Chapter 36 : I Love Listening

After resting at the inn for a few days, Ji Yu was ready to set off back to Wushan City.

Regardless of how the court decides to handle her, she currently doesn’t want to concern herself with these matters. As long as there’s no official decree condemning her, it’s unlikely anyone would be foolish enough to obstruct or act against her.

She wanted to return home first to see her grandmother, to avoid making the elderly woman worry.

Since Ji Yu was leaving, Jiang Shiqiu naturally wouldn’t stay here any longer.

As for the Chen family’s matters? With the Demon Division handling it, he didn’t even bother inquiring.

The people from the Demon Division were used to this. With such a capricious superior who prefers to stay hands-off, they could only bear a bit more themselves and do nothing else.

Unlike when they arrived, only disciples from the Ji family accompanied them as they left. There were no Demon Division Envoys in crimson robes clearing the way.

Thus, when they left Qingyu City, not many people noticed the carriage.

Soon after the carriage left the city and passed the Ten-Mile Pavilion outside the city, they encountered Qin Du, who had been waiting there for a while.

Ji Buhuan and Hongxiao instantly realized that he had been specifically waiting for them, causing them to feel a bit anxious.

In Ji Buhuan and Hongxiao’s minds, regardless of Ji Yu’s identity, she was still their young master.

They had not been swayed by the truth of her identity and were only focused on how to protect her and ensure her safety.

Not only them, but the entire Ji family would not be shaken by this.

“Lord Jiang, Young Master Ji,” Qin Du called out to the carriage.

Jiang Shiqiu pretended not to hear, slowly flipping through a medical book in his hand.

Since that night he had mentioned wanting to study human medicine, he had indeed collected a considerable number of medical texts. He had been reading them whenever he had free time, though he wasn’t sure how much he had learned.

Ji Yu found it a bit amusing. She tugged at his sleeve and said, “Lord Qin must have something to discuss. Let’s get out and see.”

Jiang Shiqiu lowered his eyes, closed the medical book, and with a faint snort, got out of the carriage with her.

Once they were out of the carriage, he did not look at Qin Du and instead helped Ji Yu into the pavilion to rest.

Qin Du followed behind them with a calm expression, as if he had not noticed Jiang Shiqiu’s indifference.

“If you have something to say, just say it,” Jiang Shiqiu said.

Qin Du maintained his smile. He had a youthful, cherubic face, and his smile was quite likable. People often forgot his identity, forgetting the madness he displayed while slaying demons, and he was sometimes secretly called a madman by many.

“Lord Jiang, we’ve nearly finished our investigation into the Chen family…”

Qin Du first reported the findings from the Chen family and mentioned that they would escort the Chen family’s old patriarch, the Chen family head, and Chen Mu, among other Chen clan members, to the capital in two days.

After discussing the Chen family’s matters, he asked, “Will you be coming to the capital with us, sir?”

Jiang Shiqiu’s expression became somewhat aloof, and he directly said, “No.”

Qin Du was not surprised. He glanced at Ji Yu and tactfully said, “The Emperor will likely inquire about Young Master Ji’s situation when we enter the capital…”

Jiang Shiqiu gave him a meaningful look.

Qin Du stiffened, an inexplicable chill running down his spine, and his smile became forced.

“Alright,” Jiang Shiqiu said. “Go about your business and don’t disturb us if there’s nothing else.”

Qin Du understood the warning and said no more. He bowed respectfully to Jiang Shiqiu and gave a courteous nod to Ji Yu.

Despite his previous craziness and arrogance when dealing with demons, he was always very polite in front of Ji Yu. “Young Master Ji, pardon the disturbance. I will take my leave now.”

Qin Du did not linger. He left the Ten-Mile Pavilion, mounted his horse, and rode away.

Jiang Shiqiu and Ji Yu got back into the carriage and continued their journey.

—

Ten days later, they returned to Wushan City.

Wushan City was as peaceful and lively as ever. The events regarding the Chen family had not yet reached the public, possibly because the Demon Division had deliberately kept the news under wraps. The common people were still unaware of the demon container issue.

The fact that the Ji family’s young master was chosen as a demon container was indeed shocking, but those who knew the truth were tactful enough not to disclose it to avoid causing panic among the populace.

Of course, there was also the possibility that they did not dare to offend Jiang Shiqiu.

Anyone with eyes could see Jiang Shiqiu’s affection for his wife, Ji Yu. No one was foolish enough to test him, and before things became clear, they chose to wait and see.

Ji Yu lifted the curtain of the carriage, looking out at the bustling street. People were coming and going, living their lives contentedly, and a smile appeared on her face.

