Jih Heng could see Miss Jiang the Second’s intentions, and so could everyone else, including the simpleton Kong Liu. It was undeniably a death wish for Yin Zhili to consider granting a marriage at this ti. However, Lu Jiu still believed that the ga of chess was reaching its conclusion—the most thrilling mont—not to be compromised by small mistakes that could disrupt their own formation.
Jih Heng disliked playing chess, not because he was bad at it. Lu Jiu once had a ga with Jih Heng, whose chess skills were indeed exquisite. The reason he was reluctant to play against others was that observing a person through chess could reveal too much about their intentions, and Jih Heng disliked being speculated upon.
"Then, my lord, we should consider our strategies in case the Yin Household decides to act against us now," Lu Jiu said, knowing he couldn’t persuade Jih Heng and thus changed the subject.
"Yin Zhan has no capability, only able to amass troops and horses," a flicker of contempt flashed through Jih Heng’s eyes, "There are no other strategies; the outco will be the sa in the end."
Wen Renyao had not spoken a word so far, just listening to the conversation between Jih Heng and Lu Jiu. Suddenly he interjected, "Ah Heng, I suddenly feel that Miss Jiang the Second might just be the woman in that divination lot."
Jih Heng paused montarily, gave him a glance, and did not respond.
After talking with Jih Heng for a while longer, Lu Jiu left his study with Wen Renyao. Once outside, instead of returning to their respective rooms, Lu Jiu stood in front of the house and asked Wen Renyao, "You keep saying Miss Jiang the Second is the woman from the divination lot, what do you an by that?"
Wen Renyao replied, "mbers of the Jixian Sect perform spirit writing for only one person their entire life. You should know that when I conducted spirit writing for Ah Heng, it always went smoothly, except for once."
Lu Jiu furrowed his brow: "When was that?"
"When Ah Heng was fourteen, I conducted spirit writing for him; that divination lot was very unusual."
Sowhat inexplicably, Lu Jiu felt so anxiety arise, perhaps because the playful expression on Wen Renyao’s face had vanished, even turning grave.
Wen Renyao also rembered that ti.
Back then, Jih Heng was a youth of extraordinary beauty, sitting across from him. Trails of blue smoke rose from the incense burner, and he was dressed in a red garnt, his eyebrows and eyes incredibly beautiful, as if he was not of this world. Wen Renyao had said, "Ah Heng, with your looks, the phrase ’the doom of beauty’ really makes one fearful."
The young Jih Heng paid him no attention.
Soon after, signs began to appear on the tortoise shell.
Impatient, Jih Heng asked, "What is it?"
Lu Jiu facing him also asked, "What is it?"
Those two sentences, spanning ten years, overlapped again, transporting Wen Renyao back to that ti, as he peered through the swirling smoke at the youth in red and interpreted the divination one word at a ti.
"Born in the winter month, destined to be a king’s consort; but ten years later, due to a woman’s calamity, he will et his demise, his body left in the wild, to be picked at by eagles and dogs."
...
The next day, as expected, Madam Jiang the Elder sent over another box of jewelry, urging Jiang Li to pick a few items to wear and dress up for the next few days.
The previous boxes of jewelry, Jiang Li had Tonger store away, rarely using them herself. With this new box of jewelry arriving, Tonger was at a loss and asked, "Miss, the boxes are all full; which piece do you actually want to wear?"
Jiang Li picked a few items that didn’t look too extravagant and said, "These will do."
As Tonger was putting the remaining boxes away in the trunk, she said, "The old madam is really generous toward you."
Jiang Li smiled faintly. Now that Jiang Youyao had beco what she was, even if a chest of jewels were sent her way, she probably wouldn’t know to be happy. There were no other young ladies in the Jiang Family, and Jiang Jingrui and Jiang Jingyou were not yet married. Aside from Jiang Li, Madam Jiang the Elder truly didn’t know whom else to give them to.
However, it was the old lady’s kind gesture, and of course, Jiang Li accepted it. After getting dressed and freshening up, noting that it was getting late and reckoning that it was about the right ti, she set off with Tonger and Bai Xue.
When they reached the courtyard outside the Night Wind Hall, Madam Jiang the Elder was indeed already waiting for Jiang Li. Lady Lu smiled and said, "I was just about to send Zhenzhu to call for you, but you’ve co on your own at just the right ti."
Madam Jiang the Elder looked Jiang Li up and down, her eyes showing satisfaction.
Jiang Li was getting increasingly beautiful; her facial features were similar to Jiang Yuanbai’s, but her temperant was nothing like his. Rather, she had so of Ye Zhenzhen’s carefree tenderness, yet with more wit and cunning. Standing with Jiang family mbers, she did not seem to belong to the sa family at all.
The sudden thought that popped into Madam Jiang the Elder’s mind startled her, and she quickly dismissed the absurd idea, simply saying, "Now that you’re here, let’s go."
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