Chapter 31 I only ask for one heart, to stay together until our hair turns white.
She Erniang leaned over Zhou Congxian's shoulder and shook her head almost imperceptibly.
"The steward said you came to the White Horse Temple and asked for something."
Zhou Congxian's gaze swept across her face and then landed on a few pieces of paper on the ground.
Jiang Shiyao hurriedly reached out and cupped his face, turning it towards him. Her heart was in her throat.
"I...I only ask for one man's heart, to stay with him until we grow old..."
Zhou Congxian's gaze returned to her face; the two were now very close.
They were so close they could hear each other breathing.
Zhou Congxian did not respond, and his expression remained unchanged, his eyes seeming to see right through him.
She felt her heart sink even deeper, and then looked in Fu'er's direction.
"There were too many people today, and Fu'er didn't have enough fun."
Jiang Shiyao pretended to be calm and composed.
"I'll take her to whatever she wants to play."
Zhou Congxian replied casually, but he still caught a glimpse of the things on the ground out of the corner of his eye.
One of them is facing up.
It is a book.
The next moment, a hand came across and picked up the things on the ground.
Why are you running so fast? Are you in a hurry to be reborn?
As she picked them up, She Erniang cursed and swore like a shrew.
Under Zhou Congxian's gaze, she put away the books and turned to Jiang Shiyao.
"Thank you for lending me the money for incense, madam. Where is your residence? I will deliver it to you another day."
Jiang Shiyao breathed a sigh of relief and was about to speak when Zhou Congxian interrupted her.
"No."
She Erniang glanced at Zhou Congxian, who was full of possessiveness, and said, "Then thank you, young master and madam."
After She Erniang left, Zhou Congxian's gaze finally fell on Jiang Shiyao.
His voice was devoid of warmth.
"Do you need money? I think I heard you say you were leaving?"
Jiang Shiyao's lips trembled slightly. "There are too many people at the temple fair today. I said I would leave early. Where do you think we should leave, Your Highness?"
Zhou Congxian let go of her, "Since there are so many people, let's go back early."
"The Empress Dowager's birthday is in two days. With the princes of the vassal states coming to the capital and neighboring countries paying tribute, there will inevitably be unrest in the capital. Stay at home and don't go out."
Jiang Shiyao lowered her eyelashes slightly, "Yes."
Zhou Congxian glanced back at her, then softened his tone, "Once this period is over, I'll take you and Fu'er to Dongshan Manor to escape the summer heat."
"Fur was born there. You haven't been there since she was born, have you?"
Jiang Shiyao gazed at the ever-changing white clouds on the horizon. "No need. Miss Song should be arriving by then. Everyone in the manor is busy. How can we spare anyone to take me to Dongshan Manor?"
She added, "Next year, there's plenty of time later."
Seeing her gazing into the distance, Zhou Congxian inexplicably turned around and embraced her.
For some reason, he felt that only by holding her tightly in his arms would she stay peacefully by his side.
Jiang Shiyao chuckled and lifted her head from his embrace. "What are you doing, Your Highness? This is a sacred Buddhist site."
"Father!"
Just as he opened his mouth, unsure how to explain, Fu'er saw him from afar.
Zhou Congxian released her and lifted his daughter onto his shoulders.
"Fu'er, is the temple fair fun?"
Fu'er, perched on her father's shoulders, could see even further.
"This is fun! Wow! Daddy, there's a ring of fire up ahead!"
When they were down the mountain, the crowds were so dense that it was difficult to carry Fu'er. So, apart from the acrobatic performances, they only took Fu'er to see some of the less crowded stalls.
So, the little girl hadn't had enough fun, and now sitting on her father's shoulders, she naturally wanted him to play with her a little longer.
As if to escape the feeling of being at a loss just now, Zhou Congxian carried his daughter down the mountain, saying, "Okay, Daddy will take Fu'er to see."
Watching the father and daughter walk away, Jiang Shiyao pursed her lips.
Madam He came forward and said, "My lady, it seems that even if Miss Song marries into the family in the future, you don't need to worry."
Shuangjiang also came over with a grin, "My lady, I feel that the young master treats you differently."
Aren't they the same?
All she knew was that she was reborn because she had been persecuted to death.
Jiang Shiyao smiled, did not respond to their words, and took a step forward.
Mother He and Shuangjiang exchanged glances, feeling that their mistress was somewhat...
Unhappy?
When Jiang Shiyao reached the mountain gate, a child accidentally bumped into her.
The child stumbled and fell flat on his back.
As she bent down to help the child up, something was slipped into her hand.
Jiang Shiyao's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately stuffed it into her sleeve.
"Be careful, run slowly."
She touched the top of the child's head, and immediately felt much better.
She Erniang's figure then disappeared into the crowd.
Mother He and Shuangjiang caught up with her, "Wife, how are you?"
Jiang Shiyao's lips curled up. "It's alright, how much strength can a child have?"
"Go back early."
Mother He and Shuangjiang looked at each other again.
So, you're happy again?
The happiest person today was Fu'er.
I played until I was exhausted, and fell asleep as soon as I got on the bus.
Zhou Congxian held his sleeping daughter in his arms, watching Jiang Shiyao's lips curl into a slight smile, her eyes practically overflowing with joy.
"Are you that happy today?"
Jiang Shiyao turned her head to look at him and realized that her cheeks were sore.
From the moment she received her passport and the road sign, the smile on her face never faded.
She touched her face. "Yes, it's been a long time since I've been this happy. I'm always confined to the mansion. Fu'er has grown up. The small courtyard that can be walked in ten steps is no longer enough for her to run around in."
As long as you leave the capital.
In the future, her daughter will be free to run and laugh in the vast world!
Zhou Congxian didn't reply to her, but the book flashed through his mind.
It's unsettling.
