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Chapter 85: The Unseen Affection

  The street was very cold, Xu Chuyi wrapped herself in a thick cloak, holding a thermos that had just been filled with hot water, walking slowly. If Zi You were by her side, she would have already impatiently taken big strides forward, but Chi Jin didn't, his dark cloud boots keeping pace with hers, not leaving her behind at all.

  Chu Nian bowed his head and said, "Sir, you can go ahead first. I know where the medicine hall is. We'll meet up again later."

  Chi Jin glanced at her and smiled lightly: "Do I look like I'm in a hurry?"

  "Not really," said Chuniang, shaking her head. "But I'm walking very slowly. If you walk with me, we won't be able to take big strides."

  He came out with her, wasn't it to take a step forward? The golden lips were pursed, thinking that this Xu family girl was really a bit silly. Everyone could see what he wanted to do, but she alone had a blank face, completely unaware.

  Or rather, I didn't think of it at all.

  "Just had lunch, walking too fast is bad for the body." Looking at the small stalls by the street, Chi Jin said, "It's nice to walk and look around like this."

  What a gentle temperament, Xu Chunian couldn't help but sigh in admiration, it turns out that men can also be so gentle.

  "Does this look good?" Luoguo stopped in front of an old woman's small stall, looking at the things on it and asking her.

  As soon as he turned his head, he saw that the bamboo mat vendor's stall was displaying many wooden hairpins carved from wood, although rough, but also elegant and simple.

  The old woman saw someone stopping and hurriedly said: "Look, you two, the young lady and gentleman are all wearing them, and they're cheap, two cents each."

  The river water has just been connected to the city, and the drought has been alleviated, but the people's lives are still not easy. Looking at the old man's clothes with large patches, Xu Chuyi felt a bit unbearable, touched his waist bag, and planned to give her silver directly.

  However, Chi Jin stopped her, half-squatting down to take a closer look and said: "No one in the mansion has ever seen anything like this before. Let's get one for each of them. Just right."

  As she spoke, she picked up a hairpin and handed it to her, took one herself and pinched it in her hand, then wrapped up the rest and handed over two taels of silver.

  "This is too much." The old man was somewhat frightened.

  The young lady smiled and said: "Miss, you have a kind heart, considering your age, let me send you back to rest early, with more silver, buy some good food back home."

  Gratefully looking at Xu Chuyan, the old woman nodded repeatedly: "Thank you, thank you!"

  Xu Chuyan felt embarrassed and followed Chi Jin after bowing to her, saying in a low voice: "The silver was given by you, how can it be considered my kindness?"

  Chi Jin smiled and played with the hairpin in her hand, but instead of answering, she asked: "Want to try it?"

  She left Yinping in a hurry and didn't even pack her luggage, so she didn't have any hair accessories on her head. After thinking for a moment, Chu Nian reached out to touch her bun and inserted the hairpin in her hand into it.

  Chi Kin looked and nodded: "Not bad."

  "Should adults try it too?" she asked delightedly, stroking her hairpin.

  With a difficult expression, Chi Jin looked at his hands and said: "I'm not very good at styling hair, if I take the hairpin off my head, I'm afraid I'll have to let my hair down."

  "It's okay, I will!" Xu Chunian looked around and took him to a slightly remote alley, avoiding people's eyes, and said in a low voice, "You squat down."

  Her eyes flickered, and Chi Jin handed her the wooden hairpin in his hand. Then he turned around, half-kneeling in front of her, letting her undo his original bun, using his hands as a comb to quickly re-bun his hair.

  Xu Zhongyun's back was turned against him, and he couldn't see it. The red gold ring on his index finger touched the tip of his nose, and he silently laughed for a long time.

  After a while, both of them wore new hairpins and continued to walk slowly towards the pharmacy. Xu Chuyi had been feeling somewhat depressed in her heart, but as she walked on the street, watching the hustle and bustle of everyday life, occasionally eating some snacks from the street vendors, she suddenly felt that being melancholic was a waste of time, and one should live their days practically. There were so many people with more unfortunate fates than hers who were still struggling to survive, weren't they?

