Ji Xu'an suddenly felt a faint sense of regret. That day, because she had been too angry, she had turned and left before Zheng Zhouzhou could finish speaking.
Zheng Zhouzhou should know more—for example, before Jiang Jiang replaced Xie Xiao, what had Xie Xiao's fate line been like?
Fang Xunchun had asked the Ji family to delay bringing Jiang Jiang to S City by two months. Was it because she was worried Jiang Jiang would not adapt after arriving in this world?
If Xie Xiao had arrived at the Ji family in advance, then after Jiang Jiang transmigrated over, the difference in personality between her and Xie Xiao would have been too great. Someone would definitely have noticed.
Instead of like now—since no one had ever interacted with the real Xie Xiao, even if Jiang Jiang displayed something out of place, no one would detect it.
Following this train of thought, Ji Xu'an continued analyzing. So when Fang Xunchun said she and "Xie Xiao" were a match made in heaven, she probably had not meant the real Xie Xiao, but Jiang Jiang, right?
Then the question arose: were those words fabricated by Fang Xunchun to make them treat Jiang Jiang well, or was there truly such a thing?
No matter what, it at least proved that Fang Xunchun definitely knew something, and she bore no ill will toward Jiang Jiang. She had even been deliberately planning for Jiang Jiang's sake.
Ji Xu'an raised a hand and rubbed her brow. It seemed she still had to find another opportunity to see Zheng Zhouzhou. But Zheng Zhouzhou was now under strict surveillance, and ordinary people could not easily meet her.
Qu Jingran might have a way. If that truly failed, she would have to make use of Ji Heyuan's "special" identity.
After Jiang Jiang finished speaking, she saw that Ji Xu'an had remained silent for a long time, seemingly deep in thought, and she did not disturb her.
Zheng Zhouzhou's matter was mostly resolved. What Jiang Jiang was more worried about now was Grandmother's health. Thinking of this, she lifted her eyes again toward Ji Xu'an.
Sensing Jiang Jiang's gaze, Ji Xu'an looked up to meet her eyes. "What is it?"
Jiang Jiang simply stood up and walked toward Ji Xu'an. She moved past the desk and stopped on Ji Xu'an's left side.
"Sister, about the fact that I'm not Xie Xiao… should we tell Grandmother?"
Ji Xu'an rejected it almost instinctively. "No."
Seeing the unease and confusion faintly in Jiang Jiang's eyes, Ji Xu'an explained, "Grandmother is old. She might not be able to accept these things. For now, it's better not to let her know."
There was another point. Ji Xu'an had always felt that Old Madam Ji firmly believed in the theory of "destined by heaven." If she were to learn that the real Xie Xiao was actually fated with Ji Heyuan, and that Jiang Jiang had taken Xie Xiao's place, Ji Xu'an worried that Grandmother might blame Jiang Jiang because of it.
But she did not tell Jiang Jiang this, because Jiang Jiang was clearly very close to Old Madam Ji. If she learned that the old lady might dislike her, Jiang Jiang would probably be very upset.
Ji Xu'an fell silent again.
Jiang Jiang was also thinking about Ji Xu'an's words. She admitted that Ji Xu'an made sense, but she could not be certain that this was all Ji Xu'an was thinking. Perhaps Ji Xu'an had other considerations.
For example, had she grown wary of her again?
—
After spending the morning without incident, at noon Ji Xu'an drove Jiang Jiang to Songhe Sanatorium.
They ran into Ji Heyuan at the entrance. The three of them walked inside together, Ji Xu'an in the middle, with Jiang Jiang and Ji Heyuan at her left and right.
After walking only a short distance, they suddenly heard someone call out from behind.
"President Ji."
The three turned around. The person approaching was Qu Jingran.
Qu Jingran first nodded at Ji Xu'an, then her gaze fell on Ji Heyuan.
