Qin Xiang returned to the tavern. When she heard the door creak open, she knew that it was Lan Zhihui and immediately sat upright.
Qin Xiang quickly walked towards the side of the bed and rejoiced, “Miss, congratulations! We can return to the square now!”
Lan Zhihui was washed with relief, but her expression did not show. She simply asked faintly, “What did he say?”
“The Young Master said the role as head of Robes Square had always been reserved for you. You can go back whenever you want, and no one else would take over this role, even if you are not around!” Qin Xiang said, deliberately emphasizing every word as she spoke.
Lan Zhihui’s lips curled into a small smile and replied, “He said that?”
“Of course. How could a slave like me lie to you?” Qin Xiang answered as she sat beside the bed, her eyes fluttering.
“If that’s the case, when will he come to pick me up?” Lan Zhihui asked casually, her fingertips smoothing over the flower prints on her quilt.
The smile on Qin Xiang’s face froze. She lowered her head and gave Lan Zhihui the stretched quilt. She laughed awkwardly and replied, “The Young Master is busy. We’ll go there by ourselves. I’ve already gone downstairs to arrange the transportation for you, and they are waiting for you now!”
Lan Zhihui’s eyes flashed and the smile on her lips faded a little. She asked, “Did you tell him that I’m sick?”
“I did…” Qin Xiang replied cautiously and continued, “Perhaps the Eldest Young Master is too busy. When he is done with his work, he’ll visit you at the square!”
By then, the smile on Lan Zhihui’s face had completely disappeared. The sense of enthusiasm she carried just moments ago had sunk rock bottom. She held onto the quilt tightly, her fingernails digging deeply into it.
“My lady, I’ll pack your things while you rest. We’ll go back together later!” Qin Xiang said as she stood up.
Lan Zhihui nodded her head and replied, “Yes, ok!”
That afternoon, Lan Zhihui arrived at Robes Square. The people there heard about her return and were happy to welcome her. However, the smiles on their faces were not what they appeared to be.
There were rumors that she had already resigned from the post, due to affairs related to the Third Young Mistress. The people also thought that she was arrogant and did not expect her to return so soon.
Of course, there were also embroidery maidens who had good relationships with Lan Zhihui. They were excited to greet and welcome her as they escorted her into the Square.
Except that when Lan Zhihui stepped into Robes Square, her mood and feelings were not quite the same as before.
At least the former peace of mind, indifference, and indisputable feelings against the world evaporated.
…
Ever since the government put up a public announcement regarding the imperial examination, Su Jiu felt that something was not right with Qiao An. He often stood in front of the cashier, seemingly anxious and uneasy. Sometimes, he would even involuntarily stop in his tracks when he saw the notice.
The next day, Su Jiu found out that Qiao An had burnt away all of the books that he usually read.
That same afternoon, the restaurant was not busy, so Su Jiu called Qiao An into the backroom.
After he sat down, Su Jiu asked him directly, “Grandpa An, what’s wrong with you?”
Startled, Qiao An smiled faintly as he replied, “Nothing’s wrong, the shop has been too busy recently, I guess I’m just a little tired!”
“That’s not true! Ever since the government posted the public announcement, you have been acting oddly.” Su Jiu said and looked him in the eye. She continued, “Grandpa An, what is there that can’t be said between the two of us?”
Qiao An held onto the teacup, lowered his head, and smiled awkwardly. “It’s nothing. It’s just that I’m feeling a bit uneasy. My father was a teacher and had always wanted to become a second-degree candidate in the provincial examination. He aspired to be part of the government officials to protect his nation but was never able to achieve his aspirations. I was influenced by him ever since I was young; wanting to score well and become an official too. Perhaps I had a bit of talent, as I came in third place in the entire Xu Province when I took the examination in my village. Everyone celebrated for me and my family was proud of me. I became confident too and decided to wait for three years to take the test in Beijing. I ended up scoring well, fulfilling my father’s wish and also achieving my ambitions!”
He thought about the past, which felt like decades ago. They seemed to have nothing to do with the imperial examination.
Su Jiu asked, “What happened after? Why did you come to Yuhu Mountain?”
“After that,” Qiao An’s expression turned dull and he continued in a low voice, “My family had some trouble and I caused the death of two people. I had to escape. I was terrified along the way and didn’t know where I was headed to. It was only when I saw you that I knew I’d arrived at Yuhu Mountain, which was in Shengjing City!”
It could be due to his innate desire to take the exam in Beijing, which led him to disconcertingly head towards the direction of Shengjing City.
Besides, Su Jiu remembered that Qiao An had mentioned about his escape after killing two people.
“Grandpa An, if you are interested in taking the imperial examination, I can help you think of a solution!” Su Jiu suggested while remaining in deep thought.
Qiao An shook his head and replied, “It is very strict to take part in this exam. Everyone from your ancestral home, your background, and your conduct will have to be investigated. Non-local students will also have to submit letters of recommendation from local officials and colleges before taking the exam. Once I register my name and they find out that I’ve taken the lives of others, they will immediately catch me and behead me! Why even participate in the examination?”
“So what if you’ve killed someone? Who hasn’t?” Su Jiu responded indifferently.
“The people we killed afterward were bandits and outlaws, so no one probed further. Naturally, nothing happened to us. But those that I killed were ordinary people, and such crimes are definitely in the records. It’s different.” Qian An said dispiritedly.
Su Jiu thought for a moment, then asked, “Grandpa An, can you tell me, in detail, why you killed them and who those people were exactly?”
Qiao An lowered his head, eyes slightly closed. His expression revealed some form of pain as if he was unwilling to be reminded of those incidents. After quite some time, he nodded his head slowly and said, “I might as well just tell you.”
Su Jiu poured him a cup of tea and replied, “Go ahead!”
Qiao An’s hands trembled slightly while grabbing the teacup. He thought for a moment, and muttered softly, “When I was about 14 or 15 years old, my father died of a sudden illness. In less than a year, my mother passed on too. My ancestors were officials, so they left us with some property. With that, my old housekeeper stayed with me and looked after me every day. When I was 21, a matchmaker came over to my house and introduced me to a lady. At that time, I only cared about studying and had no intention of falling in love. However, the old housekeeper was very keen on matchmaking me with her. After seeing the lady’s image, he agreed to the matchmaking and even gave the opposite party several betrothal gifts. At the end of the year, the lady and I got married.”
After getting married, both of us were respectful towards each other. I studied every day, while she took care of the house. She was kind and virtuous, and soon I began to develop some feelings for her. I started to treat her better and cared more for her. Soon, it was time to take the exam that was conducted in the villages. I went to Xu Province with a few of my classmates to take the exam, but we had to wait for the release of results, so we stayed there for more than a month. When I received my results and found out that I got third place, I was over the moon. I rushed back home and couldn’t wait to tell her about my good news.”
Qiao An took a deep breath and shut his eyes.
“I traveled for several hours, and when I got home, it was already midnight. I entered the house, only to see her lying in bed with a stranger. They were both undressed and they panicked at the sight of me. At that moment, it felt as if I was being stabbed with a knife, and my blood turned cold. Later, she cried as she told me that the man was her childhood friend and they had deep feelings for each other. It was only because of his poor financial background that they didn’t get together. Her family saw that we had money, so they forced her to marry me. However, after marrying me, the man still couldn’t forget her. So when I went to sit for the exam, he went over to my house to work, and they both ended up in bed instead.”
“At that moment, I was filled with absolute fury, even more so after seeing them naked in bed. In a fit of anger, I grabbed the knife on the table and bolted towards them. I slashed their heads, and only when their bodies were soaked in blood did I realize that I’d killed them!”
“The housekeeper heard the noise and was stunned when he saw what happened. He quickly packed my luggage and pushed me out of the house, asking me to hide and escape.”
“I hid at the corner of a wall in the city. Once the gates were open, I rushed inside and ran aimlessly in anxiety. That’s how I ended up at Yuhu Mountain.”
At this point, Qiao An’s voice had gradually calmed down. “Later, I also heard of what happened back home. The housekeeper had passed on two years after my escape, and my house had turned into ruins. There was no news regarding the two of them. Maybe the officials couldn’t find the murderer, so they decided to close the case.”
It was as if Su Jiu had suddenly thought of something. She frowned, her eyes moving. Suddenly she lifted her head and asked,
“Grandpa An, what is your name?”
Intellectuals often had names that were generally well-written.
Qiao An was confused by her question, but replied, “Zi Yuxiu.”
Su Jiu revealed a look of astonishment on her face. She got up abruptly and walked out swiftly.
It was Qiao An’s turn to be in shock. Watching Su Jiu’s sudden disappearance, he wrinkled his brows as he wondered what was wrong and why she left without saying anything.
