NOVEL WEB Chapter 136 - Why Lie to Her?
Chapter 136: Why Lie to Her?
In the morning, the servants of the Ji Manor went to Jinglan Pavilion to deliver food to the Second Mistress. They found Old Housekeeper Yu and informed him that she was seriously ill and was bedridden. She needed to see the doctor urgently.
“What illness does she have?” Old Housekeeper Yu asked.
“I don’t know. I merely saw the Second Mistress lying in bed. She did not look well, and Miss Yuan’er was crying very badly!”
Old Housekeeper Yu frowned. He guessed that the Second Mistress was either depressed or perhaps very sick. He decided to find a doctor, and he brought him to Jinglan Pavilion to see the Second Mistress.
To avoid suspicion, Old Housekeeper Yu only waited in the outer room. He heard that the Second Mistress was so sick that she was out of her mind. She was constantly wheezing and yelling Ji Ze’s name. Her voice was hoarse, implying she was truly debilitated.
After a while, the doctor came out from inside and said, “The Second Mistress has caught a cold and she is feverish. I will prescribe her a few medicines to dispel the cold, and she will be fine!”
“Thank you for your trouble!” Old Housekeeper Yu replied.
Doctor Gu was a stubborn man, and whether he was willing to see a patient or not completely depended on his mood. It was as such on that day. He said that some of his ginseng grass had been damaged by the rain and that he would not come to see the Second Mistress. The doctor ended up sending an outsider over to do the check-up.
When the doctor left to prepare the prescription, Yuan’er came out, dropped to her knees, and cried, “Old Housekeeper Yu, although our Second Mistress made a mistake, she has always been respectful to you and never treated you badly. Now that she is seriously ill, she pines for the Second Young Master all day and night. She likely has heart disease. Old Housekeeper Yu, I beg you to be accommodating to us, and let Master Ji Ze come to see the Second Mistress!”
“This…” Old Housekeeper Yu frowned.
“Please!” Yuan’er slammed her head hard on the ground. Within two hits, a green-purplish bruise had formed, with blood leaking from it.
Old Housekeeper Yu hurried forward to lift her up and said in a deep voice, “It’s useless to ask me. This is an order from the Eldest Master, and I cannot decide otherwise!”
“Old Housekeeper Yu, please go to the Eldest Young Master and tell him everything. Tell him that if you allow the mother and son to meet, I will deem it that you have helped the Second Mistress! I will kowtow to you!” Yuan’er continued to bow, as tears streamed down her face incessantly.
Old Housekeeper Yu never thought that the servants who served the Second Mistress could be so loyal, and he would certainly not want her to knock her head again. He whispered, “I will report this to the Eldest Young Master. However he decides, we servants will do what we can!”
“Yes, yes, as long as Old Housekeeper Yu speaks in front of the Eldest Young Master, he will most certainly agree!”
Yuan’er thanked him profusely.
After Old Housekeeper Yu left, Housekeeper Song brought the doctor along to grab some medicine. However, he was stopped by Yuan’er, who whispered a few words to him.
As he was busy, Housekeeper Song simply nodded. “I’ll take note!”
The blood on Yuan’er’s forehead had not been wiped off. However, a smile crept upon her face, emanating an indescribably strange vibe. “The Second Mistress used to treat you well, and you have gotten so much out of our Jinglan Pavilion. I’m glad you remember how indebted you are to her!”
“Yes, yes, I remember the benefits I’ve received from the Second Mistress!” Housekeeper Song quickly flashed a smile.
“Then let me thank you for your hard work!”
Housekeeper Song nodded and withdrew himself.
Old Housekeeper Yu wanted to go to the main yard to ask Ji Yuxian for instructions. However, upon entering the yard, he found that there were guests, and he asked Jin Feng, “Who came to visit?”
Jin Feng said, “It is Zhu Hecheng, the head of the Zhu Family!”
Old Housekeeper Yu nodded quietly. He did not enter and decided to turn around and walk away instead.
In the reception pavilion, Zhu Hecheng was sitting on a chair. His body had become gaunter after he lost his son. His face was pale, his eyes were dark blue, and his face was one of guilt. “I had to settle things for my son. I had not been out for many days. It was only yesterday when I heard something had happened to the Second Mistress, so I hurried in today to see her. Will it be convenient for the Eldest Young Master to grant me this opportunity?”
“What happened to your son is indeed regrettable!” Ji Yuxian said. Then, his tone shifted, and he said softly, “The Second Mistress is ill and can’t get out of bed. To avoid any unnecessary issues, you should come again on another day!”
