Chapter 19: A Setup?

After Jiang Luan and Qi Shaolin returned to the residence, they saw a small cart in the courtyard neatly stacked with a pile of account books, and Zuo Lang was counting them.

“You’re quite quick,” Jiang Luan remarked.

Zuo Lang replied, “Zhen Youqian notified me to come.”

“Oh, so this guy isn’t hopelessly stupid after all,” Jiang Luan nodded. “How’s his daughter?”

“I heard she’s still unconscious.”

Jiang Luan said, “Give some money to the Zhen family later.”

Along the way, Qi Shaolin was forced to wear the clothes of a peasant woman underneath, feeling utterly uncomfortable. He said to Jiang Luan, “My lady, I’m going to change clothes first,” then dashed inside like a flash.

“Running as if chased by a dog!” Jiang Luan, ever playful, followed close behind, intending to tease him, but Zuo Lang reached out and stopped her.

“You shouldn’t have angered Dou Kou,” Zuo Lang said quietly.

“Oh?” Jiang Luan blinked. “Have the things been delivered? How did it go?”

“What else could it be?” Zuo Lang snorted coldly. “He was absolutely furious.”

“That’s strange. Those blood ticks were hidden by the Duke in a quilt and sent over. I merely cooked them into snacks and returned them. I’m the victim here and I’m not even angry. Why is he so mad?”

Zuo Lang answered honestly, “He probably didn’t expect you to have the courage to fight back.”

“I see. He’s angry because I struck back,” Jiang Luan nodded. “He thinks he can only harm others but can’t be challenged himself. What kind of logic is that?”

She understood the reasoning but said it just to mock the Duke of Suping.

Zuo Lang sighed. “The Qi family patriarch’s birthday is approaching. If you anger him now, it won’t end well. I suggest you pretend to be ill and keep a low profile.”

“Pretending to be sick is so boring,” Jiang Luan smiled nonchalantly. “I’m even hoping he shows up!”

Zuo Lang was stunned. “You deliberately provoked him?”

“Mm-hmm,” Jiang Luan nodded.

“…” Zuo Lang was silent for a moment. “Young Master Jiang, sometimes I really don’t understand what’s on your mind.”

“Better to take the initiative than wait to be doomed,” Jiang Luan leaned against the cart and patted the account books. “Besides, I’ve already crossed his bottom line. What’s the point of hiding indoors all day?”

“That’s true,” Zuo Lang thought for a moment. “But today… it’s a pity. I heard those account books were seized and sunk in the lake. Huachao’s methods are indeed ruthless.”

“Not entirely fruitless. At least we confirmed one thing,” Jiang Luan said. “Dou Kou is secretly involved in illicit dealings and won’t hesitate to sacrifice lives to keep it hidden.”

Zuo Lang asked, “Would Zhen Youqian know anything?”

“I doubt it,” Jiang Luan clicked her tongue. “But journeys aren’t completed in one step. I don’t believe only that one ledger is problematic. Let’s keep these safe for now. I’ll examine them carefully later.”

“Alright,” Zuo Lang nodded.

At that moment, Qi Shaolin changed his clothes and ran out excitedly, “My lady, let’s go!”

“Let’s!” Jiang Luan was about to head out when she suddenly remembered something and turned to Zuo Lang. “Xiao Zuo, give me some money. I hid the money pouch in Auntie’s vase earlier.”

Zuo Lang twitched his mouth. “Are you going to buy a birthday gift for the patriarch?”

“We’re going out to have fun,” Qi Shaolin asked confusedly, “My lady, should we get a gift for grandfather?”

“No way!” Jiang Luan said decisively. “Who has the spare money for that?”

Zuo Lang: “…”

Jiang Luan patted him sympathetically. “Xiao Zuo, you’re young. Don’t always look so grim. Let’s go out and have fun together, shall we?”

Zuo Lang took a deep breath. “The patriarch’s birthday is just days away.”

“You don’t need to worry,” Jiang Luan squinted. “I promise my ‘gift’ will outshine them all.”

Zuo Lang: “…”

For some reason, he felt even more worried…

…

On the fifth day of the third lunar month, a splendid spring day also marked the sixtieth birthday of Qi Yuheng, the Qi family patriarch.

The Qi residence was decked with lanterns and decorations. The servants and maids bustled about, greeting guests, carrying luggage, and storing gifts amounting to nearly half a house.

Qi Yuheng’s birthday banquet lasted three days. Besides entertaining high officials, relatives, and neighbors, the outer courtyard was opened to tenants and townsfolk for a lavish banquet, showcasing the Qi family’s wealth and status.

That day, the patriarch sat proudly in the main hall, receiving congratulations, while the Duke of Suping and Madam Zhou greeted guests, mingling among the crowd.

“Duke, long time no see.”

A man in purple robe walked discreetly through the crowd.

The usually arrogant Duke of Suping humbly greeted, “Lord Jiang, please be seated. I’ll notify the ancestor right away…”

“No need. I already exchanged greetings with the Qi patriarch,” the man waved his hand and smiled. “I came to discuss the vacancy of Yunjiang City’s commander.” After speaking, he left.

The Duke’s eyes brightened. He glanced around cautiously and whispered, “Lord Jiang, please follow me…”

Madam Zhou, who was entertaining dignitaries, cast a sidelong glance at the Duke and the man in purple, biting her lip.