Qiao An was bewildered. Nevertheless, he felt like a weight had been lifted after pouring out everything that had been buried in his chest.
Su Jiu left the restaurant and called out to Chang Huan, “Get into the carriage quickly, let’s get out of town!”
Both of them sat on the shaft. Chang Huan asked, “Boss, where are we going?”
“Out of town, to Yuhu Mountain!”
“That’s great!”
Chang Huan whipped the horse, and both of them took off towards the city gates.
By the time they left the town, the sun was almost setting. However, they did not stop. They stayed up and continued their journey the entire night until the next morning, where they stopped at a small noodle shop in Jing Province. It was also where Su Jiu and Ji Yuxian had eaten previously.
It was dawn.
The man in the noodle shop had just started their business. There was a long scar that created a division on his handsome face. This gave him a sense of brutality and frightfulness.
“You all are so early!” The man yawned and welcomed both Su Jiu and Chang Huan into his shop. He laughed and said, “The stove is not heated yet, so you’ll have to wait for a while for your orders to be ready!”
After he spoke, he called out into the backyard, “My wife, we have customers!”
“Coming, coming!” A woman replied as she lifted her hands to shove her hair away from her forehead. She grinned as she trotted out, smiling warmly and said, “Good morning to the both of you!”
As she spoke, she took a cloth and cleaned the front table and chair.
Su Jiu glanced at the couple and decided to go straight to the point to ask, “Do the both of you know who Qiao An is?”
At that instant, the couple’s expressions changed. They looked at Su Jiu in astonishment.
Suddenly, they heard a cold sneer that came from the backyard. An old lady, whom Su Jiu had previously met before, staggered out from the back door and emerged behind the curtains. Her lips trembled slightly as she cried out, “It’s karma! God has eyes, and Yu Xiu had finally found someone to take revenge!”
She looked at Su Jiu agitatedly and pointed to the couple. Her voice trembled as she continued, “It was them who committed adultery. Kill them and seek justice for Yu Xiu! It has been eight years, and it’s time for them to receive the punishment they deserve!”
“Mother!” The lady cried out, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Su Jiu let out a sigh. She was right!
Chang Huan, on the other hand, was confused by the situation. She tucked Su Jiu’s sleeves and whispered, “Boss, who is Yu Xiu?”
Su Jiu turned her head and replied, “It’s Grandpa An!”
Chang Huan widened his eyes dramatically as if he understood the situation.
The old lady fell into the chair and wept bitterly, while the other woman knelt on the ground as tears fell from her cheeks incessantly. The man stood at the side, looking green, and spoke in dismay, “What we had done to Qiao An was wrong. If both of you are here to seek his revenge, you may do whatever you want with us. Just leave our kid alone! She’s innocent, so please spare her life!”
At that moment, a young girl of about five to six years old wandered out, rubbing her eyes. It seemed that she was awakened by the wailing sounds. She asked in a soft voice, “Dad, Mom, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
The old lady wiped her tears and asked Su Jiu, “Are you Yuxiu’s friend? Where has he been all these years? Is he still alive? How has he been?”
Su Jiu nodded and replied, “The reason why I’m here is that I wanted to take all of you to visit him! If you are willing to show him your repentance, come with me!”
The few of them were startled. The old lady asked frantically, “Yu Xiu is still alive? Where is he?”
All these years, there had been no news of him. They thought Qiao An was already dead.
“Yes, he is still alive. He is in Shengjing City. Are you all willing to visit him?” Su Jiu asked.
The couple looked at each other, startled. They thought for a moment and nodded their heads slowly. “Ok, we’ll have to trouble you to take us there. We’ll agree to how you want us to repay him!”
The old lady got up slowly and added, “What you have said is fair. As long as Yu Xiu forgives you all, I will forgive you too!”
There was a spark of joy in the woman’s eyes as she said, “Is what you say true?”
“It is! Pack your things and lock the doors. I’ll go with you all!” The old lady said to the couple. She looked at Su Jiu and continued, “We’ll have to trouble you to bring our family there.”
“Ok!” Su Jiu nodded her head steadily.
There was nothing much to pack. They only brought some food and a thick mattress for the old lady as they were afraid that she could not tolerate the bumps on the road. The couple helped her onto the carriage and later boarded with their daughter as well.
Su Jiu and Chang Huan rushed into the carriage. They headed towards Shengjing City once again, despite not having taken their breakfast.
The horse galloped at a high speed and by the time they arrived at Shengjing, it was already dark. The city gates were closing soon, but Chang Huan forcefully whipped the horse, causing it to increase in speed, and they eventually managed to enter the city.
Throughout the entire journey, the family was very silent in the carriage. Their daughter would sometimes ask where they were headed out of curiosity, but her mother would always only give short and vague replies.
As they entered the city, they sat down with their heads lowered, feeling increasingly anxious.
The carriage stopped at the entrance of the restaurant and by then, the sky had turned completely dark. Su Jiu opened the carriage door and held onto the old lady as she alighted. Su Jiu led the family into the restaurant.
The woman looked up earnestly at the extravagant restaurant. She began to panic as she tightly held onto her daughter’s hands while following Su Jiu from behind.
It was dinner time, and the hall was filled with clamoring people.
One of Su Jiu’s friends saw her and quickly greeted her, “Master, you are here!”
“Where’s Grandpa An?” Su Jiu asked as she scanned the empty chairs behind the cashier.
The shop clerk glanced at his surroundings and replied as he scratched his head, “He was just here moments ago. Perhaps he had already gone upstairs!”
“Will do, you can go ahead to do whatever you have to!”
The dining hall was noisy and crowded. It was certainly not a suitable place for them to talk. Su Jiu let Chang Huan find Grandpa An, while she brought the rest into a room behind the cashier.
The old lady, the couple, and their child sat on the chairs and waited anxiously for Grandpa An’s arrival.
The old lady seemed much calmer as compared to before. She looked around and laughed. “Is Yu Xiu staying here? Working here?”
Su Jiu ordered her servants to prepare some tea and snacks for the guests, and replied, “Grandpa An is the shopkeeper!”
The few of them were a little astounded. They did not expect Qiao An to own such a large restaurant in Shengjing City.
The old lady wiped her tears and said, “Good, that’s good! Yu Xiu can the stand out wherever he is. He was also popular in the past. If it weren’t for that incident, he could have been an official now!”
As she spoke, she started wailing again.
The woman sat next to her husband, fingers twisting the corners of her burlap linen, her head lowered in silence.
Soon, they could hear footsteps coming from outside. The door squeaked open, only to see Qiao An entering the room in a light grey robe, looking prim, proper, and genteel.
He noticed so many people around and was slightly startled. He glanced at Su Jiu and exclaimed, “Chief, you’re finally back!”
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the room abruptly looked up. The old woman quivered as she stood up, and said excitedly, “Yu Xiu, do you still recognize me, your mother?”
After the two of them got married, although Qiao An had no parents, he was filial to his parents-in-law. When the old lady got treated poorly by his son, Qiao An would bring her back home and take good care of her. She had always treated him as his biological son. So when the incident happened, she was the angriest.
The couple also stood up, eyes welled with tears, as they looked at Qiao An with guilt and shock.
Qiao An was rooted to the ground, completely dumbfounded.
He always thought that they were dead, and after eight years, they finally met!
Eight years later, the woman was no longer a flower-like jade. The hair on her temples had turned white. Her face was yellow and there were wrinkles at the corner of her eyes. Her appearance was full of traces of deterioration and vicissitudes. The man seated next to her was also no longer a handsome and charming young man. The long scar on his face was like a long and deep gully, clearly revealing the difference of eight years then and now.
They gradually knelt before Qiao An and pleaded, “Yu Xiu, we were wrong. Today, we are finally here to beg you for forgiveness!”
As they continued, the woman was already weeping and her words were inaudible.
When Qiao An and the woman became a married couple, Qiao An treated her well, and she always remembered that. She believed that she had been in a state of confusion to have done something so wrong to him. All these years, there was not a moment that she felt at ease, and finally, she could personally meet Qiao An to kneel in front of him and beg for forgiveness.
Qiao An was horrified. He staggered backward and said dumbly, “You… you all are not dead?”
The old lady wept and responded, “They deserve to die, but God let them live so that they can repay their debt to you!”
The woman shook her head and choked as she said, “That night, Yun Lang and I were just unconscious after getting stabbed. The old housekeeper also thought that we were dead. He sat outside the door the entire night and immediately called the servants to buy coffins the next morning. By the time the coffins were bought, I was already awake. The housekeeper saw that I was not dead, so he quickly called the doctor. In the end, both Yun Lang and I survived!”
After all, Qiao An was an intellectual. He did not have much strength when he was young. At that moment, he was both angry and confused and was utterly mortified after stabbing them and seeing the blood.
