Following the principle of helping others, Jiang Wodan visited the Marquis of Anding's Mansion daily to practice archery with Li Gusu.
Jiang Woli was too proud to express her feelings, so Jiang Wodan would speak and act on her behalf.
It wasn't for Jiang Woli, but for Li Gusu.
She just couldn't bear to see Li Gusu sad.
Could it be true, as her master said, that people were all visual creatures?
Was she so intent on making Li Gusu happy just because he was to her liking in appearance?
Still adhering to the principle of helping others, Jiang Wodan wrote a letter to her master, asking to make up for the five - year leave and to take an additional month off.
She wouldn't leave until Li Gusu and Jiang Woli were betrothed. Only then could she leave with a more peaceful mind.
Her master replied with a letter containing only four words: "Act with caution."
Having obtained the leave, Jiang Wodan was quite satisfied and began to visit the marquis's mansion every day.
To make Li Gusu believe she was Jiang Woli, Jiang Wodan even secretly learned Jiang Woli's palm dance.
Unexpectedly, Li Gusu didn't suspect her at all, not even asking about it.
Jiang Wodan thought she must have imitated Jiang Woli perfectly.
While accompanying Li Gusu in martial arts training every day, she noticed something strange.
Li Gusu's archery skills were already outstanding. The bow and arrow he usually used were heavier than those of ordinary military generals, making him truly exceptional.
This meant that if Li Gusu were to participate in any archery competition now, he would undoubtedly come out on top.
Then why did he have to wait for half a year?
Jiang Wodan murmured and casually asked the question.
Li Gusu gave a faint smile, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "It's nothing. It's just a pretense."
Jiang Wodan immediately understood.
This bet was just a pretense to make the marriage between the two families seem reasonable, and also a way for Li Gusu to marry Jiang Woli justifiably.
Such a simple and clear matter made Jiang Wodan feel a bit stuffy in her heart.
Really, why did she have to ask? She was just humiliating herself.
After saying that, Li Gusu didn't seem happy. There even seemed to be a hint of bitterness at the corner of his mouth.
Jiang Wodan didn't know why, but seeing Li Gusu unhappy made her feel even more stuffy.
She patted her own face, trying hard to cheer herself up. "My young marquis, do you want to get rich?"
Li Gusu was taken aback. "Little Nineteen, are you short of money?"
"Um... no, that's not what I mean," Jiang Wodan smiled. "Just follow me."
Jiang Wodan led Li Gusu to a market.
To the west of here was the area where the mansions of the wealthy were most commonly built. To the south were the taverns and teahouses, the favorite pastime places for the rich.
Jiang Wodan instructed, "Later, just follow my lead. When I tell you to lie down, do it without hesitation. Don't mind the dirty ground. Got it?"
Li Gusu nodded. "Got it."
Jiang Wodan continued, "Cover wherever I tell you to cover. Got it?"
Li Gusu nodded. "Got it."
Suddenly remembering something, Jiang Wodan added, "But if someone gets off the carriage and tries to hurt you, or even stab you eight times, then just run. Got it?"
Although Li Gusu didn't quite understand what "stab eight times" meant, he still nodded. "Got it."
It was the first time Jiang Wodan had seen Li Gusu so obedient. She couldn't help but feel a flutter in her heart. Boldly, she tiptoed and pinched Li Gusu's face.
Instead of stopping her, Li Gusu even stroked Jiang Wodan's head with a smile.
The unrecognized love between the young boy and girl was still innocent and green at this moment.
Everything stemmed from the heart, yet everything was out of their control.
As the saying goes, a young man who doesn't understand love experiences his most heart - fluttering moment.
Jiang Wodan quickly withdrew her hand. She felt her palm, face, and heart all burning hot.
Not far away, a carriage was speeding towards them.
Jiang Wodan didn't forget the main purpose of coming to this street. Snapping back to reality, she whispered, "Lie down when the carriage is almost here."
Then she hid to the side.
Li Gusu coughed twice strategically. "Okay."
In the blink of an eye, before Jiang Wodan even reached the corner, she looked back and saw that the carriage had arrived and Li Gusu was already lying on the ground.
