No man with any pride can tolerate being told he’s inadequate, and Ji Qiuyang was no exception.
Although Ji Qiuyang was a scholar, he came from a farming family. During the wheat harvest season each year when the academy was on break, he would return home to help with farm work. So, while he wasn’t as robust as Ji Dongyang, among scholars, he was definitely one of the more capable ones.
The disdain and doubt in Jiang Jingyi’s tone were unmistakable, and Ji Qiuyang’s face darkened instantly.
His eyes, deep and dark, stared at Jiang Jingyi as if he wanted to devour her whole. How could such a woman exist in the world? Not only did she not adhere to the principle of honoring her husband as her master, but she also dared to look at him with such a glance. Without even asking, he knew exactly what she was thinking. He gritted his teeth and said, “Why wouldn’t I be able to?”
Truth be told, Jiang Jingyi was just a little skeptical, after all, wasn’t the saying “a scholar is the most useless of all”? But since she had already pricked his pride, it wouldn’t be right to continue doubting him. As long as the letter was delivered, who did it didn’t really matter. Moreover, Ji Qiuyang was her husband. Him delivering the letter would show even more sincerity.
“In that case, I’ll trouble you, husband,” Jiang Jingyi said, curving her lips into a smile and even giving Ji Qiuyang a slight bow.
Ji Qiuyang acknowledged with a hum and, without delay, took the letter and headed out.
Qingshui County was adjacent to Qinghe County, but Daqiao Village’s Daqiao Town was closer to Qingshui County. Twenty-some li could be covered in about two hours if one walked quickly. Ji Qiuyang had been to Qingshui Town before, so he set off familiar with the route. Coincidentally, he encountered someone with a cart along the way. After inquiring about the fare, he spent two coppers to ride there.
He arrived in Qingshui County before noon. Ji Qiuyang felt the money in his pocket and ultimately decided to buy a package of pastries and a jug of wine before heading to the He family.
Given the He family’s status, his modest gifts were undeniably shabby. But the Ji family wasn’t well-off, and he hadn’t brought much money when he left home. After buying these few things, his pockets were empty.
Ji Qiuyang, however, didn’t mind. Instead, he started thinking about how to respond if the He family asked about Jiang Jingyi. After all, he and Jiang Jingyi were nominally husband and wife. Outsiders didn’t know about their agreement and naturally saw them as a unit. The He family was Jiang Jingyi’s maternal grandparents’ family; even if they hadn’t seen her in over a decade, they would likely inquire about their niece.
The Jiang family in Daqiao Town were wealthy landowners. With many mouths in the household, gossip was inevitable.
The most widespread rumor was that the Jiang family had two daughters, both stunning beauties. However, the elder sister was a pretty face with no substance—vicious and spiteful, her reputation in tatters. The younger sister, on the other hand, was skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—a rare talented woman, praised by all as a good girl.
Ji Qiuyang wasn’t one to blindly follow rumors, but the way Jiang Jingyi had married him was something he couldn’t let go of, further cementing her reputation for being spiteful and malicious. Describing her as shameless wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
That day, he had actually been tricked there by a classmate. Who could have expected a young woman from a respectable family to throw herself at him, calling him “Brother Yang”? Before he could even react, his classmates, who had mysteriously disappeared earlier, all reappeared. He couldn’t clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River.
Such a profound humiliation was unforgettable. He could more or less guess what that classmate of his had been thinking, and there would be a reckoning someday. But right now, the problem that needed solving was Jiang Jingyi.
He never imagined there would come a day when he’d be tangled up over that woman.
If it had been before today, he might have laid out the truth about their marriage to the He family. But after today, he found himself wondering whether Jiang Jingyi’s scheme against him might also have been something she was forced into.
A hateful person often has a pitiable side. Since Ji Qiuyang had already married her, even if they had an agreement to only be a couple in name, he shouldn’t speak ill of her in front of outsiders. If one day Jiang Jingyi wished to leave, she could still marry into a good family—better than carrying a bad reputation and living a difficult life. It would also honor the fact that they had once been husband and wife.
Ji Qiuyang collected his thoughts and knocked on the gate. After explaining his identity to the gatekeeper, the man scurried into the inner courtyard to report.
The He family was wealthy, with a compound spanning three courtyards—quite impressive for a small, impoverished county like Qingshui. While waiting, Ji Qiuyang couldn’t help but wonder: How did the daughter of such a family end up marrying a landlord like Jiang? And after their daughter’s death, why had they completely neglected their granddaughter?
His original plan had been to deliver the letter and leave immediately. Little did he expect the gatekeeper to completely ignore what he said, leaving him stranded here while he ran inside.
Not long after, hurried footsteps came from within the courtyard, followed by a middle-aged man in a light blue robe and a scholarly headband striding out. From behind, a woman’s voice called out, “Master, slow down! Wait for your wife!”
Ji Qiuyang was momentarily stunned, quickly surmising that these were likely Jiang Jingyi’s uncle, He Yan, and his wife.
However, He Yan’s current appearance differed from what Ji Qiuyang had imagined. While merchants held a decent social standing at the time and often favored gold and silver accessories with opulent attire, He Yan before him wore only a simple blue robe. He looked less like a merchant and more like a scholar.
“So, you’re Jingyi’s husband?”
While Ji Qiuyang was still lost in thought, He Yan had already strode over, appraising him from head to toe before nodding in satisfaction. “Not bad looking.”
Hearing this, Ji Qiuyang felt like retracting his earlier assessment—this man was undoubtedly related to Jiang Jingyi, judging a person first by their face. Nonetheless, Ji Qiuyang respectfully bowed. “Your nephew-in-law greets Uncle.”
