Su Lingqing was soaked through with a chill. To avoid revealing anything unusual, she kept her entire body turned away from Jiang Ciyan.
“My mother’s death was definitely not an accident. Unfortunately, I was too young back then and cannot remember the details. If you find even the slightest clue, please inform me at once.”
After saying this, she couldn’t help coughing twice. Her cheeks were flushed with a sickly redness perhaps because she had dragged her ill body on this long journey and now her fever had risen again.
Jiang Ciyan looked at her slender back. The fox-like eyes that usually held a smile now showed tenderness and guilt.
He raised his hand, wanting to touch her hair, but in the end restrained himself and withdrew it.
“There may be unusual movements in the Ning Prince’s residence, and it might also have something to do with my father. The Ning Prince is cruel we must not let him seize any opportunity! If my father truly shows signs of wrongdoing, I would not hesitate to sacrifice family for the greater good.”
After speaking, Su Lingqing deliberately added, “Another noble person told me this. That person cannot appear in public, so I was asked to pass the message to Young Prince Jiang.”
The young man seemed to believe her and replied with a bright smile, “Alright, I’ll remember that.”
In truth, at this time Su Huai had no intention of rebellion, nor had he joined Zhao Mingcheng in revolt.
But people’s hearts are endlessly greedy. In her previous life, Su Huai had nearly reached sixty and still joined the rebellion proof enough of his wolfish ambition.
So be it. Better he die early and cause less trouble.
He could continue rebelling slowly in hell.
Su Lingqing’s coughing became harder to suppress. She tried to steady herself against the wall, but stumbled and almost fell.
“Careful!” Jiang Ciyan rushed forward and grabbed her wrist.
The young man’s heart pounded violently. Su Lingqing pulled her hand back and barely steadied herself.
“The two people I want to buy one is named Liu Liu, a stable slave about twenty years old. The other is called Li Ziyun, with a long scar across his forehead.”
After saying this, the girl walked toward the door.
“Please trouble Young Prince Jiang to send someone to find them. If there is any news regarding these matters, please send a message by crow late at night. Pigeons are too conspicuous and easily shot down.”
Jiang Ciyan suddenly said, “Wait.”
Su Lingqing’s back stiffened. Her palms were damp with sweat.
If that unpredictable smiling tiger discovered anything… she was already thinking of countermeasures.
The young man walked over and lowered his head.
“Hold out your hand.”
Su Lingqing froze for a moment, not quite understanding.
He was in no hurry and simply waited in front of her.
Slowly, she opened her palm. A bright red pill appeared.
“Colds caused by wind are hard to treat. The damp cold inside your body is frighteningly severe. Take this pill within two days you’ll recover.”
Su Lingqing’s deep eyes fixed on Jiang Ciyan.
“Is this also one of Young Prince Jiang’s methods?”
Jiang Ciyan touched his nose awkwardly. “Am I really that untrustworthy?”
Su Lingqing: “…”
The young man coughed lightly. “Poisoning you brings me no benefit. No matter how the outside world judges my merits or faults, I would never harm an innocent person.”
In her previous life, Su Lingqing had never directly confronted him, but she had heard many rumors.
There were plenty calling him ruthless but even more praising him as unmatched, a man who could rival heaven itself.
Otherwise he would not have been honored as Regent Prince at such a young age, wielding supreme power.
To prevent the emperor from becoming suspicious, the Jiang family had arranged things so that only Jiang Ciyan remained in the capital of Shengjing. All the other Jiang family members had moved to the northern desert frontier to guard the border cities.
Only then could the emperor feel at ease.
Su Lingqing lowered her gaze to the pill. The air was filled with a rich medicinal scent surprisingly comforting.
The next moment she put it directly into her mouth and swallowed it. Warmth immediately spread through her abdomen, and even her weak body regained some strength.
“I was rude just now. I shouldn’t have doubted Young Prince Jiang.” Su Lingqing bowed to him again.
Jiang Ciyan’s eyes curved into a smile.
“Then your punishment is that you’re not allowed to doubt me in the future. If you fail, I’ll punish you for today’s offense as well.”
Su Lingqing was momentarily speechless, wondering if the man before her was truly the infamous Young Prince Jiang.
After she stared at him for a while, the tips of the young man’s ears turned red like rosy clouds climbing across the evening sky.
Su Lingqing quickly looked away.
Staring so directly at a strange man was not something appropriate for someone of her current age and status.
“I promise, Young Prince Jiang. Farewell.”
After taking the medicine, strength returned to her body. Even mounting her horse became smooth and effortless.
Jiang Ciyan leaned against the doorway watching her, his eyes shining like crescent moons.
When Su Lingqing rode down the small road, it was near dinnertime. Households had already closed their doors, making the already quiet street even more silent.
Cold wind swept across the barren treetops, and shadows occasionally flickered across a few desolate rooftops.
She continued riding as if she had noticed nothing unusual.
“This little lady damn, she’s really something!” a rough, lecherous voice whispered, drooling over Su Lingqing’s beauty.
As soon as one spoke, the others followed with obscene laughter.
Only when the wind carried the sound did Su Lingqing hear it.
Moments later, vicious-looking bandits stepped out with sinister smiles six in total, surrounding her.
Su Lingqing swept her gaze over them one by one. Not only was she unafraid, she even sneered.
“You really think highly of me sending so many people.”
After all, in Zheng Rui’s eyes she was now as useless as trash, unable to defeat even one of them. He must have feared something might go wrong.
He truly wanted her to die here.
The bandits stared at her, saliva almost dripping.
“Little beauty, don’t worry. Our employer originally wanted us to kill you. But you’re so pretty your brothers here really can’t bear to!”
Su Lingqing raised an eyebrow.
“Who’s the employer? If you tell me, I’ll obediently go with you.”
The bandit didn’t fall for it.
“We’re paid to do a job. People in our line of work keep their mouths shut. But come into your brothers’ arms and not only will you live you’ll enjoy yourself every night!”
The crude words reached Su Lingqing’s ears.
An ordinary noble lady would have cried in fear by now.
But she was not an ordinary lady.
“My life may indeed be spared but yours will end here.”
She clicked her tongue lightly.
“If I were you, after dying I’d definitely seek revenge on that so-called employer. After all, she’s the one who dragged you into this mess.”
The men grew furious.
“You little bitch! After we’re done with you we’ll skin you alive!”
Having thoroughly enraged them, Su Lingqing’s eyes sharpened. She flipped off the horse and ran to the side.
What a joke how could she dare leave the residence alone without any preparation?
Her movements were agile, nothing like someone without martial arts. Of course if she didn’t know martial arts, she wouldn’t have been able to judge that young boy’s skill earlier!
With a flick of her wrist, a flash of cold light appeared. A light dagger suddenly materialized in her hand and stabbed straight toward the leader’s face.
The man’s pupils shrank. Frightened, he rolled aside and cursed.
Su Lingqing moved like a swallow, weaving gracefully among them.
But the enemy had superior numbers.
One of them found an opening and attacked her from behind.
At the same time, the leader grabbed her wrist from the front with brutal force strong enough to crush the bones.
Pain drained the color from Su Lingqing’s face. She hated that she was still recovering from illness, her body weak and delicate, and her martial arts not strong enough otherwise she wouldn’t have been captured.
Meanwhile, the attacker behind her had already raised a large stone and smashed it toward the back of her head.
Blood splattered everywhere.