Chapter 3 The Oriole Waits for the Bird, But She Will Surely Make Him Forget Etiquette and Disregard Propriety
"Miss!" Lilan exclaimed, almost unable to keep her voice down: "Who could it be? You've only just arrived in Shengjing and don't know many people at all."
“Yes,” Cui Yiluo’s voice was light and airy, as if carried by the wind, with a hint of amusement in her thoughts: “If I hadn’t prepared someone to inform Jiang Yunjin beforehand, I probably would have really died there today.”
Lilan thought for a moment and guessed, "Miss, could it be that Supervisor Cheng is an enemy?"
"No." Cui Yilu denied it decisively, her tone sarcastic: "Cheng Feng is just a minor official of the sixth rank, not even worth mentioning in Shengjing. He's practically on his deathbed. Why would someone go to such lengths to send experts to kill his betrothed? Who would do such a losing proposition?"
It's no wonder Lilan would guess that. After all, when Cui Yiluo hired a group of low-level martial arts practitioners to impersonate bandits and assassinate her, she used the name of Cheng Feng's son. A filial son who misses his deceased mother and can't stand his stepmother who is about to marry into the family—a perfect excuse for his grief and lamentations.
Lilan's expression changed: "Miss, could you be from the Jiang family?"
Nowadays, besides Cheng Feng, the only people associated with Cui Yiluo are from the Jiang family.
“If it were someone from the Jiang family, Jiang Yunjin would not have come.”
Lilan instantly understood. If they were from the Jiang family, how could they not know that they had arranged for a Jiang family guard to inform Jiang Yunjin?
But neither of these things made Lilan even more flustered. She forced herself to remain calm and said, "Miss, when we return to the city tomorrow, I will send someone to find those martial arts figures and ask them what's going on."
Cui Yilu shook her head: "We won't be able to find out. Since the other party was able to replace the person so easily, how could we find any clues? We are outnumbered and outmatched. We have to let Jiang Yunjin investigate this matter."
Since the other party could send such a skilled person to kill her, they must be of considerable power and status.
Lilan, however, was not entirely convinced by Jiang Yunjin and asked hesitantly, "But Young Master Jiang is so cold-hearted, do you really think he can handle this matter?"
Cui Yiluo firmly believed, "He saved me today, which means he's involved in this matter. He'll send someone to investigate."
It's a real shame, though; if this person hadn't interfered, it would have been an excellent plan.
She knew that Jiang Yunjin usually went out of the city to handle an official business, and that Baoming Temple's return to the mansion and Jiang Yunjin's return to the mansion would take the same main road.
Based on this, she then orchestrated a wonderful show.
The group of martial arts practitioners hired in the name of Cheng Feng's son could neither kill her nor hold off the Jiang family guards for a while, thus delaying Jiang Yunjin's arrival to rescue her.
She bribed another guard from the Jiang family to lie in wait on Jiang Yunjin's way back home. When Jiang Yunjin passed by, she pretended to have accidentally bumped into him after breaking through the encirclement and asked him to rescue her. She then used the excuse that it was getting late to stay overnight at the temple.
Even if Jiang Yunjin was unwilling, he wouldn't turn a blind eye to her misfortune and ruin his reputation as a gentleman, out of respect for her aunt.
Even if the Jiang family interrogates those martial arts figures afterward, they will only confess that Cheng Feng's son killed her. She might even take this opportunity to make a scene and cancel the marriage.
But her plans were completely disrupted.
The martial arts practitioners who were not skilled in martial arts were replaced with real assassins. They appeared at the agreed location on time, so much so that Cui Yiluo did not notice anything amiss at first. Otherwise, she would not have gotten off the carriage at all, but would have directly taken Lilan away in the carriage.
Fortunately, Jiang Yunjin arrived in time. The process was a bit bumpy, but the result was not too bad.
Recalling the events of today, Cui Yiluo suddenly couldn't help but laugh.
When she hugged him from behind, she naturally felt his whole body stiffen instantly, but she deliberately hugged him even tighter, eager to see how the aloof and polite gentleman would react when he was intimately close to her but unable to push her away.
Therefore, she could clearly see his tense waist and abdomen due to his discomfort, his sharp and clear jawline, and his hands that tried to push her away several times but did not have the chance.
No wonder she chose him at first sight.
Born into a noble family with generations of key ministers, he was the only son of the eldest branch of the Jiang family. At the age of twenty-one, he became the Grand Secretary, holding a high position and great power. He was deeply trusted by the emperor and possessed extraordinary talent, making him a figure of great admiration. It was said that he had never been close to women, making him the most suitable candidate.
Cui Yiluo strives for perfection in everything, and naturally, she deserves the best husband to match her. She chose him to help her get rid of the Cui family, that disgusting couple, and her younger brother who wouldn't even call her "sister," despite sharing the same bloodline that disgusted her.
But she hadn't expected that actually implementing it would be so interesting.
Seeing her suddenly laugh, Lilan shrank her shoulders and asked, "Girl, what are you laughing at?"
