......<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Dinner was indeed noodles, as expected.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Inspector He watched the student wash her hands, only allowing her to sit at the table once they were clean.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He never imagined there woulde a day when he''d have to teach a student about hygiene.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He thought of the giant ck ant, with its shiny exoskeleton, hard antennae, thin waist, and many legs. The hair on his back stood on end.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">3
Such a finedy, why would she y with such a thing?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Inspector He gazed at the sky, speechless.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He lowered his head to eat his noodles.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
For dinner, not only had Mrs. Jiang personally cooked, but Jiang Er had also helped in the kitchen.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
A gentleman should stay away from the kitchen, but he showed no hesitation.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The Jiang family kitchen wasn''t far, and it was set up very brightly, with an open section.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As night fell, candles were lit.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
When Inspector He returned, he saw under thentern light a handsome man with his hair tied up meticulously, kneading dough, while a woman chopped green onions nearby.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was a very domestic scene.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This kind of feeling was absent in his own household. His wife, also from a noble family, would certainly never cook personally, nor would he.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Perhaps in his memory, his mother had cooked for him.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Maybe a very, very long time ago.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His servant boy Jizi said that Commander Jiang had spent the whole day at home, cuddling with his wife, hardly looking at official documents or receiving guests. In the afternoon, he even went to water the vegetables in the yard, personally picked some wild onions, and in the evening, he kneaded dough himself.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Inspector He thought to himself that while he was busy helping to look after children, Jiang Er was leisurely enjoying marital bliss. He felt somewhat cheated.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Oh well, at least the noodles were quite tasty.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Looking at the little girl sitting across from him, who had washed her hands clean and was now slurping noodles, was quite a pleasing sight.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Sitting together, Inspector He didn''t feel out of ce at all.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The atmosphere in Jiang Er''s home was very good, harmonious and happy,pletely at odds with the rumors.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Rumors said Jiang Er was a ruthless killer, cold and heartless, but at home he moved slowly, kneaded dough, and even needed his wife''s help to peel a clove of garlic.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">4
After dinner, Inspector He even took a walk with Jiang Er.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Mianmian followed behind, strolling leisurely.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
By the time they returned from stargazing, it was quitete.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Unexpectedly, someone came looking for them.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The visitor seemed somewhat flustered.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Commander Jiang didn''t try to avoid Inspector He, and Inspector He didn''t excuse himself either.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He hade looking for trouble in the first ce, so why should he avoid it now that it had arrived?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The visitor was County Magistrate Huang.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
County Magistrate Huang was very obedient in front of the Commander, and didn''t even recognize the bearded man as Inspector He, thinking he was just one of the Commander''s advisors.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Sir, Old Lady Jiang went to the county office to beat the drum and file aint, saying you''ve kidnapped her granddaughter."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Commander Jiang didn''t even furrow his brow.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Is Jiang Wan missing? I remember I always told you to take extra care of them."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Magistrate Huang wiped the sweat from his forehead.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
From the heat, and also from fear.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"She''s been missing for a few days, but we didn''t notice. Old Lady Jiang only came to report it several dayster."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Commander Jiang smiled and said, "My niece is exceptionally clever. All my children''s brainsbined can''t match her shrewdness. If she wanted to run away with someone, it would indeed be difficult to keep her in check. But is Old Lady Jiang trying to falsely use me again? I can''t be wrongly used anymore. If she says I kidnapped someone, then I must actually kidnap someone to show her."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">4
Inspector He: ......<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Magistrate Huang: You''re absolutely right, sir.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
......<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
That night, Jiang Wan tossed and turned, unable to sleep.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She was thinking about how, with Young Master Liu''s help, she had escaped from Ming County.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Yet because of her, Young Master Liu was now lingering in Jingzhou.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Every day she stayed in Jingzhou, her heart grew more panicked.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But unexpectedly, she had seen her cousin Chu Xi.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This time, she was determined to leave with her cousin.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But how should she appear? How could she get away from Young Master Liu?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It seemed as if heaven itself was helping her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After her cousin disembarked from the boat, she thought it would be impossible to find his whereabouts in the vast sea of people.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But surprisingly, they happened to be staying at the same inn.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She hadn''t seen Chu Xi again, but she recognized the guard by his side.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Heaven was truly on her side.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She wanted to leave without saying goodbye, but worried that Young Master Liu would search for her everywhere.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
