She was overjoyed at the arrival of her beloved, but his gaze wasn’t on her.
Wei Chi casually scanned the room, but spotted a familiar face in a corner. His heart pounded. Why was she here?
The Prince Ke’s heir followed Wei Chi’s gaze, and his eyes lit up when he saw the person opposite him. Seeing Wei Chi’s fixed gaze, he teased, “Zigu’s eye is as sharp as ever, spotting the most beautiful woman here at a glance. However, you may have already missed your chance. That beauty has a married woman’s hairstyle; she’s probably already married.”
Wei Chi’s eyes darkened, annoyed by the prince’s flippant words. He explained calmly, “Your Highness is joking. This is my wife.”
Ignoring the astonishment of those around him, Wei Chi slowly walked towards Jiang Lanyue. Jiang Lanyue noticed them the moment Wei Chi appeared. Not wanting to acknowledge him, she silently took a few steps back.
To everyone’s surprise, Wei Chi brazenly walked towards her in front of everyone. Jiang Lanyue noticed Shen Jiaxue’s venomous gaze and felt a chill run down her spine.
She cursed Wei Chi inwardly as a scoundrel!
“Lanyue, why are you here?”
On that day at the manor, Wei Chi harbo red resentment towards Jiang Lanyue, resenting her for not understanding his helplessness and for his mother and sister being imprisoned because of her.
But after thinking about it carefully, he realized it wasn’t entirely her fault; it was his mother who had taken matters into her own hands and started causing trouble for her.
Therefore, upon seeing Jiang Lanyue again, his tone was gentle and mild, as if the two had never had any ill will and were still a loving and trusting couple.
A hint of displeasure appeared between Jiang Lanyue’s brows. What was this scoundrel plotting now?
Could he be deliberately stirring up Shen Jiaxue’s jealousy to deal with her?
Seeing Shen Jiaxue’s eyes, which seemed to want to devour her alive, Jiang Lanyue suddenly realized she had discovered the truth.
She sighed inwardly and greeted him coldly, “Greetings, Scholar Wei. I don’t understand your meaning. Everyone can come to Hanshan Temple, so why can’t I?”
“That’s not what I meant. Of course you can come.”
Wei Chi choked. Lan Yue really hadn’t forgiven him yet. He’d find a chance to coax her.
“Your health has always been poor. Was the climb tiring? Why didn’t you bring Coral to take care of you?” Wei Chi glanced at Ruyi with disdain. How could a thirteen-year-old girl know how to take care of someone?
“No need for Scholar Wei to worry. If there’s nothing else, please step aside. I want to admire the flowers.”
If she didn’t leave, she was afraid Shen Jiaxue would skin her alive on the spot.
“Alright, take care of yourself.” Wei Chi nodded. He had important matters to attend to today and couldn’t stay with her any longer.
After Wei Chi left, Ruyi secretly made a face at him. Jiang Lan Yue smiled helplessly and pulled her away from the center of attention.
Seeing that no one was around, Jiang Lanyue asked, “How did it go?”
Everyone’s attention had been on Prince Ke’s heir and Wei Chi, so Ruyi had quietly approached Shen Jiaxue and discreetly applied the powder that had caused her rash.
Ruyi covered her mouth and whispered, “Don’t worry, Miss, I’ve sprinkled all the powder on her. She’ll be poisoned in half an hour.”
She noticed that the haughty peacock’s eyes seemed to be filled with venom as she looked at her mistress; she was definitely not a good person.
“Well done! I’ll buy you food when we get back to the capital.”
Jiang Lanyue’s tense body immediately relaxed. She wanted Shen Jiaxue to pay some interest first, as a way to atone for the traumatized soul of her past life.
To avoid suspicion, Jiang Lanyue didn’t return to the back mountain but instead strolled around the temple with Ruyi.
Unconsciously, they arrived at the wishing tree, which was covered with many red silk ribbons, densely covered with various wishes written on them.
