After Saving The Disabled Villain, I Was Attacked In Return! - Chapter 63

Jiang Yu lifted her chin. Though this character had been mentioned a few times in the book, she hadn’t seemed to have a prominent storyline. The reason Jiang Yu remembered her so clearly was simply because she was the General’s vividly colorful character.

Apparently, in the original book, this woman had dared to love and hate openly, living a carefree and spirited life, and was deeply devoted to the Li State that nurtured her.

Among the characters Jiang Yu could remember, she was the only one the author had created who hadn’t suffered the bitter pains of conflict.

Since Chen Qianqian was a noble princess from the Li State, she naturally deserved proper hospitality. Jiang Yu lifted her skirt and stepped down from the carriage, standing beside it as she looked at Chen Qianqian across from her. Qi An, naturally, followed Jiang Yu down, never leaving her side.

“I presume you are Princess Chen Qianqian of the Li State, who has journeyed far to visit us? I am Jiang Yu, daughter of the General of the Dàyuān Dynasty. It is an honor to meet you.” This was the first sincere bow Jiang Yu had ever made to anyone besides her parents. Chen Qianqian’s kind and generous nature truly deserved such respect.

As expected, Chen Qianqian had always been wary of the General’s Residence’s power. But now that the General’s most cherished daughter was showing such humility, it proved that Jiang Shengrong wasn’t some reckless fool, and couldn’t possibly be urging the Emperor to wage wars.

With this realization, Chen Qianqian clasped her hands in a respectful bow to Jiang Yu. At that moment, Qi An felt an unprecedented sense of relief. Earlier, seeing Jiang Yu and Liu Xueyun standing so close had stirred an instinctive discomfort within her. But now, seeing the warmth in Jiang Yu’s gaze, it was clear they weren’t meeting for the first time.

Qi An began scrutinizing Chen Qianqian from head to toe. The subtly hostile gaze didn’t escape Chen Qianqian’s notice. Though naturally carefree, she knew better than to pick a fight on someone else’s turf, so she swallowed her irritation.

Moreover… Qi An exuded an aura of commanding authority, a presence typically reserved for those in positions of power.

After a brief exchange of glances, Chen Qianqian asked calmly, “So… who is this lady beside you?”

Chen Qianqian noticed the woman’s thin, modest attire, which contrasted sharply with Jiang Yu’s lavish robes. Intelligence reports had indicated that the General had only one daughter, leaving her puzzled about the woman’s identity.

To her surprise, Jiang Yu, with her oval face and innocent smile, replied, “Qi An? She’s my personal maid, but we’re also good friends—very good friends!”

Her eyes sparkled like a child showing off a treasured gem, leaving Chen Qianqian utterly stunned.

Just as Chen Qianqian was about to respond, a maid dressed in jade-green robes approached. She had just descended from Chen Qianqian’s carriage, her composed demeanor suggesting she might be a tutor or mentor.

“Your Highness, the General’s Residence is hosting a banquet tomorrow. His Majesty wishes for you to attend. The congratulatory gift has already been prepared.” Despite her youthful appearance, the maid spoke with remarkable poise and maturity.

Jiang Yu pondered what they were saying, secretly clutching her sleeve. Why did this maid in her jade-green robes appear right after Qi An was introduced?

Could it be… that the maid’s target is Qi An? The more Jiang Yu thought about it, the more frightened she grew, her cheeks paling. The current situation was already precarious, with even the officials of the Dàyuān Dynasty unable to protect themselves. Could this situation escalate to involve neighboring nations?

The biting wind outside continued to howl. Chen Qianqian finally looked up, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Miss Jiang, I hear your residence is hosting a banquet tomorrow. Might we have the opportunity to witness the splendor of your household?”

Chen Qianqian had barely arrived in the Capital, hadn’t even entered the palace for an audience with the emperor, yet she was already eyeing the General’s Residence banquet?

Jiang Yu naturally assumed that their eagerness to attend the banquet stemmed from a desire to establish connections with the General’s Residence. As long as their interest wasn’t solely in Qi An, all visitors were welcome.

Though the icy wind swept the streets, the contented faces of the Dàyuān Dynasty’s citizens glowed with warmth. The martial maiden Chen Qianqian reveled in this scene. Absent were the stark contrasts of “feasting behind crimson gates while corpses freeze in the streets.” Jiang Yu could sense the deeper meaning behind Chen Qianqian’s observation.

“Your Highness, the Princess, observe the prosperity of the Dàyuān Dynasty. A situation like ‘wine and meat stinking in the gates while the frozen dead lie in the streets’ would never occur here,” Jiang Yu stated bluntly. Her words struck Chen Qianqian like a knife, visibly altering the usually detached gaze she reserved for everything she saw.

Qi An was also moved by these words. She turned to look at Jiang Yu, who, despite her delicate appearance and tendency to tuck her head into her fur collar from the cold, could utter such bold sentiments.

