Jiang Yu stopped in her tracks.
Why was she running? This man appeared weak and feeble, incapable of doing anything to her.
Jiang Yu turned back and saw the man looking utterly serious, which instantly sparked a mischievous urge in her.
Not only did she stop, but she also walked back.
"Young Master, you called me?"
She placed both hands on the armrests of the lounge chair, her gaze falling on his face. Suddenly, she smiled: "Beauty, you are truly lovely. It was too dark last night, and I didn’t get a good look."
Xie Jichen’s brow twitched involuntarily, a cold gleam flashing in his eyes: "You are truly audacious."
Jiang Yu chuckled softly and suddenly leaned in, almost pressing her lips to his ear: "Young Master, why are you so fierce? You weren’t like this yesterday. You held me tightly and wouldn’t let go."
Warm breath brushed against Xie Jichen’s earlobe, accompanied by a faintly familiar, sweet fragrance.
Xie Jichen stiffened all over, the tips of his ears turning slightly red as he pushed her away: "How dare you!"
The sudden movement left him breathless, and he broke into a fit of coughing.
Seeing him cough so violently, Jiang Yu dared not tease him further.
Instinctively, she reached out and pressed and kneaded several acupoints on his back with moderate pressure and quick movements.
In her previous life, she had been confined to a dilapidated courtyard for years. Winters were especially unbearable, and she had once contracted a cough. The marquis’s household never called a doctor for her, so she had to treat herself.
Fortunately, she had always loved blending and making fragrances and had read many medical books.
She learned to massage herself to relieve the symptoms and eventually mastered the technique.
Xie Jichen had little strength at the moment and could only let her do as she pleased, but to his surprise, the coughing actually stopped.
"You know medicine?"
Jiang Yu let out a bitter laugh: "You could say prolonged illness makes one a doctor."
She glanced at the sky: "I must go now. Farewell, beauty!"
Hearing the word "beauty," Xie Jichen’s temples throbbed.
He hated it most when others mocked his appearance. Those who dared insult him with it were long dead, and no one dared touch this taboo anymore.
But this damned woman had mentioned it more than once!
Jiang Yu didn’t notice his complicated expression. After a moment of hesitation, she untied the Crimson Coral Jade pendant from her waist.
"You seem to have a cold condition. This Crimson Coral Jade pendant can dispel cold, promote blood circulation, and nourish the heart and lungs. Consider it payment for yesterday."
Payment?
What did she take him for?
Xie Jichen’s expression darkened. Since rising to his high position, he had never been treated this way.
"You—"
Before he could speak, Jiang Yu had already stuffed the pendant into his hand, risen, and run outside.
Seeing this, Qingque flapped its wings and chased after her, guiding the way.
…This ungrateful little beast! He’d pluck its feathers and stew it into soup later!
Xie Jichen was caught off guard by this series of unexpected events, and a sense of absurdity welled up in his heart.
When Wei Cang returned, he saw Xie Jichen looking extremely displeased.
He unconsciously rubbed his neck, feeling a chill run down his spine.
"Your… Your Excellency?"
Xie Jichen lifted his icy gaze: "Where did you go?"
Wei Cang was taken aback: "You ordered me to escort the Princess and arrange a carriage for her…"
Xie Jichen stared at him coldly: "Add 200 lashes when you return."
"Huh?"
What was it for this time?
Xie Jichen toyed with the Crimson Coral Jade in his hand: "Just now, that woman came again."
Wei Cang’s eyes widened: What!?
He immediately threw himself forward and knelt: "Your Excellency, then… are you all right? Did she do anything to you? In your current condition, how could you withstand it…"
As he spoke, his eyes flickered over Xie Jichen’s body.
Xie Jichen: …
Now he not only wanted to kill that damned woman, but also the brainless fool standing before him who had martial skills but no brains.
He kicked the man away: "Get lost! If you let her escape again… add another hundred lashes."
Upon hearing this, Wei Cang's square face showed a look of terror. He immediately scrambled to his feet and turned to run outside.
