Jiang Xingyan looked at Xiao Shi’an, whose face was flushed red, in surprise, then burst out laughing.
She was clearly apologizing, yet she held herself as proudly as a peacock.
“You—what are you laughing at!”
Xiao Shi’an’s face grew even redder.
It wasn’t as if she’d never seen Jiang Xingyan before—how come she didn’t remember her being this beautiful?
She tried hard to recall the scene of her first confrontation with “Jiang Xingyan,” and suddenly remembered that at the time, “she” had not only worn a veil-hat but also a face covering.
To stop the carriage, “she” had strained her meridians, bleeding from all seven orifices, eyes lifeless—a truly pitiful sight. Of course that had nothing to do with looking beautiful.
But looking at her now—cheeks fair with a rosy glow, phoenix eyes sparkling with color, dressed in an ivory-pink cloud brocade gown with etched silk and gold-silver ruyi patterns, paired with a five-colored pearl cloud shoulder cape that shimmered in the sunlight—she truly radiated brilliance.
It made Xiao Shi’an feel somewhat inferior by comparison.
Jiang Xingyan watched Xiao Shi’an’s expression shift several times, all of it betraying the transparent thoughts of a young girl. Thinking back to how, at the banquet, she had openly questioned Luo Yue—then still Princess Huaiwan—she realized Xiao Shi’an was indeed a straightforward, forthright sort of person.
Add to that the fact that when she’d been trying to escape Huo Ci’s body, she had spoken with Xiao Shi’an and left her with a glimmer of hope—looking back now, she did feel somewhat guilty toward her.
Between the two of them, going back and forth, it could be considered even.
Jiang Xingyan curtsied to Xiao Shi’an. “Princess, please don’t trouble yourself over it. This common girl also has places where she wronged the Princess. Now that we’ve spoken openly, let us meet with a smile and let bygones be bygones—no more grudges. This common girl still has duties arranged by the Empress to attend to, so I won’t disturb the Princess any further. Farewell.”
She turned and walked away, leaving Xiao Shi’an with her confusion.
She tilted her head and thought for a long while: “When did she ever wrong me?”
She was just about to call out to Jiang Xingyan to ask for clarification, but when she turned around, there was no trace of her.
Xiao Shi’an gave a little huff.
She sure ran fast. Next time, I’ll definitely get a proper answer out of her!
Jiang Xingyan told Yun Chunfeng everything the Empress had said, word for word.
“Tonight we’ll go to the prison and repay the Empress’s favor. That way, if anything else comes up in the future, we’ll be able to refuse.”
Yun Chunfeng blinked his peach-blossom eyes, shadowed by dark lashes, looking utterly obedient:
“Yun-ge’er shouldn’t go. You and General Huo have just swapped souls back—you must have so much to say to each other. Yun-ge’er would only be in the way, and you’d have to look after Yun-ge’er. Yun-ge’er will just stand outside the prison and wait for you, so there’s something to report back to the Empress.”
Before he could finish, his thin lips were already bitten by Jiang Xingyan.
Yun-ge’er panicked internally and mumbled indistinctly: “Xiao Ya is here, Xiao Ya is here…”
Xiao Ya dutifully buried her head in the corner of the carriage, stuck out her little bottom, covered her little ears, and said in her sweet, childish voice: “Xiao Ya is asleep. Xiao Ya can’t hear anything, can’t see anything.”
Jiang Xingyan had finally caught him, and bit two round little fang marks into the corner of Yun Chunfeng’s lips.
“Hmph, if you talk nonsense again, you’ll be punished again!”
Yun Chunfeng was secretly delighted but had to put on a wronged expression on the surface.
“Alright, alright. Yun-ge’er won’t say it anymore.”
Jiang Xingyan leaned in and bit him on the shoulder.
“Don’t even think about it!”
Yun Chunfeng finally couldn’t hold back, and a satisfied smile curved at the corners of his mouth.
He pulled Jiang Xingyan close, raised his hand to cup the back of her head, and leaned in for a deep, forceful kiss.
His young lady should be this bold and unrestrained—not a lonely orphan girl trapped in a back courtyard, ground down at will.
The moment he thought of that past, Yun Chunfeng’s heart ached with a dense, prickling pain.
His hatred for the Huo family, his resentment toward himself, his tenderness for his young lady—all melted into a kiss as gentle as water.
“Miss, we’ve arrived at the military camp.”
