I imagined An Jin being a virtuous helper and felt deeply envious.
Jiang Yunqiao suddenly looked towards the embroidery workshop’s entrance, her brow slightly furrowing. ‘Madam, isn’t that Master An?’
I turned my head and saw three people enter.”
The one in front was Su Xi, and behind him was An Jin. He wore wide-sleeved light robes, standing like a graceful tree in a forest, drawing attention. The beautiful young girl beside him, smiling charmingly, was Su Hui, the most renowned young lady of Yanfeng.
“Who is that woman?” My mother had a hint of hostility in her eyes.
Chapter Thirty-One: Mother-in-Law Turbulence
“Mother-in-law, what a coincidence.” An Jin subtly pushed aside Su Hui, his expression somewhat ingratiating. “Out shopping for embroidery with A Yao?”
My mother glared at him and pulled me over. “A Yao came specifically to learn embroidery. Look at her hand, it’s bleeding! Your husband doesn’t even care to show some sympathy.”
An Jin hastily nodded, walking over to look at my hand. “Are you hurt?”
I shook my head, showing him the embroidered silk scarf. “I embroidered this. How does it look?”
Su Hui stood alone on one side, feeling awkward. Su Xi and Su’s madam discovered the situation and came over, taking her away. The onlookers, finding no more excitement, dispersed.
An Jin noticed the flowers on the silk scarf, his expression suddenly freezing.
“Master An,” Jiang Yunqiao suddenly walked over lightly.
An Jin tucked the silk scarf into his chest, smiling: “Didn’t expect Miss Jiang to be here.”
“I’m choosing a silk scarf for General Shen,” Jiang Yunqiao glanced at me meaningfully. “We had a delightful conversation. Master An truly has good taste, marrying such a clever and considerate wife.”
An Jin put his arm around my shoulder. “Miss Jiang is too kind.”
I hadn’t expected this potential storm to be so easily diffused. Although An Jin and Su Hui hadn’t done anything inappropriate, given my mother’s temper, she would normally raise hell. But she only cast a distant glance at Su Hui without saying more.
I breathed a sigh of relief. An Jin appeared calm on the surface, but his palms were sweating.
However, right after leaving the embroidery shop, my mother pulled me home and locked An Jin outside, throwing out a cryptic remark.
“Yao Yao, a man who’s not fully committed is not worth keeping.”
I could imagine An Jin’s awkward desperation outside, scratching his head and calling out to no avail.
The competition’s final day was approaching.
According to the schedule, my big brother’s mechanism technique competition was first, while Anjin’s hunting competition was later. Anjin had no thoughts of winning and thus no pressure, but it was different for my big brother – this competition was related to his future with Miaoyin, so he had to give his all.
Mother vaguely knew that my big brother was working hard for a girl, which made her feel gratified, and she encouraged him to study mechanism techniques diligently. She even came to my home, saying that recently there were mice at home causing strange noises at night, so she wanted to bring Yuan Xiang back to catch them and prevent these sounds from disturbing my brother’s studies.
However, Yuan Xiang, whether due to spring awakening or homesickness, was restless these days at the An residence, always making strange sounds in the middle of the night that would startle me awake several times. Mother was helpless and could only go to the pharmacy to get some arsenic, mixing it into rice balls and placing them in the corner.
Author’s Note: Yesterday I watched a documentary about a nineteen-year-old girl who met a handsome man online, built a family online, and loved him to the point of life and death. Within a month, she was already pregnant with his child.
Finally, she chased him for countless miles while pregnant, and when she found the man she believed was her lover, he casually said: “We’re not suitable.”
There are many bad men in this world, and this is not a novel. You can love recklessly and overwhelmingly, but you must first love yourself. Think carefully before giving yourself. When you meet someone who truly loves you, they will help you love yourself more.
Blessing to every girl: May your love be worth it, may your pain be worth it.
Chapter Twelve: Yan Or’s Injury
My big brother worked hard, but according to Anjin’s investigation, there were still many experts in the mechanism technique competition, especially from the Western Liang Kingdom, who reportedly arranged a Mohist master skilled in mechanisms to compete. With such a master, my brother’s chances of winning were greatly reduced.
At this time, Sai Yue Zhai’s Chen Hua sent a message through someone, saying that due to the Three Kingdoms Competition, many business opportunities had emerged, and asked if I was willing to return to my old profession.
Since the “Twilight Double Beauty” painting, I had been busy handling marital issues and various internal and external conflicts and had stopped painting for a long time. The little savings I had were already spent by my sister. If my big brother won the competition, we would need to prepare a betrothal gift. Miaoyin being from the queen’s family meant the gift couldn’t be shabby, so I needed to find a way.
Anjin had mentioned he could solve this, but I didn’t want to trouble him, so I planned to earn some silver and agreed to take on new commissions. Hua Ou was very happy and immediately arranged a time to discuss details.
Our arranged time was the day before my brother’s competition. Que’er seemed unhappy after hearing about this. In the past, she would be more excited than me about such opportunities, always eager to get a share, but this time she looked unwilling.
I finally got angry. “Please tell him that we really have no need to meet.” As I turned to leave, Hua Ou quickly grabbed my arm and persuaded me: “Madam, just give me some face and meet with Zheng—His Majesty. His Majesty still thinks of you fondly. Even if Madam no longer has feelings for him, shouldn’t you make things clear and let him give up?”
I refused and was determined to leave. Hua Ou blocked me, her entire face wrinkling like a steamed bun, looking pitiful. I hardened my heart and ignored her.
What could I do? My husband was a jealous jar with many ears and supernatural abilities. If someone were to be drowned in vinegar, it wouldn’t be you, would it?
Just as we were at an impasse, Mo Qu walked over, clasping his hands formally and saying: “Madam, I am under my master’s orders to ensure that my master sees you. If Madam insists on leaving, I’ll have no choice but to press your acupoints and carry you in.”
I glared at him. As he was about to make a move, I helplessly shouted, “Stop! I’ll walk in myself.”
Mo Qu made a gesture of invitation. I pushed the door open unceremoniously.
Before the embroidered screen depicting Luo Shui Xian, Yan Huo knelt and sat, holding a teapot and pouring tea for himself. Seeing me burst in so rudely, he just smiled at me, his eyes like a clear mountain stream.
He had changed out of his gorgeous robe adorned with blue sapphires and was not wearing a formal headdress. Instead, he wore a dark red Zhu Zi deep robe and an ink bamboo hairpin.
I disliked this “just like back then” feeling, as if deliberately making me recall details from our first meeting. However, the Zheng Huo of the past, now Yan Huo, was absolutely not the gentle merchant’s son I once thought, nor the kindred spirit I had missed, but the Emperor of Xi Liang whom I had never truly understood.
I bore him no grudge, nor did I regret anything, I just felt strange.
He maintained an expression as if reuniting with an old friend, softly saying, “Thirteen, I’ve finally seen you again.”
I kept a straight face and didn’t look at him, formally offering a greeting. “This concubine greets Your Majesty.”
