Volume One, Chapter Thirteen: I Can Help You

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Within the hall, the silence was broken only by the bitter winter wind howling outside.

Suddenly, another gust swept through, lifting the hair by Jiang Zhinian’s ear. Unease stirred within her. When she turned, every candle in the room had gone out, leaving nothing but darkness.

The intruder was already standing before her. Jiang Zhinian started and instinctively retreated, nearly knocking over the long table.

The inkstone fell from the table, spilling ink everywhere.

Hearing the crash, Lu Junyan reached out to steady the table. With his other arm, he encircled Jiang Zhinian and caught the inkstone before it struck the floor. Ink seeped into his sleeve.

Fortunately, this kept Jiang Zhinian from collapsing completely. Yet it left Lu Junyan standing with her wholly enclosed before him, the two of them so close that they could almost hear each other breathing.

When Jiang Zhinian recognized him, her heart sank. She thrust out a hand to push him away and was just about to call for help—

Lu Junyan had already set the inkstone back on the table and covered her mouth.

“The Crown Prince’s betrothed secretly meeting another man in the Scripture Repository. If Miss Jiang wishes to call for help, by all means, do so.”

With that, Lu Junyan withdrew his long fingers from her frightened, deathly pale face.

His words struck Jiang Zhinian like thunder. Every sentence corresponded exactly to what had happened in her previous life.

She had clearly been reborn. She had avoided so many events. How, then, could she still escape this man?

Jiang Zhinian gritted her teeth slightly. “What exactly do you want?”

She looked at Lu Junyan with a warning in her eyes, only to remember in the next instant that he suffered from an eye ailment and could not see at all.

“Why do you keep clinging to me?” She refused to believe that such things could be mere coincidence.

Lu Junyan’s dark eyes were sightless, but he caught the important point. “Keep? Miss Jiang and I have barely met a few times.”

Her suspicions hardened.

Jiang Zhinian shoved him away. Caught off guard, Lu Junyan fell backward and landed sitting on the floor.

Taking the opportunity, she rose and moved away from him. As she straightened her robes, she said, “Since Young Lord Lu is in the Scripture Repository today, I shall not disturb you.”

“With the palace banquet approaching, I hope I will not see you here again tomorrow.”

Lu Junyan sensed her pass by him. “In previous years, several princesses copied the scriptures together. This year, it is you and the Crown Prince. From the looks of it, the Crown Prince will not be helping you.”

“Miss Jiang, you had best make haste. If you miss the auspicious hour for burning the scriptures, how will you answer for it?”

Jiang Zhinian stopped. She turned to look at Lu Junyan, who was seated on the floor. He extended a hand with perfect composure, as though he had known she would stop and turn back to pull him up.

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“How do you know—”

“I can help you.” Lu Junyan’s voice was cool and clear.

Jiang Zhinian gave a mocking laugh and reached out to help him up. “Young Lord, you can barely walk. How could you possibly help me copy the scriptures?”

Finishing all those scriptures before the palace banquet would indeed be difficult, but she could stay up through the night to copy them. She had endured many such nights practicing calligraphy and completing her lessons at home.

She assumed Lu Junyan was joking. After helping him to his feet, she turned and prepared to leave.

Standing upright, Lu Junyan casually brushed the dust from his clothes. “I mean that I can help you change the Crown Prince’s mind and ensure that you marry into the Eastern Palace.”

Before the entrance to the Scripture Repository, Jiang Zhinian withdrew the hand she had been about to place on the door.

A heaviness settled over her heart, while memories of her previous life churned through her mind.

If not for him, she would already have married into the Eastern Palace in her former life.

How could Lu Junyan have the audacity to say such a thing to her now?

Jiang Zhinian slowly clenched her hand inside her sleeve. Tears gathered in her eyes, and she fought down the urge to demand an explanation from him.

After all, before she died in her previous life, she had heard with her own ears that Madam Jiang and Jiang Ruoqi had plotted to ruin her. Perhaps Lu Junyan had also been one of the victims.

“This is my own affair. It has nothing to do with Young Lord Lu.”

Jiang Zhinian pushed open the door and left the Scripture Repository.

She had already done everything in her power not to direct her resentment at Lu Junyan.

Besides, Jiang Zhinian no longer wished to marry the Crown Prince. On the contrary, she was now searching for a way to escape the fate of becoming engaged to him.

Yunchu waited outside the Scripture Repository for a long time, but Lu Junyan did not emerge. When he finally went inside to look for him, he found that his young master had neatly placed a stack of scriptures beside the long table.

“Young master, your sleeve is stained with ink.” Yunchu came forward to support Lu Junyan. His young master had always been particular about cleanliness.

He had gotten so much ink on himself today, yet why was he not angry?

Only after restoring the entire table to its original order did Lu Junyan leave the Scripture Repository.

—

The moment Jiang Zhinian returned to the Jiang residence, a servant from Jiang Ruoqi’s household stopped her and said that the eldest young master had an important matter to discuss and wished her to come at once.

She followed him to the dining hall, where she found the entire family already seated around the table. Jiang Ruoqi’s face was glowing with delight.

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When he saw Jiang Zhinian, he restrained his smile slightly. “You’re finally back. We were waiting for you.”

Once Jiang Zhinian had taken her seat, Jiang Ruoqi rose with his cup and toasted Jiang Ruozhen.

“I owe my restoration to office entirely to Ruozhen! This cup is my thanks to you, little sister.”

Jiang Ruozhen’s face flushed faintly, and she looked a little embarrassed. “Elder Brother, we are siblings. There is no need to be so formal. Whatever concerns you concerns me as well.”

Mother Jiang looked at Jiang Ruozhen with immense satisfaction. “Ruozhen has truly grown up. She can finally help shoulder the family’s burdens.”

“You are so sensible that it breaks your mother’s heart.”

Seeing that Mother Jiang was about to shed tears again, Jiang Cheng hurriedly handed her a handkerchief. “It is a day for celebration. No tears today.”

Jiang Zhinian watched the scene with an indifferent gaze. The children were harmonious, and the parents affectionate. Had she not seen and endured everything herself, she might even have shed a few tears along with them.

Jiang Ruoqi also noticed how out of place she seemed. His gaze fell upon the untouched wine cup before her.

“Zhinian, I have been restored to office. Are you not happy for me?”

“Then congratulations, Elder Brother.”

At her lukewarm words, Jiang Ruoqi’s delight suddenly dimmed. He truly could not understand what had happened to Jiang Zhinian.

The Jiang Zhinian of the past had encouraged him whenever he was discouraged. No matter what difficulties he faced, she would always find a way to help him.

This time, when he had been dismissed from office, she had done nothing but mock him and stand by with folded arms.

Her cold attitude put Jiang Ruoqi in a foul mood as well. “I cannot accept congratulations like that.”

“Some people have been raised by the Jiang family for more than ten years, yet possess not the slightest gratitude. Whenever trouble befalls the family, all they know how to do is stand aside and watch.”

Jiang Ruozhen gently explained, “Elder Brother, if not for Sister, I would never have had the chance to enter the palace.”

Jiang Ruoqi dismissed this with a wave of his hand. “Ruozhen, she merely happened to take you into the palace with her. Besides, that opportunity was exchanged for the favor you once did her. Do not worry. I will always remember your kindness.”

How many benefits could Ruozhen have asked for in return for that favor?

Yet she had asked for nothing. Instead, she had chosen to help him. Jiang Ruoqi was deeply moved and secretly vowed that, if Ruozhen ever needed anything in the future, he, as her elder brother, would spare no effort to fulfill it.