Actually, they had arrived long ago.
Wang Qi had forced himself to keep driving, circling the area twice.
He could see the camp was in chaos—quite a few people were carrying large bundles and small packages, heading out.
Fearing something had gone wrong, he’d steeled himself and spoken up.
Being a perceptive carriage driver was truly difficult.
Jiang Xingyan gave Yun Chunfeng a reproachful push. “You said this morning that this would be the last time before we marry—why are you at it again?”
Yun Chunfeng whined and acted spoiled: “It was the young lady who provoked Yun-ge’er first.”
“Look, my rouge is all smeared. How am I supposed to face people?”
Yun Chunfeng, as if showing off, pulled open the drawer beneath the carriage seat. Inside were neatly arranged cosmetics—rouge, powder, everything complete.
Jiang Xingyan laughed and scolded him: “No wonder you were so brazen—turns out you came prepared.”
Yun Chunfeng’s ears turned red, and he turned his head away.
“The young lady always teases Yun-ge’er.”
Jiang Xingyan fixed her makeup using the bronze mirror. Just as she stepped out of the carriage, she saw Old Zhang and his white-haired elderly mother being pulled out of the military camp on an ox cart.
There were several bundles of various sizes on the cart.
Coming out with them were quite a few soldiers disabled by this war.
Jiang Xingyan’s heart lurched. Not knowing what had happened, she hurried forward and grabbed the ox cart’s reins.
“Old Zhang, where are you going? Why are you carrying luggage?”
Old Zhang was startled. He looked up and saw it was Miss Jiang.
He quickly wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and forced a smile: “I—I’m taking my mother out for a stroll. Miss Jiang, you see, I’m just a burden in the camp—nothing to do. Might as well go out and clear my head. Miss Jiang, you’ve got your own affairs to attend to—no need to worry about us. We’ll remember your kindness in our hearts. In the next life, we’ll repay you by serving like oxen and horses!”
The other soldiers nearby noticed the commotion and all quickened their pace. Some grabbed bundles, some drove carts—all hoping to leave before Jiang Xingyan noticed them.
General Huo owed Miss Jiang so much; they felt ashamed too.
“Everyone stop right there!”
At Jiang Xingyan’s shout, everyone instinctively stood up straight.
“What, now that I’m not Huo Ci and don’t have the title of General’s Wife, you won’t listen to me?!”
Seeing that Miss Jiang was truly angry, the soldiers knelt in panic.
“We wouldn’t dare!”
Just then, a group of soldiers in nothing but their undergarments—no armor—came running out of the camp. Xiao Mi was at the front, running and shouting: “Old Zhang, Old Wang, wait for us! We’re coming with you!”
Old Zhang buried his head low: Xiao Mi, I really have to thank you for this!
Jiang Xingyan’s gaze sharpened, frightening Xiao Mi into stopping in his tracks.
When he got a clear look at who it was, his face flushed bright red and he turned and ran back.
“Miss Jiang is here!”
The other young men in undergarments all blushed and scrambled back inside.
Jiang Xingyan had no time for them. She looked down at Old Zhang, still hunched over the cart, and said coldly: “Still not telling me the truth?!”
Before Old Zhang could speak, his mother sitting beside him suddenly spoke: “Is this the Miss Jiang who led you all into battle?”
“Replying to the old madam, yes, that is me. I don’t know why you’re leaving the camp—could you tell me?”
Jiang Xingyan cupped her hands and bowed to the old lady with perfect courtesy.
The old lady sighed: “Today General Huo didn’t return from the morning court, but a First Prince came instead. The noble lady beside him pointed at my son and said he doesn’t even have legs—how could he still go to battle? Staying in the camp eating and drinking for free, wasting military pay—she wanted to throw us out. These soldiers, out of loyalty, are leaving with my son. The ones who ran out just now to plead for us—that First Prince and his lady only said, whoever’s unhappy can leave with them. Miss Jiang, I figure that lady wasn’t wrong. My son’s become like this—it’s not right to keep dragging everyone down. Please don’t worry about us. Just let us go.”
Jiang Xingyan had long since been seething with fury, her fists clenched tight.
“Heh. So the tiger’s away from the mountain, and the monkey thinks he’s king. The Huo army’s military pay is supplied by me. I’d like to see who’s overstepping their authority, doing such a heartless thing! Soldiers, hear my command—follow me back to camp!”
