Chapter 64 Jade Pavilion Empty A Luo now wouldn't even lie to me...
Has there been a reply from the household?
At the official post station in Yunzhou, Wen Feng watched as the tall and upright man, after a long day of travel, returned to the post station and the first thing he did was still to ask if there were any letters from the mansion.
Since the letter was sent home that day, and it was estimated that it should have reached the manor by now, and the reply from the manor should be arriving soon, the first question my young master asks every day after finishing his official duties is whether there has been a reply.
This is the sixth day since he asked. It's self-evident who he's waiting for a reply from.
However, not a single letter, not even a single word, was received.
Wen Feng sighed inwardly and shook his head helplessly. So many days had passed without a reply. He had received three letters from the other ministers, let alone one, since Shengjing was so close to Yunzhou. And each letter was bulging, looking like it contained several pages of writing.
Jiang Yunjin closed his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice, "Understood."
Wen Feng comforted her, saying, "Perhaps because the young master didn't write anything in detail in his letter, the young mistress didn't know how to reply. I imagine that although the young mistress hasn't replied, she will definitely be waiting for the young master to return home."
Going home.
Jiang Yunjin's dark eyebrows softened slightly. By the time he returned to his residence, Yuan Ling had already set off south and wouldn't return to Shengjing until after spring, a full three months in between.
A few days later, early in the morning, the group of ministers who came to Yunzhou set off to return to the capital. None of them expected that the official business that was originally scheduled for more than half a month would be shortened to less than half a month. Everyone couldn't help but sigh that Lord Jiang's speed in handling affairs was indeed as fast as lightning.
The group went to Jiang Yunjin's residence in the official post station, intending to express their gratitude and set off together, only to be told that Jiang Yunjin had already returned to the capital by horseback before dawn.
The ministers looked at each other in bewilderment, and then suddenly realized that he was rushing to report back to His Majesty. He truly deserved to be called the Grand Secretary, who was wholeheartedly devoted to the country and the public good.
The journey from Yunzhou to Shengjing took only a day at full speed. After returning from reporting back to the palace, Jiang Yunjin went back to his residence, arriving shortly after noon.
The gatekeepers saw someone riding a horse towards them through the wind and snow. The person in the lead was tall and handsome, and no one in the capital could compare to him. The gatekeepers were incredulous when they realized what was happening. They had not received any news in advance that the eldest young master was returning from Yunzhou, and it had only been half a month since Jiang Yunjin left the mansion. How could he have returned so quickly?
When the news reached Madam Jiang, she had just finished her lunch and medicine and was preparing for a nap.
Madam Jiang was both surprised and delighted, saying, "Shenzhi has returned so quickly?"
Minggu hurriedly said, "Now that the eldest young master is back, you, Madam, can entrust the entire wedding preparations to him. Miss Aheng can also enter the family half a month earlier! Moreover, since Madam Cui has just left, the eldest young master can spend time alone with Miss Aheng and cultivate their marital relationship."
Upon hearing this, Madam Jiang was even more delighted, her smile deepening the wrinkles around her eyes.
"Madam, the eldest son has arrived."
Overjoyed, Madam Jiang immediately sent someone to bring Jiang Yunjin in.
In just a few moments, a man wearing a snow-white cloak strode into the hall. Although he was covered in dust and had not used an umbrella in the heavy snow, with fine snow even falling on his eyelashes and his shoulders and back covered with a layer of snow, he still looked noble and handsome.
Jiang Yunjin stood under the eaves, neatly brushing the snow off his body before entering the hall.
"I have met my grandmother."
Madam Jiang sighed with satisfaction, "Shenzhi, will everything go smoothly on this trip?"
"My grandson has already entered the palace to report to His Majesty."
Looking at her grandson, who possessed extraordinary talent at such a young age, Madam Jiang felt even more certain that the Jiang family would enjoy endless glory in the future. She also hoped that once Wang Yuheng entered the family and gave birth to children and grandchildren, the future would be even brighter.
"That's good. Shenzhi, sit down, your grandmother has something to tell you."
As Madam Jiang spoke, a maid came out from the tea room behind the hall and respectfully placed a teacup filled with hot tea on the table.
