Luck Reliant Beauty – CH 164

Chapter 164: Jiang Mi’s Wish

In the blink of an eye, the group had been traveling for half a month.

Today was the Beginning of Winter. The trees along the roadside were bare, and a thick layer of frost covered the Official Road this morning; it seemed snow could come at any moment.

Fortunately, they were not far from their destination.

Knowing it was the Beginning of Winter, Jiang Mi found it hard to get up. After using the latrine, seeing only a few people busy at work, she breathed on her hands and rubbed them, then ran back to her tent.

Cui Zi Xuan had also enjoyed a rare moment of relaxation last night, not only going to bed early but also still being asleep in bed. Jiang Mi ran over, threw back the covers, and snuggled into his arms.

Feeling a chill, Cui Zi Xuan, still half asleep, reached out and embraced Jiang Mi. He nuzzled her neck and whispered hoarsely, “Why are you so cold?” Before he finished speaking, he had already expertly taken Jiang Mi’s small hands and tucked them under his armpits.

With her hands under his and her legs tucked between his arms, Jiang Mi quickly felt warm and cozy. At this moment, Cui Zi Xuan was still not fully awake.

Jiang Mi looked up at the handsome face of the man so close to her, feeling his tender care, and her heart was filled with turmoil.

…She was actually afraid of his gentleness; the gentler he was towards her, the harder it was for her to let go.

After a while, the area outside the tent gradually became lively. Cui Zi Xuan slowly opened his eyes. He glanced at Jiang Mi, who still had her eyes closed, then patiently tucked the corner of the blanket behind her under her before turning over and getting out of bed.

A moment later, a maidservant entered with hot water. After busying himself for a while, Cui Zi Xuan’s voice became elegant and gentle, “Alright, you may all leave.”

“Yes.”

Just as he replied, a maidservant respectfully said to Cui Zi Xuan, “The Old Madam just sent someone. Should Young Master reply to her?”

Cui Zi Xuan’s gentle voice came back, “No need.”

“Yes.”

A while later, the sound of Cui Zi Xuan lifting the tent flap and striding away could be heard.

Once the tent was quiet, Jiang Mi opened her eyes. After a moment of blankness, she instructed a maid to come in. She slowly washed up, and then Cui Ziying’s clear voice came from outside, “Has Xu Er gotten up?”

Before Jiang Mi could respond, a maid answered for her, “Replying to the Young Lady, Young Master Xu Er has gotten up.”

Almost as soon as the maid finished speaking, the curtain was thrown open, and Cui Ziying rushed in.

Meeting Jiang Mi’s blank expression, Cui Ziying, already aware of her identity, paid no attention. She waved her hand, saying to the maids, “Alright, alright, you may leave.”

“Yes.”

As soon as the maids left, Cui Ziying ran to Jiang Mi, curtsied, and respectfully said, “Ah’Ying greets sister-in-law!”

Jiang Mi’s hand trembled slightly as she turned to pick up the scroll.

Seeing that she remained silent, Cui Ziying curtsied again and said softly, “Sister-in-law, I was rude before, but now I know I was wrong. Please do not take offense.”

Jiang Mi’s lips trembled slightly, and she finally asked in a low voice, “Why are you being so polite?” What she really wanted to ask was why she had been so arrogant before and so respectful now.

A hint of shame flashed across Cui Ziying’s face. She looked at Jiang Mi with burning eyes and replied softly, “Before, I was too proud of myself and looked down on you. Now I know that you’re completely worthy of Elder Brother.”

Then she added happily, “That night, with just a few words, you repelled 30,000 Hu people with three arrows. This will surely become a legend. Just thinking that such an amazing person is my sister-in-law makes me so proud.”

Young Lady Cui was a very straightforward person; she wore her heart on her sleeve, whether she liked something or not. Although she used to look down on Jiang Mi, Jiang Mi could not bring herself to dislike her. Hearing her say that now, Jiang Mi could not help but laugh.

Seeing her laugh, Cui Ziying also felt happy. Being a woman, ever since she learned Jiang Mi’s true identity, she had noticed a melancholy in Jiang Mi’s expression, even when facing her elder brother. Now that Jiang Mi was finally laughing, she felt a sense of relief.

Cui Ziying sat down opposite Jiang Mi, tilting her head back to observe Jiang Mi for a moment before suddenly chuckling, “If those others knew your true identity, Xu Er, they would all be like me, no longer daring to look down on their sister-in-law.” Saying this, she bit her lip, carefully observing Jiang Mi’s expression, and softly asked, “Sister-in-law, are you unhappy?”

Jiang Mi shook her head.

The problems between her and Cui Zi Xuan were pointless to discuss with anyone, and she was in the wrong no matter who she told. Besides, Jiang Mi had never intended to confide in Cui Ziying.

She turned her back, picking up a scroll of silk and flipping through it, and softly replied, “I’m not unhappy.”

Then she added, “We are about to set off; is Ah’Ying not going back to prepare?”

This was, in effect, her way of asking her to leave. Unfortunately, Jiang Mi lacked natural authority. Cui Ziying chuckled, tilting her head to observe Jiang Mi holding the silk scroll, bathed in the rising sun. After a while, Cui Ziying sighed softly and suddenly said, “Looking at you like this, sister-in-law, you seem so lofty.”