In actual fact, their wounds were not deep. The woman got stabbed in the shoulder, while the man suffered a little more as his face got wounded.
“After saving both Yun Lang and me, the housekeeper sent men to look for you, but you were not able to be found ever again.”
The woman stopped at this point and did not continue further.
How could she?
Tell him that she got together with her childhood friend Yun Lang and got married to him? And because they were disapproved of by the villagers, they left their hometown, wandered around and finally settled down at Yuhu Mountain?
How was she supposed to say all these to him?
But she did not have to speak. Qiao An looked at the state of both of them, as well as the little girl who, at that point, was so afraid that she had cowered in the embrace of the old lady. He was able to predict what happened after that.
Qiao An was overwhelmed with emotions. He simply did not know what to say.
At that time, he thought that the woman betrayed him, causing him to escape from his hometown to save his own life. He later turned into an outlaw and became a mountain bandit for eight years. All these years, he had always thought that he killed them, so his hatred towards them had gradually faded away.
Now that he knew that they were still alive, the hatred and resentment were also no longer present. They were, at that time, still young and reckless, and ended up making rash decisions.
He took in a long and deep breath and lifted his head. He felt a surge of emotions and it was difficult for him to control his feelings, but after some time, he felt calm again.
That moment felt like everything had finally come to an end.
“Get up, all of you!” Qiao An said faintly.
“Yu Xiu, hit them a few times. I know you have suffered!” The old lady said, burying herself in her hands as she wept.
The couple remained still on the floor.
“Get up, I thought that I had killed the two of you, so all my grievances have been leveled out. It was such a long time ago, there’s nothing to be resentful about anymore.” Qiao An said in a low voice.
The couple got up slowly and begged again, “We were wrong and we are sorry!”
Qiao An asked, “How was the housekeeper when he passed on?”
In reality, all these years, Qiao An felt uneasy as he felt the most apologetic towards the old housekeeper. He was still a nerd then, and he was young and frightened after the incident happened. He only cared about escaping for his life, while not having a second thought for the housekeeper as to how he would be involved in the situation.
“Yes, I was there when he passed on. He didn’t feel any pain and laid peacefully on the bed for a day before passing. It’s just that he was still thinking of you before he left, constantly calling out your name despite being in a coma.” The woman muttered with her head lowered.
Qiao An slowly turned his body away, and tears rolled down as he faced away from the others.
Su Jiu walked over to him and patted his shoulders.
Qiao An nodded slightly and took in a deep breath. He understood that a person could not be resurrected from the dead. What he could do was simply to go back to his hometown, burn some incense for him and reassure him that he was still alive and well.
“What happened in the past is over. From now onwards, let’s forget about the past grievances because they don’t matter anymore.” Qiao An said faintly.
During those eight years, he turned from a promising man to a mountain bandit because of the couple. He lost his family because of them too. But when he stabbed them with a knife that year, he considered himself to be rid of enemies and would view them as strangers the next time they met.
“Yes, we are very grateful that you are willing to forgive us. After hearing this from you, we feel more at ease for the next half of our lives!” The man said with his head down.
Qiao An turned to Su Jiu and said, “I’ll head to Xu Province tomorrow, to visit the old housekeeper’s grave and also to find my teacher. He should still remember me. I’ll need a letter of recommendation from him to take the test in Beijing!”
Since he technically did not kill anyone, there would be no lawsuits against him. He could still enter Beijing as a candidate to take part in the imperial examination.
This was unexpected for him!
Su Jiu nodded and replied, “I’ll ask Ah Shu to prepare two horses and order a bodyguard to follow you back tomorrow.”
The journey from Xu Province to Shengjing City would take around ten days. If the horse rode faster, they could go back and forth in half a month, and he would not miss the test.
Qiao An nodded his head and stared at Su Jiu deeply. He then solemnly said, “Boss had once again done me a favor. I will never forget that!”
“Don’t mention it!” Su Jiu replied as she helped Qiao An up. She looked into Qiao An’s eyes and said, “You should go get ready. I’ll look for Ah Shu at the bodyguard agency now!”
After Su Jiu mentioned that she was leaving, she was stopped by Qiao An. He said, “Boss, I think you should visit the Ji Manor first. Last night, the people of the Ji Manor looked for you everywhere.”
Su Jiu was stunned for a moment. She took a deep breath and wondered how she could have forgotten about Ji Yuxian.
Qiao An chuckled softly. “You left without saying a word. Young Master Ji went to the restaurant twice to look for you. I didn’t know where you went too.”
“Alright!” Su Jiu nodded as she replied, “I’ll return home first and let Chang Huan look for a bodyguard at the bodyguard agency instead. As for this family, it’s already very late. Prepare a tavern for them to sleep in and ask Chang Huan to send them home the next morning!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make all the necessary arrangements!” Qiao An nodded as he responded.
Su Jiu made the arrangements and hurriedly returned to Ji Manor.
By the time she arrived, it was already completely dark. The gates were hung with two big red lanterns, and their shadows were grim and heavy.
Su Jiu entered the Cloud Pavilion and was spotted by Uncle Yu. He calmly let out a sigh and said, “Young Mistress, you’re back!”
Su Jiu asked, “Where’s Ji Yuxian?”
“He is in the study, you should check on him. He didn’t sleep the entire night, so if he throws tantrums, just try to tolerate it!”
Su Jiu pursed her lips and chuckled as she replied, “Ok, I understand!”
Jin Feng stood outside the door and immediately stopped frowning the moment he saw Su Jiu. He shouted, “Young Master, Young Mistress is here!”
Su Jiu placed her hands on the wooden door and looked at Jin Feng. She guiltily asked, “How is he feeling now?”
Jin Feng laughed awkwardly. “There were three supervisors who got scolded this afternoon. He didn’t even eat his dinner, so he’s probably not doing very well.”
Young Master Ji is known to be a famous and elegant prince in Shengjing City. Very few people have seen him get angry. Today, the three supervisors were the unlucky few who have seen it, and they were still shocked when they left.
Su Jiu took in a deep breath and replied, “Then it’s better if I don’t go in. I’ll go back to sleep for the night and return the next morning!”
She traveled for an entire day and night and she felt as if her entire body was falling apart. She was sleepy and tired and did not know if she could survive if she had to go in and get a scolding from Ji Yuxian.
Anyway, Ji Yuxian already knew about her return and would not ask any more people to search for her.
After speaking, she turned around and headed towards the Perched Phoenix Pavilion.
“Young Mistress!”
Jin Feng hurriedly held Su Jiu back as he pleaded, “Young Mistress, please stay! You can’t leave! If you go back to sleep, all of us won’t get to sleep the entire night. We didn’t get to sleep at all last night, so please understand!”
Su Jiu watched the pitiful look on Jin Feng’s face. She sighed and agreed. “You’ve worked hard. Go get some rest. I’ll go in now and bear all the responsibilities!”
Jin Feng immediately shot a smile and said, “Thank you so much, Young Mistress Ji!”
Su Jiu waved her hands, pushed the door open and entered the study.
The room was quietly lit and the furnace was scented. Ji Yuxian wore a dark red robe, lying lazily against the soft mattress. He was holding an ancient book in his hands, his posture calm and picturesque.
The slanted silhouette of bananas from outside was cast on his charming face, adding a bit of haziness.
He did not look up despite knowing that someone had entered.
Su Jiu pretended to be calm and walked over to him. She poured a cup of tea, turned around and sat on the couch, passing the cup to Ji Yuxian. She smiled and said, “Drink up, Young Master Ji!”
His facial expression remained still and calm as if he had not heard anything.
Su Jiu awkwardly retracted her hand and drank the tea by herself. She coughed softly and said, “I heard that you haven’t eaten for the entire night. I haven’t too and am very hungry. Let’s go to eat together!”
Ji Yuxian continued to ignore her.
Su Jiu placed the teacup down and leaned slightly towards him. She tilted her head and stared at him with dark eyes. “Are you angry? I had to settle an urgent matter out of town yesterday and didn’t have the time to tell you. Besides, I’m used to doing things alone.”
She began to relay the incident about how Qiao An went out of town to look for his ex-wife.
“Isn’t that such a coincidence? The noodle restaurant that we ate the previous time is actually run by Qiao An’s ex-wife. Qiao An always thought that he had killed them and they thought that Grandpa An was dead too. They only met after eight years.”
Ji Yuxian remained silent as Su Jiu continued to speak.
Su Jiu bit her lip and leaned forward, attempting to kiss his red lips.
Every single time when he was angry, Su Jiu would kiss him and he would not be angry anymore.
Ji Yuxian’s lips were slightly cool and soft. It had a hint of water lotus fragrance, which smelled oddly delicious. Su Jiu closed her eyes and gently bit on it.
