Jiang Suihuan was startled and quickly pushed aside the person next to her. “Why is the Prince here?”
Gu Jin, dressed in black, appeared solemn in the darkness. “I came to apprehend the criminals,” he said.
He raised his hand, and a group of guards emerged from the surrounding night, encircling the three individuals.
Only then did Jiang Suihuan realize that Gu Jin had come to capture the Dwarf and the others.
Recalling Gu Jin’s earlier words, she pointed at the Dwarf and his companions. “I didn’t come here voluntarily. They kidnapped me.”
Strangely, although the Dwarf was afraid of Jiang Suihuan, he had remained relatively calm. But upon seeing Gu Jin, he began thrashing wildly on the ground as if confronted by something utterly terrifying.
Gu Jin gestured, and a guard removed the cloth gag from the Dwarf’s mouth. The Dwarf screamed hoarsely, “Don’t kill me! Don’t kill me! The Empress’s death has nothing to do with me!”
The atmosphere instantly froze. Gu Jin’s eyes sharpened like arrows, terrifyingly intense, as he seized the Dwarf by the throat. “What did you say? What do you know? Speak now!”
“It wasn’t me who killed her!” The Dwarf’s face turned red from suffocation, his voice shrill and raspy. “It was… it was…”
A sharp arrow shot from afar, piercing through the tense air and embedding itself directly in the Dwarf’s skull.
The Dwarf went limp instantly. Gu Jin, his eyes bloodshot, glared in the direction the arrow had come from and roared, “After them!”
Over a dozen shadow guards seemed to materialize out of nowhere, swiftly employing Qinggong to pursue the source of the arrow. It was clear they were all highly skilled in martial arts.
Seeing the Dwarf dead, the woman tried to sneak away with the bald man while no one was paying attention. Unexpectedly, two more arrows flew from another direction, piercing both of them through.
Witnessing three people who had been alive and moving moments ago turn into corpses in an instant, Ying Tao screamed uncontrollably.
Jiang Suihuan stood motionless, pondering the Dwarf’s last words. The Dwarf claimed he hadn’t killed the Empress—what did that mean? The current Empress was clearly still alive.
The Dwarf had been killed before he could finish speaking, as if someone didn’t want him to reveal the truth.
Observing Gu Jin’s reaction, this was the first time she had seen him so out of control, as if he had become a different person.
Which Empress was the Dwarf referring to? What was the unfinished sentence? And who had fired the arrows to silence the witnesses?
These questions swirled like a thick fog around Jiang Suihuan. She realized the situation was far more complicated than it seemed and undoubtedly had significant ties to Gu Jin.
Gu Jin stared at the three corpses before him, his eyes blazing with fury. He punched the nearby tree with such force that the bowl-thick trunk instantly split in two.
Dozens more shadow guards appeared as if from thin air, chasing in the direction of the two arrows.
His face dark and grim, Gu Jin was about to join the pursuit when he suddenly remembered Jiang Suihuan was still there. He coldly ordered, “Four of you stay to escort Miss Jiang back to her residence. The rest, follow me!”
Then he approached Jiang Suihuan, his tone devoid of warmth. “Miss Jiang, you’re a smart person. Today, you heard nothing, correct?”
Jiang Suihuan nodded stiffly. “Correct. I heard nothing.”
Gu Jin strode past her without another word, as if he were merely a passing stranger.
Jiang Suihuan sighed softly, thinking to herself that she and Gu Jin had only met a few times and helped each other occasionally—they were practically strangers.
Upon returning home, she found everything exactly as it had been before their abduction. The weeding tools were still scattered on the ground, and no one had even noticed they’d been kidnapped.
Jiang Suihuan thought it might be necessary to hire some servants. At least if she and Ying Tao encountered danger again, someone could report it to the authorities.
Ying Tao quickly heated water for a bath. After washing up and changing into clean clothes, Jiang Suihuan sank into the soft bedding and fell into a deep sleep as soon as she lay down.
