Chapter 006: Evil Destiny

Qiuzhi: "..."

She couldn't win against the young lady.

Sang Yan didn't say much more, just smiled, waved her hand, and dismissed her.

The next day,

a light rain had fallen.

The air was even fresher after the rain.

Sang Yan took people out for a stroll again.

However, due to the muddy roads, they took a carriage.

The carriage was an open-air one, suitable for sightseeing.

The scenery was beautiful.

The vast expanse was green all over, and the fragrance of flowers and plants wafted through the air.

The clear stream water burbled along.

From time to time, they saw pure white, delicate wild rabbits appearing in the bushes.

"Miss, would you like to keep a rabbit? I can catch one for you."

Seeing that Sang Yan had been staring at the rabbits several times and looked towards the bushes whenever there was a rustle, as if she really liked them, the family servant Dong Chuan thought it best to appease her interests.

Sang Yan, who was cracking melon seeds, showed some interest when she heard this and smiled, "Okay. But be careful not to hurt them."

"Yes."

After answering, Dong Chuan went to catch a rabbit.

An hour later,

he actually brought back two little rabbits.

The size of an adult's palm.

They were young.

One was pure white as snow, the other pitch black as ink.

Both were unharmed.

Sang Yan was curious upon seeing them, "How did you catch them?"

Dong Chuan smiled and said, "I found a rabbit nest with several young ones inside. I picked two that looked robust and attractive and brought them here. I originally planned to bring just one, but I feared it wouldn't survive without a companion."

He was quite considerate.

Sang Yan was very pleased and praised with a smile, "Well done, well done. You've worked hard."

Then she instructed Qiuzhi to reward him with two taels of silver.

Dong Chuan received his reward and repeatedly thanked her, "Thank you, Miss. Thank you, Miss."

Other family servants showed envious looks.

Sang Yan continued her excursion.

Soon after, a family servant saw many flowers and made a flower crown for her.

And indeed, the flower crown was beautiful.

Sang Yan liked it very much, and after putting it on, felt delightful. She also instructed Qiuzhi to reward with two taels of silver.

She was beautiful and kind-hearted, and generous in giving.

The family servants vied to please her.

If only the family servants were a bit handsomer, they'd be fresh young meat.

And being favored by these fresh young men, hehe, she felt supremely delighted.

Sang Yan liked this carefree life even more.

Suddenly, a family servant taking the lead reported that there was a swordsman practicing ahead.

Sang Yan had always been curious about ancient swordsmanship and immediately drove the carriage to see.

She hadn't realized what she was in for until she saw it—

That so-called swordsman was Jiang Ke!

Damn it!

Trouble always comes uninvited!

"Turn around! Quick, turn around!"

But it was too late.

Jiang Ke had already seen her.

He, clad in a black brocaded robe, leapt forward gracefully and alighted in front of her like a swift swallow.

"Ah Yan, does this count as fate between us?"

He sheathed his sword and sat on the side of the carriage, his handsome face smiling, his eyes twinkling like stars.

Indeed, Jiang Ke and his brother Jiang Ling were born to the same mother, both naturally good-looking.

But while Jiang Ling exuded an imposing, upright aura, Jiang Ke's disposition was slightly more biased, gloomy, and subtle.

"Fate, yes. But a cursed one!"

Sang Yan frowned, a look of disdain on her face, "Get down!"

But why would Jiang Ke obediently listen to her?

He raised his hand, lightly pinching Sang Yan's chin, admiring her, enraptured, "It's been half a year, Ah Yan, you glow more radiant than before."

"Slap!"

Sang Yan fiercely slapped away his hand, her voice low and stern, "How audacious! I am your sister-in-law!"

Jiang Ke detested the term, his face changed, his eyes sullen, his tone icy, "Ah Yan always manages to upset me. Now that you are neither in the Marquis Mansion nor in the Sang Mansion, can you really stop what I wish to do?"

Sang Yan: "..."

Forgot.

He was a bad one who yielded only to softness, not force.

"Don't be reckless."

Her tone softened, "Think about your elder brother. If you get into trouble again, how could I face anyone? I would disgrace the Jiang Family, and might as well be dead."