Su Jiu was probably really hungry as she became increasingly eager to kiss him. Her hands that were initially supporting her weight also involuntarily went on to embrace Ji Yuxian’s waist.
The book in his hands fell to the ground. His eyes were dark and beautiful as he stared intensely at the young lady who was kissing him.
When Su Jiu did not receive an answer from him, she became desperate and opened her mouth to aggressively bite on his lips.
Ji Yuxian moaned. He held her waist and pressed his body against hers.
Su Jiu opened her eyes, her glassy eyes reflecting on Ji Yuxian’s dark pupils. She raised her brows and grinned as she asked, “You’re not angry anymore?”
Ji Yuxian made a small smile, his eyebrows picturesque. He stretched out a long finger and tapped on Su Jiu’s chest. He asked, “When will I be here with you, and always be remembered by you?”
Su Jiu frowned, unsure if she knew what he meant.
Ji Yuxian sighed and gently kissed her. The kiss was slow and tender. He then asked her in a low voice, “Hungry?”
Su Jiu nodded her head.
“What do you feel like eating?” Ji Yuxian’s voice was husky, sexy and appealing.
You!
Su Jiu kept this word in her mouth. She almost spat it out but she quickly replied, “Whatever is fine!”
She was starving and could eat anything!
Ji Yuxian grabbed her waist with one hand and lifted her. He walked out and muttered softly, “I’ll feed you first, then punish you tonight!”
Su Jiu lied lazily on his shoulder and complained bitterly, “I haven’t slept the entire night, so please spare me! When I’ve had enough sleep, I can work like cows and horses to repay you!”
Ji Yuxian hit her buttocks and asked doubtfully, “Cows can plow, horses can be ridden, but what can you do?”
Su Jiu could not understand his puns and replied immediately, “I can do a lot. I can kill, rob and take over the mountains to become King.”
Su Jiu proudly gave him a long list.
Ji Yuxian’s chest shuddered. He turned his head and kissed Su Jiu’s ear. He said softly, “I only want my wife to be like a sheet of paper, and I will be like a pen, and the both of us can create a scenic painting of a night sky in spring.”
Su Jiu could feel Ji Yuxian’s warm breath against her ears, and a surge of heat rose abruptly under her belly. She tilted her head away to get away from his closeness. As she watched the peach blossoms that were almost blooming from outside the corridor, she chuckled silently and thought, spring was coming!
When the animals were awake from their hibernation, the weather became warmer and warmer each day. Ji Yuxian’s men had almost completed the construction of the boats, and the crew’s training was also moved to the riverside to begin their pirate combat training.
Qiao An had already been gone for ten days and should almost be back at Shengjing City.
Ever since Qiao An left, Su Jiu appointed Chang Huan to be the shopkeeper of the restaurant.
Chang Huan could no longer follow Su Jiu every day, which made Young Master Ji the happiest. There was finally one thing that he could put off his mind.
What Su Jiu did not expect was that Chang Huan was exceptionally talented at doing business. He managed the restaurant in an orderly manner, and business became more prosperous.
When Chang Huan returned to the Ji Manor at night, Su Jiu started to teach him how to read and check the account book.
Chang Huan had learned words when he was a kid, and despite not using them over the years, he still remembered. As such, he was a fast learner.
Besides, Qiao An would have to focus on preparing for his examination upon his return and it would be impossible to manage the restaurant anymore. The restaurant’s business would perhaps be left in the hands of Chang Huan in the future.
Additionally, the restaurant was too noisy and not conducive to study. Su Jiu planned to find a quiet yard for Qiao An to study.
That day, Ji Yuxian left early for auditing purposes. Su Jiu did not visit the study as well and went to look for a yard in the streets for Qiao An.
In the bathroom, Mrs. Qin handed a brocade shaped like a cloak to the housekeeper, who was a young girl. Mrs. Qin said, “Housekeeper Qiao, this is the Mistress’s cloak. The servants have already washed it. I heard that Mistress needs it urgently so I’ll have to trouble you to send this to her!”
The young girl whom Su Jiu had promoted to a housekeeper was called Qiao Yan. She did not say another word as she immediately nodded and replied, “Ok!”
Even though Qiao Yan was promoted to be the housekeeper, she was after all still a maid who had just entered the Manor. She was a pure and loyal person who often helped the servants clean the lavatories, despite not needing to as a housekeeper.
Mrs. Qin was still a prestigious and respectable figure, and Qiao Yan did not dare to disobey her. She quickly retrieved the brocade and said, “Yes, I’ll go right away!”
Mrs. Qin subtly smiled as she praised, “We have a hardworking housekeeper!”
Qiao Yan left the bathroom and came to the Perched Phoenix Pavilion. She stood by the door and peered inside.
Although she was a housekeeper, she had always stayed in the laundry wing ever since she arrived at the Ji Manor. She felt a sense of unfamiliarity and reverence to whatever that was outside and did not dare to enter.
While she hesitated, Su Jiu returned from outside.
When Su Jiu saw Qiao Yan, she asked, “Who are you?”
Qiao Yan was startled. She nervously turned her body around and immediately lowered her head when she saw Su Jiu. She said, “I’ve seen you before, Young Mistress!”
Su Jiu asked, “Are there any problems?”
Qiao Yan swiftly handed the cloak over to her and replied, “This is yours. The servants have already washed it and I was just about to bring it over to you.”
Su Jiu retrieved it and thanked her. She smiled at the young girl, who was seemingly very nervous, and chuckled as she said, “You are the girl who was hit in the laundry wing, right?”
Perhaps Su Jiu was not as strict as her master.
Qiao Yan noticed Su Jiu’s laugh and was no longer as afraid. She lifted her head and smiled sweetly as she replied, “Young Mistress, you still remember me? I’ve always wanted to thank you, but my status is too low and I have nothing to honor you with, so I didn’t dare to come!”
“You’re too modest! I didn’t do much!” Su Jiu responded with a smile.
“Please tell me if you need me to do anything for you. I’ll do my best.”
“Alright, got it!”
“I’ll leave now!”
After Qiao Yan left, Su Jiu took the cloak and entered the pavilion.
It was extremely quiet in the pavilion. The nanny was nowhere to be seen and a few kids were sitting under the porch, taking a nap.
Su Jiu entered the bedroom and conveniently threw the cloak on the ottoman, only to notice the restaurant account book on it. She assumed that Chang Huan had forgotten to bring it back.
She sat cross-legged on the ottoman and looked through the book.
It was noon and the sun was scorching. The sunlight shined in and Su Jiu began to feel sleepy after looking at it for some time. She closed her eyes, laid sideways and slept.
They did not know when the wind started blowing. Dongxue glanced over and said, “Young Mistress is probably taking a nap. Now that the wind is blowing so strongly, I’ll help her close the windows so she doesn’t catch a cold!”
She walked towards the window after she spoke, and saw Su Jiu lying on the soft mattress with the account book and brocade that was folded beside her.
Dongxue scanned the room and swiftly shut the windows tightly.
As she returned to the corridor, Dongxue said, “The nanny mentioned that she wanted to prepare mutton soup for you, Young Mistress. Let’s go peel the water chestnuts together.”
“It’s still early, why are you so anxious?” Qiukui commented lazily.
“Quick, let’s go! If you are caught looking so tired and lazy, the others will think that we are not serving the Young Mistress properly and the Young Master will punish us!” Dongxue said as he pulled the other servants up.
Upon hearing Dongxue’s words, Qiukui and the others quickly got up and scuffled towards the kitchen.
There were no voices in the yard, and the entire place became even quieter.
In the spring breeze, the sunlight was gentle. There was only one ray of light that was exceptionally blazing. It was reflected from a begonia tree that stood outside Su Jiu’s room. The ray of light was directly shining through the window which landed on the cloak.
If someone looked closely, he would discover a lens positioned in an angle that directed the ray of light to enter Su Jiu’s windows.
Soon, the window paper burnt, creating a hole and causing the scorching ray of sunlight to fall onto the cloak. The cloak quickly caught fire, emitting a faint scent that covered the smell of smoke. The fur coat, pillow, and the account book at the side were also burnt subsequently.
Chang Huan always felt restless after lunch. The restaurant was incredibly crowded and there were numerous occasions where he almost bumped into the guests.
The shop clerk teased him, “Grandpa Huan, what’s wrong with you today? It’s as if you’ve been possessed!”
Chang Huan grinned and walked towards the counter. He thought that it could perhaps be because Su Jiu was not with him, so he felt a little uneasy. He was about to take a look at the account book when he realized it was not with him. He searched everywhere for it but it was still gone. He later remembered that he had left it at the Ji Manor the previous day.
This gave him an excuse to meet Su Jiu. He told the shop clerk to look after the restaurant and headed to the Ji Manor alone.
