melodramatic plot
Amidst the cheerful atmosphere, several heavy footsteps echoed from the stairwell.
"What are you two talking about that makes you so happy?"
Upon hearing this sound, He Lin put down the soup spoon in his hand and stood up.
"father."
"Father?" Jiang Yi looked toward the source of the voice in astonishment.
It was already dark outside, and only a few candles were lit in the pavilion, making visibility poor, but Jiang Yi still managed to make out the appearance of the person who had come.
A broad smile appeared on that dignified face, quite different from the General He that Jiang Yi had imagined.
Xia Zhi told her that He Wei was the pillar of the Great Liang Dynasty, the Dingyuan General personally appointed by His Majesty, and had never been defeated in battle against the enemy. He was truly an ever-victorious general.
His Majesty's elder sister, Princess Qi Shuangyun of the Great Liang Dynasty, was his lawfully wedded wife. After returning victorious from the northern desert, she was further bestowed the title of Duke Protector of the Nation by His Majesty.
I initially thought he would be a stern and solemn old man, but now he seems to be in his prime and quite approachable.
Su Tong stood up and greeted him with a smile: "Didn't you say you were going to a banquet at the palace tonight? Why are you back so early?"
He Wei washed his hands in the copper basin brought by the maid. "The Empress Dowager is unwell, so His Majesty has ended the banquet early."
"Is the Empress Dowager alright?"
"I heard it was a headache, probably from catching a cold. There are so many imperial physicians in the palace, it should be fine."
"..."
During Su Tong and He Wei's conversation, Xia Zhi quietly poked Jiang Yi from behind, the meaning of which couldn't be clearer.
Jiang Yi sighed silently. She wasn't prepared to call a stranger "Dad."
He Lin had barely taken a small step when, without turning his head, he grabbed Jiang Yi's wrist and pulled her back.
The warm touch was real, it wasn't her imagination, He Lin really held her hand!
At this moment, He Wei also noticed that there was another person in the room. He glanced at his son and her holding hands and couldn't help but be stunned for a moment. "Who is this?"
Su Tong patted the arm of the person next to her and scolded, "Look at your memory! Our Lin'er's new bride! Didn't she receive someone's kowtow the day before yesterday?"
As if waking from a dream, He Wei slapped his forehead, threw his head back and laughed heartily: "Look at me, I'm old and senile. Oh dear, our Lin'er has really grown up, she's already married..."
He Lin smiled and secretly tugged at Jiang Yi's wrist.
Jiang Yi immediately understood his meaning, gently pulled away from He Lin's hand, stepped forward to bow to He Wei, and obediently said, "Father."
He Wei nodded in satisfaction, the wrinkles around his eyes crinkling together.
"Great, great! Our whole family is complete now, hahahahaha..."
"What could have made the general so happy? Tell us so we can all have a laugh."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a series of chaotic footsteps came from the stairwell.
Under the dim light, a woman dressed in a dark red dress and adorned with jewels walked at the front, leading a group of onlookers.
Jiang Yi didn't need anyone to remind her to guess who she was. Judging from her demeanor, besides the eldest princess of Daliang, there was probably no one else but the first wife of the general's mansion.
Seeing this, Su Tong suppressed her smile and became respectful, slowly bowing: "Madam, have you eaten so late? If you don't mind, please eat here. I'll have them set out the dishes again."
After saying that, she waved her hand, about to tell Qinglian to clear the food off the table, but He Wei grabbed her hand and said expressionlessly, "No need, I think this table is just right."
Qi Shuangyun's gaze fell on He Wei and Su Tong's clasped hands, and finally she looked around, her eyes gradually filling with anger. She raised her hand and slapped Su Tong hard across the face.
"You bitch!"
"Tong'er!"
"mother!"
The father and son shouted in unison, and He Wei's face immediately darkened. He steadied the waist of the person next to him and pulled her into his arms.
Then he turned and glared at the culprit, shouting, "Qi Shuangyun, don't go too far!"
With so many maids in the attic, not to mention the two juniors He Lin and Jiang Yi, Qi Shuangyun actually disregarded her status and openly hit someone, clearly intending to give Su Tong a hard time.
She sneered, "Too much? She dared to release this monster while I was away, is she trying to ruin our entire General's Mansion?!"
Jiang Yi gasped. What a melodramatic love story between parents! But she understood the meaning behind what the so-called first wife was saying.
It must be because Madam Tong sent someone to bring her out while He Wei and she were not at the mansion.
Ultimately, it was because of her that Madam Tong received a slap for no reason. It seems that life isn't easy for this mother and son in the manor either...
He Wei said coldly, "It was my idea, it has nothing to do with her."
"Is that so? The general just returned from a banquet at the palace, how come this fiend is sitting here in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea? And you still say it has nothing to do with this wretch!"
"What exactly do you want?!"
"Guards, lock this monster in the backyard!"
Two men with swords at their waists and wearing armor came up behind them. These were not ordinary servants, but palace guards!
Upon seeing this, He Wei's eyes widened, and he stammered angrily, "You..."
"General, have you seen clearly? They are the people of the Emperor's court, and they are not under your jurisdiction."
Qi Shuangyun's words carried a clear threat. If He Wei continued to press the matter, it might escalate, and if the person in the palace found out, Jiang Yi would be doomed. After all, she was just a lowly concubine's daughter...
He Lin frowned, a cold glint flashing in the depths of his eyes, but no one could see it. He stepped forward and blocked Jiang Yi's path, while Gu Ziyu also stared intently at the two guards.
"...Look at this! It hasn't been long, and our General's Second Young Master has already been bewitched by this enchantress. He Lin, do you have no sense of propriety? If you continue to protect her, I'll have no choice but to lock you up too!"
He Wei roared, "How dare you!"