“Sick?” Zhu Hecheng was surprised and worried. “Then as her brother, I should come and visit her even more!”
Ji Yuxian continued to serve him tea and snacks. He was calm and did not speak further.
Zhu Hecheng’s half-opened eyes held hatred as he smiled dryly. “Is your house inconvenient?”
“The Second Mistress’s business is a matter of the Ji Manor. There is no injustice, and there’s no one to blame on this matter. The Second Mistress also admitted this in public. I don’t mean to be rude, but I cannot let Shopkeeper Zhu meet with the Second Mistress for the time being!” Ji Yuxian spoke in a slow tone, signaling that he was not to be questioned.
Zhu Hecheng awkwardly pursed his lips. He was trying to squeeze out a smile, but alas, he squeezed out nothing. Instead, he only said, “My second sister has always been kind-hearted. At this time, she may be confused. I hope that you will be magnanimous and not too calculating, Eldest Young Master.”
He was worried that the Second Mistress was faking it. He also wanted to ask the Second Mistress what had happened to their plans for seeking revenge on Ji Yuxian.
Was it because the Second Mistress’s work had been exposed that she was locked up by Ji Yuxian?
However, he couldn’t meet with the Second Mistress, so he didn’t know anything. He could only secretly guess about what had happened.
Besides, Ji Yuxian didn’t want him to see her.
“Shopkeeper Zhu, be assured that the Second Mistress’s only predicament is not being able to leave the Jinglan Pavilion. Other than that, she continues to be fed and clothed.”
“That’s good, that’s good!”
Zhu Hecheng’s buttocks seemed to have been pricked by a needle. He couldn’t sit still much longer, and he stood up to say goodbye.
Ji Yuxian sent him out.
The two had just walked out of the courtyard when Housekeeper Song, who had been observing them on the sidelines for a long time, hurried over. He didn’t seem to notice Zhu Hecheng as he spoke directly to Ji Yuxian. “Eldest Young Master, the Second Mistress is very sick, and she has been calling out Master Ji Ze’s name. The servants in the pavilion asked me to request for the Second Mistress to see Master Ji Ze.”
Zhu Hecheng suddenly turned to look at Ji Yuxian and said gently, “I am an outsider and can’t see my second sister. However, Ze’er has always been part of your Ji Manor, and he is the only son of my second sister. Eldest Young Master, you should not keep a sick mother away from her son. Even prisoners have the right to see their families!”
Ji Yuxian glanced over Housekeeper Song’s head with narrowed eyes, but his eyes did not show bitterness. However, Housekeeper Song felt as if an immense pressure was pressing down on him, and he couldn’t help but tremble.
“Since the Second Mistress wants to meet my second brother so much, then she can see my second brother once he returns!” Ji Yuxian said softly.
“Yes! I will immediately do as ordered!” Housekeeper Song raised his sleeves and wiped the cold sweat on his forehead. He dared not look at Ji Yuxian’s face, and he swiftly turned and walked away.
Zhu Hecheng’s face eased a bit, and his lips curled upward into a smile. “Thank you, Eldest Young Master, for your accommodation!”
“These are the things I should do. You are very welcome, Shopkeeper Zhu!” Ji Yuxian said with a chuckle.
Zhu Hecheng bobbed his head. “Eldest Young Master, you don’t have to walk me out any further. I’ll come to visit another day!”
“Shopkeeper Zhu, do walk slowly!”
Seeing Zhu Hecheng’s departing silhouette, the smile on Ji Yuxian’s face faded, and he turned back to the study.
Old Housekeeper Yu followed him and said, “The Second Mistress suddenly fell ill today, so I asked for a doctor to see her. The Second Mistress kept going on about wanting to see Master Ji Ze. I wanted to come and inform the Master, but seeing that Shopkeeper Zhu was there, I did not dare speak. Who knew that Housekeeper Song would dare to speak to the Eldest Young Master about this? I wasn’t careful, and I plead you to forgive my sin, Eldest Young Master!”
Ji Yuxian shook his head lightly. “The Second Mistress tried every means to see Ji Ze. There must be something that she needs to let him know!”
Old Housekeeper Yu continued, “I asked the doctor, and he said that the Second Mistress was indeed infected with the flu, and the illness is serious!”
Su Jiu, who was sitting by the table, raised her head in alarm. “What happened?”
Not wanting Su Jiu to know, Ji Yuxian’s eyebrows lowered as he replied, “Nothing!”
