Chapter 157: The Arrogant One
Ji Sui heard the butler’s voice: “Second Young Master cannot go in, there is a favored guest inside! The Head of the Family said no one is allowed to disturb her.”
Then she heard the butler cry out, likely pushed by Yan Shiyi:
“I will go in! I want to see what kind of fox spirit or enchantress was picked up, who can even charm my Eldest Brother!”
Ji Sui was speechless. Before, he at least called me a monster, but now I’ve been expelled from humanity.
She felt that if this continued, she would truly become Yan Jiulang’s mistress hidden away, and that would be embarrassingly awkward, impossible to explain.
She called out to the maidservant: “Let Second Young Master in.”
The maidservant hurried to relay the message, and the butler was greatly alarmed: “No! You can’t go in.”
Yan Shiyi was truly angry now: “She invited me in, why are you stopping me, you old fool? Is she made of ice or snow? Afraid I’ll breathe on her and she’ll melt?”
Ji Sui couldn’t help but laugh. It made sense that you and Hei Hu could get along. Last time Hei Hu said you were like melted maltose candy, so clingy; both were apt comparisons.
Ji Sui sat on the veranda with her hand warmer, not moving, watching Yan Shiyi push open the courtyard door with a bang and stride in. When he saw Ji Sui on the veranda.
He froze instantly, feeling a bit flustered.
He never expected there to be such a beautiful, ethereal, and gentle as water girl in Yandi.
Facing such a beauty, he felt his previous actions were like those of an impolite pervert, so abrupt!
Damn that butler, he didn’t even warn me.
Ji Sui sighed inwardly. It seems he’s not so stupid as to not recognize people. I thought you’d be so face-blind you wouldn’t recognize me!
Then she was disappointed. Yan Shiyi awkwardly clasped his hands in greeting: “This young lady, Yan Shiyi pays his respects.”
Ji Sui: …
She pushed her hair back, deliberately revealing both ears, almost wiping off the scented cream and lip balm on her face. She wore these not because she liked to dress up, but to protect her skin from the cold.
She winked and smiled at Yan Shiyi. Now you recognize me, right?
To her surprise, the young man instantly blushed, coughed lightly, and dared not look at her again. He took off his cloak and threw it to a nearby maidservant, as if he were very hot.
“Um, Shiyi was rude and offensive just now, please don’t blame me, young lady.”
Ji Sui: …
Your parents were too biased; they gave all the intelligence to your brother, and you didn’t inherit a single bit!
Since that’s the case, let’s just pretend we don’t know each other!
Ji Sui stood up and bowed: “Greetings, Eleventh Young Master. I’ve long heard Jiulang mention that Eleventh Young Master is heroic and extraordinary, winning the championship at the polo match in the border city. Seeing you today, you truly live up to your reputation.”
Yan Shiyi was overjoyed, like Sun Wukong being given a name by Patriarch Bodhi.
He puffed up his hair and puffed out his chest, like a peacock displaying its feathers. It was unbearable to watch!
Brother, take my advice. If you react like this to every pretty girl you see, you’ll only be able to get married through an arranged marriage in this lifetime.
He walked to the veranda in two steps, grinning from ear to ear: “You flatter me, you flatter me! My brother praises me like this behind my back! Heh heh, when did you come to Yandi, young lady?
If you had arrived ten days or half a month earlier, you could have seen my heroic display on the polo field.”
I’ve already seen it. You’re not as handsome as my Han Xing.
Ji Sui really wanted to remind him, you’ve probably forgotten your original purpose!
I’m your brother’s hidden ‘beautiful bride,’ a ‘fox spirit enchantress,’ shouldn’t you discuss the main business first?
Seeing the fool getting carried away, Ji Sui had to say: “What business do you have with me, Eleventh Young Master?”
Yan Shiyi suddenly reacted and looked around: “My brother isn’t here?”
Ji Sui shook her head: “Jiulang has only been here three times, each time for a brief visit before leaving. He hasn’t stayed overnight here.”
So I’m not the lover your brother is keeping outside!
Yan Shiyi was stunned: “Then why isn’t he looking after Miss Yan? And he said the Yan Clan shouldn’t get involved in that matter.”
Ji Sui’s heart skipped a beat. What had that foolish Miss Yan done now?
Could it be that with the Fake Li King suddenly missing, that foolish girl who was so devoted to Daoist Ji did something rash?
She asked urgently: “What happened to Miss Yan?”
Yan Shiyi assumed her brother had mentioned Miss Yan to her and said without reservation: “She ran away from home and went Northward Journey with the Li King’s retinue.”
This piece of news was too much. Ji Sui was stunned for a moment before she could process it. The Li King’s retinue going Northward Journey? The border city was already the northernmost border of the Great Xia’s Northern Border, where else could they go?
Instantly, she thought of the Tartars! It could only be the Northern Frontier country!
Her hands trembled beneath her long sleeves. She clutched her hand warmer tightly, preventing Yan Shiyi from noticing her panic.
Steward Yan rushed in, winking and nudging Yan Shiyi: “Second Young Master, don’t tell Miss Ji about this!”
