Chapter 43: Feasible

She took the hairpin from her sleeve and handed it to Master Liu.

After Master Liu carefully examined the hairpin and sketched its blueprint, she knew this matter was feasible!

Sure enough, when Master Liu returned the hairpin to her, he nodded.

“It can be done, but I’ll need some time.” After saying this, he looked at Jiang Jin and asked, “Miss, where did you get this hairpin?”

“A gift from an old friend, purchased in Jiangnan.” Jiang Jin did not directly reveal the hairpin’s origin. The fewer people who knew about the Cui family’s affairs, the better.

The Cui clan originated in Jiangnan, so it was hardly surprising if a few pieces of jewelry had ended up in Jiangnan shops.

After hearing Jiang Jin’s words, Master Liu lowered his eyes in disappointment and returned to his work.

Jiang Jin also left the place under the shopkeeper’s guidance.

Before leaving, the shopkeeper conveyed Master Liu’s exact words.

“Miss, Master Liu said the item you requested can be delivered in ten days. You can send someone to collect it then.”

“Good, thank you for your trouble.”

With that, Jiang Jin stepped out of the shop.

Just as she took a step and glanced to the side, she caught sight of a familiar figure.

That person was entering a teahouse, seemingly heading to the second floor.

Seeing this, Jiang Jin also led Furong toward that teahouse.

Upon reaching the second floor, she did not see that figure but instead found many young masters and ladies seated separately, listening to the storyteller on the stage recounting a tale.

“Continuing from last time, the young master from the east city’s noble family, for the sake of his beloved, did not hesitate to take on hard labor at the mill in the west city. He had hoped to use this opportunity to get closer to the girl, but little did he know that the mill girl’s heart belonged to another.

Seeing the clothes the girl had made for her beloved, the young master was immediately consumed by jealousy.

Seizing a moment when the girl was not paying attention, he secretly swapped her bundle.

Unaware of this, the girl handed the bundle to her beloved that afternoon. And when her beloved saw the contents of the bundle, he did not expose the matter in front of the girl.

Afterward…”

At this point, the storyteller deliberately paused, building suspense.

Immediately, someone couldn’t resist asking the storyteller, “What happened afterward? What occurred between the young master from the east city, the mill girl from the west city, and the girl’s beloved?”

“What happened afterward… you’ll have to wait for the next installment to find out!” With that, the storyteller packed up his things and retreated behind the stage.

Soon after, several new people replaced the storyteller and began telling other stories.

Sitting in the corner, Jiang Jin recalled the story told by the storyteller and found it very familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.

But for the moment, she couldn’t recall where, so she stopped dwelling on it.

She scanned her surroundings but did not see that person, and gradually lost interest.

Just as she was about to stand up and leave, she saw Yun Huan emerge from a private room nearby.

Their eyes met, and Jiang Jin suddenly frowned.

Between them stood other people, and as one person straightened up, Yun Huan was mostly blocked from view.

After Yun Huan sat down, only his eyes remained visible.

“So it’s him!” Jiang Jin murmured softly, her confusion about the events of that day deepening.

Yun Huan, a hostage prince, had been overlooked in Yan State, and upon arriving in Great Qi, he was even less welcomed.

How did he come to know the Cui family’s secret?

And how was he able to move freely within the Shangshu Mansion?

The doubts in her heart grew deeper, like a tangled ball of thread, always tempting one to unravel it.

At this moment, though her eyes were still fixed on the stage, listening to the storyteller’s not-so-“interesting” tale, her mind had long since wandered elsewhere.

As the sky gradually darkened, Furong reminded her from the side, “Miss, night is falling. Let’s head back.”

Jiang Jin glanced around. More and more people were leaving, and since Yun Huan had shown no unusual behavior today, there was no point in her staying any longer. She nodded in agreement.

Just as the mistress and servant were about to leave, an arrow brushed past Jiang Jin.

“Father!” A mournful, anguished cry came from the stage. The girl who had been playing the pipa was now holding the storyteller, weeping bitterly.

Several young ladies and gentlemen in the audience were also escorted away by their maids and servants.

Before long, the only spectators left below the stage were Jiang Jin, Furong, and Yun Huan.

Jiang Jin turned her head to look at Yun Huan’s position and saw him continuing to hold his teacup, sipping tea leisurely, as if nothing had just happened.

His calm and composed demeanor inexplicably brought a sense of reassurance.

Just as Jiang Jin withdrew her gaze and stood up to leave, Yun Huan suddenly called out to her, “Miss Jiang, I never imagined you also enjoy listening to stories!”

His tone carried a hint of curiosity, as if he had only just noticed Jiang Jin’s presence.

Having sat here for so long, even someone with poor eyesight should have noticed.

But Jiang Jin said nothing more, simply exchanging a brief greeting with him.

Seeing this, Yun Huan walked toward Jiang Jin. When the distance between them had shortened somewhat, he continued, “What do you think of what just happened, Miss?”

By now, many people had gradually gathered on the stage.

The storyteller and his daughter had been taken away, but the pool of blood left on the stage was enough to make it clear—the storyteller was likely beyond saving!

He had lost too much blood, and the earlier chaos had delayed matters. Even the swiftest person would find it difficult to fetch a doctor in such a short time.

“You jest, Young Master Yun. Matters of investigation should be directed to the Court of Judicial Review!” Jiang Jin chuckled lightly.

Yun Huan glanced at Jiang Jin, then shifted his gaze to the stage. “My apologies for the abruptness. I have long heard that the Eldest Miss of the Jiang family is exceptionally intelligent, with a mind no less sharp than any man’s, which is why I asked that question.”

“No matter,” Jiang Jin replied calmly, speaking slowly. “It is getting late, and my father at home will surely worry. I must take my leave now.”

With that, she left with Furong.

When she stepped out of the teahouse, she saw a team of government soldiers arriving, surrounding the building.

She and Furong walked to the carriage, and Furong brought over the footstool.

As she boarded the carriage, she suddenly glanced back toward the teahouse before stepping inside and taking a seat.

After the Shangshu Mansion’s carriage had departed, Yun Huan stood on the second floor, hands clasped behind his back, recalling Jiang Jin’s gaze.

When Jiang Jin had looked toward the teahouse earlier, he had been watching her.

Though there was some distance between them, he had not missed the inquiry, curiosity, and… understanding in Jiang Jin’s eyes.

He knew that Jiang Jin was no ordinary person. Her earlier reluctance to speak was not due to ignorance but rather her unwillingness to involve herself in these matters.

Just like back then…

“After all this time, you’re still the same!” Yun Huan closed his eyes and sighed softly.

Then, he heard a clamorous noise continuously approaching.