Chapter 70

Inside the manor.

Xiao Jin took the intelligence report Ye Suyu presented, furrowed her brow, and studied it for a long time.

Ye Suyu and Ye Juege stood to the side. Judging merely by Xiao Jin’s expression, it was rather difficult to discern her thoughts.

It was normal not to discern them. Because the reason Xiao Jin was frowning was actually just her deciphering traditional characters, ensuring she didn’t misread.

After deciphering, Xiao Jin set down the letter.

She casually placed the paper by the candle and burned it, then asked, “What about Wu Meng’s family? Not a single one left?”

Wu Meng certainly deserved to die, not a pity at all.

However, if it was the person she suspected, they would definitely slaughter the entire Wu family without mercy. If not, then it meant the mastermind was likely someone else.

Ye Suyu pondered for a moment and replied, “According to the investigated intelligence, Wu Meng seemed to have anticipated this beforehand and moved his wife and children to the Cloud Qin Kingdom. Bai Zhu has always been skilled at tracking. I’ve already sent him to pursue them.”

Bai Zhu?

Xiao Jin frowned.

This was the second time she had heard this name.

From the information Juege had told her earlier, she knew the manor’s Garrison Army had the original owner’s four major trusted confidants: Juege, Suyu, Ming Xun, and Bai Zhu.

These four should all be very capable individuals.

Organizing her thoughts today, Xiao Jin suddenly recalled that the last name seemed to have appeared in the original story, and occupied quite a bit of page space.

At least, more than the original owner, who didn’t survive past three chapters.

Recalling the original plot, Xiao Jin realized Bai Zhu was indeed a talent.

Of course, if he weren’t a talent, he probably wouldn’t have been valued by the male lead.

Bai Zhu… wasn’t this the person who, after the Crown Prince ascended the throne… became the Commander of the Imperial Guard, commanding the Twelve Guards?

Although she didn’t know exactly when Bai Zhu started following the Crown Prince, Xiao Jin understood that one must be wary of others.

What if Bai Zhu really was a spy for the male lead? To have climbed to his current position within the manor, his cunning must be unfathomable.

Thinking of this, Xiao Jin asked, “Who is Bai Zhu?”

Both Ye Suyu and Ye Juege were taken aback.

Xiao Jin’s expression remained unchanged as she said frankly, “This Prince forgot.”

One had to admit, the old-school amnesia trope never failed. It was truly the all-purpose excuse.

Ye Juege did know Xiao Jin had amnesia.

However, her expression was still rather strange: “Bai Zhu… isn’t he the guard His Highness the Crown Prince gifted to you, my Prince?”

“…”

Xiao Jin: “You all knew?”

So, the original owner also knew… knew that the Crown Prince had planted a spy inside Prince Yan’s Manor?

Ye Suyu, having investigated all night, was already somewhat tired.

Listening to Xiao Jin, she found a stool and sat down unceremoniously, saying with a smile, “Your memory is poor, my Prince, so you’ve likely forgotten. Actually, not only did we know, you knew as well.”

Xiao Jin was somewhat surprised but remained impassive. “Explain the reason.”

Ye Suyu recounted the details. “Eight years ago, Ruoquan was restless, plagued by internal strife year after year. Although the court sent troops to suppress it, many children were still displaced. Bai Zhu was one of them.”

“At that time, His Highness the Crown Prince had not yet come of age. He was ordered to lead troops for the suppression and encountered Bai Zhu on the way. Hearing he was an orphan, he conveniently picked him up. Afterward, you, my Prince, took him from the Crown Prince.”

So the original owner was the one who wanted him?

Xiao Jin completely failed to understand this move by the original owner and could only ask expressionlessly, “Why did this Prince take Bai Zhu?”

Ye Juege was silent for a moment, then replied, “At the time, you felt Bai Zhu had quick hands and feet, and his bone structure was decent, showing considerable martial talent…”

“That was this Prince’s reason for poaching someone?”

Xiao Jin didn’t believe it.

With so many experts in the Garrison Army, the original owner couldn’t possibly have poached someone for such a reason.

Ye Suyu looked at Xiao Jin, her lips curving into a smile. “Of course not.”

“At the time, you told the Crown Prince, ‘Li Si has gone home for mourning observance recently. The manor is short of someone with nimble hands and feet who can do some sweeping and cleaning.’ So His Highness the Crown Prince gave Bai Zhu to you.”

“…”

Xiao Jin fell silent.

Making the future Commander of the Imperial Guard who would command the Twelve Guards… sweep floors.

It seemed the original owner truly had excellent foresight.

If the original owner herself had wanted him, then whether Bai Zhu was indeed the Crown Prince’s spy was still up for debate.

After all, Bai Zhu had once been saved by the Crown Prince. If the original owner died, turning to assist the Crown Prince wasn’t exactly wrong.

Let Bai Zhu investigate for now. She could also use this opportunity to observe his ability and loyalty.

However, there was still another matter.

