Jiang Ning found a smooth, flat branch to sit on, looked down at Gu Jianshen below, and said coldly, “I won’t. Even if I fall and break my neck, that’s my own business. Besides, you’re standing right there—if I fall and crush you to death, you brought it upon yourself.”
Gu Jianshen didn’t move his position. At this height, if no one caught her from below, she could genuinely end up paralyzed.
The sound of carriage wheels started up again.
Following the sound, Jiang Ning looked over and was pleasantly surprised to see the Wen family’s carriage.
Wen Ya had returned.
The Wen family carriage parked side-by-side with the Gu family carriage. The carriage curtain was lifted, and Wen Ya emerged from inside, looking left and right to see only Gu Jianshen, with no sign of Jiang Ning.
“Sister, I’m right here!”
Jiang Ning shouted and waved joyfully. In her excitement, her body slipped, and she instantly lost her balance.
“Ah!” Jiang Ning screamed in terror.
“Oh heavens!” Wen Ya’s face turned pale as she shrieked, “Jianshen, catch her quickly!”
Jiang Ning tumbled right into Gu Jianshen’s warm embrace, snatching back her little life.
The moment Gu Jianshen caught Jiang Ning, he wanted to put her down, but Jiang Ning was faster than him, hopping down from his horizontal hold as if he were a venomous snake or a fierce beast she needed to avoid at all costs.
Oddly enough, Gu Jianshen felt his embrace suddenly turn a bit empty.
“Sister, you’re finally back.”
Pouncing forward, Jiang Ning pulled Wen Ya into a solid, bear hug, holding onto her tightly without daring to loosen her grip even a fraction, terrified that Wen Ya might run off again.
The moment she was embraced, Wen Ya’s heart skipped a beat.
Earlier, when she had been chased by Jiang Ning, Wen Ya had a premonition that something terrible was about to happen; but upon realizing Jiang Ning stopped pursuing her, an undercurrent of unease had lingered in her heart.
To make Jiang Ning run about like a madwoman, she must have truly reached her wits’ end.
Therefore, she had instructed the coachman to turn the carriage around.
Yet, being hugged by Jiang Ning now, that unease remained. She asked, “What happened, little sister?”
With a slight choke in her voice, Jiang Ning whispered, “They used Little Stone to threaten me, telling me to make you stay and slip that packet of medicine into your drink tonight so you’d consummate the marriage with Gu Jianshen.”
Wen Ya: “…”
Gu Jianshen: “!!!!!!”
Gu Jianshen possessed exceptional hearing—what kind of wild and reckless words were these!
Wen Ya felt helpless. This trip back to her maiden family had already seen her mobilize the Wen family’s connections to search for Jiang Ning’s family, but unfortunately, there was still no news.
Patting Jiang Ning’s back, Wen Ya gently said, “Little sister, on this matter alone, your sister cannot agree.”
Nodding, Jiang Ning replied, “I know. That’s why I thought of another way to muddle through, as long as both you and Gu Jianshen cooperate.”
Playing a role.
The result they wanted was for Wen Ya and Gu Jianshen to share a room, but once the door was shut, who could possibly know what happened inside?
As night fell.
After bathing and changing clothes, Jiang Ning refused Chuntao’s company and headed to Fengyu Pavilion.
The condition for Wen Ya’s cooperation was that Jiang Ning had to be present—essentially staging a scene of one man battling two women.
To be fair, Wen Ya’s mindset was far more progressive than her own, a modern woman.
“You’re here.”
“Mhm.”
“A bit nervous?”
“Mhm, a little.”
“Drink a cup of hot water; it might help.”
“Okay.”
With Little Stone’s life on the line, how could Jiang Ning not be nervous? Gulping down a cup of hot water left her body feeling warm, and her mind seemed somewhat more settled.
Setting down her cup, Jiang Ning asked anxiously, “Sister, when are we going to the East Courtyard?”
Glancing out the window, a flash of shrewd light crossed Wen Ya’s eyes as she said, “Jianshen went to attend Zhang Tao’s wedding banquet; he should be about done drinking.”
Soon, Wen Ya’s maidservant Chunyan came to report, “Milady, the Master has returned.”
Nodding, Wen Ya said, “Understood.”
Taking Jiang Ning’s hand with a slight smile, Wen Ya said, “Let’s go over.”
The East Courtyard.
