Kunning Chapter 33: Windy day

Jiang Xuening openly acknowledges her own selfish nature. She once shamefully wished for the arrival of the familiar You Fangyin instead of the current one. However, this despicable feeling has its limits. Unable to stand by as You Fangyin faced harm, she intervened. Despite rescuing her, Jiang Xuening struggles to comprehend You Fangyin's distinct personality compared to the other version of herself.

She questions why You Fangyin must transform into another version. After all, You Fangyin is merely living her own life. Although Jiang Xuening saved her, she recognizes she lacks the authority to dictate or criticize You Fangyin's choices. In fact, she obediently follows Jian Xuening's instructions, such as purchasing raw silk, learning bookkeeping, and venturing into areas ordinary women avoid. Gratitude for these actions is encapsulated in a small box.

After some time, Jiang Xuening composes herself and asks You Fangyin about her plans. Relieved to see her stop crying, You Fangyin responds with a somewhat foolish resolution: "Make money, make more money, and make the second girl happy!" Jiang Xuening, despite initially finding it amusing, acknowledges the practicality of wanting to earn more money in their current situation.

However, before pursuing wealth, they need to address certain issues. Jiang Xuening recalls information from Shen Jie about a silk boat capsizing due to collusion between the government and businessmen to inflate silk prices. Concerned, she questions You Fangyin about any unusual news surrounding the sale of raw silk.

You Fangyin reveals that officers arrested several prominent businessmen who had approached their guild hall to purchase raw silk at a low price. This information heightens Jiang Xuening's anxiety. Moreover, she learns that a manager from the Qingyuan uncle's mansion was taken away. This revelation makes her suspect that someone is secretly pursuing You Fangyin and possibly implicating individuals in the Qingyuan uncle's mansion.

Jiang Xuening contemplates the situation, realizing that in her previous life, You Fangyin's success in the business might have been due to her foreknowledge. She suspects that someone in the Qingyuan uncle's mansion might have discovered You Fangyin's source of information, possibly leading to the arrests.

Jiang Xuening, having received the information from her past self, realizes that her current actions mirror those of her previous life. Her kindness may have inadvertently attracted attention to the matter, prompting someone to investigate. Sensing You Fangyin's anxiety, she questions whether the scrutiny might implicate her.

Jiang Xuening carefully considers the situation, acknowledging the possibility that someone is looking into the matter but reassures You Fangyin. She explains that even if her name is on the investigation list, it may be subconsciously ignored due to the seeming implausibility of a mere lady having such information about Caohe.

To navigate the situation, Jiang Xuening advises You Fangyin to be cautious and avoid mentioning her identity to others. She instructs You Fangyin to visit her quietly at the Jiang mansion's side door the next day for further guidance. While You Fangyin expresses concern about arousing suspicion by sneaking around, Jiang Xuening explains that the secrecy is intentional. She emphasizes that creating doubt initially allows one to control and dispel it later.

To illustrate her point, Jiang Xuening returns the box containing the banknotes, refusing the money. You Fangyin, emotionally moved, insists on giving it to her as a token of gratitude. However, Jiang Xuening shifts the focus to a moon-white sachet in the box, questioning You Fangyin's involvement in knocking down someone else's stall during a previous incident.

On a moon-white background, peonies were delicately embroidered with dark blue and a few strands of dark gold, meticulously pierced with gold thread one by one, creating a uniquely stitched sachet. You Fangyin, surprised that Jiang Xuening knew about the incident of her knocking down a stall, blushed and explained that she noticed a special stitching technique while returning from a business trip. She didn't know anything about it but felt compelled to embroider a better sachet for Jiang Xuening, using skills she had learned for a long time.

Jiang Xuening, silent and captivated by the sachet in her hand, finally spoke, praising the unique embroidery. You Fangyin shared that she had learned the method from Boss Xu and obtained the material from a silkworm farmer in Nanxun. It was her way of expressing gratitude for the guidance she received from Jiang Xuening during her first business venture.

Jiang Xuening, touched by the gesture, accepted the sachet despite refusing the money. As You Fangyin hesitated to express something more, Jiang Xuening reached out, embraced her, and spoke softly, thanking her and apologizing for the previous misunderstanding. In that warm embrace, Jiang Xuening acknowledged the significance of what You Fangyin brought that day, surpassing the value of the money.

In that moment, You Fangyin felt an unprecedented tenderness in Jiang Xuening's embrace. The box was returned to her, and Jiang Xuening simply said, "Come find me tomorrow." The tears shed that day, the words exchanged, and the embrace formed a bridge between the two lives, marking a transformative chapter for You Fangyin and Jiang Xuening.

You Fangyin held the box tightly, nodding in a daze as she exited the carriage. Unable to resist, she glanced back at Jiang Xuening, concealed the box in her sleeve, and began to walk slowly down the lengthy street. Jiang Xuening observed her departure, growing more distant with each step. Eventually, unable to resist the urge, she stepped out of the carriage, standing on the outside of the car shaft, her gaze fixed on You Fangyin until she vanished from sight.

As Xie Wei, carrying the answer sheets, walked along Zhuque Long Street, he encountered this scene. Seeing Jiang Xuening standing by the side of the road, he halted, finding her in the midst of the rare autumn clarity and the sunset's glow. When she turned to reenter the carriage, she noticed Xie Wei standing not far away.

Normally, encountering Xie Wei might have been intimidating, but today, with the happiness she derived from You Fangyin's visit, she found his presence less daunting. Smiling, she nodded to him and greeted, "Mr. Xie is good."

Xie Wei remained silent. However, the smile on her lips, like the dissipating haze in the clear sky, left him with a sense of rare clarity. Jiang Xuening, not expecting a response, simply greeted him and entered the carriage. Instructing the driver to resume the journey toward Jiang's mansion, she headed to obtain the key to the palace gate.

With the ministers leaving the palace after discussions, Xie Wei was asked by someone on the way why he was standing there. Withdrawn from his thoughts, he turned and looked toward the horizon. The evening sky displayed a magnificent array of colors—from clear dark blue overhead to deep purple, crimson, and golden red toward the west. Despite the question, Xie Wei responded with a smile, remarking on the pleasant weather.

As Fengchen Hall's light gradually faded away, it marked the conclusion of this moment in time.

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