Queen O's Timid Fugitive A - Chapter 46
46
The cool spring breeze was refreshing, and the clear blue sky, free of clouds, was dotted with kites of various shapes. The lush bamboo forest on the mountain swayed like waves of emerald green.
Clang!
The iron hammer traced an arc through the air, striking a nail with force. The slightly blunt tip left a dent in the silver bar. Jiang Ciqing, with long legs bent awkwardly, sat on a small wooden stool, her brows lowered in focus and seriousness.
The sudden rain had lasted only an hour before abruptly stopping, leaving behind scorching sunlight that evaporated the puddles completely.
The Qi family had specially sent someone up the mountain to urge them, skeptical that the old monk in the dilapidated temple could have any medical skills. They feared delaying further would worsen the injury.
Thus, a group of people hurriedly descended the mountain once the stone steps dried. On the way, they heard that several of their companions who had gone up the mountain had fallen ill after returning home. The Jiang family’s carriage was halfway out of the city when Jiang Ciqing heard the news and promptly “fell ill” as well.
It wasn’t hard to understand. Though those companions were robust Alphas, they were still pampered young masters from noble families. The spring chill in the mountains, combined with several days of rain, the leaky guest rooms in the temple, and the thin blankets that barely provided cover…
It would be surprising if a few didn’t fall ill!
But if they were all sick, how could the famously frail, delicate “sickly” Jiang Ciqing, who supposedly couldn’t withstand a gust of wind, be perfectly fine?
So, Jiang Ciqing immediately caught a “cold” and started coughing nonstop.
Her performance was so convincing that even Ah Fu, the driver outside the carriage, couldn’t help but glance back at her several times, helplessly reminding her, “We haven’t entered the mountains yet, Family Head. You can start coughing a bit later.”
This made Jiang Ciqing sheepishly swallow the string of coughs she was about to unleash.
It was now the afternoon of the third day. Having taken medicine and rested in bed for a day, Jiang Ciqing, the “sickly” one who had recovered from her fever and couldn’t stay idle, used the excuse of forging to sweat it out and came to the back mountain to work on a bracelet.
A promise to a little girl couldn’t be delayed, after all. As for Lord Liu’s long sword, that required more thought and preparation. Lord Liu had spent so much money; if he received a blade forged in just a day, he’d surely feel shortchanged.
Jiang Ciqing understood him and decided to take seven to ten days to refine it before starting the forge.
The hammer in her hand swung repeatedly, and in no time, a half-bloomed peach blossom took shape. Perhaps due to Jiang Ciqing’s unique way of thinking, her mind always wandered at times like this.
Xu Fusheng’s mention of meeting “tomorrow night” was likely to be postponed indefinitely. They had just descended the mountain when news arrived that the Northern Di and Eastern Xia had mobilized troops to invade the border again. Jiang Ciqing was visibly stunned. Though she had anticipated another invasion, she hadn’t expected it so soon. The Third Princess abandoned her carriage and rode straight back on horseback.
After all, everyone had seen how triumphant the Fifth Prince was last time. Who wouldn’t want a share of the spoils?
The next day at court, the three princes and princesses, along with their factions, nearly came to blows in their scramble for power. Even the noble families, usually so refined, were on the verge of fighting in front of the emperor.
Even Liang Ji, who wanted to play the three factions against each other, couldn’t make a unilateral decision this time. In a moment of inexplicable whimsy, he ordered a general to lead an army of 100,000 to the border first, then took a group of princes, princesses, and imperial clansmen to the royal hunting grounds for a spring hunt. He declared that whoever won the hunt would be appointed as the commander-in-chief for this campaign.
Not only was this unprecedented, but the very idea of sending an army to war without a designated commander was utterly absurd.
Jiang Ciqing was speechless for a long time upon hearing this. Finally, she asked, “Is Xu Fusheng going too?”
“The emperor personally named her to join.”
The royal hunting grounds were on the eastern outskirts of the capital, while the Jiang family’s Bamboo Mountain was in the west. A round trip would take at least two hours, and she’d have to be cautious not to be noticed…
In short, it was troublesome and risky. It would be better to wait for a more suitable opportunity after this matter passed.
