Сhаpter 14: Тhе Тrеаcherous Sеrvаnt
A pаir of deliсаtе, jаdе-likе hands rеасhеd out from thе carriage. Ваi Mеi аnd Хi Qiu suррortеd Ji Ruуuе as she аlightеd, onе on eaсh side.
Zhаo Tong stаred, his еyеs fiхed, his throаt unconsciоuslу mоving.
Zhаo Tоng hаd аn еxtremе fondnеss for beаutiful women. Sеeing such а beauty bеfоrе him, his mind immediаtеly began tо stir.
“Mау I ask who thе young lаdy is?” А smilе рlaуed on his liрs, his voicе sоftеning by two degrees.
Ji Ruyue lifted hеr еyes coоllу, her tone lightlу mоcking. “Steward Zhao has quite the audacity!”
Zhao Tong’s expression shifted slightly, a flicker of confusion passing through his eyes.
Steward Zheng promptly stepped respectfully to Ji Ruyue’s side and also greeted Zhao Tong. “It has been many years since we last met. Steward Zhao remains as impressive as ever!”
Zhao Tong’s pupils constricted sharply, his face filled with shock. “You… you are…”
A meaningful smile touched Steward Zheng’s lips as he replied, “The young mistress has come in person. Steward Zhao must not be negligent.”
With just that one sentence, Zhao Tong felt his heart tremble slightly!
He immediately raised a hand to wipe away the nonexistent cold sweat on his forehead, a trace of panic barely concealed beneath his sleeve. “Young Mistress, please come inside, please come inside. Forgive this humble one for failing to welcome you properly.”
Ji Ruyue gave a cold laugh and stepped into the courtyard.
“Keep your filthy eyes to yourself, or you will not be spared.” The words drifted lightly into Zhao Tong’s ears.
“I… I wouldn’t dare!”
Having entrenched himself here for many years, Zhao Tong had long cultivated an utterly arrogant disposition. A shadow of malice flashed in his eyes as he bowed his head and led the party into the courtyard.
Even in the depths of winter, rare flowers and exotic plants still bloomed proudly in the courtyard, surprising even Ji Ruyue somewhat.
Passing a corner of the covered walkway, her eyes met a complete scene of pavilions, towers, and terraces.
“This Medicine Manor is indeed built magnificently!” Ji Ruyue praised.
Zhao Tong’s heart leaped into his throat at her words.
Outside the courtyard, within moments, over a hundred manor tenants—strong men holding farming tools—had gathered.
However, Ji Ruyue and the others were unaware of this scene.
Had she revealed her identity even a moment later, even with over thirty guards, they would certainly have been hard-pressed to withstand the onslaught!
“What brings the Young Mistress here today? The journey must have been arduous.” Zhao Tong inquired politely.
Ji Ruyue was ushered to the host’s seat in the main hall. With a slight sweep of her beautiful eyes, she understood everything completely.
“Naturally, it is for the medicinal herbs. My father has never paid much attention to such matters, and I fear this manor may have been neglected.” Her words were calm and composed.
Zhao Tong forced a smile. “Young Mistress, you are mistaken. Managing the manor is this humble one’s duty. With me overseeing it, everything here has always been secure.”
“Duty?”
A faint, elegant smile still graced Ji Ruyue’s lips. “When I entered the manor, someone informed me this place is called the Zhao Family Manor. When did our Ji family’s estate change its surname? This young mistress had not heard of it.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Tong’s mind grew even more disordered.
Just as he was about to find an excuse, Ji Ruyue continued, “I suppose Steward Zhao treats people with excessive leniency, allowing the tenants to forget all rules and propriety.”
“Yes, yes. These people, relying on their labor all day, have grown increasingly reckless and unruly. How dare they spout nonsense before the Young Mistress? They certainly deserve punishment! Rest assured, Young Mistress, I will definitely not let them off lightly.”
Ji Ruyue had always been a cautious person. The signs before her eyes explained everything.
This man’s heart had grown wild with ambition.
He had already betrayed his master!
“In the harsh cold of winter, to have the Young Mistress make the journey personally… You need only send word for whatever medicinal herbs you require. If the manor has them, this humble one will surely have them delivered posthaste.”
Ji Ruyue gave a soft hum of acknowledgment. “I know you are efficient. But this time, the required quantity is large, and it is a direct order from Prince Rui himself. There can be no mistakes.”
Zhao Tong’s heart sank.His intention in speaking up now was merely to test the waters.
This young master was still young; if he obediently took a few things and left, that would be the end of it. But if he intended to cause trouble, then don’t blame him for being impolite!
After all, he was planning to leave anyway, and leaving a bit earlier wouldn’t make much difference.
He had already made arrangements with someone to sell off the entire estate, along with the fully stocked warehouse of medicinal herbs…
Once he got his hands on that silver, the sky would be the limit—who would bother being the steward of this estate?
Zhao Tong only wanted to become the true Master Zhao!
As these thoughts churned in his mind, Zhao Tong only wished to send Ji Ruyue and her party on their way as quickly as possible.
This place was no longer worth staying!
Zhao Tong glanced at Steward Zheng, and his heart sank even further.
This one… was not an easy person to deal with.
Having made up his mind, Zhao Tong grew even more respectful in his demeanor. “Young master, please give your orders. This humble servant will surely ensure your satisfaction.”
Ji Ruyue acknowledged with a sound. “Bai Mei, hand the list to Steward Zhao.”
“Yes, miss.”
Bai Mei took out the list she had prepared earlier and passed it to Zhao Tong.
He received it and examined it carefully. “Notopterygium root, hogfennel root, Chinese thorowax root, licorice root, poria, platycodon root, bitter orange, and Szechuan lovage rhizome… and also ginseng and gastrodia tuber?”
These were the main medicinal ingredients from the miraculous epidemic-fighting formula of her past life.
Even after being reborn, Ji Ruyue still kept them firmly etched in her memory.
It was said that this formula had been bestowed by a reclusive master. Moved by compassion upon seeing the people of Jizhou suffering from the plague, he had granted this prescription to rescue them from their dire plight.
Most of the ingredients in this formula were quite common, but two of them were exceptionally rare: ginseng and gastrodia tuber.
Because of this, even though the formula was widely known in her past life, the ingredients were beyond the means of ordinary people—both unaffordable and difficult to obtain.
Even with the formula in hand, few were able to be saved.