When she heard the words "investigating Xie Xiao," Ji Xu'an's body tensed for a brief moment.
She was actually very afraid of Jiang Jiang bringing up the past to her, because those memories were not beautiful. The foolish things she had done, the foolish words she had said, were enough for Jiang Jiang to reject her countless times.
Jiang Jiang did not notice Ji Xu'an's careful restraint. She was still waiting for Ji Xu'an's answer.
Seeing that Jiang Jiang did not seem angry, Ji Xu'an finally let out a quiet breath of relief and affirmed, "No."
Jiang Jiang frowned. "At Xie Xiao's house, I also didn't find anything related to this person."
As she spoke, Jiang Jiang secretly glanced at Ji Xu'an from the corner of her eye.
Even now, Ji Xu'an did not know that Jiang Jiang, like Zheng Zhouzhou, was very familiar with the original novel's plot. She even knew more than Zheng Zhouzhou.
A character who had never been mentioned in the original novel had appeared in front of her without any warning…
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Jiang lowered her voice and said to Ji Xu'an, "Actually, in the Duke's residence, I also had a concubine-born younger sister who looked exactly like the person we saw today."
Even her name was probably extremely similar, because when Jiang Jiang blurted out "Xie Wanwan," the other party did not correct her after hearing it.
Ji Xu'an actually already knew about this. She not only knew that Jiang Jiang had a concubine-born younger sister, she also knew that this younger sister, out of jealousy toward Jiang Jiang, had given her endless trouble.
Ji Xu'an hummed softly. "How do you want to deal with her?"
"Deal with her?"
Ji Xu'an's words made Jiang Jiang pause slightly. She could not help but turn to look into Ji Xu'an's dark eyes. Her gaze was calm and serious, clearly not joking.
In a flash, Jiang Jiang suddenly realized something.
"How would you know…" Her voice abruptly stopped.
Ji Xu'an did not speak. She only looked at Jiang Jiang quietly.
Jiang Jiang stopped herself and instead said with certainty, "You've already met Jiang Zhenyun?"
Earlier, when she had secretly overheard Ji Xu'an calling Secretary Chen outside the study, Ji Xu'an had indeed asked him to contact Jiang Zhenyun because she wanted to meet her.
So they had already met this quickly?
Other than Jiang Zhenyun, that woman who felt inexplicably familiar to her, Jiang Jiang could not think of anyone else from whom Ji Xu'an could have learned about her past.
Ji Xu'an did not deny it.
Jiang Jiang took a deep breath. Even though she tried her best to control her expression, that instant reaction still revealed the complexity of her emotions.
At first Jiang Jiang had only suspected. She had not expected that Jiang Zhenyun was truly also from Great Zhao, and that she knew her affairs so well. Could Jiang Zhenyun also be some noble young lady from a certain family?!
Jiang Jiang quickly searched her mind for noble families with the surname Jiang, yet she could not recall any daughter named Zhenyun.
With no result, Jiang Jiang simply leaned closer to Ji Xu'an. Her left hand gently covered the back of Ji Xu'an's hand. In a soft and pleading tone, she said, "Ji Xu'an, could you arrange another meeting with Miss Jiang? I also have some things I want to ask her."
Ji Xu'an's gaze had remained fixed on Jiang Jiang's face the entire time, not moving away even for a second. Naturally, she had seen all of Jiang Jiang's subtle expressions just now.
She tightened her fingers. She did not refuse Jiang Jiang's closeness, but her voice was inexplicably dry. "What do you want to ask her?"
Jiang Jiang sensed something off in Ji Xu'an's tone. She blinked. "Are you…"
Before she could finish her sentence, a shadow fell over her—Ji Xu'an had reached out and pulled her into an embrace.
Jiang Jiang lowered her eyes. She only saw Ji Xu'an's light-colored long hair sliding from her shoulder and back to one side, revealing her slender butterfly bones faintly visible through the white shirt.
She was thin, yet her embrace was warm. The arms wrapped around Jiang Jiang's body left no gap at all.
Jiang Jiang exhaled softly and tentatively raised her hand to pat Ji Xu'an's back. "What's wrong?"