Her eyebrows, like two caterpillars, furrowed together. Ji Sui raised her lowered eyes and shot a dagger-like glare at Steward Yan.
He instantly recalled the Li King who had beheaded Zheng Yun, feeling his scalp tingle and his back grow cold. He dared not say another word, silently retreating to the side. He had to quickly send a letter to the Head of the Family; it couldn’t be kept secret!
Miss Ji hadn’t even left her room, and the news was delivered by Second Young Master himself.
Yan Shiyi, completely oblivious, said with interest: “You’re also surnamed Ji? That kid was also surnamed Ji. Alas, what a pity, I didn’t even get to send him off, and he’s gone.”
Ji Sui didn’t ask for details about ‘that kid’ being ‘gone.’ Tricking Yan Shiyi was easy. That Daoist Ji died at the hands of bandits; others might not believe it.
But if his brother held the funeral, he would surely believe it.
Instead, she pressed: “In this winter season, why is the Li King going North? Perhaps fearing he’d think she was too concerned about the Li King, she added:
“No wonder Jiulang was so worried when he came last time. So Miss Yan went with him? Right, what is she doing there?”
Yan Shiyi slapped his thigh: “Miss Yan is simply bewitched. She refuses to believe Daoist Ji is the Fake Li King, nor does she believe he’s dead.
She insists on chasing after the Northward Journeying retinue to find him, saying the Real Li King has hidden Daoist Ji.”
See? I don’t have to do anything. As long as I look at him with anticipation, cup my cheeks in my hands, and listen with a smile, he’ll spill everything like beans from a bamboo tube.
Of course, this has something to do with my current identity. In Yan Shiyi’s eyes, a woman so valued by his Eldest Brother is one of them.
After Ji Sui finished listening, she took another sip of tea, but still didn’t answer his previous question. She had to remind him again: “Eleventh Young Master still hasn’t told me why the Li King is going North?”
Yan Shiyi suddenly let out a long sigh, becoming uncharacteristically profound: “This is a long story…”
“Then please make it a short story, Young Master.”
His carefully crafted emotion interrupted, Yan Shiyi reverted to his quick-talking mode: “Simply put, the Emperor is critically ill, and Prince Yu is overseeing the state. He wants to take this opportunity to openly kill the Li King.
Coincidentally, the Northern Frontier country is investigating the matter of their two thousand elite soldiers dying in the border city and has sent an Imperial Letter. If Great Xia doesn’t provide an explanation, they will send troops into Great Xia.
Prince Yu, that cowardly fellow, directly pushed the border city forward, ordering the Li King to go to the Northern Frontier himself for Peace Talks.”
Ji Sui’s hands clenched into fists again, her ears buzzing. Was this the content of the secret letter stolen by Huo Zi’an?
She suppressed her anger and said: “But the Tartars were killed by the Fake Li King.”
Yan Shiyi said admiringly: “When Jun Yanqing publicly drove away the Fake Li King, I was afraid he was heartless. I didn’t expect he wanted to bear this burden alone.
Using historical records and public consensus, he cleared Daoist Ji from this matter, even saving the border city, and took on the heavy responsibility of going to the Northern Frontier himself.
It’s a pity Daoist Ji died at the hands of bandits. If I had known, I should have told him the truth, so he wouldn’t have died thinking he was abandoned, and wouldn’t have been unwilling on his way to the Yellow Springs…”
“You say this matter has become so big, and my foolish sister, so foolish and unperceptive, insists that Daoist Ji is in the Northward Journeying retinue and sneaked out in the middle of the night to chase after the Li King’s convoy.
And Eldest Brother, what is he doing? He’s not sending anyone to chase after her and keeps coming to your place. I thought he was being deceived.
Heh heh, Miss Ji is so delicate, she’s naturally not a swindler…”
Ji Sui couldn’t hear the rest of his words. Too bad I disappointed you. I am the world’s number one swindler!
Gu Changxiao is truly detestable. My glorious feat of killing Tartars, why are you stealing my credit?
Do you think by concealing the truth and letting me merely survive, you are doing me a favor?
Self-righteous fellow!
And Yan Jiu. I trusted you so much, yet you also deceived me.
Until when do you plan to keep it a secret? Until Gu Changxiao’s death is reported?
Heh, self-righteous men!
Making decisions based on ‘it’s for your own good’ without ever asking me if this is what I wanted.
She stood up, ignoring Yan Shiyi, and walked directly towards the door.
Steward Yan was greatly alarmed: “Miss Ji, let’s wait for the Head of the Family to arrive.”
Ji Sui shot him a look: “Move!”
Steward Yan flinched and quickly stepped aside, constantly signaling to Yan Shiyi, “Hurry and stop her!”
Yan Shiyi was also stunned: “Miss Ji, where are you going?”
“Oh, right, Miss Ji, have we met before? Why do I always feel like you look familiar?”
Ji Sui sneered: “Young Master Yan, using this line to pick up women is too old-fashioned!”
Yan Shiyi had intended to stop her, but after hearing this, he felt embarrassed to do so. After all, she was the favored guest his Eldest Brother had hidden away; it wouldn’t look good for him to be too forward.
