Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Langye was a land filled with elite people and resources. It was ideal for businesses, too. Coincidentally, Jiang Pengji had been studying at Langye for three years. The second niangzi wrote to Jiang Pengji to ask for her help to prepare for her wedding, and also to boast about how the Liu manor saw the importance of its illegitimate daughter and her marriage.
As Liu She held a position in Chongzhou, he had no time to send off his illegitimate daughter in marriage. The task naturally fell on Jiang Pengji’s shoulders.
Of course, even if Liu She had time, he could not give his daughter from a concubine so much honor, let alone the fact that she was not even his daughter.
Taxue sighed, saying, “Langjun treats the second niangzi so well.”
Jiang Pengji just smiled upon hearing her words.
Would she treat an illegitimate sister well, one whom she had never seen before? She had to beware of suspicious folks bearing gifts. What good intentions did she have?
Her sister marrying Wuma Jun was surely not a good sign.
Seeing Taxue’s graceful figure, Jiang Pengji discreetly knitted her brows. The audience members in the live streaming room were drooling.
Laosiji Lianmeng: “What a pity. If the streamer were a guy, such a rare beauty could be kept in his room.”
Nongfu Shanquan Youdianxuan: “#diagnose. The streamer is not a pervert. Do you think everyone uses their lower half of the body to think?”
Xiongmaoahah: “Ai, I feel that it is a pity, too… Such a fine beauty. To think she even grew up with the streamer. Instead of marrying the men of that era, which is a waste, having the streamer to protect her is better. There is no candidate better than the streamer.”
Facing a stream of regrets, Jiang Pengji was speechless and wiped the smile from her face.
How did one phrase it? The mouth of a green bamboo snake, the sting of a bumblebee… Some fortunes could not be enjoyed.
As she considered, Taxue, who already left, came back into the room. She bowed and said, “Langjun, Wei Langjun has arrived at your manor to deliver a visitation card.”
“Zixiao? Why is he here for such a small issue?”
Jiang Pengji’s brows were knitted, silently contemplating Wei Ci’s intentions of coming to the manor.
She had been studying in Langye academy for three years and had almost no interactions with Wei Ci. He had his own circle of friends and Jiang Pengji did not take the initiative to join them. Moreover, he frequently went out for a good half a month to visit relatives and friends, so they seldom had face to face interactions.
Half a month ago, she vaguely heard the students of Langye academy comment that Wei Ci had gone out again. If he had just come back, why did he come personally to the manor to pass the visitation card? As she pondered in her heart, she did not let her guest wait for long. She went directly to the reception pavilion to meet Wei Ci.
Jiang Pengji sat on the master seat and smiled, saying, “A rare guest, indeed. Zixiao actually initiated a visit to my humble abode.”
Three years had passed and Wei Ci was a youth in his early twenties already. His features, compared to three years ago, were more refined.
Perhaps it was the weariness from the travel, but he seemed to have become thinner. He wore green clothes on his body, which seemed somewhat baggy.
Having heard a ridicule, Wei Ci used his hands to cover his lips and coughed gently.
His voice sounded hoarse and contained a nasally tone. It seemed he wasn’t just tired from the travel, but he was also feeling unwell.
“Have you caught a cold? Why haven’t you seen a doctor?”
Wei Ci shook his head, regulated his breathing, and suppressed his impulse to cough. His pale look gave away his sickness. It did not seem like he was well. “Ci’s body is fine, but I caught a cold unwittingly that day and am somewhat unwell.”
Jiang Pengji nodded her head, then she waited for Wei Ci to reveal his purpose for coming.
Wei Ci came personally to visit––true enough he had his motives. “Lanting, Ci heard you are preparing to send off your sister into marriage to Shangjing?” Since they were schoolmates in the academy, Wei Ci’s address of Jiang Pengji was not distant. Instead, he addressed her courtesy name as others did. “If this matter can be avoided, try to avoid it at all costs.”
Jiang Pengji was puzzled in her heart and asked, “Zixiao must have his reasons for saying this. If I do not know the reason, why can’t I go?”
Wei Ci said, “Three years ago, the Emperor sent troops to help Nansheng. On the surface, it was in support of one’s ally, resisting the four factions of Nanman with the other countries, but in reality, the four factions of Nanman had no intention of exterminating Nansheng. They just made use of the opportunity to retreat. They occupied the conquered prefectures and land, making use of the time to rest and plan for the future. Concurrently, this is an extremely vicious plan to instigate disharmony…”
Jiang Pengji said, ” I know about this matter. The four factions of Nanman stopped their attacks not because they really lost, but to give Nansheng time to breathe. At the same time, they wanted to disperse the armies from the four countries that came in support, inciting the battle of benefits between Nansheng and the four countries, thereby reaping the ultimate benefit…”
Even though the other four countries sent military aid to help Nansheng protect the last of their land, but they were not Samaritans. There was a cost to sending military aid. After Nansheng was defeated, they had to agree to all the terms set by the four factions of Nanman. The act of giving up their land was recurrent. They also had to give some incentives to the troops from the four countries. The four countries sent military aid in name, but they had monetary benefits in mind.
Only, Nanman attacked fearsomely from the start. They were unanimous against their enemy, and when they stopped their attacks later, the internal committee for military aid became a mess.
The incident was known throughout the lands, but the countries appeared to be at peace; they even sought monetary benefits in the name of righteousness. It had truly tricked many fools.
“It’s just that… What does this have to do with me sending my sister off in marriage?”
Wei Ci choked on his words for a moment. His lower eyelids drooped; his expression was somewhat solemn.
Jiang Pengji was not anxious and waited for the other party to speak.
“When the period to plough the fields in spring is over, Nanman will surely have big actions. Nansheng… will most likely be wiped out. Then, Dongqing will face being sandwiched by attack from both the north and south.” Wei Ci said, “The external threats are so obvious, but so are the internal conflicts. The situation in Shangjing is very severe––almost to the point that one panics at the slightest move. One by one they are still drunk in their sleep, ignorant about the changes in the world, and still occupied with fighting. The four princes have grown up. They each have their supporters. The fight for the throne is mingled with severe battles between different factions. If you go to Shangjing, I am afraid you may not return.”
When anxious, Wei Ci did not use “Ci” to introduce himself; instead, he addressed himself as “I.”
Jiang Pengji frowned. “Receiving without giving?”
“Don’t look down on these dukes and eunuchs. They are fearless when mad.”
Jiang Pengji calmed down. She toyed with the bowl of tea in her hands. “As you said, I will consider it carefully. It’s just the issue of sending her off in marriage… Even if it is a dangerous place, I must go. Hopefully, it will be a blessing in disguise. I do not know what those dukes and powerless eunuchs collaborate to do together, what trouble they will stir up, but rest assured: These useless people will not be able to harm me at all!”
Wei Ci pursed his lips, and he had a troubled expression.
Jiang Pengji suddenly said, “I am not that weak.”
“I know.”
“Then let your heart be at peace and anticipate the show.”
To outsiders, Shangjing appeared to be a dangerous place, but to her, it was surely the springboard to traveling the nine prefectures and four seas.
Wei Ci sighed gently and suddenly remembered something. He said, “Prince Changshou conferred land two years ago. He seems to know his place. Truth is he secretly harbors evil intentions. If he is summoned to bring an army to the capital, then Lanting, you must be cautious! This person… has intentions to usurp the throne. The Emperor has four princes, but none are able to outwit him.”