Ji Xu'an instinctively shifted slightly, shielding Jiang Jiang behind her. She made the move without thinking, purely out of instinct, yet in doing so she completely exposed Ji Heyuan.
Ji Heyuan looked at Ji Xu'an blankly, shrank her neck a little, then took the initiative to step aside, using Ji Xu'an's body to block Qu Jingran's meaningful gaze.
Jiang Jiang silently watched the scene without saying anything.
All of this happened within only a few breaths. By the time Qu Jingran reacted, she was facing only Ji Xu'an.
Ji Xu'an's expression was even colder than last night. The vigilance and rejection in her eyes were undisguised, clearly laid bare before Qu Jingran.
Qu Jingran smiled helplessly. "You don't need to be on guard against me. That matter isn't under my responsibility. I'm not here for it."
Running into Ji Xu'an and the others was truly just a coincidence.
Even so, Ji Xu'an did not relax much. She gave Qu Jingran a slight nod. "We have something to do, so we'll be going first."
Qu Jingran felt somewhat troubled. She had been dragged into this matter for no clear reason, and Ji Xu'an had rejected her to this extent. In the short term, trying to approach the Ji family again would probably be difficult.
Thinking of this, Qu Jingran lowered her voice. "I know what you're worried about. Let me be frank. Your person will definitely be investigated. It's very likely that people above will assign someone to monitor her for a long time."
Ji Xu'an's hand at her side tightened slightly. Jiang Jiang, standing behind her, also had a heavy look on her face.
Only Ji Heyuan was still somewhat confused. "Your person"—did that mean Jiang Jiang?
She only knew that Zheng Zhouzhou had tried to smear the relationship between her and Jiang Jiang. She did not know that Zheng Zhouzhou had also said Jiang Jiang was very likely not Xie Xiao.
Ji Heyuan pricked up her ears, trying to get more information from Qu Jingran, but Qu Jingran only said those few sentences before shifting the topic elsewhere.
Ji Heyuan's eyes turned as she decided she would secretly message Qu Jingran later to ask what she had meant.
Ji Xu'an did not chat long with Qu Jingran. Soon they parted at a fork in the path.
Watching Qu Jingran's retreating back, Jiang Jiang reached out and lightly tugged at the corner of Ji Xu'an's clothes, giving it a small shake. "Sister…"
Ji Xu'an turned her hand and held Jiang Jiang's fingertips. "It will be fine. Trust me."
Jiang Jiang nodded and said softly, "Mm, I trust sister."
Looking at their unusual expressions, even Ji Heyuan, no matter how slow, understood. She frowned in distress. "Is it Zheng Zhouzhou?"
Ji Xu'an did not speak. Jiang Jiang nodded to confirm her suspicion.
Ji Heyuan took a deep breath. "Don't worry, Xie Jiang Jiang. If she speaks ill of you, I will prove things for you."
Ever since these events happened, Ji Heyuan had felt uneasy. She felt Zheng Zhouzhou had been attracted because of her. If not for her, Jiang Jiang and Ji Xu'an would not have had to suffer such a baseless disaster.
Ji Heyuan believed she had done nothing to wrong Zheng Zhouzhou. If Zheng Zhouzhou later tried to drag Jiang Jiang into it as well, then she would not hesitate to stab Zheng Zhouzhou in the back in return.
Jiang Jiang smiled at her. "Thank you, little Yuan."
They had barely exchanged a couple of sentences when Ji Xu'an stepped between them.
Ji Xu'an used her body to block their eye contact and tightened her hold on Jiang Jiang's hand. "Alright, let's go."
After saying that, she pulled Jiang Jiang forward in large strides. Ji Heyuan froze for a moment before hurrying to follow.
Old Madam Ji had been waiting for them since early morning.
She was the only one present who did not know anything. Coupled with the others' deliberate concealment, she did not sense anything amiss among the three.
Today's meal was considered a formal acknowledgment of Jiang Jiang's identity.
After the meal, Old Madam Ji held Jiang Jiang's hand and picked up a jewelry box from the side, handing it to her.