Forgotten memories were awakened at this moment. In her youth, she and Wei Chi met at the Temple of Marriage. Later, they got to know each other, fell in love, and went to the temple hand in hand to fulfill their vows.
She thought she had met her destined lover and devoted herself to managing the household for him, only to discover it was a tragic fate.
“The past is dark and cannot be retrieved; I only wish for a bright and promising future. It’s almost time, Ruyi, let’s go down the mountain!”
…
Upon reaching the carriage yard halfway up the mountain, Dazhuang was fast asleep in the front of the carriage. Ruyi leaned close to Dazhuang’s ear and shouted loudly to wake him: “Brother Dazhuang, wake up!”
Dazhuang almost fell off the carriage. Seeing the little girl in front of him, he was furious.
“Little Ruyi, you’re trying to kill me!”
Jiang Lanyue watched the two bickering helplessly. Once Dazhuang was fully awake, she said, “Let’s go down the mountain!”
She got into the carriage first, but suddenly everything went black. A cold blade was pressed against her neck, and a hoarse voice said, “Swords have no eyes. Quiet down if you don’t want to die.”
Jiang Lanyue felt a chill run down her spine. Sure enough, Wei Chi was a jinx; nothing good ever came from him, not even a kidnapping.
“Have mercy, sir! I’m just a powerless, abandoned woman; I’m no threat to you.”
She clearly felt the person behind her stiffen slightly, but instantly withdrew their killing intent, and breathed a sigh of relief.
Ruyi had already opened the carriage curtain and was terrified by the sight.
“This is my maid. She knows medicine. You must be badly injured.” There was a strong smell of blood in the carriage, and Jiang Lanyue probed.
Junyao’s face was deathly pale. He looked at the master and servant with complicated emotions. He had been tricked and barely escaped, and upon seeing Dazhuang, he got into the carriage without hesitation.
“Let her up, we’re coming down the mountain immediately.”
Only after receiving Jiang Lanyue’s consent did Ruyi sit on the edge of the carriage door, cautiously watching the blade Junyao held to Jiang Lanyue’s neck.
Dazhuang inwardly blamed himself for not noticing the thief boarding the carriage, steadily starting the engine, afraid that a moment’s hesitation would anger Junyao and lead to harm to his wife.
The carriage slowly descended the mountain, and only when the gates of Hanshan Temple were no longer visible did the tense atmosphere inside ease slightly.
Jiang Lanyue lowered her voice and gently advised, “Your injury is too severe; if it’s not treated soon, it will become infected. We are just weak women, powerless to even kill a chicken, we can’t threaten you.”
Weak women? Junyao recalled the scene from that morning and chuckled inwardly; he had never seen any weak woman so audacious.
However, he still released his hands, and Jiang Lanyue immediately left his embrace, sitting beside Ruyi.
The two, mistress and servant, stared intently at the thief. Upon seeing the person’s face clearly, Jiang Lanyue gasped; this thief was strikingly beautiful and menacing.
From the first glance, Jiang Lanyue sensed he was dangerous, extremely dangerous.
Junyao casually shifted into a comfortable position, lounging lazily. His long, narrow eyes swept over the terrified master and servant before settling on Jiang Lanyue’s face. He said in a hoarse voice,
“What are you standing there for? Are you waiting for me to bleed to death?”
Jiang Lanyue was taken aback. Seeing him point to the bloody hole in his body, he frowned in displeasure, his tone threatening: “Hmm?”
What a vixen! Even injured, he’s still so flirtatious.
Thinking this, Jiang Lanyue gestured for Ruyi to help him, but Junyao politely declined, staring intently at Jiang Lanyue, his meaning clear.
To avoid angering him, Jiang Lanyue dared not refuse and obediently began treating his wounds.
Suddenly, Jiang Lanyue noticed a peach blossom birthmark on his chest.
She seemed to have heard that tyrants were born with a peach blossom mark on their chest. Jiang Lanyue glanced meaningfully at Jun Yao’s face.
But seeing him staring at her, her hand trembled involuntarily, and Jun Yao let out a muffled groan.