Zhaoyun, returning from outside with medicinal herbs, almost collided with Wei Cang: "Is your ass on fire?"
"My eyebrows are on fire!"
Wei Cang's figure had already vanished, leaving only his voice echoing in the small courtyard.
Xie Jichen could hardly bear to watch, raising a hand to rub his forehead.
Zhaoyun turned around in confusion and saw Your Excellency holding a jade pendant. Upon closer inspection, he couldn't help but reveal a look of delight: "Your Excellency, is this Crimson Coral Jade?"
Crimson Coral Jade was something that could only be encountered by chance, not sought after, and was highly effective against cold ailments.
They had searched for it before but had never been able to find any.
"Your Excellency, where did this come from?"
Xie Jichen's expression was rather unpleasant as he curled his lips into a mocking smile: "This… is the payment that woman just gave me."
Zhaoyun shuddered all over—had that woman come again?
No, was that woman insane?
…
Jiang Yu had already arrived outside the temple gate with Lan Xiang.
Gu Yanchuan and Jiang Wei were standing beside the Jiang family's carriage, discussing something.
Three steps behind them stood a maid in emerald-green clothing, whose appearance was quite striking, though at the moment she kept her head lowered, eyes downcast, revealing a hint of timidity.
This was Jiang Wei's personal maid, Mei Xiang, who was from the same hometown as Lan Xiang.
Jiang Yu's gaze paused on Mei Xiang for a moment before she walked toward Gu Yanchuan and Jiang Wei.
Seeing her emerge, the two stopped their conversation. Jiang Wei smiled gently, while Gu Yanchuan wore a concerned expression as he approached.
Jiang Yu sneered inwardly.
Now that their scheme to frame her had failed, they finally remembered to console their fiancée.
Yet she showed nothing on her face, speaking softly: "Brother Gu, what did you need A'yu for?"
Gu Yanchuan looked tenderly at her: "After what happened today, the situation was chaotic. You must have been terrified. I specially went to Master Jing'an and asked for a protective talisman for you."
He took out a sachet and handed it to her: "From now on, A'yu will surely be safe and prosperous."
Jiang Yu's gaze fell on the sachet. The stitching was crude, clearly a cheap trinket bought for a few coins at the foot of the mountain.
She had given him countless gifts worth thousands in gold, yet he was stingy enough to give her this.
Nevertheless, Jiang Yu acted pleasantly surprised, accepting it with both hands: "Thank you, Brother Gu, for thinking of A'yu. A'yu will cherish it dearly."
She didn't miss the fleeting look of disdain in Gu Yanchuan's eyes or the jealousy in Jiang Wei's gaze.
It seemed that if their plan had succeeded, even this worthless thing wouldn't have been given to her.
Gu Yanchuan nodded: "The wind is strong outside. Get in the carriage."
He supported her arm and helped her into the carriage.
Just before lifting the curtain to enter the carriage, Jiang Yu subtly glanced sideways.
She saw Gu Yanchuan look toward Jiang Wei and extend his hand toward her. Under the cover of their sleeves, their hands clasped together as they whispered quietly.
Whatever Gu Yanchuan said caused Jiang Wei's face to flush red. She glared at him coquettishly.
A mocking smile curled at the corner of Jiang Yu's lips. She withdrew her gaze and bent down to enter the carriage.
Not long after, Jiang Wei also boarded the carriage.
As she looked up, she met Jiang Yu's gaze and couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.
Had she noticed something?
No, impossible.
How could that fool Jiang Yu possibly have figured it out?
She sat down beside Jiang Yu: "Sister, why are you looking at me like that? Could it be that you're jealous because I spoke a few more words with brother-in-law?"
She deliberately teased, while carefully observing Jiang Yu's reaction.
Jiang Yu shook her head and smiled: "How could that be? You are a renowned talented lady in the capital, who knows etiquette and propriety, more dignified than most noble ladies. How could you possibly be the kind of lowly person who would seduce her brother-in-law?"
She took Jiang Wei's hand: "Isn't that right, sister?"