Jiang Jiang opened it and saw a jade bracelet inside. Its texture was warm and translucent, clearly of excellent quality.
"This was worn by Xu'an's mother in the past. After she passed away, I kept it."
A trace of sadness surfaced on Old Madam Ji's face, but it soon turned into a relieved smile. "Jiang Jiang, you're a good girl. Grandmother hopes you and Xu'an can live together harmoniously for a long time."
"I don't know how many years I can accompany you. The road ahead will still have to be walked by you yourselves."
The moment Jiang Jiang heard these words, tears immediately fell.
Because she remembered that in the original story, Old Madam Ji had passed away from illness in the winter of this very year.
Hearing these words now, Jiang Jiang felt as though she sensed an invisible hint. She shook her head and threw herself into the old lady's arms, hugging her tightly.
"That's not allowed, Grandmother. You have to keep watching me and sister Xu'an. If sister Xu'an bullies me, I'll still need you to stand up for me!"
Old Madam Ji laughed and patted her back. "Alright, alright, Grandmother will stand up for you. If Xu'an dares to bully you, we'll just not want her anymore."
Ji Xu'an's expression sharpened. "That will never happen."
She looked at Jiang Jiang's reddened eyes, an indescribable feeling stirring in her heart.
Ever since Old Madam Ji had grown older, she often made such remarks. Each time Ji Xu'an heard them, she felt sad as well, but she did not show her emotions outwardly as directly as Jiang Jiang did.
Jiang Jiang's reaction was too intense. Ji Xu'an knew it was because she truly regarded Grandmother as her own family and could not accept the possibility that Grandmother might leave.
But this also reminded Ji Xu'an—since Zheng Zhouzhou knew so much about the Ji family, would she also know matters concerning Grandmother?
It seemed she truly had to find a chance to see Zheng Zhouzhou again.
They chatted slowly for a while. In the end, Jiang Jiang put on the jade bracelet. Before leaving, Old Madam Ji specifically reminded Ji Xu'an:
"Take Jiang Jiang to offer incense to your father and mother when you have time. Let them know this good news as well."
Ji Xu'an nodded. "Alright."
Better today than another day. Since Jiang Jiang had no classes in the afternoon, after leaving the sanatorium, Ji Xu'an drove directly to the cemetery.
Jiang Jiang stroked the jade bracelet on her wrist, suddenly feeling a little nervous.
Was she about to see the Jiachong Emperor and the Empress of this world?
Although those two had already passed away, Jiang Jiang's emotions were still complicated.
On the way, Ji Xu'an bought some food offerings and several bouquets of flowers. Seeing Jiang Jiang sitting in the passenger seat with her head lowered in silence, she comforted her, "Don't be afraid. My parents were very gentle people. They'll definitely like you."
Jiang Jiang took a deep breath. "Mm."
Even though she had mentally prepared herself, when she stood before the tombstone and saw the two familiar faces in the photographs, a trace of emotion still flashed through her eyes.
Her expression quickly settled, but that momentary anomaly was completely captured in Ji Xu'an's gaze.
Ji Xu'an's eyes flickered slightly. "I didn't lie to you, right? Their features look very kind."
Jiang Jiang nodded seriously.
Though they bore similar faces, Ji Xu'an's father did not possess the same imposing aura as the Jiachong Emperor, and her mother appeared much gentler than the Empress.
In fact, Ji Heyuan did not resemble the Crown Prince either.
Among all the people Jiang Jiang had met, only Ji Xu'an gave her a different feeling. She was very similar to Princess Huaining, from appearance to bearing, extremely alike.
At that thought, Jiang Jiang cast Ji Xu'an a sidelong glance, only to find Ji Xu'an was also looking at her. Their gazes met for a brief moment.
From that series of subtle changes in Jiang Jiang's eyes, Ji Xu'an had already obtained the answer she wanted.
Her guess was probably true.
—
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