Chapter 4

Ji Chong Li, the eldest son of Lord An Guo Mansion, strode to Ji Chong Yi and looked at the pale appearance of his slender third brother, who was soaked all over. He felt distressed and furious.

Li Chong Yi was the youngest among them. He was ten years younger than Ji Chong Li. He was born weak and frail, so the whole family had put him in the palm of their hands. Since childhood, his family would give in to any of his whims, however outrageous they might be. If Ji Chongyi fancied the stars in the sky, they would not wait to pluck them off for him.

Ji Chong Li’s gaze drifted towards Qiao Niang, who was standing next to his brother.

Ji Chong Yi stepped forward to shield Qiao Niang behind him. His intention to defend her was evident.

Ji Chong Li could not help but stomp his feet: “Third brother, you are mystified. Are you worthy of your parents?”

Ji Chong Yi pursed his lips and instead held Qiao Niang’s hand.

With all eyes on them, Ji Chong Li could not lash out and said with a cold face: “All right. Let us go back to the mansion first!”

“I want to take Qiao Niang back to the mansion.” Ji Chong Yi said in a rough voice.

Ji Chong Li glared fiercely at Ji Chongyi and commanded the steward to take care of the aftermath, then hastily took Ji Chongyi and Qiao Niang away.

The steward who stayed behind clasped his hands with the crowd’s and took out a banknote of one hundred silver taels, and gave it to an aged man who was recognized by everyone as an elder of virtue and high morals. Then he bustled away with the rest.

One hundred taels of silver was not a small amount for the people who had come to extinguish the fire. At that time, everyone surrounded the respectable old man and discussed how to allocate the reward.

Ah-Mann took the opportunity to sneak out to the place where she and Jiang Si had agreed to meet. Seeing the soaked black cloth wrapped around Jiang Si’s head, she asked in a low voice: “Fourth Miss, are you okay?”

“I am okay. Sprinkle the prepared burning paper. Let us go back.” Although it was Summer, it was late at night and Jiang Si had just come out of the water. So, when the wind blew, her lips turned pale and she felt cold.

Ah-Mann was busy following her orders.

“Miss, it is done.”

Jiang Si nodded. The master and servant took advantage of the chaos and left silently.

On their way back, Ah-Mann furiously rambled: “Fourth Miss, the third Ji Gongzi is too much. The two of you are already engaged to be married, how can…how can he like another woman?

A sharp gasp escaped from her tightly pressed lips…

Thinking of what she saw by the lake, Ah-Mann felt disgusted and angry.

Jiang Si just smiled without making a sound.

This time, she would never marry again.

If Ji Chong Yi could marry Qiao Niang as his wife, and treat her like this for the rest of his life, she might view him as someone terrific.

After all, there is a bright spot for being stupid.

Without receiving Jiang Si’s response, Ah-Man could not swallow her breath and still smile with her pursed lips: “Fortunately Young Miss asked this servant to prepare that burning paper, which should be burned for those adulterers, hehe.”

Jiang Si glanced at her, “They have other uses.”

“What’s the use?” Ah-man asked curiously.

The two strands of hair that had fallen from Jiang Si’s headscarf blew away with the night wind and their ends mischievously grazed her jade-white cheeks.

Jiang Si kept walking on her feet. Brushing her hair behind her ears, she looked at the dreary night in the distance and said, “We must find a decent reason for the thatched umbrella to catch fire.”

Ah-Mann’s eyes lit up: “It is still the Miss who is thoughtful.”

The little maid turned to think of Ji Chong Yi again and said: “Third Master Ji indeed does not have eyes!”

“Be good. Do not mention him anymore. We are now at home.”

The hole was still hidden behind the plants. Ah-Mann pushed aside the grass and whispered: “Miss, you go ahead.”

From the entrance of the hole, Jiang Si leaned over and crawled-in. When she straightened up, her expression became sluggish.

Less than ten feet away, someone was walking towards her.

Apparently, someone had just crawled in from the entrance of the hole.

