"Young Lord." When Wei Xun found them, he watched the embracing pair, silently turned away while clutching his injured arm.
Hearing Wei Xun's voice, Jiang Shiyao sprang away from Zhou Congxian's embrace like an arrow.
Her face flushed crimson as she hastily wiped her tears. Only then did she look up and notice his blood-soaked sleeve.
She gasped, "Wei Xun, your arm!"
Zhou Congxian turned around. "Injured?"
Wei Xun exhaled. "Just minor wounds, but the target escaped."
Jiang Shiyao glanced back at Zhou Congxian. "Wasn't it… someone she sent?"
Song Jiyun was someone who drew clear lines between love and hate, often to extremes. It wouldn't be surprising if she sent assassins again after the previous failure.
Zhou Congxian shook his head. "No."
Wei Xun looked at Jiang Shiyao before speaking ambiguously.
"They're from the same group as last time."
Jiang Shiyao recalled the unlucky fellow she encountered earlier.
Her emotions had mostly stabilized, though her voice remained nasal from crying, as if she'd suffered great injustice. "That person I just met…"
She paused mid-sentence, realizing she didn't know his identity.
"Who?" Zhou Congxian looked at her.
Jiang Shiyao pressed her lips. "Last time at Huaiyue Pavilion, when Fu'er accidentally pulled off my jade pendant and it fell out the window…"
"Shuangjiang went down to search, but he was the one who picked it up."
That day when Zhou Congxian was evading pursuers, he had spotted Jiang Shiyao and Fu'er by the window and discarded his cloak to approach them directly.
He hadn't seen who picked up her jade pendant.
But Huaiyue Pavilion was Cheng Wang's property…
"Do you remember what he looked like?"
Jiang Shiyao nodded. "Dressed richly, yet buying pancakes himself. He appeared gentle and refined, like a scholar."
Zhou Congxian and Wei Xun exchanged glances.
It was Cheng Wang.
"Let's return to the estate first."
In the carriage back to the estate.
Zhou Congxian noticed her still-trembling fingers. "Why were you alone on the street?"
Jiang Shiyao's eyes reddened as she inhaled. "This humble one got off the carriage myself. The road was blocked again, and I feared… feared it might be another trap."
Zhou Congxian sighed. "It won't happen again."
She glanced at him – this was the second time he'd said that today.
Her lips twitched slightly before she finally nodded meekly.
"Yes."
Zhou Congxian reached over and covered her hand with his, revealing the expensive and heavy filigree gold bracelet on her wrist.
"So you like this style."
In his memory, Jiang Shiyao had always dressed simply.
Even the jade hairpin that had just shattered when she fell was so plain it was almost unnoticeable.
As if embarrassed, Jiang Shiyao hid the bracelet in her sleeve.
"How could this humble one afford such things? If not for the Young Lord sending them last time, I wouldn't have the chance to own such jewelry."
Zhou Congxian nodded thoughtfully.
After a moment, he instructed, "Don't speak of what happened on the street to anyone after we return."
Seeing her puzzled expression, he pondered briefly before offering a concise explanation.
"With the current court faction struggles, the Duke's estate fears involvement. I cannot reveal that person's identity to you, but it's best to pretend you know nothing."
Jiang Shiyao recalled her previous life.
She didn't understand court politics, but the Duke had instructed everyone to avoid leaving the estate unless necessary.
And Zhou Congxian seemed to become increasingly busy after Song Jiyun entered the household, eventually transferring from the Yan Guard Camp to the Shadow Guard.
No one in the entire mansion knew about this matter. She had only accidentally overheard it when pleading with Zhao Shi to bring her daughter back.
Though there were no explicit words, she could sense the subtle changes within the household.
Jiang Shiyao asked, "Young Lord, what is the Shadow Guard?"
Zhou Congxian was momentarily surprised but still explained, "The Shadow Guard is the Emperor's personal guard, different from both the imperial city's Feather Forest Guard and the capital's Yan Guard Camp."
"Why do you ask?"
Jiang Shiyao made an "oh" sound and shifted the blame to Fu'er. "I took Fu'er out a few times recently. She must have heard some story from somewhere and asked me twice, but I didn't know either."
Zhou Congxian nodded and didn't press further.
Jiang Shiyao pressed her lips into a tight line. The Emperor's personal guard… If she hadn't died in her previous life, would there have been even more stormy conflicts?
With court faction struggles, Zhou Congxian had chosen to become the Emperor's personal guard, and the Emperor's age…
"Young Lord, Niangzi Jiang, we've arrived."
As Zhou Congxian held Jiang Shiyao's hand and supported her arm, he brushed against something in her sleeve.
"What's this?"
Jiang Shiyao broke out in a cold sweat, terrified that her substantial funds would be discovered.
A flicker of guilt passed through her eyes. "It's… I exchanged for a hundred-tael silver note at the money exchange…"
"Silver note?"
Zhou Congxian stepped out of the carriage first.
Jiang Shiyao emerged from the carriage and glanced at Zhou Congxian with what seemed like reproach. "The Young Lord is wealthy, but I am poor. I don't want Fu'er to grow up poor either."
"This silver is what I've saved over the years, plus what you rewarded me last time. I want to keep it all for Fu'er—it will be her emergency fund for the future."
Zhou Congxian held her by the waist and lifted her down from the carriage. "When Fu'er grows up, I'll naturally prepare her dowry. There's no need for you to worry about it."
"With your meager savings, you can't even afford jewelry. Keep it for yourself."
