Huo Jue spent only half an hour at the escort agency.
After he left, Sun Ping carefully placed the
wax-sealed bamboo letter container into a wooden box secured with a mechanical
lock.
He Yong, the second-in-command, entered the room just
in time to see Sun Ping’s unusually solemn expression as he stored the letter.
Curious, he asked, “Another delivery request? Where’s this one headed?”
Sun Ping glanced at him and replied, “The Duke of
Dingguo’s Mansion—the Xue Family.”
He Yong drew in a sharp breath. “The Xue Family!”
Sun Ping nodded, pulling out a small, intricately
carved wooden qilin from his sleeve. He thought back to what Huo Jue had said
before leaving:
"From Tong’an to Shengjing, you’ll pass
through Baishui Village. That place is crawling with bandits and a nightmare
for escort agencies. If you run into trouble, use this wooden carving to
negotiate your safety."
Despite his youth—barely twenty—the boy's words
carried an unshakable confidence.
Sun Ping examined the qilin before slipping it back
into his sleeve. For
now, he decided to trust Huo Jue.
After leaving the Longsheng Escort Agency, Huo Jue
didn’t return to the Su family pharmacy right away. Instead, he stopped by a
large medicine shop and purchased a significant amount of Adenophora
apricotii.
Although not as valuable as ginseng or deer antler,
the herb was rare due to its difficult cultivation requirements. Fortunately,
the shopkeeper was a close friend of Su Bo’s and discreetly sold most of his
stock to Huo Jue.
Once he paid, the purse Jiang Li had given him was
empty. Huo Jue traced the orchid embroidery on the purse with his fingertips
and smiled faintly.
If Ali wants to support me, then let her support
me, he thought. As long as it makes her happy, I don’t
mind being her kept man for the rest of my life.
-
When Huo Jue returned to Zhufu Street, he noticed a
small figure sitting by the side door of the pharmacy.
Jiang Li had her hair styled into two buns and had
changed into fresh clothes: a crescent-white double-breasted jacket and a light
purple cotton skirt. Though the fabric was simple and the colors modest, they
did little to hide her beauty.
Her skin was as creamy as jade, her eyes gleamed like
lacquer, and her lips held a natural redness. She radiated a delicate yet
striking charm.
Jiang Li was idly counting ants on the ground when a
shadow fell over her. A familiar voice, clear and melodious like pearls
dropping onto a jade plate, spoke above her: “Ali, what has your attention
so captivated?”
Startled, she quickly picked up a food box from beside
her and stood. “Nothing! I wasn’t looking at anything. Where did you go? I
knocked on the door earlier, but no one answered, so I waited here.”
“I went to buy medicine for Uncle Su,”
Huo Jue replied, his long fingers effortlessly hooking the food box from her
hands. “Is this something Ali made for me?”
“Yes,” Jiang Li
said with a smile. “I made red bean cakes, Poria cocos cakes, and a yam cake
for Old Man Su. It’s
still warm.”
After a pause, she looked into Huo Jue’s dark eyes and
added with mock seriousness, “You did well today. But remember, if other
young ladies ever try to give you things, you must refuse them confidently.
Anything they can give you, I can give you too.”
Making purses, tying cords, or even pricking her
fingers while embroidering? She could handle all of it, and she’d do it better.
Huo Jue’s long lashes lowered slightly, and a faint
glimmer flashed in his deep, dark eyes. “I understand. From now on, I’ll
only accept things from Ali.”
Though he usually carried himself with a cool,
reserved demeanor, Huo Jue’s warm expression at that moment was utterly
disarming.
Jiang Li felt her heart racing wildly, threatening to
leap out of her chest. Even when he was stoic, he had a magnetic charm that
captivated countless young women. Now, with his softer side on display, he was
simply irresistible.
Huo Jue looked down at Jiang Li, her eyes glistening
with emotion. A deeper intensity flickered in his gaze, and even the corners of
his eyes seemed to carry a faint, mesmerizing flush of red.
With graceful fingers, he brushed a loose strand of
hair away from her cheek, tucking it gently behind her ear. In a soft voice, he
said, “Ali, I’ve decided on a reward for my first-place finish in the exam.”
Jiang Li blinked, startled.
She had asked him earlier what he wanted as a reward,
but Huo Jue had brushed it off, saying he would let her know later. She had
assumed it would take him days to decide, yet here he was, bringing it up now.
“What is it?” she asked
hesitantly.
Her tone carried a trace of guilt. When she returned
to the tavern at noon, she had counted her savings—a meager few dozen coins.
She doubted she could afford anything truly nice for him.
Thinking quickly, she suggested, “If you’re not in
a hurry, could it wait until after Old Madam Chen’s birthday banquet—”
“Ali,” Huo Jue
interrupted, setting the food box aside. He looked at her steadily and said
softly, “Close your eyes.”
Close my eyes?
