Reborn Spoiled Girl Tames the Regent

Chapter 35 Whose belt is this?!

The woman beside him poked him with the celery in her hand and said, "Your wife was asking all sorts of questions on the boat just now, she was very worried. If you have her in your heart, then cherish her well, lest you regret it later. No vixen outside is as good as the one at home!"

Xiao Hengzhi lowered his head and asked, "Is Madam very worried?"

Under the woman's gaze, Jiang Mian nodded helplessly.

"Look at your wife, she's so gentle and virtuous, and you still come to a place like this? Don't you feel sorry for her?"

Xiao Hengzhi looked at Jiang Mian with a tenderness in his eyes that was obvious to everyone else.

He then held her in his arms, whispered in her ear, and said softly, "Madam... I'm sorry."

Jiang Mian was momentarily lost in thought, and for some reason, the image of the Regent suddenly appeared in her mind.

But in an instant, she stopped herself from having that thought.

Then he broke free from Xiao Hengzhi's embrace and turned to look at the woman: "Thank you for your help today, my lady. I will definitely keep my husband in check from now on."

"Alright, I'm relieved to see that you two are both safe and sound."

The woman nodded, then picked up her vegetable bag and went to catch the boat under the bridge. The onlookers gradually dispersed.

Jiang Wan glared at Xiao Hengzhi: "I thought I had embarrassed you in public, but I didn't expect you to put on such an act."

Xiao Hengzhi rubbed his fingers, feeling the lingering warmth, and smiled slightly, "Did the Second Miss come to see me specifically?"

"My aunt said she saw you come here. I thought you were here to investigate..."

She was about to ask him about the Drunken Sound Pavilion, but the words caught in her throat, and a hint of probing appeared in her eyes: "Do you think I'm disturbing you and that girl?"

“She’s not in Zuiyin Tower,” Xiao Hengzhi said calmly.

"Oh." Jiang Man kicked the pebbles on the ground listlessly.

A brief silence fell over the room.

The two walked forward side by side, their steps light and slow.

As Jiang Mian walked onto the arched bridge, she remembered the belt again.

She suddenly stopped, turned around to look at him, and frowned slightly: "Do you really like her?"

She stood on top of him, looking him in the eye.

In the night, the soft light shimmering on the water shone on her face, making her look incredibly beautiful.

Xiao Hengzhi gazed into her eyes, his heart stirred, and he couldn't help but recall a similar scene from his past life.

That was the first New Year he spent with Jiang Mian. Auspicious snow fell from the sky, and the city was filled with the warmth of fireworks, a peaceful atmosphere prevailing everywhere. The river under the bridge was frozen solid, and a child was holding firecrackers. With a loud bang, she was startled and shrank into his arms.

That was the first time he had been so close to her. He was so nervous that he trembled and tried his best to remain calm while holding onto the bridge pillar, but she still noticed.

So she deliberately teased, "Xiao Hengzhi, do you like me?"

At that time, she looked just like that, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at him.

At that moment, he was so nervous that he didn't know what to do. He mustered all his courage, looked at her earnestly, and answered, "I like you."

Jiang Mian paused, seemingly anticipating his answer, and responded softly, "I understand."

Xiao Hengzhi then realized that the words he was thinking had slipped out of his mouth.

He came to his senses and looked up to see that Jiang Wan had already turned and walked away.

......

The next day, before dawn, Jiang Xun got up and changed into his court robes. Today was a grand court assembly, and all the officials were present.

As he was organizing his memorials in his study, holding his official tablet and about to leave, he saw Jiang Mian standing at the door.

“Father,” she said softly.

Seeing her with large dark circles under her eyes and a preoccupied look, Jiang Xun waved away the servants and asked, "What brings you here so early?"

Jiang Wan lowered her eyes and gently bit her lower lip: "I've come to ask Father for permission to do something..."

"What's the matter?"

Jiang Mian was in a state of turmoil. For some reason, this matter was making her feel very troubled, even though she had been eager to annul the engagement before.

She stammered, "It's about that matter Xiao Hengzhi mentioned to you last time..."

Jiang Xun's expression darkened slightly as he replied, "This matter is of great importance and requires careful consideration. Besides, there's no rush."

"But if this continues, our daughter will be bound by this relationship with him, and it will always be inconvenient for her when she's out, especially for him..."

Especially since he has another woman outside...

