Ji Yuxian had gone to the bank to check the accounts, which was why he only brought Housekeeper Yu along. His attendants and guards were not with him.
It was already dark, and when the carriage entered the alley it was very quiet. Occasionally there were a few barks from dogs and the sound of women beating and scolding children ringing from the depths of the alley, but otherwise, the lane was becoming quieter.
A moment later, Housekeeper Yu ordered the coachman to park the carriage outside a black lacquer wooden door.
Housekeeper Yu stood respectfully before the carriage and watched Ji Yuxian come down.
Standing outside the door, the two heard a commotion, stunning both men.
Did we go to the wrong door? Ji Yuxian wondered.
Housekeeper Yu looked carefully at the door number again, frowning at Ji Yuxian and shaking his head.
No, this is the yard where Miss Su resides!
In the moonlight, Ji Yuxian narrowed his eyes, looking at the door that wasn’t locked shut and smirked. “Don’t knock, just go in straight!”
All of a sudden, he thought of the stench of alcohol in Jingqin Restaurant. Is Miss Su an alcoholic?
“Yes, sir!” Housekeeper Yu’s gaze was perplexed, but he came forward at his master’s command.
At this time in the yard, only Su Jiu appeared remotely sober. Hu Dapao and Chang Huan were drunk and hugging each other in their sleep. Qiao An leaned against the tree under the moon, singing alone sadly.
Su Jiu was still playing games with Ah Shu while drinking. Both of them were already drunk and hazy. Ah Shu lost, threw a tantrum, and refused to get up. Su Jiu picked up the wine and stepped on the table, holding Ah Shu’s chin in one hand and looking ferocious.
“Are you drinking or not? If you don’t drink, I’ll force this down your throat!”
As she finished her sentence, the half-closed wooden door was suddenly pushed open. Ji Yuxian and Housekeeper Yu stood at the door, looking at Su Jiu with shell-shocked expressions.
The air quieted down in an instant, and only the oil lamp hanging from the branch gave off a dim twinkling light, swaying gently in the late autumn night wind. Su Jiu looked up in dismay, and her gaze met with Ji Yuxian’s.
The girl’s usually clear eyes were clouded with drunkenness, but they widened in surprise at the sudden appearance of the men. Gradually, the drunk mist dispersed as she came to her senses.
What the hell! Why is he here? she wondered in shock.
At this moment, Ji Yuxian suspected that he had gone to the wrong door!
Wearing a male robe, her hair tied up, one foot stepping on the table, holding a wine bowl with a ferocious expression. Is this the young lady of the Su family who bowed her head and could not even speak in the restaurant that day?
Didn’t they say she was ill?
Seriously ill?
So ill that she was coughing blood?
Under the night sky, the two looked at each other in silence, but after a moment, Su Jiu calmed down from shock, quietly stepping down from the table. She smiled gently, her hand holding Ah Shu’s chin turned into a sweet caress. “Don’t drink if you’ve drunk too much. Drink a bowl of soup to sober up!”
Ah Shu did not dare to move and turned his head to look at Ji Yuxian’s sudden appearance. After a moment of thinking, he laid on the table and played dead with a bang.
Under the table, Su Jiu kicked him hard!
Nanny came out of the house and was stunned upon seeing the situation. How can I explain this? she wondered helplessly.
It’s so late. Why is Ji Yuxian here?
“Nanny!” Su Jiu called calmly. “They’re all drunk. Take them back to the house!”
“Oh!” Nanny regained her senses and replied hurriedly, “Yes, yes!”
Su Jiu bypassed the table, thought of the bowing posture that Nanny had taught her and bowed towards Ji Yuxian. “Greetings, Young Master!”
In the cold light, Ji Yuxian smirked like a fox, looking at Su Jiu. His gaze appraised Su Jiu, as he slowly spoke, “Miss Su, I must say I have been mistaken about you.”
Now that the cat was out of the bag, Su Jiu looked up at him straight and smiled, more dazzling than the lights behind her. “Aren’t you happy that you have enough reason not to marry Miss Su now?”
