Volume 2 Chapter 21 - Encounter with Jin Yu – Both Tragic and Stirring
Determined, Leng Jiu became more composed. Her gaze swept across the entire street. There were no weapons for sale, but there were quite a few stalls selling jewelry and hairpins. Her eyes flashed, and she walked over.
“Hey! Miss! Take a look at the hairpins!” The young vendor hurriedly greeted her with a smile.
Leng Jiu touched the hairpins on the stall—about twenty or so. She picked one up and weighed it in her hand. It wasn’t pure silver but had a lot of other materials mixed in, making it quite heavy. However, that was just fine for her. She selected fifteen, took out a silver ingot from her chest, and placed it on the table. “Is this enough?”
The young vendor, seeing her pick out a bunch of fake goods, thought she was here to cause trouble. His face darkened, but when she paid directly after choosing, he was momentarily stunned, then broke into a wide smile. “It’s enough, enough! Thank you, Miss!”
Leng Jiu didn’t look at him again as she weighed the hairpins in her hand. She casually pulled a handkerchief from his stall, wrapped the pins, and turned to leave. The vendor, seeing her buy so much and knowing the handkerchief wasn’t worth much, didn’t even blink, smiling as he sent her off. “Come again, Miss!”
“I don’t think I’ll want to!” Leng Jiu weighed one of the hairpins in her hand to test the feel. Her eyes narrowed, and she quickly turned and threw the hairpin. The person closest to her didn’t have time to react; the pin hit him right between the eyebrows, and he instantly died.
Leng Jiu turned again, and another hairpin flew out. The man approaching her from the front fell before he had time to react. In an instant, she had taken down two people! While the others were still in shock, she swiftly turned and darted into the nearest alley, pulling down everything piled along the way to block the path behind her.
“d.a.m.n it!” The pursuers cursed as their way was blocked, while Leng Jiu disappeared into another alley in the blink of an eye.
Several skilled fighters no longer concealed themselves and immediately used their lightfoot skills to give chase. Suddenly, one of them stopped, confused. “Where is she?”
The others also halted, looking at each other in bewilderment. They had clearly seen her enter the alley, and had chased after her right away. But now there wasn’t a trace of her. So many of them, yet they had let a woman slip away right in front of them. How could they not be furious?
“Split up and search! She can’t have gone far!”
“Got it!”
They scattered in different directions, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Meanwhile, not far away, on the roof beam of a house, Leng Jiu was hanging upside down, clinging to the eaves with one hand, her entire body pressed against the beam. She had originally planned to fight to the death but had spotted this hiding place and immediately changed her plan, quickly climbing up and concealing herself. Sure enough, it was a blind spot, and as long as she hid her presence, no one would notice her. However, at this moment, she would have much preferred to go out and fight those men three hundred rounds!
Because in front of her, hanging upside down just like her, was something she hated most in the world—a snake. And it wasn’t just any snake; it was extremely colorful, and though she didn’t recognize it, she could tell at a glance it was highly poisonous.
“Hisssss!” The little snake flicked its tongue, inching closer to her. Leng Jiu felt its breath on her face. While she wasn’t afraid of snakes, she had always had a natural aversion to them. Just looking at them made her skin crawl. She would’ve much rather fought those men!
As Leng Jiu and the snake stared each other down, a figure dressed in pure white floated down below, his clear, water-like eyes flashing slightly. “So you ran here!”
He walked leisurely to the beam below, his long, jade-like fingers flicking lightly. His voice was cold, but with a trace of amus.e.m.e.nt. “Will you come down on your own, or should I come up and catch you? If I catch you, it won’t be as simple as taking your heart and guts.”
Leng Jiu was still locked in a staring contest with the snake when this person suddenly appeared below, rambling on. She wanted to go down and kick him, but when she glanced down, she only saw a white-clad figure and the top of his head—nothing more. As she was about to speak and ask for help, a cold sensation suddenly spread across her hand, causing her entire body to tremble. She lost her grip and fell down. “Ah!”
“Thud!”
The timing was right, the place was right, and although she wasn’t sure if the person was right, Leng Jiu avoided being smashed into a pulp. Instead, she landed directly on the person below, using him as a cushion!
