Jiang Lingzhi went to see Xiao Jingyi early in the morning, but he remained in that same lifeless state.
She lifted a strand of hair and gently tickled his chest, but he no longer reacted with goosebumps from the sensation.
She let out a long sigh; when he was unable to protect her, she had to learn to protect herself.
She asked Yunrou to help her change into more plain attire and then headed out of the Duke Estate.
Lancui Pavilion was as busy as ever.
Jiang Lingzhi found Liu Sanniang and told her that she wanted to learn how to audit accounts.
"No problem!" Liu Sanniang agreed immediately. "Owner, please go to the back courtyard and sit for a while; I will find someone to teach you."
Jiang Lingzhi nodded and followed a clerk to the back.
The back courtyard was an exceptionally elegant, quiet tea room. When Jiang Lingzhi arrived, two young girls were already sitting inside.
The older one looked about seven or eight, and the younger one was five or six. The two were playing a game with an abacus.
The clerk hurriedly greeted them: "Rui'er, Tao'er, come here and pay your respects to the Madam."
He then quickly explained to Jiang Lingzhi: "Madam, these are Sanniang's daughters. I will take them to play elsewhere immediately."
Jiang Lingzhi was happy whenever she saw children and quickly waved her hand: "Just let them play here."
The clerk hurriedly instructed the two little girls: "Behave yourselves in front of the Madam."
The little girls nodded obediently: "We understand."
After setting down the tea, the clerk returned to the front to attend to the shop. Jiang Lingzhi let the children continue their game, watching them from the side with great interest.
"You..." A clear, gentle male voice suddenly sounded by her ear. Jiang Lingzhi turned her head to look and was surprised to find it was Jiang Xun.
Jiang Xun looked at her with complex, slightly agitated eyes: "You..."
He stammered the word "you" for a long time without saying anything further.
He had misunderstood her during the previous incident, and later, he could not bring himself to go to the Duke Estate to clear things up.
He had been hanging around Lancui Pavilion for the past few days, hoping by chance to see her again. When Liu Sanniang had someone call him just now, he immediately grew excited, and sure enough, his wait had paid off.
But now that he actually saw her, the words he wanted to say were stuck in his throat.
Jiang Lingzhi merely gave him an indifferent glance before lowering her head again to watch Rui'er and Tao'er play their abacus game.
The two little girls, oblivious to the atmosphere, continued to play happily.
Jiang Xun felt a tightness in his chest from that single glance. With a cold face, he turned around and walked out.
Jiang Lingzhi didn't care at all. She didn't for a moment think he had been sent by Liu Sanniang to teach her how to audit; she treated him like a stranger who had simply wandered into the wrong place.
However, a short while later, Jiang Xun returned.
He was holding a full skewer of candied hawthorns in a somewhat ridiculous manner. His voice was hoarse: "I bought this for you."
As soon as Rui'er and Tao'er saw the candied hawthorns, their eyes lit up. They couldn't focus on their game anymore and stared longingly at them.
With no excitement left to watch, Jiang Lingzhi sighed and turned to look at Jiang Xun.
Seeing the faint apology and the clearly forced expression on Jiang Xun's face, her heart was suddenly crystal clear.
The very treat she had once longed for was, in the eyes of Second Young Master Jiang, unrefined and embarrassing—a symbol of the Shangjing aristocracy she could never integrate into.
If he hadn't known he was wrong and felt apologetic, why would he ever stoop so low as to buy such a snack, one he clearly looked down upon?
Jiang Lingzhi calmly looked away, ignoring him.
Yet, inside her heart, she felt a sharp, stinging pain, like a bee sting.
Jiang Xun was confused. Looking at the bright red candied hawthorns in his hand, he thought, *Didn't she always want to eat this? Why is she unhappy now that I've bought them for her?*
Seeing the two little girls staring at the treats, he gave the candied hawthorns to them.
He then awkwardly tried to strike up a conversation with Jiang Lingzhi: "Are... are you doing well at the Duke Estate these past few days?"
Jiang Lingzhi was very indifferent: "It's alright."
"And General Xiao?"
"He's alright too."
"..." Jiang Xun felt a flash of irritation at her dismissive replies.
Perhaps it was because there wasn't a hint of emotion in her tone—it didn't sound like she was pouting at him, but rather that she didn't care at all.
He inexplicably recalled the day she returned home for her visit, the look in her eyes filled with anticipation and joy the first time she saw him.
What was she anticipating? He didn't even dare to look back on it.
"It was my fault that day." Jiang Xun finally felt that the aloof pride he had always maintained had shattered in front of her.
He took a few steps toward her and sat down at a distance that was neither too far to be strangers nor too close to be uncomfortable.