So she decided to leave a letter.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She thought of writing many things, but felt it would leave too many traces.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In the end, she wrote on a piece of letter paper: "May you achieve sess in the imperial exams and win the hand of a beautiful bride."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As she wrote, she identally spilled some tea on it, leaving what looked like tear stains.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The letter paper was soaked.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She even carefully used her left hand to write, making the handwriting merely neat, far inferior to her usual right-handed script.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Wan didn''t rece it with a clean sheet. After she finished writing, she packed her things and left under the cover of night.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
During their stay, they hadn''t just been talking about love. Jiang Wan had obtained a new identity and travel permit.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She was now called Liu Qingqing.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
When she took on the Liu surname, Young Master Liu''s face had reddened slightly, feeling very happy.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
With the new identity and travel permit, she could leave.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She had already scouted out a location during the day.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She chose a new inn, disguised herself, and then waited for the chance to meet Chu Xi.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Although Young Master Liu kept professing his love and promising to marry her, Jiang Wan still didn''t believe him. She felt hecked resolve and couldn''t follow through. A young man who had been pampered all his life and never faced setbacks.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Once he encountered difficulties, he might end up like her father.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Now separated from his wife and children, still reciting Buddhist scriptures.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Weak and evasive.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She hated such men.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Everything went smoothly.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Wan left the inn without Young Master Liu noticing. No one chased after her. She arrived at the pre-arranged inn and was in the process of checking in.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
At that moment, she encountered the man who had guided them into the cityst time.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She couldn''t remember what he said his surname was.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Feeling somewhat flustered, she lowered her head to avoid him, thinking he hadn''t seen her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
When she returned to her room at the inn, it was somewhat shabby and seemed to house a mix of characters, but this was just an ordinary inn, not a Jiang family property.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Wan entered the room, checked the table, and looked at the water kettle. There was still water in it. She poured herself a cup and took a sip, suddenly feeling that the taste was off. Then she felt dizzy and copsed.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Before losing consciousness, she seemed to see the man who had guided them into the city. She remembered now, he said his surname was Jia, and to just call him Xiao Jia.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
......<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The next day.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Someone had spread a rumor.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Inspector He, while staying at Commander Jiang''s house, had actually taken Commander Jiang''s young daughter as his disciple.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
People thought Commander Jiang was too cunning.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He was actually using his young daughter to curry favor with Inspector He.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was said that Inspector He was impartial and incorruptible, and loved to report to the Emperor. One report from him could lead to the execution of nine generations of a family.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
No one expected that he would be deceived by Commander Jiang.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It''s not like he''s the only one with a daughter. Everyone has daughters. In these times, children were quite numerous, after all, there were no contraceptive measures. It was just a matter of whether they could be raised or not.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
On this day, many thick-skinned uninvited guests came to Commander Jiang''s house.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Mianmian''s ssmates came to y with her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
To be honest, Jiang Mianmian''s poprity wasn''t great.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Firstly, she didn''t like ying with kids her own age.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Secondly, Jiang Mianmian didn''t have impressive social skills; she was naturally azy homebody.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Of course, no one dared to bully her. After all, the Shangqiu Academy they attended was established by Commander Jiang. Pangya, the chubby girl who apanied Jiang Mianmian, was also quite intimidating, being very fat and sturdy.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Guests are always wee.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Today, Jiang Mianmian was quite happy to have her ssmates over.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After all, she and her newly acquired teacher viewed each other with mutual dislike.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This rtionship was a bit tiring to maintain.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Having ssmates help share the burden made things much better.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Speaking of youngdies in ancient times, they were quite precocious in some ways.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After all, they would marry and have children at the age of junior high school students, so they had to mature early.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In front of Inspector He, those girls were subtly trying to show off their best sides.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Inspector He looked at the group of little girls in red, green, and blue dresses before him and felt dizzy.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He felt his reputation had been damaged.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Yet he still had to maintain an authoritative appearance.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Governor Wu''s daughter, who was also Jiang Mianmian''s ssmate, was very polite in front of Inspector He.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She asked Jiang Mianmian:<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"How did you do on thest literature exam?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Mianmian happily replied, "I got a D-minus. I was lucky, almost didn''t pass."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The little girl sighed and said, "I didn''t do well, I only got an A-minus."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Jiang Mianmian''s eyes widened in agreement, "You only got an A-minus? You spend so much time studying every day, working so hard, and you only got an A-minus? If I were you, I''d bang my head against a wall and die."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">4
The little girl: ......<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Inspector He: ......<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0