Chapter 36: The Jade Face Asura Part 4

Ying Lan lowered her gaze. “They set off tomorrow.”

Jiang Chenbi gave a faint “mm” and walked toward the temporary palace.

The next day.

On the carriage back to the capital, Ji Yunwei wore a cold expression, as if she had suffered a setback.

Cui Wangshu glanced at her and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Ji Yunwei frowned and sighed. “I thought I could pry something out of Alna’s mouth, but she was poisoned with gu poison. I couldn’t get a single word out of her.”

The corners of Cui Wangshu’s lips curved up. “People from Yellow Path Palace won’t utter a single word. Have you forgotten how you were fed a gu worm before?”

Ji Yunwei looked puzzled. “Is that gu worm really that terrifying?”

She had heard of gu poison from the Southern Frontier, but since she had always handled cases in the heart of the Central Plains, she had never encountered it for real. She never imagined she would run into it here in Tongzhou, far from the Southern Frontier.

Cui Wangshu lowered her eyes, recalling her own appearance that night when the love gu acted up. Her gaze deepened as she said gravely, “Neither fully human nor fully insect.”

Cui Wangshu narrowed her eyes and added, “After we return to the capital, I want to meet Kang Li.”

Ji Yunwei frowned. “Could it be that Kang Li was also behind Yelu Narqi’s matter, fanning the flames?”

Cui Wangshu shook her head. “It’s just my guess. Alna did borrow Yellow Path Palace’s name, but whether Kang Li sold her the Jade Face Asura because of Yellow Path Palace is unknown.”

Ji Yunwei looked at Cui Wangshu and asked, “Lord Minister, what is Kang Li’s relationship with Prince Jin?”

Cui Wangshu had speculated on some of the reasons. “I was young at the time and only remember that Prince Jin had a fondness for men. He kept a male favorite in his mansion, but no one had seen what that favorite looked like. Later, when Prince Jin’s rebellion failed, all those involved were beheaded, but that male favorite vanished without a trace.”

Cui Wangshu suddenly frowned. “Kang Li seemed to appear around that time. He came forward and exposed many of Prince Jin’s dirty deeds. But many people denounced Prince Jin, and Kang Li held a low official position, so he didn’t attract much attention.”

Ji Yunwei’s eyes widened. “Does Lord Minister mean that Kang Li was… Prince Jin’s male favorite?”

This was just Cui Wangshu’s guess. All of Prince Jin’s old subordinates were killed, and the only one connected to him who was still alive was that male favorite. When Prince Jin’s forces were defeated, it wasn’t impossible for him to step on Prince Jin’s corpse to climb up for self-preservation.

Cui Wangshu took a sip of tea and narrowed her eyes. “I’m afraid only Kang Li himself knows the truth.”

Ji Yunwei’s mind reeled. It seemed the higher the class of nobility, the more prone they were to… Ji Yunwei subtly glanced at Cui Wangshu… entanglements with the same sex.

Cui Wangshu closed her eyes and pretended to nap. The rest of the journey passed in silence.

Three days later, in the Capital City.

Ji Yunwei’s interrogation of Kang Li had just begun, and Cui Wangshu wasn’t in a hurry. After returning from Tongzhou, she had some new ideas, and there were still things she needed to do.

In Xiaoyun Pavilion, Jiang Ci gently fanned herself as she looked at Cui Wangshu entering the door and teased, “Oh my, you’re here. Aren’t you afraid that woman in your mansion will get angry?”

Cui Wangshu didn’t answer her question. Instead, she said, “I’ll provide the funding. Open a branch in Tongzhou.”

Jiang Ci’s eyes widened. “Have you gone mad?”

Cui Wangshu lowered her eyes. “I’m not mad. After Tongzhou stabilizes, I’ll go to Luozhou. Ideally, we’ll have our people in every prefectural city.”

That feeling of losing control after leaving the capital, that sense of the vast world offering no clue where to find someone—she never wanted to experience it again.

Jiang Ci blinked. “Since you’re footing the bill, I have no problem. I’m bored in the capital anyway. But you have to tell me, what’s the purpose of all this?”

Cui Wangshu pressed her lips together. “I want an intelligence network spanning all of Great Zhao, detailed and comprehensive. No matter where I am, I can get the information I want.”

Jiang Ci frowned. Was it the Kang Li incident that stimulated her? Making her feel out of reach, losing control?

“I’ll arrange things here and then go to Tongzhou. As for Luozhou, I’ll have people start simultaneously. That way, any issues can be handled together.”

