Volume 1, Chapter 12: He Smiled So Brightly at Another Man

Jiang Yutang was by no means an ignorant or foolish woman; she actually possessed genuine medical skill!

Moreover, they had been monitoring her closely while she was in the examination hall, and there was absolutely no possibility of her having cheated.

They had truly underestimated her.

At that moment, the inspectors felt as though they had been slapped across the face, their cheeks burning with heat. The dialectic and treatment plans Jiang Yutang had provided were outstanding and experienced; her solid, well-grounded medical foundation was something they themselves were forced to admit they could not match.

But...

It was one thing that they, as outsiders, did not know she possessed such skills. Why did the person in charge above them seem completely unaware as well?

The two inspectors were baffled. After much deliberation, they decided it was best to report the matter upward first.

...

At dusk, the horizon was painted with brilliant evening clouds, draping over the Imperial Academy of Medicine.

As Jiang Yutang stepped out of the examination hall, she spotted two familiar figures across the way: Chuntao and Jiang Huai'an.

"Young Mistress, are you finished?" Seeing her, Chuntao immediately trotted over with delight.

Jiang Huai'an's previously listless, dark eyes brightened. A playful, cynical smile tugged at the corners of his thin lips as he strode over to Jiang Yutang.

"Tangtang, how did the exam go?"

Jiang Yutang thought for a moment, genuinely. "It was alright."

"Oh my, how rare. Is our Miss Jiang finally being modest?" Jiang Huai'an crossed his arms, examining her with a look of wonder.

He then added teasingly, "Say what you will, but don't you dare fail me. I'm counting on you to enter the Imperial Academy of Medicine and save me some face. You have no idea how miserable it is to deal with those old fossils who only know how to spout bureaucratic nonsense all day..."

As the head of all imperial physicians and the administrator of the Academy, Jiang Huai'an hardly needed her to save his face. Jiang Yutang knew he was joking, but this familiar tone instantly lightened her mood.

"I'm afraid I can't solve your troubles."

"Who says? Once you're here, you can be miserable right alongside me—at least you'll have company. Or better yet..." Jiang Huai'an raised an eyebrow and smiled craftily. "Unleash that hell-raising spirit you had as a child—the one where you’d rip off roof tiles and scale walls just to start a fight. I guarantee they’ll all retreat three paces and never dare to play their petty little games again."

It was precisely because of that behavior in her childhood that Jiang Yutang had been sent away to Mount Mei.

She couldn't help but laugh—a laugh born of sheer exasperation. Her red lips curled upward, and her clear, bright eyes still held a glimmer of the vibrant spirit of her youth.

"That's it, you should smile more often. Don't always keep such a stiff face, looking like some pedantic old scholar." Jiang Huai'an gazed silently at her smile and said gently, "No matter how unhappy we are inside, we shouldn't let others see it."

Though he didn't know exactly what had happened after her marriage, looking at Xie Yihe’s cold and indifferent attitude, it wasn't difficult for Jiang Huai'an to guess that she was not living a happy life in the Duke of Anguo's mansion.

When Xie Yihe married Jiang Yutang, he simply added one person to his life. But for Jiang Yutang, marrying into his family meant being surrounded by a group of strangers.

A strange environment, strange family members—she had to integrate, to adapt to their lifestyle, their habits, and their culinary preferences.

With no husband to support her and no family of her own to rely on, she faced a thousand armies and endless trivial collapses all on her own. The bitterness of it was something an outsider like him could never truly understand.

Yet, the world of adults demands dignity. Even if Jiang Huai'an knew the truth, he would never point it out and wound the self-esteem she so carefully guarded.

He said, "Don't worry. Given our history, I will look after you in the Imperial Academy of Medicine."

Their eyes met, and Jiang Yutang felt a wave of emotion as she continued to converse with him.

Outside the gates, the street was quiet. A carriage sat motionless, its occupant having witnessed the entire warm and affectionate scene.

Xie Yihe’s eyes darkened, and he averted his gaze, his expression unreadable.

He asked Chu Ge, who was inside the carriage, "Where is Miss Yun?"

Chu Ge replied sheepishly, "Young Master, it seems we arrived late. Miss Yun has already returned, and also..."

His hesitation made Xie Yihe irritable.

"Speak plainly."

"The head of the academy just sent word that the Young Mistress..." Chu Ge was reluctant, but he dared not deceive Xie Yihe. He blurted out, "She passed the written examination of the Imperial Academy of Medicine and took the top spot in one go! The strategies she wrote left many medical officials in awe—they even surpassed Miss Yun's work!"

Fearing that Jiang Yutang might harm Yun Qianqian, Chu Ge had tried to solve the problem at the source by having her registration erased, hoping to disqualify her. Who would have thought...

Jiang Yutang actually knew Jiang Huai'an and had passed the assessment successfully.

Hearing this, Xie Yihe’s expression shifted instantly. His narrow, inscrutable eyes could not help but glance once more at the woman standing not far outside the window.

Xie Yihe’s carriage, parked on the street, was conspicuous and hard to ignore. At the entrance of the Academy, Jiang Huai'an was seeing Jiang Yutang and Chuntao off when he caught sight of Xie Yihe, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

Was Xie Yihe here to pick up that woman named Yun again?

Before him, Jiang Yutang seemed to have accepted everything already; she wasn't so narcissistic as to think Xie Yihe was there for her.

Jiang Yutang also saw Xie Yihe, but she merely glanced at him before looking away.

Stopping in her tracks, she said to Jiang Huai'an, "It's getting late. Chuntao and I will head back now."

Jiang Huai'an felt a bitter ache in his heart. He longed to be like he was when they were younger—to stand up for her, to gallop down the long street and escort her home without a care in the world, showing everyone that their Tangtang was not to be bullied.

In Northern Ming, the social barriers between men and women were not strictly enforced, but Jiang Yutang was a married woman now; acting this way would only cause her unnecessary trouble.

He could only say, "Alright then. Be careful on your way. See you tomorrow."

The two parted ways.

The dusk deepened, the long street grew cold, and vendors packed up their stalls, with only a few pedestrians scattered about.

Jiang Yutang and Chuntao walked toward the Duke of Anguo's mansion. Just then, Chu Ge stepped forward to block their path.

"Young Mistress, the Young Master requests your presence in the carriage."

Jiang Yutang felt it was unnecessary. "If you have something to say, just say it."

Chu Ge felt Jiang Yutang was being ungrateful. Usually, she was always looking for ways to get close to the Young Master, but now that he was willing to see her, she was suddenly putting on airs.

"This is the Young Master's order."

Impatient, Chu Ge left her with those words and turned to walk away. He had delivered the message; the Young Master couldn't blame him for anything.

Chuntao was indignant. What kind of person was that?

Jiang Yutang pressed her lips together. After a moment's hesitation, she turned back and boarded Xie Yihe’s carriage.

Inside the exquisitely decorated carriage, the air was filled with a faint scent of jasmine—a fragrance that belonged solely to Yun Qianqian.

Xie Yihe sat opposite her, his obsidian-like eyes fixed intently on Jiang Yutang’s calm face.

"What were you and Jiang Huai'an talking about that made you smile so happily?"

It seemed that it had been a long time since Jiang Yutang had shown him a smile like that...