Chapter 1: Instead of staying at the Jade Pagoda, why not spend the night at the temple?
The setting sun melts into gold, and the evening clouds merge like jade.
Beneath layers of verdant green, the light reflected off the carriage, creating shimmering golden hues. A carriage traveled by, heading down the mountain, the crisp sound of bells mingling with the heavy clatter of hooves kicking up dust. In the distance, Baoming Temple gradually disappeared into the mountains.
Lilan lowered the carriage curtain, turned her gaze from the window to the woman beside her, and said nervously in a low voice, "Miss, it's just ahead."
"knew."
A calm voice came through the veil. The woman adjusted the white jade lotus-patterned kimono hanging from her waist. The lotus petals bloomed on the exquisite and translucent white fabric. Her slender fingers touched it, making her skin appear even more like solidified cream.
The woman's face was covered by a plain veil that reached her chest, but it could not conceal her slender figure and elegant and gentle temperament, making one immediately feel that she must be a pampered noblewoman.
But that's not the case.
"By the way, Supervisor Cheng sent another letter today asking to see you, Miss. Do we need the same reason as before?" Lilan said indignantly. She had only been staying at the Jiang residence in Shengjing for a few days, and he had already sent three letters. Lilan had never seen anyone more shameless than him!
"He's in such a hurry before even getting married! What does he take the girl for? How can this Supervisor Cheng, over sixty years old, still be so lecherous!"
I've heard that he's taken in quite a few concubines and maids in his backyard. No wonder he's so lewd in his every move, looking every bit the product of excessive indulgence.
Cui Yiluo remained calm: "If he weren't lustful, Yao wouldn't have had the opportunity to take advantage of him. Send my 'Peach Blossom Chess Game' painting to him tomorrow. I'm currently staying at the Jiang family's house, and out of respect for my aunt, he can't force me to come, but we shouldn't provoke him."
"Then I will return to Supervisor Cheng tomorrow."
The master remained calm and composed, but Lilan sat on pins and needles, as if comforting herself by saying, "When you offered incense today, Miss, you were sincere and devout. The gods and Buddhas will surely grant your wish."
Cui Yiluo's tone was calm, yet it was like a cool mountain spring striking a rock with great force.
"It's just for peace of mind; it's better to rely on yourself than on God."
The marriage must be called off. Yao wanted to sacrifice her for power and pave the way for her younger brother, but didn't she realize that everyone in the capital was shrewd? Did she really think she could gain something from the marriage? Cui Yiluo didn't know whether Yao was naive or overconfident.
Her father's tacit approval of Yao's mistreatment of her for many years only fueled her resentment.
Surrounded by wolves, the only one who was truly kind to her was her aunt, who took her to stay at the Jiang family home. Her aunt was the second wife of the Jiang family. Although she declined the request to help her break off the engagement, she agreed to take her to the Jiang family home to prepare for her marriage, indirectly giving her another opportunity. That man was extremely powerful, and if she could gain his power, everything would be easily solved.
Judging by the time, it should be time.
The ear-piercing sound of blades clashing suddenly rang out.
The carriage came to an abrupt stop, accompanied by the neighing of the horses, and the two men were thrown heavily against the carriage wall.
Cui Yiluo quickly lifted the veil and exchanged a glance with Lilan.
"Thieves! Protect Miss Biao!"
Lilan rushed to help Cui Yiluo, exclaiming in alarm, "Miss, it would be bad if the horse got frightened and went berserk! Let the guards cover your escape!"
Cui Yiluo nodded and, with Lilan's help, ran out of the car.
As soon as he jumped off the carriage, a loud voice suddenly rang out amidst the chaos: "Where is he! Catch him quickly!"
A dozen or so men in black were entangled with the guards of the Jiang family. Cui Yiluo's appearance made the group break free of the guards' restraints even more forcefully, their eyes red as they raised their silver blades and charged at her!
Something's not right.
Cui Yiluo's expression, hidden beneath the white gauze, suddenly turned cold. The next moment, she grabbed Lilan and ran backward.
"Chase!"
The footsteps behind her were approaching rapidly. Cui Yiluo turned around and saw three or four bandits who were already within arm's reach. Their figures were as fast as ghosts. A few more steps and their sharp blades would sever her fragile neck.
With a "whoosh," the veil was cleaved in two by the sharp blade, and the white gauze billowed in the air due to the swift sword wind. In just a moment, it plummeted straight down like a bird that had been struck.
Her beautiful face was fully exposed in the dim twilight, her eyebrows like distant mountains shrouded in mist, her eyes like shimmering waves. Even in her hurried escape, she was captivating, and the verdant greenery and the afterglow paled in comparison.
Cui Yilu forced herself to remain calm and asked coldly, "Who are you? How much silver do you want?"
Without pausing, the bandit aimed his sword directly at Cui Yiluo's heart.
Cui Yiluo quickly pushed Lilan behind her with her left hand, and reached for the dagger at her waist with her right hand, about to draw it.
But before he could draw it, a flash of silver light suddenly appeared before his eyes.