“Saved!” Leng Jiu was completely drained, lying motionless, feeling as if she had narrowly escaped death. Her whole body was covered in gooseb.u.mps, and the feeling had been utterly unbearable!
The man in white beneath her, his face as handsome as a celestial being, with hair like ink and clothes untainted by dust—was none other than Jin Yu. But at this moment, he looked somewhat… different.
“You’re asking for death!” Jin Yu glared at the woman who had fallen from the sky and nearly displaced his internal organs. His previously serene, otherworldly face finally showed a crack. He hadn’t even noticed this woman’s presence, let alone dodged her attack. As the renowned Ghost Doctor Jin Yu, when had he ever been humiliated like this—pinned down by a woman, in such a sorry position? He was seriously contemplating killing her right now!
Leng Jiu could feel the anger emanating from the person beneath her, and she knew he had every right to be mad. Falling on someone that hard must’ve hurt, so she didn’t hold his anger or murderous intent against him. She raised her head and looked at him. “Thank you, young master, for saving my life!”
Only then did she get a clear look at the person before her. Her eyes narrowed slightly. Was she fated to encounter peach blossoms this year, or had she stepped in dog p.o.o.p? How could she randomly fall on such a handsome man? Although his expression was cold, his features—tsk, tsk—could only be compared to the likes of the demonic Long Yueli. Her lips smacked together, her expression a mix of wryness and mischief. It was clearly not a good look!
Jin Yu, just about to raise his hand to strike, paused when he saw her expression. That look on her face made him feel as if he had encountered a pervert—not just an infatuated one, but a downright rogue! An inexplicable irritation arose within him, and his eyes glinted dangerously. “Lewd woman! If you keep looking at me like that, I’ll gouge out your eyes!”
Leng Jiu could sense that the man before her was skilled. The killing intent in his earlier move was unmistakable, and he was certainly a powerful martial artist. But she wasn’t afraid at all. In fact, she loved poking the tiger!
Leng Jiu raised her hand, gently caressing his palm with her finger, smiling seductively. “The young master saved my life just now. I am eternally grateful and would like to offer myself to you, to follow you for life and repay your kindness!”
Jin Yu’s eyelids twitched as he looked at the brazen woman atop him. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and the only one he had looked at closely. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was the teasing gleam in her eyes—it was shameless flirtation! Was he seriously being flirted with?
Jin Yu felt a strange emotion stir within him—anger, or perhaps annoyance—but he didn’t show it. His gaze swept over the woman and he coldly remarked, “I don’t like ugly women. Your face is too long, your chest too flat, your waist thick, and your hips small. If I had to look at you every day, I’d lose my appet.i.te and be plagued with nightmares. I’d be doing you a favor by giving you a bottle of poison. That way, you could reincarnate quickly, and maybe next time you’ll look better!”
He spoke without so much as a blink, his voice flat. Who would’ve thought that such venomous words could come from such a celestial face? Words that would make any woman want to either kill him or herself!
Leng Jiu: “…” She was quite proud of her figure, but hearing him describe it so harshly made her fume. However, her face only grew more seductive as she pressed herself against him. “The young master has quite the discerning eye! I did want to be reborn, but now that I’ve seen you, I’ve changed my mind. What if I reincarnate into a good body but can’t find you again? That would be a great loss! So, for the sake of my love for you, can you make a little sacrifice for me?”
Everyone fears a sharp tongue because it can cut you down to the bone, leaving you so ashamed you’d want to die. But there are some pe–ople who aren’t afraid—some are born thick-skinned, and others, like Leng Jiu, have trained their hearts to a perverse level. Jin Yu never expected to meet such a person. If it were an ordinary woman, she would have long been mortified and wanted to crawl into a hole, but this woman not only dared to stick close to him but also said such sickeningly sweet things, leaving him somewhat at a loss.
However, since Jin Yu was capable of making Long Yueli jump with rage, how could he be an ordinary person? He suddenly raised his hand and lightly brushed over Leng Jiu’s eyebrows: “I just so happen to need someone to test my medicines. Since you admire me so much, you must be willing to volunteer yourself for the task. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of you—you won’t feel a thing.”
