“Yao Er?”
Meng Yao’s expression shifted too rapidly. Jiang Wanzhou lowered his head, noticing her prolonged silence and mistaking it for overwhelming joy. He lifted her onto the soft couch, holding her close.
“Yao Er, don’t worry. I will strive to gain my mother’s acceptance. However, after redeeming your indenture, you’ll need to bear with living outside with me temporarily.”
He wanted to prove to Shen Shi and Jiang Chaohua that even without family support, he could live comfortably and provide Meng Yao a good life in Chang’an City.
Tomorrow he would search for a residence to temporarily serve as their home and settle Meng Yao.
“Live… outside?”
Meng Yao stiffened in Jiang Wanzhou’s half-embrace.
Unaware of her discomfort, Jiang Wanzhou remained immersed in satisfied delight:
“Yes, we’ll stay outside for now. Yao Er, I’ll take good care of you. Didn’t you always say you’d be willing to be with me no matter what? You’re truly kind-hearted, Yao Er.”
As he spoke, Jiang Wanzhou pressed a gentle kiss to Meng Yao’s temple.
Meng Yao didn’t hear his subsequent words, her mind wholly occupied by the thought of her indenture being handed to Shen Shi and having to live outside.
Did this mean that although Jiang Wanzhou had redeemed her, her indenture still wouldn’t be in her possession? That she still couldn’t reside in the Jiang family mansion?
Anger stirred within Meng Yao, her face unconsciously cooling as she regarded Jiang Wanzhou with an unfamiliar gaze.
“Yao Er?”
Jiang Wanzhou froze, but Meng Yao hadn’t yet regained her composure. Her expression grew increasingly alien to him.
Though her seduction of Jiang Wanzhou followed her adoptive mother’s instructions, after observing numerous wealthy suitors, she had determined Jiang Wanzhou was the only one who dared defy his mother for her and promised to bring her into his household.
Other wealthy scions and officials treated her as mere amusement. To escape her slave status, Jiang Wanzhou was her best candidate.
Stringing Jiang Wanzhou along served both her adoptive mother’s demands and her personal ambitions. Meng Yao had once prided herself on how easily she manipulated him.
Yet now her hopes had been dashed.
“Yao Er? What’s wrong? Are you unwilling?”
Jiang Wanzhou’s eyes narrowed. Though enamored with her beauty, he was far from foolish—a fact Meng Yao well knew.
Fearing he might detect her deception, Meng Yao covered her face and began weeping softly:
“I… I’m just overjoyed, Jiang Lang. I can finally be with you. But will… will your mother truly accept me?”
“So that’s why you seemed distracted.” Jiang Wanzhou affectionately tapped her nose, declaring confidently:
“She will. I’m certain of it.”
He was determined to achieve great things and make Shen Shi and Jiang Chaohua regret how they’d treated him.
He refused to believe his connections in Chang’an City couldn’t secure him wealth.
“Jiang Lang, you’re so good to me.”
Leaning against Jiang Wanzhou’s chest, Meng Yao felt uneasy yet consoled herself that at least he was wealthy. Even living outside, their life wouldn’t be difficult—she knew Shen Shi’s capabilities well enough.
Meng Yao’s body relaxed again, bringing Jiang Wanzhou immense satisfaction as he carried her to the bed.
Little did Meng Yao know that what awaited her wasn’t a life of luxury and leisure, but endless troubles and calamities.
At the same time, Nine Gates Admiral’s Office.
Having received the Emperor’s verbal decree, Fei Yun’s case naturally had to be closed as soon as possible.
What kind of place was the Nine Gates Admiral’s Office? Anyone who entered here would inevitably be stripped of a layer of skin.
After returning from West Lake, Yan Jing headed straight for the Admiral’s Office, with Shen Puyu following closely by his side, their steps hurried.
He also wanted to know exactly who had instructed Fei Yun to harm Jiang Wanyi. If he heard an unexpected name, would he be shocked?
“Sir, n-no, it’s terrible—Fei Yun, he… he committed suicide.”
The moment Yan Jing stepped into the Admiral’s Office prison, a panicked guard came rushing toward him.
The guard clasped his fists and reported, but as soon as he finished speaking, his neck was immediately seized.
He looked up and saw Yan Jing’s devilishly handsome face, wearing a faint, ambiguous smile:
“Suicide?”
In the prison of the Nine Gates Admiral’s Office, not to mention a prisoner committing suicide—if Yan Jing didn’t want someone to die, even the King of Hell couldn’t take them.
Now, to be told that Fei Yun had committed suicide? Absurd!
“Sir, s-spare me, spare my life.”
