jiang Ru was absent-minded just now, Pei Wu took a closer look at Jiang Ru and noticed her excessively red face. He frowned and asked, "Why is your face so red? Are you feeling hot?"
Anxious, Pei Wu immediately reached out to check the temperature of Jiang Ru's face, but as soon as he reached out, Jiang Ru suddenly took a step back, avoiding his touch.
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