Qin Xiang returned to the tavern. When she heard the door creak open, she knew that it was Lan Zhihui and immediately sat upright.
Qin Xiang quickly walked towards the side of the bed and rejoiced, “Miss, congratulations! We can return to the square now!”
Lan Zhihui was washed with relief, but her expression did not show. She simply asked faintly, “What did he say?”
“The Young Master said the role as head of Robes Square had always been reserved for you. You can go back whenever you want, and no one else would take over this role, even if you are not around!” Qin Xiang said, deliberately emphasizing every word as she spoke.
Lan Zhihui’s lips curled into a small smile and replied, “He said that?”
“Of course. How could a slave like me lie to you?” Qin Xiang answered as she sat beside the bed, her eyes fluttering.
“If that’s the case, when will he come to pick me up?” Lan Zhihui asked casually, her fingertips smoothing over the flower prints on her quilt.
The smile on Qin Xiang’s face froze. She lowered her head and gave Lan Zhihui the stretched quilt. She laughed awkwardly and replied, “The Young Master is busy. We’ll go there by ourselves. I’ve already gone downstairs to arrange the transportation for you, and they are waiting for you now!”
Lan Zhihui’s eyes flashed and the smile on her lips faded a little. She asked, “Did you tell him that I’m sick?”
“I did…” Qin Xiang replied cautiously and continued, “Perhaps the Eldest Young Master is too busy. When he is done with his work, he’ll visit you at the square!”
By then, the smile on Lan Zhihui’s face had completely disappeared. The sense of enthusiasm she carried just moments ago had sunk rock bottom. She held onto the quilt tightly, her fingernails digging deeply into it.
“My lady, I’ll pack your things while you rest. We’ll go back together later!” Qin Xiang said as she stood up.
Lan Zhihui nodded her head and replied, “Yes, ok!”
That afternoon, Lan Zhihui arrived at Robes Square. The people there heard about her return and were happy to welcome her. However, the smiles on their faces were not what they appeared to be.
There were rumors that she had already resigned from the post, due to affairs related to the Third Young Mistress. The people also thought that she was arrogant and did not expect her to return so soon.
Of course, there were also embroidery maidens who had good relationships with Lan Zhihui. They were excited to greet and welcome her as they escorted her into the Square.
Except that when Lan Zhihui stepped into Robes Square, her mood and feelings were not quite the same as before.
At least the former peace of mind, indifference, and indisputable feelings against the world evaporated.
…
Ever since the government put up a public announcement regarding the imperial examination, Su Jiu felt that something was not right with Qiao An. He often stood in front of the cashier, seemingly anxious and uneasy. Sometimes, he would even involuntarily stop in his tracks when he saw the notice.
The next day, Su Jiu found out that Qiao An had burnt away all of the books that he usually read.
That same afternoon, the restaurant was not busy, so Su Jiu called Qiao An into the backroom.
After he sat down, Su Jiu asked him directly, “Grandpa An, what’s wrong with you?”
Startled, Qiao An smiled faintly as he replied, “Nothing’s wrong, the shop has been too busy recently, I guess I’m just a little tired!”
“That’s not true! Ever since the government posted the public announcement, you have been acting oddly.” Su Jiu said and looked him in the eye. She continued, “Grandpa An, what is there that can’t be said between the two of us?”
Qiao An held onto the teacup, lowered his head, and smiled awkwardly. “It’s nothing. It’s just that I’m feeling a bit uneasy. My father was a teacher and had always wanted to become a second-degree candidate in the provincial examination. He aspired to be part of the government officials to protect his nation but was never able to achieve his aspirations. I was influenced by him ever since I was young; wanting to score well and become an official too. Perhaps I had a bit of talent, as I came in third place in the entire Xu Province when I took the examination in my village. Everyone celebrated for me and my family was proud of me. I became confident too and decided to wait for three years to take the test in Beijing. I ended up scoring well, fulfilling my father’s wish and also achieving my ambitions!”
He thought about the past, which felt like decades ago. They seemed to have nothing to do with the imperial examination.
Su Jiu asked, “What happened after? Why did you come to Yuhu Mountain?”
“After that,” Qiao An’s expression turned dull and he continued in a low voice, “My family had some trouble and I caused the death of two people. I had to escape. I was terrified along the way and didn’t know where I was headed to. It was only when I saw you that I knew I’d arrived at Yuhu Mountain, which was in Shengjing City!”
It could be due to his innate desire to take the exam in Beijing, which led him to disconcertingly head towards the direction of Shengjing City.
Besides, Su Jiu remembered that Qiao An had mentioned about his escape after killing two people.
“Grandpa An, if you are interested in taking the imperial examination, I can help you think of a solution!” Su Jiu suggested while remaining in deep thought.
Qiao An shook his head and replied, “It is very strict to take part in this exam. Everyone from your ancestral home, your background, and your conduct will have to be investigated. Non-local students will also have to submit letters of recommendation from local officials and colleges before taking the exam. Once I register my name and they find out that I’ve taken the lives of others, they will immediately catch me and behead me! Why even participate in the examination?”
“So what if you’ve killed someone? Who hasn’t?” Su Jiu responded indifferently.
“The people we killed afterward were bandits and outlaws, so no one probed further. Naturally, nothing happened to us. But those that I killed were ordinary people, and such crimes are definitely in the records. It’s different.” Qian An said dispiritedly.
Su Jiu thought for a moment, then asked, “Grandpa An, can you tell me, in detail, why you killed them and who those people were exactly?”
Qiao An lowered his head, eyes slightly closed. His expression revealed some form of pain as if he was unwilling to be reminded of those incidents. After quite some time, he nodded his head slowly and said, “I might as well just tell you.”
Su Jiu poured him a cup of tea and replied, “Go ahead!”
Qiao An’s hands trembled slightly while grabbing the teacup. He thought for a moment, and muttered softly, “When I was about 14 or 15 years old, my father died of a sudden illness. In less than a year, my mother passed on too. My ancestors were officials, so they left us with some property. With that, my old housekeeper stayed with me and looked after me every day. When I was 21, a matchmaker came over to my house and introduced me to a lady. At that time, I only cared about studying and had no intention of falling in love. However, the old housekeeper was very keen on matchmaking me with her. After seeing the lady’s image, he agreed to the matchmaking and even gave the opposite party several betrothal gifts. At the end of the year, the lady and I got married.”
After getting married, both of us were respectful towards each other. I studied every day, while she took care of the house. She was kind and virtuous, and soon I began to develop some feelings for her. I started to treat her better and cared more for her. Soon, it was time to take the exam that was conducted in the villages. I went to Xu Province with a few of my classmates to take the exam, but we had to wait for the release of results, so we stayed there for more than a month. When I received my results and found out that I got third place, I was over the moon. I rushed back home and couldn’t wait to tell her about my good news.”
Qiao An took a deep breath and shut his eyes.
“I traveled for several hours, and when I got home, it was already midnight. I entered the house, only to see her lying in bed with a stranger. They were both undressed and they panicked at the sight of me. At that moment, it felt as if I was being stabbed with a knife, and my blood turned cold. Later, she cried as she told me that the man was her childhood friend and they had deep feelings for each other. It was only because of his poor financial background that they didn’t get together. Her family saw that we had money, so they forced her to marry me. However, after marrying me, the man still couldn’t forget her. So when I went to sit for the exam, he went over to my house to work, and they both ended up in bed instead.”
“At that moment, I was filled with absolute fury, even more so after seeing them naked in bed. In a fit of anger, I grabbed the knife on the table and bolted towards them. I slashed their heads, and only when their bodies were soaked in blood did I realize that I’d killed them!”
“The housekeeper heard the noise and was stunned when he saw what happened. He quickly packed my luggage and pushed me out of the house, asking me to hide and escape.”
“I hid at the corner of a wall in the city. Once the gates were open, I rushed inside and ran aimlessly in anxiety. That’s how I ended up at Yuhu Mountain.”
At this point, Qiao An’s voice had gradually calmed down. “Later, I also heard of what happened back home. The housekeeper had passed on two years after my escape, and my house had turned into ruins. There was no news regarding the two of them. Maybe the officials couldn’t find the murderer, so they decided to close the case.”
It was as if Su Jiu had suddenly thought of something. She frowned, her eyes moving. Suddenly she lifted her head and asked,
“Grandpa An, what is your name?”
Intellectuals often had names that were generally well-written.
Qiao An was confused by her question, but replied, “Zi Yuxiu.”
Su Jiu revealed a look of astonishment on her face. She got up abruptly and walked out swiftly.
It was Qiao An’s turn to be in shock. Watching Su Jiu’s sudden disappearance, he wrinkled his brows as he wondered what was wrong and why she left without saying anything.
