Qi Qingyao pressed on, “If you really haven’t regained your memories, then don’t wear your mask anymore moving forward.”
Jiang Yeqian, “…”
Seeing him continue to remain silent, Qi Qingyao knew that this person was just full of lies. She waved her hand, “So, were you taking me for a fool?”
Jiang Yeqian looked at her and once again fell into silence. Then, he opened his mouth slightly.
“Actually, I got my memories back.”
Qi Qingyao raised a brow, waiting for him to make up more lies.
Jiang Yeqian coughed lightly. Lowering his gaze, he said in a muddled voice, “My name is Jiang Chenye, and my home is with the Jiang family in Yuehua City. I’m the second child of the Jiang family. The man who came after me was Li Ruoxuan, the state preceptor of the country. I’m not lying to you this time. When we were at the fair at Koi Temple back then, I ran into Li Ruoxuan’s people. They had the state preceptor’s special insignia on their neckline. He is still sending people out to look for me. That is why I can’t reveal myself here.”
The part about someone who was after his life was real so he could only…modify his identity.
Qi Qingyao looked at him dubiously, “The state preceptor, Li Ruoxuan? Why does he want to kill you?”
Jiang Yeqian contemplated a beat before saying, “I’m afraid it might be something that happened in the Capital City. I’ve offended him but I don’t know the specifics. I’m not lying to you about this. If I knew how I’d offended the state preceptor, I would definitely try to change things. But I don’t, so that’s why I can only hide now.”
“The state preceptor’s people are still looking for you?” Qi Qingyao did not believe him entirely. This had been going on for a while now. Not to mention, she had even built a house, making it almost two months at least.
Jiang Yeqian said solemnly, “I’m afraid they will not give up until they find my corpse. So, it’s not easy for me to reveal myself to others in the meantime.”
Qi Qingyao observed his expression. These words seemed to be true.
She asked, “Then, wouldn’t I be strapping a time bomb to myself if I take you?”
Jiang Yeqian shook his head. “You wouldn’t be.”
“How so?” Qi Qingyao asked.
“I wear an ox-head mask while Si Jin wears a horse-faced one. Together, the two of us make the Ox-Head and Horse-Face(1). I think we match up pretty well.”
Jiang Yeqian explained further, “Right now, you’re connected to the Master Architect Li Qinglian and in the eyes of some others, you’re also connected to Su Hexiao. It wouldn’t be weird for you to have two strange subordinates in that case.”
Having said this, Qi Qingyao observed him quietly.
Jiang Yeqian said, “I’ll protect you with everything I have, and as for holding back the state preceptor, you’ll be…”
“A pawn.” Qi Qingyao’s expression looked somewhat in between smiling but also not.
Jiang Yeqian did not finish his sentence. Instead, he asked, “Are you like a pawn?”
She was not.
She could not possibly be his pawn or his shield.
It seemed that what was said was true, and whether or not there were some lies mixed in, only time would tell.
“I’ll accept this reason of yours for now.” Qi Qingyao calmly asked, “So, how long do you plan on being with me?”
Jiang Yeqian replied, “I’ll stay with you in the meantime. I’ll also investigate the reason the state preceptor wants me dead while I protect you.”
Qi Qingyao felt that he was telling the truth and said, “I like honest people. While I don’t think you’re being fully honest with me, your words make sense.”
Jiang Yeqian breathed a sigh of relief privately.
He had not lied about anything else apart from his identity.
Two truths, one lie.
Most people would find them hard to discern.
“You can stay but only as my servant, and you won’t be receiving any wages,” Qi Qingyao said, deducting his monthly salary calmly.
The moment he heard he could stay, Jiang Yeqian was once again dumbfounded.
He did not actually think that he would be allowed to stay after just sharing a small piece of the truth.
It was a good thing that he could stay.
Jiang Yeqian could not stop the corners of his lips from hooking into a faint snigger.
When he felt himself smiling secretly inside, Jiang Yeqian immediately forced his expression under control.
‘Hold up, why did I tell her so much? Why do I want to stay that bad?’
How, how peculiar!
Oh.
Right.
He was just curious about Master Li Qinglian’s connection with her, and also the miraculous doctor Su Hexiao’s connection with her. There was no other special reason!
Absolutely no other special reason!
Translator’s Note:
Ox-Head and Horse-Face are two guardians or types of guardians of the underworld in Chinese mythology.