As she spoke, her eyes reddened, and she made a pitiful, tearful look, "Jiang Ke, do you want me to die?"

Every time this happened, Jiang Ke could only surrender, "I won't let you die. What is there to fear? I've trained in martial arts since my youth, I am physically strong and agile; nothing will happen."

"It's not about fearing the odds but fearing the unexpected. Your brother used to say the same."

"Can you stop mentioning him?"

Jiang Ke truly hated it when Sang Yan always mentioned his brother.

He had once respected this brother, but after falling for Sang Yan, just the thought of him filled him with jealousy.

Seeing this, Sang Yan didn't bring it up again, changing the subject, "If you really like me, then let me go. I have no intentions of marrying in this life."

"Shut up!"

Jiang Ke lost his patience, kicked the coachman down, grabbed the horse reins, "Sit tight. I'll take you back."

Then, pulling on the reins, he drove the horse away.

"You go out, and you don't even wear a veil hat. It's fortunate you ran into me today, but what if it were someone else?"

His possessiveness was strong, dissatisfied with her exposing herself publicly.

Listening to his arrogant and autocratic words, Sang Yan just wanted to roll her eyes—hence why these ancient men were not worth marrying. Each one bound women tighter than the last. She must have been mad to have shackled herself.

"Why are you not speaking?"

Jiang Ke rarely saw her and wanted to talk more.

Sang Yan sounded disinterested, and sighed, "I don't know what to say."

Jiang Ke hearing this, became dissatisfied again, "Is it that you don't know what to say to me?"

It was a pointed question.

Sang Yan thought this internally, but casually picked another topic, "Why are you here?"

"I came here to practice swordplay."

Jiang Ke felt that Sang Yan finally cared about him. Being a young man easily pleased, he immediately brightened up, his eyes shining as he rambled excitedly, "I've decided, next year at the martial arts examination, I will become the Martial Arts Top Scholar. Then, I'll ask the Emperor to grant us marriage."

In this dynasty, where martial prowess was esteemed over scholarship, an annual martial arts examination took place. The champion won many rewards from the Emperor.

Sang Yan: "..."

Thank you very much.

Ask the Emperor to grant a marriage?

The Emperor must be insane!

Thinking of the Emperor brought to mind those brief, awkward encounters, as well as Sang Ruoshui's hostility, her mood inexplicably melancholic, "Jiang Ke, why bother? I am six years older than you. I may still have some looks now, but time is ruthless, and soon I'll be old and faded. Why do this for me—"

"Do you think I'm only after your beauty?"

Jiang Ke's cold voice cut her off, his eyes filled with both love and hate, "Sang Yan, it has to be you. Forget it, since you can't say what I want to hear, better not to speak at all."

After that, no one spoke, and the journey continued in silence.

Jiang Ke thought Sang Yan had gone out for a leisure trip and so drove toward the Sang Mansion.

Sang Yan didn't want him to know she lived in the villa, to avoid his constant disturbances. She didn't explain.

As they neared the Sang Mansion, she finally said, "You should go back now. The servants here can take me the rest of the way."

Jiang Ke, aware that his status made lingering inappropriate, did not insist and alighted from the carriage, watching as the coachman took over and drove away.

Sang Yan looked back at him several times, hoping he would leave quickly so she could turn back to her villa.

Jiang Ke, unaware of her intentions, thought she was reluctant to part with him, which made him ecstatic and thrilled.

Fortunately, he still had some sense, knowing they were on Capital City Main Street, crowded and not a place for outbursts, he could only suppress his joy and whispered, "Wait for me. I will marry you."

Sang Yan had seen enough.

The young man's gaze was fervent, his intentions sincere.

If this were modern times, she wouldn't mind considering a relationship.

After all, she was an adult woman with her own needs.

Regrettably, this was the ancient world where men were revered over women, without equality. Better not.

"Miss!"

Someone was riding a horse toward her.

"You've returned just in time, miss!"

The man on the horse was a guard from Sang Mansion.

He pulled on the horse reins, dismounted, and within a few strides, knelt in front of the carriage, "Miss, your mother requests your presence."

Sang Yan: "..."

Sigh.

That bad premonition was surfacing again.