At this time, Ah-Mann also crawled in. When she realized that someone was in front of her, she could not help but cry out in shock. Although someone hurriedly covered her mouth.

The person in front of Jiang Si came to a halt and turned abruptly: “Who–”

She quickly picked up the mud bricks that had scattered beside the hole and slapped the familiar face.

That is right. This person was her ignorant and incompetent brother, Jiang Zhan.

Jiang Zhan raised his head, let out a scream, and fell on the ground.

Ah-Mann saw Jiang Zhan’s face clearly, and her voice trembled:

“Young Miss, why did you slap the second young master to death?”

“He is okay. Quickly, go!”

Jiang Si had a good grasp of her strength and knew that it would at most put Jiang Zhan in a coma for a short period and wouldn’t cause serious problems. Jiang Zhan’s screaming would attract people’s attention for sure so she was not afraid that he would stay unconscious for too long or catch a cold for lying on the ground.

Sure enough, the light soon lit up and not far away, someone came out to check the movement.

Jiang Si quickly led Ah-Mann back along the original path, pushed open the side door and locked the door from the inside, making sure that there were no errors and then quietly returned to Haitang Residence.

The delicate white and red begonia flowers were blooming gaily in the courtyard. The moonlight fell on their petals like frost, which were breathtakingly beautiful.

There were only crabapple trees planted in Jiang Si’s courtyard.

People lamented that begonias have no fragrance, but she loved them.

Her sense of smell was beyond ordinary, and being in a residence that had a heavy flowery-fragrance made her uncomfortable.

“Ah-Qiao, we are back.” Ah-Mann buttoned the door gently.

Ah-Qiao welcomed Jiang Si and Ah-Mann in. Seeing that they both were unharmed, she smiled cheerfully and said: “Miss, this servant has already prepared hot water. Please take a bath.”

The steam whirled in the wooden barrel. Jiang Si buried herself in the water, leaving only her shoulder and head exposed.

The warm water gently stroked her whole body, and Jiang Si took a light breath. The anxiety and pain she felt since her rebirth seemed to have disappeared without flaw. Only good luck remained.

“Miss, it is time to get up. The water will become cold.” Ah-Qiao reminded her.

Jiang Si opened her eyes, and Ah-Qiao waited for her to get up and change into a snow-white dress. Afterwards, she returned to her room.

Ah-Qiao wiped Jiang Si’s hair with a soft towel.

Because of the water, the lady’s hair fell like a waterfall that reached her waist.

The appearance of a young lady with snow-white skin, raven-black hair, red lips and white teeth was reflecting in the bronze mirror. Her slightly restless eyes became calmer at some point and she appeared more beautiful than before.

After the quick bath, Ah-Mann could not help but admire: “Fourth Miss, you are so beautiful.”

Jiang Si could not help but laugh.

The rumoured death of Ji Chong Yi and Qiao Niang would surely spread throughout the capital tomorrow. By then, no matter how innocent she was, some people’s ridicule would be inevitable.

For a lady who came from an ordinary family and was about to have a perfect marriage, in the eyes of the world, beauty itself was a sin.

“Miss, how did you know that third Young Master Ji and that woman were going to meet at Moyou Lake tonight?” Ah-Mann asked, curious for a long time.

Ah-Qiao, who was holding the comb, was also curious.

The lady in the bronze mirror blinked: “I participated in the flower appreciation banquet in Yongchang Bo’s Mansion not long ago. The third son of the Ji Family asked someone to inform me.”

Jiang Si was unable to explain and could only find an excuse at will.

“He is pursuing another woman. Why would he notify you?” Ah-Mann became more puzzled.

Jiang Si said unhurriedly: “Probably because he wanted me to see it with my own eyes. So I would give up.”

Ah-Mann suddenly slapped the dressing table, gritted her teeth, and said: “He is shameless!”

If she knew she would have knocked on the gong a while later and let the bastard drown.

Jiang Si smiled and nodded: “Yes, I also feel shameless.”