Jiang Wodan: "..."
This speed, this acting skill, this rhythm. Was he an acting emperor?
Jiang Wodan immediately got into character and cried loudly. Running over, she wailed, "Big brother, don't scare me, big brother—"
She shed tears and cried heart - rendingly.
Jiang Wodan was capable of playing along with Li Gusu's act. She was at the level of an acting empress.
The coachman was extremely panicked. "This... what happened?"
Jiang Wodan glared at the coachman. "Can't you see? You hit my big brother. He's unconscious. Pay up!"
The coachman ran back to the carriage in a flurry to report. "Sir, what should we do?"
"Give them the money. Don't waste time."
"Yes."
In the end, the two successfully staged a碰瓷. Although the other party thought they were just kids and didn't give much, at least they managed to extort some money.
Li Gusu found the experience very novel. "Where did you learn this trick? It's really useful."
Jiang Wodan was taken aback. She couldn't very well say it was from the Valley Master of Hundred Flowers Valley, since she was pretending to be Jiang Woli now.
"From my master," Jiang Wodan smiled, her big eyes curving like crescent moons. "She taught me this. When I had no money for food, I would use this trick. It always worked. Although this trick is a bit underhanded... but today it was to make you happy, so it doesn't matter."
Li Gusu seemed to be thinking. "Oh, to make me happy?"
Jiang Wodan detected the teasing in Li Gusu's words, but she couldn't retort as she used to. She quickly and nervously changed the topic.
"Yes, yes," Jiang Wodan pretended to count the money so that she didn't have to look Li Gusu in the eye. "My master knows a lot of things. She said she wasn't from Yunjin Country. She's a time - traveler, but I've never heard of where the Time - Traveling Country is. Master said it might be on another continent, but now she can't figure out how to go back..."
When Jiang Wodan got nervous, she tended to ramble. Once she started rambling, she couldn't stop talking. Before she knew it, she had said a whole lot.
Li Gusu smiled and stroked her head again. "Thank you. Thank you for appearing. Thank God for letting me meet you."
Was this... a love confession?
Jiang Wodan let out a soft sigh.
She knew she didn't deserve any of this. These words were meant for Jiang Woli.
She was pretending to be Jiang Woli, enjoying the kindness that belonged to Jiang Woli and stealing Li Gusu's affection that was meant for Jiang Woli.
This was a gift from heaven.
And she knew this gift would come to an end.
The end came quickly. The archery competition of the six - month bet was approaching.
The summer hunting ground was in Wupinglin Hunting Field. Every year, young talents would make a name for themselves here and add luster to their official careers.
This year was no exception.
Li Gusu rode ahead of everyone, winning without a doubt.
Jiang Woli was as beautiful as a painting, smiling enchantingly.
Jiang Wodan felt a bit sad, but she didn't regret it. She was a thief, and thieves should be punished.
Now, she had even lost her heart.
She deserved it. Who asked her to shamelessly get close to Li Gusu when she knew he liked Jiang Woli.
This was retribution, her retribution.
Jiang Wodan turned around and got into the carriage.
In the afternoon, she returned to the Hundred Flowers Valley.
She also took the time to tell her father, Jiang Xuyao, that he didn't need to pick her up during the New Year because she had already used up her leave for this year.
Back in the Hundred Flowers Valley, everything remained the same.
The Valley Master asked her how things had gone in the past six months.
Jiang Wodan mumbled vaguely and didn't explain clearly. In fact, she didn't dare to.
If her master knew that she had pretended to be someone else and then returned to the Hundred Flowers Valley in such a cowardly way, she might skin her alive.
Jiang Wodan worked harder than before in the Hundred Flowers Valley.
She knew this was her only chance to increase her own value and the only way to gain more bargaining chips.
She didn't have Jiang Woli's family background, her good fortune, and most importantly, she didn't have Li Gusu who belonged to Jiang Woli.
One and a half years later, Jiang Wodan came of age.
It was also time for her to go home.
But this time, it became a nightmare that Jiang Wodan would never forget for the rest of her life.