When a "Sea King" is Bound to a System [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 18

After Jiang Yan spoke, the atmosphere fell into a brief silence.

Yuan Feng glanced at Yuan Zhao, who immediately said, “Auntie, I am tired from the journey and would like to rest for a while.”

Yuan Feng nodded and said to her servant, Xiliu, “Take the young master to the Shengyue Courtyard. Make sure everything is arranged properly.”

Xiliu replied, then walked to Yuan Zhao and said respectfully, “Young Master, please.”

Yuan Zhao actually wanted to stay and watch the drama, but he was afraid that his aunt would get angry at him, so he had no choice but to follow Xiliu out.

When he looked at Jiang Yan out of the corner of his eye, his face was full of schadenfreude.

Jiang Yan’s hands were itching to punch him, but she was afraid of her mother’s intimidating presence and did not dare to act out. She could only lower her head and wait for her to be reprimanded.

Yuan Zhao liked Jiang Yan’s personality. He found her to be smart, brave, and lively, which was rare among the young ladies of the capital. But to say he was in love with her was a stretch.

She was only ten years old. To talk about love was a bit too early.

After Yuan Zhao walked away, Yuan Feng let go of her pretense and pulled Jiang Yan in front of her, asking anxiously, “Yan’er, be honest with me. Who is that rascal?”

‘Not a rascal, but a rascal of a woman.’

Jiang Yan added in her mind, then played dumb in front of Yuan Feng.

“Mother, what are you talking about? What rascal? I only said that to make my cousin back off. I don’t like him, so how could I marry him?”

If her mother knew that she had such crooked thoughts about her “elder sister,” she would probably be sent to a temple to have the evil spirits cast out of her tomorrow.

Yuan Feng didn’t believe her perfunctory words, and her expression became serious. “Tell me the truth! You described the person in so much detail. I don’t believe that person doesn’t exist.”

Jiang Yan held her hand and tried to act cute to get away with it.

“Oh, Mother, I saw that in a storybook. I’m only a few years old. How could I think about such things?”

Yuan Feng was at a loss with her daughter. She had raised this little tyrant herself. What else could she do but spoil her?

“Then stop dreaming. The heroes in storybooks are all idealized. In reality, there is no such a perfect person. Your cousin is handsome and famous for his talent. He is the perfect husband candidate. You should spend more time with him. Maybe you can cultivate feelings over time.”

“Mother, I really don’t like my cousin. Can’t you let him find another young lady? There are so many young ladies in the capital. Why do we have to marry into our own family?”

Jiang Yan was a million times unwilling. Not only did she not feel a spark for Yuan Zhao, but even if she did, marrying a close relative was not an option.

Yuan Feng stood up and gave her a sharp look. “No.”

Jiang Yan: ‘Feeling exhausted.jpg.’

In order to “cultivate feelings,” Yuan Zhao stayed in the General’s Manor. The most common thing he said every day was:

“Cousin, what are you doing?”

Jiang Yan was extremely annoyed. She simply locked herself in her room and didn’t go out. After two days of this, Yuan Zhao started reciting poetry in the courtyard.

“Guan-guan go the ospreys on the river’s islet. The beautiful maiden is a fit companion for the gentleman. Cousin, come out and study poetry with me. It’s very fun.”

Jiang Yan was writing a letter to Jiang Zhen. When she heard Yuan Zhao’s annoying voice, she wanted to stuff the brush in her mouth.

She had never thought before that a person could be so annoying.

The brushstrokes, which were already poorly written, became even uglier and more crooked, looking like a dog’s scribble, due to Yuan Zhao’s influence.

When Jiang Zhen received the letter, she was in the military tent discussing the next battle plan with her father.

She was wearing a red suit of armor. Her hair was tied up high. Her face was a little tanner, and her eyes were even sharper.

There were two hearts drawn on the envelope, and the character for “Yan” was written in small script.

There were three full pages, filled with a lot of unimportant things. Jiang Zhen looked at the crooked handwriting and, while showing her disgust, continued to read. The sharp look in her eyes softened.

“Elder Sister, take care of yourself. Don’t just rush forward on the battlefield. Nothing is more important than your life. That’s all for now. A mosquito has been buzzing in my ear. I’m going to swat it to death!”

Jiang Zhen looked at the last sentence and fell into deep thought. ‘Where would a mosquito come from in this weather?’

Jiang Yan couldn’t stand Yuan Zhao’s pretentious and annoying behavior anymore. She stood on the steps, holding a hand warmer. “Cousin, if you really have nothing to do, why don’t you go find a jail to sit in? Or you can go back and study poetry with my uncle. Can you please stop bothering me?”

Yuan Zhao “slapped” his fan shut, walked closer to Jiang Yan, and lowered his voice. “Cousin, who is your beloved? Tell me, and I’ll go check him out for you.”

Jiang Yan wanted to shove the hand warmer into his mouth. ‘How can a man be so nosy!’

“Cousin, you don’t need to worry about my business. If you’re bored, you should go back to the manor early.”

Yuan Zhao looked composed, completely ignoring the obvious “hint” in her words.

“Cousin, you don’t have to tell me. I’ll just stay in the General’s Manor for a while and ‘cultivate feelings’ with you every day. Over time, you will naturally discover how wonderful I am.”

After Yuan Zhao finished speaking, he left, fanning himself. His clothes fluttered, and his white robe contrasted with the snow on the ground, making him look very carefree.

Jiang Yan: “You show-off!”

‘Holding a fan on a cold day… you must have a screw loose.’

From then on, Yuan Zhao fulfilled his “promise” and stayed in the General’s Manor until the end of the year, annoying Jiang Yan every day.

At first, Jiang Yan would try to persuade him to leave. Over time, she stopped caring and even found a way to deal with him.

“Cousin, are you going back to the manor tomorrow?”

Yuan Zhao’s eyes lit up, and his gossip-loving soul took over. “Are you planning to go out and see your lover with me?”

Jiang Yan hadn’t planned on it. But his words gave her a bold idea.

“You don’t need to know where I’m going. Just get me out of the manor.”

As long as Yuan Zhao covered for her, her mother would definitely let her leave. At that time, she would be free to go wherever she wanted.

‘The plan is a success.’