Qi Shaokang had just returned from outside, carrying a birdcage. Upon entering, Madam Zhou pulled him aside.

Without a word, she pointed subtly with her slender fingers.

Qi Shaokang followed her gesture and saw the two men in a corner. Curiously, he said, “Lord Jiang is here? What are the Duke and him whispering about?”

The man in purple was Jiang Junyu, the current lord of Yunjiang City. In his thirties, unmarried, and the highest authority in this remote city.

Jiang Junyu was a responsible official, busy with city affairs and rarely seen. Many townsfolk didn’t even recognize him.

Seeing the city lord at the Qi family banquet showed the patriarch’s influence.

Qi Shaokang was surprised, but Madam Zhou rolled her eyes. “What do you think?”

Mother and son watched quietly.

The Duke beckoned Qi Shaoyang over. Jiang Junyu patted Qi Shaoyang’s head. The three chatted happily.

Madam Zhou sighed. “Your aunt is always stingy. The Yunjiang commander position has been vacant for two years. Giving it to you wouldn’t hurt. It was originally a Qi family post. How long will she wait for her own son to come of age?”

Qi Shaokang waved it off, “It’s just a third-rank military post. Too tiring. I don’t want it.”

Madam Zhou smacked his head in frustration. “You speak lightly, but you should grow up! The patriarch said the family is counting on you. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Of course,” Qi Shaokang smiled. “In the end, the Duke is an outsider… Mother, you’ve worked hard. I’ve arranged everything in the capital. There won’t be any problems.”

Madam Zhou nodded. “Don’t let your father know. His health isn’t good, and he’d worry.”

“Understood.”

While the two women spoke in riddles, a group of relatives entered the outer courtyard, seemingly searching for someone.

Madam Zhou looked up and saw people from the Jiang family.

The Jiang family matron was her childhood friend, very familiar. Previously, the marriage between Qi Shaolin and Jiang Luan was arranged by these two.

Madam Zhou immediately approached with a smile. “Pei Luan, it’s been a long time since you visited the Qi residence. It’s rare to see you.”

The current Jiang family matron, Zheng Pei Luan, was beautiful and well-maintained but seemed troubled. She forced a smile at Madam Zhou. “It’s been a while… Just thinking about that brat Jiang Luan makes me angry. Better not to see him.”

“Jiang Luan is indeed a handful,” Madam Zhou nodded. “He fell seriously ill after quarreling with the Duke.”

“Why didn’t he just die? That would have settled everything,” Zheng Pei Luan spoke spitefully despite her beauty.

Madam Zhou didn’t reply and continued, “After recovering, Jiang Luan insisted on managing the Qi family’s affairs. The old man couldn’t refuse and gave him a money house and a restaurant.”

Zheng Pei Luan sneered, “That kid is illiterate and can’t even calculate properly, yet he wants to run the Qi family’s business? What a joke! Mi’er, others might not know, but you do, right? Why don’t you try to persuade the Qi patriarch?”

Madam Zhou sighed, “He won’t listen. The patriarch has his own plans. Let him lose some money first… By the way, Pei Luan, what were you looking for earlier?”

“Looking for my son, Yan Shu…” Zheng Pei Luan sighed. “Well, he probably came back by the time the banquet started.”

Meanwhile, the Jiang family’s Yan Shu was wandering the Qi residence with a displeased expression, muttering to himself:

“How is the Qi family so big? Even the latrine is easy to find. That little bitch Jiang Luan is quite lucky.”

Yan Shu was handsome and delicate, with a vermilion mole between his brows. Though a gentleman, his mouth was foul and his eyes scheming.

After speaking, he sneered and shook his head. “Marrying a fool is misfortune enough for that little bitch. I wonder how she’s flaunting herself inside…”

Immersed in his thoughts, Yan Shu didn’t notice a figure standing ahead under the corridor.

The man wore a deep blue brocade robe, tall and graceful, with his back turned, carving something on a pillar.

Yan Shu bumped straight into him, stumbled, and fell onto his backside.

“Who’s there! Don’t you know not to block the way?!” Yan Shu shouted, unhappy that he had collided with someone.

The man turned around and looked at him with downcast eyes.

“…”

Yan Shu was struck silent by the man’s elegant figure and handsome face. The blue robe made him appear even more heroic and extraordinary.

His cheeks flushed as he shyly scolded, “Sir, you hurt me… I’ll give you a chance: help me up, and I’ll forgive you.”

The man: “??”

Seeing the man stand stiffly without moving, Yan Shu took the initiative to reach out, waiting for him to pull him up.

Unexpectedly, the man completely ignored him and instead ran behind him, complaining as he went:

“My lady, there’s a strange person here who bumped into Lin’er and hurt him!”

Yan Shu: “…”

He turned his head and caught sight of the face that stirred both jealousy and hatred in him.

Jiang Luan was helping Qi Shaolin straighten his clothes, looking curiously at Yan Shu sitting on the ground.

“Trying to scam someone?”

Author’s note:

Thank you to the generous angels who watered me with nourishing elixirs: Tong Tong (2 bottles), Leader of the Rotten Heads Gang (1 bottle).

I deeply appreciate everyone’s support and will continue to work hard!