He looked at her and said:
"I went to investigate. It was Nanny Fang who spread those rumors, but by the time I returned to the manor to look into it further, she had slipped and fallen into the water. There was no way to continue the investigation."
Jiang Lingzhi didn't say a word, just quietly lowered her eyes to watch the abacus the two little girls were playing with.
This silence made Jiang Xun exceptionally restless. He would have preferred she act like she did during her home visit—hitting and scolding him.
After a moment, he couldn't help but urge her: "Say something."
Jiang Lingzhi remained silent.
Jiang Xun couldn't help but lose his patience: "Liu Sanniang said you came to the shop today to learn how to audit accounts. What is this about?
The shop doesn't need you to audit; I’ll keep an eye on it for you. Just wait for your share of the silver at the end of the year. As for the Duke Estate's accounts..."
He paused, his tone becoming more serious: "In a powerful family like the Duke Estate, everyone is desperate to harbor eight hundred schemes. You should just close your doors and live your own life. As for the rest, you would be best to stay out of those muddy waters."
Jiang Lingzhi finally reacted, saying coolly: "You have no right to manage my affairs."
Jiang Xun laughed in anger: "So I guessed right! Are you a pig? Why on earth are you checking the Duke Estate's ledgers? How many heads do you have to offer to their schemes!"
Jiang Lingzhi slowly sat up straight and said solemnly: "If Liu Sanniang sent you here to teach me how to audit, then I am telling you now: you don't need to teach me. There, now you have no right to control me, do you?"
Jiang Xun said angrily: "Are you sulking at me? If I don't teach you, you'll just find someone else to learn from. Isn't returning to the Duke Estate like jumping into a fire pit?"
Jiang Lingzhi: "That is also none of your business."
With that, she stood up and prepared to leave.
Jiang Xun hadn't expected her to be so stubborn. Suppressing his anger, he scrambled up to chase her: "Stop right there!"
Jiang Lingzhi glared at him: "I have nothing else to say to you, other than you teaching me how to audit."
Jiang Xun stared at those peach-blossom eyes that were exactly like his own. Her gaze was cold and indifferent, as if she regarded him merely as a tool.
It filled his heart with a heavy sense of frustration.
After a standoff, Jiang Xun finally lost the battle. *Fine*, he thought, *if she wants to treat me like a tool, so be it. That is still better than letting her charge blindly ahead and cause an even greater disaster.*
He softened his tone: "Then you must at least tell me what exactly happened."
Jiang Lingzhi hesitated for a moment and then exhaled, relieved.
In the end, she didn't tell him about Xiao Jingyi or her current predicament.
She simply said: "The Eldest Madam swapped my home-visit gifts, so the Old Madame wants me to audit her accounts."
Jiang Xun snorted coldly: "You certainly hold a grudge. If the matter of the gifts was clarified and the manor didn't punish you, there is no need to be so aggressive."
In his eyes, Jiang Lingzhi wanting to learn how to audit was just a way to find some fault in the ledgers so the Old Madame would punish the Eldest Madam, allowing her to vent her anger.
It was truly small-minded.
Jiang Lingzhi bit her lip: "If you don't want to teach me, then forget it."
Seeing that she was completely unmoved by his words, Jiang Xun sighed: "Fine, if you want to learn, I will teach you."
With that, he ordered his attendant to go to the front office and fetch the ledgers and an abacus.
Jiang Lingzhi looked at him, half-doubting: "You won't agree on the surface and then deliberately do a bad job of teaching me, will you?"
Jiang Xun realized that he was angry when she said nothing, and he was even angrier when she spoke.
He endured and endured, but finally, he couldn't help but show off: "...I am a First-Class Jinshi, after all! I ranked first in the Six Arts and Mathematics!"
Jiang Lingzhi rolled her eyes: "Then how do I know if you won't hold back?"
Jiang Xun took the abacus from his servant, gave it a shake, set it on the table, and clattered it a few times: "Are you going to learn or not?"
Jiang Lingzhi reluctantly sat a little closer to him: "I'll learn."
...
Over at the Great House, Xiao Yan’s high fever had not subsided for an entire night.
The doctor said it was because Xiao Yan had choked on dirty water in the lotus pond.
But Lady Lu felt it was clearly that the clothes were ominous and had cursed her son. Yet, it was she who had ordered Jiang Lingyuan to send those very clothes.
She still hadn't figured out how it was such a coincidence that Xiao Yan was wearing them, so she had no choice but to vent her anger on Jiang Lingyuan once again.
"Yan'er is sick, and you shouldn't be idle either! If you can't do any other heavy work, you will copy the scriptures a hundred times a day to pray for his blessings!"
Jiang Lingyuan dared not resist and stuttered her agreement. By the time she finished copying the scriptures that day, her hands felt like they were going to break.