“Alright!” Leng Jiu suddenly pushed him aside and stood up. “But you’ll have to give me time to say goodbye to my family. Only then can I follow you to live together in bliss!”
“Alright! This young master will wait!” Without seeing any obvious movement, he stood up from the ground, brushed his hand over his clothes, and a cool breeze swept past. When he raised his head, he immediately gave off an ethereal, almost immortal vibe! Leng Jiu thought the person before her had a similar aura to Gong Yuwei, but while Gong Yuwei was pure as snow, untainted and clean, the man in front of her… well, you’d probably need to peel back the layers to really see what was inside.
His phoenix eyes smiled. “Well, I’ll be on my way. Feel free to follow, young master!”
After saying that, he turned and walked toward the wall, but just as he lifted his foot, someone pressed down on his shoulder. From behind came his gentle voice, as soothing as a breeze: “I’m worried you might get lost on your way back, so how about I walk you there and meet your family?”
“If my family sees me with someone as good as you, they’d definitely be so happy they’d die. So maybe it’s best you don’t go!” Leng Jiu chuckled, then bent slightly and slipped out of Jin Yu’s grasp.
“Don’t worry! I won’t let them die!” Jin Yu wasn’t easily dissuaded. Just as Leng Jiu broke free of his grip, he reached out again and pinned her shoulder, preventing her from taking even one step.
Leng Jiu still smiled, but there was a seriousness in her eyes now. At this moment, she realized this was not luck in romance, but rather pure bad luck. First, she somehow attracted a group of a.s.sa.s.sins, and after barely escaping, she ran into the most disgusting snake, which caused her to fall. By some cruel twist of fate, she landed on a man who looked pure as snow on the outside but was dark as coal inside. Not only did she fail to tease him, but she got teased instead. And now, even running away was an issue. Truly, her bad luck knew no bounds!
“Young master, are you aware that men and women should keep their distance? You’re touching my shoulder like this… it’s making me shy!”
“You already pinned me to the ground earlier, this is nothing!”
“That was a special circ.u.mstance!”
“This is also a special circ.u.mstance!”
Leng Jiu was exasperated. What kind of scoundrel had she gotten herself involved with? She wished she could mercilessly beat the person behind her, but on the surface, she maintained a seductive smile. Using Jin Yu’s grip on her, she turned, softened her body, and leaned into him. “With you saying that, how could I possibly refuse?”
Jin Yu raised an eyebrow, curious to see what she was planning. Then, suddenly, she pushed him forcefully, making him stumble back a step and lean against a pillar. He felt something drip onto his chest and looked down slightly, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes. “The Nine-Turn Sakura Bracelet?”
Leng Jiu’s hand pressed against a cherry blossom petal, her smile still radiant but now more like a poisonous poppy than playful. “Since you know what this is, you must also know what it does. I may want to give you a gift, but not something this ‘special.’ So be good and wait for me here, alright?”
Jin Yu still had his hand on Leng Jiu’s shoulder, and two needles appeared in his fingers without her noticing. His autumn-like eyes gleamed slightly as he looked at her. “Though the poison on these needles is deadly, it’s not enough to kill me. At worst, it would be troublesome to detoxify. But if you’re not obedient, your life might be at stake!”
Leng Jiu had never been one to fear threats. Without even glancing at the poisoned needles on her shoulder, she raised her hand to caress his brows, her gaze hazy and alluring. Standing on her tiptoes, her lips almost brushed against his, their breaths mingling, thick with intimacy. “Don’t worry. As long as I have a breath left, I’ll drag you to h.e.l.l with me. With such a gorgeous man as company, the road to the underworld won’t be lonely!”
Jin Yu looked at her deeply and made no further move.
Leng Jiu quickly slipped away, not even glancing back as she vaulted over the wall and disappeared.
It wasn’t until her figure vanished that Jin Yu lowered the needles in his hand. Looking in the direction she’d fled, his usually cold lips curved into a faint smile. “You’ve left your scent on me. Even if you’re a thousand miles away, I can still find you. You think you can escape my grasp?”