Old Housekeeper Yu asked, “Do we let Master Ji Ze meet the Second Mistress?”
“I have already agreed, so how can I take it back? Let him go and see her!” Ji Yuxian narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Yes!”
“How long has that Housekeeper Song been in this manor?” Ji Yuxian suddenly asked.
Old Housekeeper Yu thought about it for a while and said. “For five years, he did go to Jinglan Pavilion to work. It is my negligence!”
“This person doesn’t need to stay here anymore. Just give him some money and send him away!”
“Yes, I will take note!”
Old Housekeeper Yu bowed and retreated.
Puzzled, Su Jiu looked at Ji Yuxian, who leaned over to kiss her chin and said gently, “It is the Second Mistress who wants to see Ji Ze!”
“Because she misses her son? Or because she wants Ji Ze to save her?” Su Jiu speculated.
She had even employed Housekeeper Song to meet Ji Ze, insinuating that it must be for something more than missing her son.
Ji Yuxian slowly shook his head. “If she went through so much trouble to see Ji Ze, the Second Mistress must have a greater purpose for it.”
Su Jiu’s eyes turned away and she contemplated for a while, then smiled abruptly. “We don’t have to guess! I will just eavesdrop on their conversations!”
Ji Yuxian smiled. “Why should my wife go in person?”
Su Jiu shrugged.
In the evening, Ji Ze came back from the palace and was told by the servants that the Second Mistress was seriously ill and wanted to see him.
Ji Ze rushed to Jinglan Pavilion, with no time to change his clothes.
The servant opened the door. Yuan’er was waiting outside the door, and when she saw that it was Ji Ze, she hurriedly paid her respects. “This servant pays her respects to the Second Master!”
“How is my mother?” Ji Ze asked anxiously.
Yuan’er looked behind him and closed the door tightly before saying, “The Second Mistress is waiting for the Second Young Master in the room. Please hurry and come in!”
“Ok!” Ji Ze responded, and walked quickly to the Second Mistress’s bedroom.
Once he entered the door, he could smell the strong whiff of tonic soup. Ji Ze’s face changed slightly. He rushed to the bedside, shouting anxiously, “Mother, Mother!”
The Second Mistress opened her eyes and saw that it was Ji Ze. With a gleam in her eyes, she reached out and touched Ji Ze’s face. “Ze’er, Ze’er! Mother can finally see you again!”
Ji Ze saw the Second Mistress’s haggard face. Her complexion was ghastly, and he grew even more anxious. “Mother, why are you so sick? Did the doctor see you?”
Yuan’er stood by the side and said, “Don’t worry, Second Young Master. To meet you, the Second Mistress deliberately doused herself in cold water last night to make it seem like she has typhoid fever. She has already taken the medicine and will soon be cured!”
Ji Ze burst into tears and cried, “It is your son who is not filial and made his mother suffer!”
The Second Mistress sat herself up. “Don’t cry. I did this because all I wanted was to see you!”
With reddened eyes, Ji Ze held the Second Mistress’s hand and said, “Mother, you do not have to be too anxious. Elder Sister already knows about Mother’s issue. She sent me a letter, saying that she will find a way to take you out of the Ji Manor!”
“How did your elder sister learn of this?” asked the Second Mistress in surprise.
Ji Ze was stunned as if he hadn’t thought about the problem. He merely shook his head.
The Second Mistress said, “Tell your elder sister not to worry about me. Other than the fact that I can’t leave this pavilion, nothing has changed. You are in the Ji Manor, and I won’t go anywhere else!”
“Mother!” Ji Ze bitterly shed his tears on the quilt.
He used to be under the protection of the Second Mistress, and he was devoted to reading only the sage books and preparing for the scientific examination. In his eyes, his mother and elder brother had always been very harmonious and respectful to each other. What happened in recent days had suddenly subverted all his beliefs, leaving him panic-stricken. These days, he was already very restless. Now, seeing how ill the Second Mistress was, he felt powerless from the bottom of his heart.
Yuan’er felt a pang in her heart as she looked at the man sobbing pitifully. She leaned over to comfort Ji Ze. However, just as she had stretched out her hand halfway, she remembered something and immediately retracted it.
Fortunately, the Second Mistress was already mentally ill, and she only looked at Ji Ze. She did not notice Yuan’er’s strange behavior.
The Second Mistress caressed Ji Ze’s hair and said lovingly, “Good boy, you don’t have to worry about me. It’s just that I can’t see you every day as before, but other than that, everything else is good.”
Ji Ze looked up. “It’s all my fault!”