Qiao An was bewildered. Nevertheless, he felt like a weight had been lifted after pouring out everything that had been buried in his chest.
Su Jiu left the restaurant and called out to Chang Huan, “Get into the carriage quickly, let’s get out of town!”
Both of them sat on the shaft. Chang Huan asked, “Boss, where are we going?”
“Out of town, to Yuhu Mountain!”
“That’s great!”
Chang Huan whipped the horse, and both of them took off towards the city gates.
By the time they left the town, the sun was almost setting. However, they did not stop. They stayed up and continued their journey the entire night until the next morning, where they stopped at a small noodle shop in Jing Province. It was also where Su Jiu and Ji Yuxian had eaten previously.
It was dawn.
The man in the noodle shop had just started their business. There was a long scar that created a division on his handsome face. This gave him a sense of brutality and frightfulness.
“You all are so early!” The man yawned and welcomed both Su Jiu and Chang Huan into his shop. He laughed and said, “The stove is not heated yet, so you’ll have to wait for a while for your orders to be ready!”
After he spoke, he called out into the backyard, “My wife, we have customers!”
“Coming, coming!” A woman replied as she lifted her hands to shove her hair away from her forehead. She grinned as she trotted out, smiling warmly and said, “Good morning to the both of you!”
As she spoke, she took a cloth and cleaned the front table and chair.
Su Jiu glanced at the couple and decided to go straight to the point to ask, “Do the both of you know who Qiao An is?”
At that instant, the couple’s expressions changed. They looked at Su Jiu in astonishment.
Suddenly, they heard a cold sneer that came from the backyard. An old lady, whom Su Jiu had previously met before, staggered out from the back door and emerged behind the curtains. Her lips trembled slightly as she cried out, “It’s karma! God has eyes, and Yu Xiu had finally found someone to take revenge!”
She looked at Su Jiu agitatedly and pointed to the couple. Her voice trembled as she continued, “It was them who committed adultery. Kill them and seek justice for Yu Xiu! It has been eight years, and it’s time for them to receive the punishment they deserve!”
“Mother!” The lady cried out, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Su Jiu let out a sigh. She was right!
Chang Huan, on the other hand, was confused by the situation. She tucked Su Jiu’s sleeves and whispered, “Boss, who is Yu Xiu?”
Su Jiu turned her head and replied, “It’s Grandpa An!”
Chang Huan widened his eyes dramatically as if he understood the situation.
The old lady fell into the chair and wept bitterly, while the other woman knelt on the ground as tears fell from her cheeks incessantly. The man stood at the side, looking green, and spoke in dismay, “What we had done to Qiao An was wrong. If both of you are here to seek his revenge, you may do whatever you want with us. Just leave our kid alone! She’s innocent, so please spare her life!”
At that moment, a young girl of about five to six years old wandered out, rubbing her eyes. It seemed that she was awakened by the wailing sounds. She asked in a soft voice, “Dad, Mom, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
The old lady wiped her tears and asked Su Jiu, “Are you Yuxiu’s friend? Where has he been all these years? Is he still alive? How has he been?”
Su Jiu nodded and replied, “The reason why I’m here is that I wanted to take all of you to visit him! If you are willing to show him your repentance, come with me!”
The few of them were startled. The old lady asked frantically, “Yu Xiu is still alive? Where is he?”
All these years, there had been no news of him. They thought Qiao An was already dead.
“Yes, he is still alive. He is in Shengjing City. Are you all willing to visit him?” Su Jiu asked.
The couple looked at each other, startled. They thought for a moment and nodded their heads slowly. “Ok, we’ll have to trouble you to take us there. We’ll agree to how you want us to repay him!”
The old lady got up slowly and added, “What you have said is fair. As long as Yu Xiu forgives you all, I will forgive you too!”
There was a spark of joy in the woman’s eyes as she said, “Is what you say true?”
“It is! Pack your things and lock the doors. I’ll go with you all!” The old lady said to the couple. She looked at Su Jiu and continued, “We’ll have to trouble you to bring our family there.”
“Ok!” Su Jiu nodded her head steadily.
There was nothing much to pack. They only brought some food and a thick mattress for the old lady as they were afraid that she could not tolerate the bumps on the road. The couple helped her onto the carriage and later boarded with their daughter as well.
Su Jiu and Chang Huan rushed into the carriage. They headed towards Shengjing City once again, despite not having taken their breakfast.
The horse galloped at a high speed and by the time they arrived at Shengjing, it was already dark. The city gates were closing soon, but Chang Huan forcefully whipped the horse, causing it to increase in speed, and they eventually managed to enter the city.
Throughout the entire journey, the family was very silent in the carriage. Their daughter would sometimes ask where they were headed out of curiosity, but her mother would always only give short and vague replies.
As they entered the city, they sat down with their heads lowered, feeling increasingly anxious.
The carriage stopped at the entrance of the restaurant and by then, the sky had turned completely dark. Su Jiu opened the carriage door and held onto the old lady as she alighted. Su Jiu led the family into the restaurant.
The woman looked up earnestly at the extravagant restaurant. She began to panic as she tightly held onto her daughter’s hands while following Su Jiu from behind.
It was dinner time, and the hall was filled with clamoring people.
One of Su Jiu’s friends saw her and quickly greeted her, “Master, you are here!”
“Where’s Grandpa An?” Su Jiu asked as she scanned the empty chairs behind the cashier.
The shop clerk glanced at his surroundings and replied as he scratched his head, “He was just here moments ago. Perhaps he had already gone upstairs!”
“Will do, you can go ahead to do whatever you have to!”
The dining hall was noisy and crowded. It was certainly not a suitable place for them to talk. Su Jiu let Chang Huan find Grandpa An, while she brought the rest into a room behind the cashier.
The old lady, the couple, and their child sat on the chairs and waited anxiously for Grandpa An’s arrival.
The old lady seemed much calmer as compared to before. She looked around and laughed. “Is Yu Xiu staying here? Working here?”
Su Jiu ordered her servants to prepare some tea and snacks for the guests, and replied, “Grandpa An is the shopkeeper!”
The few of them were a little astounded. They did not expect Qiao An to own such a large restaurant in Shengjing City.
The old lady wiped her tears and said, “Good, that’s good! Yu Xiu can the stand out wherever he is. He was also popular in the past. If it weren’t for that incident, he could have been an official now!”
As she spoke, she started wailing again.
The woman sat next to her husband, fingers twisting the corners of her burlap linen, her head lowered in silence.
Soon, they could hear footsteps coming from outside. The door squeaked open, only to see Qiao An entering the room in a light grey robe, looking prim, proper, and genteel.
He noticed so many people around and was slightly startled. He glanced at Su Jiu and exclaimed, “Chief, you’re finally back!”
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the room abruptly looked up. The old woman quivered as she stood up, and said excitedly, “Yu Xiu, do you still recognize me, your mother?”
After the two of them got married, although Qiao An had no parents, he was filial to his parents-in-law. When the old lady got treated poorly by his son, Qiao An would bring her back home and take good care of her. She had always treated him as his biological son. So when the incident happened, she was the angriest.
The couple also stood up, eyes welled with tears, as they looked at Qiao An with guilt and shock.
Qiao An was rooted to the ground, completely dumbfounded.
He always thought that they were dead, and after eight years, they finally met!
Eight years later, the woman was no longer a flower-like jade. The hair on her temples had turned white. Her face was yellow and there were wrinkles at the corner of her eyes. Her appearance was full of traces of deterioration and vicissitudes. The man seated next to her was also no longer a handsome and charming young man. The long scar on his face was like a long and deep gully, clearly revealing the difference of eight years then and now.
They gradually knelt before Qiao An and pleaded, “Yu Xiu, we were wrong. Today, we are finally here to beg you for forgiveness!”
As they continued, the woman was already weeping and her words were inaudible.
When Qiao An and the woman became a married couple, Qiao An treated her well, and she always remembered that. She believed that she had been in a state of confusion to have done something so wrong to him. All these years, there was not a moment that she felt at ease, and finally, she could personally meet Qiao An to kneel in front of him and beg for forgiveness.
Qiao An was horrified. He staggered backward and said dumbly, “You… you all are not dead?”
The old lady wept and responded, “They deserve to die, but God let them live so that they can repay their debt to you!”
The woman shook her head and choked as she said, “That night, Yun Lang and I were just unconscious after getting stabbed. The old housekeeper also thought that we were dead. He sat outside the door the entire night and immediately called the servants to buy coffins the next morning. By the time the coffins were bought, I was already awake. The housekeeper saw that I was not dead, so he quickly called the doctor. In the end, both Yun Lang and I survived!”
After all, Qiao An was an intellectual. He did not have much strength when he was young. At that moment, he was both angry and confused and was utterly mortified after stabbing them and seeing the blood.
