son, don't mess around

After a violent storm two days ago, Chujiang City was sunny again.

The weather is nice today, sunny and not too hot.

Jiang Yu led Lin Jiangnian through the pavilion corridor and finally came to a small courtyard that had been closed for a long time.

The courtyard is not big, but it is very beautifully maintained. There are flowers and plants growing on the wall of the fence next to it, which shows that no one has lived in this courtyard for a long time.

Jiang Yuxiang stopped at the door, turned around and looked at Lin Jiangnian behind him.

"This is where your mother lived before she died."

Lin Jiangnian looked up and saw that the door to the courtyard was locked. It seemed that no one had been there for a long time, and there was a thick layer of dust on the door.

"Since my sister passed away, the old man had this place sealed off and no one was allowed to get close."

Lin Jiangnian didn't say anything, walked to the door, and his eyes fell on the lock on the door.

He reached out and pulled lightly, and the door lock fell.

Lin Jiangnian pushed the door and walked in.

What comes into view is a small courtyard overgrown with weeds.

No one had lived there for a long time, so the weeds in the yard grew extremely lush, the surroundings were messy, and wild flowers bloomed in the corners of the walls.

only……

Lin Jiangnian stopped and looked back at Jiang Yuxiang who followed him in: "Are you sure no one has been here for many years?"

Jiang Yuxiang seemed a little uncomfortable when she met Lin Jiangnian's gaze. She looked away and said, "The old man doesn't allow others to come here, but I used to sneak over the wall with my kite. The maid outside saw it, but she didn't dare to do anything."

"When Zhiyuan was still here, that girl often came here to clean up, and kept the yard spotless inside and out."

"Later, Zhiyuan went to your Linwang Mansion, and I went to the capital, and I never came back..."

Jiang Yuxiang's tone seemed a little sentimental and dazed, as if she was recalling some past events.

This small courtyard carries many of her memories.

Lin Jiangnian nodded thoughtfully, no wonder.

Although the yard is messy and overgrown with weeds, it doesn't look like it has been left unattended for more than ten years.

My aunt’s explanation does make sense.

"What were you and Zhiyuan doing sneaking in here?" Lin Jiangnian asked as he walked into the yard.

Jiang Yuxiang did not answer this question, but just looked at the courtyard quietly, with a dazed look on his face.

She was still young when her sister died, only in her teens, but she still remembers what happened clearly.

In the blink of an eye, more than ten years have passed!

Time flies so fast!
Lin Jiangnian looked around the courtyard. The courtyard was not big, but it was very exquisite. From the furnishings left in the courtyard, one could see some of the personality and shadow of the Princess Lin.

Although Lin Jiangnian had no chance to meet her, he had heard a lot of comments about the princess from the older generation of servants in the palace.

The princess was kindhearted, gentle and easy to talk to. From her aunt, she also learned that the princess was very outgoing and lively. When she was young, Princess Lin was also good at getting into trouble.

Lin Jiangnian walked around the yard, came to the door under the eaves, pushed it open and walked in.

Dust filled the air, and the long-buried dust scattered in the sunlight.

A sealed smell filled the room. The furnishings remained the same, but no one had been here for a long time, and a thick layer of dust had fallen everywhere.

There are some signs of loneliness.

Behind him, Jiang Yuxiang walked in.

She looked at the scene in front of her, with a hint of sadness in her eyes.

"My father used to be very strict with me, and my sister was the best to me. She often secretly brought me delicious food here..."

Jiang Yuxiang muttered to himself, and those long-lost memories gradually came to his mind. While talking to himself, Jiang Yuxiang walked to a book wall in the room and looked up at a scroll painting placed on the wall.

There was a lot of dust in other places in the room, but this scroll painting was the only one that was clean.

Lin Jiangnian looked up and saw a copy of a portrait. The portrait was of a young woman with an elegant temperament, who looked a bit like him.

Jiang Yuxiang stood in front of the portrait for a long time without saying a word. It was not until a long time later that she finally came to her senses. Then she slowly took down the scroll, turned around and walked to Lin Jiangnian and handed it to him.

Lin Jiangnian took it and lowered his eyes: "This is, my mother?"

"This is my sister's favorite portrait. When I was seven years old, my sister took me to the street and a guy who claimed to be a god drew it for her."

"Before my sister died, she left this painting..."

Jiang Yuxiang's eyes turned slightly red, and she wanted to say something, but in the end she didn't say much.

"This painting should be left to you."

"I miss my sister, and I hope you can always remember her."

