Luck Reliant Beauty – CH 107

Chapter 107: Their Affection

As usual, Jiang Mi woke up feeling dizzy and not very energetic.

With the help of her maid, she washed herself, applied a light layer of rouge in front of the bronze mirror, then put on her veil and went out of her room.

Naturally, Jiang Mi headed towards Cui Zi Xuan’s courtyard.

Seeing her appear, a servant approached and respectfully said, “Is the young lady looking for the young master? He went to the training ground.”

Jiang Mi said, “Training ground? I didn’t know there was a training ground in this house. Please lead the way.”

Unexpectedly, the servant hesitated over such a simple matter. After a while, the servant said with a forced smile, “Replying to the young lady, the young master usually doesn’t like others getting close when he’s in the training grounds.”

Jiang Mi was taken aback.

Seeing her staring at him, the servant quickly lowered his head, but his attitude was extremely firm, showing no intention of leading Jiang Mi.

After a while, Jiang Mi said, “Never mind.” Then she added, “Then I will wait for him in the study.”

This study was Cui Zi Xuan’s office, containing many confidential documents. Jiang Mi had expected the servant to refuse again, but unexpectedly, he immediately replied, “Young Lady, please come this way.”

Jiang Mi was taken aback again.

A moment later, Jiang Mi followed the servant to the study.

This residence was clearly Cui Zi Xuan’s temporary lodging. The study did not have many books. Jiang Mi glanced at the letters and correspondence scattered around but showed no intention of touching them. She walked to the bookshelf, took out a book, and sat down on the couch to quietly read.

After reading for some time, Jiang Mi looked up and asked the servant, “Has your Young Master returned from the training ground?”

The servant quickly replied, “Yes, Young Master has returned.”

Jiang Mi immediately stood up. However, the servant immediately stopped her, saying, “Young Lady, my Young Master usually bathes and burns incense for at least half an hour after returning from the training ground. Please wait a little longer.”

Jiang Mi had no choice but to sit down again.

A moment later, elegant footsteps sounded from outside, followed by Cui Zi Xuan’s deep, chuckling voice, “Ah’Mi, you were looking for me?”

Jiang Mi looked up.

Cui Zi Xuan had just returned from his bath, his wet, black hair cascading down his back. A few drops of water still trickled down his sharply defined features and onto his perfectly shaped lips.

As she looked at him, Jiang Mi blushed slightly. She quickly looked away and responded with a soft “Mmm.”

Seeing her embarrassment, Cui Zi Xuan chuckled softly. He strolled over to Jiang Mi, placed his hands on the table, and leaned forward to admire her increasingly flustered state for a while before straightening up. He sighed slowly, “I, Young Master Cui, have always been incredibly devoted to Ah’Mi, yet to win her heart, I still have to rely on my good looks.”

This man was utterly shameless! A grown man like him, how dare he claim to be handsome!

Jiang Mi’s face darkened instantly, and she could not help but glare at Cui Zi Xuan.

Seeing her reaction, Cui Zi Xuan chuckled and sat down opposite Jiang Mi. He crossed his legs and took a small sip of tea. He asked, “Ah’Mi wanted to see me?”

Jiang Mi nodded and said, “I wonder how much Young Master Cui knows about Li Wu?”

She still could not let it go.

Cui Zi Xuan lowered his head. Taking a sip of tea, he corrected her, “Call me Ah’Lang.”

Jiang Mi hesitated.

Then, Cui Zi Xuan’s deep, melodious voice came again gently, “Ah’Mi, from now on, call me Ah’Lang.”

After a long pause, he heard Jiang Mi blush and softly reply, “Fine.”

Almost as soon as the word “fine” left her lips, Cui Zi Xuan smiled with satisfaction. He stretched lazily, leaning casually against the couch, and replied, “That’s all I know about Li Wu. But judging from his actions over the past two years, he seems to have some skill and cunning.”

Jiang Mi waited for a while, and seeing that he remained silent, she blinked and asked, “Anything else?”

