Chapter 41: Past Life (Part III)

Bai Su settled in just like that.

She gradually grew closer to Jiang Wu, and the cautious, well-behaved demeanor of a young lady of noble birth began to fade slightly, revealing glimpses of her true temper.

Jiang Wu did not mind it too much, because the young lady was always mindful of her boundaries and never went too far.

"Sister Jiang, what are you making?" Bai Su always loved to follow closely behind Jiang Wu, prompting everyone to say that Jiang Wu had acquired a little tail.

"Making pastries." There were not many servants in the household, and Jiang Wu occasionally handled household chores; whenever the mood struck her, she would also bake pastries.

Upon hearing that there was food, Bai Su immediately perked up, pulled over a small stool, and sat down on the side, waiting with eager eyes.

It was not that she didn't want to help, but after several consecutive attempts at helping that turned the kitchen completely upside down, Jiang Wu strictly forbade her from stepping foot in the kitchen as an assistant.

Bai Su grew very fond of Jiang Wu, as well as this household and this place.

Sister Jiang was extremely kind to her. Although Magistrate Liang did not interact with her very much, whenever he spoke, he was as gentle and courteous as an elder.

The affection between Sister Jiang and Magistrate Liang was profound—something that practically everyone in Tonghuai County knew without needing to be told.

The honest and simple-minded townspeople quickly accepted her as an outsider.

Amidst Bai Su's idle daydreaming, Jiang Wu's pastries were finished.

Attracted by the rich aroma, Bai Su scampered over and asked with sparkling eyes, "What is this called?"

Jiang Wu could never understand why this young girl was so obsessed with names, always acting as though she refused to eat anything unless it had a proper title.

This was just something she had casually experimented with in her spare time; how could it have a formal name?

"Let's call them Joy Cakes."

As expected, she received an unenthusiastic review: "So plain and rustic."

Ever since the girl lost her memory, she had forgotten everything else, yet she used the word "rustic" with surprising fluency.

"Are you going to eat them or not?"

"Eat, eat, eat!"

***

Before Bai Su knew it, she had stayed here until the approach of Mingzhu's first birthday.

It was not customary in the local area to hold grand celebrations for a child's birthday, so Jiang Wu simply arranged a small gathering for the household members. Still, all the necessary preparations were numerous, keeping her extremely busy.

Busy as she was, she did not forget about Bai Su. When the girl was nowhere to be seen for a moment, Jiang Wu asked, "Where is that Bai Su girl?"

"Not sure. Haven't seen her in a while."

Because Bai Su had lost her memory, Jiang Wu subconsciously treated her like a child. Telling the others to continue with their work, she went around searching for her herself.

Eventually, she found the girl near the back door, chatting animatedly with someone outside, her face beaming with smiles.

As she drew closer, she realized it was the local blacksmith's son.

"Madam," the young man spotted her first and quickly wiped the smile off his face.

Seeing that it was her, that silly girl Bai Su turned around and cheerfully greeted, "Sister Jiang!"

Ignoring her, Jiang Wu instinctively stepped in front of her, casting a wary gaze at the young man. "What are you doing hanging around here?"

"I was just... having a few words with Sister Bai Su."

Oblivious to the danger, Bai Su poked her head out from behind Jiang Wu's back in agreement. "Yeah! Brother Li Mu was talking with me! We're friends."

Jiang Wu almost slapped her across the back of the head.

However, looking at the young girl's innocent gaze that understood nothing of the world, she had to restrain herself, redirecting all her frustration onto Li Mu instead.

"Listen to me, Li the Fifth, aren't your flirtatious ways with every single girl on this street enough? Huh? Even someone who has lost her memory, you won't let her go?"

Li Mu hastily explained, "It's not like that, Madam, I am sincere—"

Oh, Jiang Wu's temper flared instantly. Seizing a broom from nearby, she prepared to strike. "Have you no conscience? She only has five months of memory; mentally, she's just a five-month-old child, and you actually have the nerve to say you're sincere!"

Bai Su, who had lost her memories but not her intelligence: "Among us..."

