CXD - 2

On the ground lay a braid coiled into a circle. To be precise, there were two braids: one jet-black, smooth and shiny, the other lighter in color, rough and coarse.

But at this moment, the two strands of hair had been woven together, intertwined strand by strand.

Seeing Jiang Zhiyi’s trembling hand holding the handkerchief, Jingzhe quickly stepped forward to pat her back: “My lady, don’t worry yet. This sachet may not necessarily be some sort of strange prescription. Remember last time when the sedan chair broke, but you didn’t sprain your ankle? And that storybook only half came true then. Perhaps the eldest master just took your hair to symbolize a bond...”

“Just?” Jiang Zhiyi raised an eyebrow, trembling even more violently.

“I misspoke... That is, it’s like a toad wishing to eat swan meat, quite unlucky!”

Jiang Zhiyi threw the handkerchief on the ground, took a light deep breath, and tapped her temple with her index finger.

Jingzhe moved behind her and started massaging her temples.

“Did anyone see you do it?”

“Rest assured, I had someone do it on the street. The eldest master didn’t notice at all and only realized the sachet was missing when he returned home. He’s now in a hurry heading to Lady’s Huifeng Courtyard.”

Jiang Zhiyi opened her eyes.

Jingzhe: “Shall we go over and take a look?”

After washing off the filth on her hands and changing into warmer clothing, Jiang Zhiyi rode out of Yaoguang Pavilion in a sedan chair.

Passing through corridors and bridges, mountains and forests along the way, servants saw the gilded and painted sedan chair, all stopped their sweeping in surprise, respectfully standing aside.

Although the princess has lived in the Marquis Mansion for nearly ten years, she rarely interacted with the family members.

In the early days, it was better as the Marquis often led the little princess around other courtyards. Later, the Marquis frequently went out on official business, and the princess lived alone in the western section specially prepared for her by the Marquis, leading a quiet life. She even became less close with the Lady.

These people from the outer courtyard hardly ever saw the princess throughout the year.

The sedan chair swayed through a series of moon gates until reaching outside the Huifeng Courtyard.

A complaining female voice intermittently drifted on the wind: “I said... yesterday it was already full… you should’ve stored it properly…”

A young male voice argued: “I thought the longer it stayed, the better the effect…”

“The princess has arrived!” A sharp-eyed servant woman loudly announced from within the courtyard.

The man and woman who had been talking immediately fell silent.

Jiang Zhiyi pressed her lips into a straight line, one hand tightly gripping the hand warmer, the other resting on the maid’s forearm as she stepped down from the sedan chair.

“Why did the princess suddenly come? Is there something urgent?” The servant woman greeted with a smile.

Jiang Zhiyi walked straight ahead without sparing a glance.

Jingzhe followed behind, giving the servant woman a forced smile: “Nanny Chai’s words make it seem like our princess can’t visit unless there’s something important.”

“How could that be! Lady mentioned you first thing this morning, saying it’s been a while since she last saw you…” Nanny Chai hastily caught up, taking a quick peek inside the main hall before diligently lifting the door curtain.

The argument in the main hall had ceased.

The lady seated at the top wore a long blue satin coat embroidered with colorful gold patterns, adorned with golden hairpins and earrings, exuding an air of grace and wealth. However, due to having shouted earlier, she appeared slightly flustered with a reddened face and neck.

Seeing Jiang Zhiyi enter, Lady Zhong steadied her expression and smiled: “Why did you come, Zhiyi?”

“To chat with my aunt about trivial matters,” Jiang Zhiyi casually replied, glancing at the man below.

Fang Zongming wore a spirited-looking sapphire round-collar robe today. Unfortunately, his sallow and sagging face made him appear even more spiritless against the rich color, except for a pair of murky eyes that brightened when she crossed the threshold.

Suppressing the nausea welling up in her heart, Jiang Zhiyi raised her hand to loosen the cloak’s ties.

Fang Zongming immediately rushed forward: “Cousin, let me handle it.”

Jiang Zhiyi flicked the edge of her cloak, avoiding his hand, allowing the maid to take her cloak and hand warmer.