  Taking a deep breath, Xu Chuyi's footsteps quickened. Her eyes also cleared up. She followed Chi Jin to the pharmacy to select medicinal materials and then went around to the street next door to buy candles, chatting and laughing as she returned to the princess's mansion.

  "I brought something for you all." She enthusiastically placed a large package of wooden hairpins on the table.

  Today is a holiday and everyone is waiting at home. Just as they were getting bored, they saw the commotion and Qingxuan was the first to jump up: "What's going on?"

  Her movements were quicker than his, she walked forward and opened the package, "Ah" sound, picked up a hairpin and looked at it, raised an eyebrow and asked Xu Chuyan: "What's this for? How did you think of buying this?"

  Chu Nian smiled and said, "Since the old man is selling them, and Lord Chi Jin has a kind heart, we'll just buy everything. This small town isn't exactly a prosperous place, so it's better to follow local customs and wear one of these too."

  Qing Xuan heard this and asked without thinking: "When did Chi Jin's heart recover?"

  Isn't he notorious in the entire Fei Yun Palace for being ruthless and cunning?

  He glanced at Qingxuan lightly and said, "The hairpins are not enough, we need to leave two for the Emperor and the Crown Prince, so you can't have any."

  Qing Xuan suddenly choked, and immediately changed his words: "I mean to say, when did Lord Chi Jin's heart not feel well? Ah, look at my mouth, as soon as the weather gets cold, I start speaking incoherently."

  As she spoke, she touched a hairpin and retreated to the side.

  Xu Chuyan was just about to smile when he turned his head and saw Huaiyu and Purple Sun finally coming out.

  "What's this?" Li Huaiyu curiously leaned in for a closer look.

  Jiang Xuanjin walked over with her, expressionless, and glanced at the table before saying, "You haven't seen Mu Zhen either?"

  "I've never seen one before, but it's quite ingenious." She picked up a hairpin and examined it, smiling as she said, "The carved pinhead is still so lifelike."

  He carefully observed her for a moment, seeing that her complexion was normal and she didn't seem uncomfortable, before letting out a sigh of relief and saying in a low voice: "The Red Gold has brought back some things, Your Highness, take a look and see if there's anything you like?"

  "Here!" Huai Yu picked up a peony-shaped hairpin and handed another plain hairpin to Jiang Xuanjin, running back to his side to compare them on his head, smiling brightly and saying, "You really look good with anything on!"

  Everyone: "!!"

  Jiang Xuanjin stiffened and said slightly annoyed: "Shut up."

  "Just now you kept telling me to shut up, and now you're still telling me to shut up?" Li Huaiyu protested with her hands on her hips. "I didn't even say anything wrong!"

  In the room teasing him was not enough, what a fuss. Jiang Xuanjin's ears turned red, and he had no choice but to take her, feeling quite annoyed, rubbing his temples.

  Xu Chuyi gazed at them, and a hint of envy flashed in her eyes. Despite all they had been through, it seemed that these two people still hadn't changed when they reunited.

  It gives people an illusion of being in a desolate and barren land in an instant.

  "Don't you like this?" Li Huaiyu muttered, sizing up the plain hairpin in her hand, "Isn't it good enough?"

  Jiang Xuanjin took the hairpin from her hand and looked at it for a moment, then glanced at Chi Jin and Xu Chuyan beside him, saying: "This pair of hairpins are a set, the female hairpin has a larger flower head, while the male hairpin has a smaller one. Since you've taken the peony, why not give me the other half?"

  "Huh?" Hua Yu suddenly realized, "It's actually a pair of hairpins?"

  Chi Jin paused slightly, then looked up at him. Jiang Xuanjin calmly returned his gaze, his eyes falling clearly on his hair knot.

  Actually been discovered? Chi Jin raised an eyebrow and immediately smiled instead.

  The hairpin on his head is small and unclear from a distance. Xu Chunu's hairpin is much more obvious, with three plum blossoms.

  "I didn't even notice." Xu Chuyan looked at Huaiyu in surprise as she took out the peony hairpin, and then turned her head to stare at the red gold on top of it. "Does this gentleman have another half?"

  Lowering his head to look at her, then glancing at the hairpin between her locks, Chi Yun said lightly: "Don't bother, it's just a hairpin, let things happen naturally."

