The Double-Chapter 671 - 208 Appointment_2

His gaze was bright and sincere, his smile genuinely warm, almost dazzling Situ Jiuyue. Situ Jiuyue looked away, thinking how truly naive the young man was, making one wonder if it was more foolishness or preciousness. ƒгeewebnovёl.com

"Do you have any family left? You shouldn’t wander too far right now. If possible, you should let your family come to pick you up," she said.

The lad’s voice dropped slightly, and after a pause, he continued, "There’s only my father and elder sister at home. After my sister passed away, I also disappeared. I don’t know what became of my father afterward, whether he made it up to Yanjing or not. That’s why I want to go back and see," he replied.

"Where is your hometown?" asked Situ Jiuyue.

"Tongxiang of Xiangyang," he answered.

"Tongxiang?" Situ Jiuyue was startled.

"What is it?" Ah Zhao looked at her.

"It’s nothing, just sounds familiar," Situ Jiuyue shook her head, but thought to herself that it was the very place where Jiang Li had reviewed a case before, involving a matter from Tongxiang which had led to the involvement of Princess Yongning, precipitating the events that followed.

Perhaps the next time she saw Jiang Li, she could ask him to inquire about this young man’s family. Moreover, Xue Huaiyuan, who had now regained his senses and had served as Tongxiang County Magistrate for so many years, would naturally be familiar with the people of Tongxiang. Given that Xue Huaiyuan was currently living with Ye Mingyu, she could have Xue come to the Duke Residence to take a look at the lad. It was possible that the two might even have been acquainted in the past.

Lost in thought about these matters, Situ Jiuyue didn’t pay any attention to Ah Zhao until he startled her with his voice. Turning around, she saw Ah Zhao looking at her and asking, "Doctor Situ, what’s wrong?"

Only then did Situ Jiuyue realize that she had spent far too much thought on this unfamiliar young man.

Perhaps it was simply because his smile was so pure and enthusiastic, even somewhat childishly rare. Despite being hurt, he remained open-hearted and warm, reminding her of Molan’s sun.

The happy, yet short-lived years she had all but forgotten.

Situ Jiuyue stood up and said, "It’s nothing." Holding her medical kit, she rushed out the door, ignoring the fact that she hadn’t finished applying the unfinished medicine to Ah Zhao, as if she was fleeing from something.

...

On the fifth day after Jiang Li returned to Yanjing City, news spread that Prince Cheng’s army had reached a wilderness area a hundred miles outside of Yanjing City.

The news came from the city’s residents who had ventured outside and seen the army. Panic spread throughout Yanjing City as Prince Cheng approached with formidable force, his troops an oppressively dark mass, rumored to be unstoppable once they breached the city’s defenses.

Jiang Li was still not able to leave the Jiang Residence. Jiang Yuanbai was too strict, and even Madam Jiang the Elder, whenever she had some free time, would summon Jiang Li to Night Wind Hall, directly and indirectly telling her that with the current unrest in Yanjing City, she should not wander around. With the gatehouse being so tightly guarded, Jiang Li couldn’t visit the Ye Family either. Zhao Ke was also unable to help; if he had been there, she might have convinced Zhao Ke to scheme a way to let her leave the residence discreetly at night, considering he always had so many tricks up his sleeve.

Thinking of Zhao Ke inevitably led her thoughts to Jih Heng. Jiang Li had already retrieved the porcelain whistle; she had tied the whistle to the sachet at her waist and tucked it inside, so she could blow it anytime, anywhere. But she never did, knowing Zhao Ke had already left the Jiang Residence. The figure of Zhao Ke was no longer among the Jiang Family’s gardeners.

Without any contact from Jih Heng, Jiang Li felt an indescribable sensation in her heart. She knew that this was a good thing for her, like a cup of poisoned wine placed before her—drinking it despite the temptation would cost her life. Being away from him was naturally much safer. But although reason was one thing, what she felt in her heart was another matter entirely.

She wanted to distract herself by engaging in other activities, but since she couldn’t visit the Ye Family and Ye Mingyu hadn’t been able to come to the Jiang Residence either—given his dislike for Jiang Yuanbai, he certainly didn’t want to set foot in the Jiang Residence by his own volition. The movements of Prince Cheng also meant that Emperor Hongxiao and his courtiers had to take the situation very seriously, with Ye Shijie busy with these matters every day as well.

Unable to go to the Ye Family or to the Duke Residence, Jiang Li found that she had pitifully few friends in Yanjing City. In the beginning, she had been ostracized due to her reputation for patricide and fratricide, and later, with the Jiang Family frequently embroiled in scandals, people gossiped everywhere. Jiang Li was too lazy to deal with those who sought to flatter her, so after a year and a half, although her status in the Jiang Family had changed, her social isolation in Yanjing City’s circle of noblewomen remained just like at the beginning.

The only friend she had was the daughter of Gentleman Chengde, Liu Yuanfeng, named Liu Xu. Even Liu Xu, Jiang Li heard, had been kept busy these days as her mother dragged her to various banquets, looking for suitable matches. After all, Liu Xu was a year older than Jiang Li, and Madam Liu was already concerned about her daughter’s marital future.