Xiao Jin looked at the pile of ashes on the table. After hesitating repeatedly, she still slowly asked, “Did this Prince… have a good relationship with the Crown Prince before?”

…

“Did the Prince have a good relationship with His Highness the Crown Prince before?”

Yin Zhu, seeing Chu Shao appear before her, thought briefly, then answered, “Good. Naturally, it was extremely good.”

Chu Shao toyed with the celadon bottle in her hand, a smile curving on her lips. “How good?”

Yin Zhu recalled the past and started listing examples. “When the Prince was young, he loved climbing onto the roof eaves. Even Her Highness Zhaoyang couldn’t persuade him to come down. But when His Highness the Crown Prince arrived, the Prince would come down.”

“Oh? Why was that?”

“Because His Highness the Crown Prince would climb onto the roof to watch the scenery with the Prince. Afterward, they would sneak out of the palace together and wander around everywhere.”

Chu Shao smiled thoughtfully. “I never imagined someone like the Crown Prince would have such a side.”

Her words only mentioned the Crown Prince, as if she were not at all surprised by Xiao Jin’s roof-climbing behavior. After all, to her, the former Third Prince liking to climb rooftops was perfectly normal.

But the current Xiao Jin probably wouldn’t like climbing roof eaves.

Xiao Jin liked sitting in a chair basking in the sun, and staying under the flower trellis watching the moon.

The first time she saw Prince Yan in the Great Yao Imperial Palace,

Chu Shao felt that although Prince Yan’s eyes faintly revealed exhaustion, deep down, he was still someone who would not be tamed.

Much like a weary wolf that had retracted its claws and fangs.

But the current Xiao Jin was not like a wolf. She was more like… a flower, or a cat.

Just seeing Xiao Jin like this would inexplicably lift her spirits.

Different from the sensation of wielding a sword to kill.

It was a soothing, relaxed feeling. It made Chu Shao feel that Xiao Jin possessed something extremely wonderful.

As for what exactly that thing was, Chu Shao hadn’t yet figured it out.

However, Chu Shao did understand one thing—the Crown Prince was truly an eyesore.

Even though she could clearly recognize that the former Xiao Jin and the current Xiao Jin seemed like two completely different people, she was still rather unhappy.

So much so that while Yin Zhu was eloquently enumerating various pieces of evidence, Chu Shao was contemplating a reasonable method to kill the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince was very strong.

She knew this too.

Chu Shao looked down at the celadon bottle in her hand and began pondering the feasibility of poisoning the Crown Prince.

Thus, her mind wandered very thoroughly.

Even when Commandery Governor Xu had already walked to her side and bowed in greeting, Chu Shao was still thinking of the thousands of deadly poisons in the books. A smile curved on her lips, yet she said nothing.

After a long while, there was no response.

Because Chu Shao’s mind was filled with all sorts of poisons and she hadn’t noticed the disturbance from outside at all.

Sweat beaded on Commandery Governor Xu’s forehead. Very humbly, he repeated, “Greetings to Her Highness, the Princess Consort.”

The second time, still no response.

Seeing this, Yin Zhu, standing to the side, couldn’t help but cough lightly twice to alert Chu Shao.

It was only upon hearing Yin Zhu’s cough that Chu Shao’s thoughts finally pulled away from the poisons, and she came back to her senses.

Looking at Xu Fanghai before her, she asked gently, “Governor Xu, what important matter brings you here?”

Chu Shao noticed Commandery Governor Xu was wearing his official robes. She was somewhat puzzled as to why he had appeared before her.

After bowing, Commandery Governor Xu took out two secret letters from his sleeve.

One red, one black.

He then respectfully handed the blood-red letter to Chu Shao and said in a low voice, “This morning, I found two secret letters and a note on my desk. The note stated that this red letter is for Your Highness, the Princess Consort.”

“As for the other black letter…”

Commandery Governor Xu paused and smiled wryly. “It would be best if I personally deliver it to His Highness the Prince.”

…

Xiao Jin looked at the black letter in Commandery Governor Xu’s hand, merely casting a faint glance, showing no intention of taking it.

Instead, she raised her hand and pointed at the blood-red seal on the letter. “It’s best not to touch anything from the Blood Rain Pavilion lightly.”

The implication was clear.

The Blood Rain Pavilion’s methods were always insidious and malicious. She reasonably suspected the paper might be laced with poison.

Ye Juege understood immediately and promptly left the room to fetch the renowned jianghu doctor they had invited days earlier for inspection.

Hearing that this letter was from the Blood Rain Pavilion, Commandery Governor Xu’s face changed slightly. He subconsciously looked at his own hands.

Th-this… his hands weren’t going to be crippled, were they?

Only when the jianghu doctor put on silk gloves, finished the inspection, and declared the two letters contained no poison did Commandery Governor Xu swallow a pill of reassurance and let out a long breath.

Seeing how badly frightened Commandery Governor Xu was, Xiao Jin truly felt like laughing.

In truth, she couldn’t be blamed for being overly cautious.