The sharp blade that was coming straight at her was suddenly cut in two. The broken blade flew up, and Cui Yiluo reacted quickly and dodged to the side. The wind made her hair flutter slightly, and she turned her face to the side and saw the long sword that had cut the blade in two and was now stuck several inches into the yellow earth.
Upon seeing the black jade tassel hanging on the longsword, she immediately withdrew her hand from the dagger.
In an instant, her expression softened, tears welled up in her reddened eyes, and she looked back in the direction they had come from.
Beneath the towering mountain cliff, a man dressed in a wide-sleeved brocade robe embroidered with silver-gray bamboo patterns stood as upright as bamboo. His features were incomparably handsome, yet his eyes and brows revealed a cold and aloof demeanor, exuding a desolate and chilling aura, like the white snow of a high mountain, making people hesitate to approach. His silver crown neatly bound his black hair, not a single strand out of place, so dignified that it showed no trace of the swiftness and ferocity with which he had just thrown his sword.
"cousin!"
Cui Yilu called out softly, her pert nose slightly red, her expression a mixture of surprise and helplessness. Her eyes, as she looked at the man, seemed to be clutching at the only straw, brimming with hope.
Faced with the pitiful and forlorn woman, the man glanced at her only once before decisively looking away.
The bandits were stunned by the man's sudden appearance, then quickly drew their swords and stabbed at Cui Yiluo.
Another clang rang out. The man pulled the longsword stuck in the yellow earth and stepped forward to block it.
A tall figure blocked her way, and a gust of wind lifted her clothes. Taking advantage of the situation, Cui Yiluo grabbed the man's wide sleeve with one hand and clutched his clothes at the waist with the other, pressing herself against his back with a frightened expression.
"Cousin, watch out!"
As the swords came flying, Cui Yiluo nimbly turned to the side to dodge, while fearfully pressing herself even closer to the blades.
In this way, Cui Yiluo hugged the man's waist and abdomen tightly from behind, and felt his body stiffen instantly.
The soft fabric clung tightly to the strong body, and the warmth flowed continuously between their skin through several layers of clothing.
Like fledglings pitifully and cautiously seeking shelter, or like intimate lovers entwined in an embrace.
Jiang Yunjin frowned as he looked at the slender wrist pressed against his waist, but the woman holding him seemed oblivious, instead moving even closer. Just as he was about to push her away, the bandits attacked again.
The attacks were as dense as rain, and he blocked them all with his long sword in a few rounds, but he couldn't help but show some signs of strain.
Meanwhile, Cui Yiluo, who was caught off guard and had taken the opportunity to hug him even tighter, looked down at the broken blade at her feet with a somber expression.
A bandit suddenly let out a shrill scream, his sword clattered to the ground, and bright red blood gushed out from between his fingers as he clutched his knee.
The broken blade that he had just chopped off was now stuck in the man's knee.
Jiang Yunjin turned his head slightly, and the woman behind him looked surprised and astonished, as if she had only accidentally kicked the broken blade.
The bandits disregarded their companions and launched another attack.
Two bandits broke free of the Jiang family guards and rushed over. Jiang Yunjin's sword-like eyebrows furrowed deeply, his knuckles gripping his sword so tightly they turned white, and his strong arms bulged. His wide sleeves slid down, revealing a black jade bracelet tied around his wrist, reflecting the sunlight.
He was forced to retreat uncontrollably by the attack, and Cui Yiluo, who was close to him, lost her balance and was knocked to the ground.
"ah!"
Suddenly, a suppressed yet piercing cry of pain rang out from behind, and one could tell from the sound that the person was in great agony.
Jiang Yunjin steadied himself and quickly looked down, only to find that he had accidentally stepped on Cui Yiluo's ankle.
He quickly moved aside, but before he could help the person up, he had to fend off the incoming blade.
The situation was clear: Jiang Yunjin, though skilled in martial arts, was no match for several people, and the two were at their wits' end. Cui Yiluo stared at the tall figure blocking her way, biting her lip to endure the pain in her ankle, her mind racing with calculations.
Suddenly, the ground trembled, and the sound of horses' hooves pierced through the thick earth.
Cui Yiluo's tightly furrowed brows relaxed.
The bandits exchanged glances, their eyes filled with hesitation.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Jiang Yunjin swung away the incoming sword. With a nimble twist of his wrist, the blade immediately sliced through the leader's chest, staining him with blood. A few drops of blood were sprinkled like raindrops on the clean, silver-gray hem of his robe.
Seeing their leader wounded and Cui Yiluo being protected, they had no choice but to injure Jiang Yunjin first before taking his life, just as reinforcements arrived...
The bandits made a decision in an instant: "Retreat!"
At a command, the bandits covered each other and disappeared in a few breaths, leaving the surroundings empty. If it weren't for the bloodstains on the ground indicating that a fierce battle had taken place, this place would have seemed like just a quiet mountainside in the twilight.
Jiang Yunjin slung his sword behind his back and squatted down. His robes were still neat and tidy, and apart from his still-breathing breath, there was no indication that he had just gone through a fierce battle.
