Сhарtеr 10: Тhе Fox
Fuling sаid, “Мiss, I’vе bееn keeping wаtсh outside Fаnghua Cоurtуаrd. Соnсubine Zhоu аnd thе оthers left thе manor and cаmе baсk, thеn just wеnt оut аgain. I suрроse theу сamе back to fеtch mоney.”
Jiang Сhuji showеd no surрrisе, leisurelу sitting up. “Fuling, help mе сhаngе clothеs. I nееd tо go out tоo.”
Fuling wаs puzzled. “Мiss, Conсubine Zhou аnd the others hаvе tаken thе bаit as you wishеd, evеn willing tо spend hеavily tо buy thе Gu Wоrm. Whу do уou still neеd to go оut?”
Jiаng Сhuji looked at Fuling. “Guess—Hu San demаndеd a thousand taеls оf silver. Where did Соncubine Zhou and the others get the money to buy it?”
Fuling was taken aback, only now considering this question.
“That’s right. Concubine Zhou is just a concubine, and her family background is humble. How could she afford such a large sum?”
Jiang Chuji sneered, “Because the money they’re spending isn’t theirs at all.”
The dowry Chen Shi brought when she married into the Chancellor’s Manor was all seized by Concubine Zhou, who plans to use it to pave the way for her daughter’s future.
Not to mention that this thousand taels of silver rightfully belongs to her and her mother. Even if it truly were Concubine Zhou and Jiang Luowei’s money, she would still take it.
“Fuling,” Jiang Chuji raised her eyes, a faint smile curling her lips. “Have you ever heard of ‘the rogue robbing the rogue’?”
At the same time, in the Duke’s Mansion.
Mo Jiu, dressed in black, approached the man seated at the desk with steady steps and agile movements.
He spoke respectfully, “Master, I have investigated the matter regarding the Jiang family’s legitimate daughter from last night.”
The man leaned back in the carved wooden chair, his deep eyes carrying a hint of laziness. “Speak.”
“That Jiang family legitimate daughter is named Jiang Chuji, born to Prime Minister Jiang and Chen Shi, daughter of Marquis Zhongyuan. Ten years ago, Chen Shi left the manor, and Jiang Chuji was sent to a temple. She was only brought back a few months ago.”
“However, I heard that shortly after returning, she was confined to a side courtyard for three months for stealing Old Madam Jiang’s bracelet. When we encountered her last night, she should have been sneaking out over the wall before her confinement period ended.”
“People in the Chancellor’s Manor say Jiang Chuji is timid, cowardly, and rather foolish. Even if she saw us in the manor last night, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Mo Chixiao recalled the girl sitting on the wall, gesturing to her lips to signal silence.
That didn’t seem foolish at all.
His tone was casual. “Yesterday was Old Madam Jiang’s birthday banquet. Why did she climb over the wall?”
Mo Jiu recounted how Jiang Chuji fell into the water, was rescued by the Eldest Young Master Jiang, and later had her confinement lifted early.
“If she weren’t foolish, why would she believe such a baseless legend and jump into the icy lake at night?”
“Still, it’s somewhat strange. People in the Chancellor’s Manor say that before her confinement, this Second Miss Jiang was plain-looking. After three months of confinement, she has now become stunningly beautiful.”
“Moreover, our people are watching and report that this Second Miss Jiang left the Chancellor’s Manor alone a quarter of an hour ago.”
Who said believing the legend must mean she’s foolish?
Last night, she climbed the wall with her maid. Tonight, she left the manor alone.
Is this the so-called timid and cowardly legitimate daughter of the Jiang family?
Hearing this, the man’s lips curled slightly. “I’m rather curious what Prime Minister Jiang’s daughter is actually busy with.”
Jiang Chuji calculated the timing precisely.
She waited until Concubine Zhou brought Jiang Luowei back once more, then took advantage of the guards’ shift change to slip out through the back gate.Dressed in inconspicuous dark clothing with a silk scarf tied over her face, she found a carriage.
By Xu hour, the sky had completely darkened. Under the cover of night, the commercial street in the southern part of the city was already silent and deserted.
Hu San had earlier taken some silver, dismissed the shop assistants, and prepared to pack up and flee overnight, planning to sell the shop later.
Under the dim candlelight, he turned the stack of genuine thousand-tael silver notes over and over, grinning from ear to ear.
After a long while, he finally tucked the silver notes carefully into his chest with satisfaction, humming a tuneless little song as he stepped out of the shop.
At this moment, Hu San was immersed in the joy of sudden wealth. As he turned his back to lock the door, he was completely unaware that someone was quietly approaching from behind.
The next second, a stone larger than a human head struck the back of his skull with a sudden, heavy blow.
The attacker’s strike was steady, precise, and ruthless.
With only a dull, heavy thud, Hu San didn’t even have time to look back before he fell to the ground, bleeding from the head and twitching.
Jiang Chuji’s expression remained unchanged.
She casually tossed the stone aside and crouched down.
After searching through Hu San’s clothes, she found the silver notes and naturally tucked them into her own pocket.
Then, she pulled a gleaming dagger from her sleeve. With a swift motion, she plunged the dagger into Hu San’s heart.
She felt no guilt about killing.
A black-hearted merchant who disregarded human lives for profit deserved to die.
Moreover, only with Hu San dead could she become the sole person who knew how to lure out the Gu Worm.
Jiang Chuji straightened up under the moonlight.
But as she turned around, she came face to face with a figure.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Someone had been watching her from behind!
Witnessing her kill.
Jiang Chuji’s eyes sharpened as she looked up at the figure, instinctively holding her breath.
Even having seen all kinds of people in modern times, she had never encountered a man this handsome.
He wore a deep purple brocade robe. The collar and cuffs were embroidered with a dark gold Kylin Pattern, faintly visible under the sparse, cold moonlight. His noble yet oppressive aura was impossible to ignore.
With peerlessly handsome features and a languid posture, his peach blossom eyes held a hint of a smile. Following the line of his thin lips, one could see the distinct outline of his Adam’s apple, exuding an intangible, bewitching allure.
Jiang Chuji snapped back to reality and turned to leave.
The man behind her spoke leisurely, “Come back.”
She replied, feigning calm, “I don’t know you.”
The man watched her retreating figure with ease, his tone casual as if in a good mood, “You clearly recognized me.”
“I can pretend not to.”
A faint smile curled at the corner of the man’s lips, like a fox, “Then try pretending.”
Jiang Chuji turned back as if resigned, lifting her head.
She glanced at the man lying on the ground nearby, bleeding from the head with a dagger in his chest. Pulling off the scarf covering her face, she raised both hands and met the other’s gaze.
“Duke, are you going to arrest me—or perhaps silence me for last night’s incident?”