Chapter 109 : An Unexpected Turn of Events (Part II)
Trigger Warning: Mention of disturbing actions with an unborn foetus.
Within Su Xin Yuan, Hu Die brought over a transparent gem-coloured gla.s.s bowl and presented it to Jiang Su Su, “Miss, best to take this while it’s still hot.”
Whatever was in the bowl had been boiled until it was scalding hot, and upon looking at its colour, one couldn’t help but want to gag. Even though the fragrance was pleasant to the nose, it still made one’s stomach protest.
Jiang Su Su put down the brand new lipstick she was holding, and nonchalantly took the gla.s.s bowl from Hu Die. Using a jade spoon, she gently stirred the contents as she asked indifferently, “So there was one available today?”
“Recently they have been rather scarce in the city, but the medical shop owner said that this was received only today and is still very fresh. This servant spent two hundred pieces of silver to buy it.” Hu Die stoically replied.
“I understand, go to the accounts later to collect the silver.” Jiang Su Su then raised the bowl to her nose and gently sniffed, revealing an intoxicated look. After all, this was not her first time consuming infant placenta, and it was all thanks to placentas that all the scars on her face were able to recover so fast. This item was highly treasured and not readily available, and while others were adverse towards it’s bloodiness, she definitely wasn’t. For the sake of her appearance, she was prepared to go to any length. Soon enough she would also be able to stop taking chicken’s blood as her complexion had now recovered to the point of being both beautiful and alluring beyond compare. It was now time to go out and about.
Jiang Su Su lifted up the bowl and slowly savored the delicacy, while nearby Hu Die stood still and had to fight off the strong urge to throw up. A piece of cloth was lying quietly in the pile of debris at the entrance of Su Xin Yuan’s maidservants’ storage room, and upon a closer look, it looked like a material that had been used to wrap something. It was a piece of coa.r.s.e sack cloth with dark brown stains…
* * *
Afraid that it would get cold during the night, Lu Zhu closed the window leaving a crack small enough so that it wouldn’t allow in a large gust of cold wind, but just enough for the room to ventilate and stay cool. The weather had been cool and refreshing today, so they didn’t have to use any ice. Just then, Tian Zhu walked in from outside and came before Jiang Ruan who was preparing for bed. She whispered a few sentences by Jiang Ruan’s ear, and Jiang Ruan’s eyes flashed as she smiled slightly, “So that’s what had happened.”
Tian Zhu could not help frowning. Xia Yan had ordered someone to take the dead fetus out of the fu to deal with it, and by some twisted sense of fate, it was then purchased by someone from Su Xin Yuan and brought right back in. That would mean that Jiang Su Su had just partaken of her own biological brother’s placenta. Just thinking to this point, she was so aghast, and the action was so abhorrent that she felt a chill run through her blood.
Jiang Ruan stated, “The world naturally has its own karma.”
Tian Zhu proceeded, “Xia Yan had chosen to conceal the news of her miscarriage, it can’t be that she is planning to find a subst.i.tute?
“After suffering such a big loss, how can Xia Yan be content with just that? If she really does find a subst.i.tute, won’t that be taking her goodwill too far?” She tucked some hair that was in front of her eyes behind her ears, revealing earlobes that were like snow white jade.
“Then, Miss….?”
Jiang Ruan shook her head, “There is nothing to be concerned about as she is currently fixated on Hong Ying, and isn’t Hong Ying always yapping at her heels? We just need to sit back and watch a good show.” It was not yet time for her to make her move, so there was no need to act rashly.
Tian Zhu thought for a moment before agreeing and then took her leave.
After Tian Zhu departed, Jiang Ruan pressed her forehead before sitting down, intending to further mull over the matter only to realise that she was too tired. So, she stood up again and was about to remove her outer garments when she heard a familiar voice speak out, “Wait a moment.”
Jiang Ruan was slightly startled, and before she realized, she had instinctively reached out her hand to grab the dagger under her pillow.
From the shadows of the candle light walked out a person who drew nearer and nearer before coming to a stop a couple of steps away from her. Even though he was completely clothed in black, he still managed to carry a debonair and distinguished air as if attired in brocade. His appearance was without rival, and if it wasn’t Xiao Shao, then who else could it be?
For him to come uninvited, even Jiang Ruan who usually plastered on a smiling expression couldn’t help the coldness that crept onto her face as she angrily spoke, “Xiao w.a.n.gye, what’s the meaning of this? Is this what the imperial rules have taught you?