After chasing the fellow away without even putting down the broom, Jiang Wu turned her attention to lecturing Bai Su: "That man is a playboy with a wandering eye. You don't understand anything, so don't let yourself be fooled."

"But... but I don't think he's like that..."

This remark earned Bai Su another lengthy reprimand, which only ceased when she promised she understood. Right before stepping back inside through the door, Jiang Wu suddenly felt an unfathomable gaze fall upon her.

Jiang Wu whipped her head around.

Directly opposite the back door of the Liang residence stood a stone bridge.

It was the height of summer, and the willow trees beside the bridge dangled lush green branches that partially obscured whatever lay behind them.

Though she could not make out features, she could easily imagine that whoever stood there possessed a tall stature and a sharp, piercing gaze.

Even from this distance, she sensed an inexplicable oppression. An unbidden unease welled up in Jiang Wu's heart. After ushering Bai Su inside, she turned back to look one last time.

A gentle breeze swept past, causing the willow branches to dance in the air.

Yet behind them, the vague, shadowy figure was gone.

Jiang Wu was almost tempted to believe it had merely been her imagination.

*Must be seeing things,* she thought to herself.

***

Liang Qian returned exceptionally late today.

Surprised to find Jiang Wu still awake when he came in, he felt a wave of warmth mixed with tender reproach: "I told you there was no need to wait up for me."

"I just couldn't fall asleep on my own."

Indeed, Jiang Wu was not accustomed to sleeping without him by her side.

Smiling, Liang Qian kissed her brow, whispered that she had worked hard, and then walked over to check on their daughter sleeping soundly in the cradle.

He never brought the pressures of his official duties home with him, but as the person who shared his pillow, how could Jiang Wu fail to understand him? With a single glance, she detected that something was amiss.

"What is it? Is something troubling you?"

Liang Qian turned to look at her.

Whenever he looked at Jiang Wu, he was struck by the sentiment, *Having a wife like this, what more could a husband desire?* He even felt an overwhelming sense of unworthiness that she had chosen him.

Because of this, he constantly feared failing her in some way and causing her to regret her choice.

"A high-ranking official has arrived from the capital."

"Oh... oh?" Jiang Wu was startled.

An official from the capital? And a high-ranking one at that—someone ordinary people could never hope to meet in a lifetime.

"What kind of official, and why would he come here?" Cough.

"A supervisory censor dispatched by the imperial court. This Censor Lord has formidable backing; he is the eldest young master of the Duke's estate, and his second uncle is the current Grand Chancellor."

Just hearing this was enough to picture the sheer weight of his background.

"Since arriving in Yuzhou, he has paid special attention to the bandits and outlaws around Linfu Mountain. Today, the magistrates of several counties were severely reprimanded."

Jiang Wu finally understood. She took his hand and asked, "Were you reprimanded too?"

Such an admission was rather humiliating in front of his wife and difficult to utter. Liang Qian hesitated for a moment before answering.

Jiang Wu found it both amusing and heartbreaking. "Linfu Mountain spans across several counties; is a mere county magistrate supposed to eradicate those bandits single-handedly? Why lecture all of you? You've lost count of how many formal reports you've submitted to the prefecture, and nobody ever bothered to do anything about it."

Her words brought a hint of a smile back to Liang Qian's face. "You can't quite put it that way. Regardless of his background, this Censor Lord is a man of means and absolute resolve. With him taking personal charge this time, the bandit menace will be rooted out—it is truly a blessing for the common people of this region."

Therefore, enduring a few harsh words was ultimately inconsequential.

That was true, Jiang Wu suddenly recalled. It was entirely possible that Bai Su had escaped from a bandit den herself. Fortunately, she could no longer remember; judging by circumstances, it could not have been a pleasant memory.

She nodded, only to see Liang Qian pull a longevity lock from inside his robe and fasten it around their sleeping daughter's neck. His slender fingers brushed the baby's cheek before he reached out to clasp Jiang Wu's hand.

"I'll likely be very busy from now on. I'm not even sure if I can be present for our daughter's birthday."

This was a major matter; Jiang Wu naturally urged him to devote himself fully to his official duties.