Su Tong broke free from his arms, lifted her skirt, and knelt before Qi Shuangyun, pleading, "No, Madam, it's all my fault. Please don't treat the two children like this. Yi'er is truly fully recovered. She's not a demon; she's Lin'er's new bride..."
"What are you standing there for? Why aren't you making a move?"
As soon as the two guards moved, Jiang Yi couldn't help but chuckle, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
Sure enough, it's the same old, tired trick.
She walked around behind He Lin and, under everyone's gaze, went to Su Tong and helped her up.
"Mother, I'm sorry, it's all my fault."
This apology was a way of making up for the slap she received for no reason.
Su Tong shook her head, her eyes filled with worry. If she left, the First Madam would definitely not let her off easily. How could a young girl like her, who had never seen such methods, withstand it?
Jiang Yi continued, seemingly oblivious to everyone else, "I've kept everything Mother said in mind. I'll take good care of myself. Father, I'm leaving."
She didn't look like she was about to be placed under house arrest; she looked more like she was going to a banquet.
Before leaving, Jiang Yi glanced sideways and surprisingly had an urge to turn back and take another look at He Lin. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but chuckle to herself. Well, handsome men do have a great attraction for her.
Forget it, I should just mind my own business first.
Qi Shuangyun gave a wink to the maid beside her. Jiang Yi had only taken a few steps when she was suddenly pushed hard from behind with a "thump" and fell face down.
Holy crap!
Jiang Yi couldn't hold back and blurted out her favorite phrase.
He didn't hit his face, but both of his elbows definitely hit the ground.
In the midst of the chaos, Su Tong exclaimed in surprise, and Xia Zhi and she quickly helped her up, one on each side.
"Yier, are you alright? Did you hurt yourself? Let me see."
Jiang Yi rubbed her arm and grinned, "It's nothing, I just tripped over my skirt. It's alright."
Anyone with eyes in this room could see that it was clearly the maidservant of the First Madam who pushed the person down, but Jiang Yi claimed that she tripped accidentally. It seems that she herself is well aware of the situation and knows how to protect herself.
Qi Shuangyun curled her bright red lips and said coldly, "Lin'er, you are indeed rather clumsy as a bride. I will ask His Majesty to annul this marriage and find you a noble lady from a prestigious family in the capital. What do you think?"
The marriage between He Lin and Jiang Yi was personally bestowed by His Majesty. The fact that He Lin, as the so-called legal mother, had to petition His Majesty for a divorce was an insult that was self-evident.
He Lin clenched his fist, then slowly relaxed it, his face showing no displeasure. "Thank you for your kindness, Madam."
Qi Shuangyun smiled broadly, but there was no smile in her eyes. "Since there's nothing else, aren't you leaving?"
Jiang Yi smiled brightly: "What you say is true, Madam. My parents always said I was clumsy and stupid. I never thought I would still be so reckless after marrying into my husband's family. From now on, I will definitely cultivate my character and recite scriptures to pray for Madam's blessings morning and night."
Qi Shuangyun narrowed her long, phoenix-shaped eyes: "It's good that you think that way. Take her away!"
Jiang Yi bowed to the elders in turn, and then was pushed down the pavilion by two guards.
The autumn night breeze brought a touch of coolness, which felt incredibly refreshing on Jiang Yi's face. She took two deep breaths and then exhaled slowly. Ah, it was the free and fresh air!
You old witch, just you wait! It's always Jiang Yi who bullies others, when has it ever been her turn to be bullied?!
It was pitch black all around. Several red lanterns hung under the eaves. A gust of wind blew by, and the lanterns flickered slightly, illuminating the figures of a few people.
Luckily, someone was with her; otherwise, she would have been terrified to walk this road alone.
Jiang Yi reached out and touched her wrist, where there was a jade bracelet. Su Tong had given it to her before she left, when Qi Shuangyun wasn't looking.
Jiang Yi understood what Su Tong meant.
She's watched countless palace dramas, so why would she be afraid of palace intrigue? At worst, she'll die in the fighting, but maybe if she's rescued in time, she can even travel back to her original world!
Inside, sandalwood incense burned. He Lin stood motionless by the window, lost in thought.
Gu Ziyu came in from outside, holding a white feather in her hand. Following his gaze, she looked out the window and found He Lin staring blankly. So she moved her eyes slightly and asked softly, "Is the young master worried about the young mistress?"
He Lin casually glanced at him, and Gu Ziyu felt guilty, cold sweat breaking out on his back. He raised his hand to rub his nose to cover it up, and chuckled, "Just kidding, just kidding, Yanzhi wrote a letter."
He Lin took the feather and walked slowly to the desk, where Gu Ziyu helped him remove the lampshade.
He Lin then burned the base of the feather over the candle flame a few times, and a line of clear characters gradually appeared on it.
After reading it, he threw it directly into the charcoal brazier. The flames quickly engulfed the white feathers, burning them to ashes, and they turned into a wisp of smoke that drifted into the sky.
He Lin coughed lightly twice, his fist pressed to his lips. Gu Ziyu frowned and looked at the medicine on the table, which had long since gone cold.
"Young master, what's wrong with you..."
He Lin knew what he was going to say. "It's alright. The poison has already penetrated deep into the lungs and internal organs. Drinking it or not makes no difference."
"But I'm worried..."
“I know what I’m doing.” He Lin walked around to the table and sat down, dipped his pen in ink, and hesitated before saying, “Ziyu, you… send a few people to protect Miss Jiang secretly, without letting anyone find out.”
Upon hearing this, Gu Ziyu burst out laughing.
He Lin looked up at him.
Gu Ziyu immediately stopped smiling and said seriously, "Yes, I will go right away."
This is truly a case of an iron tree blooming after a thousand years; I must tell Shan Yanzhi about it tomorrow…
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