Immediately after the words were out of her mouth, she began to regret it. While she had been conferred the t.i.tle of Hong’an Junzhu, Xiao Shao was the commander of 300,000 Jinyi Guards, the current master of the Jinying w.a.n.gfu. So based on ranking, she was still way beneath Xiao Shao by a big margin. However, for Xiao Shao to suddenly appear uninvited, she couldn’t help but feel startled. Moreover, normally, Xiao Shao never pulled rank nor acted arrogantly in front of her, so she had actually forgotten that the person before her had the ability to turn the Great Jin dynasty into chaos. It was only when she had collected herself, that she realised the severity of her words and how impertinent they were. However, the words once spoken were like spilt water- there was no way she could take them back. Thus, she had to confidently put on an affronted expression towards Xiao Shao even though her heart was apprehensive.
Xiao Shao, who was accustomed to seeing Jiang Ruan’s easy going and composed manner, and her tranquil and indifferent att.i.tude that was generally accompanied by a slight smile, was completely caught off guard in the face of her lack of composure. Although he was born into the imperial clan, and there was a certain aristocratic deportment and manner expected of him, since accepting the Jinyi guards commander’s role he had been out on the road for many years. Therefore, it was natural that he had picked up some habits from the Jianghu: a flamboyant, no stickler to conventions, secular worldview. Thus it seemed as though he had unwittingly regarded her as his own people, and had not considered the fact that she was also a young woman. Furthermore, he had not taken into consideration the time, so it was only natural for her to react as such when she realised that someone else was present in her room as soon as she turned around.
Once he had thought to this point, Xiao Shao could not help feeling a little ashamed, and pursing his lips he replied, “I’m sorry for not being considerate.” As he spoke, he faced Jiang Ruan in all seriousness. He noticed that her eyes reflected a guilty conscience while pretending to cast an angry look. He momentarily drew a blank and then found the situation funny.
To have the magnificent Xiao w.a.n.gye of the Great Jin dynasty apologise to her, Jiang Ruan felt that it wasn’t right to show any att.i.tude. Internally she was annoyed that she hadn’t been able to maintain her composure just then. Taking a deep breath, she walked to the table and sat down. While pouring Xiao Shao and herself a cup of tea, she spoke up, “For Xiao w.a.n.gye to barge into a lady’s chamber in the middle of the night, I guess there must be some highly urgent matter.”
Xiao Shao didn’t take the sarcasm in her words to heart, but his heroic eyebrows frowned slightly, “Did you use the chou-yu silk that Xia Yan sent you?”
Jiang Ruan was surprised as she had not thought that Xiao Shao would actually come merely because of this matter. She supposed Tian Zhu must have reported this matter. Tian Zhu had initially come to her, however Tian Zhu’s livelihood depended on Xiao Shao. Therefore, Jiang Ruan did not have any expectation of total loyalty towards herself. She nodded her head in reply.
Xiao Shao disapproved, “There’s a particular herb mixed into the material, you should not be so impetuous.”
“Tian Zhu already neutralized the herb.” Jiang Ruan had given it no further thought at all. At that time, she only wanted to ensure that Hong Ying would lay down her vigilance, so she had Tian Zhu neutralize the herb that was on her own spool of silk so that it could no longer cause any harm to the person using it.
“But Tian Zhu could have also made a mistake and failed. There is alwaysJ a possibility of a mishap,” Xiao Shao stated in a neutral tone.
Tian Zhu had been learning martial arts since childhood, so while standing guard outside the room she could clearly hear their conversation. Xiao Shao’s words caused her some grievances. Although she couldn’t be considered as one of the best neutralizers or detoxifiers of poison, this insignificant poison was definitely no problem for her at all.
Jiang Ruan was about to say more when Xiao Shao suddenly reached out and grabbed hold of her wrist. He was a man and naturally had superior strength compared to Jiang Ruan, so she could not avoid it. Xiao Shao attentively took her pulse, but while Jiang Ruan felt rather awkward she did not struggle to break free. Her gaze fell upon the hand that was holding onto her wrist. It was vastly different from Jiang Xin Zhi’s large battle scarred hands that came from close combat training and were sun tanned. Xiao Shao’s hands were slender, their bones well proportioned, and on the fingertips were a light layer of calluses that were obtained from practicing martial arts. His fingers were slightly cold, but his palm was dry and warm.
After taking her pulse, Xiao Shao retracted his hands but his gaze, for a split second, had revealed a sense of perplexity. Jiang Ruan was a person who was observant, and noticing Xiao Shao’s expression, she asked, “Were the effects of the herb removed?”
To be honest, she wasn’t that concerned about the matter of the herb, as it was just a matter of having children. In this life, she had not even thought about getting married.