With the legal mistress arriving in person, Mammy Li and the rest of the household staff quickly rushed out to welcome her. Chunyan distributed some tip money, saying, “My mistress is shy; none of you are allowed to come near the East Courtyard tonight.”
The moment Mammy Li heard this, she understood what was going on. With an “I know everything” expression, she led the young maidservants away from the East Courtyard.
With the Master away for the past few years, the Madam had always slept alone in an empty room. Now that the Master had returned, it was only natural to serve him so they could propagate descendants—the Elder Madam had been longing to hold a grand-nephew for the longest time.
To think she even brought Concubine Jiang along; presumably, the Madam was kind-hearted and pitied Concubine Jiang, wanting the Master to spread his favors evenly.
If Concubine Jiang didn’t have a son or daughter to rely on, given her status, she would sooner or later be driven out.
“Chunyan, keep guard outside the door.”
“Yes.”
Pushing open Gu Jianshen’s bedroom door, Wen Ya said, “Little sister, go on in first.”
Still feeling rather nervous, Jiang Ning clutched Wen Ya’s sleeve and pleaded, “Let’s go in together.”
Smiling helplessly, Wen Ya stepped through the doorway with Jiang Ning by her side.
The room was brightly lit with candles. Upon entering, one could see the outer hall furnished with tables and chairs used for drinking tea, dining, and entertaining intimate guests. Tall folding screens stood on both the left and right sides: the left side housed the bathing and washing area, while the right side served as the resting quarters.
Walking over to pick up the teapot on the table, Wen Ya poured herself a cup of tea and drank it down.
Jiang Ning whispered, “Are you nervous too, Sister?”
Shaking her head, Wen Ya led Jiang Ning toward the right-hand passageway. After walking five or six steps, they saw a hanging curtain shielding the space. Up and to the left stood Gu Jianshen’s bed.
Having consumed quite a bit of wine, Gu Jianshen was currently lying down resting on the bed.
When Wen Ya stepped forward to lift a corner of the curtain, it tugged at the bell hanging above, immediately setting off a crisp clinking sound.
Gu Jianshen’s eyes snapped open instantly, his gaze clear and sharp as he demanded sternly, “Who is it?”
Wen Ya answered, “It’s me.”
“Wait a moment.”
Getting up and putting on his outer garments, Gu Jianshen emerged from behind the curtain. His gaze landed first on Wen Ya, then shifted to Jiang Ning standing behind her.
After a brief moment of thought, he understood their intentions.
He remarked, “Wen Ya, you shouldn’t spoil her too much.”
With a twitch of her lips, Jiang Ning obediently snuggled against Wen Ya’s arm and put on an affected, pampered tone: “Sister, I’m so scared; he’s glaring at me~”
In a gentle voice, Wen Ya said, “Jiang Ning has kept me company all these years and is a wonderful person. I view her like my own younger sister; isn’t it only natural that I pamper her? We are borrowing your esteemed quarters for the night—wonder if Jianshen will agree?”
“As long as you’re happy.”
Gu Jianshen walked back out to the outer hall, sitting down to drink some tea and sober up from the wine.
Lifting the curtain once more, Wen Ya caused the bell to ring again, stopping only after both she and Jiang Ning had walked inside.
The bedroom air was filled with a subtle fragrance of sandalwood mixed with a faint trace of alcohol.
Scanning the room, Jiang Ning’s gaze landed on the sandalwood bed. The bedding upon it had been personally sewn by the Elder Madam when Gu Jianshen was newly married; the mattress sheet, duvet cover, and pillowcases were all bright red and still looked ninety percent new.
Next to the bed stood a wardrobe, and a bit further away was a simple, clean dressing table. Atop it sat a tiny bronze mirror—unlike a woman’s vanity table, which usually featured a large, clear mirror and a spacious surface to hold cosmetic boxes for rouge and powder, as well as an array of jewelry boxes.
Meanwhile, Wen Ya walked over to the window ledge and pushed open one of the half-shut windows completely.
Bathed in moonlight, Wen Ya looked as though she had been coated with a layer of pristine holy light. The breeze gently fluttered her stray locks, lending her a subtle, fragile sense of beauty.
Walking up to her, Jiang Ning sighed, “Sister, you’re truly beautiful.”
Instead of answering, Wen Ya pressed a finger to Jiang Ning’s lips and pointed out the window.