Chapter 12: Intentions
Xi Che remained silent.
Walking to the edge of the pond, leaning against the railing and looking at the water, under the heavy night sky, the shimmering water seemed to reflect his current mood.
A sudden cool breeze swept through, causing ripples on the water surface, pulling his gaze back.
The fact that this person could come out completely unscathed meant that Ji Li had let him off the hook.
It was precisely because he understood the significance of this that his heart felt even more tangled.
Would she also notice... the few similarities between this person and himself?
Xi Che dared not delve deeper into his thoughts.
"You can leave now." He turned to the side, indicating the other person to leave quickly.
Yuan Ke nodded hurriedly on his face and left without saying anything.
But inwardly, he cursed and made up his mind never to provoke these two individuals again.
The new moon outside reflected the silhouette of the young man, casting a somewhat impure joyous shadow on the ground.
Since escorting that person away, the feeling of elation in Xi Che's heart had not ceased.
The lady had brought him back to the General's Mansion and treated him so well.
Yet, he harbored such dark thoughts, deserving of disdain.
But... the intentions of young people are like weeds.
They can grow wildly even in the most barren land.
At this moment, thinking of the rogue's questioning voice, he concealed his expression.
He couldn't help but raise his hand and gently rub the left side of his chest —
There, his heart was pounding violently.
The sound was deafening.
Unconsciously, he walked near the South Garden, nearing Ji Li's courtyard, but he didn't have the courage to go in.
In fact, he didn't even know why he had ended up there again.
The scene where the girl guided him was vivid in his mind.
And... the scent mixed with orange and floral fragrance.
Xi Che couldn't help but walk to a secluded corner and take a deep breath.
As a member of the Northern Bei Di Royal Family, his mother had arranged many palace tutors for him when he was young.
They taught him many skills and were quite strict with their requirements.
But the people in power were incompetent fools, merely arrogant and fond of playing political games.
As he grew up, the Bei Di declined steadily, as expected.
In just a short span of ten years, it had become like this.
The stagnant air in his chest was slowly exhaled.
Currently, the lady was intent on nurturing him.
He had to live up to her expectations.
Thinking about being under the same roof in the future, he couldn't help but raise the corner of his lips.
The bud of the young man's heart had already broken through the soil.
Returning to his room to rest, the interior was soft and elegant.
It was evident that a lot of thought had been put into the room's decor.
Sitting down, he also poured himself a cup of tea.
After the cold tea went down, he sat quietly for a while before falling asleep.
The next day, he went to Ji Li as usual to practice his horse stance.
Fundamental skills were important, so she was particularly strict about them.
Having learned martial arts since childhood, and being exceptionally talented.
The control of balance was very much at ease.
Today, there should be some improvement compared to yesterday.
Setting his feet in position, he practiced in silence.
The morning sunlight spilled over, shining on the slightly curved back of the young man, highlighted by the restraint of the jade-colored belt, making him appear slender.
A light breeze swept over his face, occasionally causing a few stray hair strands to tickle.
Ji Li's gaze retracted, and she turned back into the inner chamber.
Yun Yi, recalling what she had said yesterday, asked softly, "After the person leaves, does the lady want to be served breakfast?"
Ji Li replied with a faint "Hmm."
Outside, the young man practiced according to the regulations for an hour, estimating that the person calling him would arrive soon before he got up.
He bowed towards the direction of the inner courtyard before leaving.
Half an incense stick later, Ji Li pushed open the door and stepped out.
Yun Yi went to organize the meal service, and it was still early, so she slowly wandered around the courtyard.
After a few laps, she finally heard Yun'er returning with news.
"Thank you for your hard work. How did it go?" She turned to gesture for her to go to the inner chamber.
Yun'er replied, "Just as you guessed, it was the same household that caused trouble before." She handed over the documents for Ji Li to look at.
After scanning it briefly, she put it aside, saying, "The General's Mansion gave them a chance, but one by one, they are untrustworthy."
While money and wealth could be enticing, morality and conscience were the foundation of a person's integrity.
She circled two names with a pen, asking, "Where are these two individuals currently stationed?"
Yun'er, aware of the situation from the previous night, hesitated slightly, "They are stationed in... the shop in the east of the city."
Glancing at Yun Yi who was returning with the food box, she coincidentally overheard this and quickened her steps.
Approaching the two, she said, "Miss, breakfast is here," staring intently at Yun'er.
Seeing the frown on the other's face, she immediately understood.
Skillfully arranging the dishes, she said, "The kitchen mentioned that today's water chestnut cake was particularly well-made, would you like to try, Miss?"
The comical appearance of the two of them left Ji Li speechless for a moment.
"I must have asked at the wrong time," she made a cross on the paper with a stroke.
"Send a message to the east side of the city to investigate thoroughly," she said, "Since they've done something deceitful, there must be many clues left in their panic..."
Suddenly, her brows furrowed, "What year is it this year?"
Yun'er was puzzled, "It's the twenty-second year of Chongan." Seeing her expression becoming serious, she also became solemn, "Miss... what's wrong?"