Lady Zhong quickly signaled Fang Zongming.

Fang Zongming cleared his throat and sat back down, crossing his legs defiantly.

This cousin of his always looked down on others with her nose high up, remaining aloof after nearly ten years.

Pity she remained so proud and aloof, for sooner or later she would still have to yield tenderly under a man.

That day wasn’t far away; he merely got a head start in getting intimate with her. What was the big deal?

Lady Zhong laughed, trying to ease the tension: “Your aunt was just chatting with your cousin too.”

Jiang Zhiyi sat down on the rosewood chair, accepting the hot tea offered by the servant, skillfully swirling the tea leaves with the lid: “What kind of trivial matter is so important that it makes my aunt lose her temper?”

“What’s so important? It’s just that your cousin was disobedient, so I scolded him,” Lady Zhong glanced at her son, “Look, now your cousin is laughing at us.”

“If nothing serious, then it’s good. On my way here, I saw people from your eldest cousin’s courtyard rushing out, saying they were looking for something, and I thought we were robbed.”

Lady Zhong stiffened.

Fang Zongming also put down his crossed leg, swallowing saliva as he exchanged a glance with Lady Zhong.

Lady Zhong’s gaze flickered, smiling as she pointed at her son: “Isn’t it because of this that I scolded him! Your cousin lost a talisman I begged for him last month somewhere on the street, so I had to send more people to search everywhere!”

“It’s just a talisman; if it’s lost, just beg for another one, right?”

“This talisman was hard to obtain from Master Jianwei, and no second one can be begged!” Lady Zhong reproachfully glanced at her son.

Fang Zongming: “Right, right, cousin, do you remember how our grandmother valued Master Jianwei during her lifetime…”

“Our grandmother?” Jiang Zhiyi’s face turned cold, “My grandmother was Princess Ding’an, whose grandson is calling whom?”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Lady Zhong glared at her son, turning to apologize with a smile, “Your cousin talks nonsense, don’t listen to him.”

“But if it’s such a precious talisman, shouldn’t it be worn constantly? Why does Auntie let Eldest Cousin store it away?”

“The Master said to wear it for thirty days and then store it, ensuring peace and health.”

Jiang Zhiyi paused her action of stirring the tea foam.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Jiang Zhiyi slowly tightened her grip on the teacup and placed it on the small table, “Just find it peculiar. Poor Eldest Cousin.”

Fang Zongming’s nervousness dissipated, smugly raising an eyebrow: “See, cousin also finds it odd. I said the talisman brings more peace the longer it’s worn. Wearing it a few more days might not only ensure peace and health but also bring a happy marriage, winning the heart of a beauty!”

Lady Zhong angrily looked at him: “Instead of wasting time with idle chatter, why not hurry up and find the lost item!”

“Taking advantage of Lord Marquis being away on official duties… Have they gone mad?” Even after accompanying Jiang Zhiyi back to Yaoguang Pavilion, Jingzhe still found it unbelievable.

She originally didn’t believe such wicked things existed in the world, but after the princess tested it, it confirmed not only the truth of the prescription but also that it had been effective for a month.

According to the storybook, from now on, the princess would gradually fall in love with the eldest master, becoming intimate with him…

Jiang Zhiyi also thought of this, recalling the phrase “intimate union” from the book, covering her churning stomach.

Jingzhe quickly poured her a cup of hot tea, wanting to curse but realizing cursing wouldn’t relieve her frustration.

Though the princess resided in the Marquis Mansion these years, she had the support of Duke Ningguo’s inheritance and never relied financially on the mansion.

Moreover, due to the princess’s royal bloodline and Duke Ningguo’s past achievements, the mansion gained substantial profits, and the Marquis’s rank also rose accordingly.

Every year, Yaoguang Pavilion received numerous gold, silver, jade, silk, and brocade. Each time the cousins showed interest, the princess merely nodded her chin and gave them away.

Some knew the princess was proud and unwilling to haggle over petty gains, so they capitalized on their nurturing kindness, increasingly calculating ways to bleed the princess dry, now even daring to covet her person!