Cui Wangshu raised her eyes. “These two places are Yellow Path Palace’s strongholds. Be discreet when operating there.”

Jiang Ci sensed something off and narrowed her eyes. “You don’t want her to know? Did something happen between you and Jiang Chenbi?”

Cui Wangshu said, “She left the capital before me. I didn’t expect to run into her in Tongzhou. I was investigating a case at the time and couldn’t say much. Now, she’s gone to Luozhou.”

Jiang Ci nodded, then shook her head. “So, she’s not coming back to the capital?”

Recalling Jiang Chenbi’s words “see you again if fate allows,” Cui Wangshu’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. She said gravely, “She will come back.”

But in truth, Cui Wangshu wasn’t certain if Jiang Chenbi would return. She only figured that since the love gu wasn’t resolved, Jiang Chenbi should come looking for her.

Jiang Ci seemed to think of the love gu as well and asked, “How has your love gu been since that day?”

Since that incident, Cui Wangshu hadn’t come to Xiaoyun Pavilion, using Jiang Chenbi as cover.

Cui Wangshu pressed her lips and said, “It was mutual consent. Just let it take its course.”

Jiang Ci’s mouth twitched, her expression utterly speechless, even a bit broken. “Is that what I asked? Who cares if you’re reveling in nightly pleasures? I mean your emotions! Emotions! Can you stop thinking about that all the time?!”

Cui Wangshu: “……”

Cui Wangshu coughed lightly in embarrassment and touched her nose before saying, “Since it’s the love gu acting up, I’ll accept it calmly, without overthinking or getting tangled up, to avoid tying myself in knots.”

Cui Wangshu paused, then added, “No need to worry about gain or loss.”

Jiang Ci: “……”

Why does that expression of yours not look like acceptance at all? More like you’re out of moves against Jiang Chenbi… Bah, you’ve fallen for her.

Jiang Ci felt that staying with Cui Wangshu any longer would make her want to punch her. She didn’t know what had gotten into this woman—perfectly normal before, now all flirty and seductive?

Driven out of Xiaoyun Pavilion by Jiang Ci, Cui Wangshu stood stunned at the door for a while before accepting that she had indeed been kicked out.

Cui Wangshu furrowed her brows. Could it be she thinks I gave too little money?

Convinced she was right, Cui Wangshu decided to send more later. After all, launching in both Luozhou and Tongzhou simultaneously would cost a lot. Today, thinking only of Tongzhou first, she had only brought part of the silver notes.

Even if Jiang Ci hadn’t “driven” her out, she couldn’t stay long. She still needed to see Song Yu about Kang Li.

At Song Mansion.

Cui Wangshu and Song Yu sat before a chessboard. Song Yu, playing black, moved first and asked, “How does Lord Minister have time to visit?”

Cui Wangshu smiled faintly. “I thought Lord Song would be curious why I’d come to you about Kang Li.”

Song Yu appeared around forty, with a gentle temperament. But her deep-set eyes gave her gaze exceptional penetration. The years had left traces on her face, making her seem all the more intellectual and poised.

“Wasn’t it Lord Minister who insisted on dragging me into this struggle?”

The words were so direct that even Cui Wangshu was surprised. “Lord Song truly lives up to the rumors—speaking plainly, acting straightforwardly.”

Song Yu looked straight at Cui Wangshu, her eyes calm to the point of cold indifference. “In that case, Lord Minister should know I despise those who form cliques for selfish gain.”

Cui Wangshu chuckled lightly. “How can Lord Song be sure I’m that kind of person?”

Song Yu said calmly, “Lord Minister is skilled at scheming. With one letter, how many court officials did you maneuver? Even I had no choice but to willingly become a pawn in your hand, helping you eliminate dissenters.”

She knew that letter was Cui Wangshu’s olive branch, but this woman had calculated her intolerance for sand in her eyes. With the Ancha Shi embezzling and harming the people, she couldn’t stand by.

Even knowing it was manipulation, when the knife was handed to her, even killing felt willing.

Cui Wangshu’s lips held a meaningful smile, her eyes like two deep pools, impenetrable.

“Does Lord Song regret it?”

Song Yu looked into those eyes, bewitched by her words on one hand, while reason warned her it was just another tactic.

Cui Wangshu looked away and said faintly, “I can give Lord Song everything she wants, and I believe she won’t refuse.”

Song Yu narrowed her eyes, clearly displeased with Cui Wangshu’s confident tone, yet curious about her audacity.

“Is that so? Then tell me, Lord Minister, what is it I want?”