He raised his hand toward the roof beam, and the little snake that had given Leng Jiu gooseb.u.mps earlier was now coiled in his hand. With a twist of his wrist, he wrapped the snake up and stuffed it into his sleeve, preparing to leave.
Suddenly, Jin Yu paused, his expression one of mild surprise. He murmured to himself, “Wasn’t that Nine-Turn Sakura Bracelet stolen by Long Yue Li’s men some time ago? How did it end up in her hands? Could it be…”
His eyes flashed with realization, and he chuckled softly. “No wonder he ended up like that. Truly interesting!”
He flew over the courtyard wall, and with another leap, landed on the bustling street. Though he could still smell her scent, Leng Jiu was already long gone! So quick!
This street was the most crowded part of town, and at midday, it was full of people out shopping. The sudden appearance of such a handsome man, descending gracefully from the sky, naturally drew everyone’s attention. His cold, otherworldly aura, paired with his stunning face, which seemed to have been kissed by tears, left everyone breathless.
Some women clutched their chests, their faces flushed, looking like they might faint at any moment! One woman, in particular, standing closest to Jin Yu, swooned and fell straight toward him. She was quite beautiful, dressed in luxurious attire, clearly a n.o.blewoman. Clutching her chest, she closed her eyes as she fell, creating a scene that should have been straight out of a fairy tale — a hero and a damsel. But reality often diverges from expectation.
The G.o.d-like man simply shifted away as if gliding, letting the woman fall flat on the ground with a loud ‘thud!’ The force of her fall made the onlookers wince in sympathy.
“Ow!” she cried out, having taken quite the tumble. Forgetting all decorum, she burst into tears. Once her maids helped her to her feet, she glared furiously at Jin Yu. “Why didn’t you catch me?”
Jin Yu’s cold gaze swept over her without a trace of emotion. He was even stingy with words, not bothering to give her a single response. Instead, he flew off using his light-foot technique, leaving behind a crowd of stunned onlookers.
Jin Yu only stopped when he reached an empty area, his elegant brow furrowed in confusion. Why had he instinctively avoided the woman earlier? Just looking at her face had annoyed him. Yet not long ago, he had been pinned under another woman, who had not only fallen on him but also touched and embraced him. And he hadn’t felt the slightest bit of aversion. Why?
Jin Yu pondered this for a while but couldn’t figure it out. Not that he dwelled on it for long. He reasoned that once he found that woman again, he’d get his answer! Just as he was about to go after her, he felt something stir inside his sleeve. Reaching in, he pulled out a small bamboo tube that contained a gu worm, which was now trying desperately to escape. Jin Yu’s eyes lit up, and a genuine smile appeared for the first time. “I’ve been waiting for half a month, and finally, it’s taken the bait!”
With that, he abandoned the chase for Leng Jiu and instead flew straight out of the city. People on the street only saw a flash of white before he disappeared from sight.
Meanwhile, after escaping from that place, Leng Jiu glanced briefly at the Xuanw.a.n.g Manor before turning and heading toward the Prime Minister’s Residence. Her original goal today had been to see Gong Yuwei. As for Long Yue Li… she still hadn’t figured out how to face him, or perhaps, how to accept him.
Accepting Gong Yuwei had been easy — it was a feeling that came from her heart. She didn’t resist it, and Gong Yuwei had no ulterior motives. He wouldn’t become a burden to her, and she was willing to let someone like him into her heart as a lover. But Long Yue Li was different. His appearance carried a purpose, and his approach had always been motivated by that purpose. Though she flirted with him and they tangled in an ambiguous relationship, she had always viewed him as dangerous. She could have entanglements with him, but she would never lower her guard or let him into her heart. She only wanted to keep him at a distance.
But life is unpredictable, and she never imagined that a man like Long Yue Li would develop feelings for her so deeply, to the point of possessiveness. When he stabbed Gong Yuwei, she had thought about killing him and severing ties forever. But when she truly plunged the sword into his heart and watched him fall before her, she realized she had underestimated the depth of his feelings and the ruthlessness of his heart. Even now, she could vividly recall the image of Long Yue Li collapsing in front of her, as well as the gaping, b.l.o.o.d.y wound he left on her heart.