Just as he had warned, the following days kept him thoroughly occupied, and missing home for several days at a time became the norm.

Those days left Jiang Wu feeling restless and anxious, worrying over him constantly. Fortunately, on the very day of Mingzhu's birthday banquet, just as they were about to perform the *zhuazhou* ritual of divination by picking objects, a servant announced that the magistrate had returned.

Suppressing the joy welling in her heart, Jiang Wu handed Mingzhu over to someone else to tend to and hurried out to welcome him, though her hastened footsteps betrayed her true emotions despite her best efforts to restrain them.

"Liang..."

Reaching the doorway, she had just uttered his name when she realized Liang Qian was not alone. She immediately clamped her mouth shut, halting mid-step across the threshold.

Another man was standing right beside Liang Qian.

This was Jiang Wu's first meeting with Chu Ling.

At least, it was her first time laying eyes on him.

The man appeared to be of a similar age to Liang Qian, dressed quite plainly in a white robe devoid of elaborate ornamentation.

Yet even without luxurious attire, he gave off an aura of supreme nobility. He did not intentionally posture himself, and though his back was not rigidly straight, his tall frame remained imposing. A cold, dignified majesty naturally emanated from his composed face.

Standing beside Liang Qian in similar attire, both were handsome men of talent, yet Jiang Wu rapidly arrived at a conclusion in her mind.

The two men seemed as though they belonged to entirely different worlds.

Before her marriage, Jiang Wu had numerous suitors, including quite a few scions of wealthy and influential families. Yet those men either struck one as dissolute prodigals relying entirely on their family prestige while possessing no genuine ability themselves, or—even if they held real power—they fell into the category of worthless gluttons.

Looking at this man now, she finally understood Liang Qian's sentiment when he praised Bai Su's youth and beauty; even though she would unwaveringly stand by Liang Qian's side, she could not deny the sheer excellence of this man.

Liang Qian had already stepped forward to make the introduction. "Madam, this is Censor Lord Chu. My Lord, this is my humble wife."

Jiang Wu had heard Liang Qian praise the Censor Lord numerous times, mostly focusing on his formidable administrative capabilities rather than his appearance. Subconsciously, she had imagined that someone so formidable must be advanced in years, never suspecting he would be so young and strikingly handsome.

Hearing the introduction, she hastily bowed and curtsied. "Greetings, Censor Lord Chu."

Such high-ranking officials were rarely seen even a few times in a lifetime, so Jiang Wu made her posture as humble as possible.

With her head lowered, she felt the man's gaze sweep over her. There was no inspection, no probing; it felt more like a polite, passing glance. The natural oppression carried in his gaze lingered only for a fleeting moment before his eyes shifted away indifferently.

"Madam Liang, please rise," he spoke.

His voice was deep and pleasant to the ear.

Not daring to let her thoughts wander, Jiang Wu straightened up and stood quietly to one side, waiting for the two men to pass.

Even Liang Qian lagged half a step behind, not daring to walk directly shoulder-to-shoulder with him.

Following closely behind, Jiang Wu listened as her usually earnest husband diligently trotted out polite flattery.

"Though your lordship is burdened with myriad official duties, you still graciously condescended to attend my daughter's birthday banquet. This humble subordinate is truly overwhelmed."

She could tell how much effort he was putting into the performance.

Her husband was entirely capable of striking up a warm rapport with farmers or merchants, but when it came to buttering up superiors, he was somewhat clumsy.

Hearing him speak in such a manner, Jiang Wu could not help but curve the corners of her lips in a slight smile.

Before the smile could fade, the man walking ahead abruptly turned his head.

"Magistrate Liang is too kind. This official merely came... to join the festivities." Because he was speaking to Liang Qian, who trailed half a step behind, the slight turn of his head did not appear particularly abrupt.

However, Jiang Wu felt as though she had intercepted the periphery of the man's gaze.

Before she could even catch a glimpse of his eyes, she sensed the profound meaning hidden within them. The smile froze on her face; terrified of any misinterpretation on his part, she hurriedly lowered her head, not daring to display a single expression further.