CHAPTER 726: CHAPTER 219 PROPHECY_3

Jiang Li was relieved that she wasn’t Miss Jiang the Second because if Xue Huaiyuan treated her that way, she would have been very upset.

Tonger walked beside Jiang Li, while the shadow of Jiang Yuanbai was getting further and further away. After returning to Fangfei Garden, Tonger watched Bai Xue light the lamps and close the door, her eyes hesitating and full of worry as they turned toward Jiang Li.

"What’s wrong, Tonger?" Jiang Li asked, seeing her expression.

"Miss, the old madam wants you to enter the palace tomorrow, it must be about the matter of the bestowed marriage. What should we do?" Tonger said. It was she who had initially heard about Old Madam Jiang and Jiang Yuanbai’s plans and told Jiang Li.

"Didn’t you say that Duke would handle it?" Bai Xue asked.

"This servant thought that Duke would make the Yin Household change their mind, but now it seems that the celebratory banquet is still going on as planned. Maybe Duke didn’t manage to persuade the Yin family members," Tonger said anxiously, spinning in circles, "It’s too late to leave now, what can we do, Miss?"

Bai Xue also started to worry.

Jiang Li looked at them both, and for some reason, shook her head and began to smile. Everyone said Yin Zhili was good, but Tonger, Bai Xue, and Ah Zhao did not think so; at least this way, she wasn’t standing against everyone else.

"It’s okay," Jiang Li consoled, "Tomorrow will be fine."

"Tomorrow?" The two maids gave each other a puzzled look, not understanding what Jiang Li meant.

"Anyway, don’t worry about it," Jiang Li smiled, "Tomorrow, we will find tomorrow’s solutions."

Her certainty gradually calmed Tonger and Bai Xue, and they believed in Jiang Li, so they did not continue. As Jiang Li lay in bed that night, thinking about what would happen tomorrow, she couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous.

She pretended to be calm, but if Jih Heng truly requested a marriage in front of all the officials tomorrow... what then? This step she took was incredibly risky, and yet, perhaps a part of her liked to take risks, for she felt not the slightest resistance.

Jiang Li looked out the window; outside it was silent except for the deep shadows of the trees. It had been a long time since she had seen Jih Heng, since that day she had met Ah Zhao. Jiang Li knew that Jih Heng had been very busy lately, so she didn’t feel anything amiss, but tomorrow... at the palace banquet, she would likely see him.

Let tomorrow’s matters wait until tomorrow, Jiang Li covered herself with the blanket and closed her eyes.

...

In Yanjing City’s summer night, one could hear the chirping of cicadas, and all else was silent. Someone emerged from the end of the street.

The young man, dressed in a red robe, walked neither hurriedly nor slowly, bright against the night. Anyone who saw him at this hour might suspect they were seeing a mythical being, astonished by his astounding beauty.

This person walked straight toward the Duke Residence.

Inside the Duke Residence, someone was holding a lit lantern in the courtyard. As the footsteps of Jih Heng grew closer, the two men stood up. They were Lu Jiu, dressed in scholar’s garb, and Wen Renyao, a graceful young master.

Wen Renyao said, "Ah Heng, you’re finally back."

Lu Jiu said, "Sir, let’s talk inside."

The three men entered the study.

The Old General Jih had already gone to sleep, and Situ Jiuyue was not sleeping either but was busy in the Alchemy Room. Since Xue Zhao went to the Ye Family, Situ Jiuyue didn’t need to give her acupuncture and suddenly found herself with spare time. These past few days, she had seemed a bit absent-minded. Being questioned by Wen Renyao several times and growing annoyed, she dived into the alchemy room every day, returning late, seeing no one, and focusing purely on poison-making.

Of course, Wen Renyao didn’t dare to provoke her. If he upset Situ Jiuyue and she poisoned him, though their many years of acquaintance wouldn’t lead her to take his life, she could certainly make him suffer greatly. Wen Renyao then took after Xiao Hong, staying well away from Situ Jiuyue. He could avoid what he couldn’t contend with.

In the study, Jih Heng sat down on a chair and leaned back, pressing a hand to his forehead.

"Sir... have you seen the Emperor?" Lu Jiu asked.

"Indeed," Jih Heng replied.

"What did the Emperor say?"

"Naturally, he agreed." Jih Heng smiled faintly.

Still, Lu Jiu couldn’t bring himself to smile. He said, "Sir, making this decision now might draw the suspicion of the Prince of Xia County... It could bring attention to you too soon."

"Even if I do nothing, he will always be watching me," Jih Heng said indifferently, "He wants what he cannot have, and I am in his way. Sooner or later, he will try to kill me; it’s either him or me. I can’t just give away my people for a moment of peace, can I?"

Lu Jiu was at a loss for words. Having followed Jih Heng for so long, he couldn’t say he understood him completely, but one thing he did know was that no one could take what belonged to Jih Heng.