Chapter Nineteen: Prefer Death Over Surrender

“I might need to go out today or tomorrow. I’m not sure when I’ll be back. Don’t worry about me, and don’t send anyone to look for me.”

Jiang Si’s gaze dimmed a little. “Brother can go wherever he likes. There’s no need to report to me.”

What a stubborn child.

Jiang Lan pulled Jiang Si into an embrace. “Little one, why are you sulking with your brother? I have some business to handle. You’re already short on people—don’t waste them on me. When things settle down, I’ll take you out for some fun.”

As he spoke, he produced a box. “Take this back and see if you like it.”

Seeing the disdain in her eyes, Jiang Lan only smiled.

He let her go and pressed the box into her hand. “Go back to your room. I didn’t sleep last night—today your brother needs to catch up on rest. If Cousin Xue comes by, just let him wait.”

“I’m afraid before Cousin Xue arrives, my father will come first.”

“Uncle? Is he looking for me?” Jiang Lan hesitated. Since waking up, this uncle had indeed been restless, inviting all kinds of monks and priests, but Jiang Lan had never met a genuine one.

Jiang Si, dressed in her spring robe, danced gracefully. Though not yet of age, she was tall, hands clasped behind her back as she walked in the spring sunlight—beautiful in her own unique way.

“Brother, did you think you could hide it? After what happened at the gambling house yesterday, I doubt there’s a soul in Jiankang who doesn’t know. My father’s always been drawn to these things—after you won so much silver, he’ll certainly want to challenge you.”

Jiang Lan rubbed his forehead. Seeing Jiang Si hadn’t gone far, he called out for help, “Good sister, you must help your brother—Uncle is too much for me to handle.”

Jiang Si glanced back. “And what’s in it for me?”

Jiang Lan paused, then remembered she was still a child.

“Of course there’s something,” Jiang Lan waved a hand, adopting a rakish air. “What do you want, little sister?”

“Pastries from Honey Fragrance Pavilion.”

“It’s a deal!”

Jiang Lan slept a few more hours. Whether it was his sister’s intervention or his uncle never intended to come, he awoke naturally, feeling refreshed.

Behind the screen, Xi Chi brought a copper basin, twisted a cloth, and handed it to Jiang Lan.

“Did anyone come looking for me?”

Xi Chi lowered her eyes. “Young Master Xue arrived, but Miss’s people kept him waiting in the hall. He’s been drinking tea for almost half an hour.”

Jiang Lan nodded, saying nothing.

Xue Mingrui sat in the hall, growing more and more uncomfortable with the maid serving him. Why did she keep milling about in front of him? Why not go fetch the young lord?

“Cousin, you’re here.”

Xue Mingrui looked up in the bright spring light and saw the man in an ink-white spring robe, fan scroll in hand, carefree and a little like a scholar of the Wei and Jin dynasties.

Thinking how he was stuck drinking tea while his cousin napped soundly inside, his face darkened a few shades.

“You certainly live at ease. The whole city is in an uproar because of you!”

Jiang Lan’s lips curled as he strode over, sat right by Xue Mingrui, and tried the pastries in front of him.

“Mm—” He widened his eyes. “These are much better than what I usually get. Seems the staff likes you more, cousin.”

He glanced over at the blushing maids, who were now thoroughly embarrassed.

Xue Mingrui, shrewd as he was, could hardly miss the implication and felt awkward. His cousin was getting more and more unruly.

“Aren’t you the least bit curious what people are saying about you?”

Jiang Lan didn’t beat around the bush. “Isn’t it just gambling and consorting with courtesans? Did anyone actually see with their own eyes?”

Before coming, Xue Mingrui had already sent someone to investigate. His cousin had indeed been out all night, but no one knew doing what. Still, recalling his cousin’s eager look yesterday—could he really have gone?

He’d heard the people on the pleasure boat had partied until noon the next day.

Xue Mingrui glanced up with a man’s scrutiny. His cousin, thin and barely recovered from serious injury—could he really manage that? Yet he seemed perfectly energetic now, not the least exhausted.

“Cousin, what are you looking at?”

Caught red-handed, Xue Mingrui feigned a cough and turned to the real reason for his visit.

“Oh, about that matter—if you hadn’t come to me, I’d have sought you out.”

Jiang Lan looked at the sky. “It’s still early. Why don’t we head out now? White Horse Temple is just outside the capital. If we leave now, we might make it in time for a vegetarian lunch.”

Xue Mingrui rolled his eyes unceremoniously. “Why do I get the feeling you’re only going for the food?”

Jiang Lan turned back, feigning innocence. “Is it that obvious?”

All the maids present: “…” We can see you drooling.

Xue Mingrui leaned into the corner of the carriage, doing his best to avoid the strange looks from across.

After two sticks of incense, he couldn’t take it anymore and growled, “Have you stared enough?”

Jiang Lan shook his head. “I just don’t understand.”

“Don’t understand what?”

Jiang Lan glanced at the brocade box in his arms. “Why is it that both are named Mingrui—one so talented, and the other, tsk tsk—”

“Jiang Lan, explain yourself!”

“Tsk tsk—”

“Jiang Lan, do you want me to hit you?”

“Tsk tsk—see, that’s what you call flying into a rage out of embarrassment. Tsk tsk—”

Outside, Xi Chi and Xue Mingrui’s retainer, Xue Kai, glared at each other, neither willing to back down.

“Why does your master talk about my lord that way? My lord always thinks of him, and still—hmph.” He turned his head with a huff.

Though Xi Chi was usually quiet, she couldn’t stand hearing her master insulted.

“Your lord wasn’t exactly polite—he just said he’d beat up my master.”

“You!” Xue Kai put his hands on his hips. “Hmph, I won’t argue with a woman.”

“Because you can’t win, right?”

“You—”

Xi Chi turned her face away and leaned against the carriage door, clearly uninterested in continuing.

Xue Kai fell silent, focusing on driving the carriage.

When they arrived at White Horse Temple, Jiang Lan lifted the curtain and jumped out.

Xue Mingrui shook his head at the display. “Such undignified conduct.”

Xi Chi, hearing this, promptly pushed Xue Kai aside. “Out of the way.”

She then walked up to Jiang Lan. “Young master, let me carry that for you.”

Jiang Lan had always been famous for his laziness—never standing when he could sit, never sitting when he could lie down, never using his own power when he could borrow someone else’s, regardless of whether they were immortal, demon, or mortal.

Since Xi Chi was willing, Jiang Lan gladly handed over the burden.

Xue Kai, trailing behind Xue Mingrui, grumbled, “Sir, look at those two.”

Xue Mingrui frowned, casting a scrutinizing look at Xue Kai. “You’re getting more childish by the day. What’s the point of competing with a child and a woman?”

Xue Kai was left speechless. Sir, I was only trying to stand up for you—woe is me!

Jiang Lan and Xue Mingrui headed first to the main hall to pay their respects. But truth be told, it was only Xue Mingrui who actually bowed.

No matter how much Xue Mingrui tugged at him, Jiang Lan remained stubborn. Finally, unable to bear it, he declared, “I follow the Dao, not the Buddha.”

Staring at the Buddha statues in the hall, Jiang Lan felt uncomfortable. They were all juniors to him—how could he bow to them? If, after leaving this mortal shell, word got out that he’d done such a thing, he’d be laughed at for all eternity.

Absolutely not.

Better die than submit!