Cui Yiluo's red lips had lost their color, her once meticulously combed hair was now disheveled with a few stray strands falling down, one of her earrings was missing, the veil covering her head was broken in two and scattered to the side, her dress was covered in dust from running and falling, and the pearls and tassels on her robes were tangled together haphazardly.
Her appearance was far from neat, but her beautiful eyes were filled with tears, and her nose and eye sockets were red, giving her the look of a fallen beauty, pitiful and charming.
Her lips trembled as she called out, "Cousin..."
Jiang Yunjin lowered his eyes and looked at that slender ankle.
The woman's white silk stockings and clean white skirt were now stained with black and gray footprints, which were abrupt and glaring.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. Can you still leave?"
The man exuded a cold aura and remained calm, with only a slight frown between his brows. Although he spoke words of concern, he maintained the proper distance between men and women. He didn't even offer to help her up, let alone remove her stockings to examine her ankle injury.
The intimacy of their bodies touching just moments before was completely gone.
Lilan had rushed to help Cui Yiluo when she fell. Cui Yiluo, her face ashen, was helped to walk a few steps.
Jiang Yunjin's brows relaxed slightly: "No bones were broken. I will call a doctor when we get back to the manor."
Despite the pain, Cui Yilu forced a smile and said, "I know, my cousin only stepped on it accidentally because he was protecting me."
Jiang Yunjin glanced at her, then looked away.
Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Yunjin's subordinates had already ridden up to his side. If they had arrived a few moments later, the blood on the ground would probably not have belonged to the bandits.
"My lord, I am late..."
Jiang Yunjin raised his hand to stop him from speaking, and said to Cui Yiluo, "Get in the carriage first, I will take you back to your residence."
Lilan, who was standing nearby, suddenly said, "Young Master, it's getting late. I'm afraid we won't be able to get back before the city gates close..."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yunjin glanced at the sky. The sun was setting, and the city gate was about half an hour's walk away. It closed at 3:45 PM. He could ride back quickly, but…
Seeing Jiang Yunjin remain silent, Cui Yiluo promptly offered a solution: "Cousin, this place isn't far from Baoming Temple, where I offered incense today. Why don't we stay at the temple for the night? Then we can send someone to ride back to the city at full speed to inform my aunt and the others, and return to the mansion after the city gates open tomorrow."
Baoming Temple was a place where high-ranking families in the capital often went to offer incense. The Jiang family were frequent visitors and would occasionally stay overnight at the temple. Such an arrangement was not inappropriate.
Jiang Yunjin nodded slightly.
"Thank you for escorting me, cousin."
Having survived a near-death experience, the woman was completely drained of her strength, and even her voice lacked power, sounding soft and weak, yet still clear and melodious, which inexplicably gave off a hint of coquetry.
Jiang Yunjin's eyes were cold and devoid of emotion. He gave a low "hmm" and turned to walk towards the carriage, his demeanor extremely distant.
Cui Yiluo was injured and walked very slowly. Jiang Yun, adhering to etiquette, did not walk with her. He strode onto his horse and waited by the carriage.
Cui Yiluo walked to the carriage, smiled at the man sitting on the horse, her gentle smile as graceful as a peach blossom in early spring.
Jiang Yunjin remained unmoved, quietly watching her maid help her into the carriage.
However, the carriage was too high, and Cui Yiluo's legs were injured, making it less convenient than before. She tried five or six times but could not get on, and almost fell to the ground again.
Lilan had no choice but to ask Jiang Yunjin for help: "Young Master, I am not strong enough, could you please help the young lady up?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the surroundings fell silent, and everyone glanced at the man sitting motionless on his horse.
Although Cui Yiluo was staying at the Jiang family as the niece of the second wife of the Jiang family, her status was lowly, and Jiang Yunjin was the only son of the first wife of the Jiang family, so he could ignore the affairs of the second wife.
But since she was a cousin, the guards couldn't very well step forward to help her. After looking around, they realized that among those present, only her cousin Jiang Yunjin could truly offer assistance.
Jiang Yunjin remained motionless, only looking at Cui Yiluo with a calm yet imposing gaze.
Cui Yiluo, ever the understanding one, came to the rescue: "How can we trouble our cousin with such a small matter? Lilan, let's try again."
"yes."
Lilan responded and helped Cui Yiluo up by supporting her arms and waist.
The guards couldn't help but feel sorry for the scene.
It's such a pity that such a beautiful woman as Miss Biao was wasted.
Everyone present knew that the eldest son of the Jiang family was young and promising, with a handsome appearance and a high position. However, he was extremely indifferent, had few close friends, and was distant from others, especially from women. At the age of twenty-one, he had never been with a woman, and was as cold as an immortal descended to earth.
"ah!"
A gasp rang out as Cui Yiluo lost her footing, frantically grabbing at Lilan, and almost fell to the ground. Her ankle twisted in the movement, and the few traces of color that had returned to her face vanished completely, with a few beads of cold sweat appearing on her forehead.
A force came from her arm and easily steadied her body.
A note from the author:
Note: "The setting sun melts like gold, the evening clouds merge like jade" is from Li Qingzhao's poem "Yong Yu Le: The Setting Sun Melts Like Gold".
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