Jiang Li’s heart skipped a beat. What kind of reward
required her to close her eyes? Could it be... that he wanted to kiss her?
Her pulse raced wildly as she glanced around. They
were standing at the end of the street, near the Su family pharmacy. Behind
them was a quiet wall, and the pharmacy had long since closed for the day. No
one would come by at this hour.
Her face warmed at the thought, and she tugged at Huo
Jue’s sleeve, hesitating briefly before shyly closing her eyes.
But after waiting for what felt like forever, the only
thing she felt was a light breeze brushing past her ear.
“All done,” his deep
voice finally broke the silence.
Jiang Li opened her eyes, confused. “That’s... it?”
Huo Jue nodded slightly, his expression calm. After a
pause, he asked, “What did Ali think I was going to do?”
Her cheeks flushed as she avoided his gaze. “Nothing!
You still haven’t told me what reward you wanted.”
Huo Jue picked up a soft strand of her black hair,
letting it slide through his fingers as a faint smile appeared on his lips. “The reward I wanted... Ali has
already given it.”
-
Though Jiang Li thought about it endlessly, she
couldn’t figure out what he meant. She had no idea that the "reward"
Huo Jue wanted was a lock of her hair.
In her previous life, Huo Jue had been the subject of
countless rumors after rising to power in the palace.
It was said that this stunningly handsome yet
enigmatic official was a demon in human guise.
Some whispered that his bed was as cold as a tomb and
that he slept surrounded by corpses.
Others claimed he owned a pitch-black whisk, glossier
than lacquer, which he treated as a treasured possession. According to the
tales, a palace maid who accidentally touched it lost her hand moments later.
In hushed voices, people speculated that the whisk
wasn’t a whisk at all—it was made from a young girl’s hair.
The madman Huo Dugong, they said, used a girl’s hair
to craft his prized whisk. He couldn’t fall asleep without holding it.
No one knew whether these stories were true, but one
fact was undeniable: Huo Jue had an obsession with a strand of soft black hair.
That night, in his quiet room, Huo Jue sat
cross-legged on his bed. He held the strand of hair in his palm, his fingertips
tracing its softness as his dark eyes grew heavier with emotion.
He didn’t know how long he sat there. When the lights
finally dimmed, he closed his eyes and drifted into a deep, dream-filled sleep,
the lock of hair still resting in his hand.
-
The next morning, Jiang Li was jolted awake by her
mother, Yang Huiniang.
“Didn’t you say you were going to deliver cakes
to Old Madam Chen today? Get up already!”
Jiang Li rubbed her eyes, yawning as she replied, “I
know, Mother.”
After getting ready and stepping outside, Yang
Huiniang gave her an appraising look. She reached out to touch a section of
Jiang Li’s hair near her ear and frowned. “Why does it look like someone cut
a chunk of your hair off?”
Jiang Li tilted her head and shrugged. “Maybe it
snagged on something in the mountains yesterday.”
Yang Huiniang’s face darkened. “You’ve been running
around the mountains like a wild monkey again? You’re almost old enough for
marriage! Stop being so reckless, or no one will want you.”
Jiang Li bit back her retort, thinking to herself, I
wasn’t a wild monkey in Qingtong Mountain yesterday. I was a little fairy,
thank you very much.
Despite her inner complaints, she simply bowed her
head and let her mother scold her in peace.
After breakfast, Jiang Li headed to the kitchen to
prepare snacks for Old Madam Chen’s birthday banquet.
The elderly often preferred soft, sweet treats, and
Old Madam Chen was no exception. Since tasting Jiang Li’s handmade cakes, she
refused to eat anyone else’s.
Jiang Li steamed milk cakes, cloud cakes, and jujube
paste cakes. She also packed more than ten small cups of fruit wine in various
flavors, intending to let Old Madam Chen sample them.
As she stepped out of the house, Jiang Li couldn’t
help glancing in the direction of the medicine shop.
It was nearly nine o’clock—Huo Jue must have already
left for the academy. She sighed, shook her head, and began her walk toward the
Yuanwai Mansion in the eastern part of the city.
This wasn’t Jiang Li’s first time visiting the Yuanwai
Mansion. As she approached the side gate, two maids were already waiting for
her.
These maids, Bihong and Bilan, were Old Madam Chen’s
closest attendants. Known for their pride, they were difficult to impress.
Jiang Li greeted them sweetly, “Sister Bihong,
Sister Bilan.”
Bihong, dressed in a pink skirt, chuckled and
playfully tapped Jiang Li’s nose. “I haven’t seen you in days, and your
sweet words have only gotten better.”
Jiang Li grinned and pulled two small cups of fruit
wine from her food box. “This is my latest batch of fruit wine. Please give
it a try!”
Bihong accepted it eagerly. “Now I know why Bilan
and I always compete to meet you—it’s for the snacks!”
Bilan rolled her eyes. “Speak for yourself. I’m
here because I like Ali, not for the treats.”