She woke at noon the next day to brilliant sunshine. Covering her empty stomach, she got up to find some food in the kitchen, but upon opening her door, she found Ying Tao waiting outside.
“You’re awake, Miss. Young Master Li is waiting for you in the parlor.”
Still groggy from sleep, Jiang Suihuan asked, “Which Young Master Li?”
“Young Master Li Xueming,” Ying Tao explained. “He’s completely recovered from his illness and came to thank you. He’s been waiting for over an hour.”
“Why didn’t you wake me earlier?” Jiang Suihuan wiped her face with a handkerchief, her mind gradually clearing.
Ying Tao stamped her foot slightly indignantly. “You didn’t rest well yesterday! I wanted to let you sleep longer!”
“I understand. I’ll go to the parlor now—you should get some more rest.” Jiang Suihuan gently poked the dark circles under Ying Tao’s eyes. “Look how heavy these are.”
Ying Tao scratched her head. “Then I’ll go sleep now. Call me anytime if you need anything.”
“Go ahead.”
When Jiang Suihuan entered the parlor, Li Xueming was staring absently at a teapot nearby. His recovery was remarkable—the once frail invalid had transformed into a handsome, elegant young gentleman.
“If Young Master Li is so fond of that teapot, you’re welcome to take it with you,” Jiang Suihuan said, snapping him out of his reverie.
Li Xueming quickly stood and bowed. “I pay my respects to Miss Jiang. After classes ended today, I came specifically to thank you for saving my life.”
“Becoming a teacher has changed you—you’ve become so formal,” Jiang Suihuan remarked as she approached. “Besides, didn’t you already thank me last time? Why come again today?”
“Last time was for uncovering the truth about my family’s death. This time is for curing my illness,” Li Xueming explained with sincere gratitude. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to invite you to Yuefang Lou for a simple meal.”Sure,” Jiang Suihuan agreed without hesitation—she was just hungry anyway.
Li Xueming, surprised by her quick acceptance, maintained his bowing posture and recited the speech he’d rehearsed: “Please don’t stand on ceremony, Miss Jiang. You saved my life—a mere meal is nothing in comparison.”
Jiang Suihuan blinked. “I’m not standing on ceremony.”
“Ah, then when would be convenient for you?”
“Right now is fine. Give me a moment.”
After changing into men’s clothing, Jiang Suihuan returned. Li Xueming asked curiously, “Why does Miss Jiang prefer wearing men’s attire so much?”
“Men’s clothes are convenient and attract less attention when going out,” she said, shaking out her sleeves. “And they’re cheaper.”
Li Xueming suddenly understood. “I see.”
The two arrived at Yuefang Lou in Fuqing Academy’s carriage. It was peak dining hours, and the restaurant was bustling with noise, filled to capacity with patrons.
Jiang Suihuan initially thought there were no seats available and was about to suggest going to another restaurant. Unexpectedly, the shopkeeper’s son was a student at Fuqing Academy. Recognizing Li Xueming, the shopkeeper quickly arranged for a private room on the second floor and ushered them inside.
After sitting down, Jiang Suihuan, worried about wasting food, ordered only four dishes. To her surprise, the waiter brought out a large tableful of food, explaining it was complimentary from the owner.
Jiang Suihuan was deeply envious and asked, “Is your academy still hiring instructors? I think I could do it too.”
Li Xueming’s tone was full of apology, “Not at the moment, but if we ever need one, you’ll be the first person I contact.”
“No worries.” Jiang Suihuan waved her hand dismissively. “I was just saying. I’ll stick to being a proper doctor.”
As they ate and chatted, Jiang Suihuan was pleasantly surprised to discover that Li Xueming was not only knowledgeable but also had a personality that clicked with hers—a truly compatible friend.
Just as they were engrossed in conversation, a commotion erupted downstairs. Jiang Suihuan opened the window and looked down to see two burly men forcing a young girl into a carriage. The girl was weeping pitifully, yet no one around stepped in to help.
“Stop right there!” Jiang Suihuan shouted, driven by her sense of justice. Instantly, all eyes turned toward her.