Chaрtеr 24: Не Dаred Not Hорe
Jiang Хun lowerеd his gаzе.
Моst likеly, it wаs still mеаnt fоr Xiaо Zheng.
Over the уеars, hе hаd bееn рainfullу аwаre of ехaсtly how manу garmеnts she had madе for Хiaо Zhеng.
Thirty-fоur in total.
She hаd lоvеd Хiao Zhеng fоr tеn уears.
Нow сould she рossibly givе up ovеrnight?
Her willingness tо ехchаngе the jade рendаnt fоr the clоud-lacquеred wооdеn brush to givе to him had аlreadу shосked and pained him immensely.
Аs fоr anything more…
Не dared not hорe.
Nor should he hope.
He averted his eyes, refusing to look any longer.
Jiang Xun set off for Yecheng early the next morning.
By evening, he arrived at a small courtyard in Yecheng.
Inside the courtyard, a little girl was squatting on the ground, playing with a small wooden toy.
Her slender fingers held a rattle drum, but lacking the strength, she could only shake it gently a couple of times before starting to pant.
A woman stood under the corridor, watching her daughter in this state, her eyes instantly reddening.
Madam Zhang could no longer hold back her tears, which slipped down her cheeks. “My precious daughter, how could she…” she began, her voice choking off before she could finish, her fingers clutching her handkerchief tightly.
Beside her, Mr. Zhang sighed softly and slowly stepped forward, drawing her into his embrace.
Madam Zhang could no longer contain herself. She buried her face in her husband’s chest, her shoulders trembling with sobs.
Just then, footsteps sounded from outside the courtyard. A servant hurried into the corridor. “Master, a Lord Jiang is at the gate requesting an audience.”
Mr. Zhang was puzzled. “Lord Jiang? I don’t know any Lord Jiang.”
The servant leaned in and whispered a few words into his ear.
Mr. Zhang’s expression changed instantly. “Quickly, invite him in!”
Inside the main hall, the lamplight was soft, and the fragrance of agarwood lingered in the air.
Jiang Xun sat steadily in the host’s seat, while Mr. Zhang stood to the side, respectful and not daring to raise his head.
A maidservant moved to serve tea, but Jiang Xun raised a hand to stop her. “No need for formalities. I have come today only to ask a favor of Mr. Zhang.”
Upon hearing this, Mr. Zhang grew flustered and immediately bowed his head. “Lord Jiang, you humble me. You are a high-ranking official in the court. Whatever matter you require, please simply give the order. How could I dare to be negligent?”
Jiang Xun’s expression remained unchanged as he spoke calmly. “Some days ago, did Mr. Zhang acquire a jade pendant?”
Mr. Zhang didn’t understand the situation, but he dared not lie. “That is indeed true.”
After saying this, he recalled that the young lady had said she was from the Shen family.
If he remembered correctly, the Shen couple had adopted a child years ago.
That child seemed to have the surname Jiang.
Could it be…
Mr. Zhang suddenly realized with a start and dropped to his knees. “Lord Jiang, please forgive me! I truly did not know the jade pendant was related to you!”
“The jade is still here. I will return it immediately. I only beg for your forgiveness.”
Jiang Xun’s demeanor remained unchanged. “I do indeed want that jade pendant.”
“But it is not right to take someone’s possession without reason. The cloud-lacquered wooden brush is of great value. Your willingness to exchange it for five thousand taels of silver and the jade pendant was a transaction between you and her. I will not interfere.”
“I have come today for another matter. I wish to make another transaction with Mr. Zhang.”
Mr. Zhang’s heart was uneasy with apprehension. “My lord, please speak…”
Jiang Xun raised his hand. From outside the door, an elderly man in official robes, his hair neatly tied, immediately entered.
“Meng Qing, Chief Physician of the Imperial Hospital, pays his respects to Lord Jiang.”
Mr. Zhang froze completely, almost unable to believe his eyes.
It was actually a physician from the Imperial Hospital!
Jiang Xun spoke. “I know that Mr. Zhang was willing to sell the cloud-lacquered wooden brush because your daughter is seriously ill. Therefore, I have invited a physician from the Imperial Hospital to examine her.”Mr. Zhang’s eyes suddenly reddened.
His family had declined for many years, and now even hiring a decent physician required scraping together money from all sides—how could he dare to dream of having a royal physician attend to his daughter’s illness?
Yet today… it had actually come true!
Jiang Xun took out a waist token with a dark pattern and gold edges from his sleeve and handed it over.
“This is a secluded residence I own in the capital, suitable for quiet recuperation.”
“Your family can move there. Starting today, a royal physician will visit monthly to examine and care for your daughter. I will also be responsible for all the medicinal herbs needed until she fully recovers.”
“This is the transaction I wish to make with you.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Mr. Zhang and his wife were already in tears, kneeling heavily on the ground and kowtowing repeatedly.
“Lord Jiang, such great kindness is beyond words! Our entire family will never forget it for all eternity!”
The night was deep, the twilight clouds as dark as ink.
A quarter of an hour later, Jiang Xun boarded the carriage back to the capital.
A small lamp flickered inside the carriage, its flame swaying, casting his features in a clear, handsome, yet cold and solemn light.
He held the jade pendant in his hand, his thumb stroking its carved surface over and over.
This was Shen Mingshu’s protective talisman, worn close to her body for many years, already imbued with her scent.
Jiang Xun lowered his head to look at it, his usually indifferent eyes now so tender they seemed almost to melt.
He tucked the jade pendant back into his sleeve, leaned against the side of the carriage, and softly ordered, “Faster.”
The coachman obeyed, the crack of the whip echoing sharply as the carriage swiftly sped out of Ye City’s night.
The first light of dawn broke, the morning mist not yet dispersed.
Jiang Xun had not rested all night. As soon as the carriage came to a stop, he stepped out without a moment’s delay.
Qing He, who had been waiting at the gate, hurried forward to meet him. “My lord.”
Jiang Xun’s first words were, “How is she?”
Qing He shook his head. “Still unconscious, and the fever hasn’t broken yet.”
Jiang Xun’s heart sank, his steps quickening even more as he headed straight for the Little Round Studio.
Shen Mingshu was still lying unconscious on the bed, her face pale, a damp cloth covering her forehead.
He took out the warm, smooth jade pendant from his sleeve and handed it to Xiao Tang, who was keeping watch by the bedside.
“Place it beside her.”
Xiao Tang took the jade pendant, and as her fingertips touched the familiar carvings, her eyes immediately reddened.
“With this, the young lady will recover soon.”
Qing He, observing Jiang Xun’s exhausted expression, softly advised, “My lord, you haven’t slept all night. Would you like to rest first? I can keep watch.”
Jiang Xun merely raised a hand to rub his temples, his voice low and hoarse. “No need.”
He paused for a moment, then added, “Bring all the official documents from these past days.”
“But you’ve only just returned—”
“I’ve been away from the capital for a day. There must be a pile of matters waiting. They cannot be delayed.” Jiang Xun cut him off.
Qing He opened his mouth to speak but ultimately did not press further. “Yes, I’ll go fetch them right away.”
The next day, Shen Mingshu opened her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering slightly as her vision gradually cleared from blurry to sharp.
Turning her gaze, she saw Jiang Xun.
He sat by the bed, his features clear, handsome, and coldly solemn—so detached he seemed untouched by worldly concerns, yet carrying a hint of indescribable weariness and restraint.