  Saying it as if it was nothing, but clearly setting a trap. Xu Shi was so simple-minded and didn't think much of it, she just responded with a "yes" and turned around to help Hua Yu look at the hairpin.

  Jiang Xuanjin looked at Chi Jin for a while and suddenly felt that his second brother was indeed inferior to him in terms of means.

  "Your Highness." A soft voice whispered beside him, "There's news from Kyoto."

  With a sigh of relief, Jiang Xuanjin nodded and asked Li Huaiyu with a straight face: "Is there a good show to watch?"

  "What's going on?" Huai Yu leaned over, her eyes full of curiosity.

  He felt her hand, which was a bit cold. Jiang Xuanjin wrapped her tiger skin cloak tightly and said in a low voice, "Follow me."

  The people around were confused and watched as the two of them whispered to each other for a while before walking out together.

  "Hey," Qing Xuan looked at their backs with discontent and muttered softly, "Just arrived, yet leaving again?"

  "This is a common occurrence." Chi Jin said, "After a long time apart, it's inevitable that we'll be a bit awkward for a while."

  "But Ke Na Zi Yang Jun, he doesn't seem like someone who likes being clingy."

  "He just doesn't like being too close with others."

  Holding jade is not the same, previously in Jiang Fu she had already discovered that Jun Shang was impatient with everyone, finding them annoying and troublesome, but when he was with his wife, Jun Furen, no matter how tightly his brows were furrowed, he never drove her away.

  At that time, everyone thought that Jun Shang had become more even-tempered and easier to get along with. It wasn't until after Madame Jun left that everyone realized that Jun Shang hadn't changed at all; he was just more gentle when he was in a good mood.

  He gave her all the exceptions, and others could only bask in the glory, unable to get anything else.

  It's really good.

  Jiang Xuanjin walked towards the guest room with a sullen face, Huaiyu followed beside him, pulling his hand and swaying: "You've been sulking for two hours, haven't you dissipated yet?"

  It's better if he doesn't mention it, but once he does, he recalls the things that happened behind the red curtain, his jaw clenches tightly and his eyes turn sinister.

  "You said you wouldn't bully me again."

  What's the result?

  Her eyes sparkled as Li Huaiyu hooked his little finger and said, "How can that be considered bullying? You're just too serious, always blushing. Don't make a black face, it's not blushing! How could Ziyang Jun possibly blush? I'm saying you're being reserved! You're too reserved!"

  Jiang Xuanjin coldly stared at her.

  "This familiar gaze, Huai Yu looks at it and feels happy, whispers to tease him: 'Next time you don't have to glare at me, just beg for mercy, it's sure to work!'"

  Loosening her hand, Jiang Xuanjin expressionlessly said: "You go back to your room yourself."

  "What?!" Hua Yu glared, "Didn't you say there's a good show for me to watch?"

  "It's gone suddenly."

  With a wave of his cyan-colored sleeve, Jiang Xuanjin turned around and entered the guest room, "bang" shut the door.

  Hua Yu leaned against the pillar beside her and laughed straight at Chou Xiang: "How can your husband be so lovable?"

  He took a step back and curled up the corner of his mouth: "Does it hurt to be loved?"

  "Look." He stretched out his index finger and pushed it on the door string, and the two doors creaked open with a "creak".

  Li Huaiyu laughed so hard that her body shook: "So angry and yet still so lovable, isn't she just too adorable?"

  He silently endured, wiping away the cold sweat on his forehead with his sleeve, thinking to himself: "You dare say such a thing? Even I wouldn't dare nod in agreement. Isn't this just asking for trouble?"

  Hugging her stomach and laughing for a while, Huai Yu entered the door and saw Jiang Xuanjin sitting on the soft couch with his back to her. He seemed to still be angry. However, upon hearing the movement behind him, he was still fuming as he pulled over the soft cushions beside him, blocking the hard edges of the couch. Finally, he let out a cold snort.

  Hua Yu almost wanted to pounce on him and give him a kiss, but unfortunately her body was heavy and she couldn't jump up. She could only slowly crawl onto the soft couch, take a wooden hairpin and poke his arm: "This gentleman?"

  The young master ignored her and coldly sent over a letter.

