Xiao Jing had long grown impatient.
He shouldn’t have been the one to handle the breaking of the engagement today. Xiao Yuzhang had somehow heard rumors that the Fourth Miss Jiang was unsightly in appearance and too timid to be presentable, and had stubbornly insisted on ending the engagement.
But when it came time to return the tokens and formally break the engagement, he didn’t dare show up.
Outside the flower hall, the roses bloomed brilliantly, many peeking over the wall, their fragrance cloying. Xiao Jing’s irritation only grew.
Yet that irritation abruptly turned to astonishment the moment he saw Jiang Fu.
Xiao Jing had a secret. Ever since he came of age a year ago, he had dreamed of a young girl every night.
The girl was enchanting in appearance and endearingly naive, allowing him to tease her in his dreams.
He had never been a man driven by desire, even despising feminine charms, yet with her, he completely broke his own rules.
He had searched the capital in secret but never found her. Just as Xiao Jing had resigned himself to the idea that she was merely a goddess of his dreams, she appeared.
It turned out she had been hidden away in the Jiang family’s inner courtyard all along—and she was his nephew’s fiancée.
Xiao Jing tightened his grip on the white jade in his hand and took light steps toward her.
“Fourth Miss Jiang?”
“…Yes.”
The man’s voice fell beside her ear. Jiang Fu knew she couldn’t avoid this, so she lowered her head and softly acknowledged.
Today, she wore a smoke-pink high-waisted ruqun, the chest area cinched tightly, accentuating her curves. Xiao Jing withdrew his gaze and let it settle on her face.
Accustomed to seeing the girl’s delicate, makeup-free appearance, this was the first time he had seen her adorned.
Her brows were like dark ink, her eyes held a tender emotion, and her cherry lips bore marks from being bitten by her teeth.
Xiao Jing’s steps faltered slightly, his fingers suddenly clenching. He actually wanted to step forward, pry open the girl’s lips, and press his own fingers against them.
“Did you bring the token?”
“Yes, I did.”
Jiang Fu didn’t detect the suppressed tension in his voice, only feeling that the man before her was terribly cold. Trembling, she pulled a piece of white jade from her collar.
The soft, white jade trembled lightly. Darkness surged in Xiao Jing’s eyes, but he forcefully suppressed it in an instant.
“Here.”
Xiao Jing extended his hand. The girl’s delicate, soft hand fell into his palm, and his heart stirred as he pinched her fingertips.
Jiang Fu abruptly looked up, her watery apricot eyes filled with panic.
Was he really that frightening?
Xiao Jing couldn’t stand seeing her flustered and helpless. His brows furrowed, and his expression grew even colder.
Jiang Fu trembled. The fact that the object of her spring dreams was her fiancé’s younger uncle was terrifying enough, and now his temper was so terrible. If he knew she fantasized about him every night, would he be so angry he’d want to strangle her?
Jiang Fu was on the verge of tears.
Ah, she was still young, and her courage was just as small.
The warmth in his palm reminded Xiao Jing that the girl before him was not the one from his dreams. He released her hand and placed another piece of jade in hers. “From now on, Xiao Yuzhang and Fourth Miss Jiang have no further connection.”
A breeze drifted into the flower hall. The man had long since disappeared outside the door. The master and servant stood there for a long time. Only when the people outside had dispersed did Bai Xing dare to speak loudly.
“Whew! That Third Master Xiao is truly terrifying!”
Jiang Fu nodded in agreement, the tassels on her golden hairpin swaying back and forth, the sparrow at the end of the pin seeming to come alive.
But in the next moment, her face fell.
“I… my legs are numb.”
Facing Xiao Jing earlier, she had been scared out of her wits, not daring to move a muscle. Her legs now felt weak and sore.
Bai Xing quickly supported her. “I’ll help you, miss.”
She didn’t think her young mistress’s fear was anything to be ashamed of. Third Master Xiao was just as the rumors said—cold and unfeeling, capable of making children cry. It would be strange if her young mistress weren’t afraid.
Moreover, the fact that the Xiao family sent him to break off the engagement was practically a slap in the face for the young lady.
Life was already difficult for the young lady in the Jiang household—how would she manage from now on?
Bai Xing’s mouth felt bitter with worry. “Should we go beg the First Madam again…”
Jiang Fu knew what Bai Xing was about to say and cut her off.