The Second Mistress shook her head, her face now a little more solemn. “I asked you to come to see me for two reasons. First, I missed you, and second, I have something to explain to you.”
Ji Ze hurriedly replied, “Mother, tell me if you need me to do anything for you!”
The Second Mistress raised her head and winked at Yuan’er.
Yuan’er understood what this meant, and she replied, “Master Ji Ze and Second Mistress, please chat slowly. I will stand guard at the door!”
With that, she turned around and left the bedroom. She stood outside, guarding the door.
The Second Mistress lowered her voice and said, “Ze’er, do you know that Tan Hua Qiao An, who is a fellow scholar as you, is a mountain bandit?”
Ji Ze gasped in surprise and immediately rebutted that it was impossible. He had met Qiao An a few times in the palace. The man talked generously and treated people elegantly and politely. How could he possibly be a mountain bandit?
How could a mountain bandit become a scholar?
The Imperial Examination was very strict on the life experience of the students who participated.
“It is true!” The Second Mistress emphasized.
“Mother, how do you know about this?” Ji Ze asked in astonishment.
“How do I know? That you don’t have to ask. You shall find the opportunity tomorrow and go to the Emperor to report this matter. The Emperor will send someone to investigate, and then you will know that your mother did not lie to you!”
Ji Ze’s face was blank, and he shook his head in denial. “Qiao An doesn’t look like a bad guy. Even if he truly was a mountain bandit, he might have been forced into it. Now that he has entered the palace as an official, why do I have to engage in such conspiracy and ruin his future?”
The Second Mistress listened to Ji Ze’s words, and she felt like the blood in her heart had stopped flowing. She wondered why she had taught him to be so unwitty.
At this time, there was no point in rushing him. Thus, she had to coax him instead. “Qiao An was a mountain bandit before, which means he probably killed countless people. He was a traitor! How can you know that he will not harm others in the future? People are inherently wicked. By exposing him to the Emperor, you are also stopping innocent people from being victimized. You would also stop the Emperor from being deceived by others. Isn’t this what you should do as an agent to the court?”
Ji Ze was left speechless, unable to rebut. However, he still felt uneasiness in his heart. “I… I feel that there must be a reason for this!”
“If he was maligned in any manner, the Emperor will surely find out and protect him!” The Second Mistress continued to argue. “Again, you both entered the court at the same time. You are the Zhuang Yuan, and you should, therefore, be of a higher rank than him. Now, he has seized the opportunity and made a trip to Xuzhou. He is stepping all over you. Are you sure you are fine with this?”
Ji Ze looked up suddenly, his face pale. “I never thought about that!”
“You don’t want to, but others will! How do you know if other people are laughing behind your back or not?!”
At that moment, Ji Ze frowned deeply.
“Now that there is such an opportunity for you to bring him down, why are you hesitating? It took so much effort for your mother to meet with you, and all I do is think about you and look out for you. Do you have the heart to see your mother do all this in vain?” The Second Mistress spoke in a distressed tone.
Ji Ze became more and more at a loss. “Mother, your son has always listened to you, but this time…”
It just felt wrong.
“You are doing this for the sake of the Emperor. It is a good and righteous act. So what’s wrong?” Second Mistress frowned.
After a while, Ji Ze nodded. “Yes. Tomorrow, your son will look for an opportunity to tell the Emperor about this matter!”
“That’s right! This is Mother’s dear son!” The Second Mistress’s face smiled comfortably as she stroked Ji Ze’s arm. “Don’t worry, the Emperor will check it out!”
“Yes!” Ji Ze nodded and replied.
“Mother is sick, and I don’t want to spread it to you. You should not stay here any longer. Go back, but don’t forget Mother’s words. Tomorrow, you will report this matter to the Emperor!” The Second Mistress repeated.
“Then I shall take my leave. Take care of your body, Mother!” Ji Ze stood up and spoke.
“Go back now, it’s dark and the road is slippery. Instruct the servants to light two more lights to guide you back!”
“Yes!”
Yuan’er was still guarding the door. Seeing that Ji Ze was coming out, she showed him out of the room.
At that moment, a dark silhouette on the roof passed silently and stealthily flew away.
After supper, Su Jiu was napping in the study. Ji Yuxian was snuggled up beside her, reading a book. His brows twitched suddenly, and he peered at the window. He threw a thin blanket over Su Jiu, got up, and went out.
As soon as Ji Yuxian went out, Jin Feng stepped forward and said, “Sir, there are important things to report!”
