Whether in her past life or this one, Jiang Huai Zhou was the only person who had ever treated her as family.
Jiang Wantang pushed aside her thoughts and spoke with a smile, “Brother, please don’t tease me!”
“I’ve always remembered how you looked, and I also remember how much you loved the pastries from Liu’s Pastry Shop on Chang’an Street when you were little.”
“Here, I specially went to the street today to buy these for you.”
As she spoke, Jiang Wantang handed the pastry box in her hand to him, her face full of playfulness. “I wonder if you still like them?”
“Hahaha…” Jiang Huai Zhou reached out to take the box, laughing heartily.
“Back then, I wonder which little greedy cat would always sneak over to my place to eat pastries.”
“Brother, you’re teasing me again!” Jiang Wantang puffed up her cheeks, looking like a kitten with its fur bristling.
Jiang Huai Zhou smiled and raised his hand, gently ruffling her hair, comforting her just as he had when she was a child.
The two chatted and laughed, completely at ease with each other.
Then, he led her to a row of ancestral tablets and handed her three incense sticks, saying gently, “Wantang, come and offer incense to our ancestors.”
Jiang Wantang took the incense sticks and nodded. “Alright.”
After the ritual, Jiang Huai Zhou looked at her and sighed, his tone heavy. “I know why Father brought you back this time.”
“Now that you’ve returned to the capital, if you don’t wish to…”
“Brother, Wantang is willing.” Jiang Wantang looked up, meeting his surprised gaze, and smiled. “Wantang has already had her Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Sooner or later, I must marry.”
“That may be true, but the palace is as deep as the sea—it is no place to call home.”
“Xiangfu has treated you coldly. You don’t need to go this far for them.” Jiang Huai Zhou spoke with a solemn expression.
“The matter isn’t settled yet. I can send you away…”
“Brother, this is Wantang’s own choice.”
Jiang Huai Zhou was taken aback. “Why?”
“Wantang doesn’t want to spend her whole life hiding. I’ve had enough of those ten years of obscurity.”
“This time, I want to live openly under the sun.”
“Brother, you’ve already done enough for me over the years. There’s no need to plan anything more for me.”
“In life, one must always rely on oneself.”
“Wantang has grown up,” Jiang Wantang’s gaze was earnest and resolute. “Let Wantang walk the rest of the path on her own.”
Jiang Huai Zhou lowered his eyes to look at her, lost in thought without speaking.
After a long while, he finally sighed and remarked, “It seems our Wantang has truly grown up!”
“Since you’ve already made up your mind, go ahead and do it.”
“No matter what you do in the future, I will always stand behind you.”
The feeling of being so firmly chosen moved Jiang Wantang deeply.
Yet, as she was now, she dared not hope for anything more…
Unable to describe the emotions in her heart, she only felt a bittersweet ache lingering in her chest.
Jiang Wantang smiled, her gaze deep and distant, her expression thoughtful.
She said, “Brother, if one day you discover that I am no longer the kind and sensible sister you cherished, would you still treat me as family and be good to me?”
Jiang Huai Zhou paused, saying nothing.
When that time comes, he will surely despise me too, won’t he?
As these thoughts swirled in her mind, a dull ache surged in Jiang Wantang’s heart.
But before she could voice the words she had long prepared, a hand gently patted the top of her head.
Jiang Huaizhou lowered his gaze and smiled at her, his tone still as warm as ever. He said, “Silly girl, what nonsense are you talking? Aren’t you my kind and sensible little sister?”
“What if… I’m not what you imagine?” Jiang Wantang persisted stubbornly.
Jiang Huaizhou chuckled. “Why are you suddenly asking such a strange question?”
“I just suddenly wanted to know.”
The smile on Jiang Huaizhou’s lips widened. “What a silly girl. No matter what, you’re my own sister. How could I not treat you well?”
Jiang Wantang pursed her lips, her eyes lowering slightly, and did not press further.
At that moment, Jiang Huaizhou did not understand the hidden meaning behind her words.
Later, when he finally understood what she meant and realized the sensitivity and caution in her heart at that time, it was already too late for regrets.
The two chatted for a while before a servant came to invite them to the main courtyard for dinner.
After dinner, Jiang Wantang returned to her small courtyard. Among the various luxurious dresses Steward Xu had sent over, she chose the most eye-catching red one.
The embroidery on the brocade was extravagant and beautiful, with exquisite patterns, especially the large woven gold designs on the skirt, which looked incredibly opulent at first glance.
Jiang Wantang had no particular interest in these lavish dresses. What interested her was what she planned to do tonight…
Soon, she changed into the luxurious dress and ordered her maid to apply elaborate makeup.
With her already stunning appearance enhanced by the exquisite makeup, she looked even more breathtakingly beautiful, captivating all who laid eyes on her.
Especially those enchanting peach-blossom eyes—when they shimmered, even women would feel their bones melt.
Xiuzhu sat nearby, gazing at her in awe and exclaiming, “Miss, you look absolutely stunning when dressed up like this!”
“Who could resist this?”
“Even a monk who has renounced worldly desires would find it hard to resist!”
Jiang Wantang was amused by her exaggerated reaction, but this was exactly the effect she wanted.
“It’s about time. We should get going.”
“Miss, it’s already late. Where are you going, dressed so beautifully?” Xiuzhu asked curiously.
“Of course, to spend money and seek pleasure.” Jiang Wantang smiled mysteriously. “Come, I’ll take you to a good place!”
With that, she strode out.
Xiuzhu was taken aback and hurried to catch up. “Miss, what kind of place?!”
“The biggest ‘Xiaojinku’ in Shengjing City!”