Cui Yilu smiled and said, "I was just thinking that no matter who the other party is, it would be good if he could stir up some trouble, so that I wouldn't have to rack my brains to figure out how to get close to Jiang Yunjin."
She only has two months.
Lilan was horrified: "Girl, are you crazy? That man is going to kill you!"
"Don't worry, of course I won't put my life or death aside. It's just that the enemy is in the dark while we are in the light. We have no clue what to do right now, so we might as well wait. The more moves he makes, the more flaws he will reveal."
"But the young lady has already injured her foot today; if it happens in the future..."
"His foot was injured, but it wasn't entirely his fault."
Lilan's eyes widened: "What you mean, young lady..."
Cui Yiluo nodded calmly.
She deliberately took the opportunity to fall to the ground. She could have easily avoided Jiang Yunjin's retreat, but she didn't.
The pain was so intense that she almost fainted, but in those few moments of blurred consciousness, she became uncontrollably excited again.
Jiang Yunjin is very polite. Since he injured her foot, he would never ignore her. This is a bargaining chip for her, a chip that can be used more than once in the future.
Lilan was even more shocked, but after the shock came immense heartache. Looking at Cui Yiluo's thickly bandaged ankle, her eyes reddened: "Miss, you will definitely get what you want. It's all Yao's fault for being so cruel, and the head of the family too. How could he sacrifice you to pave the way for the young master? The young master is his own son, but isn't you the same? If Madam were still here, she would never have treated you like this!"
Cui Yiluo patted Lilan's hand, "Just like you said, my mother would not be able to bear seeing me suffer, and she will protect me from below."
Lilan sobbed, "You were just trying to comfort me, Miss. When have you ever believed in ghosts and gods?"
Cui Yiluo smiled and said, "Since you know I'm comforting you, why are you still crying? You have things to do tomorrow, so get some rest. Oh, by the way," she held up the rabbit, "the rabbit Huizhen found is very well-behaved and cute, remember to thank him."
Cui Yilu handed the rabbit she was holding to Lilan. Lilan bent down and released the rabbit. The nimble white rabbit darted into the grass and disappeared in a flash.
Lilan smiled through her tears: "Of course, Huizhen is very clever. If he hadn't told us about Young Master Jiang's whereabouts, we would have been in a lot of trouble. I would have known even without you saying it."
The door creaked open and closed, the sound gradually fading away with the wind.
As dusk turns to dawn and the sun rises in the east, the mountaintop is still shrouded in thick, damp mist in the morning.
"Young master, everything is ready. We can return to the city now."
Jiang Yunjin had eaten early in the morning and was now sitting upright reading Buddhist scriptures in the temple. Even in private, his back remained as straight as a pine tree.
His mind cleared considerably, and he slowly closed the Buddhist scripture, asking, "Where is Miss Biao?"
"It seems that Miss Cui went to the main hall early this morning."
In the spacious hall, wisps of incense smoke curled around, and the statues of gods and Buddhas stood solemnly. Bright sunlight shone on the back of a slender woman kneeling on a prayer mat.
Cui Yilu knelt before the Buddha statue, her hands clasped together, her eyes closed in utmost devotion.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor. Cui Yiluo slightly lifted her eyelashes, then closed them again.
"May all the gods and Buddhas bless you. I, Cui Yiluo, have only two wishes. First, that my mother may rest in peace in heaven. Second... that I may marry the man I love and stay with him forever. If my wishes are fulfilled, I will certainly spend a large sum of money to have the gods and Buddhas in the temple recast in gold."
Every word he spoke was powerful and clear, ensuring that anyone who walked outside the hall heard every single one.
Wen Feng felt something was off and whispered to his master, "Young Master, what about Miss Biao and Supervisor Cheng...?"
Jiang Yunjin lowered his eyes slightly and said in a low voice, "Don't gossip about others. This matter has nothing to do with us."
Hearing this, he awkwardly shut his mouth.
Jiang Yunjin raised his hand to signal the maids behind him to enter the hall.
Several maids, having received their orders, carefully stepped into the hall, saying, "Greetings, Miss."
The woman kneeling on the prayer mat trembled and turned around. Cui Yiluo looked flustered because her most private wish had been seen by others.
The head maid explained, "Miss has a foot injury and is unable to walk properly. We have been ordered to help you back to your residence."
Following orders? It's unclear whether she was following her aunt's orders or Jiang Yunjin's. She'd only held his hand briefly, yet he now treated her like a venomous snake.
Cui Yilu smiled politely at the maids, her bright smile blending seamlessly with the sunlight, causing the maids to momentarily lose their senses. After regaining their composure, they hurriedly stepped forward to help her to her feet.
After she stood up, Jiang Yunjin, who had been standing outside the hall, naturally came into her view. The injury on his hand had been treated and was wrapped tightly in bandages.
Cui Yiluo pretended to only then realize he was standing outside, and opened her mouth in surprise: "Cousin, when did you arrive?"