“No!” Ji Yuxian stood with his hands clasped behind his back as he looked at Su Jiu with shining eyes. “I suddenly have an interest in Miss Su!”
He then turned and walked outside the door and said, “Please prepare Miss Su: wait for the bridal sedan to arrive!”
Ji Yuxian disappeared as quickly as he had arrived, only leaving the wooden door creaking in the cold wind.
Su Jiu stood frozen for a long time, looking back at the equally dumbfounded Nanny. She asked, “What does he mean?”
There was a joy on Nanny’s face. “Miss, the Eldest Young Master has agreed to this marriage!”
“What, why?” Su Jiu raised her eyebrows.
Because I like to drink?
Nanny frowned and thought about it, and looked up and said, “Listening to the Eldest Young Master’s words, he must have fallen in love with you!”
Su Jiu looked at her, unimpressed. “Nanny, are you drunk too?”
When the man spoke, although his eyes were bright, his gaze seemingly tender and enchanting, there was a cold glint in it. This man’s intentions were hidden too deep, and he was especially good at concealing himself! When she went to the mountain to hunt foxes she had grown familiar with such gazes.
Either way, what is there to be afraid of?
With a scoff, Su Jiu turned back and put Qiao An, who leaned against the osmanthus tree, on her shoulder. She picked up Chang Huan with her other hand and went back to the east wing.
In the carriage back to Ji Manor, Housekeeper Yu was still sitting in front, facing the cold autumn wind of the night. His plain and simple features had long ago been polished into a poker face by the joy and anger of the past years. He looked slightly to his side and asked, “Was Young Master joking with Miss Su?”
Through a wooden door, Ji Yuxian’s voice rang clearly, passing through the housekeeper’s ear, and then was blown away by the night wind.
“No, let the manor begin preparations tomorrow. Inform the Su family in Fuyang. The date is set for next month. As for which day, you can handle it.”
Housekeeper Yu was stunned, a frown surfacing on his poker face. “Why?”
In his opinion, Miss Su was not worthy of their Young Master, let alone to be the mistress of Ji Manor.
Not to mention her status. She knew nothing of the social etiquette expected of young ladies. He also heard about the last time in Jingqin Restaurant and had been planning to discuss with Ji Yuxian how to send this Miss Su back.
If they want money, they can have it! he thought. If the Su family wants to use marriage as an excuse to come back to Shengjing, Ji Manor can help, but marriage should be impossible!
But Ji Yuxian came, and after saying a few words to Miss Su, he suddenly changed his mind. Why?
If Su Jiu had only heard what Housekeeper Yu was saying, she would have been so elated, then filled with regret. All she wanted was silver!
Silver!
“Elder Yu, have you noticed? The woman’s eyes are very clear, but with the viciousness and calm that ordinary women do not have. I will be able to use her in the future.”
That calm was not indifference to the world. She was not moved by his appearance and status. Perhaps she was not willing to come to Shengjing to become married and was just forced by the family, but in any case, this was very important to him!
I need someone like that!
Ji Manor was the richest family of Daliang. He was a businessman, and his marriage was doomed to be a deal.
Rather than being drawn into the power struggles of the court through marriage to the Official Manor, it was better to take the initiative to find someone that he could use in the future.
Moreover, by marrying the Su family, he’d found the best reason to reject the Official’s offer.
If they want to use the Ji family, I’m afraid Official Manor has underestimated me! Ji Yuxian thought.
“Young Master, if this Miss Su is as you say, she might bite back someday!” Housekeeper Yu worried.
“Whether a blade is bloodthirsty depends on the ability of the controller. If I have the ability to tame her, I will also be able to control her!” Ji Yuxian’s tone was firm as if he could rule over all.
Housekeeper Yu nodded. “Of course!”
No matter what, she is only a woman… Housekeeper Yu thought. He had great confidence in his young master!
The long street was silent, the wheels rolled, and the carriage drove towards the depths of the darkness.