He had torn open her heart and forced his way in with such cruelty that she couldn’t ignore him or stop caring.
She knew he wouldn’t die so easily, but in her heart, she was still afraid. It wasn’t until she received news of him that she was able to breathe a little easier, though the worry in her heart remained. And when he appeared in the courtroom of the Ministry of Justice yesterday, she clearly heard the sound of her heart settling. Although she had always spoken to him with a cold and mocking tone, she could clearly feel the joy welling up inside her because of his appearance. He had ultimately succeeded.
With a long sigh, she gathered her thoughts, looked at the Prime Minister’s residence before her, and smiled lightly before stepping forward to knock on the door.
“Miss Xiao Jiu!” Seeing that it was Leng Jiu, Xiao Qian came out enthusiastically to greet her. Over the past two days, Xiao Qian had been delivering meals and things to Leng Jiu, so he was now familiar with her. Moreover, knowing she was close to the Empress Dowager, he was even more careful not to neglect her.
Leng Jiu didn’t mind his att.i.tude. Smiling, she asked, “Is the Prime Minister in?”
“The Prime Minister just returned from court not long ago. He should be in the study now.”
“Then I’ll go find him!” Leng Jiu took a few steps forward, then suddenly stopped and turned to Xiao Qian. “I troubled you the past two days.”
Xiao Qian scratched his head in embarra.s.sment. “It’s my duty!”
Leng Jiu slightly curled her lips and continued toward Gong Yuwei’s study. Uncle Xiang, who saw her from afar, smiled at her, then pointed towards the study door before quietly walking away. Seeing this, Leng Jiu smiled. It seemed there were quite a few perceptive people in Gong Yuwei’s household.
Pushing the door open, she walked past a carved screen painted with bamboo and saw Gong Yuwei sitting behind a desk, engrossed in reading. He was so absorbed that he didn’t even notice her come in. Leng Jiu chuckled, walked over, s.n.a.t.c.hed the book from his hands, and jokingly scolded, “You bookworm!”
Startled, Gong Yuwei looked up and, seeing it was her, was visibly pleased. “Why are you here?”
Leng Jiu looked at him without saying a word, then suddenly set the book aside, leaned forward, and sat in his lap. She cupped his face with her hands, closed her eyes, and kissed him deeply. At that moment, she didn’t want anything but to kiss him and hold him!
Sensing that something was off with Leng Jiu’s mood, Gong Yuwei didn’t push her away. Instead, he raised his hands to wrap them around her waist, shyly but eagerly indulging in her kiss.
When the kiss finally ended, Leng Jiu’s lips brushed against the side of Gong Yuwei’s face, her voice hoa.r.s.e as she said, “Yuwei, I want you, alright?”
Gong Yuwei was very pure. In the past, he wouldn’t have known what her words meant, but after being teased by Leng Jiu in various ways, he naturally understood the implication of her words. His face flushed slightly, and he was too shy to think too much about it. “What’s wrong with you today?”
“Nothing, I just want you!” Leng Jiu said again, her lips slowly moving down his neck.
Gong Yuwei’s body stiffened from her actions, and his heart was itching, but he still had his boundaries. He gently pushed Leng Jiu away, his face still flushed with embarra.s.sment, but his expression serious. “Xiao Jiu, I can’t agree. I can’t let you be with me so casually. That would be irresponsible of me, and I can’t allow you to be wronged.”
Leng Jiu chuckled lightly. “Why would I be wronged? If anyone’s being wronged, it’s you!”
“No!” Gong Yuwei shook his head. “You are more precious to me than anything. I want to give you the best. The fact that I couldn’t help you this time shows that I’m not capable enough yet, that I’m not qualified to have you.”
Leng Jiu raised an eyebrow, feeling somewhat touched as she leaned against his shoulder. “Fool! What I want is you, Gong Yuwei, just you as a person, not some high-ranking, all-powerful Prime Minister. Besides, you’ve already done your best. There’s no need to blame yourself!”
After saying that, she suddenly added, “Although, I always thought you were a bit wooden. I didn’t expect you to actually know how to say sweet things! Haha!”
Gong Yuwei was about to refute her earlier words, but he was immediately fl.u.s.tered by her teasing, his face turning even redder. He was nervous. “Am I really that wooden? Do I make you feel bored?”