She didn't say those words aloud.

Jiang Xun stood up, somewhat displeased, and said, "Do you think going to the front lines is an easy thing? He wants to earn military merit and come back to marry you, but look at his physique, can he handle it on the front lines? It's a matter of life and death. If he dies in battle, you'll be a widow!"

Jiang Wan stood there, stunned, the words echoing in her mind—'He wants to earn military merit and come back to marry you'...

"Alright, it's still early, go and rest. I'll consider this matter myself."

After Jiang Xun finished speaking, he left the door, leaving Jiang Mian standing there in astonishment.

So... what Xiao Hengzhi told his father was not to break off the engagement.

Instead, marry her?

Jiang Wan was a little confused. If Xiao Hengzhi wanted to marry her, why was he still thinking about that girl outside?

Could it be that he wants to become a live-in son-in-law in the Jiang family and keep a mistress?

What exactly is Xiao Hengzhi thinking?

Jiang returned to her room, but tossed and turned, unable to sleep, her mind a jumble of thoughts.

As soon as it was light, she knocked on Xiao Hengzhi's door.

Xiao Hengzhi had just finished washing up and hadn't changed his clothes yet. He opened the door thinking it was Ruiju, but he didn't expect it to be Jiang Mian.

He was dressed in a white nightgown, his expression relaxed, with the languor of someone who had just woken up.

Jiang Wan didn't stand on ceremony at all. She went straight into the house, sat down, and poured herself a cup of hot tea.

She cleared her throat and questioned, "Xiao Hengzhi, tell me the truth. What are you hiding from me?"

Xiao Hengzhi closed the door, feeling momentarily at a loss.

Ask him about the things he's been hiding from her? There are too many.

What's so compelling that someone would come so early in the morning to question this? Is it about stealing a horse? Or about stealing a kiss from her?

No, after thinking it over, he realized that Jiang Mian had been an empress and was very skilled at interrogating servants; she must be trying to trick him.

Xiao Hengzhi then replied calmly, "Please speak frankly, Miss."

Seeing that he still wanted to hide it, Jiang Mian chuckled and, without wasting any more time, simply asked directly.

With a flick of her wrist, she pulled an indigo belt from her sleeve and slammed it on the table: "This belt fell off yesterday when the maid was washing your bedding. It was such a coincidence that I found it. Do you have anything to say?"

Xiao Hengzhi looked flustered for a moment and said, "Second Miss, there's been some misunderstanding. I've wanted to tell you about this belt for a while now."

“Tell me? I have no interest in your secrets with that woman.”

Xiao Hengzhi then realized that she had mistaken the belt for someone else's.

He walked over, squatted down beside her, and explained, "Second Miss, this belt doesn't belong to anyone else."

"It's not someone else's! Or is it mine?!" Jiang Mian roared.

She didn't know what kind of rage she was feeling, but after holding it in for so many days, she finally let it out.

After she finished speaking, the room became unusually quiet, and even the sound of the autumn wind falling on the window frame seemed exceptionally clear.

Xiao Hengzhi looked up at her, and Jiang Wan then realized something. She picked up the belt again, glanced at it, and asked, "Is this mine?"

Xiao Hengzhi nodded slowly and gently: "The Second Miss used to have many styles of clothes. If she didn't like them anymore, she would throw them in the storeroom. This belt was stolen by Ruilan, which is why I chased her away. But I forgot to return this belt to the Second Miss."

His explanation was very clear, but it left Jiang Mian's mind somewhat confused for a moment.

She vaguely remembered that there was indeed a storeroom in her home, filled with clothes she didn't like. However, due to the overlap between the two lifetimes, she could no longer recall these details.

If what he said is true, then it seems that her outburst just now was unreasonable.

Regardless, even if the belt is hers.

But he has a girl he likes outside.

She's still a pampered girl.

She felt inexplicably annoyed by this thought, and she wanted to get to the bottom of it.

She cleared her throat, sat up straight, and said, "Let's forget about the belt. Now tell me, why did you tell Father you wanted to marry me when you already had a girl you liked outside?"

Xiao Hengzhi breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed that when she spoke of being frank, she meant this matter.

This is a good thing; it's the thing he's most willing and easiest to confess.

Moreover, he was somewhat pleased when Jiang Mian asked him about this.

Does this mean she cares about him too? Perhaps this time, she might fall for him?