Ji Xu'an buried her face in the crook of Jiang Jiang's neck. Breathing in the reassuring scent on Jiang Jiang's body, her restless emotions seemed to settle as well.
"Wife." Ji Xu'an's voice was very soft, and carried a trace of fragility rarely heard before. "Can you not leave?"
A flash of astonishment passed through Jiang Jiang's eyes. "Where could I go?"
Ji Xu'an did not speak again.
Jiang Jiang immediately understood. Ji Xu'an was worried that she would ask Jiang Zhenyun how to return to Great Zhao?
Putting aside whether Jiang Zhenyun even knew how to travel between two worlds, even if she did, Jiang Jiang would have no intention of going back.
She was silent for a few seconds. "So this is why you didn't tell me that you had already met Jiang Zhenyun?"
If she had not asked, perhaps Ji Xu'an would never have told her.
Ji Xu'an hugged her even tighter. The words "I'm sorry" were stuck in her throat, unable to come out.
Although there was no obvious anger in Jiang Jiang's tone, Ji Xu'an knew she was unhappy. After all, she herself had promised before that she would not lie to Jiang Jiang again.
In truth, Ji Xu'an's behavior could not quite be called deception. She had simply not taken the initiative to mention it. When Jiang Jiang asked, she had not denied it.
Ji Xu'an remained silent for a long time. Her thin lips parted and closed again, and in the end she only said in a low voice, "I'm very afraid."
"Jiang Jiang, you're like a cloud I can't hold onto."
"If you want to leave, I don't know how I could keep you."
Jiang Jiang heard the unease and gloom in her words. She could even feel Ji Xu'an's arms trembling. Ji Xu'an had almost completely exposed her deepest fear in front of Jiang Jiang.
Jiang Jiang's feelings were complicated as well. Logically, she should have felt troubled by Ji Xu'an's frightening possessiveness. Yet perhaps because she had never before been desired so deeply by anyone—
After thinking about it, she realized she did not feel annoyed at all. There was even a subtle sense of pleasure in her heart.
She even liked this feeling a little. She could easily stir all of Ji Xu'an's emotions, make her happy because of her, and suffer because of her.
She was needed.
In this relationship, she seemed to have already taken the dominant position.
Ji Xu'an never lifted her head. She was afraid of seeing reproach in Jiang Jiang's eyes. Because of that, she did not notice that Jiang Jiang's expression was not only not unpleasant—her lips had even curved slightly.
"No." Jiang Jiang's palm rested on the top of Ji Xu'an's head. Just as Ji Xu'an had comforted her before, she slowly stroked Ji Xu'an's long hair.
"I think I told you before that I didn't live happily there."
In fact, Ji Xu'an had learned in even greater detail from Jiang Zhenyun. Jiang Jiang's life had been far more than merely unhappy. She had been surrounded by schemes and calculations. One careless step and she would have fallen to pieces.
"Those things will never happen again," Ji Xu'an said softly.
Jiang Jiang nodded. "I know."
"What I mean is, I live more freely and happily here. Why would I return to a place I don't like?"
So even if there were another opportunity to go back, she would choose to stay here.
Hearing this, Ji Xu'an felt as if she had swallowed a reassurance pill. She let out a heavy sigh of relief and held Jiang Jiang tightly, saying in a muffled voice, "Thank you, wife."
Jiang Jiang's fingertips were still twined around a strand of Ji Xu'an's long hair. She pinched that strand and gently swayed it twice, asking casually,
"Did Jiang Zhenyun say something to you?"
"Older sister, I feel like you've been a little strange today."
Could it be that Jiang Zhenyun really knew how to return?
Jiang Jiang suddenly thought of the white jade exquisite mirror she had hidden away. Could it be related to that object?
She asked as if it were nothing, but Ji Xu'an's breathing stopped the instant she heard the question.
When one's wife is too smart, sometimes that is not a good thing.
—
T/N: If you're enjoying this translation, feel free to check out my Patreon. If you're unable to support financially, you can still subscribe for free and receive chapters two hours earlier, along with updates and announcements. Paid tiers offer early access and daily chapters.
Thank you so much for reading!
patreon.com/Baenz