In actual fact, their wounds were not deep. The woman got stabbed in the shoulder, while the man suffered a little more as his face got wounded.
“After saving both Yun Lang and me, the housekeeper sent men to look for you, but you were not able to be found ever again.”
The woman stopped at this point and did not continue further.
How could she?
Tell him that she got together with her childhood friend Yun Lang and got married to him? And because they were disapproved of by the villagers, they left their hometown, wandered around and finally settled down at Yuhu Mountain?
How was she supposed to say all these to him?
But she did not have to speak. Qiao An looked at the state of both of them, as well as the little girl who, at that point, was so afraid that she had cowered in the embrace of the old lady. He was able to predict what happened after that.
Qiao An was overwhelmed with emotions. He simply did not know what to say.
At that time, he thought that the woman betrayed him, causing him to escape from his hometown to save his own life. He later turned into an outlaw and became a mountain bandit for eight years. All these years, he had always thought that he killed them, so his hatred towards them had gradually faded away.
Now that he knew that they were still alive, the hatred and resentment were also no longer present. They were, at that time, still young and reckless, and ended up making rash decisions.
He took in a long and deep breath and lifted his head. He felt a surge of emotions and it was difficult for him to control his feelings, but after some time, he felt calm again.
That moment felt like everything had finally come to an end.
“Get up, all of you!” Qiao An said faintly.
“Yu Xiu, hit them a few times. I know you have suffered!” The old lady said, burying herself in her hands as she wept.
The couple remained still on the floor.
“Get up, I thought that I had killed the two of you, so all my grievances have been leveled out. It was such a long time ago, there’s nothing to be resentful about anymore.” Qiao An said in a low voice.
The couple got up slowly and begged again, “We were wrong and we are sorry!”
Qiao An asked, “How was the housekeeper when he passed on?”
In reality, all these years, Qiao An felt uneasy as he felt the most apologetic towards the old housekeeper. He was still a nerd then, and he was young and frightened after the incident happened. He only cared about escaping for his life, while not having a second thought for the housekeeper as to how he would be involved in the situation.
“Yes, I was there when he passed on. He didn’t feel any pain and laid peacefully on the bed for a day before passing. It’s just that he was still thinking of you before he left, constantly calling out your name despite being in a coma.” The woman muttered with her head lowered.
Qiao An slowly turned his body away, and tears rolled down as he faced away from the others.
Su Jiu walked over to him and patted his shoulders.
Qiao An nodded slightly and took in a deep breath. He understood that a person could not be resurrected from the dead. What he could do was simply to go back to his hometown, burn some incense for him and reassure him that he was still alive and well.
“What happened in the past is over. From now onwards, let’s forget about the past grievances because they don’t matter anymore.” Qiao An said faintly.
During those eight years, he turned from a promising man to a mountain bandit because of the couple. He lost his family because of them too. But when he stabbed them with a knife that year, he considered himself to be rid of enemies and would view them as strangers the next time they met.
“Yes, we are very grateful that you are willing to forgive us. After hearing this from you, we feel more at ease for the next half of our lives!” The man said with his head down.
Qiao An turned to Su Jiu and said, “I’ll head to Xu Province tomorrow, to visit the old housekeeper’s grave and also to find my teacher. He should still remember me. I’ll need a letter of recommendation from him to take the test in Beijing!”
Since he technically did not kill anyone, there would be no lawsuits against him. He could still enter Beijing as a candidate to take part in the imperial examination.
This was unexpected for him!
Su Jiu nodded and replied, “I’ll ask Ah Shu to prepare two horses and order a bodyguard to follow you back tomorrow.”
The journey from Xu Province to Shengjing City would take around ten days. If the horse rode faster, they could go back and forth in half a month, and he would not miss the test.
Qiao An nodded his head and stared at Su Jiu deeply. He then solemnly said, “Boss had once again done me a favor. I will never forget that!”
“Don’t mention it!” Su Jiu replied as she helped Qiao An up. She looked into Qiao An’s eyes and said, “You should go get ready. I’ll look for Ah Shu at the bodyguard agency now!”
After Su Jiu mentioned that she was leaving, she was stopped by Qiao An. He said, “Boss, I think you should visit the Ji Manor first. Last night, the people of the Ji Manor looked for you everywhere.”
Su Jiu was stunned for a moment. She took a deep breath and wondered how she could have forgotten about Ji Yuxian.
Qiao An chuckled softly. “You left without saying a word. Young Master Ji went to the restaurant twice to look for you. I didn’t know where you went too.”
“Alright!” Su Jiu nodded as she replied, “I’ll return home first and let Chang Huan look for a bodyguard at the bodyguard agency instead. As for this family, it’s already very late. Prepare a tavern for them to sleep in and ask Chang Huan to send them home the next morning!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make all the necessary arrangements!” Qiao An nodded as he responded.
Su Jiu made the arrangements and hurriedly returned to Ji Manor.
By the time she arrived, it was already completely dark. The gates were hung with two big red lanterns, and their shadows were grim and heavy.
Su Jiu entered the Cloud Pavilion and was spotted by Uncle Yu. He calmly let out a sigh and said, “Young Mistress, you’re back!”
Su Jiu asked, “Where’s Ji Yuxian?”
“He is in the study, you should check on him. He didn’t sleep the entire night, so if he throws tantrums, just try to tolerate it!”
Su Jiu pursed her lips and chuckled as she replied, “Ok, I understand!”
Jin Feng stood outside the door and immediately stopped frowning the moment he saw Su Jiu. He shouted, “Young Master, Young Mistress is here!”
Su Jiu placed her hands on the wooden door and looked at Jin Feng. She guiltily asked, “How is he feeling now?”
Jin Feng laughed awkwardly. “There were three supervisors who got scolded this afternoon. He didn’t even eat his dinner, so he’s probably not doing very well.”
Young Master Ji is known to be a famous and elegant prince in Shengjing City. Very few people have seen him get angry. Today, the three supervisors were the unlucky few who have seen it, and they were still shocked when they left.
Su Jiu took in a deep breath and replied, “Then it’s better if I don’t go in. I’ll go back to sleep for the night and return the next morning!”
She traveled for an entire day and night and she felt as if her entire body was falling apart. She was sleepy and tired and did not know if she could survive if she had to go in and get a scolding from Ji Yuxian.
Anyway, Ji Yuxian already knew about her return and would not ask any more people to search for her.
After speaking, she turned around and headed towards the Perched Phoenix Pavilion.
“Young Mistress!”
Jin Feng hurriedly held Su Jiu back as he pleaded, “Young Mistress, please stay! You can’t leave! If you go back to sleep, all of us won’t get to sleep the entire night. We didn’t get to sleep at all last night, so please understand!”
Su Jiu watched the pitiful look on Jin Feng’s face. She sighed and agreed. “You’ve worked hard. Go get some rest. I’ll go in now and bear all the responsibilities!”
Jin Feng immediately shot a smile and said, “Thank you so much, Young Mistress Ji!”
Su Jiu waved her hands, pushed the door open and entered the study.
The room was quietly lit and the furnace was scented. Ji Yuxian wore a dark red robe, lying lazily against the soft mattress. He was holding an ancient book in his hands, his posture calm and picturesque.
The slanted silhouette of bananas from outside was cast on his charming face, adding a bit of haziness.
He did not look up despite knowing that someone had entered.
Su Jiu pretended to be calm and walked over to him. She poured a cup of tea, turned around and sat on the couch, passing the cup to Ji Yuxian. She smiled and said, “Drink up, Young Master Ji!”
His facial expression remained still and calm as if he had not heard anything.
Su Jiu awkwardly retracted her hand and drank the tea by herself. She coughed softly and said, “I heard that you haven’t eaten for the entire night. I haven’t too and am very hungry. Let’s go to eat together!”
Ji Yuxian continued to ignore her.
Su Jiu placed the teacup down and leaned slightly towards him. She tilted her head and stared at him with dark eyes. “Are you angry? I had to settle an urgent matter out of town yesterday and didn’t have the time to tell you. Besides, I’m used to doing things alone.”
She began to relay the incident about how Qiao An went out of town to look for his ex-wife.
“Isn’t that such a coincidence? The noodle restaurant that we ate the previous time is actually run by Qiao An’s ex-wife. Qiao An always thought that he had killed them and they thought that Grandpa An was dead too. They only met after eight years.”
Ji Yuxian remained silent as Su Jiu continued to speak.
Su Jiu bit her lip and leaned forward, attempting to kiss his red lips.
Every single time when he was angry, Su Jiu would kiss him and he would not be angry anymore.
Ji Yuxian’s lips were slightly cool and soft. It had a hint of water lotus fragrance, which smelled oddly delicious. Su Jiu closed her eyes and gently bit on it.