Lin Jiangnian looked down at the scroll in his hand, and suddenly the scroll felt a little heavy.

As heavy as a thousand pieces of gold!

He took a deep breath, carefully put the scroll away, and nodded: "I'll keep it safe."

"Let's go."

Jiang Yuxiang collected her thoughts, took a last lingering look around the room, and walked out. Lin Jiangnian nodded and followed her out.

……

In the backyard of Jiang's house, on a quiet path, the sun shines through the rustling leaves, casting light on the grove. Two figures walk side by side, like a handsome man and a beautiful woman, a fairy couple.

"My sister used to like taking walks here. There was a row of fruit trees planted here. Every year when the fruit trees were ripe, I would come here to steal some. One time I ate too much and got a stomachache, which scared my sister..."

"In the past, the old man wouldn't let my sister and I go out, so my sister would always take me out and secretly climb over the wall over there... Later I found out that the old man actually knew everything. My sister was afraid that I would run around, so she lied to the old man and said it was not allowed to go out..."

"Don't listen to what people outside say about Princess Lin's gentle personality and being a lady from a noble family. In private, my sister often makes the old man angry, and every time she makes the old man very angry..."

"..."

On the path, Jiang Yuxiang chattered incessantly, as if he had endless things to say.

When she mentioned her sister, the memories of those years kept coming back to her mind. The Jiang Mansion was filled with traces of the life she and her sister had lived.

Every place has the memories of her and her sister's past.

Today, things are different.

Lin Jiangnian didn't say anything. He just followed his aunt quietly, listening to her reminiscing.

In a trance, the image of the princess became clearer.

The image of a lively, kind-hearted and somewhat rebellious girl emerges.

Jiang Yuxiang suddenly stopped and looked up at a towering osmanthus tree that blocked out the sun not far from her sight.

The trees are thick, with dense branches and leaves, green and fragrant. The trees are still sprouting new buds, full of vitality.

Jiang Yuxiang stared at it blankly, with a complicated look in her eyes. After a while, she sighed softly, "So, it's already this big."

Lin Jiangnian turned his head: "Hmm?"

"This osmanthus tree was planted by my sister and I."

Jiang Yuxiang looked dazed and nostalgic: "Back then it was just a small tree, about the size of a bowl. I didn't expect it to grow so big in the blink of an eye..."

Things are different and people are different!

Become concrete in this moment.

The small tree that was planted accidentally has grown into a towering tree after more than ten years.

"My sister was already pregnant with you at that time."

Jiang Yuxiang said softly: "My sister said at that time that when this osmanthus tree grows up, you will also grow up. At that time, she will use the osmanthus flowers on this tree to make osmanthus cake for you to eat..."

"What else did I say?"

Jiang Yuxiang seemed to be lost in memories: "I said I wanted to make osmanthus wine..." "But, there is no chance anymore..."

When he said this, Jiang Yuxiang suddenly fell silent.

When Lin Jiangnian turned his head, he saw that her eyes were red and her thoughts were filled with nostalgia.

Lin Jiangnian looked up at the osmanthus tree in front of him. The leaves were green and new buds were sprouting on the branches.

"No, there is still a chance."

Lin Jiangnian suddenly spoke softly: "Although mother is gone, we are still here, and this osmanthus tree is still here."

"In a few months, the osmanthus will bloom again!"

Lin Jiangnian looked up and suddenly chuckled: "By that time, I should have returned from the capital. By then, I will be able to taste this sweet-scented osmanthus cake, right?"

Jiang Yuxiang raised her eyes to look at Lin Jiangnian and saw that Lin Jiangnian was looking at her gently.

She remained silent, looking away, her eyes fixed on the sweet-scented osmanthus tree in front of her. After a while, she nodded, as if she had made up her mind: "Yes."

Then, she took a deep breath, adjusted her emotions, and said, "You are right, although my sister is gone, but we are still here... you are still here!"

At this point, Jiang Yuxiang was silent for a moment: "Before my sister died, she was always depressed. At that time, she was always worried about you..."

"Now that you're back, this is the best outcome for me. My sister's spirit in heaven will surely be very pleased."

Jiang Yuxiang looked sad, but also somewhat relieved. No matter what, her sister still had a child alive. For her, this was the luckiest thing.

only……

For some reason, Jiang Yuxiang suddenly felt a little guilty.

At this time, Lin Jiangnian's relaxed voice came from the side. He chuckled and sighed: "That's good. I also want to try it. What does the sweet-scented osmanthus cake made from the sweet-scented osmanthus tree that you and mother planted taste like?"