  Looked at the seal of Kyoto Station, Huaiyu raised an eyebrow and didn't rush to tease him. Instead, she first opened the sealed wax and took a look.

  With just one glance, her expression became serious.

  "Zhang De investigates his crime, coffin moved to sea?" Li Huaiyu frowned, "What's going on here?"

  Zhang De was an inner servant of Emperor Xiaoming, also the eunuch who had once tried to trick her into going to Li Shandong's palace to be humiliated, and was later tortured by her. When he died, people from all walks of life condemned Princess Zhang for being ruthless, and in order to atone for the imperial family's sins, they allowed his coffin to be hidden in a mountain blessed with dragon energy.

  Now his coffin is going to be dug up and thrown into the sea, and the Taiwei Mansion has also issued a proclamation. In other words, everyone in the capital knows about this matter.

  What kind of crime could make Li Huailin make such a decision? He should be very clear. Convicting Zhang De is equivalent to justifying her behavior back then.

  "Zhang De had a sworn son who, some time ago, lost money at gambling and was chased by someone with a knife. To save his life, he shouted on the street that he had an edict from the Filial Emperor and actually took out a scroll that looked like it. The emperor was furious when he heard about it and executed him for desecrating the name of the former emperor, also implicating Zhang De."

  The person with his back to her said coldly: "You're just lucky, so even though you're far away, you can still take advantage of this good show."

  Holding jade in a daze, putting down the letter paper and raising her head to look at him: "Do you think I'm stupid? Zhang De has been by my father's side for so many years, whether he has an adopted son or not, how could I not be clear?"

  His back stiffened, Jiang Xuanjin fell silent for a moment before continuing, "Your Highness isn't a god, after all; you can't know everything."

  With a mix of anger and laughter, Huai Yu reached out to pull him over, looking into his eyes: "As it happens, I really do know everything! I haven't even received the news yet, but you've already gotten your hands on it. Zi Yang Jun, be honest with me for once - is it that hard to admit that you care about me and want to clear my name?"

  Her eyes flickered slightly, and Jiang Xuanjin pursed his lips.

  This was what he had been preparing for after learning about her past from Qing Si, and he had put a lot of thought into it, even using all sorts of schemes and tricks that he normally wouldn't stoop to, and in the end, everything went smoothly.

  Do you want him to speak out and say how? Can't it be said that I know someone bullied you, so I helped you think of a way to bully back?

  Zi Yang Jun felt that this remark was like seeking credit and sounded very childish, so he didn't say anything.

  "A member of the Jiang family does not engage in deceitful and sinister affairs." With a straight face, he looked at her and said, "I was unaware of this matter."

  Li Huaiyu narrowed her eyes: "You don't know? Fine!"

  "Green silk!"

  Someone outside the door responded and came in. Huaiyu looked at her and said: "Check for me to see how Zhang De was convicted!"

  The green silk was stunned. She glanced at the person beside her, thought for a moment, and nodded in agreement: "Yes."

  Jiang Xuanjin was somewhat helpless: "Why bother with all this effort? If the outcome is good, isn't that enough?"

  Zhang De's guilt is certain, and the great crimes that have been imposed on Princess Chang for so many years will all be dispelled. Although it is possible that many people still habitually think of Danyang as a wicked person, there will also be quite a few who come to realize that over the years, in both court and wilderness, Princess Chang's merits have actually outweighed her faults.

  Others may not understand, but the Jiang family will definitely understand.

  He was not confused and did not love the wrong person.

  Li Huaiyu stared at the person in front of her for a long time before saying: "I'm stupid, I only just reacted now."

  The previous indictment, where was it for the sake of human feelings? He had long planned to replace her and expose Li Shan's evil deeds to the public. She only saw the construction drawings of the branch canals brought by Pingling, but why didn't she see the sudden change in attitude towards her from the various local princes later on?

  It's no wonder she couldn't think of it, Jiang Xuanjin hated her so much at that time, who would have thought that under such a thick hatred, he still hid such thoughts?

  "You're this kind of person" She pursed her lips and looked down at the back of his hand.

  There was a shallow scar on her forehead, similar to the one on her neck, which he had left when he stopped her from taking her own life.

  He seems never to have said much, but what he has is no less than hers.

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