Ji Yuxian’s eyes deepened slightly. He glanced at the study behind him and walked up the wooden corridor.
Jin Feng took light steps as he followed.
The study was now far away. Ji Yuxian said, “Speak. What does the Second Mistress want to meet Ji Ze for?”
Jin Feng hurriedly narrated to him what the Second Mistress asked of Ji Ze.
It was nearing the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the moonlight was clear. It coincided with the shadow of the lamp along the corridor, and a hazy light fell on the man’s handsome face.
The enchanting eyes of the man were now tinged with traces of concern.
He twitched slightly, whispering, “How does the Second Mistress know that Qiao An is a mountain bandit?”
If Qiao An’s identity was exposed, the Second Mistress must have known about Su Jiu’s Dragon Conqueror Gang as well.
About the other matters, just how much did the Second Mistress know?
“I don’t know. The Second Mistress didn’t tell Master Ji Ze how she knew about it. She merely told Master Ji Ze to expose Qiao An to the Emperor!” Jin Feng was hidden in the dark, his face somber.
Ji Yuxian’s wonderful cosmic eyes shook lightly as he nodded.
“Is the Young Master going to stop Master Ji Ze now?” Jin Feng asked.
If the Emperor knew that Qiao An had been a mountain bandit, he would surely find out what had happened and implicate Su Jiu. He was afraid that if that happened, it would be very bad for everyone in the Dragon Conqueror Gang.
Consequently, the news that Su Jiu was not Su Yuejiu would certainly be exposed.
Ji Yuxian pondered for a moment, then suddenly shook his head. “No, let him go ahead and expose Qiao An!”
Jin Feng was startled. “What do you mean?”
Having a long-term vision, Ji Yuxian said lightly, “My wife is Su Jiu. She can’t pretend to be Su Yuejiu all the time. Maybe, this is just an opportunity for us.”
Jin Feng’s eyes turned a little as if he understood what Ji Yuxian meant.
However, if the young lady went back to Su Jiu’s identity, how would Su Yuejiu’s death be explained to the Su Family?
And in the case where Qiao An was implicated, could the Young Mistress forgive him?
This was, therefore, an extremely dangerous move.
Ji Yuxian’s thin lips quivered as he asked, “I asked you before to find out who killed Su Yuejiu. Did you find any clues?”
Jin Feng’s eyes dimmed, and he slowly shook his head. “The place where the murder happened was destroyed by the Dragon Conqueror Gang. It has been so long as well. There are no clues anymore. I only managed to trace the whereabouts of the Su Family’s dowry. The mountain bandits from the Yuhu Mountain did it. However, most of the mountain bandits died in the last court order to eliminate the bandit gangs, so the clues became ever more limited. However, I found out that the Second Mistress sent people to contact the Qingfeng Gang of Chongxi during that time. Nevertheless, I was not sure if it truly happened, so I didn’t report this to you, Master!”
Ji Yuxian nodded. “You don’t have to be sure, this is enough. If the government pursues Su Yuejiu’s murderer, push the blame to the Second Mistress. She had enough motivation to do it anyway!”
Indeed, after Su Jiu entered the Ji Manor, she was poisoned by the Second Mistress. Thus, it was plausible that the woman had hired a murderer to kill off Miss Su’s family.
Jin Feng lowered his head and replied, “Yes!”
“Don’t let my wife know about this matter. I will try my best to protect Qiao An afterward. From now on, let her Su Yuejiu persona die!” Ji Yuxian’s voice was indifferent.
“Yes, I understand!”
After settling the matters with Jin Feng, Ji Yuxian returned to the study.
Su Jiu was still sound asleep as she was. Ji Yuxian leaned over her forehead and kissed it gently, whispering, “I know you didn’t want to take on Su Yuejiu’s identity. I have always known about this. How about I let you go back to being Su Jiu?”
Su Jiu was still asleep. She mumbled incoherently, turned over, and continued to sleep.
The man’s eyes softened. He gently picked her up in his arms and slowly returned to the bedroom.
Ji Ze did not sleep well overnight and arrived in the palace the next day. Still looking somewhat in a trance, he took the wrong items several times.
Attendant Wu came over, placed a stack of books in front of Ji Ze, and smiled. “Why do you look so down? You didn’t sleep well last night?”
Ji Ze quickly stood up and greeted, “Paying my respects to Attendant Wu! Nothing happened!”
“Young people should pay more attention to having enough rest!” Attendant Wu smiled meaningfully, pointing to the books. “This is what the Ministry of Revenue wants. Please send it to them!”