Ji Yuxian had gone to the bank to check the accounts, which was why he only brought Housekeeper Yu along. His attendants and guards were not with him.
It was already dark, and when the carriage entered the alley it was very quiet. Occasionally there were a few barks from dogs and the sound of women beating and scolding children ringing from the depths of the alley, but otherwise, the lane was becoming quieter.
A moment later, Housekeeper Yu ordered the coachman to park the carriage outside a black lacquer wooden door.
Housekeeper Yu stood respectfully before the carriage and watched Ji Yuxian come down.
Standing outside the door, the two heard a commotion, stunning both men.
Did we go to the wrong door? Ji Yuxian wondered.
Housekeeper Yu looked carefully at the door number again, frowning at Ji Yuxian and shaking his head.
No, this is the yard where Miss Su resides!
In the moonlight, Ji Yuxian narrowed his eyes, looking at the door that wasn’t locked shut and smirked. “Don’t knock, just go in straight!”
All of a sudden, he thought of the stench of alcohol in Jingqin Restaurant. Is Miss Su an alcoholic?
“Yes, sir!” Housekeeper Yu’s gaze was perplexed, but he came forward at his master’s command.
At this time in the yard, only Su Jiu appeared remotely sober. Hu Dapao and Chang Huan were drunk and hugging each other in their sleep. Qiao An leaned against the tree under the moon, singing alone sadly.
Su Jiu was still playing games with Ah Shu while drinking. Both of them were already drunk and hazy. Ah Shu lost, threw a tantrum, and refused to get up. Su Jiu picked up the wine and stepped on the table, holding Ah Shu’s chin in one hand and looking ferocious.
“Are you drinking or not? If you don’t drink, I’ll force this down your throat!”
As she finished her sentence, the half-closed wooden door was suddenly pushed open. Ji Yuxian and Housekeeper Yu stood at the door, looking at Su Jiu with shell-shocked expressions.
The air quieted down in an instant, and only the oil lamp hanging from the branch gave off a dim twinkling light, swaying gently in the late autumn night wind. Su Jiu looked up in dismay, and her gaze met with Ji Yuxian’s.
The girl’s usually clear eyes were clouded with drunkenness, but they widened in surprise at the sudden appearance of the men. Gradually, the drunk mist dispersed as she came to her senses.
What the hell! Why is he here? she wondered in shock.
At this moment, Ji Yuxian suspected that he had gone to the wrong door!
Wearing a male robe, her hair tied up, one foot stepping on the table, holding a wine bowl with a ferocious expression. Is this the young lady of the Su family who bowed her head and could not even speak in the restaurant that day?
Didn’t they say she was ill?
Seriously ill?
So ill that she was coughing blood?
Under the night sky, the two looked at each other in silence, but after a moment, Su Jiu calmed down from shock, quietly stepping down from the table. She smiled gently, her hand holding Ah Shu’s chin turned into a sweet caress. “Don’t drink if you’ve drunk too much. Drink a bowl of soup to sober up!”
Ah Shu did not dare to move and turned his head to look at Ji Yuxian’s sudden appearance. After a moment of thinking, he laid on the table and played dead with a bang.
Under the table, Su Jiu kicked him hard!
Nanny came out of the house and was stunned upon seeing the situation. How can I explain this? she wondered helplessly.
It’s so late. Why is Ji Yuxian here?
“Nanny!” Su Jiu called calmly. “They’re all drunk. Take them back to the house!”
“Oh!” Nanny regained her senses and replied hurriedly, “Yes, yes!”
Su Jiu bypassed the table, thought of the bowing posture that Nanny had taught her and bowed towards Ji Yuxian. “Greetings, Young Master!”
In the cold light, Ji Yuxian smirked like a fox, looking at Su Jiu. His gaze appraised Su Jiu, as he slowly spoke, “Miss Su, I must say I have been mistaken about you.”
Now that the cat was out of the bag, Su Jiu looked up at him straight and smiled, more dazzling than the lights behind her. “Aren’t you happy that you have enough reason not to marry Miss Su now?”
