After the girl put on gorgeous clothes and wore magnificent jewelry again, her appearance stirred up Xiao Jingcheng's long - forgotten memories.
Suddenly, he remembered that he had met her before.
It wasn't at that spring banquet, but much earlier, on a mountain on the outskirts of the capital.
That day was the Double Ninth Festival. Many people in the capital went out to climb the mountains. He took his personal guards and also went for a stroll on the mountain.
He didn't want to be seen by others, so he walked on very secluded paths. Gradually, he went deeper and deeper, and soon was far away from the noise of people.
He found a place to rest when he suddenly heard a woman's voice.
The personal guard beside him immediately became vigilant and wanted to show up and drive the person away, but he stopped him. The mountains outside the capital belonged to all the people in the city. He was out incognito, and there was no need to spoil the people's fun.
Still, he was a bit curious. How could a girl come to such a remote place? So he peeked through the gaps in the branches and leaves.
He saw a girl holding a small bird's nest and climbing up a tree, trying to put the nest back.
The sunlight shone through the gaps in the leaves and onto her face, allowing him to clearly see her appearance.
She was a very beautiful girl. Her eyes were like bright pearls, her nose was straight, and her cherry - red lips were very attractive. She just looked a bit young, and there was still a trace of childishness on her cheeks.
Judging from her clothes, she must have come from a noble family. But her climbing posture was so skillful and neat that it didn't seem like her first time.
He quietly watched her put the bird's nest on the treetop, and then watched her jump down from the tree safely. She waved goodbye to the little birds in the tree with a big smile.
This was a rather special girl.
If she grew up a bit more in a couple of years, he wondered what she would be like. There was a glimmer of expectation in his heart at that time.
But after he returned, the heavy schoolwork left him no time to think about those things. The next time they met was at the spring banquet. Such a noisy and bustling banquet really tested one's patience.
He didn't recognize her.
Instead... he even hurt her.
Jiang Mian didn't know that Xiao Jingcheng was recalling the events of that year at this moment. She couldn't help but smile at Su Yu behind her and said, "You're really sweet - tongued. There will be many more beautiful girls when we get to the capital."
Su Xue said, "In our servants' hearts, our young lady is naturally the best."
After they were done tidying up, Jiang Mian left Su Lan and Su Xue behind and took Su Yu with her to find Jiang Zhiqing.
Watching the two leave, Su Lan and Su Xue returned to the room and started their respective tasks.
One stepped forward to make Jiang Mian's bed and hang up the bed curtain, while the other picked up a feather duster and began to clean every corner of the room. Gradually, she got closer to the green - gauze cabinet where Xiao Jingcheng was sleeping.
Su Lan was just about to step in when the dog, which had been lying quietly, suddenly jumped up and barked fiercely at her.
Su Lan didn't expect the dog to suddenly attack. She was really scared. Still in shock, she patted her chest. Remembering what Jiang Mian had said just now, she tried to communicate with it:
"Um, Dahuang, I just want to go in and clean. Could you please move aside?"
However, the dog simply ignored her. It still barked at her aggressively and firmly blocked the entrance of the green - gauze cabinet.
Su Xue came over and said, "Dogs have a strong sense of territory. I think that's its living place. Forget it. Miss said we don't need to worry about it. Let's not go in there."
Su Lan had no choice but to give up and went to other places with Su Xue.
On the other side, Jiang Mian also saw Jiang Zhiqing, who had put on gorgeous clothes and jewelry. She circled around her mother in amazement and said, "Mother, you're so beautiful!"
Since leaving Dongli Town, regaining her sanity, reuniting with Li Zhao, and getting a daughter, Jiang Zhiqing had gradually regained her lost weight. She looked much plumper and fairer than before.
She was originally very beautiful, and now with the precipitation of years, after this elaborate dressing - up, she was simply captivating.
Jiang Mian thought that her mother was no less than the mistresses of any noble families in the capital. In fact, she was even better!
Jiang Zhiqing's stewardess was Mrs. Qian. The other two maids were Zi Wu and Zi Xiang, about the same age as Jiang Mian's Su Lan and Su Xue.
Mrs. Qian was a kind - hearted person. There was always a smile on her face, looking very amiable. "Madam always worries that this might be too ostentatious. Look, the young lady also likes your dressing - up very much."
Jiang Zhiqing was just not used to wearing gold and silver. But when she looked at Jiang Mian's current appearance, her eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
"Mother, why are you crying?" Jiang Mian hurriedly grabbed Jiang Zhiqing's hand.
Jiang Zhiqing gently stroked her face and choked with sobs, "It's okay. Mother is just happy."
She was happy that her daughter had a special fate. Even after being taken away by others, she had been a noble young lady in the Ye family for more than ten years.
Life's encounters were hard to predict. She couldn't imagine what would have happened to their mother - daughter relationship if Mu Jin had always been by her side. But judging from Jiang Tao and Wen's personalities and means, things probably wouldn't have been good for them.
Jiang Zhiqing quickly composed herself. She took Jiang Mian's hand and said with a smile, "Let's go. Let's go and see your father."
There were two new attendants beside Li Zhao. One was named Gan Jin, who was in charge of taking care of writing materials and running errands to deliver messages. The other was Gou Luo, who served Li Zhao closely and knew some martial arts.
When Jiang Mian and her mother arrived, Li Zhao had already changed into new clothes and was arranging errands for Gan Jin to run outside.
Although he had been wandering like a beggar outside for more than ten years, the aura of being influenced by poetry, books, rites, and music on Li Zhao had never faded. Even in the most ordinary clothes, one could tell that he was from a noble family. After changing into better clothes, he was like a precious sword out of its sheath, showing his sharpness.
This was the youngest Chief Secretary in the history of the Chu State, and also her father!
Jiang Mian pulled her mother over. All three members of the family had smiles that were hard to hide on their faces today.
With the servants entering the mansion, the entire Li Mansion became really busy. At the same time, great changes were taking place in the mansion.
Red lanterns were hung on the empty eaves overnight. Red silk and stickers of dragons and phoenixes decorated the doors and windows of every courtyard. The Li Mansion seemed to come alive. People walking in the corridors and on the gravel paths could hardly remember that there used to be corpses lying everywhere and blood flowing like a river here.
As the legitimate young lady of the Li Mansion now, Jiang Mian also had a lot to do. She had to share the work of preparing for the wedding with her parents, such as checking the food ingredients and drinks for the wedding banquet bought by the servants. Just this one thing kept her on her feet all day long, and she didn't even have a chance to sit down and take a sip of water.
When she returned to her room, it was already late at night.
Su Yu and the other two served her and were about to help her change clothes. Just as they had undone half of her belt, there suddenly came a cough in the room.
Su Yu was stunned. "Did I hear wrong? Why do I seem to hear a man's voice?"
Suddenly remembering something, Jiang Mian was so scared that her scalp almost went numb.
Xiao Jingcheng! He must have done it on purpose!