Perhaps because she had received a response from the other party, Jiang Ciqing wasn’t in a rush. She even felt she had already figured something out.
Her mind flashed through all of Xu Fusheng’s actions since arriving in Southern Liang. Previously, Jiang Ciqing hadn’t known Xu Fusheng’s true identity, so she was confused and uncertain.
She couldn’t understand why someone with such formidable backing, feared by all, didn’t simply choose a prince to align with. No matter who Xu Fusheng chose, she would have been a tremendous asset and received great favor.
Yet Xu Fusheng remained aloof from all three, minimizing her own advantages. Jiang Ciqing vaguely sensed that their goals were aligned, which was why she had added some fuel to the fire toward the Fifth Prince. Still, she hadn’t understood why Xu Fusheng acted this way.
It wasn’t until later, when she learned Xu Fusheng’s true identity and probed that Xu Fusheng was aware of the tragedy that had destroyed her family years ago, that Jiang Ciqing confirmed their goals were the same: to disrupt Southern Liang and avenge past wrongs.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have dared to let her guard down so easily…
Another peach blossom appeared. Jiang Ciqing set down the hammer, deciding not to continue carving. Too many patterns would make the bracelet look cluttered. Three fully bloomed peach blossoms and one half-opened bud were just right. She had specially engraved Qin Yun’er’s name inside. After inspecting it several times, she nodded in satisfaction.
As expected from her handiwork.
Finally, she gently hammered the bracelet around a bamboo-shoot-shaped wooden post to give it a curved shape. Since the child was still growing, she deliberately left it unwelded, making it an open bracelet for future size adjustments.
The forging room echoed with clanging sounds, and Jiang Ciqing’s hammering outside added to the racket. The birds perched on the eaves, reluctant to leave the warmth rising from the forging room but annoyed by the noise, hesitated about whether to fly away.
At that moment, someone approached, snapping twigs underfoot. The steps were heavy but unsteady, suggesting a heavyset person with an unstable stance.
The hammer paused, and the ears beneath her dark hair twitched slightly. The next moment, she resumed her usual demeanor.
“Family Head,” Di Changjie emerged from the shade of the trees.
Jiang Ciqing didn’t even glance at him, saying casually, “Didn’t I give you time off to spend with your wife?”
Ever since the incident outside the delivery room, where Li Zhixun faced a difficult childbirth and her Alpha was so frightened he begged to save her life, Jiang Ciqing had given Di Changjie several months off to stay by his Omega’s side. She had even sent over plenty of tonics.
Di Changjie grinned, unfazed by her attitude. He dragged a small wooden stool over and plopped down beside her, chuckling, “She just fell asleep, so I slipped out for some air. I ran into Brother Ah Fu, and he asked me to pass on a message.”
Jiang Ciqing shot him a sideways glance and asked, “What message?”
“Miss Zhile will arrive in Southern Liang in a few days.”
At this, Jiang Ciqing raised an eyebrow, a hint of joy crossing her face. She turned and said, “Why so soon? Didn’t they say it’d be April or May?”
That was at least two months earlier than expected.
“No idea what’s going on. The messenger was vague, saying Miss Zhile specifically instructed not to tell you—it’s supposed to be a big surprise.”
“A surprise?” Jiang Ciqing froze, her tone laced with astonishment.
Matters like iron ore couldn’t be discussed openly, so any details would have to wait until they met in person. For Li Zhile to make such a fuss about a “big surprise,” it had to be something else.
“Yeah, the messenger said Miss Zhile was adamant. If he spilled the beans early, she’d break his legs. But it sounds like good news—he couldn’t stop grinning when he mentioned it,” Di Changjie scratched his head, equally puzzled.
Jiang Ciqing couldn’t figure it out and decided to let it go. In half a month at most, she’d see Li Zhile and find out everything.
“Hey, is that bracelet done?” Di Changjie’s eyes darted to the silver bar in her hand, his tone exaggerated as if he’d just noticed it.
