Chapter 9 The General is here
Jiang Youning was filled with question marks and said, "Father, I took an afternoon nap in my room yesterday and have never been to Yanran's boudoir. How could I have seen her golden bracelet?"
Yesterday, she had a big feast at a restaurant, and when she came back, she was working hard with Chuntao to earn some money.
She and Jiang Yanran are not familiar with each other, so she wouldn't visit her.
Jiang Xubai coldly interrogated, "Chunmei, what on earth is going on here?"
Chunmei immediately knelt down with a thud and said in a resolute tone, "Master, nubi personally witnessed it; there is absolutely no falsehood in what I'm saying."
"But I really didn't leave my own chamber." Jiang Youning, as if realizing something, suddenly widened her eyes and looked at Chunmei. "You didn't happen to see a ghost, did you?"
"..." Jiang Xubai gave Jiang Youning a stern look. "Nonsense in broad daylight."
Jiang Youning pouted.
Chuntao and Chunmei both served Jiang Youning, and she (CT) was aware of her (CM) indulgent and somewhat lazy habits as well as her tendency to get her hands dirty. After Jiang Yanran came back, she (CM) served her (JYR) in the original yard.
She approached and curtsied, saying, "Master, yesterday afternoon, the Young Lady stayed in her chamber the whole time and never went out. Chunmei is clearly spewing lies."
Chunmei exclaimed in protest, "Master, Nubi swears she didn't lie. When the Second Young Lady returned yesterday, the Eldest Young Lady was indeed staring at the gold bracelet in the Second Young Lady's hand, showing great interest."
Jiang Youning explained, "Father, Yanran held it up for me to see. I couldn't refuse to look, could I? It would be impolite."
Jiang Yanran raised her teary eyes and looked at Jiang Youning, wiping away her tears with a handkerchief.
Seeing Jiang Yanran's saddened expression, the Old Madam cast a cold glance at Jiang Youning. "Someone saw Ning'er going into Yanran's room, and the gold bracelet happened to go missing. Send someone to Ning'er's room to check, and it will become clear whether it's there or not."
"You would rather believe a servant's words over mine? Then, I'd better move out and find another place to stay."
Jiang Youning was so aggrieved that she cried and walked out without looking back.
Unfortunately, she was stopped by Madam He, who gently reassured her, saying, "Ning'er, don't overthink it."
Jiang Youning wiped away her tears, still feeling hurt, and said, "Mother, I think I should still move out."
Her household registration was with the Jiang family, and Jiang Xubai wouldn't allow her to leave. Even if she tried to leave secretly, without a household registration, she would be considered undocumented, making it impossible to rent a house or even stay at an inn.
In ancient times, household registration served the same purpose as identification cards.
It would be great if she could leave.
Jiang Xubai angrily said, "The Old Madam didn't even blame you. Checking your room was just to prove your innocence, and you're so angry that you want to leave home? With your temperament, do you still think about marrying into the General's house? Even if you did, General Xie would likely kick you out."
Jiang Youning: "..." You really wish I could be kicked out!
Jiang Yanran, who had been silent all along, raised her tear-stained face and looked at Jiang Xubai. "Dad, it's all my fault. I lost the gift you gave me."
She then looked at Jiang Youning and said, "Ning'er jiejie, if you're angry, please be angry with me. It's all my fault for being clumsy and not taking care of it properly."
Jiang Youning: "·······"
Jiang Xubai, looking at his daughter's obedient and sensible behavior, then turned to Jiang Youning and admonished her, "Look at how sensible Yanran is. You should learn from her more."
The steward hurriedly entered, panting, and said, "Master, General Xie is here."
Upon hearing this, the Old Madam involuntarily sat up straight.
Jiang Xubai was momentarily surprised but quickly responded, "Quickly, go out to welcome him."
Before the words had fully left, the tall figure of Xie Jing strode into the room.
Jiang Youning, along with the entire Jiang family, respectfully greeted General Xie.
"General Xie."
Xie Jing had just taken his seat when he heard a female voice rang in his ears, "With General Xie's commanding presence and rapid strides, it seems the enemy's ambush was easily solved by him."