Ji Li's thoughts drifted for a moment, and she fell silent.
In a daze, she was pulled back to a rainy night from a previous life.
In the first month of the twenty-third year of Chongan, the embezzlement case of the Minister of Works, Xu Cheng, was uncovered.
This also exposed the hidden dangers during the construction of the river embankment at that time.
The emperor was furious, and numerous officials were relieved of their positions, with the biggest loss undoubtedly being the faction of the crown prince.
When someone falls out of favor, someone else naturally rises.
In her past life, Xie Yuncheng managed to attract the Emperor's attention with this matter, leading to a series of subsequent events.
However, at present, the court in the capital had nothing to do with her, nor did the general's mansion.
What she was more concerned with was... Xu Cheng.
He was of the same kin as her cousin, although in terms of establishing connections, they were not particularly close. One was a seasoned official for over twenty years, while the other had yet to secure his entry into the officialdom.
However, her cousin had already passed the provincial examination at the age of twenty and achieved the top rank.
With extensive knowledge and handsome looks, his future prospects were unlimited.
Becoming an official was just a matter of time.
Moreover, being part of the same clan meant they were of the same root...
In this life, things were different from before, as Xie Yuncheng's situation was different from her past life.
Who could guarantee that Xu Cheng wouldn't turn on them for self-preservation?
She subconsciously blinked her eyelashes.
This was a small habit of hers when deep in thought.
Having been taken care of by her cousin since childhood and knowing some of the tricks, she needed to prepare diligently before things happened to ensure her cousin's safety.
Seeing her becoming more uneasy, Yun Yi and Yun'er exchanged a concerned look, both with worry on their faces.
When Ji Li came to her senses, she saw her two personal maidservants looking at him anxiously, wearing expressions of concern.
"I was lost in thought about something, don't worry," she chuckled, sitting down and picking up a piece of water chestnut cake mentioned by Yun Yi earlier.
Taking a bite, it was soft and slightly slippery.
Outside, the sky was already bright, the light pouring out from the edge of the clouds, making this world shimmer with colors.
After finishing her breakfast and feeling a bit more comfortable, Ji Li began thinking carefully about the heavy rain that occurred in the winter of the twenty-second year of Chong'an.
In her past life, it was this torrential rain that set the stage for the corruption case the following year.
She couldn't help but count the days—
Her cousin would be coming to the general's mansion in a few days, so finding a way to keep him there longer wasn't difficult.
Both her father and uncle implied that he should spend more time here, gaining experience and exploring different regions, which would be beneficial for his imperial examination in a few years.
With the Emperor far away, even if something happened, the trouble wouldn't reach this remote place.
Stocking up on supplies a bit more shouldn't be a big problem.
After thinking about it, she couldn't help but let out a sigh.
It was still almost three months away from the incident...
She decided to take it one step at a time and proceed cautiously.
...
In a rice shop in the eastern part of the city, Xie Che was busy working.
The shop's storefront was very large, with ample space.
Initially, it was the prime location that caught Ji Li's attention, prompting him to take over the adjacent stores and merge them into the shop that stands today.
Outside, there was a semi-open display of some new varieties of rice.
Most of these were imported from small countries on the border, known for their superior quality and unique freshness.
With the weather being good today, there were a considerable number of people out and about.
Over the past decade or so, people had grown accustomed to buying rice from this particular shop.
Just like greeting old friends, the shop assistants were very friendly and familiar with some of the regular customers, displaying a natural attitude.
Therefore, Xie Che, the new assistant, stood out even more.
The young man's slender figure appeared tall and slim, shining brightly under the light.
His eyes were dark and bright, with large phoenix-shaped pupils that made it intimidating to make eye contact with him.
The people coming in to buy rice were curiously glancing in his direction.
When they encountered familiar older women, many of them loudly praised him for being "handsome."
Even the shopkeep behind the door couldn't help but purse his lips, feeling a pang of jealousy as he muttered to himself, "I'm also a handsome young man from ten miles away, why doesn't anyone praise me..."
Just then, the handsome young man, who was the subject of admiration, approached their direction.
As he moved, a halo of light cast shadows from behind him.
With his tall, elegant stature and serene expression, his handsome face exuded an air of nobility.
The shopkeeper couldn't help but fall silent.
Could it be...there really was a slight difference?
In the next moment, a hint of brightness flickered in the young man's meticulous eyelashes.
Based on the shopkeeper's observations of the man for most of the day, his voice was usually calm and steady when speaking.
However, in that moment of composure, there seemed to be a hint of some other emotion hidden beneath the surface.
The shopkeeper couldn't quite understand.
As a diligent worker, he couldn't comprehend the behavior of his new assistant.
Every time the master came to check the accounts, the shopkeeper would be busy running around.
Although he wasn't sure what the assistant was busy with, it was clear that he was occupied and preferred that the others minded their own business.
Lost in thought, the shopkeeper's gaze slowly shifted towards the handsome young man by his side.
The shopkeeper couldn't help but suddenly freeze.
Could it be...that being so young had already made him lose his mind?
Why was the household's people coming to check the accounts so exciting for him?!