Chen Qianqian stood frozen for a long moment before bursting into unrestrained laughter. Though the Dàyuān Dynasty was known for its simple customs and relative openness, it was still rare to see a woman laughing so freely in public. The onlookers glanced over with curiosity rather than reproach.

“So, Miss Jiang, you’re quite spirited. You’ll receive no less than the proper respect at tomorrow’s banquet!” With that, Chen Qianqian bowed deeply and climbed into her carriage. Her blue-robed maid curtsied haughtily before following the carriage back to the Imperial Palace.

Since their destination was the Imperial Palace, why would they deliberately block the road? And… in the original story, Chen Qianqian didn’t seem to be present at this banquet. So why was she here now?

Even after Chen Qianqian’s carriage had sped away, Jiang Yu remained rooted to the spot, lost in thought. Qi An frowned irritably, about to say something, but paused when she met Jiang Yu’s eyes.

Her tone softened immediately. “Miss… it’s cold out here. Shall we return to the carriage?” Qi An always addressed Jiang Yu as “Miss” when they were out in public. Jiang Yu nodded and clumsily climbed into the carriage, with Qi An following behind like a tireless attendant.

As soon as Jiang Yu settled in, the carriage swiftly returned to the General’s Residence. Shen Yun’s expression was strained; the banquet had taken on added importance, increasing her workload significantly.

All the planned hospitality arrangements had to be upgraded to a higher standard, requiring a large number of staff. Even some household guards were called upon to help.

From time to time, Jiang Yu worried about whether Jiang Shengrong might have made a fool of himself before the Emperor when he went to advise him to demolish the slum. After all, that little girl didn’t seem very willing to cooperate.

Standing at the Central Wing Gate, Jiang Yu gazed at the Main Hall. Shen Yun usually spent this time sitting there, sipping tea and nibbling on pastries. Now, however, she was so busy she couldn’t even sit down. Jiang Yu couldn’t help but feel a pang of melancholy.

She gently nudged Qi An with her elbow, her oval face betraying her worry. “Qi An, do you think… if I ever get married, will I have to learn all this stuff too?”

Qi An had expected Jiang Yu to ask something truly shocking. Instead, she brought up something Qi An had been avoiding: marriage.

Since spending time with Jiang Yu, Qi An had completely forgotten about the inevitability of marriage. She’d even been thinking about how to make Jiang Yu happier in the future.

If Jiang Yu did get married, the decision should belong to her future husband, shouldn’t it?

But… the moment Qi An thought the word “husband,” a dull ache settled in her chest. She lowered her head slightly and gently stroked Jiang Yu’s hair, again and again.

“If that future husband of yours dares to dump all this on you, I won’t let him off easy, okay?” Qi An spoke as if coaxing a child, her unsteady but warm strokes on Jiang Yu’s head adding to the effect.

Jiang Yu’s cheeks flushed, not from the thought of marrying anyone, but because of Qi An’s words.

She nodded vigorously, then wrapped her arms around Qi An’s waist and nuzzled her hip, her warm, flushed face radiating heat through their layers of clothing.

The pair returned to Shaoyue Pavilion in this affectionate embrace. Lu Wu, unable to follow, watched Jiang Yu with a resentful look. “Miss! Ever since Qi An came along, you’ve been ignoring me…”

Jiang Yu hurried over to comfort Lu Wu. To Qi An, the scene was unexpectedly heartwarming.

Shaoyue Pavilion looked exactly the same, even the plum blossom arrangement in the Side Hall, which was regularly refreshed as if nothing had changed.

Having been outside for too long in the cold, Jiang Yu hurried into the Main Hall. The Red Silk Charcoal continued to burn, enveloping her in its warmth the moment she entered.

The sky was just beginning to darken, with faint evening clouds lingering on the horizon. Judging by the sky, tomorrow would likely be another clear day. Jiang Yu leaned against the window, gazing out. Though a cold wind blew in, she wasn’t afraid.

As expected… the next moment, Qi An draped her warm, though not particularly thick, cloak over Jiang Yu’s shoulders. Jiang Yu shook her head slightly, contentedly watching the sunset.

Qi An didn’t urge her or say much, simply staying quietly by her side as they watched the pale clouds slowly fade.

When the sky finally darkened, Jiang Yu reluctantly pulled herself away from the window, her face full of disappointment. She looked around at the room’s elegant furnishings and bright colors, but a rare melancholy settled over her as evening approached.

“Qi An… why don’t you ever talk?” Jiang Yu didn’t realize tears had welled up in her eyes. Watching the red clouds fade, she wondered if that unreachable place was modern society.

Since she couldn’t share these feelings with anyone else, Jiang Yu felt wronged and blamed Qi An for not talking enough.

“Huh? Then… then… the weather… is really nice today…” Qi An, bewildered by the sudden criticism, began to panic.

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