The man opened his cold eyes, gazing at the restless woman across from the fire. He struggled to suppress the urge to throw her out. His pupils constricted slightly.
Jiang Yueli noticed him looking and, mid-bite on a chicken leg, paused in mid-air. “Uh… want a piece?”
Out of courtesy, she offered. After all, he had allowed her inside to avoid the rain, and sharing a chicken leg wouldn’t hurt.
The man’s handsome brows furrowed slightly. “No need,” he said coldly.
Seeing his disinterest, Jiang Yueli shrugged and continued eating on her own. Her manners were far from refined, but for some reason, she seemed to savor every bite, as if the roasted chicken were the most delicious food on earth.
The man watched the seemingly carefree woman with curiosity. In this remote area, how could a young girl appear disguised as a boy?
Jiang Yueli’s disguise was actually well thought out. Her skin was darkened, her eyebrows thickened; to most, she looked almost identical to Jiang Yuebai. Only someone with a keen eye would see through it—and this man had done just that. Yet Jiang Yueli had no idea she had been recognized.
After finishing the chicken, Jiang Yueli noticed the rain showing no sign of stopping. She prepared to find a corner to spend the night.
The man saw her moving toward a resting spot and said nothing, remaining seated in the hall, legs crossed, eyes closed.
The drizzle continued all night. Because of the other people outside, Jiang Yueli never fully relaxed and didn’t sleep deeply. Only when dawn broke did she truly rest.
The man glanced at the sleeping woman in the corner, straightened his robe, and prepared to leave.
As he stepped outside, Shi Ying approached. “Master, shall I deal with that girl to prevent her discovering your whereabouts?”
The man waved his hand. “No need. Important matters come first.”
“Yes, Master.” Shi Ying replied, and he and his men mounted their horses and left. When Jiang Yueli awoke, the old, abandoned house was empty except for her. She didn’t think much of the strangers from the night before.
Perhaps because the post-rain air was especially fresh, Jiang Yueli awoke feeling refreshed. Lingnan wasn’t far, and she planned to travel straight to her destination.
By evening, Jiang Yueli had reached Lingnan, arriving just as the city gates were closing.
Her maternal grandfather’s family was originally from Lingnan. After gaining wealth, they had moved to Kyoto, but with their business growing stronger, they rebuilt the ancestral home in Lingnan—larger than before—intending to retire there. Her grandfather and grandmother were elderly, while her two uncles and cousin were mostly away due to business.
Although this was Jiang Yueli’s first time in Lingnan, her cousin had described the general layout of the ancestral home. Enter the city, travel east along the main road, cross the stone bridge, and the largest estate on the right would be the Shen family home.
Indeed, it was a prominent household. The Shen ancestral home was grand and imposing, not ostentatious but dignified. Even the stone lions at the entrance were magnificent, and the vermilion-painted doors gleamed as if recently polished. The inscription above the gate read Shen Residence in bold gold characters, unmistakably written by her grandfather himself.
Before Jiang Yueli could knock, the doors creaked open, revealing two young servants. They paused, unsure at first because Jiang Yueli was dressed in male clothing, though her features bore a resemblance to the matriarch.
“Could this be Miss Jiang?”
Jiang Yueli was momentarily surprised. Could her grandfather already know she was coming? Likely her mother had sent a message in advance, yet the servant recognized her despite the disguise.
She nodded. “Yes.”
The servants’ smiles widened. “It’s really Miss Jiang! We’ve been waiting for you. A few days ago, the master received notice that you’d be coming and assigned us to wait at the gate. The old lady even asked this morning when you would arrive—now we finally see you!”
The servants led her along, explaining the estate layout as they went.
“The old master lives in the main courtyard at the innermost part. Uncle one in the east courtyard, uncle two in the west. The master has also prepared rooms for you and the eldest young lady. The furnishings and bedding were personally arranged by the old lady. She’s been eagerly awaiting your arrival,” one servant explained.
By the time they reached the main hall, Jiang Yueli saw her maternal grandmother accompanied by Nurse Qian. Surprised and delighted, Nurse Qian exclaimed, “Ah, Miss Jiang has returned! Erbao, quickly inform the kitchen and prepare more of her favorite dishes. I’ll take her to see the old lady.”
Jiang Yueli glanced at the servant—this was Erbao.
“Hello, Nurse Qian. How has my grandmother been? Has her leg improved?”
Due to age, Grandmother Shen suffered from leg pain, worse on cloudy or rainy days. Jiang Yueli assumed it was rheumatism, and though she wasn’t skilled in medicine, she knew Lingnan’s climate—warm, with frequent underground springs—would be far more suitable for her health than the damp winters of Kyoto.