Cui Zi Xuan chuckled, “I’ve never dealt with him; how would I know anything?” Seeing Jiang Mi’s slight disappointment, he said softly, “Don’t think about it anymore; let bygones be bygones.” After a while, he added, “I will take care of everything from now on.”

This last sentence was almost a promise, and Jiang Mi’s face flushed, her eyes unconsciously welling up with tears.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside, and in the blink of an eye, an aide rushed into the study. Seeing Jiang Mi there, the aide was slightly taken aback.

At this moment, Cui Zi Xuan suddenly said, “Speak your mind; she’s not an outsider.”

The advisor quickly averted his gaze, bowed to Cui Zi Xuan, and said rapidly, “Young Master, last night, a fire broke out at the inn where the Shu envoys were staying. Fortunately, the Shu envoys were prepared, and the casualties were not great. At dawn, the Shu envoys were ambushed in the courtyard where they had just settled. Left with no other choice, they decided to leave Jiangling. Now, the Shu envoys have been ambushed a hundred miles outside Jiangling City, suffering more than half their group. Now, the people sent by the Shu envoys have come to us, pleading for Young Master to help. Young Master, don’t you think we should intervene?”

Cui Zi Xuan stood up, his eyes deep, and said, “Indeed, now’s the perfect time to act.” With that, he turned and left.

But when he reached the doorway, Cui Zi Xuan stopped. He glanced back at Jiang Mi and instructed, “Ah’Mi, you stay here. If you’re bored, you can read the official gazette under the third bookcase.”

Jiang Mi nodded quickly in agreement.

Cui Zi Xuan turned and strode away.

…

Jiang Mi read the gazette for a while, feeling quite tired from a poor night’s sleep, and then went back to her room.

Unbeknownst to her, the moment she returned to her room, a commotion erupted in the courtyard—Cui Zi Xuan had rescued the seriously injured Princess Qingyue and Prince Kang.

After waking up and learning about Princess Qingyue and Prince Kang’s affair, Jiang Mi did not pay much attention. However, for the next few days, Cui Zi Xuan was busy mediating their affairs, barely having time to spare.

That night, the moon shone brightly. After wandering around the courtyard for a while, Jiang Mi unknowingly found herself outside Cui Zi Xuan’s courtyard.

At that moment, a bright moon hung in the sky with wisps of clouds, and the shadows of the trees danced in the breeze. As Jiang Mi approached, she heard familiar music.

It was Cui Zi Xuan playing the zither.

His music always carried a hint of murderous intent within its ethereal and distant quality. Jiang Mi stood motionless under the leaves, listening intently.

After an unknown amount of time, the music gradually faded away.

Even after the music stopped, Jiang Mi didn’t want to leave.

…Her heart felt empty.

Ever since Elder Brother’s disappearance, her heart had always felt empty, as if it could never be filled. This feeling only improved recently after her reunion with Cui Zi Xuan.

And now. She stood alone under the shadow of the trees, in the dappled moonlight, and even though the music had stopped, she did not want to leave. Because back in her room, she felt so lonely.

She did not know how long she stood there, but Jiang Mi felt her legs go numb, so she took a few steps back. Leaning against a large camphor tree, she stared blankly at Cui Zi Xuan’s courtyard.

…As the moon began to set in the west, Jiang Mi started to walk. When she returned to her chambers, several maids greeted her with smiles, “Young Lady, where have you been?”

From their smiles, it was clear they knew exactly where Jiang Mi had been.

Meeting their amused and teasing glances, Jiang Mi maintained a serious expression. She casually replied, “Having nothing to do, I went for a stroll.” Then she added, “It’s getting late. Help me change.”

“Is Young Lady thinking about my Young Master? Actually, Young Master quite likes Young Lady. If he knew how much you care about him, he would be very happy.”

Before the maidservant could finish speaking, Jiang Mi retorted earnestly, “Don’t talk nonsense. I don’t care about your Young Master that much.”

She trailed off, speechless. After a moment of silence, Jiang Mi whispered again, “…No, don’t tell anyone.”

The maidservant was speechless for a long time.

