Jiangnan Suzhou Prefecture, with a permanent population of 800,000. This place is not only breathtakingly beautiful but also one of the most prosperous cities in Jiangnan. Even now, in the cold winter, it cannot stop the red lanterns and green wine of the brothels and taverns on both sides of the street, and the paper drunkenness and gold confusion, making this city that is far away from the war-torn area even more comfortable.

  In the west of Suzhou City, there is a magnificent mansion that occupies one-third of the street. It is the famous Jiang Fu, the residence of Jiang Yan, the current Prime Minister.

  In a particularly clean and elegant courtyard within the mansion, plum blossoms were in full bloom, standing proudly in the cold wind. Under the plum blossom tree, Jiang Ruoyan wore a snow-white fur coat, holding a warm jade in her hand, with a deep lock on her brow, an unutterable stunning beauty.

  Wan'er, who was standing behind her, carefully advised, "Miss, go inside, be careful not to catch a chill."

  Jiang Ruoyan heard this and slightly shook her head, lightly opening her jade lips: "I don't know if the people of the Far East can safely spend this winter now. The people who were taken away by the Hu slaves must be suffering greatly now, what about the wives, daughters, and children who lost their family's pillar?"

  "Wan'er said: 'Miss, you're here again. Those things are for Master to decide, and I told you not to speak nonsense at He Yang Lou, didn't I? Now the whole Xiang Fu and all over Da Zhou know about it, even Master and Madam are worried sick about you.'"

  Jiang Ruoyan furrowed her brow and said, "What do they have to worry about? Whatever I, Jiang Ruoyan, decide on, no one can change. As for Mother's side, I will go and talk to her myself. Wanyou don't need to interfere."

  Wan'er rubbed her cold hands and sighed, "Alas... Miss, you're too willful. The mistress originally wanted to arrange a marriage for you..."

  "Wan Er..." Jiang Ruo Yan's face slightly flushed with anger, "I said, whoever can bring peace to the people of Far East and drive out the barbarians, I will submit and marry. Do you think what I said is child's play?"

  "This..." Yuanyu was suddenly at a loss for words. "Yuanyu naturally knows Miss's temperament, once she says something, no one can change it..."

  Jiang Ruoyan's eyebrows relaxed slightly: "I'm glad you know, let's just drop it."

  Wan'er hesitated for a moment, then plucked up the courage to say in a low voice: "Miss, let me speak out of turn, I heard that after Old Master found out about this matter, he has already selected some promising young men for you..."

  At this point, Wan'er looked at Jiang Ruoyan with a tense expression. Seeing that she didn't stop her, she continued: "There's someone named Song Jinghao, the descendant of the Far East General Song Yuan and also the son of Yan State Governor Song Lian... Miss, you should have met him before..."

  Jiang Ruoyan nodded slightly and thought for a moment before saying, "The second son of the Song family, I have met him once before. His conversation is indeed extraordinary, and he also has experience in leading troops into battle... Unfortunately..."

  By saying this, Jiang Ruoyan didn't say anything more, the meaning was already very clear, Song Jinghao still had some shortcomings.

  Wan'er continued: "The other is Li Shuwen, the eldest son of the Li family..."

  Jiang Ruoyan's eyes flashed with a hint of warmth: "The young master of the Li family is indeed a dragon among men, perhaps..."

  Jiang Ruoyan wanted to speak but hesitated, and after a long sigh, she said: "Perhaps it can really come true what I wish in my heart..."

  Wan'er saw that Jiang Ruoyan seemed to have a good impression of Li Suwen, so she took the opportunity to tease: "Miss, do you still remember? That year when you were 14 years old, when you first met, you entrusted the token of engagement to Young Master Li..."

  Jiang Ruo's face suddenly turned red: "Shut up, that year I was still young and didn't understand things... Wanyu don't think too much..."

  "Miss, your face is red... it's really rare." Wan'er teased Jiang Ruoyan.

  "It's nothing, it's just too cold outside..." Jiang Ruoyan's thoughts were exposed, and her face turned even redder.

  Wan'er continued: "I heard that Master Li is still unmarried because of Miss, despite the opposition from his family. Everyone knows how much he cares for Miss, and it's just a matter of waiting for Miss to agree, then he'll formally marry you with great fanfare and carry you into the Li household in a grand sedan chair."

  Jiang Ruoyan was not yet eighteen, and at this age, girls from good families still yearned for beautiful things. Upon hearing Yuanni's words, she did not object, but instead softly said: "I hope he can fulfill my wishes and bring peace to the eastern region... At that time, I will agree to anything he wants..."

  Wan'er saw Jiang Ruoyan say this, smiled slightly and pouted, then tightened her cotton-padded jacket and said: "Miss, let's go back to the house, it's too cold today."

  "Hmm..." Jiang Ruoyan replied softly, "Let's have someone buy some grain, oil and salt, and after the New Year, we'll send them to the homes of those people in Far East who were bullied by the barbarians and are now destitute, as a form of comfort."

  Wan Er said, "Miss, you are still so kind-hearted, the people of Far East will be grateful to you."

  Jiang Ruoyan shook her head and said, "Every time the Hu barbarians invade, how many families are separated? What I've done is nothing but a drop in the bucket. I just hope someone can stop the invasion from the north and bring peace to the people of the Far East, so they can live a peaceful life."