Ji Sui didn’t know where she should go. Should she go to Jiangnan with Grandpa and Jin An? Fulfilling Gu Changxiao’s wish, to survive and pretend that Ji Sui never existed.
Or should she go to the border city? With the Li King gone, could Cheng Yu resist the gentry of Yandi? Would her border city be like cake, divided up by the Yandi gentry?
As she walked to the second gate, she saw a familiar face.
A round-faced white girl with her hair styled like a married woman. However, the young girl looked much more haggard, as if she had aged ten years overnight.
Since she was wearing her hair like a married woman, had she married Hei Hu?
Ji Sui’s heart leaped with joy. My Hei Hu finally got married!
From the first time she met him, he had longed to marry and worked hard to save money for wedding preparations. He had finally gotten his wish.
However, she wondered if Gu Changxiao had taken Hei Hu with him.
Just then, the white girl saw her face clearly. It was obvious that the white girl was not face-blind.
She was stunned for a moment, then suddenly reacted and knelt before Ji Sui with a thud:
“You are Daoist Ji’s sister, aren’t you? Please, beg the Prince not to take Hei Hu away!
He will die in the Northern Frontier! He killed so many Tartars, he will surely be cut into a thousand pieces by the Northern Frontier people.”
A normal reaction. Seeing someone who looked like Daoist Ji, she naturally assumed she was his sister. Only Yan Jiu, without a doubt, believed she was Daoist Ji himself.
That’s right. My Black Feather Camp, so brave when killing Tartars, only survived by chance. More have been buried in the cemetery.
So the Imperial Court, while issuing decrees for their promotion and rewards, was sending them as sacrificial offerings to the Northern Frontier for the Northern Frontier people to vent their anger!
Well done, Imperial Court, well done, Prince Yu! In the past, Great Xia used to crush the Northern Frontier!
In just a few decades, the Imperial Court has become so fearful of the Northern Frontier that killing Tartars has become a crime that provokes peace between the two countries!
Gu Changxiao, if you want to die, then die! If you want to be filial for your Jun family’s great cause and for the nation, then go to the Northern Frontier yourself! Why must you take my Black Feather Camp!
They worked so hard, living like wild grass on the border, only to have hope, and now they are to be sent as sacrificial offerings by this corrupt Imperial Court?
Ji Sui looked up at the sky. After leaving the border city, this was the first time tears fell uncontrollably.
For herself, she could hold back her tears, but for those vibrant lives, those brothers who fought alongside her and trusted her implicitly, she couldn’t help but weep.
Sobbing, she asked: “Did you and Hei Hu get married?”
The white girl shook her head and nodded:
“We had already set the wedding date, but he said he couldn’t marry me, couldn’t let me become a widow. He gave me all his assets and told me to find another good man to marry.
But how could I marry someone else? We had already pinky-promised, and in this life, I can only be his wife!
If he doesn’t marry me, I’ll marry myself. Anyway, I’ve already worn the bridal gown, and I’ll lift the veil myself. I am Hei Hu’s wife!
If he comes back, I’ll have children with him and live our lives. If he doesn’t come back, I’ll remain loyal to him for a lifetime.”
Ji Sui helped her up and said softly: “Okay, don’t worry, I will definitely bring Hei Hu back alive.”
The white girl said quickly: “You can’t go. The Northern Frontier is too cold, it will freeze you. The Tartars are too barbaric, they will hurt you. I only beg you, please plead with the Prince…”
Ji Sui smiled and stroked the white girl’s face: “Thank you for your understanding, but this is something only I can do.
You and Hei Hu are both good children. Heaven has eyes, and it will surely bring you happiness.”
The white girl thought of her young lady and quickly said: “Please also beg the Prince not to blame my young lady. She just can’t accept that Daoist Ji is gone.”
Ji Sui smiled gently: “Okay, Hei Hu and your young lady, I will bring them both back.”
She never expected that after living two lives, the first person to love her deeply and risk her own safety for her would be a woman.
It’s a pity she’s a swindler. If Yan Shiyi were to see her now, would she be furious enough to kill her?
So Gu Changxiao, how could you think that letting me leave without knowing anything, and merely surviving, was for my own good?
If you all die in the Northern Frontier, will I ever have a peaceful night’s sleep in this lifetime?
Just then, a handkerchief was handed to Ji Sui. She raised her tear-blurred face and saw Yan Jiu, dressed in a silver-collared white fur coat.
He let out a light sigh: “Miss Ji, it’s cold outside, let’s talk inside.”
Yan Shiyi saw his Eldest Brother arrive and became anxious and flustered. He had come in aggressively to find someone, but now that the person was here, he was like a lamb facing a wolf.
He even whispered in defense: “I didn’t make her cry! I didn’t do anything, she just started crying herself.”
Yan Jiu didn’t even have the heart to scold him. With your expression, you’re not even as good as Baozhu.
But thinking that Yan Shiyi needed to know about the upcoming conversation, Yan Jiu glanced at him: “You come in too.”
Yan Shiyi, who had been planning to slip away, could only obediently follow them in.
Steward Yan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and quickly ordered someone to prepare tea and dim sum. Alas, the skies in Yanzhou were about to change!