He glanced around the main hall and, his gaze passing over the crowd, spotted Jiang Youning by the door, wearing a lake-green water fairy dress.
Jiang Youning lifted her head, and her eyes met a pair of eagle-like eyes. Startled, she shivered but then regained her composure, gazing at him affectionately.
At this moment, Jiang Youning's eyes were reddened, making her look like a little rabbit.
Just as Xie Jing was starting to wonder if Jiang Youning's eyes were hurting because she kept blinking, he heard an incredibly excited voice in his ear.
[ Xie Jing, you've finally come to see me! hikz...hikz...]
Xie Jing nearly lost his composure upon hearing that, but his years of experience on the battlefield allowed him to remain calm in such situations.
Then, a mischievous little girl's laughter echoed in his ear, [Hahaha, look at his constipated expression! He must be disgusted by what I said. Maybe he'll break off the engagement in a fit of anger!]
Jiang Youning lowered her head, focusing on her toes, keeping her expression hidden from view.
It suddenly dawned on Xie Jing that she had been deliberate earlier, trying to provoke him. Was she attempting to make him break off the engagement?
He scanned the people in the hall and then turned his cold gaze towards Jiang Xubai. "Mr. Jiang, what is going on here?"
Jiang Xubai smiled with an ingratiating tone, "General Xie, there have been some family matters to attend to, and I am in the process of handling them."
"Well then, Mr. Jiang, please continue your handling, and once it's resolved, we can talk further," Xie Jing said, raising a teacup to his lips and taking a few sips.
Jiang Xubai hesitated for a moment but continued to smile, saying, "General Xie, with your busy official duties, how can we delay you? General Xie, please go ahead and speak first."
Xie Jing raised his gaze and gave Jiang Xubai a piercing look, his expression turning serious.
Jiang Xubai trembled in fright, hesitated for a moment, and was about to continue questioning about the gold bracelet when Xie Jing spoke, "Miss Jiang."
Jiang Youning took small, hesitant steps through the crowd and stood in front of him, resembling a student called up by the teacher during class.
"General, I'm right here."
Xie Jing asked, "Why were you crying just now?"
Jiang Youning didn't respond immediately, thinking to herself, [Can't Xie Jing tell that I was crying out of excitement when I saw him arrive?]
She rubbed her thigh and thought, [I pinched my thigh pretty hard just now, and the tears couldn't be stopped~]
Xie Jing: "..."
"General, Yanran's gold bracelet went missing, and the maids insisted that I enter Yanran's boudoir. I felt wronged and started crying."
She lowered her eyelids and couldn't help but mutter to herself, [A gentleman loves wealth and must acquire it through proper means. Even a three-year-old child knows this, and I'm much older, so why wouldn't I understand? Do they think I was a fish that slipped through the net of nine years of compulsory education¹?]
Xie Jing paused in his tea-drinking motion and looked at Jiang Youning. She had her head down, and it was evident that these words weren't directed at him.
A fish that slipped through the net of nine years of compulsory education...what does it mean?
He withdrew his gaze to look at Jiang Xubai, asking in a cold tone, "Mr. Jiang, do you suspect Miss Jiang took the gold bracelet?"
Jiang Xubai smiled and replied, "General, you've misunderstood. I'm currently investigating the matter, and we don't have any conclusions yet."
Xie Jing asked again, "How to investigate?"
Jiang Xubai replied, "I'll send someone to check in Ning'er's room. If the gold bracelet isn't there, it will prove that Ning'er didn't take it."
Xie Jing glanced at the still lowered head of Jiang Youning, set down his tea cup, and said, "Since we're not suspecting Miss Jiang, there's no need to search her room. I believe the issue lies with the maid who dared to slander her master. Take her out and give her twenty strokes with a military rod as punishment."
___________________________________________________
1. a figurative expression in Chinese that means someone who has somehow avoided or bypassed the mandatory nine-year education system, suggesting they lack common knowledge or basic education.
Komentar
Posting Komentar