“Gah—”
Ji Yunwei jolted awake, sat bolt upright, and widened her eyes. Her hands clutched at her neck as she gasped for breath. She realized that the pain from her memory and the blood filling her vision had vanished without a trace.
She stared blankly at her hands and only then noticed that she had been lying on the bed.
“You’re awake?”
Ji Yunwei looked toward the source of the clear, cold female voice. Cui Wangshu sat poised in a chair, her right elbow resting on the armrest as she gently pressed her temple. A faint trace of exhaustion lingered in her eyes.
Ji Yunwei felt as if she had just awakened from a nightmare, her voice hoarse. “I clearly saw a green-faced demon just now.”
Cui Wangshu frowned, her expression complicated as she recalled the scene she had witnessed upon entering.
Ji Yunwei had been screaming in the room, her eyes wild with panic and terror, as if seized by hysteria. She swung her sword wildly at the air, only to turn it on herself the next moment, aiming straight for her heart.
Cui Wangshu had hurriedly drawn the Onyx Iron Fan from behind her back. With a flick of her wrist, the fan spun out and knocked the sword from Ji Yunwei’s hand.
Unexpectedly, Ji Yunwei then drew a dagger from her thigh and lunged at Cui Wangshu. Mindful not to hurt her, Cui Wangshu ended up getting slashed on the arm instead.
When Cui Wangshu saw that Ji Yunwei was completely lost in her delirium, she seized the opportunity to deliver a sharp chop to the side of her neck, knocking her out.
Cui Wangshu skirted around the fact that she had been injured and said, “You must have fallen into an illusion. I’ve already sent someone to investigate that dried flower on your desk.”
Yelu Narqi must have seen illusions too that night. The needle had been coated with powder ground from this flower.
Ji Yunwei furrowed her brows thoughtfully and murmured, “Illusion… hallucination…”
Suddenly, she looked up as if struck by a realization. She jumped off the bed and rummaged through her bundle, pulling out a worn, tattered book.
She flipped through it for a long time before pausing, her expression excited. “Found it!”
“This is a hallucinogenic herb unique to the Western Regions called Jade Face Asura. It was banned as far back as the reign of the Yonghe Emperor.”
The Yonghe Emperor in Ji Yunwei’s words was the last emperor of Da Yong.
Cui Wangshu’s gaze deepened. “Since it’s a banned substance, how did that woman from the Kang Kingdom bring it in? Unless… someone in Tongzhou City was already growing Jade Face Asura.”
Ji Yunwei’s face turned icy. “Who has the guts to plant such a harmful banned item within Great Zhao’s borders?”
She pulled out a map of Tongzhou City and studied it carefully before letting out a cold laugh. “Tongzhou City’s western district—the courtyards seized after Prince Jin’s rebellion were investigated. They’ve been sitting empty ever since.”
Seeing that Ji Yunwei had a lead, Cui Wangshu said no more. “I’ll go with you.”
By now, night had fallen—a perfect time for reconnaissance. But recalling how Cui Wangshu had vomited blood earlier that day, Ji Yunwei hesitated. “Maybe I should go alone.”
Cui Wangshu pulled a vial of medicine from her bosom—the one Jiang Chenbi had given her after their return from the Imperial Mausoleum to guard against various hallucinogenic flowers.
“No problem. Change into some dark clothes. Let’s go.”
It was a moonless, windy night, with sparse clouds overhead.
Cui Wangshu and Ji Yunwei both wore form-fitting black outfits and masks over their faces. They crouched on the roof of a manor in the western district of the city.
The courtyard looked dilapidated from the outside, but there were no overgrown weeds within—clear signs of regular maintenance. With their excellent lightness skills, the two leaped to the rear courtyard roof. In the moonlight, they spotted the rear courtyard brimming with Jade Face Asura.
The fresh Jade Face Asura grew in a shallow pool, reflecting a nearly metallic sheen under the moonlight. It exuded an air of mysterious, bewitching beauty, utterly different from its withered state.
Ji Yunwei wanted to jump down and pick a few, but Cui Wangshu firmly held her shoulder. She turned to Cui Wangshu and saw her staring intently at the flowers below.
Following Cui Wangshu’s gaze, Ji Yunwei noticed the flower clusters swaying slightly. She had thought it was the wind at first, but there was no breeze now.
Looking closer, she saw countless snakes wriggling densely in the shallow pool beneath the flowers!
The moment Ji Yunwei realized this, goosebumps erupted all over her body.