But Jiang Yunjin refused, saying, "Grandmother, I have something to do and need to go back to Yuzhu Courtyard."
A charcoal fire burned inside, and he was still wearing his cloak, clearly not intending to stay in the hall any longer, which was why he didn't even bother to take it off. But Old Madam Jiang didn't expect that when she spoke, Jiang Yunjin would refuse her, as if he didn't want to stay a moment longer and wanted to rush back to the courtyard.
Old Madam Jiang's smile faded, her eyelids drooped slightly, and a hint of displeasure appeared on her face. "Are you in such a hurry to go back and see Madam Cui?"
Before Jiang Yunjin could answer, Old Madam Jiang continued in a calm voice, "She has already left, saying she was going to Qingzhou to visit relatives."
Jiang Yunjin's brows furrowed instantly: "Qingzhou?"
Madam Jiang nodded slightly, remaining silent.
The man standing in the hall paused for a moment, his sword-like eyebrows furrowed, and his originally bright face darkened. The next instant, he bowed straight to Old Madam Jiang and said, "Grandson takes his leave."
Having said that, he turned and strode away, his cloak billowing in the wind and snow as his sharp steps created a gust of wind. Before long, his tall figure disappeared under the eaves.
Minggu watched Jiang Yunjin's departing figure, feeling a mixture of disappointment and confusion. "Why didn't the old lady mention Miss Aheng to the eldest young master? With Cui Shi leaving the manor for Qingzhou so ignorantly, the eldest young master must be displeased. Wouldn't that make him appreciate Miss Aheng even more?"
Madam Jiang chuckled softly, a sharp glint in her eyes, her demeanor suggesting a sense of strategic brilliance. "Men always love surprises. Don't let Shenzhi's mature appearance fool you; he's just like any other man. While Cui may be quite beautiful, in terms of talent, she's far inferior to Aheng. Shenzhi has loved poetry and prose since childhood, and with Aheng by his side, how could he possibly notice Cui? Now that his wife has left without a word, returning to the courtyard to see a beautiful, gentle, and virtuous cousin is far more effective than me telling him directly."
Minggu suddenly realized and quickly nodded in praise, saying, "You're the best, Madam."
Madam Jiang's smile deepened: "Shenzhi is back, so I don't need to worry about the rest. Help me to my room for a midday rest."
"yes."
Meanwhile, Wen Feng was waiting outside Madam Jiang's courtyard when he saw his young master stride out of the courtyard and head towards Yuzhu Courtyard. His cloak fluttered in the wind, and his handsome face was covered with snowflakes that were blown by the wind. His brows were furrowed, as if a storm was brewing.
Wen Feng was startled and was about to ask a question when Jiang Yunjin spoke, his voice carrying an extremely imposing pressure: "Go and contact the bodyguards who are with the young mistress. Find out where she is now."
Wen Feng was taken aback and wanted to ask if the young mistress should be at Jixuezhai, but seeing Jiang Yunjin's dark face, he couldn't help but guess what was going on. He nodded and was about to send a signal to the guards following Cui Yiluo.
Amidst the wind and snow, Jiang Yunjin's extremely deep voice rang out again: "Also, where is Yuan Ling today?"
-
"Miss, miss, the young master is back!"
Wang Yuheng's personal maid was beaming with joy. Wang Yuheng, who was embroidering a purse inside the room, quickly stood up, both surprised and delighted: "Where is he? Where is my cousin? He's back so quickly?"
"Young Master went to pay his respects to the Old Madam first, and has already left the Old Madam's courtyard. He is now heading straight for Yuzhu Courtyard!"
Wang Yuheng was overjoyed upon hearing this. The person she admired was so close, and she was about to see him. Overwhelmed with joy, Wang Yuheng anxiously looked at her maid, "Qingxing, quickly redo my makeup and dress me up. I need to see my cousin immediately!"
"Miss, there's no time to wait! You're already beautiful enough. When the young master sees you, he'll definitely be unable to take his eyes off you."
Wang Yuheng, her face flushed with shame and indignation, glared at the maid before rushing out the door.
