Water Reflects Peach Blossoms

In the end, Jiang Ruan pawned the jade pendant.

She signed a contract with the shopkeeper. If Jiang Ruan did not redeem the jade pendant at twice the price within six months, the jade pendant would be sold at the pawnshop.

Jiang Ruan walked out of the pawnshop. In order to speed up her journey to Jian'an, she decided to go to the horse market to choose a horse first.

After Jiang Ruan left, the pawnshop owner was carefully examining the jade pendant on his hand when he saw a handsome man in pink clothes, not at all feminine, with a face as elegant as a crown of jade and a graceful figure, walk in.

As soon as Zheyan entered the store, he looked at the jade pendant in the shopkeeper's hand and frowned slightly.

How could Jiang Ruan's jade pendant be held in the hands of another man!

Zhe Yan immediately said, "I want the jade pendant in your hand."

The shopkeeper was startled, and then he saw that the man had an elegant demeanor and a certain aura in his behavior. He was as gentle as jade and had a sense of dignity without even getting angry.

He then bowed carefully and explained, "Sir, you may not know, but this jade pendant has just arrived at the pawnshop. It has been agreed with the owner for six months, and the shop will not be able to dispose of it until six months later."

Zheyan said nothing more and placed a gold ingot on the table.

The pawnshop owner swallowed and said, "Sir, this is against the rules."

The second ingot of gold was placed on the table.

The shopkeeper's eyes widened, and he clasped his hands together: "Sir, please don't embarrass me."

The third ingot.

The shopkeeper's legs were so weak and his eyes were dazzled by the golden light. He gritted his teeth and said nothing.

Seeing this, Zheyan put in two more ingots.

The shopkeeper knelt down completely and respectfully presented the jade pendant to Zheyan with both hands.

He took the jade pendant in a good mood. As he was leaving, Zheyan heard the shopkeeper ask, "Sir, this jade pendant is not worth even one tenth of what you gave it. Why did you insist on getting it?"

Zhe Yan turned his head slightly, tightened his grip on the jade pendant, and raised the corners of his lips: "Who said it's not worth it?"

In his opinion it's worth it.

No rare treasure can compare to this jade pendant.

When Zheyan turned into Jiujiu and found Jiang Ruan, Jiang Ruan had already chosen the horse and agreed on the price. After paying the money, he took the horse away.

She went to the market and bought a set of clothes to replace the ones Donghua had given her. She also bought a veil to cover up her striking features.

With the horse, life became much easier.

Jiang Ruan rode on horseback with Zhe Yan and always reached the next village or inn before dark. They never had to sleep in a deserted place again.

Although we were in a hurry along the way, we were able to appreciate the beautiful rivers and mountains, the endless plains, and the beautiful mountains and rivers.

Since her father often took her around for business, Jiang Ruan was very familiar with the region. While traveling, she told Zhe Yan about the mountains, rocks, landforms, and scenic wonders.

Jiang Ruan's temperament became more and more cheerful, and her smile became brighter and brighter.

During this period, in a place unknown to Jiang Ruan, he was targeted by bandits twice, but both times Zhe Yan secretly dealt with them.

Finally, two months later, they arrived at Jian'an City.

Looking at the tall city wall in front of them, Jiang Ruan led the horse and walked in with Zhe Yan.

The bustling market, Jian'an's wealth and prosperity were so overwhelming that Jiang Ruan couldn't even take it all in.

She found that Jian'an was different from when her father brought her here three years ago. The street layout at the city gate seemed to have changed a bit. Such a big change had happened in just three years. Jiang Ruan felt a little emotional for a moment.

She looked for the inn where she and Mr. Cen had agreed to meet in the letter, but couldn't find it. She asked around and people said that the inn was forced to close because of a murder a year ago.

As it grew darker, Jiang Ruan took Zhe Yan to find an inn to stay in, and asked the waiter to feed the horses with high-quality fodder.

At night, looking at Jiang Ruan who was lying on the window and staring at the night with worry, Zhe Yan stood on the window frame, with his small body pressed against her, trying to comfort her a little.