Leng Jiu lifted her hand to caress his face. “A silly but adorable piece of wood, I love it. How could I ever be bored with you?”
When he heard her say she liked him, his heart immediately brightened. He hugged her tightly, no longer thinking about her ambiguous relationship with Hua Jinzhi or whether she had feelings for Long Yue Li. All that mattered was that she was herself, and that was enough.
The two held each other tightly for a long time, unwilling to let go, until Leng Jiu finally broke the silence. “It’s snowing today!”
“Hmm?”
“I came to see the plum blossoms. We agreed to watch them bloom after the snow fell!”
When Gong Yuwei heard this, the coldness in his eyes instantly melted. She actually remembered. He had known the plum blossoms were blooming that morning and had been thinking about it ever since, which was why he had returned early after court. He couldn’t go to the palace to find her, and he didn’t want to send someone to bother her, but he hadn’t expected her to come on her own, and even more, that she still remembered.
“I’ll have Uncle Xiang prepare tea, and we’ll go admire the plum blossoms in a bit.”
“I want to drink wine today!” Leng Jiu said, hanging onto his neck.
Gong Yuwei frowned slightly. “Drinking is bad for your health. Girls shouldn’t drink.”
“I’m not a little girl. It’s fine, and I can hold my liquor!” After saying that, she suddenly moved closer with a mischievous smile. “Or are you afraid I’ll lose control after drinking and take advantage of you?”
Gong Yuwei’s serious expression immediately turned bashful. He was at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond to her. Leng Jiu, loving the way he looked when he was too embarra.s.sed to speak, gave him a few hard kisses. “Come on! Staying in this study is boring. Let’s go look at the plum blossoms!”
Leng Jiu pulled Gong Yuwei to the plum blossom garden, where Uncle Xiang had already prepared tea and dishes, which were still steaming hot.
The entire garden was filled with white plum blossoms, as pure as snow, perfectly reflecting Gong Yuwei’s style. The fragrance of the plum blossoms filled the air, intoxicating the senses. Perhaps it was just in her mind, but Leng Jiu felt these blossoms smelled even more fragrant than those in the palace.
Gong Yuwei sat down and poured her tea, but Leng Jiu grabbed the wine jug nearby and poured herself a cup instead. Before Gong Yuwei could react, she downed it in one gulp, smacking her lips. “It just doesn’t taste strong enough!”
Gong Yuwei wanted to say something, but seeing her expression, he decided to hold his tongue and sipped his tea instead. Leng Jiu drank two more cups, then suddenly looked at him. “Yesterday, I wiped out two families with just one word. Do you think I’m cruel?”
Gong Yuwei looked at her calmly. “They were guilty and deserved it. The law is clear on that.”
Leng Jiu raised an eyebrow and smiled. “I always remembered you as kind-hearted. I forgot you’re also the Prime Minister of the country!” After saying that, she asked, “Did the Prince of De confiscate their property?”
“Both families were dealt with yesterday. By nightfall, all were executed.” Gong Yuwei’s tone was emotionless.
Leng Jiu hooked her finger around his little finger. “Isn’t that scary and b.l.o.o.d.y?”
Gong Yuwei shook his head. “From the day I entered politics, I’ve seen bloodshed constantly, whether from innocent civilians or criminals. There’s nowhere in this world where blood isn’t spilled. It’s not frightening.”
“So, your heart is that clear and transparent. I’ve really underestimated you!” Leng Jiu suddenly smiled and grasped his hand. “If you have time, you should check if there are any survivors from the Lin and Zhao families. We wouldn’t want our kind Prince of De to be too merciful and leave loose ends!”
“Did something happen?” Gong Yuwei asked, a bit nervous, knowing she wouldn’t say such things without reason.
Leng Jiu picked up a piece of beef and chewed on it. “I encountered some a.s.sa.s.sins on my way out today. Some weren’t very skilled, but a few were experts. I don’t think they’re from an a.s.sa.s.sin organization, but I’m not sure if they’re related to those two families. That’s why I want you to investigate.”