A sly glint appeared on his dark face as he clicked his tongue. “Our Family Head’s craftsmanship is top-notch. That forging talent is unmatched—long swords, small trinkets, all beautifully made…”
Jiang Ciqing, who had grown up with him, saw right through his flattery. She laughed and scolded, “What are you scheming now?”
No sooner had she spoken than Di Changjie seized the opportunity, saying, “Alright, thanks, Family Head, for making a longevity lock for my kid!”
Huh?!
What nonsense was this?
Jiang Ciqing spun around and kicked him. “Stop spouting nonsense!”
Di Changjie, unsteady on his feet, was hit in the shin and toppled off the stool, landing on his backside. But at less than half a leg’s height, it didn’t hurt much. He simply sat on the ground, playing the rogue. “I don’t care! My son’s your nephew. You’ve already kicked his dad—you can’t not make a longevity lock for your nephew.”
He glanced at the bracelet again, which he’d just praised to the skies. Now, he found fault. “Silver’s no good. If you’re making one, make it gold.”
What kind of proper guard was this? He was clearly a shameless rascal! It made Jiang Ciqing, the Family Head, reflect for a moment, confirming she hadn’t been stingy with them. Every household had enough food and clothing, and they could afford gold or silver.
Jiang Ciqing could only laugh helplessly. “How do you know it’s a son? Didn’t you say your wife can’t keep anything down, whether it’s sour or spicy?”
Di Changjie rubbed his chin, presenting his theory with utmost seriousness. “It’s definitely a son. Think about it—daughters are sweet little angels. Would they torment their mother like that? Morning sickness, no appetite, kicking all day long—I’d bet nine out of ten it’s a troublemaking boy.”
Jiang Ciqing actually found this… quite reasonable?
He slapped his hand in frustration. “When that little brat comes out, I’m going to give him a good thrashing, the restless little punk.”
Jiang Ciqing’s lips twitched, feeling a bit of sympathy for this unborn nephew, already on his father’s bad side.
“By the way, Family Head,” Di Changjie changed the subject, winking mischievously. “When are you and Miss Xu going to have one? We could arrange a betrothal…”
Jiang Ciqing immediately kicked again. This time, he didn’t fall, but her foot left a dusty print on his pants. Embarrassed and annoyed, she snapped, “What nonsense are you spouting?!”
Di Changjie clicked his tongue, his thick skin unfazed by the kick. He brushed off his pants and said, “I’m not spouting nonsense. Ever since you came back last time, that smile on your face hasn’t stopped. It’s like you’ve got spring written all over it.”
Jiang Ciqing blinked, caught off guard before she could retort, distracted by the odd new phrase. “Spring?”
Di Changjie grinned at her. “Spring’s here, everything’s coming back to life. It’s the season of love…”
“Get lost!” Jiang Ciqing kicked again, this time landing a couple more for good measure, laughing as she scolded, “You’re the one in spring!”
“Ugh, I’d love to be in spring, but I can’t,” Di Changjie sighed, looking dejected. He stood, brushed off his pants, and seemingly offhandedly added, “Third time’s the charm, Family Head.”
This outing, aside from Xu Fusheng, was all Alphas. Anyone with half a brain could guess who was behind Jiang Ciqing’s unrelenting smile these past few days.
Though Di Changjie was happy to see Jiang Ciqing no longer lifeless, he feared she might repeat past mistakes. The memory of her bedridden, venturing into the city in the dead of winter, lingered unspoken in his heart. He hadn’t slept well for days. So, under the guise of playful banter, he casually dropped that reminder.
Even if she liked that Omega, she couldn’t let herself be toyed with a third time.
The smile on Jiang Ciqing’s lips froze, her obsidian eyes flickering. Instead, she said, “Alright, I’ll remember to make a gold lock for my nephew.”
Di Changjie said no more, his expression a mix of joy and worry. He mumbled, “Alright, I’ll wait for it.”
The wind rustled through the treetops, stirring a sea of green waves. The birds, unable to endure the clanging noise any longer, finally flapped away.