  After finishing speaking, she handed the warm jade to Wan'er's hands: "Look at your frozen hands, go back to the room."

  Wan'er's heart was moved, and she thought that Miss was the kindest to her. From now on, no matter what danger Miss encountered, she would stand in front of Miss and protect her.

  ……

  In the east street of Suzhou Prefecture, a Jiangnan historian's residence, Shi Zongjie, the third son of the Shi family, was playing a jade flute alone in the pavilion, and a melancholic sound slowly flowed out from his flute.

  After a long time, he finished playing the song. He picked up the porcelain cup filled with wine from the edge of the table and drained it in one gulp.

  "Like a kite..." His eyes were bloodshot and his hair was disheveled due to the effects of alcohol, as he kept muttering the name of his beloved.

  Deep in thought, Shi Zongjie suddenly pulled out the jade-carved treasure sword from beside the desk and began to dance with it, his sword movements appearing extremely frantic.

  "Hmm!" Shi Zongjie was in a state of trance while dancing when he suddenly heard an angry shout from behind him.

  "Father!" As soon as he saw that it was his own father, Shi Zongjie could only stop the long sword in his hand and stand there without a word.

  Shi Fu, also known as Shi Wenjing, the Governor of Suzhou Province, was Jiang Ruoyan's uncle.

  Shi Wenjing saw his son in this state, with a look of extreme anger and frustration, and scolded him, "Look at the state you're in! You're just infatuated with a woman, aren't you? A real man shouldn't be so lacking in self-control!"

  Shi Zongjie's face was covered in tears: "Dad, I only like Yu Xiang..."

  "Shut up!" Shi Wenjing was furious, "Don't even think about it for the rest of your life. Now Xue Ruyi has become a plaything for the Xia Kingdom's foreign tribes. I advise you to forget her as soon as possible! Don't remember..."

  Shi Zongjie was touched by a painful spot and wailed loudly: "Like a kite, like a kite..."

  "What are you crying about!" Seeing his son's appearance, Shi Wenjing was furious and slapped him in the face, shouting: "For a woman like this, you're actually in such a state, and for several days, you've lost my face outside! You didn't even go to visit your cousin Ruoyan when she came back, what do you want to do?"

  "Me..." Shi Zongjie covered his bright red face, stunned by his own father, and was too scared to speak.

  Shi Wenjing continued to scold: "Hurry up and pack, take a bath and change your clothes, tonight follow me to Jiang's house for dinner."

  Shi Zongjie said: "Going to a banquet, what's the reason for this?"

  "Unfilial son!" Shi Wenjing's face turned red with rage, "Have you forgotten what I told you a few days ago? Seeing that you've been depressed every day, your father has already arranged a marriage for you. The Wang family's daughter is 28 years old, gentle and virtuous, with both talent and beauty, she's a good woman who can manage the household, be a good wife and mother. Tonight, we'll have dinner together and meet her, after the New Year, you'll get married."

  "Dad! I won't marry! That Wang family's daughter, I haven't even seen her, how can I like her?!" Shi Zongjie immediately bellowed upon hearing this.

  "Slap!" Another crisp slap echoed through the courtyard, Shi Wenjing's face full of anger.

  "It's settled then! You have to agree, whether you want to or not! Otherwise, you'll be stuck thinking about those worthless things every day, ruining the reputation of my family and your own future prospects. Hmph!"

  Shi Wenjing dropped this sentence and strode away, leaving Shi Zongjie standing alone on the spot, and after a long time, a cry was heard.

  "Oh, what a kite!"

  ……

  As night fell, the grand hall of Jiang Fu was bustling with activity. The banquet tables were filled with all sorts of delicious dishes, too numerous to count. Over a hundred maidservants were hurrying about, carrying various fruits, snacks, and tea, placing them on each table in preparation for when the guests would arrive to dine.

  When the lanterns were lit, Madam Jiang Youlan, dressed in a magnificent headdress and attire, slowly walked out from behind the screen with her young son, Jiang Mo, and her precious daughter, Jiang Ruoyan. Following closely behind were the family's elders and relatives, totaling nearly two hundred people. After they took their seats, Shi Wanjing arrived with his son, Shi Zongjie, his wife, and several young men from the Shi family who had accompanied him on his journey, bearing many gifts. They paid their respects before taking their seats. Finally, Wang Jiajin, the daughter of the wealthy Wang family, along with her father, Wang Fugui, and some of the family's attendants and younger relatives, also entered after paying their respects to Madam Jiang. The young men from the Wang family had all come to catch a glimpse of Jiang Ruoyan's breathtaking beauty, and upon seeing her, they were all smitten, occasionally revealing their infatuation, which caused Jiang Ruoyan to frown in displeasure.

  How to describe the scene of thousands of people inside and outside being familiar with each other? If Liu Ce were present, he would definitely say with a sour tone: "Poverty limits imagination, damn it, how can a matchmaking session be more grand than electing a president?"

  The wine has been drunk for three rounds, the polite words have been said, and it's time to talk about the main matter. Wang Fugui stood up and bowed to Jiang Furen and Shi Wenjing, then looked at Shi Zongjie with a smile and said: "Shi Gongzi is a genius among men, my family's young daughter marrying him is truly a blessing from three lifetimes... Hehehe... You are currently reading 《异界烽火录》 Sixty-four Jiangnan fine words, only half a chapter. To read the complete version, please search on Baidu: () and then search again: 《异界烽火录》