Chapter 363

Jiang Sheng sat on her father's shoulders, dazed and unaware of how much time had passed.

She seemed to have gone through the market, through the streets, through the stone-paved road at the entrance.

She seemed to have heard the sound of knocking on the door, and Auntie Zhang's voice, as well as the shocked and angry reprimands.

She was really tired, she just wanted to sleep.

The little girl yawned, holding two strands of hair in her hand, and then became still again.

Zhang Xianglian, who was in charge of opening the door, was shocked and incredulous. She looked up to make sure that the one snoozing sweetly was really Jiang Sheng, and anger rose from her heart.

Even though she knew the identity of the man in front of her and the relationship between them, she still reprimanded in a suppressed voice, "What are you doing, carrying such a big girl on your shoulders."

"And you carried her all the way here like this. She's twelve already, a young lady!"

According to ancient customs, boys and girls over seven years old should not sit together, and a thirteen-year-old girl could already be engaged, and married off at fifteen.

Although Jiang Sheng was a bit short, her age was real. She only played catch with her brothers now, no longer the intimate hugs of childhood.

Zhang Xianglian's anger was understandable, and her rebuke was instinctive.

By the time she finished, they were both a little stunned.

She realized that she had scolded a general, and the general felt a little embarrassed, "I carried her on one shoulder, I only used one shoulder."

Little Jiang Sheng even slept crookedly, with most of her weight pressing down on his head.

It was a bit more refined than directly riding on his neck.

But only a little bit.

Zhang Xianglian reacted and raised her voice slightly, "It doesn't matter how, a twelve-year-old young lady cannot be carried like this anymore. What would others think if they saw it."

The reason was that despite the deep father-daughter love, it couldn't override perceptions.

For Jiang Sheng's own good, she could no longer be carried this way. "I understand," Jiang Jizu sighed, "I was reckless. I just thought that since I never carried her like this when she was little, as she grows older and older... I would never have the chance again."

The man finished the difficult words, turned his head, trying to hold back the redness in the corners of his eyes, and choke back the sob in his throat.

Why was it so many years too late?

The years gone by and everything in the past could only be glimpsed from books and words.

Unfortunately no one could go back to the past, nor travel through time.

The only thing they could do was try their best to make up for things in the time ahead.

Bit by bit, and then some more.

In the end, Jiang Sheng was still carried back to her room by Zhang Xianglian.

Passing through the noisy courtyard, one of the sword-wielding guards was competing in martial arts with one of the Jiang brothers, while others formed a circle, cheering enthusiastically.

Going through the gentle hall, her brothers were pointing at a map, listening to Fang Heng talk about life on the border, the thrilling and intense killings, the cruel and bloody scenes, and the innocent lives lost tragically.

Finally arriving at the quiet bedroom, the drowsy little girl could collapse into the soft bed, hugging the cloud-like quilt, nuzzling it with her cheeks, while mumbling something indistinctly.

Zhang Xianglian smiled lightly. She took off Jiang Sheng's outer clothes, tidied her hair, and covered her properly with the quilt.

When she came out and closed the door, the tall, sturdy, and remorseful man outside had already disappeared.

The liveliest Wang Xiaosong darted over. "Auntie, there was another knock on the door just now, and they called the General away."

"They looked a bit similar, and I even heard him call the General... elder brother."

"Elder brother."

Jiang Jizong called solemnly with cupped fists bent, "I have not let down elder brother's trust. These last couple of days I observed the Liao family, and indeed they gradually relaxed their vigilance, seeming to believe that since elder brother came back and did not deal with the child swap immediately, he intended to let the matter go lightly."

Jiang Jizu gave a cold laugh without speaking.

"Wanting to swap our Jiang family's child yet hoping the Jiangs won't pursue it, only fools would have such thoughts," Jiang Jizong also laughed, his tone icy cold. "Following the vine to get the melon, I've already found several old midwives retired to the countryside, but have still yet to find the person who came up with the idea and carried it out."

Without that person, the Liaos could easily deny everything and refuse to admit guilt.

The Dayu Dynasty ruled with law, so everything required evidence.

It was something from twelve years ago, and many people privy to the truth had long been buried underground. Jiang's mother had searched fruitlessly for half a year without finding the key person. A couple months of home leave was clearly not enough.

Jiang Jizu lowered his eyelashes, his tone as cold as ice, "Since we can't find that person, we'll have to get the Liao family to find them themselves."

Jiang Jizong understood implicitly. "Then shall we go first to the separate residence to meet those midwives?" Jiang Jizu nodded.

The two brothers briskly got up together, similarly tall and upright, one exuding scholarly refinement while the other robust virility.

That night, the relieved Liao family became tense again.

They had thought the Jiangs were not pursuing the matter anymore, but unexpectedly the Jiangs managed to find their way to the separate residence in the countryside and directly arrested several old midwives.

If the Jiangs interrogated anything out from them...

The Liao family patriarch was scared out of his wits. After much discussion, they decided to silence the one person who knew the full truth of what happened that year.

"I said back then that only dead men tell no tales. It was Mother who refused to let her die, allowing her to live for twelve more years."

"Now, she has to die."

That night, four or five figures in black slipped furtively from the Liao residence, heading straight for the countryside west of the city.

If they had been more capable and careful, they might have noticed the burly man following behind along with several sword-wielding guards.

At the same time, the well-rested Jiang Sheng rubbed her eyes awake.

The food in her stomach from dinner had been fully digested, and her stomach rumbled loudly now. Someone outside couldn't help laughing.

Jiang Sheng was quite irritable after waking. She briskly put on her clothes and shoes and rushed out, yelling, "What's so funny, do you think I grew this body fat from nothing, it's precisely because I get hungry too quickly!"

Because she got hungry quickly, she ate a lot, therefore she grew fat. This logic was perfectly sound.

Fang Heng holding a plate struggled not to laugh. "Alright alright, I know you're hungry. This wisteria flower cake just came out of the oven, want to eat it?"

So it was third brother. Seeing as he had just returned home, Jiang Sheng decided not to fuss over it with him, better to fuss over the cake instead.

The wisteria flower cake was, as named, a cake made from wisteria flowers.

Usually in the second and third lunar months, when the wisteria tree flowers were budding but not yet bloomed, the soft tender buds would be plucked. Mixed with flour and water to a thick batter consistency, they would be pan-fried over low heat.

Eaten hot, the wisteria cakes had a crispy exterior and tender interior. They could also be stewed with meat after cooling, though the color was weird the taste was actually quite beautiful.

She still remembered that in Anshui Prefecture, when spring winds caressed the earth, it was time to eat these little wisteria cakes.

She didn't expect to be able to eat them in Fengjing too. Jiang Sheng was both surprised and delighted. She carefully took a bite, and it was indeed the familiar taste.

"Eat up, there's plenty," Fang Heng said lightly with a smile. "It was Jiang Yi who noticed the wild wisteria flowers when he entered the city. With nothing to do this afternoon he plucked some, so we have little cakes to eat tonight."

As the two talked they walked, coming into view of half a courtyard filled with flowers and leaves, as well as eight Jiang brothers who looked rather unenthused after all that plucking.

The four guards were missing, as was that tall, sturdy figure.

Could it be that everything that afternoon was merely a long dream?