Gong Yuwei immediately tightened his grip on her hand and scanned her from head to toe. “How did you get away? Are you hurt?”
“I’m not hurt!” Leng Jiu felt a warmth in her heart at his concern. “I hid in an alley and shook them off without facing them directly. Don’t worry.”
Gong Yuwei breathed a sigh of relief, though he still looked tense. “I’ll have someone look into it. You need to be more careful. I’ll send someone to escort you back to the palace later.”
“Do you really want people to know about the Prime Minister’s romantic affairs?” Leng Jiu laughed lightly. “I’ll go back to the General’s mansion. Leng Yue left some hidden guards for me. After what happened today, I definitely won’t go out alone anymore. I’ll take them with me from now on.”
Gong Yuwei squeezed her hand, uncharacteristically serious. “For the time being, don’t leave the palace. Once I’ve taken care of things, you can go out again.”
“Alright!” Leng Jiu agreed obediently, not wanting him to worry.
Leng Jiu stayed with Gong Yuwei from noon until the afternoon. In the end, she had no choice but to leave under his urging. Gong Yuwei insisted on sending her, and Leng Jiu agreed to let him take her to the General’s mansion, figuring there would be no danger there. Gong Yuwei thought for a moment before agreeing.
Thinking about how she wouldn’t be able to see him for several days, Leng Jiu felt reluctant. She gave him several fierce kisses before leaving. Once the people had escorted her to the General’s mansion, she sent them back, then went inside to change clothes and apply some makeup before heading out again.
“Young master, who are you looking for?” Leng Jiu hadn’t been to this courtyard in a long time, and dressed as a man, Kong Xiangyun didn’t recognize her at first.
Leng Jiu smiled. “Auntie, don’t you recognize me?”
Hearing her voice, Kong Xiangyun’s eyes widened. “Miss Jiu!”
Leng Jiu stepped forward. “I’m here to find Mo Di. Is he around?”
“He is, he is! Young Master Mo is in the backyard!” Kong Xiangyun quickly replied, then added, “I’ll prepare some food for you!”
“No need to trouble yourself, Auntie. I have urgent business and will be leaving soon.”
Kong Xiangyun was a bit disappointed, but knowing Leng Jiu’s special status, she didn’t say much.
“Shhh, shhh, shhh!”
When Leng Jiu entered, Mo Di was practicing his swordsmanship. His sword aura swept the surrounding leaves to the ground. He was bare-chested, revealing a perfect physique, with well-toned muscles and powerful arms that exuded a sense of security. Mo Di was also a rare handsome man, though he was too silent for Leng Jiu to tease. The only thing she liked about him was his purple eyes.
Sensing Leng Jiu’s presence, Mo Di sheathed his sword, draped a towel around his neck, and walked over. His deep, chiseled features were strikingly handsome, and though his hair was slightly disheveled, it didn’t detract from his appearance at all. Paired with his looks and physique, he exuded a wild, untamed aura that was very alluring.
“Is there something you need?” Even now, Mo Di still hadn’t addressed Leng Jiu by name, and his tone remained stiff.
Leng Jiu didn’t mind and said, “I’m here to ask about the progress.”
Mo Di sheathed his sword and replied in the same tone, “The ten people you selected last time are quite talented. According to the methods and strategies you provided, they have spread out around the capital, focusing on different areas. They have already started training their subordinates, and although it’s not on a large scale yet, the progress is impressive.”
Leng Jiu nodded. “How many from the training group are left?”
“There are fifty-seven in total. After subtracting the ten selected and one who died, forty-six remain. All of them know martial arts, but only ten are skilled in swordsmanship, seven excel in lightfoot, and eleven are proficient in throwing knives. The remaining eighteen are good at business and management. I know you probably won’t need them immediately, so I’ve sent three to a.s.sist Kong Yang. His shop has now stabilized, and I’ve sent five more to help with the expansion of branch stores. The remaining ten are still in training, and I plan to place them elsewhere to handle the business side.”
There weren’t many left, but Leng Jiu wasn’t greedy. She had only been reborn for six months, and it had been less than that since meeting Mo Di, so this level of achievement was already impressive. “I need four for swordsmanship, five for throwing knives, and two with good lightfoot skills. Prepare their ident.i.ties and credentials—half male, half female—and send them to the General’s residence. In a few days, I will have someone take them into the palace and arrange their roles. The palace needs some infiltration.”