The guard was being choked until his eyes rolled back. Meanwhile, Shen Puyu, his expression grim, strode directly into the water dungeon.
The guards stationed in the water dungeon were all visibly uneasy. When Shen Puyu entered, they hurriedly knelt on the ground.
Fei Yun had died under their watch—they had no way to explain this.
“By my order, effective immediately, seal off the Nine Gates Admiral’s Office. If even a single fly escapes, I will take your lives.”
With a flick of his crimson sleeve, Yan Jing swiftly entered the water dungeon.
At a glance, he saw the corpse lying at Shen Puyu’s feet. Yan Jing’s voice was icy cold.
“Yes, sir.”
The guards, having received the order, immediately carried it out without the slightest delay.
“It wasn’t suicide—it was poisoning.”
Shen Puyu was skilled in autopsy and well-versed in medicine. Having served by Yan Jing’s side for so many years, he was his most capable assistant.
If Shen Puyu said it was poisoning, then it was undoubtedly poisoning.
Fei Yun had died very peacefully, his expression calm. Shen Puyu examined his pupils—they were neither dilated nor fearful, as if he had truly taken his own life.
Shen Puyu sneered coldly. If he hadn’t happened to know about a poison that could create the illusion of suicide, undetectable even by coroners, he might have believed Fei Yun had killed himself.
His jaw had been dislocated by the guards, and there was nothing on his body that could have been used to harm himself. How could he have committed suicide?
“Yan Jing, it seems the Jiang family is truly not simple. They even managed to plant someone inside your Nine Gates Admiral’s Office.”
Shen Puyu stood up slowly as he spoke.
Originally, interrogating Fei Yun was not only to uncover who had instructed him to harm Jiang Wanyi but also to question him about other matters.
But now, before any questioning could take place, Fei Yun had been silenced. Did the mastermind behind this possess extraordinary power, to even kill someone under Yan Jing’s custody?
“It seems your suspicions were correct—the Jiang family’s waters run deep indeed.”
Yan Jing’s face was stern and severe. Shen Puyu let out a derisive laugh, his gaze growing increasingly somber.
Jiang He, Shen Shi, or Jiang Chaohua—it seemed all of them were suspects. In his view, the most suspicious was Jiang Chaohua. Every time she saw Yan Jing, her eyes were filled with such fear.
Clearly, she was not as vicious and brainless as the rumors claimed. So, could the person behind her be connected to the case from ten years ago?
“Green Ghost, come out.”
The chilling aura around Yan Jing grew heavier. He spoke in a low voice, and a green-clad figure appeared in the water dungeon like a phantom.
“From this day forward, you will go to the Jiang family and keep a close watch on the entire Jiang Manor for me. Do not overlook any movement, especially regarding Jiang Chaohua and Jiang He. Understood?”
Yan Jing narrowed his eyes. The Green Ghost responded in a low voice before vanishing.
Lowering his gaze to Fei Yun’s peaceful expression, Yan Jing clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked audibly.
The news of Fei Yun’s death was soon reported to the Emperor by the Nine Gates Admiral’s Office. Enraged, the Emperor punished Yan Jing for negligence in his duties. Yan Jing received twenty heavy strikes and was carried back to the Nine Gates Admiral’s Office.
Not long after, the Empress Dowager learned of the incident and informed Shen Shi. Once Shen Shi knew, Jiang Chaohua naturally became aware as well.
Jiang Chaohua’s heart grew heavy with dread. Suddenly, she realized with a start that Jiang He must have even greater forces supporting him behind the scenes – forces that were targeting the Zhongyi Marquis Estate.
“Young mistress, there’s news! The master just left the estate and headed toward Maple Forest Alley.”
With darkened expression, Jiang Chaohua watched as Feicui hurried in and reported respectfully.
Feicui didn’t understand how Jiang Chaohua knew where Jiang He was going, nor why Jiang He would visit Maple Forest Alley. Many families resided there – whom could he be visiting?
“Just as I thought. Feicui, summon Li Momo. Tell her I’m feeling unwell and have heard there’s a miraculous doctor living in Maple Forest Alley. For safety’s sake, request that Li Momo accompany us.”
Maple Forest Alley, Lin Feng – everything was falling into place. Jiang He was truly treating his mistress Lin Jiarou well. Though Maple Forest Alley couldn’t compare to the residences of the truly wealthy, its tranquil environment came at a high price – three thousand taels of silver monthly for rent.
That despicable Jiang He was using Shen Shi’s money to support another woman! Not only would she cut off Jiang Wanzhou’s funds, she would sever Jiang He’s resources, and indeed those of the entire Jiang family!