Chapter 383 A Nighttime Meeting

Chapter 383 A Nighttime Meeting

The funeral for Lady Zhang was hastily arranged.

After her death, the Second and Seventh Lords of the Jiang family came to seize the mansion.

The only surviving Second Young Master Jiang Shuangzhou wanted to sue them.

Yan Xin stepped forward and said, "Why not sell the house? Divide the money into three parts. Going to court will leave you with neither property nor money."

The three uncles and nephew all looked at Yan Xin.

Yan Xin: "I know someone who is willing to pay six thousand silver dollars."

For a large mansion like Jiang Mansion, getting three thousand silver dollars would already be good. If they were in a hurry to sell, the price would be even lower.

The Second Lord and Second Lady said, "We need to discuss it."

They went out to inquire about prices.

The Seventh Lord and Second Young Master Jiang Shuangzhou did the same.

Soon, they discovered that there were very few buyers willing to pay such a high price of six thousand silver dollars.

They agreed.

Yan Xin had Cheng Sanniang buy the mansion and then transfer ownership to her servant, Auntie Cheng.

The money was paid by Yan Xin.

Yan Xin still lived in Songxiang Courtyard; Fu Rong moved out, and her master Sun Yinglan lent her an apartment on the street with the nightclub.

After everyone moved away, Yan Xin removed the plaque from Jiang Mansion's gate and sealed the main door.

The place fell silent.

Half the alley and the entire Jiang Mansion belonged to her.

By early June, when the summer heat was intense, everything had settled down.

With her adjutant and servants around, she didn't feel lonely but rather free and comfortable.

This was probably the most comfortable period of her life.

Her great revenge was avenged, and she felt relaxed and at ease.

"What do people say about me outside?" Yan Xin asked Bai Shuang.

Bai Shuang gathered information.

"They mostly curse Guo Qinian and debate whether she is truly a Royalist. When they mention you, opinions are mixed," Bai Shuang said.

Yan Xin: "Better than I expected."

The role of "innocent victim" served as an excellent mask, one she still wore.

Even if others called her vicious, they still respected her due to her success, not daring to trample her into the mud.

If she ever failed and was expelled from the military governor's residence, those slanders would pile up on her.

"The downside of not socializing is having no connections, and no one really knows me. The upside is that when something happens, no news leaks out, making it hard for others to gauge my true situation," Yan Xin said.

Bai Shuang agreed.

"But being the young mistress of the military governor's residence means I can't hide all the time," she added.

"Are you worried?"

Yan Xin smiled. "A little."

In the early summer night, the wind was hot, and Yan Xin had little appetite, so she asked Auntie Cheng to make some cold noodles.

Jing Yuanzhao called her.

"I'll be back in the city tomorrow afternoon." His voice sounded cheerful.

Influenced by his mood, Yan Xin felt uplifted too. "Okay."

He was coming back.

She immediately instructed Auntie Cheng to prepare several dishes that Jing Yuanzhao loved for tomorrow.

He couldn't stand bland food; he preferred richly flavored dishes and meaty fare.

Auntie Cheng stayed up late to plan the menu.

The next day, Songxiang Courtyard was thoroughly cleaned inside and out, waiting for Jing Yuanzhao to "return home."

He said he would arrive in the evening.

Unexpectedly, he arrived in the middle of the afternoon when the sun was at its hottest.

He wore iron-gray military uniform, drenched in sweat from head to toe. His hair was dripping water, and his skin was burning hot, covered in large beads of sweat.

Yan Xin was surprised. "How could you be so hot?"

"I rode back on horseback. Part of the official road was washed away by recent rains, blocking the car halfway. I couldn't wait any longer," he said.

Yan Xin: "..."

"Prepare some cold water; I'll take a shower first," he said.

Yan Xin: "Change your clothes first, and wait until you cool down a bit before taking a bath. If you bathe in cold water while still so hot, you'll get sick tonight."

Jing Yuanzhao smiled, "I can't afford to get sick."

Banxia found his summer linen clothes and brought him a basin of hot water.

