GTB Chapter 120

Chapter 121-122: Accidental Encounter

Chapter 121-122: Accidental Encounter

“Fifth Prince.” Jiang Jiuchu turned her head, saw it was Shí Xiū, and pulled her horse to a stop, waiting for Shí Xiū to come forward, and smiled at him:

“Why is Fifth Brother out riding a horse today too?”

Before Shí Xiū could speak, Shí Jìn on the side said in a strange tone:

“Yo! It seems Seventh Sister-in-law isn’t cold to everyone? What? Seventh Sister-in-law likes this kind of gentle-looking man.”

As he spoke, he pretended to recall for a moment, “That day on the pleasure boat… he also seemed to be this kind of modest and gentle type.”

Jiang Jiuchu didn’t expect Shí Jìn to bring up the pleasure boat incident again. His appearance, as if he had grasped some handle on her, made her heart flare up.

Just as she was about to speak, she heard Shí Xiū say first:

“Second Brother should still pay attention to his words. Seventh Sister-in-law is just being reasonable to me. As for why she’s cold to Second Brother? It must be because Second Brother always speaks inappropriately like this.”

Hearing this, Jiang Jiuchu smiled sarcastically, “Fifth Brother probably doesn’t know, some people even repay kindness with enmity.”

As she spoke, she looked at Shí Jìn, “Second Brother, do you think such a person is okay?”

Seeing Shí Jìn speechless, Jiang Jiuchu continued, “Sister-in-law hasn’t offended you anywhere, right? Why keep bringing up the pleasure boat incident? Besides, what can a pleasure boat ride even prove?”

Shí Jìn paused, not planning to argue with Jiang Jiuchu about this matter. After all, they did save him that day.

Furthermore, this kind of thing can only damage her relationship with Seventh Brother at most, which is of little use to him.

“It’s nothing, I didn’t say there was anything! It seems Sister-in-law doesn’t like me saying these things, then fine, I won’t say them next time.”

Seeing him say this, Jiang Jiuchu didn’t speak again, only hoping that he would do as he said, and not bring up pleasure boats every time he saw her. People who didn’t know might think she went on a pleasure boat with him!

Listening to the conversation between the two, and combining what Gu Changxuan had told him before, Shí Xiū roughly guessed what was going on.

Seeing that Shí Jìn wasn’t leaving, after a slight glint in his eyes, he asked Jiang Jiuchu, “Have you found any clues about the birthday incident that day?”

Jiang Jiuchu immediately guessed his intention with Shí Xiū’s sudden question, and deliberately said, “Not yet, but I already have a suspect.”

Shí Xiū didn’t ask who she suspected, and continued her words, “It’s good to have a suspect. Be careful when you encounter him in the future.”

“Okay.” Jiang Jiuchu nodded and continued forward.

Shí Jìn paused as he looked at the backs of the two. Why did he feel like the two of them were talking as if he was the murderer?

He had already asked his mother, and the poisoning had nothing to do with them. He wouldn’t take the blame for this.

He spurred his horse and quickly followed to explain, “Hey! My mother is also helping you investigate the birthday banquet that day, but all the witnesses were taken away by Seventh Brother, and no other clues were left behind, so it’s hard to find out.”

“But both my mother and I believe that the person must be at odds with you and me, wanting to kill two birds with one stone, harm you, and then frame my mother. Don’t suspect randomly.”

Jiang Jiuchu pretended to think for a moment, “What Second Prince said is also possible. Hopefully the truth will come out soon!”

She naturally knew this. Shí Yan had told her this before, and was already investigating in this direction, but she pretended not to understand.

Wasn’t he trying to use the pleasure boat incident to control her? Then she would use this matter to suspect him. Comparing the two, the severity was obvious.

Seeing that she still didn’t seem to believe him, Shí Jìn wanted to say something more, but felt that saying too much would make it seem like he had a guilty conscience, so he had to stop.

Seeing that Shí Jìn didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving, Shí Xiū said to Jiang Jiuchu and Ji Shutíng:

“The horse race is the day after tomorrow. Why don’t we have a competition and let me see if you have a chance to win a place in the top three.”

“Okay.” Jiang Jiuchu and Ji Shutíng nodded in agreement.

Thinking of getting rid of Shí Jìn, they came out to ride horses happily, but didn’t want this person to ruin their mood.

However, before they could urge their horses forward, Ji Shutíng looked at the lake not far away and said, “Jiuchu, isn’t that Seventh Prince?”

Hearing this, Jiang Jiuchu was stunned. Following Ji Shutíng’s direction, she saw a painted boat coming towards the shore.

The moon-white figure standing at the front of the boat was Shí Yan, and he was looking towards her.

She paused, thinking that since she had met Shí Yan, she didn’t need Shí Xiū to help her out of the situation.

“Fifth Brother, I’ll go take a look. I won’t compete in the horse race. Thank you for today. I hope Fifth Brother can win a place in the top three the day after tomorrow.”

After she finished speaking, she gave Ji Shutíng a look, and the two of them went towards the dock together.