Jiang Shiqiu sat beside her, flipping through a thick medical book. Seeing her smile, he asked, “Wife, is there something interesting outside?” Following her gaze, he saw she was looking at a small stall selling sugar cakes. “Wife, are you hungry?”

Ji Yu shook her head. “Not hungry.”

In front of the stall, a couple dressed in very plain but clean clothes, with their young child, was buying sugar cakes. The sugar cakes weren’t expensive, but they still couldn’t bear to buy too much. They used two copper coins to buy a small piece, and the husband carefully broke it into two parts, one for the child and one for his wife.

The wife took a small bite and was about to give the rest to her husband, who also hesitated to eat more and took only a small bite.

The child joyfully ate the sugar cake, and the crisp, tender voice could be heard saying, “Mommy, this sugar cake is really delicious.”

As the carriage passed by the sugar cake stall, the sounds of the family could still be faintly heard.

Ji Yu lowered the curtain, her eyes slightly curved, her expression serene.

Jiang Shiqiu gazed at her, though he didn’t understand why she was smiling so, he found it particularly beautiful.

A quarter of an hour later, they finally arrived at the Ji family’s residence.

Aunt Gui and her entourage came out to greet them. Although her slightly plump face still bore a warm smile, there was a hint of forced cheerfulness in it.

Seeing Ji Yu, her eyes reddened slightly as she said, “It’s good that the young master has returned safely! You must be tired. Come inside and rest quickly, Yu and the others have already prepared your favorite dishes… By the way, the old lady knows you’re back today and is waiting for you inside.”

Ji Yu responded, “Then I’ll go and see Grandmother first.”

Aunt Gui seemed to want to say something but ultimately remained silent. As soon as no one was looking, she turned her head and wiped her eyes.

Ji Yu pretended not to notice and, along with Jiang Shiqiu, went to the main courtyard to visit Old Lady Ji.

When they arrived, Old Lady Ji was in a side room, offering incense at the memorial tablet on the altar.

Ji Yu and Jiang Shiqiu did not enter and waited at the door.

After finishing the incense offering, Old Lady Ji saw them and said, “Ji Yu , come and offer incense to your grandfather and your mother.”

Ji Yu softly agreed.

As Ji Yu offered the incense, Jiang Shiqiu naturally followed in and took three sticks of incense from a nearby incense box, offering them to his mother-in-law and father-in-law.

Seeing this, Old Lady Ji’s eyelids twitched.

Ji Yu glanced at him, her eyes showing a hint of amusement, and ignored her grandmother’s stiff expression.

After offering the incense, Old Lady Ji led them to the side hall. Aunt Gui served them tea and then, with a heavy heart, quietly left to stand guard outside the door.

Inside the room, the aroma of tea wafted gently. Ji Yu took a sip of tea while Jiang Shiqiu, who did not particularly like tea, watched his wife with focused, almost predatory eyes.

Old Lady Ji’s eyelids twitched again at this scene.

After a while, Old Lady Ji spoke, “Ji Yu , do you know?”

Ji Yu understood what she was asking and nodded slightly, “I know what I need to know.”

Old Lady Ji’s lips tightened into a firm line, her solemn expression looking a bit stern. Her furrowed brows and downcast eyes indicated her intense anger.

“Grandmother, don’t be angry. It’s not worth ruining your health,” Ji Yu soothed. “It was bound to happen sooner or later.”

After learning she was chosen as a demon container, Ji Yu had come to terms with many things. Even without Shang Yunxiao, someone else would have discovered it eventually, it was impossible to keep it hidden forever.

It was as if an unseen hand was pushing her toward a predetermined fate.

Old Lady Ji said bitterly, “If I had known, I should have locked him up after Ji Lan left.”

Her regret was no less than Old Man Chen’s.

In fact, she had not supported her daughter’s relationship with Shang Yunxiao. He carried too much baggage, and such a man was rarely sincere.

Old Lady Ji understood that Shang Yunxiao was indeed sincere towards her daughter back then. If Ji Lan had not died, perhaps Shang Yunxiao would still be the Ji family’s son-in-law, living a peaceful life with Ji Lan and willingly leading an ordinary life.

But unfortunately, Ji Lan died.

Ji Lan’s death also took away Shang Yunxiao’s remaining feelings, leading him to abandon everything and embark on a path of vengeance.

Old Lady Ji was deeply resentful but managed to control her emotions in front of her granddaughter.

She would never lose her composure in front of her granddaughter, as she didn’t want the child to worry about her.

Moreover, her granddaughter had a master from the underworld by her side, which made her instinctively wary and unwilling to relax.

Seeing her grandmother’s mood stabilize, Ji Yu spoke gently, “Grandmother, it’s alright. With Jiang Shiqiu here, I won’t end up on that path.”