“Yes sir, I will go immediately!”
Ji Ze hugged the books and walked out hastily.
When he arrived at the office of the Ministry of Revenue, he came face-to-face with Qiao An, who was also the Director of the Ministry of Revenue.
Qiao An greeted gently, “Minister Ji!”
Ji Ze recalled what his mother told him the previous day. At that moment, he felt that Qiao An knew what was going on in his mind. Heat rose to his face as he hurriedly returned the formality. He then quickly walked out of the office.
Perplexed, Qiao An raised his eyebrows. However, he didn’t take it seriously and continued with his work.
Ji Ze came out of the Ministry of Revenue and was afraid that he would meet Qiao An again. He scurried away and ended up running into Attendant Wu at the entrance of the Hanlin Academy.
Both of them took a few steps back at the same time. Attendant Wu smiled lightly. “Ji Ze, what the hell are you doing today? You’re so absent-minded and not yourself at all!”
Feeling guilty, Ji Ze hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Attendant Wu, could you give me advice on something?”
“Say it!” Master Wu smiled gently.
“If… if one of the officials in court had been a mountain bandit before, what would happen to them if the Emperor knew?” Ji Ze swallowed hard and asked nervously.
Master Wu was stunned and then smiled casually. “That is impossible. Participating in the village examination and the town examination requires a strict assessment of the student’s background. Such a thing cannot happen!”
Ji Ze hurriedly asked, “I’m asking that if you were the Emperor and such a thing happened, what would you do?”
Attendant Wu frowned. “If any official has been found by the Emperor to have been a mountain bandit, his dismissal is inevitable. Others should be dealt with according to the seriousness of the circumstances. The officials who carried out the background checks may also be implicated.”
“Oh!” Ji Ze responded in surprise.
“Why are you asking this?” Attendant Wu asked in curiosity.
“Nothing, just asking!” Ji Ze quickly replied.
“Don’t think about such nonsense things!” Attendant Wu patted Ji Ze on the shoulder.
“Yes!” Ji Ze nodded respectfully.
Attendant Wu turned and left. Ji Ze also continued his way back to the Hanlin Academy, his face full of worry. At that moment, a blue flash zipped passed outside the corridor. It was Xiao Lie, who slowly came out from behind a row of bamboo.
His handsome eyes were deep, and after a moment of contemplation, he shouted, “Ji Ze!”
Ji Ze immediately turned around when he heard that voice. When he saw Xiao Lie, he hurriedly went forward to pay his respects. “I pay my respects to His Royal Prince Rui!”
“Minister Ji, are you busy? I would like to talk to you,” Xiao Lie said quietly.
Ji Ze hastily replied, “I am in shock! If His Royal Prince Rui has anything to instruct, I will do what I can!”
“Minister Ji, this way please!”
“His Royal Prince Rui, after you please!”
The two walked to a quiet place and stopped. Xiao Lie turned to look at Ji Ze and asked directly, “Minister Ji, you just said that there was an official who used to be a mountain bandit. Were you referring to Qiao An?”
Ji Ze was flabbergasted for a moment, staring absentmindedly at Xiao Lie.
Xiao Lie was graceful and dignified. His handsome face was illuminated by a natural glow. “Minister Ji, how do you know that Qiao An was a mountain bandit?”
“I… I…” Ji Ze remained speechless for a long while, his face as pale as a ghost.
Xiao Lie didn’t continue to ask any questions. He raised his eyebrows and continued, “Qiao An was indeed a mountain bandit before, but he was forced into it and did not do it willingly. He has since redeemed himself, and he has already told me this.”
“So it is!” Ji Ze spoke in a hurry, his face hot.
“Everyone should have a chance to make a difference for themselves. Qiao An is loyal and kind, and he has been studying hard for ten years. Minister Ji, do you truly want to destroy him?” Xiao Lie’s voice had a somewhat oppressive tone to it.
Ji Ze panicked and shook his head. “No, I never thought about it like this.”
“However, if you go to the Emperor and start on this matter, Qiao An’s future may well be ruined. It will implicate you as well, Minister Ji.” Xiao Lie paused and continued, “You are both in the same position this year, and you entered the palace together. However, Qiao An now has a higher rank than Minister Ji. If you expose Qiao An, it will be said that you are jealous of Qiao An and that you would do immoral things to hurt people by plotting against them in the dark. My father, the Emperor, has always hated this kind of villain. Minister Ji, do you think that such a man will be used well by the Emperor in the future?”