*
After noon, it rained.
The air smelled of dirt, and my shoes were covered in mud as I walked.
When Shuangjiang hurriedly went out the back door with an umbrella, she almost bumped into Wang Mama in the kitchen.
Mrs. Wang stood with her hands on her hips, ready to scold, but was pulled back by someone nearby.
"That's Shuangjiang, from the old lady's courtyard."
Mother Wang asked in confusion, "Didn't they already go to Madam Jiang's courtyard?"
The bystanders gave Wang's mother a meaningful look, said nothing more, and turned to get back to work.
If she hadn't been somewhat familiar with Madam Gao, who would have known that the woman currently serving Lady Jiang during the Frostfall Festival was the woman prepared for the Crown Prince?
It wasn't until they reached the main street that Shuangjiang finally let out a slow sigh of relief.
He turned and walked towards a carriage shop on the side of the road.
"Hey buddy, I'd like to rent a car."
She folded the umbrella, revealing her beautiful face.
This isn't Frost's Descent, it's clearly Jiang Shiyao.
He Dayou delivered a letter saying that the grain depot was being bullied by two other major grain merchants, demanding that they either move out immediately or transfer ownership entirely.
Jiang Shiyao knew this scene would happen sooner or later.
She just hadn't expected it to come so soon; she hadn't even had time to think of a countermeasure.
Unable to find any excuse to leave the manor, she could only tell Shuangjiang that she wanted to ask Lord Liu, whom she had met at the wonton stall last time, for help in sending a message to her brother back home.
Shuangjiang thought that Jiang Niangzi wanted to ease the conflict between her and her brother, so she readily agreed.
Jiang Shiyao sighed, thankfully it was the time of Frost's Descent.
If it were Mingyu, she would not only relentlessly pursue the matter to the end, but would also immediately inform Zhao of her whereabouts.
It's a bit far from the Duke's mansion to the granary in the south of the city.
But today it was raining, and there were few pedestrians on the street, so the horse-drawn carriages traveled smoothly and sped along the road.
When Jiang Shiyao arrived, He Dayou was at a loss.
Just when there was a glimmer of hope, a bucket of cold water was poured over my head.
"Manager He."
He Dayou quickly stood up, "Madam Jiang."
Jiang Shiyao glanced at the granary, "Has anyone been stealing the grain?"
He Dayou shook his head, "Not yet."
"But that group of people came with great force. If I hadn't said that day that we had a boss behind us, they probably would have overturned our grain carts."
Jiang Shiyao: "Who do you think the boss is?"
He Dayou slapped his thigh, "How could I dare say that! I just gave a vague answer."
"Madam Jiang, please make a decision quickly, what should we do?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than the door to the granary was kicked open.
That menacing group of people came again.
"Oh, you haven't moved in yet. Looks like you've thought it through and are planning to sell it to us."
The man in the lead was as thin as a monkey, and his body was hunched over, making him look nothing like a good person.
As soon as he entered, he saw that there was another woman there.
"Oh my, so this young lady is the master!"
Jiang Shiyao was dressed in her frost-covered clothes, her hair was down, and she had a beautiful face. No one would guess that her child was already over three years old.
She coldly observed these lawless people.
"Even under the emperor's nose, forced buying and selling still happens!"
Xue San threw his head back and laughed loudly, as if he had heard a joke.
"You don't even bother to find out my name, Xue San, before you do business with me!"
"Without my permission, Xue San, who would dare to do business here!"
Jiang Shiyao said, "The official document was signed, and the government office stamped it."
"Even the officials don't interfere with my business, so who are you to ask me to burn incense and pray to Buddha?"
Xue San stroked his mustache and laughed.
"Hey! You're right. If no one had burned incense for me, Xue San, no one would have been able to open the shop."
As he spoke, his shifty eyes darted around, "It seems this young lady is new to the capital and doesn't even know the rules for doing such a big business."
"However, what can I, Third Master Xue, do? I'm a soft-hearted man, especially when I see a pretty young lady—"
"It's so itchy!"
The servants behind Xue San burst into laughter.
"Third Master, don't scare that young lady!"
"She's much prettier than the girls at Chunhua Pavilion! Even Third Master can't stand it!"
Xue San turned his head and waved to them.
"Get out of here, all of you!"
The group of men left the granary with smiles on their faces.
Xue San squinted at He Dayou behind Jiang Shiyao and said, "You, why don't you get lost?"
He Dayou casually picked up a bamboo pole used for checking grain from the wall and placed it in front of Jiang Shiyao.
"what you up to!"
He was greedy and afraid of death, but he still had some manly courage.
Moreover, compared to the little punk in front of him, he was more afraid of Prince Zhou.
Xue San clicked his tongue softly.
He's been in the capital for so long, yet he hasn't shown Xue San any respect.
He raised his hand and grabbed the bamboo pole, just as he was about to thrust it out.
In a flash, a massive object slammed into his forehead. In that instant, he could almost hear the sound of something rattling inside his head.
Jiang Shiyao held up an iron shovel used for shoveling grain.
If Xue San dares to make another move, smash it again!
The servant who had been guarding the door noticed immediately that Xue San had been beaten.
"Third Master got beaten up!"
A group of people rushed in.
He Dayou reacted quickly and took Xue San, who was still in a daze, hostage.
"Everyone, stand back!"
The group looked at each other, bewildered; they had never encountered anything like this before.
They were used to idling around with Xue San, and every merchant respectfully offered them money.
Even if you encounter someone who is ignorant and doesn't know the rules, a few words of education will make them listen.
But this is the first time Xue San has ever been captured like this.
"Step back!"
Everyone was forced to retreat step by step.
Xue San rubbed his head and finally realized that he had been subdued instead, which made him furious.
"What are you all standing there for? Get them!"
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