“No!” Ji Yuxian stood with his hands clasped behind his back as he looked at Su Jiu with shining eyes. “I suddenly have an interest in Miss Su!”
He then turned and walked outside the door and said, “Please prepare Miss Su: wait for the bridal sedan to arrive!”
Ji Yuxian disappeared as quickly as he had arrived, only leaving the wooden door creaking in the cold wind.
Su Jiu stood frozen for a long time, looking back at the equally dumbfounded Nanny. She asked, “What does he mean?”
There was a joy on Nanny’s face. “Miss, the Eldest Young Master has agreed to this marriage!”
“What, why?” Su Jiu raised her eyebrows.
Because I like to drink?
Nanny frowned and thought about it, and looked up and said, “Listening to the Eldest Young Master’s words, he must have fallen in love with you!”
Su Jiu looked at her, unimpressed. “Nanny, are you drunk too?”
When the man spoke, although his eyes were bright, his gaze seemingly tender and enchanting, there was a cold glint in it. This man’s intentions were hidden too deep, and he was especially good at concealing himself! When she went to the mountain to hunt foxes she had grown familiar with such gazes.
Either way, what is there to be afraid of?
With a scoff, Su Jiu turned back and put Qiao An, who leaned against the osmanthus tree, on her shoulder. She picked up Chang Huan with her other hand and went back to the east wing.
In the carriage back to Ji Manor, Housekeeper Yu was still sitting in front, facing the cold autumn wind of the night. His plain and simple features had long ago been polished into a poker face by the joy and anger of the past years. He looked slightly to his side and asked, “Was Young Master joking with Miss Su?”
Through a wooden door, Ji Yuxian’s voice rang clearly, passing through the housekeeper’s ear, and then was blown away by the night wind.
“No, let the manor begin preparations tomorrow. Inform the Su family in Fuyang. The date is set for next month. As for which day, you can handle it.”
Housekeeper Yu was stunned, a frown surfacing on his poker face. “Why?”
In his opinion, Miss Su was not worthy of their Young Master, let alone to be the mistress of Ji Manor.
Not to mention her status. She knew nothing of the social etiquette expected of young ladies. He also heard about the last time in Jingqin Restaurant and had been planning to discuss with Ji Yuxian how to send this Miss Su back.
If they want money, they can have it! he thought. If the Su family wants to use marriage as an excuse to come back to Shengjing, Ji Manor can help, but marriage should be impossible!
But Ji Yuxian came, and after saying a few words to Miss Su, he suddenly changed his mind. Why?
If Su Jiu had only heard what Housekeeper Yu was saying, she would have been so elated, then filled with regret. All she wanted was silver!
Silver!
“Elder Yu, have you noticed? The woman’s eyes are very clear, but with the viciousness and calm that ordinary women do not have. I will be able to use her in the future.”
That calm was not indifference to the world. She was not moved by his appearance and status. Perhaps she was not willing to come to Shengjing to become married and was just forced by the family, but in any case, this was very important to him!
I need someone like that!
Ji Manor was the richest family of Daliang. He was a businessman, and his marriage was doomed to be a deal.
Rather than being drawn into the power struggles of the court through marriage to the Official Manor, it was better to take the initiative to find someone that he could use in the future.
Moreover, by marrying the Su family, he’d found the best reason to reject the Official’s offer.
If they want to use the Ji family, I’m afraid Official Manor has underestimated me! Ji Yuxian thought.
“Young Master, if this Miss Su is as you say, she might bite back someday!” Housekeeper Yu worried.
“Whether a blade is bloodthirsty depends on the ability of the controller. If I have the ability to tame her, I will also be able to control her!” Ji Yuxian’s tone was firm as if he could rule over all.
Housekeeper Yu nodded. “Of course!”
No matter what, she is only a woman… Housekeeper Yu thought. He had great confidence in his young master!
The long street was silent, the wheels rolled, and the carriage drove towards the depths of the darkness.
