BXBX NOVEL Chapter 85 - 85: Enemies on a Narrow Road
He then spoke softly, “Mei, when you’re in the General’s Mansion, keep a watch on not just Jiang Yuan and his brothers, but also Jiang Peihuan.”
“Jiang Peihuan?”
“What for?”
Jian Mei’s eyes were full of confusion.
“Don’t question why. It’s Prince Qing’s command. Just follow it,” he explained.
Seeing Jian Mei’s troubled face, Meng Yi expressed his concern. “Mei Er, I know you’re upset, but you need to bear it for the sake of avenging your father.”
“Uncle Meng, I understand what you’re saying.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll do as you say.”
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now.”
“Okay, be careful on the way.”
Jian Mei nodded at Meng Yi and took her leave. As she exited the room, Yue Er and Lan Er hurried to Jiang Peihuan’s side. “Eldest Miss, Second Miss, the lady from across has come out.”
Hearing this, Jiang Peihuan and Jiang Ruyun moved to the door. Instead of opening it, they discreetly poked a hole in the door’s paper.
Jian Mei was seen leaving from the room opposite, but to Jiang Peihuan’s surprise, she also caught a glimpse of Meng Yi.
Jiang Ruyun had also witnessed this scene.
“Why is this woman with Uncle Meng?”
“Could she be trying to seduce both my father and Uncle Meng?”
“No, I need to reveal her true intentions.”
Jiang Ruyun subconsciously wanted to open the door, but was stopped by Jiang Peihuan.” Elder Sister?”
“How are you so sure it wasn’t Uncle Meng who invited Miss Jian?”
“That…how is that possible?”
Jiang Peihuan had already formed a guess, but the rest of the Jiang family was still in the dark about Meng Yi’s real identity.
After some thought, Jiang Peihuan briefed Jiang Ruyun about Meng Yi. On hearing this, Jiang Ruyun was left shocked.
She stared at Jiang Peihuan in disbelief, her eyes wide with astonishment. “Elder Sister, is what you said true? Uncle Meng, is a bad person? But that doesn’t make sense. He’s been with our uncle for so many years, how could he be a bad person?”
“Bad people don’t always wear a label that says ‘bad.\'”
“In any case, keep a close eye on Miss Jian when we get back. But don’t make any rash moves. We don’t want to spook her.”
Jiang Ruyun was still grappling with the revelation about Meng Yi. Jiang Peihuan decided not to press the issue further.
Once Meng Yi also left the private room, Jiang Peihuan turned to Jiang Ruyun and said, “Alright, let’s head back.”
“Elder sister, now that we’re already out, let’s take a stroll before heading back.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve been out for a leisurely walk.”
Jian Peihuan subconsciously wanted to decline, but seeing the hopeful look in Jiang Ruyun’s eyes, she gave a nod. “Only for a couple of hours, at most.”
“Great, thank you, elder sister.”
Jiang Ruyun’s smiling eyes brought a soft smile to Jiang Peihuan’s lips.
Jiang Peihuan didn’t mind Jiang Ruyun’s naive antics. As long as she didn’t cause harm to the Jiang family, Jiang Peihuan would always protect her as a part of the family.
“Elder sister, let’s go to the LingLong Pavilion. I haven’t bought any jewelry in ages.”
“Alright.”
Looking at the array of dazzling jewelry, excitement filled Jiang Ruyun’s eyes. But Jiang Peihuan remained indifferent.
“Elder sister, what do you think of this bracelet?”
At Jiang Ruyun’s query, Jiang Peihuan stepped forward. Jiang Ruyun held a white jade bracelet of excellent quality.
“If you like it, wear it. It’s my gift to you.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Seeing Jiang Peihuan nod, the smile in Jiang Ruyun’s eyes deepened. But just as she was about to put the bracelet on, it was swiftly snatched away.
“Master Cao, what do you think of this bracelet?”
Yan Xin, holding the bracelet she’d just taken from Jiang Ruyun, turned to the man beside her with a smile.
The man wasn’t strikingly handsome, but his gentle demeanor and decent looks made him appealing.
Hearing Yan Xin’s question, Cao Jun frowned. “Miss Yan, it seems this bracelet caught the attention of my lady. Perhaps you might want to consider something else?”
Cao Jun looked somewhat irritated. His family, the Cao’s, weren’t nobility but they were respectable scholars. He found Yan Xin’s behavior distasteful, but he couldn’t argue against his parents’ wishes.
Despite hearing Cao Jun’s displeasure, Yan Xin replied nonchalantly, “But I really like this bracelet.”
She naturally knew that Cao Jun was unhappy. She wanted him to be unhappy.
The man she desired was a refined gentleman, not someone ordinary like Cao Jun.
Jiang Ruyun’s good mood was instantly ruined. Staring at the bracelet now in Yan Xin’s hand, she spoke coldly, “Yan Xin, do you always have this compulsion to snatch other people’s belongings?”
“What do you mean by snatch? Have you paid for this bracelet?”
“If it hadn’t been taken from my hand, I would have already paid.”
“That just means you haven’t paid yet. So, now that it’s in my hands, it’s mine.”
“By Miss Yan’s logic, the bracelet belongs to whoever holds it, is that right?”
Jiang Peihuan, who had been watching the whole situation, chimed in.
At the sound of Jiang Peihuan’s voice, a flicker of panic crossed Yan Xin’s face, but she quickly regained her composure. “Yes, the bracelet belongs to whoever…Ah…”
Before Yan Xin could finish her sentence, she felt a sudden pain on the back of her hand. Jiang Peihuan had stepped forward, snatched the bracelet from her, and smacked the back of her hand quite hard.
Yan Xin looked at her hand, the back of which was now bright red.
Seeing this, Jiang Ruyun’s eyes filled with surprise. “Take it. Make sure you keep your belongings safe. 1 won’t help you retrieve it again.
Jiang Peihuan spoke with a calm voice as she handed the bracelet over to Jiang Ruyun.
“Thank you, elder sister.”
Jiang Ruyun accepted the bracelet from Jiang Peihuan and immediately adorned her wrist with it.
“Yue Er, go pay the bill.”
“Yes, Young Miss.”
“Jiang Peihuan, you shouldn’t overstep.”
Staring at Jian Peihuan, Yan Xin said angrily. Yet, Jiang Peihuan showed no reaction, seemingly ignoring her words entirely.
Seeing this, Yan Xin is dissatisfied. She turned to Cao Jun who was beside her, “Are you just going to watch them bully me?”
“Cao Jun, what arc you staring at?”
Yan Xin realized Cao Jun was frozen in place. Following his gaze, she found his attention was fixed on Jiang Ruyun.
Seeing this scene, Yan Xin’s eyes were filled with frustration.
If Cao Jun’s attention was on Jiang Peihuan, she could have tolerated it. But Jiang Ruyun? She was a divorced woman from the Huainan Mansion.
Even though Yan Xin didn’t have feelings for Cao Jun, she felt insulted by his attention on another woman, “Cao Jun, don’t let yourself be fooled by Jiang Ruyun. She’s a discarded wife, sent away with a divorce letter from the Huainan Mansion.”
“You can’t possibly find such a…”
“Silence!”
Jiang Ruyun’s eyes blazed with fury upon hearing Yan Xin’s words. Just as Jiang Peihuan was about to speak up, Cao Jun’s voice of rebuke echoed in the room..