Jingzhe: “Princess, let’s burn the ominous things in the sachet and see how this evil can still cause trouble!”

After drinking a cup of hot tea, Jiang Zhiyi’s chill finally subsided somewhat, frowning and waving her hand to signal her to proceed.

But as she watched the braid approach the candle flame, she felt something was amiss: “Wait.”

Wouldn’t burning it mean even ashes would be inseparable?

Wouldn’t it mean even death couldn’t separate her from this dirty thing!

Jiang Zhiyi stopped Jingzhe, instructing her to carefully store the braid first, thinking perhaps the book contained a solution, retrieving the book “Yiyi Zhuan” from the book box.

In the storybook, after Auntie’s prescription was made, Yiyi and her lover’s situation rapidly deteriorated—

The border suddenly reported an emergency, and Yiyi’s lover, coming from a military family, hurried to the front lines to defend against enemies, leaving Yiyi behind.

Auntie rejoiced, seizing the opportunity to discuss wedding arrangements with her son.

Yiyi overheard the mother-son duo plotting and realized how malicious this family was, but being dependent on them, dared not openly confront them. Instead, she secretly sought a Daoist master, asking how to break the spell.

The Daoist master said it wasn’t difficult; she just needed to personally cut the braid with an extremely yang and extremely lethal weapon.

Upon hearing this, Yiyi thought: Her lover wasn’t fighting exactly now? When he returns victorious, his battle-stained sword will be her magic weapon. With their unbreakable bond, she must hold her ground before then, vowing never to betray him!

“...”

Jiang Zhiyi raised her eyes to look at her golden cage.

She had seventeen or eighteen stones of precious jewels, but a steadfast lover seemed yet unborn. Who should she rely on to guard her heart? And from whom should she get the bloody weapon from the battlefield?

While pondering, Jiang Zhiyi continued flipping through the pages.

However, the Daoist master provided no further guidance. The following text only described how Yiyi pined away, missing her lover day by day, waiting for news of victory from the frontier.

As the remaining pages grew thinner and the war seemed endlessly prolonged, Jiang Zhiyi flipped faster and faster, increasingly feeling something was amiss.

Until she reached the last page in one breath, a line of small print leaped off the page—

End of Volume One. For what happens next, please await the continuation in Volume Two.

“...”

When Guyu entered with the tea-serving maids to replenish the tea, she saw Jiang Zhiyi dumping out a stack of storybooks from the book box.

“What is the princess looking for?” Guyu couldn’t read many characters, “Should I ask Sister Jingzhe to help?”

“No need.”

Jiang Zhiyi glanced at the stack of books, everything clear at a glance.

There was simply no Volume Two in the book box.

This Three Remainders Bookstore sent over a troublesome storybook, and it was even an incomplete volume.

Was Yaoguang Pavilion’s reward too easy to obtain?

Jiang Zhiyi looked at the late evening sky outside the window, sternly stating: “Prepare the carriage; tomorrow morning, we’ll visit the Three Remainders Bookstore.”

“I’ll arrange it immediately.”

“Is the princess going out tomorrow?” A tea-serving maid reminded, “I heard from outside that something major is happening in the city tomorrow.”

“What’s happening?”

“The god of war general who won the battle in Hexi seems to be returning to the capital tomorrow.”

“So what,” Jiang Zhiyi glanced at her, “His return as a general is a major event, but my outing as Princess Yongying isn’t?”

“The princess’s affairs are naturally significant, but there will be crowds and congestion on the streets, making it inconvenient for carriages to pass through…”

“You’re saying I should stay in the mansion and give way to that…” Jiang Zhiyi suddenly paused, “Which victorious general are you referring to?”

“The one who left the capital three years ago, from the Shen family—”

“That playboy parading around the streets daily, cockfighting and dog racing, behaving improperly, who shares the same stench as my eldest cousin?” Jiang Zhiyi said mockingly, “What did you call him again?”

The tea-serving maid choked.