One could only say that secretly poisoning various items was indeed a common trick of evil forces in web novels.

Jing Ke, to assassinate the King of Qin, could still hide a dagger in a map scroll, let alone the Blood Rain Pavilion, whose methods were strange and sinister.

But since the scaring was already done.

Before opening the letter, Xiao Jin decided to scare Commandery Governor Xu once more.

Touching the black secret letter, her face betrayed no particular expression.

Moments later, however, she set the letter down and looked at Commandery Governor Xu meaningfully. “Since this item was delivered to your residence, might I wonder if the Governor felt any curiosity? And whether out of curiosity, you might have opened this secret letter?”

These words didn’t sound like intimidation. Rather, they implied deeper meaning, appearing very serious.

Commandery Governor Xu’s heart tightened.

He rose and bowed with cupped hands. “This inferior official would not dare.”

Xiao Jin smiled. “Why wouldn’t you dare?”

Commandery Governor Xu smiled bitterly. “To answer Your Highness: this inferior official was indeed very curious about the letter’s contents, but didn’t have the courage to look… because this inferior official understands, the more I know, the more danger I am in.”

“Rest assured, Your Highness. This inferior official dares to stake my head as guarantee. If there is any deception, may I be struck by five thunderbolts and die a terrible death.”

Ancient people always revered gods and spirits. Since he dared to swear a poisonous oath with his life as collateral, it showed Commandery Governor Xu indeed hadn’t looked.

Swearing a poison oath while incidentally professing loyalty—Commandery Governor Xu was clearly a rare clever man.

Xiao Jin understood Commandery Governor Xu’s mindset and nodded. “There’s no need for such a poisonous oath. This Prince would still believe the Governor.”

Commandery Governor Xu’s mouth twitched slightly. He wondered who it was that had been doubting him just moments ago.

A stick followed by a sweet date. One had to admit, Prince Yan’s methods carried a distinct air of a superior ruler.

After these words, Commandery Governor Xu knew Xiao Jin had dispelled her doubts about him.

He was no fool either. Before Xiao Jin opened the letter, he excused himself and left.

Who would have thought Xiao Jin didn’t seem in a hurry to open the secret letter.

Instead, she set the letter aside and picked up the plate of pastries on the table.

Turning her head, she asked Chu Shao, who was sitting nearby but had remained silent the entire time: “The kitchen just made some Spring Snow Cakes. Would the Princess Consort like to try one?”

The pastries were carved into the shape of double-petaled lotus flowers, lying in the glass plate—a few delicate, exquisite pieces like water lilies floating on a pond’s surface.

Chu Shao didn’t particularly notice the pastries on the plate. Instead, she lowered her gaze to look at Xiao Jin’s fair fingers holding the plate.

She stared for a moment, then picked up a pastry and asked with a faint smile, “Aren’t you curious about what exactly is written in the secret letter?”

As she spoke with Chu Shao, Xiao Jin also picked up a pastry.

After finishing one, she said casually, “Not curious. It’s all just the usual clichés.”

Seeing Xiao Jin eat, Chu Shao also parted her lips and took a small bite.

A trace of sweetness spread on the tip of her tongue.

Carrying the fresh sweetness of lotus seeds and poria, it was enough to linger between the teeth with a long aftertaste.

The smile on Chu Shao’s face deepened. “It seems My Prince already knows what is written in the letter.”

Xiao Jin lifted her fingertip and traced the patterns on the glass plate.

“The first half will surely say they’ve long admired this Prince’s great name, with some rambling flattery. The second half will say something like ‘better soon than late,’ and invite this Prince to a certain place for a gathering in a few days.”

Chu Shao was just about to have another pastry.

Hearing Xiao Jin’s words, her movement instantly halted.

As if recalling something, Xiao Jin continued to supplement, “Oh, and the time will definitely be at night. The location won’t be too hidden either. It’ll probably be chosen at some place with painted boats and elegant chambers.”

“So that place might be a lively establishment, like a brothel…”

Chu Shao rarely showed surprise on her face.

But now she was truly somewhat puzzled, even beginning to suspect whether the secret letter sent by the Blood Rain Pavilion had been written right under Xiao Jin’s nose.

Xiao Jin watched the stunned expression on Chu Shao’s face and knew she had guessed correctly.

So it really was like that.

The cliché of hosting guests at a brothel had been used for how many years? It was enduringly popular, true, but also completely unoriginal.

After a brief moment of reflection, Xiao Jin took a sip of tea and feigned inquiry: “Was it truly written like this in the letter the Blood Rain Pavilion sent to the Princess Consort?”

Chu Shao nodded, the smile on her lips clear. “My Prince is truly a prophet. You always bring many surprises to this humble wife.”

Xiao Jin smiled faintly and thought: What’s so surprising about this?

Her mind stored thousands of various web novels. If she shook them all out, the surprises would probably be endless.

However, Xiao Jin didn’t reveal this.

She only set down her teacup and said with an air of profound mystery, “It’s all just tropes.”