Su Jiu was probably really hungry as she became increasingly eager to kiss him. Her hands that were initially supporting her weight also involuntarily went on to embrace Ji Yuxian’s waist.
The book in his hands fell to the ground. His eyes were dark and beautiful as he stared intensely at the young lady who was kissing him.
When Su Jiu did not receive an answer from him, she became desperate and opened her mouth to aggressively bite on his lips.
Ji Yuxian moaned. He held her waist and pressed his body against hers.
Su Jiu opened her eyes, her glassy eyes reflecting on Ji Yuxian’s dark pupils. She raised her brows and grinned as she asked, “You’re not angry anymore?”
Ji Yuxian made a small smile, his eyebrows picturesque. He stretched out a long finger and tapped on Su Jiu’s chest. He asked, “When will I be here with you, and always be remembered by you?”
Su Jiu frowned, unsure if she knew what he meant.
Ji Yuxian sighed and gently kissed her. The kiss was slow and tender. He then asked her in a low voice, “Hungry?”
Su Jiu nodded her head.
“What do you feel like eating?” Ji Yuxian’s voice was husky, sexy and appealing.
You!
Su Jiu kept this word in her mouth. She almost spat it out but she quickly replied, “Whatever is fine!”
She was starving and could eat anything!
Ji Yuxian grabbed her waist with one hand and lifted her. He walked out and muttered softly, “I’ll feed you first, then punish you tonight!”
Su Jiu lied lazily on his shoulder and complained bitterly, “I haven’t slept the entire night, so please spare me! When I’ve had enough sleep, I can work like cows and horses to repay you!”
Ji Yuxian hit her buttocks and asked doubtfully, “Cows can plow, horses can be ridden, but what can you do?”
Su Jiu could not understand his puns and replied immediately, “I can do a lot. I can kill, rob and take over the mountains to become King.”
Su Jiu proudly gave him a long list.
Ji Yuxian’s chest shuddered. He turned his head and kissed Su Jiu’s ear. He said softly, “I only want my wife to be like a sheet of paper, and I will be like a pen, and the both of us can create a scenic painting of a night sky in spring.”
Su Jiu could feel Ji Yuxian’s warm breath against her ears, and a surge of heat rose abruptly under her belly. She tilted her head away to get away from his closeness. As she watched the peach blossoms that were almost blooming from outside the corridor, she chuckled silently and thought, spring was coming!
When the animals were awake from their hibernation, the weather became warmer and warmer each day. Ji Yuxian’s men had almost completed the construction of the boats, and the crew’s training was also moved to the riverside to begin their pirate combat training.
Qiao An had already been gone for ten days and should almost be back at Shengjing City.
Ever since Qiao An left, Su Jiu appointed Chang Huan to be the shopkeeper of the restaurant.
Chang Huan could no longer follow Su Jiu every day, which made Young Master Ji the happiest. There was finally one thing that he could put off his mind.
What Su Jiu did not expect was that Chang Huan was exceptionally talented at doing business. He managed the restaurant in an orderly manner, and business became more prosperous.
When Chang Huan returned to the Ji Manor at night, Su Jiu started to teach him how to read and check the account book.
Chang Huan had learned words when he was a kid, and despite not using them over the years, he still remembered. As such, he was a fast learner.
Besides, Qiao An would have to focus on preparing for his examination upon his return and it would be impossible to manage the restaurant anymore. The restaurant’s business would perhaps be left in the hands of Chang Huan in the future.
Additionally, the restaurant was too noisy and not conducive to study. Su Jiu planned to find a quiet yard for Qiao An to study.
That day, Ji Yuxian left early for auditing purposes. Su Jiu did not visit the study as well and went to look for a yard in the streets for Qiao An.
In the bathroom, Mrs. Qin handed a brocade shaped like a cloak to the housekeeper, who was a young girl. Mrs. Qin said, “Housekeeper Qiao, this is the Mistress’s cloak. The servants have already washed it. I heard that Mistress needs it urgently so I’ll have to trouble you to send this to her!”
The young girl whom Su Jiu had promoted to a housekeeper was called Qiao Yan. She did not say another word as she immediately nodded and replied, “Ok!”
Even though Qiao Yan was promoted to be the housekeeper, she was after all still a maid who had just entered the Manor. She was a pure and loyal person who often helped the servants clean the lavatories, despite not needing to as a housekeeper.
Mrs. Qin was still a prestigious and respectable figure, and Qiao Yan did not dare to disobey her. She quickly retrieved the brocade and said, “Yes, I’ll go right away!”
Mrs. Qin subtly smiled as she praised, “We have a hardworking housekeeper!”
Qiao Yan left the bathroom and came to the Perched Phoenix Pavilion. She stood by the door and peered inside.
Although she was a housekeeper, she had always stayed in the laundry wing ever since she arrived at the Ji Manor. She felt a sense of unfamiliarity and reverence to whatever that was outside and did not dare to enter.
While she hesitated, Su Jiu returned from outside.
When Su Jiu saw Qiao Yan, she asked, “Who are you?”
Qiao Yan was startled. She nervously turned her body around and immediately lowered her head when she saw Su Jiu. She said, “I’ve seen you before, Young Mistress!”
Su Jiu asked, “Are there any problems?”
Qiao Yan swiftly handed the cloak over to her and replied, “This is yours. The servants have already washed it and I was just about to bring it over to you.”
Su Jiu retrieved it and thanked her. She smiled at the young girl, who was seemingly very nervous, and chuckled as she said, “You are the girl who was hit in the laundry wing, right?”
Perhaps Su Jiu was not as strict as her master.
Qiao Yan noticed Su Jiu’s laugh and was no longer as afraid. She lifted her head and smiled sweetly as she replied, “Young Mistress, you still remember me? I’ve always wanted to thank you, but my status is too low and I have nothing to honor you with, so I didn’t dare to come!”
“You’re too modest! I didn’t do much!” Su Jiu responded with a smile.
“Please tell me if you need me to do anything for you. I’ll do my best.”
“Alright, got it!”
“I’ll leave now!”
After Qiao Yan left, Su Jiu took the cloak and entered the pavilion.
It was extremely quiet in the pavilion. The nanny was nowhere to be seen and a few kids were sitting under the porch, taking a nap.
Su Jiu entered the bedroom and conveniently threw the cloak on the ottoman, only to notice the restaurant account book on it. She assumed that Chang Huan had forgotten to bring it back.
She sat cross-legged on the ottoman and looked through the book.
It was noon and the sun was scorching. The sunlight shined in and Su Jiu began to feel sleepy after looking at it for some time. She closed her eyes, laid sideways and slept.
They did not know when the wind started blowing. Dongxue glanced over and said, “Young Mistress is probably taking a nap. Now that the wind is blowing so strongly, I’ll help her close the windows so she doesn’t catch a cold!”
She walked towards the window after she spoke, and saw Su Jiu lying on the soft mattress with the account book and brocade that was folded beside her.
Dongxue scanned the room and swiftly shut the windows tightly.
As she returned to the corridor, Dongxue said, “The nanny mentioned that she wanted to prepare mutton soup for you, Young Mistress. Let’s go peel the water chestnuts together.”
“It’s still early, why are you so anxious?” Qiukui commented lazily.
“Quick, let’s go! If you are caught looking so tired and lazy, the others will think that we are not serving the Young Mistress properly and the Young Master will punish us!” Dongxue said as he pulled the other servants up.
Upon hearing Dongxue’s words, Qiukui and the others quickly got up and scuffled towards the kitchen.
There were no voices in the yard, and the entire place became even quieter.
In the spring breeze, the sunlight was gentle. There was only one ray of light that was exceptionally blazing. It was reflected from a begonia tree that stood outside Su Jiu’s room. The ray of light was directly shining through the window which landed on the cloak.
If someone looked closely, he would discover a lens positioned in an angle that directed the ray of light to enter Su Jiu’s windows.
Soon, the window paper burnt, creating a hole and causing the scorching ray of sunlight to fall onto the cloak. The cloak quickly caught fire, emitting a faint scent that covered the smell of smoke. The fur coat, pillow, and the account book at the side were also burnt subsequently.
Chang Huan always felt restless after lunch. The restaurant was incredibly crowded and there were numerous occasions where he almost bumped into the guests.
The shop clerk teased him, “Grandpa Huan, what’s wrong with you today? It’s as if you’ve been possessed!”
Chang Huan grinned and walked towards the counter. He thought that it could perhaps be because Su Jiu was not with him, so he felt a little uneasy. He was about to take a look at the account book when he realized it was not with him. He searched everywhere for it but it was still gone. He later remembered that he had left it at the Ji Manor the previous day.
This gave him an excuse to meet Su Jiu. He told the shop clerk to look after the restaurant and headed to the Ji Manor alone.