As her words faded, the speaker had already walked far ahead…
Chapter 17: To Live, One Must Rely on Oneself
Whether in her previous life or this one, Jiang Huai Zhou was the only person who had ever treated her as family.
Suppressing her thoughts, Jiang Wantang spoke with a smile, “Elder Brother, stop teasing me!
“I have always remembered what you look like, and I also remember that as a child, your favorite treats were the pastries from Liu’s Pastry Shop on Chang’an Street.
“Look, I went to the street specifically to buy some for you today.”
As she spoke, Jiang Wantang held the pastry food box out to him, her face full of playfulness. “I wonder if Elder Brother still likes them?”
“Hahaha…” Jiang Huai Zhou reached out to take the food box, laughing heartily.
“Back then, I wonder which little glutton was always sneaking over to my place to eat pastries?”
“Elder Brother, you’re teasing me again!” Jiang Wantang puffed out her cheeks like a ruffled kitten.
Jiang Huai Zhou laughed and raised his hand, gently stroking her head to soothe her just as he had when they were children.
The two talked and laughed, showing no signs of estrangement.
Afterward, he led her before the row of ancestral tablets and handed her three sticks of incense, saying warmly, “Wantang, come and offer some incense to our ancestors.”
Jiang Wantang took the incense, nodded, and said, “Alright.”
When it was finished, Jiang Huai Zhou looked at her and sighed, his tone heavy. “I know why Father brought you back this time.
“Now that you have returned to Jingcheng, if you are unwilling to go through with what comes next…”
“Elder Brother, I am willing.” Jiang Wantang looked up into his surprised eyes and smiled. “I have already had my Coming-of-Age Ceremony; I have to marry someone eventually.”
“Be that as it may, the depths of the palace are like the sea; it is no place to call home.
“The Xiangfu has treated you coldly; you have no need to go this far for them,” Jiang Huai Zhou said with a solemn expression.
“Things are not yet set in stone. I can send you away…”
“Elder Brother, this is my own choice.”
Jiang Huai Zhou’s expression froze. “Why?”
“I don’t want to spend my whole life hiding. I have had enough of those ten years of anonymity.
“This time, I want to live openly in the light.
“You have already done enough for me over the years, Elder Brother. You don’t need to scheme for me anymore.
“To live, one must rely on oneself.
“Wantang has grown up.” Jiang Wantang’s gaze was earnest and firm. “Let me walk the road ahead by myself.”
Jiang Huai Zhou looked down at her, silent and pensive.
After a long time, he finally let out a sigh and remarked, “It seems our Wantang really has grown up!
“Since you already have a plan in mind, then go ahead and do it.
“No matter what you do in the future, your brother will always be behind you.”
Jiang Wantang couldn’t help but be moved by the feeling of being someone’s steadfast choice.
Only, as she was now, she no longer dared to hope for anything…
She couldn’t describe the feeling in her heart, only a sour and bittersweet emotion lingering in her chest.
Jiang Wantang smiled and looked into the distance with a thoughtful expression in her deep eyes.
She asked, “Elder Brother, if one day you find that I am no longer the kind and sensible sister you love, will you still treat me as family and be good to me?”
Jiang Huai Zhou paused and did not speak.
By then, he will probably despise me too, right?
As this thought crossed her mind, a dull ache surged through Jiang Wantang’s heart.
But before she could voice the excuses she had already prepared, a hand lightly patted the top of her head.
Jiang Huai Zhou looked down at her with a smile, his tone as warm as ever. “Silly girl, what nonsense are you talking about? Aren’t you my kind and sensible sister?”
“What if… it’s different from what you imagine?” Jiang Wantang pressed stubbornly.
Jiang Huai Zhou said amusedly, “Why are you suddenly asking such a strange question?”
“I just suddenly wanted to know.”
The smile on Jiang Huai Zhou’s lips widened. “What a silly girl. One way or another, you are my biological sister. How could I not be good to you?”
Jiang Wantang pursed her lips and lowered her eyes, not pressing any further.
At this moment, Jiang Huai Zhou did not understand the hidden meaning behind her words.
It was only much later, when he finally understood that sentence and the sensitivity and caution she felt at the time, that it was already too late for regrets.
The two chatted for a while longer before a servant came to invite them to the main courtyard for dinner.
After dinner, Jiang Wantang returned to her small courtyard. From the various fine clothes Steward Xu had sent over, she chose the most eye-catching red one.
The patterns on the fine silk were ostentatious and beautiful, the embroidery extremely exquisite. The large areas of gold-woven patterns on the skirt, in particular, looked magnificent at a glance.
Jiang Wantang had no interest in these fancy dresses; what she was interested in was what she intended to do tonight…
Soon, she changed into the luxurious attire and ordered her maid to apply elaborate makeup.
She already possessed supreme beauty, and with the addition of exquisite makeup, she became even more breathtakingly stunning, a beauty that made it impossible to look away.
Especially those soulful peach blossom eyes; with a single glance, they could melt a person’s bones.
Xiuzhu sat to the side, staring at her blankly in amazement. “Miss, now that you’ve dressed up, you’re far too beautiful!
“Who could possibly resist this?
“Even a monk who has cleared his heart of desires would find it hard to look away!”
Jiang Wantang was amused by her exaggerated reaction, but this was exactly the effect she wanted.
“It’s about time. We should set off.”
“Miss, it’s late. You’ve dressed up so beautifully—where are you going?” Xiuzhu asked, puzzled.
“To spend money and enjoy myself, of course.” Jiang Wantang gave a mysterious smile. “Come, I’ll take you to a good place!”
With that, she stepped outside.
Xiuzhu started and hurriedly followed. “Miss, what kind of place?!”
“The largest… ‘Xiaojinku’ in Shengjing City!”
As her voice fell, she had already walked far away…