Cui Wangshu raised a finger to her lips, signaling silence and stillness. Soon, sounds came from the courtyard. The snakes, which had been swimming quietly, suddenly reared up from the water.
Then, with a “plop,” several animal carcasses were tossed into the yard. The snakes slithered out of the pool toward them.
Once the snakes were full, they began tearing into each other, as if fighting.
The two waited a long time until the snakes, exhausted, crawled back into the pool. The flowers no longer rustled.
At this point, both understood.
The snakes were guardians of the Jade Face Asura.
Just as they thought it safe to descend, faint noises came from the courtyard again. They quickly ducked down.
“The goods Lord Shilang wants—why aren’t they ready yet?”
“My lord, the Minister of Rites and the Vice Minister of the Dali Temple have come to Tongzhou. They sealed the city gates today too. We can’t get them out. The moment they leave, we’ll send them right over.”
Hearing the familiar voices, Cui Wangshu’s face turned cold beneath her mask. Even Ji Yunwei felt the chill radiating from her.
Looking toward the two conversing in the yard, Ji Yunwei instantly understood why Cui Wangshu was furious.
The one demanding the goods was the personal guard of the Vice Minister of Rites. The “Lord Shilang” he mentioned was none other than Kang Li.
Cui Wangshu’s style in official matters was authoritarian. Kang Li had always been obsequious before her—competent but unambitious. She hadn’t expected him to be secretly growing banned substances in Tongzhou.
In a flash, Cui Wangshu pieced together the full story behind Yelu Narqi’s death. A cold, mirthless smile tugged at her lips. Things were getting more interesting.
The two in the yard discussed further, including suggestions that if push came to shove, he should find a way to kill Cui Wangshu and Ji Yunwei in Tongzhou. Finally, the first speaker took several stalks of Jade Face Asura and left.
Once both had gone, Ji Yunwei and Cui Wangshu leaped down from the roof.
Ji Yunwei wrapped a stalk of Jade Face Asura in cloth and tucked it into her bosom. Without delay, they swiftly left the place.
Back at the official residence, Ji Yunwei removed her mask, fury blazing on her face. “This Kang Li is audacious beyond belief! Not only planting banned substances but plotting to assassinate imperial officials!”
She then turned to Cui Wangshu, puzzled. “Minister, didn’t your divination reveal Kang Li’s interference?”
Cui Wangshu shook her head and explained, “Yelu Narqi’s death and the machinations behind it are separate matters. Kang Li wasn’t the direct killer, so it wouldn’t show up.”
However, Feng Sanniang’s comment about Jiang Chenbi resembling the Kang Kingdom woman had led her to divine something else.
If Cui Wangshu hadn’t insisted on divining that day, the Kang Kingdom woman might have already left Tongzhou by now. The Jade Face Asura wouldn’t have been discovered, nor Kang Li’s deeds.
Ji Yunwei frowned. “What do you plan to do, Minister?”
Cui Wangshu sneered, danger brewing in her eyes. “Of course… let Kang Li reunite with his true master.”
The two had mentioned Prince Jin earlier. Kang Li served Prince Jin—that explained why Cui Wangshu had never found ties between him and the Emperor, Prince Cheng, or Prince Sui. His master was someone else.
Prince Jin’s rebellion had failed long ago; no one even knew how many years he’d been dead. Yet Kang Li remained loyally devoted, still plotting revenge for him.
Cui Wangshu looked up. “The Kang Kingdom woman is still in the city. Intensify the search and capture her as soon as possible.”
Ji Yunwei knew she was heading back to the capital to deal with Kang Li and nodded. “As long as she’s in Tongzhou City, it’s only a matter of time.”
The next morning.
Ji Yunwei received a report of the Kang Kingdom woman sighted on Vermilion Sparrow Street. She hurriedly led men there, while Cui Wangshu went to find the Ancha Shi.
“The Ancha Shi has served diligently in Tongzhou for years and should have been promoted by now. I had intended to ask my father to recommend you for a higher post. Unfortunately, with the Kang Kingdom envoy incident here, my father wrote yesterday that most court officials are displeased. He can’t push your recommendation anymore.”
Cui Wangshu toyed with her teacup, her expression indifferent.
The Ancha Shi paled upon hearing this. Just yesterday, Cui Wangshu had seemed intent on giving him all the credit. How had her attitude flipped overnight?
His lips drained of color as he said, “Minister, this official is obtuse. Please enlighten me.”
