Сhарtеr 12: Тiger’s Might
Jiаng Сhuji соuld fеel that the mоmеnt her words wеre spоkеn, thе surrоunding аir sеemеd tо frееze, and thе temperaturе рlummetеd tо аn iсу chill.
Тhе mаn’s deeр gаze instаntly turned dangеrous.
Тhat look wаs like а tangiblе, shаrp arrоw, coldly аimеd аt hеr throat, mаking оnе shuddеr and instinctivеly tеnse up.
Аfter a lоng pausе, the man finallу sроke slоwlу, “Where did yоu leаrn аbout this? From уour fathеr?”
Jiang Сhuji rерlied, “I bеlieve Dukе has alrеаdу investigated everything. My fаthеr does not know whеrе His Majеstу has arranged for the Princess to stay.”
Mo Chixiao narrowed his eyes, “If even Prime Minister Jiang is unaware, how would a young lady like you know?”
“…As the Buddha said, it cannot be spoken.”
Jiang Chuji raised her eyes, meeting his gaze.
“I can tell you, sir, that the Princess is not in Jiangnan at all. That was merely a ruse thrown out by His Majesty to mislead you. The Princess is actually in Mobei.”
“If you wish to find the Princess’s whereabouts, you must search in Mobei.”
Mobei is the collective name for the three northern cities, a vast and expansive region.
It lies worlds apart from Jiangnan—one in the south, the other in the north.
Mo Chixiao looked at her, “Do you know that if even a single word you just said is false, you will die?”
“I know,” Jiang Chuji’s expression remained unchanged, “It is precisely because I know that I would not gamble with my own life.”
Mo Chixiao stared at the young woman before him, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate her thoughts. After a moment, he finally withdrew his gaze.
He seemed to return to his earlier casual demeanor as he spoke, “Go on, tell me what you want me to help you with.”
Jiang Chuji had already thought it through, “Have your subordinate escort me out of the city and return me to the Chancellor’s Manor before dawn.”
This took Mo Chixiao by surprise.
He had assumed the young woman would use this information to exchange for something of value.
Instead, she simply wanted his subordinate to act as a carriage driver?
“Is that all?”
“That’s all.”
There was no hesitation in the young woman’s gaze.
“…”
Mo Chixiao straightened up, his captivating peach-blossom eyes holding a faint, elusive smile, yet their depths remained unfathomable. “Mo Jiu, find a fast horse and escort her out of the city.”
He then glanced at the man on the ground, lifting his eyelids lazily, “And clean this up while you’re at it.”
Mo Jiu immediately stepped forward, “Yes, as you command.”
The horses of the Imperial Guard Division were all meticulously selected and carefully trained steeds, far swifter than ordinary horses.
Jiang Chuji sat in the carriage, leaning against the wall of the compartment, her eyes lightly closed as she feigned sleep.
Tonight’s unexpected encounter with Mo Chixiao had actually accelerated her plans.
She lifted the curtain, revealing a night as dark as ink outside the window. Beyond the carriage, the man named Mo Jiu sat on the carriage shaft, skillfully driving the horses.
In just over an hour, they arrived at the place Jiang Chuji had mentioned.
The carriage came to a steady stop outside the residence.
“Second Miss Jiang, we’ve arrived,” Mo Jiu reminded her from outside the carriage.
Jiang Chuji lifted the door curtain and stepped down from the carriage. Standing on the ground, she surveyed the place before her.
This was the Jiang family’s old estate outside the city. The once-vibrant red paint had been eroded and peeled away by time, and the once-exquisite carvings on the lintel had faded, making the place appear old and dilapidated.
Only then did Mo Jiu realize why Second Miss Jiang had come here in the dead of night.According to his investigation, ten years ago, Prime Minister Jiang’s wife left the Chancellor’s Manor due to illness and was said to have moved to an old estate owned by the Jiang family outside the city.
There were also rumors that the reason for the Prime Minister’s wife’s departure was not illness, but because she had committed some disgraceful act. To preserve their reputations, both the Chancellor’s Manor and the Marquis Zhongyuan’s residence sent her here.
“Second Miss Jiang, I will wait outside for you to come out.” Mo Jiu made a cupped fist gesture.
Jiang Chuji, however, paused her steps and glanced back: “Aren’t you coming in with me, Guard Mo?”
Mo Jiu was taken aback, seemingly not understanding her meaning.
“Second Miss Jiang, the request you made to my superior was only for me to drive you here, wait until you finish your business, and then drive you back, wasn’t it?”
“That’s correct,” Jiang Chuji nodded in agreement, but blinked, “But what if something happens to me inside and I can’t return?”
She tapped her chin thoughtfully, “After all, I am someone useful to your superior. If I lose my life, it wouldn’t be easy for you or your superior to explain, would it?”
“…”
The young girl’s eyes were clear and innocent, appearing utterly guileless.
Yet Mo Jiu suddenly felt as though he had been tricked in some way.
He could only scratch his head and say, “…Then I’ll go in with you. But without orders from my superior, aside from ensuring your safety, I won’t do anything else.”
Hearing this, Jiang Chuji smiled gently, like a blooming crabapple flower in early spring.
“Don’t worry, I promise you only need to come in with me. You don’t need to do or say anything else.”
However, at this hour, the main gate of the estate had long been locked from the inside.
It couldn’t be pushed open from the outside, nor could they enter.
“Guard Mo, lend me your blade.”
With that, Jiang Chuji casually drew the saber from Mo Jiu’s waist beside her and swung it toward the door crack.
Mo Jiu stared in shock.
Was the fine steel saber he had commissioned from skilled craftsmen, capable of cutting through iron like mud, meant to be used like this?
With a loud clang, the wooden latch inside the door was cleanly severed and fell to the ground.
Jiang Chuji then raised her hand and pushed the estate’s gate open.
However, the commotion alerted the people inside the estate. An elderly guard and a woman who looked shrewd and sharp-faced emerged.
Both had clearly rushed out after hearing the noise, hastily dressed, and were startled to see the young girl and man standing in the courtyard.
Moreover, the upright, black-clad man looked particularly formidable.
The guard grabbed a stick, suppressing his fear as he shouted, “Halt! Who are you? What do you want, breaking into a private residence in the middle of the night?”
Jiang Chuji’s expression remained impassive as she asked directly, “Where is the Prime Minister’s wife being held?”
“What?”
Hearing this, the guard’s face instantly changed, “Who are you? Why are you asking about this?”
Jiang Chuji tilted her head, gesturing for the two to look at Mo Jiu beside her, and raised an eyebrow, “Do you see the token on this man’s waist?”
“This is the Imperial Guard Division token. I am here under the orders of the Imperial Guard Division Commander. You should know about the Imperial Guard Division, right?”
The Imperial Guard Division!
The legendary Imperial Guard Division, which acted directly on imperial orders and killed without blinking. Their commander, Lord Mo Chixiao, was the powerful Duke of Shu.An order from the Imperial Guard Division may very well be the will of His Majesty. Anyone who disobeys the command of the Imperial Guard Division can be executed on the spot.
Jiang Chuji took in the terrified expressions of the two men and said casually, “So, I’ll say it again. Where is the Prime Minister’s wife? Take me to see her.”