“Should I inform them of your ident.i.ty?”
“They will find out eventually, so it doesn’t matter. But tell them not to interact with me directly. Their primary infiltration targets are the Imperial Guards, the Changle Palace, and the Imperial Medical Academy. There are only eleven of them, but they’ve been carefully trained by me, so they’re more effective than ordinary people. Since it’s inconvenient to meet in the palace, and to prevent leaks, use the method I taught you to transmit information. Use the peac.o.c.k feather as the token.”
Mo Di nodded. “I’ll make the arrangements.”
“By the way, how is Mo Ina doing?”
Mo Di paused for a moment and said, “She’s now the top courtesan at Bishui Paradise. The women she brought with her have also secured positions. Thanks to her excellent negotiation skills, she holds a high status and is secretly buying off and recruiting new people. For now, there’s nothing out of the ordinary.”
Leng Jiu glanced at him and suddenly asked, “Do you know anything about smuggling weapons?”
Mo Di looked at her in shock. “Why do you bring this up?”
Leng Jiu looked up. “Weapons can be traded freely in this world, but large quant.i.ties of military-grade weapons aren’t so easily accessible. If you want revenge, you’ll need more than just soldiers. You’ll need an army, supplies, and time. Some things can’t be rushed, but neither can they be delayed. Have your men investigate the channels for smuggling weapons. You don’t necessarily have to trade in them, but you must gain control over these channels. When the time comes, they will be crucial. You’ll also need to train private soldiers. Zhu Kongyang’s shop isn’t making huge profits yet, but once it expands, divert the funds into this endeavor. On the gra.s.slands, military strength depends on skill, not numbers. You can personally train them to be loyal to you, to see you as their master. When the time is right, you can return to the gra.s.slands and take back everything.”
Mo Di’s expression finally showed some emotion. “Why are you helping me like this?”
“Helping you is the same as helping myself. Don’t forget, you swore loyalty to me. Even if you are the king of the gra.s.slands, you are still mine,” Leng Jiu said proudly.
Mo Di didn’t argue. He no longer wanted to delve into whether he was her subordinate or not, but he knew for certain that he would never betray her, nor would he harm her.
Leng Jiu walked over and patted his shoulder. “The eagle is the king of the gra.s.slands. It’s said that it must break its wings countless times and endure endless hardship before finally growing strong wings to soar in the sky and become the master of the skies. In my eyes, you are an eagle with broken wings. As long as you are strong and determined, you will fly back to the gra.s.slands and dominate that sky once more. And I will witness your flight.”
Mo Di looked at her deeply, then nodded firmly.
Leng Jiu withdrew her hand. “I need to go back now. I ran into some a.s.sa.s.sins today, so you’ll have to escort me.”
“I’ll change my clothes and come right away.” Mo Di immediately turned and went inside. Moments later, he emerged, dressed in simple yet refined black attire.
Leng Jiu and Mo Di left together. The General’s residence wasn’t exactly nearby, and while Leng Jiu wasn’t afraid, she believed in being cautious. There was no need to risk her life unnecessarily when there were other options.
The two walked side by side in silence. Despite having a handsome man by her side, Leng Jiu, for once, had no desire to tease him. The street was bustling with people, but the pair felt like a foreign element, standing out starkly.
Just as Leng Jiu was about to enter the General’s residence, the usually silent Mo Di finally spoke. His beautiful purple eyes looked at her with rare sincerity and gravity, and though he made no overt gesture, it felt like a vow. “I will become the eagle of the gra.s.slands. And I will make sure you see it.”
Leng Jiu smiled and glanced at the sky. Tiny snowflakes were still falling, and the weather was gloomy. But who knows? Above the clouds, there may be sunshine.
“Hmm. I’ll be waiting.”
－－－－－－Author’s Note－－－－－－
I got stuck while writing this, so I hope you all won’t feel stuck when reading it, ╮╭ I feel like I wrote this divine doctor beauty a bit awkwardly. Time to go reflect!