There were still three days before the banquet, and most of the invitations had already been sent out. Yu Shu still had two more in her hands, one for Jing Chen and the other for Xia Mingming.
Yu Shu and Xia Mingming did not see each other much. Since the last time they cleared up the misunderstanding, they had been writing to each other at Wangji Tower. Yu Shu did not send someone to deliver the invitation to Xia Jiang's guesthouse, but personally went there.
After reporting her name at the door, Yu Shu was not rejected. After waiting for a long time, she was invited in. Xia Jiang Helang had previously listed her as a no-contact, mainly for the sake of his daughter's reputation. He was afraid that the fact that she ran away from home and was involved in a murder case would be leaked. Now everything was calm, and those who should be dead were all dead. There was no reason to keep her out.
What's more, on the day when the mathematics results were announced, even Xia Mingming, who never went out, knew about it. As an aristocratic family in the south of the Yi School, Xia Jiang Helang must have known that the little girl who saved his daughter's life had turned into a female fortune teller who had not been seen for ten years. He would not stop Yu Shu from seeing Xia Mingming.
"Miss, please sit down and drink some tea. Miss will be here soon."
The maid served the tea and went out. Yu Shu stayed in the living room alone. She looked around and saw an old bamboo painting hanging between the east window lattices. She went forward to have a look. She did not understand painting, but she could read. She found the ink on the inscription and just recognized the word "Su" from it. Then she heard a series of hurried footsteps coming from outside the door. She turned around and saw a figure walking in quickly.
"Ashu!"
Xia Mingming saw Yu Shu as soon as he entered the door. He showed a happy expression and opened a pair of bright and big eyes. He came over to hold her hand and complained, "Why did you come to me so late?"
Yu Shu looked at the little girl who had become more beautiful and beautiful after not seeing her for a month. She smiled and said, "I have been busy recently, so I came to give you the invitation. I will hold a banquet at Wangji Tower at the end of the month. Do you want to come?"
The smile on Xia Mingming's face shrank, and he said hesitantly, "I do want to go. I'm just afraid that my father won't allow it. Besides, wouldn't it be stupid for me to go to the banquet alone? "
Yu Shu said, "Then you can ask Uncle's opinion first. I will keep the invitation. If you come. Let me introduce a new friend to you. You two girls can accompany each other and drink alone in a room. It won't be a problem. "
"My father is very strict with me. These days, I only go out with him to visit friends. I've never been out on the streets." Xia Mingming pulled her to the tea table and sat down. He sighed and said, "If I can't go, don't blame me."
Yu Shu nodded and looked outside the door. She leaned forward and said in a low voice, "I reckon that after the Twin Sun Gathering, the marriage between you and the Ninth Prince will be decided. Didn't I teach you the Six Trigram Lines of Marriage? Have you ever done a divination for yourself to predict your future? "
Xia Mingming blushed slightly. She lowered her head and said shyly, "Forget it. I just don't know if it's accurate or not. The divination says that we are fated to be husband and wife, and there will be auspicious signs from the heavens. In ten or twenty days, my husband will be honored. "
Yu Shu saw that her eyes were open. It was obvious that she had no resistance to this marriage. She felt slightly relieved. After spending some time with Liu Tan, she found that this Ninth Prince was introverted and meticulous. He was quite scheming. If Xia Mingming had a grudge and could not make Liu Tan like her, she would be the one at a disadvantage when the two of them got together.
"Don't just talk about me. Tell me about you too." Xia Mingming shook Yu Shu's arm. She blinked at her and asked, "How are you and Jing Chen doing?"
Yu Shu raised her eyebrows and looked at her. "I'm doing very well. Why do you care about Jing Chen? If I remember correctly, didn't you always find him an eyesore?"
Xia Mingming patted her and said angrily, "What old history are you talking about? You know what I'm asking. Don't play dumb with me."
Yu Shu had an innocent look on her face. "How am I playing dumb with you? Didn't you want to ask about Jing Chen's current situation? Didn't I tell you in the letters that he's now a Daoist, the Emperor's nephew? He's living a good life, so you don't have to worry about him."
Xia Mingming rolled her eyes. "Who's worried about him? I'm asking about you and him."
"Hehe, he is now living in the Princess Residence. We don't see each other often. Why are you asking me about him and me?"
Xia Mingming looked at Yu Shu's fake smile. She vaguely guessed that something happened between her and Jing Chen. She rolled her eyes and cleverly didn't ask again.
In the past, they fled to the capital and lived under the same roof. Yu Shu took good care of Jing Chen, which made her jealous. At that time, she had already noticed some signs. When she heard that Jing Chen recovered his memory and revealed his identity, she was happy for Yu Shu. She didn't expect that as time passed, their relationship didn't go any further. Instead, they became estranged.
Yu Shu didn't want to continue this topic. She pointed to the painting on the wall and said, "Which master's painting is that?"
Xia Mingming looked at the white wall. "Oh, that is the real work of Su Zizhan from the previous dynasty. My father said that this stone bamboo has spiritual aura. It is better to hang it in the living room to welcome guests than the pine painting."
When Yu Shu heard the name Su Zizhan, she was a little surprised. In her previous life, she loved to eat Dongpo pork. Of course, she knew that this was the name of Su Zizhan. If it was the real work, then this painting would be quite valuable.