The three of them laughed and chatted as they made
their way to Rong’an Hall, where Old Madam Chen awaited.
The hall was filled with a faint sandalwood fragrance,
reflecting Old Madam Chen’s devotion to Buddha.
When Jiang Li entered, she performed a respectful bow.
“Greetings to the Old Madam.”
Old Madam Chen’s eyes sparkled with affection. “Rise,
dear child. What’s been keeping you so busy lately? I haven’t seen you at the
mansion in days.”
Jiang Li placed the lunch box on the table, opened it,
and carefully took out the snacks and bottles of fruit wine inside. With a
bright smile, she said, “I’ve been busy brewing wine lately. These fruit
wines were prepared more than half a year ago, and now they’re just right for
drinking—sweet, refreshing, and not greasy. I thought the old lady might enjoy
them, so I brought some for you to try.”
Hearing this, Old Madam Chen raised her hand, and a
maid stepped forward to take one of the bottles. The maid uncorked it, and an
enticingly rich, sweet plum aroma wafted out, filling the room.
The maid poured a small amount of the fruit wine into
a delicate cup, its size just fitting in the palm of a hand. The old lady took
a sip, her eyes narrowing in delight as the sweet-and-sour flavor spread across
her palate.
Nodding with satisfaction, she said, “You’re always
so thoughtful. My birthday is approaching, and this fruit wine will be perfect
for the celebration. I’ll have Butler Li assist you with any further
preparations.”
This was exactly why Jiang Li had come in person. She
bowed with a smile and said, “Thank you, Old Madam.”
When Jiang Li left Rong’an Hall, she carried not only
a heavy pouch of reward money but also a finely carved white jade Ruyi
buckle.
The buckle’s intricate craftsmanship made it evident
that it was a valuable gift. As Jiang Li held it, an idea sparked in her
mind—once Huo Jue finished his exams, she would use it to make a custom belt
for him. She was certain he would love it.
The thought brought a soft smile to her lips.
She lingered briefly by the withered lotus pond. Her
snow-white skin seemed to glow in the sunlight, and her graceful beauty gave
new life to the dreary surroundings. Even the dried lotus and fallen leaves
seemed brighter against the vivid charm she exuded.
Not far away, a man in luxurious clothing stood
quietly, watching her smile. For a moment, he seemed lost in thought.
Jiang Li, immersed in her musings, hadn’t noticed his
presence. It wasn’t until Bihong suddenly stopped walking that Jiang Li snapped
out of her thoughts.
Following her maid’s gaze, Jiang Li looked up and saw
a young man standing on the other side of the lotus pond. He wore a white robe
adorned with an elegant bamboo pattern, exuding an air of refinement.
He seemed familiar to Jiang Li. Before she could place
him, Bihong dropped to her knees and greeted him respectfully, “This servant
greets the eldest young master.”
At that moment, Jiang Li remembered who he was: Zhang
Heng, the eldest son of Master Zhang. She had seen him from a distance a few
times during her previous visits to the mansion.
Realizing this, she quickly lowered her gaze and
performed a proper bow. “Greetings, Eldest Young Master.”
Zhang Heng’s eyes lingered briefly on her lowered face
before he spoke gently, “Miss Ali, there’s no need to be so formal.”
Bihong, standing nearby, blushed and teased him with a
playful glare. “Why hasn’t the eldest young master told me to get up?”
Zhang Heng smiled helplessly. “If I don’t say it,
would you really stay kneeling?”
“Of course not,” Bihong
replied with a light laugh before standing. She added cheerfully, “The
eldest young master must be here to pay his respects to the old lady. She’s
inside—please go ahead! I’ll escort Ali to the butler and return shortly.”
Zhang Heng nodded with a faint smile and turned to
leave. Before walking away, however, his gaze flickered toward Jiang Li again,
almost imperceptibly.
-
When Zhang Heng entered Rong’an Hall, Old Madam Chen
glanced at him with a knowing expression. She chuckled and said teasingly, “You’re
quite well-informed.”
Zhang Heng knew his intentions couldn’t escape his
grandmother’s sharp eyes. Smiling warmly, he admitted, “Your grandson
apologizes for his lack of subtlety.”
Their exchange, though cryptic, carried a familiarity
that left the maids in the room baffled.
Soon after, Old Madam Chen instructed one of the
servants to bring Zhang Heng a plate of snacks that Jiang Li had delivered.
Zhang Heng rarely indulged in sweets, but today, he
took a bite of the cloud cake with an uncharacteristic seriousness.
Seeing this, Old Madam Chen’s smile deepened. After a
moment, she said softly, “If you pass the provincial examination this time,
your grandmother will make sure your wish comes true.”
Zhang Heng’s face lit up with joy. Rising to his feet,
he bowed deeply and said with genuine gratitude, “Thank you, Grandmother.”
No comments:
Post a Comment