Yan Xin told him to wipe himself down.

He pulled her hand, "Help me wipe."

"You're not a child."

"Help me, Zhuzhu." His voice lowered, becoming particularly warm and mellow.

He gently pecked her ear.

Yan Xin felt a tingle.

He cupped her face and kissed her, "You've handled another big matter recently, Zhuzhu. You look stunning, and what you did was truly remarkable."

He kissed her and praised her, making Yan Xin feel weak all over.

She leaned against him, exchanging kisses with him, yet still complained, "You're all sweaty; you can't go on my bed."

"I won't." His hand held her waist, "If it weren't for worrying about your comfort, I wouldn't even care about that bed."

Yan Xin's face flushed.

She also started feeling hot.

They had agreed to just have a quick wash, but they didn't come out until an hour later.

Yan Xin's cheeks were flushed, and there was a fine layer of sweat on her forehead.

Jing Yuanzhao, wearing a light blue summer linen robe and pants, sat at the dining table waiting for dinner.

"…This is chilled plum soup. Commander, please have some to cool down and stimulate your appetite," Aunt Cheng said.

Jing Yuanzhao drank more than half the bowl in one go.

Yan Xin drank from the other bowl, teasing him, "You drink like a cow."

"What, do I have to sip the plum soup slowly?"

"Sipping would make you impatient?" Yan Xin laughed.

Jing Yuanzhao: "It wouldn't kill me, but there's no need."

Yan Xin: "…"

His favorite dish for dinner was braised pork knuckles.

After eating and drinking his fill, he rested for a moment before taking a refreshing shower.

He wanted to take Yan Xin out for fun.

Yan Xin was slightly surprised, "It's already six o'clock."

In the height of summer, night came late, and the scorching sun still hung in the sky, but it was indeed twilight time.

"On such a day, we should definitely go out at night. Going out during the day would be too hot," Jing Yuanzhao said.

Yan Xin didn't argue with him but asked, "Where are we going? The sea embankment?"

"Do you want to go to the sea embankment? No, it's too noisy. Let's find a quieter place," Jing Yuanzhao said, "Let's leave the city."

Yan Xin: "…"

She couldn't resist his whimsical ideas and went along with him.

Jing Yuanzhao took her to a villa in the outskirts of the city.

The villa by the river had a clean black-roofed boat, which Jing Yuanzhao rowed to the center of the river.

There was no moonlight tonight, only twinkling stars, and everything was dark except for the faint lamp at the bow of the boat, illuminating a small area of the water.

Inside the black-roofed boat, there were quilts laid out.

Jing Yuanzhao did nothing but let Yan Xin lie down next to him.

"…Why are we here?"

"To look at the stars and listen to the sound of the water," Jing Yuanzhao said.

Yan Xin: "…"

"My mother has chosen the wedding date, the seventh day of the ninth month after the Mid-Autumn Festival," Jing Yuanzhao told her.

Yan Xin's heart stirred slightly.

"In the future, life will be harder than in Songxiang Courtyard. I'm really afraid you'll regret marrying me," he said.

Yan Xin: "Do you think so little of me? Since I've agreed, how could I possibly regret it?"

"I think poorly of myself," he smiled, "There are so many things. Zhuzhu, you will definitely miss the happy life in Songxiang Courtyard."

Yan Xin's heart stirred again.

She gently bit her lip.

With the head wife’s death, Yan Xin kept a low profile in public opinion, and she had also settled into the residence provided by the warlord.

But she hadn’t moved yet.

Jing Yuanzhao knew that she was enjoying her current tranquility.

He was about to marry her, personally shattering the peace she had cultivated for over two years.

He only hoped that when she got busy, she would remember the moments they spent in the wooden boat on those summer nights, listening to the water and watching the stars, and thus bear with it a little more.

“Ao Zhao, I don’t regret it. Being able to marry you is my good fortune,” Yan Xin said.

“Zhu Zhu is so wonderful.” Jing Yuanzhao kissed her lips.