Her courtyard was very close to Jixuezhai. Just as she stepped out of the courtyard gate, she happened to see the person she had been longing for walking quickly towards her. Her hand holding the handkerchief tightened, and she cleared her throat lightly. As the man passed by, Wang Yuheng suppressed her excitement and put on a perfectly timed, beautiful smile, saying in a sweet and gentle voice, "Cousin."
The man walked past without stopping, not even glancing at her. Wang Yuheng was taken aback; she hadn't expected that he wouldn't have heard her voice when they were only ten steps apart. Seeing Jiang Yunjin about to disappear from sight, she disregarded her ladylike decorum and raised her voice, calling out, "Cousin!"
Seeing that Jiang Yunjin had stopped, Wang Yuheng immediately lifted her skirt and chased after him, while the maid behind her, holding an umbrella, almost failed to catch up.
Wang Yuheng rushed to Jiang Yunjin's side, already out of breath: "Cousin."
Jiang Yunjin subtly took a few steps back to create some distance, greeted Wang Yuheng politely, and frowned slightly: "What are you doing here?"
Wang Yuheng was surprised that Jiang Yunjin showed no joy or excitement upon seeing her, and looked at her as if she were a stranger. Her heart sank, but she still said shyly, "Cousin, didn't the old lady tell you? A few days ago, my father suddenly fell ill and passed away..."
"Your uncle has passed away?"
Wang Yuheng was taken aback, then heard Jiang Yunjin quickly instruct his attendants to prepare condolence gifts to be sent to Gunzhou according to custom. Seeing that the conversation was about to be diverted, Wang Yuheng hurriedly said, "Both of my parents have passed away, and I have no one to rely on, so I came to Shengjing. This morning, the old lady took pity on my loneliness and arranged for me to be betrothed to my cousin as a secondary wife..."
Wang Yuheng didn't continue speaking, but her cheeks flushed red, and she bit her lip, revealing her girlish shyness. But when she looked up, she met Ling Ran's dark eyes, which were extremely cold and made people shudder.
Wang Yuheng's shyness vanished almost entirely, and she murmured, "Cousin..."
The next moment, she received a firm rejection from the man: "I will not marry you."
Wang Yuheng was suddenly frozen in place by the ice and snow.
Seeing that Jiang Yunjin was about to turn and walk towards Jixuezhai as if he had something urgent to attend to after he finished speaking, Wang Yuheng hurriedly struggled to say, "But the old lady has already agreed, and so has my cousin-in-law... yes, my cousin-in-law has also agreed!"
Jiang Yunjin paused for a moment, then turned his sharp gaze towards her: "You mean Yiluo agreed?"
Seeing Jiang Yunjin pause in his steps as he turned around, Wang Yuheng was overjoyed. In her haste, she ignored the man's darkening eyes and repeatedly affirmed, "Yes! My cousin-in-law promised herself. She just gave me the account books and the keys to the accounting room. She even specially invited me to Yuzhu Courtyard and arranged for the small courtyard to be next to my cousin's residence, just so that you and I could be together..."
"I've heard the news!" Before Wang Yuheng could finish speaking, the man interrupted her directly, calling to the person beside him, "Send someone to help Miss Biao pack her luggage and send it to the old lady's courtyard."
Wang Yuheng's face drained of all color instantly, her legs went weak, and she almost fell to the ground, but fortunately, her maidservant caught her quickly. She had never imagined that Jiang Yunjin's attitude would be so resolute, "Cousin, but this matter was decided by the Old Madam!"
Jiang Yunjin looked at her calmly, without a trace of extra emotion, his voice firm: "I am already married and will not marry anyone else. The account books and the keys to the accounting office of the first wife will be retrieved."
He seemed to be in a hurry to deal with something. After he finished speaking, he turned and left. Wang Yuheng lifted her skirt and wanted to chase after him. She couldn't believe that Jiang Yunjin would not leave her any room and refused her without mercy. However, she was stopped by the guard named Wen Feng.
"Miss Wang, please go back."
Having no other choice, Wang Yuheng lifted her skirt and ran towards Old Madam Jiang's courtyard.
-
Inside Jixue Studio, the man moved swiftly, his aura even more oppressive and fierce than before.