It wasn't that Zhou Congxian looked down on her, but among the women in the mansion, aside from his mother and grandmother, who actually had property?
Jiang Shiyao gritted her teeth.
She wasn't poor now! This money was enough for her and Fu'er to live comfortably for a lifetime!
Zhou Congxian took the money bag from his waist and stuffed it into her hand. "Buy what you like. Hiding your bracelet like that—people might think this Young Lord can't afford to support you."
The corner of Jiang Shiyao's eye twitched.
Clutching the money bag, she obediently accepted the criticism. "Yes, the Young Lord is right to admonish me."
When they returned to the small courtyard, Shuangjiang saw her disheveled state. "What happened to you, Niangzi?"
Jiang Shiyao touched her hair and realized her jade hairpin had fallen out, with a strand of hair coming loose.
As she walked inside, she lamented, "My hairpin fell out. Had I known, I would have worn that pear blossom silver hairpin today."
Shuangjiang giggled. "Niangzi, just have the Young Lord send more! Then you won't lack for jewelry to wear!"
Jiang Shiyao ignored her comment and rubbed her stomach. "The shopkeeper's wife kept me for a while, and now I'm starving. Is there any food left in the kitchen?"
"He Mama made fresh bamboo shoot soup today and specially saved a portion for you. It's being kept warm in the kitchen—I'll go fetch it."
After Shuangjiang left, Jiang Shiyao carefully tucked all the silver notes into the secret compartment of her dressing case.
"Mother, did you bring chestnut cakes for Fu'er?"
Jiang Shiyao turned to see her daughter leaning against the doorframe.
Fu'er and Little Bone—one child, one dog—peeked their little heads out from beside the door.
She blinked her round eyes. "Fu'er hasn't had chestnut cakes for ten whole counts!"
The little girl only understood numbers as big as what she could count with both hands spread wide.
Jiang Shiyao corrected her, "It's ten days."
Fu'er readily followed, "Ten days!"
"You don't eat properly, always thinking about pastries!" She almost got led astray by this child.
Fu'er came bouncing in and nestled in her mother's arms, wrinkling her nose. "Pastries are delicious."
Little Bone followed closely behind his little mistress, circled around them twice, then found a comfortable spot at her feet to lie down.
Jiang Shiyao held her daughter. "No matter how delicious, they can't replace a proper meal."
Fu'er pointed at Little Bone by her feet. "Little Bone doesn't eat properly either, he just loves chewing bones."
Hearing his little mistress call him, Little Bone immediately stood up and let out two barks.
Little Bone had grown twice as big since he first came back, and his barks were louder too.
Fu'er made a shushing gesture. "Shh, Little Bone, be quiet. If Gao Mama hears you, you'll be chased out."
"Who's getting chased out?"
As the voice sounded, a fragrance wafted in.
Fu'er's eyes instantly lit up!
"Father! Chestnut cakes!"
Zhou Congxian placed the plate on the table, and Fu'er immediately snuggled up to him.
"They really are chestnut cakes!"
Zhou Congxian blew on the still-steaming chestnut cake before handing it to his daughter.
"These are the chestnut cakes Gao Mama made today. Her skills are no worse than Dexing Lou's."
Jiang Shiyao certainly knew Gao Mama's skills were excellent.
But those were prepared solely for Zhou Congxian – others weren't so fortunate.
"It's almost mealtime. The Young Lord certainly knows how to pick his timing."
Jiang Shiyao stood up to take away the chestnut cakes. "No more eating. Shuangjiang will be back from the kitchen soon."
Zhou Congxian reached out and snatched the pastries back. "It's just one pastry meal. We eat regular meals every day, missing one won't matter. Right, Fu'er?"
"Yes!" Fu'er, as if having found her supporter, immediately smiled with crescent eyes, grabbed the pastry and ran off.
Afraid that if she delayed even a moment, her mother would hide them again.
Zhou Congxian watched his daughter's jade-like, adorable appearance and smiled knowingly.
Although no one in the capital was like him – taking a concubine before marrying, having a daughter before an heir – he never regretted having Fu'er.
"How often can a child truly indulge? Let her eat."
With someone protecting her, Jiang Shiyao had no choice.
In the evening, Zhou Congxian stayed for dinner in the small courtyard. Shuangjiang, being perceptive, went to make the bed and coaxed Fu'er to sleep early.
The corner of Jiang Shiyao's mouth twitched, and she turned to leave.
"Where are you going?"
Zhou Congxian grabbed her hand, causing the bracelet hidden under her sleeve to slip out onto his fingertips.
The warm sensation lingered on his fingers.
It seemed he was only now discovering another side of her.
Different from her usual gentle, plain appearance – more vibrant, more alive.
Zhou Congxian exerted force, and she fell into his embrace.
She gasped in surprise, "Young Lord…"
He wasn't particularly driven by desire, especially recently with court unrest keeping him busy until late nights.
Come to think of it, he hadn't touched her for three or four months.
The image of her crying bitterly in his arms during the day flashed through his mind.
Looking into her deer-like eyes in his embrace, his gaze darkened.
Suddenly.
He wanted to make her cry again.
Layers of curtains, fragmented whispers.
Outside the window, night rain suddenly poured down, loudly beating against the roof tiles.
Amidst the sound of spring rain, the faint, delicate gasps within the inner chamber were nearly inaudible.
Suddenly, the window was blown open, carrying a fine mist of moisture into the room.
Layer upon layer of gauze curtains rippled like water, as soft, intermittent sobs drifted from within.
"No more… please, no more…"