By evening, Chunliu came to report to her with a frown: "Mistress, I followed your orders and have been keeping a close eye on the Fourth Madam. She went to the shop given by the Second Young Master today. It seems she spent the whole day with the Second Young Master. I don't know what they were doing."
"What? She’s entangled herself with the Second Brother again!" Jiang Lingyuan immediately grew angry: "That slut, she must have gone to ask the Second Brother for more shops. How can she be so shameless!"
She sat there fuming, her expression growing somewhat ferocious.
In the end, it was Chunliu who had a devious idea. Seeing an opening, she leaned in and said: "Mistress, I do have a way for you to vent your anger."
Jiang Lingyuan glanced at her impatiently: "Say what you have to say. Don't act as if I'm not bothered enough already."
"Yes, yes," Chunliu said, "Why don't we find someone to smash the Fourth Madam's shop and then deliberately have people say that the Eldest Madam did it? That way, the Fourth Madam will surely be furious and want revenge on the Eldest Madam... Let them fight like dogs, and you can vent your anger while living a more comfortable life."
Jiang Lingyuan’s eyes lit up: "That’s a good idea."
...
With Xiao Yan sick, the family of the Great House had no time to stir up trouble in Shun Garden.
For several days in a row, Jiang Lingzhi went to the shop to learn accounting from Jiang Xun.
It had to be said that Jiang Xun was quite skilled.
Jiang Lingzhi had known some mathematics previously, but now she felt as if she had been reborn; she could even understand the ledgers in the shop.
As the sun began to set, Jiang Lingzhi straightened her back, let out a long breath, and looked at Jiang Xun, finding him slightly more agreeable.
She told him: "I won't be coming tomorrow."
Jiang Xun was stunned, then immediately frowned, saying dismissively: "You don't think you've learned enough and are planning to go back to audit the accounts, do you?"
Jiang Lingzhi was speechless: "...Your brain really has problems. Did I say that?"
"Then what are you going to do?"
Jiang Lingzhi paused and told him: "Xiao Jingyi is sick. The doctor in the manor said they are going to Medicine King Valley to fetch the family’s heirloom silver needles and will be back tomorrow. I need to stay and look after the General."
Jiang Xun’s expression darkened slightly. *What? Has Xiao Jingyi's condition worsened?*
*And what of her future...*
Seeing his expression, Jiang Lingzhi was very unhappy, as if she were going to be a widow by tomorrow.
She rolled her eyes at him, her tone very firm: "He will get better."
Jiang Xun grunted. He wanted to ask how Lingyuan was doing in the manor, but after thinking about it, he decided against it.
At a time like this, it was best not to make her mood any worse.
He thought for a moment and asked: "Aside from teaching you to audit, is there anything else I can help you with? For instance, is Xiao Jingyi lacking any medicinal herbs, or is there anything you want?"
Jiang Lingzhi shook her head calmly: "I am grateful that you were willing to teach me how to audit. As for other things, let’s not force what isn't meant to be between us."
Jiang Xun snorted coldly: "...You truly have no conscience at all."
With that, he stood up and—[Chapter 37: Someone smashed my shop and hurt my second brother]
Jiang Lingzhi watched his back, stood up slowly, and didn't take it to heart.
She went around to the front of the shop, intending to tell Liu Sanniang as well.
By now, the shop's customers had all left, and the clerks were packing the jewelry into boxes to be locked away in the warehouse.
There were few people in the main hall. Rui'er and Tao'er were surrounding Liu Sanniang, laughing and talking.
As soon as she walked over, Liu Sanniang smiled and greeted her: "I heard from the Second Young Master that you are learning how to audit accounts extremely quickly. Look at that; no wonder you are siblings—your minds are just as sharp."
Jiang Lingzhi smiled, just about to speak, when the partially closed front door was suddenly kicked open.
A man with a throat full of phlegm walked in, his voice hoarse: "Yo, Sanniang, your life these days is truly not bad, eh!"
The person who entered was a big, burly man, followed by a dozen fierce-looking men who didn't look like anyone to trifle with.
The smile on Liu Sanniang's face immediately froze: "Huang Lianting... what are you doing here?!"
Rui'er and Tao'er were so frightened they hid behind Sanniang. Jiang Lingzhi reacted quickly, signaling them to head to the back courtyard.
The remaining clerks in the main hall looked at each other, but Liu Sanniang signaled them not to interfere and to hurry and move the jewelry to the warehouse.
They were immediately blocked by the group Huang Lianting brought, who shouted: "Where is the owner of this shop? Get out here!"
"It's me," Jiang Lingzhi stepped forward. "If you are here for silver, just take the jewelry from the boxes and go. Do not hurt anyone."