“It’s not that.” Xiao Shao thought it through and with a shake of his head, he looked at her, “Your body is far too weak.”
Jiang Ruan smiled without saying a thing. Weak? In the previous life, when she had returned from the rural residence to the Jiang fu, back then, that was what one would call weak; she was emaciated to skin and bones, to the point that there wasn’t any appearance of a human form. Back then she was bedridden, riddled with illness for many years, taking medication non stop, yet her body did not show signs of recovery. If it weren’t for the Emperor’s edict seeking to handpick some young ladies, she was sure that she would have remained ‘sick’ for many more years.
In this life, although she had returned much earlier from the rural residence, those early years of illness had already affected her foundation, so her health wasn’t the best. Currently she was adequately nursing herself, even though she was aware that her core was still deteriorating. Hence, she was paying specific attention to taking care of her body because she needed to preserve her life first in order to exact her revenge.
Xiao Shao noticed that Jiang Ruan’s gaze had seemed to transcend him as if deep in thought. He felt that this young lady before him at that moment seemed to be that much more distant and remote. His brows knitted as his heart felt a sliver of unease. This was a rather unfamiliar feeling, and Xiao Shao could not process what it meant. Pondering for a moment, he spoke, “If there is a chance in the future, I will take you to my Master. His medical skills are quite superior, there is a possibility he can nurse you back to health.”
Jiang Ruan was pulled back from her thoughts at Xiao Shao’s words. Looking at the black-cladded young man before her with his pitch black eyes filled with all seriousness, she couldn’t help being momentarily stunned, “Many thanks.”
Since a.s.sociating with Xiao Shao, it was apparent that she had uttered “many thanks” countless times.
Xiao Shao stood up, “It’s rather late now, I’ll head back first. You try and get an early rest.” Sweeping another glance over her, he then flew out of the window.
Did he really take the Jiang fu as his own courtyard, such that he would come and go on a whim? Jiang Ruan was dumbfounded before suddenly trying to recall what Xiao Shao had just done; did he just come to take her pulse? Was he bewitched?
Jiang Ruan blew to extinguish the candle before getting into bed. Her initial weariness had somehow dissipated with Xiao Shao’s disruptive visit. It was clear that she was no longer tired and was unable to sleep now.
Xiao Shao lingered to watch the lights in the room go out before he turned and departed.
* * *
The next day, after a pa.s.sing summer shower, the sun was blazing high in the clear sky. It was vastly different from the recent overcast gloomy weather, and it remained sunny for the next several days. Meanwhile, everything in the fu had been following its usual orderliness: Fifth Yiniang was blissfully nursing her pregnancy within her courtyard, and Xia Yan was also seen hefting her big pregnant body out to stroll in the gardens. From all appearances, there was no difference.
However, the peacefulness on the surface did not mean that it was truly all tranquil and harmonious. For example, Fifth Yiniang, Hong Ying, was not actually blissfully nursing her pregnancy in accordance with what the servants had let leak out from the courtyard. Rather, she was constantly fretful and impatient, asking the maidservant who had returned, “What exactly is happening? Is there no news that you are able to glean?”
“Answering Yiniang,” the maidservant reported, “This servant has inquired at Su Xin Yuan, but they have not received news of someone miscarrying at Yan Hua Yuan. Moreover, there hasn’t been any physician invited over, and Furen has only requested her maids to get medication for the nursing of the fetus from the medical store.”
“How is this possible?” Hong Ying muttered. Over the last few days, she had been frantic with anxiety, anxious to receive news of Xia Yan’s miscarriage. So how was it that during the same time, Yan Hua Yuan had become impenetrable to the point that even a fly could not fly in. Hence there wasn’t even an iota of a chance to pick up any news. This was the reason why they could only go to Su Xin Yuan to seek information, as should there be a movement on Xia Yan’s side, Jiang Su Su would most definitely be in the know. Thus, with the report from her maid that there wasn’t any news regarding Xia Yan, even from Su Xin Yuan, how could Hong Ying come to terms with that. Was it possible that Xia Yan had found out about it?
“Yiniang, don’t panic,”the servant at her side advised, “Maybe Furen was fortunate, and has not used the chou-yu silk yet, which is why she has not miscarried.”
Hong Ying’s mind settled. Of course. There was the possibility that Xia Yan had not used the chou-yu silk as when one was pregnant there was nothing much to their wardrobe worth using such exquisite material for. So it was possible that Xia Yan wanted to use that chou-yu silk after giving birth? Once she thought it through, Hong Ying breathed a sigh of relief, yet almost immediately, her expression turned spiteful, “How in the world could she be that lucky!”