She met Jiang Mi’s gaze as she turned back, seeing her own face reflected in Jiang Mi’s clear, watery eyes, and thought to herself, “I wonder if it’s just my imagination, but I always feel that if sister-in-law continues like this, she could go very far.”

With the scroll in her hands, Jiang Mi seemed to wield the most powerful weapon, transforming herself entirely. Looking at her like this, Cui Ziying even had the illusion of needing to look up to her.

And so, after chatting with Jiang Mi for a while, Cui Ziying reached out and forcefully pulled her out of the tent.

The camp was bustling with activity; servants and soldiers were busy loading carts, and the task was nearing completion. Almost as soon as Jiang Mi and Cui Ziying stepped out of their tent, someone came forward to pack it up.

At that moment, Cui Ziyue and the Six Clan Women were gathered together, chatting and laughing quietly. From a distance, these beauties looked like celestial beings.

Jiang Mi glanced at them and was about to look away when Cui Ziyue noticed them. Seeing Cui Ziying beside Jiang Mi, she screamed in disbelief, “Ah’Ying! How did you end up with Xu Er?”

At Cui Ziyue’s words, everyone around turned to look at Cui Ziying and Jiang Mi.

Cui Ziying was a little annoyed. She pouted and sneered, “Why can I not be with Xu Er?”

Cui Ziyue choked for a moment. After a while, she glanced at Jiang Mi, thinking, “This Xu Er was neither male nor female. He’s clearly a man, but Elder Cousin treats him like a woman. How strange it would be to be with someone like that!”

Although Cui Ziyue did not say it aloud, her expression was so vivid that everyone around her understood what she was thinking.

Jiang Mi and Cui Ziying were now quite close to the others.

Jiang Mi glanced at Cui Ziyue, then at the women with strange expressions who were barely suppressing their laughter. Jiang Mi raised an eyebrow and said casually to Cui Ziyue, “Your attitude just now was extremely disrespectful; I do not like it!”

This was the first time in Jiang Mi’s life that she had shed her humble origins and addressed a noblewoman with a condescending attitude, saying she disliked her!

For a moment, Cui Ziyue froze.

Seeing her face turn pale and then red, Jiang Mi continued coldly, “Counting back to the incident at Narrow Gorge, I could say I saved you twice. Is this how you treat your savior?”

These words already carried a hint of reprimand. Cui Ziyue, intimidated by her imposing manner, froze on the spot, her face turning pale as she turned her head away.

Looking at the angry but speechless Cui Ziyue and at the six other women of the clan beside her who remained tightly silent, Jiang Mi suddenly realized for the first time how small the world of young ladies was, so small it was practically a tiny patch of sky. And their pride was just as fragile, so easily destroyed if she possessed power!

Almost suddenly, Jiang Mi felt that the world before her was somewhat different.

Just then, a maidservant approached Jiang Mi from behind. She bowed respectfully and said with a smile, “Is this Young Master Xu Er? My lady wishes to speak with him. Does he have some free time?”

Jiang Mi turned around and nodded, saying, “Please lead the way.”

“Yes.”

A short while later, Jiang Mi arrived at Old Madam Cui’s tent.

Seeing her enter, Old Madam Cui quickly stood up and politely greeted her, “Xu Er? Please sit down; please sit down and speak with this woman.”

Jiang Mi bowed to her, said, “I dare not,” and obediently sat down to Old Madam Cui’s left.

Old Madam Cui looked Jiang Mi over and smiled kindly. “Who’s in Xu Er’s family?”

Jiang Mi respectfully replied, “My parents are gone. There’s a brother who joined the army years ago; his fate is unknown.”

Hearing this, Madam Cui sighed softly, murmuring, “They are all people caught in the chaos of war.” Then, smiling at Jiang Mi, she said, “Although I have not spent much time with Young Master Xu, we are practically family. Young Master Xu, please consider me your grandmother.”

Jiang Mi lowered her head and quickly replied, “I would not dare.”

“What’s there to be ashamed of? It seems Young Master Xu is still treating his old lady like a stranger.” Smiling, Old Madam Cui then asked, “What are Young Master Xu’s plans after arriving in Later Zhou’s capital next year?”

Plans?

Jiang Mi lowered her head and thought seriously for a moment.

To be honest, she had never really considered this question before, but just now, during her confrontation with Cui Ziyue outside, Jiang Mi suddenly had an idea.

At that moment, Jiang Mi said, “I want to lead my own army!” She smiled, somewhat embarrassed, and said, “The number does not matter, as long as they can follow my command and make decisions according to my wishes.” Of course, in Jiang Mi’s mind, “not caring about the number” meant at least a thousand people.

Hearing that Jiang Mi had been summoned by Old Madam Cui, Cui Zi Xuan hurried over. He had barely reached the tent entrance when he overheard her words! And judging from her expression and the gleam in her eyes, she was clearly telling the truth!

If Jiang Mi were truly Xu Er, her words would be perfectly reasonable. But Cui Zi Xuan could not shake the unsettling feeling that his own timid, delicate wife, who trembled with anger and would hide with tears in her eyes, now aspired to be a general. He stood frozen at the tent entrance.