Chapter 83 Part 3: Encountering Beauty
Twin Lotus on a Stalk
Listening to her, Ji Heng seemed to have heard a joke. He moved his body sideways slightly and his tone became more ambiguous, “If I speak, what will you do to me?”
Jiang Li’s heart was immediately blocked. To be honest, she really couldn’t grasp Ji Heng. Ji Heng was Duke Su, even her, as Jiang Yuan Bai’s daughter, couldn’t do anything to Ji Heng. Not only that, this person was moody and didn’t handle things normally. Jiang Li had just glimpsed his treacherous ambition not long ago, would he use this matter to tell on her, that was still uncertain.
“Then I can only admit defeat.” Jiang Li replied indifferently.
People had no choice but to bow their head under the eaves, there’s nothing advantageous with acting tough towards Ji Heng at this time. Besides, apart from being troublesome in her current situation, there’s no other effect. At least, she had done what she could do this evening. If this was also unsuccessful, that meant her luck wasn’t good enough.
There were times when the luck was bad, but not every time would encounter bad luck.
Ji Heng shot Jiang Li a glance and laughed suddenly. He said: “Don’t worry, I won’t tell.” He flicked the folding fan lazily to brush the non-existent dust on his sleeve and said: “If I said it out, there won’t be any other plays to watch in the future. Then that will be….. Too unfortunate.”
Jiang Li relaxed after hearing what he said.
Although it was just a careless sentence spoken by Ji Heng, according to his temperament, his words could be counted on. She said: “Then I have to say many thanks to Duke Su.”
“You and Ye Shijie seem to have a good relationship,” Ji Heng abruptly mentioned Ye Shijie, “the two of you have a tacit exchange in tonight’s matter. The trick to put on a play was done coincidentally in the same way.” Ji Heng continued: “Do you and Ye Shijie walk very closely?”
Without rhyme or reason, why did he suddenly mention Ye Shijie. But Jiang Li immediately recalled that the person who was talking to Ji Heng just now was Li Jing’s subordinate. The Right Minister’s residence previously intended to rope in Ye Shijie, but nowadays Ye Shijie alienated them……. Did Ji Heng come due to this matter?
After quickly deliberating in her mind, Jiang Li said: “My relationship with cousin Ye is just so so, we have only conversed a few times and I am not too clear about cousin Ye’s matter. Tonight’s affair was just a mere coincidence.”
Ji Heng listened and smiled while looking pensive. He didn’t say anything more but looking at his eyes, Jiang Li felt ill at ease. Fortunately, this person didn’t continue staying with Jiang Li and said: “Let’s go.”
Jiang Li said: “Huh?”
“Aren’t you going to watch a play?” He spoke justly, “I’m going as well.”
Jiang Li: “…….”
She didn’t wish to stand together with Ji Heng at all. Leaving aside what the Jiang family would think, solely being watched by Ji Heng’s probing eyes made the feeling of being examined too intense.
Although she was married in her previous life, wasn’t a naive and clueless young girl, and could deal with all kinds of people, the feeling Ji Heng gave off was too dangerous. He resembled a poisonous beast who had not revealed his claws. Only seeing its beautiful feathers and the graceful figure but unable to see the sharp claws and hunting posture buried underneath the beautiful outward appearance.
But in any case, she had no way of refusing his request.
Jiang Li had no other choice but to go forward with Ji Heng.
……
At the water pavilion, the tea on the table had been replenished plenty of times.
Appreciating the lotus after the palace feast, the Empress Dowager was old and only sat for a while before returning to the palace to rest. Liu taifei was used to annoying the Empress Dowager, when the Empress Dowager left, she felt bored and also left soon after.
Hong Xiao Emperor wanted to discuss the current politics with his subjects, but the madams in the water pavilion gradually grew tired.
Even though the apricot flower wine during the feast wasn’t intoxicating at all, after drinking a lot of it, with the night wind blowing at present, it was so comfortable the ladies simply wanted to close their eyes to nap for a moment.
Upon seeing this, Ji Chen-shi smiled and proposed: “It’s a bit tiring to always sit like this, it would be better to walk around a bit. I heard that the lotus at the end of the water pavilion’s promenade has blossomed and they are the most colorful. Li-pin said that a few days ago a twin lotus on one stalk bloomed. This is a rarely seen event. Let us go and take a look to broaden our views.”
When these words came out, the drowsy madams and young ladies stood up excitedly in unison.
Someone asked: “Twin lotus flowers on one stalk? I really haven’t seen this before. Before it’s heard that there were twin lotus flowers on one stalk at the pond behind White Cloud temple. Many people saw it and it was said after seeing it, they received good fortune and protection, and there’s harmony in the family.”
Harmony in the family, in addition there’s another sentence that was probably too embarra.s.sing to be spoken aloud. That was, the feelings of husband and wife were smooth. The females present, as wives, which one didn’t wish for peaceful relations between husband and wife. Even the unmarried young ladies also longed to one day marry an ideal husband, being in perfect harmony for a whole lifetime. Such good omen, who didn’t want to go and see.
“There’s truly this thing.” Li-pin also smiled and said: “If the madams want to see, you can go and take a look.”