She gripped the handkerchief tightly, her entire being radiating tension, and a strong sense of guilt inexplicably emanated from her.
Wen Feng, who was standing behind his master, suddenly realized what was happening. Upon closer inspection, he saw that Cui Yiluo's face was flushed with anxiety.
"Cousin...did you hear anything just now?"
Jiang Yunjin remained aloof, as if he hadn't heard the woman's thoughts and feelings at all, or as if he were oblivious to her subtle actions.
"Not yet. Have you packed your bags?"
Cui Yiluo watched him lie with a straight face, and a cold laugh escaped her lips, mixed with a sense of resentment. But on the surface, she pretended to be relieved and obediently replied, "I packed up early this morning, afraid of delaying my cousin's trip."
Jiang Yunjin hummed in agreement and turned to walk out.
Cui Yiluo suddenly called out to him, "Cousin."
Jiang Yun asked with his eyes.
Cui Yiluo glanced at the person beside her, lost in thought, "May I dismiss everyone else?"
Fearing he wouldn't agree, she said earnestly in front of everyone, "I have something on my mind that I want to tell my cousin."
Jiang Yunjin turned his sharp gaze towards him, as if he could pierce through people's hearts.
Everyone around him kept their eyes down, heads bowed and silent. The air seemed to freeze, so quiet you could almost hear your own heartbeat.
Cui Yiluo's eyes were pleading, and her pearly teeth repeatedly clenched her soft lips, which glistened with moisture, making her look extremely nervous.
After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Yunjin finally spoke.
"All of you, step back."
The group quickly retreated to a distance of several feet.
Jiang Yunjin glanced over indifferently, indicating that Cui Yiluo could speak.
Cui Yiluo's eyelashes trembled slightly with tension: "Cousin, are you still angry with me about what happened last night?"
"My cousin is overthinking it."
His voice was cold, like jade stones gently clashing.
My cousin is clearly still angry with me.
Cui Yiluo's emotions were somewhat intense, and Jiang Yunjin frowned slightly upon hearing this.
"You're overthinking it..."
"I'm sorry, cousin."
He was considerably taller than her, so she had to tilt her head slightly to look at him when she spoke. From above, one could clearly see the corners of her eyes suddenly reddening with grievance, her beautiful eyes overflowing with helpless tears, seemingly unintentionally captivating.
"Cousin, I was reckless last night."
As she spoke, Cui Yiluo lowered her eyes, her tone dejected: "Perhaps it was because I lost my late mother's belongings yesterday and then found them again that I was so excited that I forgot to be polite. I hope my cousin will forgive me."
Silence returned.
A moment later, he said, "Do you remember what I said last night?"
Cui Yiluo quickly replied, "I remember, cousin."
Of course she remembered that he told her to uphold the proper boundaries between men and women and not to overstep them.
His gaze fell lightly on her face, his expression somewhat stern, not much more relaxed than before.
Out of consideration for etiquette, he didn't pursue the matter further, his voice cold and devoid of emotion: "Never forget etiquette again in the future."
Cui Yiluo immediately looked delighted, staring into his eyes and smiling brightly, "Thank you, cousin."
"The doctor has already been sent to fetch him."
Jiang Yunjin glanced at her feet almost imperceptibly, then turned and left without waiting for her reply.
Seeing that the two had finished speaking, the maids in the distance quickly rushed forward to help her, saying, "Miss, let us take you home."
Cui Yiluo seemed to have a huge weight lifted off her shoulders, and even her body relaxed considerably: "Thank you for your trouble."
The maids immediately felt a sense of goodwill and said with a smile, "This is our duty."
Even in Shengjing, Miss Biao's beauty was among the best. People could hardly take their eyes off her. Not only was her appearance impeccable, but she was also so gentle and polite in her dealings with others, making them feel like they were basking in a spring breeze.
It's just that his family background was rather humble.
The maids silently felt sorry for Cui Yiluo.
They looked down carefully at the path beneath their feet, kicking away pebbles and branches to prevent Cui Yiluo from tripping. If anyone had looked up, they would have seen that the seemingly delicate young woman in their eyes was now staring intently at the man's back, her smile not one of joy, but of a determined intent to possess her prey.
Don't forget etiquette again?
He adhered to etiquette, and even though she offended him, he still had someone fetch a doctor for her, not out of pity, but simply because of his adherence to gentlemanly conduct.
In his view, a gentleman is learned in literature and restrained by propriety. Without propriety, a person cannot live; without propriety, things cannot be accomplished; and without propriety, a nation cannot be at peace.
But she would surely tell him to forget etiquette and disregard manners.
A note from the author:
After some time, news spread: This matter has absolutely nothing to do with us! [eye roll]
"A gentleman is learned in literature and restrained by propriety" is a quote from the Analects of Confucius.
"Without propriety, people cannot live; without propriety, affairs cannot be accomplished; without propriety, a nation cannot be at peace." This quote is from Xunzi.
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