si-mexico Chapter 116 has a hint of jealousy.
Chapter 116 has a hint of jealousy.
"What is it?" she asked.
He was holding two green bamboo umbrellas, and he handed one to Jiang Zhi.
A smile bloomed on his lips. "I saw that it was about to rain, and I noticed that the princess didn't have an umbrella, so I specially brought one for her."
Meanwhile, the wind was blowing the signs above the roadside stalls, and the thatched sheds were rattling loudly.
Jiang Zhi smiled, took it, and said thank you.
Min hesitated before speaking, "I've heard that the Princess Consort has taken in a servant from the Imperial Household Department named Min Youxiang. Is that true?"
“It’s true,” Jiang Zhi said with a puzzled look. “Do you know him?”
Min nodded affirmatively.
"To be honest, Min Youxiang is my younger brother. I came to Yanjing this time not only to take the imperial examination, but also to find him," Min thought. "I came to Yanjing and found out that he was adopted by the Princess of Liang. I never expected to meet the Princess today."
Jiang Zhi lowered his gaze, "He's doing very well by my brother's side now. I've arranged for someone to teach him martial arts, and then he'll go to serve the General of the Cavalry."
“You can see him anytime.” Jiang Zhi slowly walked to his side. “However, he is now a member of my Jiang family.”
Min Xiang looked surprised for a moment and then looked at Jiang Zhi.
"May I take my brother back with me, Your Highness? I am willing to take care of him," he asked.
“Of course not,” Jiang Zhi refused. “His status as a slave is in my hands. He used to be a servant in the Imperial Household Department. I took him in because I hope he can go further and avenge your family.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Min Xiang looked at Jiang Zhi in disbelief, "You know about my Min family...?"
“Your brother told me this,” Jiang Zhi nodded. “You are powerless and insignificant in Yanjing now, so he won’t achieve much by following you. He is doing well in the Zhenyuan Marquis’s mansion now, and he can follow the General of the Cavalry later. He might even make military achievements and bring glory to his ancestors.”
Min wanted to silently lower her head again.
He is indeed powerless and penniless in Yanjing now, and he doesn't have much money either.
If you want revenge, you naturally have to aim higher.
Min thought that since he was now in the Zhenyuan Marquis's residence, there was no need to worry about his safety. Moreover, even if his status as a slave was in her hands.
Thinking of this, he looked at Jiang Zhi and said, "I, Min, will never forget the Princess's good intentions."
Jiang Zhi smiled.
Min wants to be in his hands again, and Min wants to owe him a favor. Favors are hard to repay, and even if he enters officialdom in the future, people will still consider his feelings.
Min Xiang added with concern, "Princess, please return to the manor as soon as possible before the rain starts, so that your clothes don't get wet."
The rain came quickly and suddenly. Just as Jiang Zhi turned around, he felt a cool sensation on his face, and large raindrops began to fall.
Just as the umbrella was opened, a familiar figure appeared.
Upon seeing Gu Liang, her eyes lit up, and she quickly walked towards His Highness.
"Your Highness, what brings you here?" Jiang Zhi asked.
This time, her tone was no longer as sharp as it had been at the beginning, and it carried a slight smile.
Gu Liang glanced at the umbrella in her hand, then at Min Xiang behind her, "It's raining."
Before he could finish speaking, he snatched the umbrella from Jiang Zhi's hand.
Jiang Zhi threw it on the ground, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes as he looked at Gu Liang.
"you--?"
"I'll come pick you up," Gu Liang said through gritted teeth. "But don't you know you can't just take things from strangers?"
Min, who was behind him, wanted to step forward.
“This must be His Highness the Prince of Liang,” Min Xiang cupped his hands in greeting. “This humble student, Min Xiang, greets His Highness the Prince of Liang.”
Gu Liang's gaze seemed to spark with intensity, but Min Xiang remained unyielding.
The two remained in a strange stalemate, attracting the curious gazes of the nearby residents.
Jiang Zhi instantly understood the point of contention between the two sides, and his eyes flashed.
She spoke first, breaking the silence, "Your Highness, let's go buy some meat."
She trailed off her words, her tone carrying a deeper meaning.
“Excuse me,” he raised his right eyebrow, his gaze seemingly challenging Min Xiang, “I’m going to the butcher shop with my princess.”
Jiang Zhi lowered his head and smiled.
She used to think Gu Liangsheng was cold and frightening, but now she finds his childishness quite amusing.
If life continues to be this harmonious yet slightly quirky, she really wishes time would slow down.
As the number of pedestrians gradually dwindled, a tall figure emerged from the other end of the street, holding an umbrella in one hand and carrying a butcher's stall in the other, through the fine rain.
Beside the tall, imposing figure, a woman in green was happily chewing on a piece of meat. Rainwater streamed down from the edge of her umbrella, splashing onto the bluestone path and creating ripples on the surface.
The perceptive Gu Liang first sensed the aura around him and slowly raised his head.
"Lord Duke," Gu Liang said, "now that you're here, why are you playing tricks?"
As Gu Liang finished speaking, a deep voice, mixed with applause, rang out.
"Your Highness, how have you been?"
Gu Liang sneered, "Does the Duke not want his head today?"
Jiang Zhi looked up at the man in front of her.
She was surrounded by men in black, but she showed no sign of panic.
Duke Liu stepped out from the group of people in black and walked up to Gu Liang.
"Your Highness, may I speak with you in private?" Duke Liu smiled.
Gu Liang ignored the person in front of her and was about to leave with Jiang Zhi.
However, they had only taken a few steps when they were surrounded by men in black.
"How dare you!" Qinghuai, who was following behind, shouted, "How dare you stop His Highness!"
Gu Liang scoffed, "Lord Duke, you can't rush things."
Duke Liu nodded, signaling the man in black to step back.
“King Liang, King Liang,” he grinned, “after all these years, you really are exactly like your mother.”
"Aren't you curious? You weren't even there at the time—"
Gu Liang's gaze faltered for a moment, then he looked at Jiang Zhi.
Jiang Zhi nodded at him with a smile in her eyes.
She didn't know what Duke Liu meant by those words, but she could tell that something was wrong with Gu Liang. She thought that smiling now might make him feel better.
Gu Liang gently handed the umbrella to Jiang Zhi and instructed Qing Huai, "Take the Princess back to the manor."
"Yes, Your Highness."
As Qinghuai led Jiang Zhi away, she glanced back at him.
Perhaps it was that one glance that sparked her endless curiosity about him.
Duke Liu looked up at Gu Liang and said, "I really want to make a deal with His Highness Prince Liang."
"Make a deal with me?" Gu Liang said casually. "What qualifications do you have to talk business with me?"
A strange glint flashed in Duke Liu's eyes.
"His Highness the Prince of Liang and his wife are a perfect match, truly the envy of all," said Duke Liu.
"Enough with the nonsense," Gu Liang replied.
Duke Liu laughed awkwardly, "Your Highness, didn't you ever doubt the authenticity of your mother's death?"
Gu Liang snorted coldly.
"Does Your Highness really believe the nonsense about dying in despair?" Duke Liu leaned closer and said in a deep voice, "If your mother's death were related to your beloved princess, what would you do? Or would you say you don't care?"
As Duke Liu finished speaking, he saw that Gu Liang remained expressionless.
His hands, hidden beneath his sleeves, tightened slightly.