Hearing the familiar name of the ancient people, Yu Shu couldn't help but think of the origin of the Da 'an Dynasty. She remembered that when she first came here, she heard an old shopkeeper in a bookstore in Yiyang City talk about history. He said that after the fall of the Song Dynasty, the Jin invaded the Central Plains. A tyranny made the people have no way to live. The Emperor Anwu came out of the chaos and rose up. He called the army and led a group of capable people to expel the Tartars. He pacified the mountains and rivers. Finally, he was supported to establish a country and became the emperor.
Therefore, the Da 'an in Yu Shu's memory did not exist. It should have replaced the Yuan and Ming Dynasties to exist in the world.
Yu Shu didn't know why history was different. But she was glad that she came to this dynasty where Yi Xue was popular. It allowed her to show her ambition and not be buried by the idea of men being superior to women.
***
Yu Shu left Xiajiang Guesthouse and got on the carriage. She asked Liu Zhong to go to the Princess Mansion.
As soon as they reached the street in front of the Princess Mansion, she asked him to stop the carriage and tie it to a tree. Yu Shu took out the last invitation card from her bosom and said,
"Take the invitation card and ask to see Daozi. When you see him, tell him that he will definitely come on that day. Don't tell him that I'm coming."
After saying that, she put down the curtain. The next moment, she lifted it and stopped him. She added, "If you don't see him, leave the invitation card."
Liu Zhong was tall, but he was not stupid. He nodded and walked towards the gate of the Princess Mansion.
After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he came back. Yu Shu saw the curtain was lifted. She raised her eyelids and asked, "Did you see him?"
"Replying to Miss, Daozi is not in the mansion. I gave the invitation card to the steward and also passed on Miss's words."
Yu Shu rubbed her brows and waved her hand weakly, "Turn around and go home."
What Yu Shu didn't know was that not long after she left in the carriage, the steward of the Princess Mansion handed the invitation card to Jing Chen, who was mixing medicine in Shuxue Pavilion.
Jing Chen looked at the invitation card, folded it, and put it in his sleeve. He continued to mix the medicinal herbs on the table and handed them to the servants to boil before he turned around and went upstairs.
It was almost noon. Shui Yun was lying on the chaise lounge under the window to bask in the sun. When she heard the approaching footsteps, she closed her eyes and said,
"Did Miss Yu come by?"
Jing Chen walked to the side of the couch and stood still. His cold eyes looked out the window at the small lake in the side building. He was silent.
After a while, Shui Yun sighed softly and turned her head to look at his handsome and bright face under the sunlight. For a whole seven days, Jing Chen didn't say a word to her. She was nervous, but she couldn't let him sway.
"Senior Brother, have you made a decision after thinking about it for a few days? Do you want to cut off this fate, or do you want to continue to ignore the lives of Martial Uncles and the others? "
Her voice was soft, but there was an uncompromising warning in her words.
Jing Chen didn't look at her. He stared at the mouthful of lake water. His eyes flickered, and his lips moved. Finally, he said,
"A year ago, I met Xiaoyu outside Yiyang City. She was the first friend I made after I left the mountain, and also the person I caused the most trouble. Before I left Yiyang, I told her the truth about my fate in Ji Du. She also tried to persuade me to stay. Later, I was chased by people and lost my memory. I couldn't speak. I was saved by her on the river. She knew that I was a disaster, but she didn't abandon me. She took care of me along the way and brought me, a mute and crippled person, to the capital. After several dangers, she helped me recover my martial arts and recover my memory. She let me live a peaceful life. I can't repay this kindness. Even Master's Heaven Earth Wonder Technique, in my eyes, is not enough to make up for the disappointment I have given her. "
Shui Yun clearly saw the guilt in Jing Chen's eyes. Ever since she was a child, this was the first time she had heard him speak his mind. However, he was reluctant to part with a period of time that she didn't know. Once again, it reminded her that Jing Chen's Dao heart had been moved. It made her sad, and the corners of her mouth curled into a wry smile.
"If you don't let her down, you will harm our Celestial Master Taoist Sect. Senior Brother, do you still not know which is more important, or is your life more important?"
Jing Chen's eyes suddenly turned and fell on her half-pleading face. His expression turned cold.
"Since you know that your life is important, why did you plot to harm her life? Master and Martial Uncles are lives, isn't she also a life? The path of immortality is precious, you have cultivated for ten years, but you don't even have this little understanding. Even if you are lucky enough to escape death, it will be difficult to correct the results. If I am not important, I don't have to be in a dilemma because of your mistake, and I don't have the face to see her. If I am not important, I don't have to be in a dilemma because of your threat. You want me to sever the ties of love, shouldn't I first sever the ties of brother and sister? "
The blood drained from Shui Yun's face, and in a moment, it turned as white as paper. She couldn't believe that such heartless words came from Jing Chen's mouth. She felt wronged, but when she met Jing Chen's cold and strange gaze, she couldn't say anything. She could only bitterly call out, "Senior Brother."
Jing Chen saw her sad expression but didn't think she was wrong. He closed his eyes and looked away. Out of sight, out of mind. His breathing calmed the familiar and strange irritation in his chest. In his mind flashed the thin and straight figure of Yu Shu. He clasped his hands behind his back and slowly said,
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