After a long silence, the maid whispered, “Young Lady, why…”

Before the maid could finish, Jiang Mi interrupted her, “I’ll be alright from now on!” Seeing the startled maid, she continued softly, “Everyone in this world can live well without anyone else! I’m doing so well now; I have enough to eat and wear, and I don’t have to worry about being bullied. There’s no need to dwell on those trivial matters.”

This time, the maid was completely speechless.

After a while, she heard Jiang Mi murmur again, “I know myself. I will forget everything after a few nights of sleep, and then things will be even better.”

With that, Jiang Mi turned over, her back to the maid. Although her breathing indicated she was still unable to sleep, she did not say anything more.

The next day, after Jiang Mi finished washing and dressing, she stepped out of the courtyard and immediately saw a much more haggard Princess Qingyue being slowly helped along by two maids.

The sudden encounter under the tree-lined path caused Princess Qingyue to quickly raise her head and stare intently at Jiang Mi.

After a moment, seeing Jiang Mi about to leave, Princess Qingyue immediately shouted sharply, “Stop!” Despite her still-healing injuries, her voice, though stern, betrayed her weakness.

Seeing that Jiang Mi had indeed stopped, Princess Qingyue leaned against a willow tree and turned to her two maids, instructing, “Step back a few paces, I want to speak with Lady Jiang!”

Once the two maids stepped back, Princess Qingyue immediately turned to stare at Jiang Mi and said hoarsely, “That day after I was injured, it was Elder Brother Zi Xuan who personally carried me back!”

Seeing Jiang Mi lower her head and remain motionless, Princess Qingyue sneered and said, “Jiang Mi, although you were a bit of a bookworm when you were in Shu State, you were still quite clever. Why are you so dull now? Men will not like you like this!”

Jiang Mi naturally did not answer.

After a moment, Princess Qingyue slowly moved in front of her. Slightly taller than Jiang Mi by half a head, Princess Qingyue lowered her head, staring at her face, and said coldly, “Jiang Mi, you’ve fallen in love with Cui Zi Xuan, haven’t you?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mi’s face turned deathly pale. Quickly, Jiang Mi replied unhappily, “No!”

“You clearly have!” Princess Qingyue’s voice suddenly became shrill, as if she had just thought of something.

Her suddenly raised voice attracted a flurry of footsteps, and in the blink of an eye, Princess Qingyue was quickly led away by the surrounding servants.

A young Shu State deputy, pulling Princess Qingyue away, whispered reproachfully, “Your Highness, our lives are now in Young Master Cui’s hands. At this critical juncture, how could you offend his beloved woman?”

Princess Qingyue blushed, and she shrieked, “She’s not Young Master Cui’s beloved woman!”

Princess Qingyue, in her overly excited state, nearly pushed the envoy away. It took a lot of effort, along with others, to subdue her. The envoy, hissing with a hint of anger, said, “Can’t you tell if a man likes a woman? Forget everything else; weren’t those beauties the Southern Tang people sent last night absolutely stunning? Even Cui Zi Xuan was aroused, but he remained unmoved. I heard from my men that after Cui Zi Xuan left, he went back to his room and took a cold shower, and then… He’s been standing in the loft all night! Even a blind man would know he’s deeply in love. Only a woman like you, blinded by her own thoughts, would not believe it!”

Hearing this, Princess Qingyue immediately shrieked, “He’s being particular, not keeping himself pure for that Jiang fellow!”

The deputy envoy sneered at this, saying, “Particular? What’s there to be particular about for these rich kids? Do you know that a young man like Cui Zixuan, once discovered to be an adult the night before, has ten stunningly beautiful women of all shapes and sizes arranged by his family for him to choose from the next night! He’s only allowed to have sex once a month, and each time it’s with the cleanest and most beautiful virgin. After one is finished, a new one is brought in, and before they get tired of her, a new one is introduced, all to prevent them from being seduced by women! If such a person wasn’t unable to let go, why would he turn around and then specifically bring that woman back to his side? Cui Zi Xuan has long been infatuated with Young Lady Jiang and lost his mind. Even his family knows this. Only you women are still clinging to wishful thinking!”