Old Lady Ji’s face stiffened slightly, and she happened to see Jiang Shiqiu smiling at her, which made her fall silent.

In Old Lady Ji’s heart, whether it was the demon who chose her granddaughter as a container or Jiang Shiqiu, who was engaged to her granddaughter, they were essentially the same.

Just as dangerous, just as uncontrollable.

She didn’t even know if choosing to do so in the first place had been the right decision.

The demon who chose her granddaughter as a container was certainly dangerous, but that didn’t mean Jiang Shiqiu, who came from the underworld, was any less problematic. When she realized that Jiang Shiqiu could easily suppress the demon’s curse, she felt a shiver run down her spine.

What kind of existence could so casually suppress a demon’s curse?

Was this truly good for her granddaughter?

Jiang Shiqiu smiled warmly and said, “Ji Yu is right. Grandmother, you don’t need to worry. With me here, I will definitely protect Ji Yu . No one will bully my wife.”

As he spoke, he tenderly held Ji Yu’s hand.

Ji Yu’s fingertips twitched. Seeing her grandmother’s increasingly stiff expression, she felt a bit embarrassed. It seemed she shouldn’t be too affectionate or too stimulating in front of the elderly.

Unfortunately, Jiang Shiqiu was completely unaware, as if he wanted to flaunt their love to the whole world and let everyone know how much they loved each other.

Worried that continuing might upset her grandmother, Ji Yu considerately stood up and decided to let her grandmother rest.

As she reached the door, Jiang Shiqiu suddenly said, “Oh, there’s something else to give to Grandmother.”

With a flick of his hand, a blood-red box appeared.

Ji Yu’s sharp eyes recognized it as the Blood Jade Box, and a sudden guess made her heart race, her face showing disbelief.

“Grandmother, this is the Heavenly Blood Lotus. It can heal the hidden injuries within you,” Jiang Shiqiu said gently. “Ji Yu has been very worried about your health. When we went to Yanyue Villa last time, it was to find the Heavenly Blood Lotus.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Yu was overjoyed. “Really? That’s wonderful!”

With the Heavenly Blood Lotus, her grandmother’s internal injuries would certainly be healed, and she wouldn’t have to worry about her grandmother potentially not enduring for much longer.

Jiang Shiqiu placed the Blood Jade Box on the table and politely bid farewell to Old Lady Ji.

As they left the main courtyard, Ji Yu asked, “Where did you find this Heavenly Blood Lotus?”

The Heavenly Blood Lotus was a rare healing treasure, and even for a prominent family like the Ji family, finding one was not easy.

Jiang Shiqiu replied, “I had the Demon Division bring it over. Fortunately, there was one available in Yun Jing.”

Knowing she was looking for the Heavenly Blood Lotus, he had instructed the Demon Division to search for it, and it was only a few days ago that it finally arrived in his hands.

Ji Yu looked at him and asked, “Was it difficult?”

Although she was delighted to receive the Heavenly Blood Lotus, she didn’t take it for granted and worried about whether it might have caused him too much trouble.

“It wasn’t difficult at all,” he said. “It was just a matter of making a few requests, and the Demon Division handled the rest.”

Ji Yu took a deep breath and said earnestly, “Jiang Shiqiu, thank you.”

She had said “thank you” many times before, and each time she felt it wasn’t enough, unsure of how to truly show her gratitude.

Despite him being a non-human demon and even the person her grandmother had once arranged a marriage with to save her, clearly exploiting him, his actions far exceeded those of a mere fiancé, making her feel uneasy and uncertain about how to thank him.

Jiang Shiqiu tilted his head and smiled, “Wife, you’ve already thanked me. There’s no need to say it again.”

“When did I thank you?” Ji Yu asked, confused. She only learned about him finding the Heavenly Blood Lotus today, so how could she have thanked him before?

Jiang Shiqiu leaned in and whispered, “The night before, at the inn, didn’t you thank me?”

Ji Yu: “……”

Understanding his meaning, Ji Yu’s face turned bright red.

She felt embarrassed and couldn’t suppress the blush on her cheeks, even feeling a bit annoyed. “You… You’re really something…”

Jiang Shiqiu looked at her innocently, “Wife, what’s wrong with me?”

Knowing she couldn’t match his shamelessness, Ji Yu tried to ignore the heat on her face and said, “That doesn’t count.”

How could he turn such a serious matter into something inappropriate?

“Doesn’t count, huh…” Jiang Shiqiu looked at her, finding her feigned seriousness quite cute, and said, “Well then, if you want to thank me, just call me ‘husband’ a few more times. I love hearing it.”

Ji Yu: “……”