Shí Jìn was angered by Jiang Jiuchu’s thank you. This unprovoked thank you was clearly directed at him.

He had only walked a few steps with them, so how could it seem like he had bullied them, and they needed to thank this person?

He glanced coldly at Shí Xiū beside him, feeling that Jiang Jiuchu was deliberately disgusting him.

Ignoring Shí Jìn’s unkind expression, Shí Xiū said to him, “Second Brother, enjoy your ride with the beauties. I won’t disturb you.”

After he finished speaking, he went towards the fork in the road ahead. His handsome face was full of disappointment. Such a rare opportunity to get along was gone.

Standing on the boat, Shí Yan looked at Jiang Jiuchu coming towards him, and the corners of his mouth hooked up.

This woman seemed to be getting more and more pleasing to the eye, knowing to take the initiative to come to him. It seemed that his identity as her husband was still somewhat useful.

‘Husband’, Shí Yan thought in his mind, and suddenly made up his mind. He would go back tonight and play a game of chess with her. If he lost, he would let her call him ‘husband’ for him to hear.

Thinking like this, his eyes carried a hint of anticipation.

Looking at the pink figure getting closer and closer, he suddenly felt that his interactions with her seemed to be limited to the residence, or rather… in the room.

It seemed that once they left the room, they didn’t say a few words, and they were extremely unfamiliar. Only when they entered that room did they have a sense of familiarity.

He felt this way, and she seemed to feel it even more.

So today, this was the first time she had come to him outside, but it was for a reason.

Jiang Jiuchu and Ji Shutíng had just arrived at the shore when the boat docked.

“Hey! What are you looking at! Are you getting off or not? If not, move aside and don’t block my way.” Shí Yuánchén grabbed Chǔ Yìfēng from the disembarkation point and pulled him aside, looking at him and instructing:

“Although I can understand you, I still want to warn you, keep that look in check, or you’ll be beaten by Seventh Brother. Don’t blame me for not reminding you.”

Shí Yuánchén secretly gloated. Didn’t they say that everyone has their own preferences? He must be stunned by Seventh Sister-in-law’s beauty!

That’s right. Back then, he drank so much tea at Mo Feng Pavilion that he wanted to throw up just to see Seventh Sister-in-law. He lifted his foot and walked down, sighing in his heart. The past can’t be recalled!

Pulled by Shí Yuánchén, Chǔ Yìfēng immediately came back to his senses.

He pursed his lips and didn’t argue with Shí Yuánchén, but followed behind Shí Yuánchén as he disembarked.

Seeing Shí Yan come ashore, Jiang Jiuchu stepped forward and smiled, “What a coincidence! To meet Your Highness here.”

Shí Yan didn’t respond to Jiang Jiuchu’s extremely polite words, but asked, “Do you like riding horses?”

Jiang Jiuchu paused, “It’s okay. It’s just that I haven’t ridden in a year or two, so I came here to take a ride.”

“It’s been so long since you’ve ridden. You’re probably not used to it anymore, right? Do you want me to take you riding?”

Hearing this, Jiang Jiuchu’s heart skipped a beat. Feeling the discomfort in her inner thighs, she thought, she really wasn’t used to riding, but what she wasn’t used to wasn’t riding, but this body of hers.

It seemed that this Kyoto imperial city was indeed a place for pampered people. She had only been here for a year and a half, and she had become so delicate.

She looked back at the distance, saw that Shí Jìn’s figure was gone, and said to Shí Yan, “No need. I’m used to riding. I just came over to say hello to Your Highness. You guys continue.”

Shí Yuánchén stepped onto the shore and said to Jiang Jiuchu, “Seventh Sister-in-law, we’re done. We’re just about to go riding too. Let’s go together. It’ll be fun.”

Ji Shutíng, who didn’t originally want to come forward to greet them, had to step forward and bow to the others when she saw that they had all disembarked. “Greetings to Seventh Prince, Eighth Prince, and Young Master Chǔ.”

“You don’t need to be so polite. You’re Seventh Sister-in-law’s good friend. There’s no need to be so formal,” Shí Yuánchén quickly said with a smile.

Jiang Jiuchu seemed to have just noticed the unfamiliar man following behind Shí Yuánchén, nodded at Chǔ Yìfēng, and then looked at Shí Yuánchén, “You guys ride. We’re riding slowly, so we won’t ride with you.”

As she spoke, she turned around and walked towards her horse without waiting for Shí Yuánchén to speak.

Chǔ Yìfēng, who was on the side, was shaken by Jiang Jiuchu’s nod and smile. By the time he remembered to nod back, she had already turned and left.

He awkwardly rubbed his nose, afraid that Shí Yuánchén would see him and make fun of him.

He thought to himself, Shí Yuánchén was right. Compared to this Miss Jiang, his beauties were really mediocre.

He originally thought that the most beautiful girls in Dong Yue Kingdom were the talented women in Kyoto.

But he didn’t expect that this Jiang family girl from Ning An County would be so beautiful, surpassing all the girls in Kyoto.