"There is also osmanthus wine... I want to try it too."

Jiang Yuxiang came back to her senses, took a deep breath, suppressed the strange emotions in her heart, and rolled her eyes at him: "I don't know how to make osmanthus wine."

She was still young when she first mentioned making sweet-scented osmanthus wine, but she just mentioned it casually. Over the years, she has never made sweet-scented osmanthus wine.

"It's okay. I will."

Lin Jiangnian spoke with a relaxed tone.

Making wine is easy.

No one makes wine better than him!
Didn’t he rely on brewing wine to defeat Senior Li and successfully learn the Nine Sword Techniques?
"You can?"

Jiang Yuxiang seemed a little surprised and looked up at him.

"Don't you want to?"

"Then I'm really going to drink it."

Jiang Yuxiang's tone seemed a lot more relaxed.

"No problem. When I come back from Beijing this time, I'll show you my skills." Lin Jiangnian patted his chest and promised.

Jiang Yuxiang stared at Lin Jiangnian in front of her, and her eyes gradually became gentle.

Ever since the confusing incident between them last night, the relationship between them became very strange.

Even when they are together, there seems to be some kind of barrier between them and the relationship is very strained.

But at this moment, Jiang Yuxiang seemed to have touched a certain chord in her heart. All the awkward emotions in the past suddenly dissipated a lot.

She looked at the handsome face in front of her, and could see some of her sister's shadow in his eyebrows and eyes. The familiar feeling made her dazed, and her voice became much gentler: "When you return safely from the capital this time, I will make sweet-scented osmanthus cake here for you."

"You must come back safely!"

"..."

Jiang Mansion, the inner courtyard where the old man recuperates.

inside the room.

"Have you decided?"

Old Master Jiang was lying on the bed. Although his health had improved a lot, he was still weak.

He looked at Lin Jiangnian in the room, sighed and spoke.

"Ah."

Lin Jiangnian nodded.

"This trip to the capital will be extremely dangerous!"

Old Master Jiang looked deep in his eyes and said in a cold voice: "If Prince Xu's Mansion rebels, more forces will surely target you."

"Since they dared to come here to assassinate you this time, they will definitely not let go of the next opportunity. It will be even more dangerous for you to go to the capital this time!"

Lin Jiangnian said calmly: "That's why I have to go."

"We have to find them all out before we can feel more at ease."

Mr. Jiang was stunned for a moment, then he laughed heartily twice: "As expected of my grandson, he is so courageous."

"In that case, you can go without any worries. I, an old man, will help you in Chujiang City."

Old Master Jiang said, "While my old bones are still alive, I can still help you."

Lin Jiangnian said: "Thank you, Grandpa."

Mr. Jiang waved his hand: "Stop being polite."

After a pause, his expression hardened again and he asked seriously, "Has your father sent someone over?"

Lin Jiangnian did not deny it and nodded.

"He's pretty quick!"

Old Master Jiang snorted coldly: "Go and warn him not to make too much noise. If he really makes too much noise and can't be cleaned up, he will bear the consequences himself."

At this point, Mr. Jiang's eyes were deep: "Behind the Jiangnan family are not only the nobles, but also the people of the entire Jiangnan, and nearly a quarter of the tax revenue of the Daning Dynasty!"

"Once the noble families are in chaos, it will not only affect the noble families, but also the people of the whole world."

"Let him think it over carefully. I hope he won't become a sinner for all eternity!"

Lin Jiangnian nodded: "I will tell the prince."

"Okay, if you have nothing else, go get ready."

Mr. Jiang sighed: "Come back early and be safe."

"it is good."

Lin Jiangnian nodded, turned around and was about to leave, but suddenly stopped.

"By the way, Grandpa, there is one more thing."

Lin Jiangnian turned around, a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes: "You were seriously ill this time and almost lost your life... It's not a coincidence, someone did it deliberately!"

Lin Jiangnian's tone was low, but Mr. Jiang's eyes were calm: "I know."

Lin Jiangnian was shocked: "Grandpa, when did you know?"

"I've known it for a long time."

Old Master Jiang's expression was calm. "There are many people who want me dead. Your grandpa has been around for so many years, how could I not be able to find out such a small matter?"

"Then why did Grandpa..."

"If they can kill me, it's also their ability."

Old Master Jiang sneered: "Unfortunately, they don't have such ability!"

"..." (End of this chapter)