“Why beg her? It was the Xiao family who wanted to break off the engagement. Aunt has no say in the matter, and besides, breaking it off is actually a good thing.”
If she had married into the family and dreamed of another man on her wedding night—and that man being her husband’s uncle—just the thought made her feel like dying.
Having avoided the worst-case scenario, Jiang Fu suddenly felt her spirits lift, and her strength returned. She even began to feel hungry again.
“What’s for lunch today? The lotus fish slices from yesterday were quite good. I wonder if they’ll have them today.”
“Huh?”
Bai Xing was still lost in the sorrow of her young lady’s broken engagement. Her lady truly had a carefree heart—even in such a situation, she hadn’t forgotten about food.
Bai Xing wiped the moisture from the corner of her eye. “I’ll go check the kitchen later.”
“Mhm, go early, or we’ll end up with leftovers again.”
“I know, miss.”
……
When Xiao Jing returned to the estate, before he could even step into the Third Branch’s courtyard, Xiao Yuzhang blocked his path.
Though they were uncle and nephew, there was only a four-year age gap between them, yet their personalities were worlds apart.
Xiao Jing was steady and mature beyond his years, while Xiao Yuzhang was overly excitable. At this moment, he was winking, scratching his head, and fidgeting restlessly in front of Xiao Jing.
“Uncle, did you see that Jiang Fourth? Is she as ugly and timid as the rumors say?”
Xiao Jing had never thought there was anything wrong with his nephew’s lively and spirited nature before, but now he found it somewhat grating.
“What kind of behavior is this!”
“You still haven’t answered me, Uncle.”
Usually, Xiao Yuzhang feared his uncle the most, but at this moment, curiosity overpowered his fear, and he pestered him relentlessly for an answer.
Xiao Jing lowered the corners of his eyes slightly, not letting Xiao Yuzhang see the emotions in his gaze.
“Mhm.”
She wasn’t ugly, but she was indeed timid. He wasn’t exactly lying.
“Hmph! I knew it. Good thing we broke off the engagement, or I’d have had to marry that ugly creature. Thank you, Uncle, for going on my behalf.”
“No need.”
Xiao Yuzhang felt that his uncle was unusually agreeable today, which deepened his gratitude.
“Uncle, what about Jiang Fourth’s token?”
“Broken.”
Before he could finish, Xiao Jing opened his palm, revealing a piece of white jade broken cleanly in two.
Xiao Yuzhang’s face fell. “How could that be?”
But he quickly regained his smile. “Never mind. Since the engagement is broken anyway, the token is useless. Just throw it away, Uncle.”
Freed from the engagement with Jiang Fu, Xiao Yuzhang seemed to have shed a heavy burden, his whole demeanor becoming spirited and confident.
Xiao Jing didn’t respond. Instead, he simply closed his palm again.
The white jade had been worn close to the young girl’s body, still carrying the faint warmth and fragrance of her presence. Unconsciously, he tightened his grip.
……
After the broken engagement, Jiang Fu’s treatment in the Jiang household worsened.
Fortunately, the Second Branch’s courtyard housed only her and Bai Xing. With the doors closed, the gossip of others couldn’t reach her ears.
As long as she could eat her fill, Jiang Fu didn’t care what others said about her.
The summer night was cool. After reading for a while, it was time to sleep.
Jiang Fu tossed and turned in bed, clutching her blanket. Bai Xing brought over a bowl of calming soup, her face full of concern at the sight.
“Miss, your habit of having nightmares every night really should be looked at by a doctor.”
Previously, she had hoped that the young lady’s marriage into the Xiao family would allow them to call for a doctor, but now that the engagement has been broken off, her plans have fallen through.
Jiang Fu couldn’t bear to hear the word “dream” now. She took the calming soup from Bai Xing’s hands and drank it down in a few gulps.
“It’s not a serious problem. Perhaps it will get better in the future.”
“If only that were true.”
Jiang Fu was carefree, but Bai Xing dared not be negligent. Watching Jiang Fu finish the calming soup, she tucked in the corners of the blanket and comforted her.
“Young lady, go to sleep early. Once you’re deeply asleep, you won’t dream anymore.”
“Mm.”
As the calming soup took effect, Jiang Fu’s eyelids soon grew heavy.
But tonight, she still dreamed.
In the dream, the scene was the flower hall of the Jiang residence. She was still dressed as she had been during the day, but this time she was lying in Xiao Jing’s embrace, her palm resting on his chest.