Ashamed, Ji Ze’s face flushed red. He seemed to have become the villain that Xiao Lie described. He hurriedly replied, “I dare not do so. I have never been jealous of Minister Qiao, and for him to be promoted to be the Director of the Department of Revenue, it is all through his efforts and achievements. I am only in admiration of all that he has done.”
“It’s better if you don’t have these thoughts. Minister Ji, you are kind, and I believe that I read people correctly. Otherwise, if you had intended to hurt Qiao An, you would have already gone to my father, the Emperor, and exposed him, am I right?” Xiao Lie’s voice had calmed down.
Ji Ze immediately responded in excitement. “Yes, I never wanted to harm Minister Qiao. I can guarantee that I will swallow this issue into my stomach, and will never talk to anyone about it again!”
Xiao Lie nodded with a smile. “Minister Ji, you are a just person. This is just what the court needs; a kind and virtuous official!”
Ji Ze grew more abashed as Xiao Lie showered him with compliments. “I am not deserving of such praise!”
“If that’s the case, I am relieved. Minister Ji, please go ahead with what you need to do! If there is something that you need my help with, just come and find me at any time!” Xiao Lie said gently.
“I will not allow His Royal Prince to misplace his love for his subjects. I will most definitely work hard and not let you down!”
“Okay, go ahead!”
“Yes!”
Ji Ze paid him one last show of respect, before turning carefully back towards the Hanlin Academy.
However, it seemed that the things he had been hesitating about in his heart had settled. His steps were now a lot lighter than before. Inside his heart, he felt unexceptionally cheerful.
Xiao Lie looked at Ji Ze’s back, and his eyes grew deeper. He glanced over, had a moment of contemplation, and then turned away.
In the afternoon, Su Jiu arrived at the commercial house. There was a guy from Qingyuan Tavern waiting for her there who told her that someone was looking for her.
Su Jiu thought about it and concluded that it was Xiao Lie. No one except him would go to Qingyuan Tavern to wait for her.
As the two had been separated from each other for a long time since those palace days, Xiao Lie most likely had something important to discuss. Su Jiu rushed to the restaurant.
When she arrived at the restaurant, Su Jiu headed straight to the top of the tavern. As soon as she went up, she saw a familiar figure standing in the pavilion, who seemed to hear her footsteps. The man slowly turned his head to look over. His eyes were as bright as before, but they also seemed much deeper. He seemed to be hiding things she wouldn’t understand.
“I knew it was you! Why are you looking for me?” Su Jiu walked over with a wide smile.
Xiao Lie raised his eyebrows and answered, his voice low and gentle. “Why? Even if I have nothing on, I can’t find you?”
“That’s not it, but Your Highness is very busy, and it’s not easy to meet with you!” Su Jiu flipped across the wooden fence. Instead of dropping back to the ground, she merely sat there, swinging her legs and smiling at him.
Xiao Lie felt a bit awkward, knowing that she would not come to see him again after teasing her identity.
If he had taken care of both their identities, he wouldn’t have been in contact with her previously. Why he avoided it was something only he knew.
Looking at the girl’s delicate face, Xiao Lie’s chest softened as he asked, “How are you doing?”
Su Jiu nodded. “Still fine, how about you?”
Xiao Lie gazed at her without uttering a word and turned back to sit on the wooden fence opposite Su Jiu, crossing his legs. It was not meant to be rude, but rather, he came across as slightly tipsy from drinking. “Recently, Prince Yu and Prince Zhao have been courting Qiao An. They are telling him important things. Perhaps this is my father testing him!”
As Xiao Lie had expected, Su Jiu nodded. “I will remind Qiao An!”
Xiao Lie bobbed his head. “Qiao An is doing well, and he has not been arrogant, despite my father constantly favoring him. I guess he knows how to behave.”
Afterward, his tone changed as he turned to look at Su Jiu. “However, today, Ji Ze wanted to go to my father, the Emperor, and tell him that Qiao Ann used to be a mountain bandit. Do you know about this?”
Su Jiu stiffened in surprise. She stood up and asked, “What are you talking about?”
Xiao Lie observed her expression and said softly, “Fortunately, I heard this and I stopped him. You don’t have to worry. Ji Ze is quite loyal and does not hate Qiao An. He should not be going to my father, the Emperor, again. Speaking of this, I’m wondering how he knew about your Dragon Conqueror Gang.”
However, Su Jiu understood in her heart what was going on. The previous day, the Second Mistress used her illness to insist on meeting Ji Ze. She must have instigated him to speak to the Emperor to expose Qiao An.