“Master!” Madam Li finally caught up, panting slightly. Seeing Ji Qiuyang, her eyes also lit up. She turned to He Yan and asked, “Is this our Jingyi’s husband?”
Without waiting for an answer, Madam Li clapped her hands and exclaimed, “I knew it! Our Jingyi is such a beautiful child; her husband had to be handsome too. Wasn’t I right?”
She peered behind Ji Qiuyang. “Nephew-in-law, where is our Jingyi?”
The couple’s attitude deepened the doubts in Ji Qiuyang’s mind, but he still replied courteously, “My wife is at home and couldn’t come today. I came at her request to deliver a letter on her behalf.”
With that, he took out the letter and handed it to He Yan.
He Yan took it casually and opened it right away. The letter wasn’t long, and Ji Qiuyang knew exactly what it said. While He Yan read the letter, Ji Qiuyang couldn’t bring himself to look at him.
He Yan glanced at the letter and snorted, “I always said the Jiang family was rotten to the core. Seems I was right.”
Since the letter had been delivered, Ji Qiuyang didn’t linger. He bowed respectfully to the elders and said, “The letter has been delivered. I’ll take my leave now.”
He Yan had initially intended to invite him in to sit for a while, but it was obvious that his niece had just married this man, and he himself was too preoccupied with the Jiang family matters to entertain Ji Qiuyang properly. So, he said, “I’ll have someone drive you back.”
Ji Qiuyang, who never wanted to be too closely associated with Jiang Jingyi, naturally refused. But He Yan wouldn’t take no for an answer. He had a carriage brought over and practically bundled Ji Qiuyang inside.
“Wait a moment.” Madam Li stopped the carriage. “Just a brief delay.”
With that, she hurriedly had someone fetch a few gifts and placed them in the carriage. “This is just a token of affection from her aunt.”
He Yan was quite pleased, a smile appearing on his face. “When you get back, tell Jingyi that since she’s come to us for help, we naturally can’t stand by. Tomorrow morning, we’ll meet her at the entrance of the Jiang residence.”
There was even a hint of a killing intent in his tone. Ji Qiuyang couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity for Jiang Jingyi’s father.
It was rather amusing. Though He Yan looked refined, his speech was far from elegant. Yet his tone and choice of words didn’t provoke annoyance; instead, they made one feel rather favorable toward him.
As for Jiang Jingyi’s aunt, she also seemed to care for her. So why had there been no contact all these years?
Full of doubts, Ji Qiuyang rode back to the Ji family in the He family’s carriage, laden with their generous gifts.
He arrived home quite early. The He family’s coachman dropped him off, took one look at Jiang Jingyi to confirm her identity, and then left.
Seeing that he had been well-treated, Jiang Jingyi knew things had gone smoothly. She looked at Ji Qiuyang and said, “Thank you, husband. Well done.”
Ji Qiuyang nodded reservedly, then glanced at the items piled up in the room and asked, “What’s your plan for tomorrow?”
“What else? A normal return visit,” Jiang Jingyi said as if it were obvious. “Uncle coming to reclaim my mother’s dowry is only right and proper. Do you think my father and Madam Ma would dare to refuse?”
However, based on the original book, the scoundrel father was truly despicable, but he paid no attention to domestic affairs. As for her mother’s dowry, how much of it remained in Madam Ma’s hands was anyone’s guess.
Of course, with her malicious intentions, the more Madam Ma had used up, the better. When the time came and she couldn’t produce it, Jiang Dachuan would finally realize what Madam Ma had been doing behind his back. It would be best if both husband and wife were thoroughly embarrassed.
Ji Qiuyang knew she was up to no good. But considering all the misdeeds her stepmother had committed during her upbringing, which indirectly led to the current situation, he couldn’t find it in himself to sympathize.
Jiang Jingyi looked at the pile of items in the room and said to Yingtao, “Take all the food and daily necessities to the kitchen. The fabrics go to Sister-in-law so she can make some clothes for the family.”
When she wrote the letter earlier, she wasn’t entirely sure about her maternal grandparents’ family’s attitude. In her previous life, the original host had never contacted the He family until her death. This life had a gap of over a decade, so she naturally had no idea about the He family’s current situation. Now that the He family had responded, it gave her a clue. Perhaps the lack of contact over the past decade was due to the original host’s own doing. Now that she had let go of her prejudices and reached out first, the He family wouldn’t hold a grudge against a child. Instead, they might remember He Yan’s long-deceased sister and show her more compassion.
All of this was advantageous for her, giving her more confidence about tomorrow’s plan. Since her aunt and uncle took this seriously, they’d likely lend her a hand.
If all went well, she’d be a little rich lady after tomorrow and have the capital to start making money.
That felt pretty good.
Jiang Jingyi couldn’t help but chuckle softly. Yingtao, who was tidying up, gave her a horrified look, grabbed the items, and hurried out.
As for Ji Qiuyang, he watched her with a suspicious expression, convinced she was plotting something again.
Jiang Jingyi didn’t care what her “business partner” was thinking. Lying cheerfully on the bed, she said, “Really not considering being a proper couple with me? After tomorrow, I might be rich, you know. You’d get to enjoy all the good things with me. How about reconsidering?”
Outside, Yingtao was too terrified to approach. Inside, Ji Qiuyang’s expression clearly said, “I knew it.” Of course, he thought—how could this woman possibly let him off easily? Look, it hadn’t even been a full day, and she was already going back on her word.
Would his future days ever be peaceful?
**