The bedroom door was opened, the charcoal brazier inside had been extinguished, and wind and snow blew in through the cracks in the window, chilling the heart.
Snow was falling outside, and the room was dimly lit. The man's dark eyes stared at the familiar yet empty bedroom, his expression inscrutable.
The room was empty, as if even the slightest trace of daily life had been erased. He parted the embroidered curtain and went inside, only to find the table empty except for tea sets and writing implements.
He thought that her initiative before leaving was somewhat a sign of her changing her mind, and that things had eased a little between them.
But she didn't even leave him a letter.
She even allowed him to marry someone else.
Suddenly, a sharp touch came from underfoot. Moving it aside, I saw a letter that was mostly burned. The remaining letter was stained with black scorch marks, and most of the words on the envelope had been burned away. Even the word "wife" that he had written was half burned away and was almost illegible.
Wen Feng quickly contacted the bodyguards who were following Cui Yiluo. Upon receiving the message, he hurriedly went to the bedroom. He saw that the bedroom door was wide open, so Wen Feng didn't think much of it and went into the room, pulling back the embroidered curtain.
The young master stood with his back to the outside, his back straight and taut, yet he inexplicably gave off a sense of loneliness. Upon closer inspection, one could see that he was holding a letter that had been mostly burned by fire in his hand. His slender fingers were gripping the letter so tightly that they turned white and even trembled slightly, as if he wanted to crush it to pieces.
Wen Feng braced himself and said, "Young Master..."
Jiang Yunjin deftly put the letter down and said, "Speak."
His voice was as cold as ice and snow, and he seemed to feel both pity and conflicted as he spoke: "The young mistress... just left the city and went to... Wanglonggang. Commander Yuan... they are assembling and lining up at Wanglonggang today, and will set off south after 11 PM."
The wind and snow suddenly intensified, and the window that had been opened a crack was suddenly blown open, the window sash slamming against the wall with a thunderous roar that rang in our ears.
Wen Feng was startled, and the next moment, he heard Jiang Yunjin give a deep command:
"Prepare the horses."
-
Inside the carriage, Cui Yiluo watched in astonishment as Jiang Yunjin dismounted, strode towards her, and boarded the carriage in an instant.
He was tall and imposing, completely blocking out the already dim sunlight amidst the wind and snow. Cui Yiluo's slender body was shrouded in his shadow, and his face, shrouded in darkness, was as if tempered with ice, exuding a terrifying chill and sharpness. As she gazed at him, her heart inexplicably began to pound rapidly.
Instinctively, she moved further inside, but the carriage she had chosen today was not spacious and the seats were narrow. As she moved further inside, Jiang Yunjin pressed closer and closer until he pinned her completely against the carriage wall.
With a bang, the carriage door slammed shut, leaving the interior even darker.
"How could you..."
Cui Yiluo remembered that before he left, he kissed her lips again and again, telling her that he would come back as soon as possible. But she did not expect that he would be back in Shengjing in less than half a month and appear in front of her.
His long, slender fingers brushed across her cheek. He had come through the wind and snow, radiating coldness. Cui Yiluo shuddered at his sudden touch and instinctively pushed him away.
With his palm easily restraining her hands, Cui Yiluo felt a chill in her heart. She suddenly dared not think about why he was here, but she had already understood the reason the moment she saw him.
"Let me go first!"
In the shadows, the man chuckled very softly, a sound tinged with chilling coldness.
“Now, A-Luo won’t even lie to me anymore.”
Cui Yiluo looked up at him in disbelief, "I..."
He seemed unwilling to allow her to speak, or perhaps he didn't want to hear her answer. The next instant, her chin was gripped tightly. He had never been so forceful or used such strength before. Cui Yiluo couldn't even utter a word, and could only meet his dark, turbulent eyes.
His dark and gloomy face descended, filled with surging anger, as if tearing at her lips with a kiss, rendering her unable to utter a single word, only able to let out muffled sobs. Even the glistening tears overflowing from the corners of her lips could not escape him; she could only be locked up and taken from, never daring to escape him again.
Author's Note: [Heart][Heart][Heart]
Sorry I'm late.
Thank you to all the little ones who watered with nutrient solution! [heart emoji]
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