Not only was she beautiful, but even her voice was pleasant. She had a delicate and soft voice, but used the most cold and indifferent tone.

Indeed, she was more captivating than deliberately coquettish women. She was truly a natural beauty, naturally charming.

Such a beauty didn’t need to be coquettish. Even if she said two words with a cold face, he would love to hear it.

If she deliberately acted cute, he didn’t dare to imagine it. He was afraid that no man would be able to resist. No wonder Shí Yan was like that. Even though they had been married for two months, his eyes were still so ardent.

It was no wonder that he obediently got married. He probably just took a fancy to the girl’s beauty. What emperor’s decree and empress dowager’s urging to marry? Why hadn’t he agreed before?

He suddenly felt that Shí Yan was really lucky. How could he have chosen such a beautiful girl? Otherwise, after a few palace banquets, the people who were seeking to marry her would have broken down the threshold of the Jiang residence. She would have been snatched away long ago. With his lukewarm attitude, how would it be his turn?

Looking at Jiang Jiuchu’s awkward posture as she mounted the horse, Shí Yan really wanted to step forward and directly pull her into his arms, taking her to ride against the wind.

But looking at Ji Shutíng beside her, he had to suppress the impulse in his heart and walked towards his black treasure horse.

Seeing this, Shí Yuánchén and Chǔ Yìfēng also quickly went to the side and mounted their horses.

The three of them followed behind Jiang Jiuchu and Ji Shutíng, neither too close nor too far.

Looking back at the front, Ji Shutíng moved her horse closer to Jiang Jiuchu’s side and whispered:

“Jiuchu, I feel that Seventh Prince is very good to you! He has been following us behind. He must have seen Second Prince following us just now, so he is like this.”

“It’s okay!” Jiang Jiuchu couldn’t help but turn her head slightly to look back, seeing Shí Yan following them fifty meters away. The reins in her hand unconsciously tightened, and a strange feeling of being silently guarded rose in her heart.

Chǔ Yìfēng and Shí Yuánchén rode behind Shí Yan, looked at Jiang Jiuchu in front, and whispered to Shí Yuánchén: “Hey! Why do I feel like they are not very familiar.”

“Who said they are not familiar, my Seventh Sister-in-law is taking care of her sisters, so she doesn’t ride with us, how can they not be familiar. It may be that my Seventh Brother speaks less, and my Seventh Sister-in-law is quiet, so it gives you the wrong impression!”

Chǔ Yìfēng curled his lips, too lazy to talk to this person. Looking at this Miss Jiang, she didn’t seem like a very quiet and elegant person. He had seen truly quiet and elegant women, not like this kind of temperament.

He thought for a while, and suddenly thought of a word, indifferent, yes, it was indifferent.

He felt that this Miss Jiang was a little bit polite to them, including Shí Yan.

He couldn’t see the joy and shyness of a newlywed from her eyes, but it wasn’t the kind of bold and carefree either. It seemed a bit restrained, and he didn’t know how to describe it. To put it bluntly, they were not familiar, and he felt that Shí Yan also had a little bit of this feeling.

Could it be… are all real beauties like this? Are they all this kind of indescribable temperament?

Thinking of this, he instantly felt that the beautiful concubines in his mansion who were rushing to please him all day were a bit boring.

Half an hour later, Jiang Jiuchu saw that Shí Yan was still following behind, so she said to Ji Shutíng: “Let’s go back from here! We’ll come out to ride again another day.”

“Okay.” Ji Shutíng nodded, feeling a little uncomfortable with these men following behind her not too close and not too far.

However, the two of them encountered a person just as they were leaving Green Lake.

Ji Shutíng and Jiang Jiuchu’s eyes paused at the same time, as if they didn’t expect to suddenly run into Song Fuge.

Jiang Jiuchu’s face instantly stiffened, and she looked straight at the person riding towards them from the side.

Song Fuge, who was about to leave the city, also didn’t seem to expect to meet Jiang Jiuchu here. The speed of his horse gradually slowed down as the reins in his hand unconsciously loosened.

His eyes fixed on Jiang Jiuchu, filled with longing.

He hadn’t seen her for more than a month, and his little girl seemed to be even more beautiful, more beautiful than he remembered, more beautiful than in his dreams.

Their eyes met, and both of them had a sense of distance in each other’s eyes.

It was a kind of depth hidden in their hearts, as far as they were separated, as if they hadn’t seen each other for years.

After a brief eye contact, Jiang Jiuchu quickly retracted her gaze and smiled at Ji Shutíng beside her, “What do you want to eat for lunch? My treat.”

Hearing the sound of horseshoes chasing from behind, Ji Shutíng quickly replied, “Being said that by you, I’m really hungry. Riding a horse is really exhausting!”

Song Fuge felt a pain in his heart because of Jiang Jiuchu’s ignorance, but in the next moment, he noticed the people not far behind them.

His eyes darkened, and he immediately retracted his gaze. He spurred his horse, and the slowed-down speed instantly accelerated, flying past Jiang Jiuchu.