Guyu, realizing, pulled away the tactless maid: “Look at your ignorance! These days, anyone who has served in the army can be called a war god? How much of a battle could that Shen family young master fight? Is he worth the princess’s attention? Whenever the princess’s carriage goes out, everyone steps aside; it’s always others clearing the way for the princess. Who dares to crowd her?”

The next morning, Guyu sat in the slow-moving carriage, listening to the bustling sounds outside and seeing the frosty expression on Jiang Zhiyi’s face, wanting to slap herself.

It was fine when they left Chongren Ward earlier; she had been flattering, saying she’d only heard of状元 (top scholar) processions, not纨绔子弟 (playboys). Yesterday’s tea-serving maid was indeed exaggerating.

Though the princess didn’t say anything, her expression indicated the flattery hit the mark.

Who would have thought that once they reached the main street, someone shouting through a gong announced the generals from the border were about to enter the city, drawing crowds from every corner, completely blocking the main street.

Young girls carried armfuls of flowers, children perched on adults’ shoulders clapping and chattering, strong men dragged their families to occupy higher spots. Looking out, the entire street was filled with bobbing heads.

With such a scene, forget about the princess, even the Supreme Elder wouldn’t be able to control it.

Crowds pushed apart and gathered again, the large carriage like a lone boat in the vast ocean, unable to move forward or retreat.

Jiang Zhiyi sat with her eyes closed inside the carriage, her brows furrowed with dark clouds, not uttering a word for the duration of an incense stick’s burn.

Just one incense stick ago, Jingzhe, seeing the dire situation, suggested she walk to the bookstore to fetch the book while Guyu accompanied Jiang Zhiyi to a nearby teahouse to rest.

However, after one incense stick’s time, the carriage still hadn’t reached the seemingly nearby teahouse.

Caught between advancing and retreating, amidst the buzzing noise, a sudden rumbling snore sounded.

Jiang Zhiyi gently opened her eyes, seeing the yellow ball in her lap sleeping soundly, undisturbed.

This morning, before leaving, this cat clung to her. Remembering she had wrongfully neglected it over the hair-cutting incident, she thought it pitiful and brought it along.

Now, while she couldn’t find peace here, the cat was carefree.

“Are you here to irritate me today as well?” Jiang Zhiyi picked up the cat and shoved it into Guyu’s arms.

Bending to tidy her skirt covered with cat hair, a group of burly men suddenly pushed and shoved towards the carriage.

The carriage jolted, causing the hairpin on Jiang Zhiyi’s head to tilt. Her hand hidden in her sleeve began to tremble.

Even the grandest parade of new scholars in the capital every three years never had such a chaotic scene.

What merit did that Mr. Shen possess to make these people ignore her, a princess’s carriage, just to catch a glimpse of him?

What did that tea-serving maid call him yesterday? War god?

Indeed... After three years’ absence, she almost forgot how that Shen family playboy could be considered a “god”?

He was nothing short of a plague god!

Guyu clumsily fixed Jiang Zhiyi’s hairpin, stood up to peer out the window, intending to remind the accompanying guards to be careful, when she suddenly spotted a familiar figure moving against the tide.

“Princess, Sister Jingzhe has returned!” Guyu exclaimed joyfully.

Jiang Zhiyi raised her eyes.

“Fortunately, fortunately, you got the book you wanted. Today’s trip wasn’t wasted. You can read and relax in the carriage while waiting for the Jinwu guards to clear the way soon.”

Jiang Zhiyi managed an “Mm,” her expression finally improving a bit.

The carriage door slid open, and Jingzhe jumped onto the carriage, panting heavily.

Jiang Zhiyi stretched out her hand but grasped empty air.

Jingzhe: “Princess, the clerk at the Three Remainders Bookstore said this book isn’t theirs.”

“What do you mean it’s not theirs? Isn’t it in the box delivered by their manager?”

“But they checked the bottom of the scroll; there’s indeed no shop seal. We’ll have to wait for the manager to return for an explanation.”

“Where’s the manager?”

“The manager...” Jingzhe nervously swallowed, pointing outside, “Also went to watch General Shen’s triumphant return...”

“...”