The next day, Jiang Ruan went to find Cen Sheng again.

Jian'an City is so big, and there is an unknown number of people coming and going every day. If we keep searching day by day, I'm afraid we won't know how long it will take to find it.

Jiang Ruan asked several residents, and they all shook their heads and said they had never heard of Cen Sheng.

When I asked the scholars who were taking the exam, they shook their heads and said that they had never heard of a scholar named Cen Sheng passing the exam in the past two years.

Jiang Ruan was puzzled: "Could it be that he didn't pass the exam?"

Zhe Yan, who was standing on her shoulder, shook his head and sighed, hoping that she would realize that something was wrong soon.

"Are you looking for Mr. Cen?" A little boy saw Jiang Ruan asking around for Mr. Cen, and asked as he stood in front of her.

Jiang Ruan nodded: "Do you know Mr. Cen?"

"Of course I know him." The child stared at the woman in front of him, wearing a veiled hat and with a voice as clear and pleasant as a mountain spring. He looked like a little adult and asked with his hands on his hips, "What do you want to see him for?"

Jiang Ruan told him: "I am his fiancée."

The little boy frowned, looking Jiang Ruan up and down with a critical gaze, his tone becoming harsher: "I see you're dressed pretty well, so why are you pretending to be the wife of a high-ranking official?"

Jiang Ruan said seriously: "I really am, what do you mean by impersonating?"

Hearing the serious tone of the woman in front of him, the child said nonchalantly: "Then come with me. Over the years, you don't know how many people have dared to pretend to be the prime minister's fiancée. If you get beaten up, don't blame me for not warning you."

"Prime Minister?" Jiang Ruan was puzzled.

Two years ago, Cen Sheng went to Jian'an to take the imperial examination. Even if he passed, it would be impossible for him to be promoted to the highest position in the country so quickly.

The child took two steps, turned around, and saw that Jiang Ruan hadn't caught up. He immediately asked her, "Why aren't you following?"

After inquiring for so long without any news about Cen Sheng, Jiang Ruan finally got some information and didn't want to miss it, so he immediately followed the little boy.

She asked, "I'm looking for Mr. Cen..."

"In Jian'an City, who would dare to share the same name as the Prime Minister?" The little boy interrupted her, "Even if there is, I'm afraid he has changed his name."

Mr. Cen did not mention that he had changed his name. Thinking of this, Jiang Ruan continued to follow the little boy.

The two walked through the bustling streets and gradually came to an area with neat streets. As they walked further, there were no hawkers setting up stalls and selling goods. On both sides of the street were neat and majestic high walls, solemn and dignified.

"Where is this?" Jiang Ruan asked.

The child replied, "That's where the high officials live."

Stopping in front of the imposing gate, the child said to Jiang Ruan, "Wait here, I'll go and tell them. By the way, what's your name?"

"Jiang Ruan." Jiang Ruan replied.

Knowing that his grandfather had a fiancée whom he had been waiting for for many years, the grandfather would definitely meet anyone who came to his house with this excuse. These people used the same name, but none of them was the person he wanted to wait for. Over time, the child gradually got used to it.

Jiang Ruan was waiting at the door.

After a long while, the door opened and an old man in plain clothes, with a few black strands in his white hair, walked out. He was in his seventies but in very good health.

He walked down the steps and looked at the woman in front of him wearing a veil, and instantly confirmed her identity.

Seeing that she didn't recognize him, he hesitated for a while, tears flashed in his eyes, and he spoke in a trembling voice: "Jiang...Ruan?"

Jiang Ruan was startled and looked carefully at the old man in front of him, only to find that he had similar facial features and bones to Cen Sheng.

She took off her veil, revealing a beautiful face.

Looking at the old man in front of him, Jiang Ruan was so shocked that he was speechless.

Mr. Cen is old, like a candle in its twilight years.

And she still looks delicate, like a newly opened flower.

The two looked at each other and felt that fate was so absurd that it played people in the palm of its hand.