Huang Lianting heard this and looked her up and down, as if confirming whether this was the person he was looking for.
Seeing that Liu Sanniang didn't contradict her, he immediately barked: "Your shop? Bah, you cheap little slut, it's your shop I’m here to smash!"
With that, he stepped forward and kicked over a stool used by customers to rest.
Following his lead, the group began to smash everything in sight without restraint.
There were still a few boxes of jewelry left in the hall that hadn't been moved. The clerks hurried to stop them, but they could still hear the crisp sound of jade shattering from within the boxes.
She frowned, looked around, and reached out to pick up a chair leg that had been kicked off.
Seeing her action, Huang Lianting sneered, looking at her with provocation: "Yo, the little lady is quite fierce, isn't she? Come here, let’s see if I can’t choke you to death with one hand!"
Jiang Lingzhi paused and stated her name: "I am a First-Rank Noble Lady of the Duke Estate. If you dare to lay a finger on me today, I guarantee that by this autumn, you will be executed at the vegetable market."
"You? A Noble Lady? Ha, keep dreaming, you bitch!" Huang Lianting didn't believe her; if anything, he was further incited, stepping forward to grab the chair leg in her hand.
Jiang Lingzhi had grown up in the countryside and had gotten into plenty of fights. Relying on her small size, she ducked under his arm. Huang Lianting, however, hadn't balanced his strength well and slammed into the counter, clutching his arm in pain.
She turned back and seized the opportunity to whack him hard on the head with the chair leg, then quickly darted back a few steps.
Huang Lianting felt a sharp pain in his head. Touching it, his hand came away covered in blood, which only made him angrier. He turned, his face twisted: "Nobody come over! I’m going to handle this slut myself!"
With that, he charged toward Jiang Lingzhi again.
The men smashing the shop were shouting filth, growing more and more reckless.
Jiang Lingzhi looked at the mad bull-like Huang Lianting and then at her own thin arms and legs. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was stopping her, she ran toward the door.
She didn't expect the door to be kicked open from the outside, and she couldn't stop her momentum, crashing straight into the person entering.
"Sss..." She felt dizzy and let out a pained cry.
Huang Lianting had just reached the doorway. He spat a glob of yellow phlegm, reached out to grab Jiang Lingzhi’s hair, and shouted: "Bitch, let's see where you can run now!"
The person Jiang Lingzhi had crashed into reached out, pulled her behind him, shoved something into her hand, and said with displeasure: "I only left for a moment, and you’ve already caused such a commotion?"
Jiang Lingzhi’s voice was trembling: "Help!"
"Don't be afraid." Jiang Xun’s face was dark as he looked at Huang Lianting and kicked him to the ground:
"Did you not ask whose business this Lancui Pavilion is? Where did this mad dog come from, daring to act wild here? Are you tired of living?"
"You actually dared to call me a mad dog..." Huang Lianting was like a rabid animal; he clenched his fists and stood up again: "I don't care whose business it is, I’m going to beat you until you’re a bloody mess today!"
With murderous intent on his face, he threw a punch at Jiang Xun.
Jiang Xun was lean and looked like a refined scholar; he didn't look like he knew martial arts at all.
Huang Lianting assumed that the kick he had just received was a fluke.
He was certain that Jiang Xun wouldn't be able to handle this punch; he would surely have his face smashed in!
To his surprise, Jiang Xun simply extended a hand and gripped his fist quite lightly. With a subtle movement, a *crack* was heard—the sound of bones breaking.
Huang Lianting clutched his broken wrist and howled like a slaughtered pig.
"So noisy."
With another kick, he sent him flying. Another *crack* sounded, and Huang Lianting passed out from the pain.
The dozen men in the room saw that the situation was dire and charged at him together, but none of them could survive three moves against Jiang Xun.
In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, a huge pile of men lay on the floor.
Jiang Lingzhi stood outside the door and suddenly shouted: "Second Brother, are you alright?"
Then she rushed in from the door and supported Jiang Xun: "Don't scare me like that, Second Brother!"
"..." Jiang Xun’s eyes lit up: "What did you call me..."
Before he could finish, a chaotic sound of footsteps came from the door.
Immediately following, a squad of government officials from the Capital Magistracy entered with swords at their waists. Seeing the chaos in the room, they all frowned.
The leading official scanned the room sternly: "Who reported this?"
"It’s me, it’s me!"
Jiang Lingzhi quickly spoke up: "Officer, it was me who sent two young girls to report this. This is my shop. Thieves came to cause trouble, smashed many pieces of jewelry, and injured my Second Brother!"
Jiang Xun: "..."
*So that’s why she was shouting so loudly just now.*
When the official saw Jiang Lingzhi’s plain attire, he was somewhat skeptical.