Chapter 15

Before they knew it, it was already August 13th, and the Mid-Autumn Festival was just two days away.

In a family like the Xuanwu Marquis Mansion, this festival always brought many guests coming and going.

This morning, Xu Lianqiao could tell that a special guest must be visiting the Marquis Mansion, just by hearing the footsteps outside the courtyard.

“Come on, come on, eat more.”

“This shrimp is delicious.”

“And this radish and pork ribs soup is also delicious.”

Jiang Huai kept serving her food, but Xu Lianqiao was still not used to this.

What had happened to him?

Why wasn’t he out greeting guests? Why was he here eating with her instead?

She clearly remembered that in the past, Jiang Huai wouldn’t even sit in the same room with her, let alone smile at her.

But now, he was smiling at her.

Could it be that Jiang Huai had a twin brother who looked just like him?

That seemed unlikely.

Xu Lianqiao picked at the rice in her bowl, still confused and unable to figure out the situation.

“Do you have any questions to ask me?”

Ning Yuan saw how hesitant Xu Lianqiao was and guessed she might choke if she didn’t speak. So, he asked her directly.

Since he had spoken up, Xu Lianqiao felt it would be strange if she didn’t say anything.

After a brief silence, she raised her head and looked at Jiang Huai.

She was trying to find any signs of his old self in his eyes.

But the disgust and impatience she used to see in his eyes were no longer there.

“You… why are you being so nice to me all of a sudden?”

Ning Yuan was caught off guard by her question. When he saw the serious look in Ah Qiao’s eyes, his heart raced and his throat tightened. He took a sip of water.

Her innocence made him feel a little guilty.

He had thought about telling Ah Qiao the truth many times, but whenever he tried, he couldn’t speak it.

“Then, are you happy that I’m treating you like this?” he asked.

Xu Lianqiao froze at the question.

She hadn’t realized it before, but now she could tell that she had been feeling happier lately.

Thinking it over, she realized she was mostly worried that Jiang Huai might revert to his old self.

After all, Jiang Huai had changed so suddenly before. Who could guarantee he wouldn’t do it again?

She couldn’t trust his kindness completely. If she relied on him, she might get hurt later.

Turning away, she took a sip of soup and then changed the subject: “If you can give me the He Li Shu ^[1]a book or document regarding the divorce., I will be happy.”

That was really all she wanted now. Getting the book was the most important thing to her.

When Ning Yuan heard her mention it, he put down his bowl, turned to her, and asked seriously:

“What would you do if I gave you the He Li Shu now?”

Before she could answer, he quickly asked another question:

“Where do you plan to go after leaving Jiang Mansion?”

His question made Xu Lianqiao pause. She had been thinking about going to a nunnery outside the city to live as a sister-in-law ^[2]a woman who lives in religious seclusion, often refer as a nun., but she couldn’t say it aloud now.

She could feel that Ning Yuan was genuinely concerned about her future.

“This doesn’t seem to concern the Crown Prince,” she said, somewhat irritated.

But to her surprise, “Jiang Huai” only laughed softly. He pulled her shoulders and looked at her gently.

Then, he spoke in a way that made sense to her.

Xu Lianqiao understood that if she and Jiang Huai reconciled, her family, the Xu family, might never accept her again.

Her dowry wasn’t very valuable either.

Even if she sold the things she could sell, she wouldn’t have enough money to buy a small house in the outskirts of Beijing.

Not to mention her future living situation.

In the end, she might have no choice but to live as a sister-in-law.

But it seemed like “Jiang Huai” had already guessed her thoughts.

Before she could speak, he continued: “Even the nunnery on the mountain accepts anyone. It’s like recruiting eunuchs in the palace. You think any man can just go to a nunnery and live there?”

Xu Lianqiao frowned. His comparison wasn’t exactly appropriate, and she instinctively moved away from him.

Ning Yuan realized his mistake and felt bad. Why did he say such things in front of Ah Qiao?

He was just unprepared around her, which led him to say something inappropriate.

He remembered that when they were younger, Ah Qiao had said he was rude.

It made him feel a little bitter.

Did Ah Qiao prefer more refined men, like Jiang Huai?

He picked up another piece of radish with his chopsticks and handed it to her.

He explained with a little sadness: “I just don’t think becoming a nun is a good idea.”

After he said that, he secretly glanced at her a few times.

Xu Lianqiao had always disliked “Jiang Huai,” but after hearing his explanation, she didn’t feel so bad anymore.

“Yes,” she nodded, “I understand.”

She wasn’t someone who couldn’t tell the difference between good and bad people. Even though “Jiang Huai” spoke roughly, his reasoning made sense.

She had taken many things for granted before.

She realized she had been quietly bearing the pain because she felt she had no one else to rely on.

Ning Yuan felt even worse when he saw her disappointed. He regretted his careless words.

He couldn’t bear to see Ah Qiao become a sister-in-law.

He cleared his throat before continuing:

“So, in the next three months, you can work and make extra money. Once you’ve saved enough, you can buy a house and live on your own.”

Save money…

Xu Lianqiao was surprised that “Jiang Huai” was supporting her idea of making money.

She knew that if this spread, it could ruin the reputation of the Xuanwu Marquis Mansion.

“Can I really do that?”

It seemed like she was asking him, but also asking herself.

“Of course,” he said firmly.

Ning Yuan could never forget when Ah Qiao was just ten years old, and she would ask him to go with her to the mountains to pick herbs and sell them.

That day, they had sat together, counting the small amount of money she had made, and Ah Qiao had smiled so happily.

He remembered how, back then, she had looked at him with such joy.

“Then I’ll think about the best ways to make money,” Xu Lianqiao said, sitting up eagerly. She ran to her bedside and pulled out her little notebook.

Ning Yuan couldn’t help but think back to that time when he asked her why she was so happy with so little money.

She had raised her little head, blinking her big eyes, and said with determination, “So no one can say I rely on others.”

He regretted it now.

He regretted not taking her away with him back then.

_

Xu Lianqiao was busy planning her big money-making scheme when she realized it was already getting dark.

She didn’t remember when “Jiang Huai” had left, only vaguely recalling that when he did, she had hummed a tune casually…

After that, she seemed to have forgotten about him.

It didn’t matter, though.

She set the book down and decided to go to the kitchen to fix herself something to eat.

However, when she opened the door, she was surprised to find “Jiang Huai” sitting in her yard.

The weather had cooled down in the evening. Though it wasn’t hot anymore, the breeze still carried a refreshing chill.

Under the moonlight, Xu Lianqiao noticed beads of sweat on “Jiang Huai”‘s forehead.

As she looked beside him, she realized that “Jiang Huai” had two bamboo lanterns that looked just like bamboo lanterns…

Was this just a coincidence?

The evening breeze blew gently, and their eyes met.

Xu Lianqiao felt momentarily dazed. As she slowly walked toward him under the moonlight…

A sudden burst of fast footsteps interrupted her.

Turning towards the entrance of the courtyard, Xu Lianqiao saw a maid, panting heavily, who said to “Jiang Huai”:

“It’s bad, Your Majesty, Lady Lu fell just now…”

***

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