So the one who knew that Qiao An was a bandit was the Second Mistress!
If the Second Mistress knew that Qiao An was a bandit, what else did she know?
She suddenly thought of another thing. The previous day, Ji Yuxian sent Jin Feng to eavesdrop for any news. Afterward, she asked Ji Yuxian about it, and he told her that the Second Mistress and Ji Ze were only reminiscing and nothing else. Why did he deceive her?
Why did he allow Ji Ze to expose Qiao An?
“It seems that you are already being suspected in the Ji Manor. Be careful!” Xiao Lie noticed Su Jiu’s complexion and couldn’t help but worry.
“Yes, I know! Thank you so much!” Su Jiu looked up sincerely at him.
“I don’t need you to be so formal with me, nor do I need your gratitude!” Xiao Lie gazed at her deeply.
Su Jiu was stunned, but hurriedly replied, “Sure!”
Xiao Lie laughed dryly and stood up. “I’m going back. You are familiar with Prince Rui’s Manor. If anything happens, you can come to my manor and find me. Otherwise, you can send someone to pass a message, I will wait for you there!”
“Mm!” Su Jiu had something else on her mind, and she nodded absentmindedly.
Xiao Lie’s eyes dimmed. He looked downwards and slowly walked down the stairs.
Su Jiu stood there and watched the man leave, feeling a little confused for a while.
The Second Mistress would not check up on Qiao An for no reason. It must have been because she checked on her identity, and it inevitably involved Qiao An.
However, if the woman already knew that she was a mountain bandit and not the real Su Yuejiu, why didn’t she get up and expose her?
After the last incident, the Second Mistress had decided that she greatly disliked Su Jiu, and there was no need to help her hide her past.
How many things had the Second Mistress found out?
Also, Ji Yuxian…
Su Jiu was perturbed by Ji Yuxian’s deception.
She then went to Qiao An and told him about this matter, reminding him to act more carefully in the palace.
Qiao An remembered what had happened when he met Ji Ze in the palace on that day, and now, he finally understood why.
“Mistress, stay calm. I have everything in mind on what His Royal Highness Rui ordered me to do!”
“That’s good!” Su Jiu felt relieved.
After coming out of the Ji Manor and staying in the commercial house for another half day, it was already dark.
It was the Mid-Autumn Festival the next day. The atmosphere of the festival was strong on the street. It was not entirely dark yet, but there were already lanterns lit up. Held in the hands of children and young ladies, the lights connected in a line, winding on the long street that emanated a powerful osmanthus scent.
Her carriage passed through the street, and laughs and giggles filled the atmosphere. Su Jiu looked out of her carriage and could not help but relax.
Back at the Ji Manor, the Nanny was waiting for her and gave her some water to clean her hands. She then said, “Miss, why did you return so late? Master is waiting for you to have dinner together! He has been waiting for more than an hour!”
Su Jiu washed her face and replied softly, “I’ll go now!”
In the dining room, Ji Yuxian was still waiting for her. The food was already cold, and the man was sitting on the wooden chair. He seemed exhausted. He was already asleep, his arms supporting his head on the table.
Yet, even so, he was still waiting for her here!
Su Jiu remembered that this was the case many times. When she came back late, he would be waiting for her. Sometimes she came back after eating outside, and she would accompany him to eat the cold meals.
The thoughts she had about questioning him on the way back dissipated just like that.
She believed that Ji Yuxian would not harm her!
How could she doubt him?
Su Jiu exhaled the dullness she felt in her chest, summoned Mo Yu to come in and take away the cold dishes, and re-made some of Ji Yuxian’s favorite food.
Hearing her voice, Ji Yuxian slowly raised his head. Under the shadow of the lights, he smiled gently. “When did you come back? I seem to have fallen asleep!”
“I’ve said many times that if I come back late, you don’t have to wait for me!” Su Jiu walked over and poured him a cup of hot tea.
Ji Yuxian took the teacup, but he put it aside. He grabbed her wrist and gently yanked her into his arms. He then chuckled lowly, “I’m used to it. If you’re not here, I have no appetite.”
The two snuggled together, neither person uttering a word. Both of them were silent, thinking about their own things.
Meals were served quickly. Mo Yu and the others saw both of them behaving intimately and shyly lowered their heads. Su Jiu broke free of Ji Yuxian’s hold and grinned. “Enough, it’s time to eat!”
“Mm!” The man looked at her and smiled. He was tired before, but now, there was no trace of exhaustion on his face, and his graceful self was restored.