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墨書 Inktalez
Jiang Li looked coldly at the scantily clad Qimeng and snorted disdainfully. Several maids and servants behind her rushed forward, grabbing the woman's legs and dragging her all the way to the corridor outside, stopping only when they reached the courtyard.
Qimeng was already terrified, crying out for help from Jiang Huai. However, Prime Minister Jiang, seeing the situation unfold, had obediently moved to stand beside Jiang Li with a smiling face, completely ignoring Fair Lady's cries for help.
The poor courtesan had her clothes torn apart, exposing her fair skin, her face flushed with shame.
Jiang Li sat on a rosewood chair brought over by the servants, raised her chin, and arched an eyebrow as she asked, "Is this the courtesan from Flower Pavilion? She does have some beauty; no wonder even the usually aloof and proud master has been enchanted by her."
Jiang Huai stammered, his old face turning crimson, unable to utter a word.
"Madam, the trash from the brothel is unworthy of entering our residence. This one must be of a higher caliber than those filthy goods; how about we leave her to the servants to deal with?"
The speaker was Wang Mama, who had been by Jiang Li's side for over thirty years. Her boldness stemmed from their long-standing master-servant relationship.
Upon hearing this, the servants in the courtyard trembled slightly. They looked at the beautiful woman on the ground who was crying incessantly, their eyes filled with sympathy. Everyone knew that Wang Mama was the madam's trusted aide, managing the large household with an iron fist. If this girl fell into her hands, she would likely have no way out.
After all, how could a courtesan be anything but clever?
Qimeng struggled to kneel up and cried loudly, "Madam, please calm your anger! This lowly servant was confused for a moment; I beg you to spare my life!"
She seemed to have some sense and realized that Jiang Huai was like a toothless tiger in front of his wife; seeking his help would only lead to her demise. It was better to take a gamble.
Jiang Li laughed upon hearing this. "Mama, did I hear correctly? This is the first time someone has chosen to plead with me—a rough-handed, loud-voiced river dragon—rather than seek pity from their master."
Wang Mama's expression remained unchanged as she spoke in a deep voice: "Madam need not lower herself to argue with this kind of filth. In my humble opinion, we should cut off her hands and feet and throw her into the market to fend for herself."
"Oh, really?" Jiang Li examined her well-maintained fingers and casually asked, "If I were to do that, the master would surely be heartbroken."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Huai's face turned even paler as he stammered, "Madam, it's a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding?" Jiang Li's anger flared up as she kicked Jiang Huai on the leg. "You think I’ve been eating vegetarian and chanting for years just to be fooled by your lies? I saw you holding that little vixen with my own eyes, and you still dare to tell me it's a misunderstanding."
The surrounding servants lowered their heads, pretending to be busy.
"This... this is a gift from the Minister of War, Lord Liu. I... I couldn't be too harsh," Jiang Huai said, rubbing his leg that had been kicked, trying to play it off with a smile.
Jiang Li sneered and twisted her neck. "I traveled all day in a carriage just to catch you in the act. If you tell me this is all a misunderstanding and that you were just putting on a show, then I've wasted all this effort."
Jiang Huai quickly stepped forward to help massage her shoulders while stealing glances at her expression. He said flatteringly, "Madam, you've worked hard on the journey. It's all my fault. Why don't you rest for a moment? Once I handle things here, I'll naturally give you an explanation."
Jiang Li pinched her brow and glanced at him. "The emperor ordered you to reflect in solitude while I was in a panic seeking divine help for you. Yet here you are, enjoying the company of a beauty. Jiang Huai, how can you face me?"
After saying this, she found it hard to contain her emotions and turned to look at the ground beside her.
It seemed like it was the first time Jiang Huai had seen his wife so vulnerable. He carefully observed this once fiery young woman who had followed him for so many years, managing the household and raising children. She had even begun to show signs of white hair, stirring a mix of emotions within him.
Seeing him silent, Jiang Li appeared sorrowful and waved her hand. "Forget it. All these years, you've kept your promise and haven't taken a concubine. If you truly have feelings for this courtesan now, I won't stop you. Go ahead."
With that, she really began to walk away slowly with her maid and servant girl, her back appearing desolate.
Jiang Huai felt as if his heart had been squeezed tightly. He paused for a moment before chasing after her. "Madam, Madam..."
Only the remaining servants and the shivering Fair Lady were left in the courtyard.
Far away at Tongfu Inn, it was particularly lively today.
Night Star had come down early for breakfast and was now seated in a corner of the second-floor lobby, where he could see downstairs.
It seemed that it was still early, as the doors of the four mysterious men remained tightly shut. He patiently ordered a pot of Longjing tea, sipping lightly while lost in thought.
In the early morning, he received an urgent message delivered by Qinglong, a letter from Cinnabar who was secretly protecting Mo Xier at Night Manor, informing him of Old Madam's actions towards Mo Xier.
The letter concluded with news that the Empress Dowager had summoned Mo Xier to the palace to attend to her ailments. Such a clumsy excuse made him unable to avoid worrying about that foolish girl’s situation.
"Master, Cinnabar..." Qinglong began to say something but was interrupted.
"I know what you want to say." Night Star folded the letter and set it alight on the candle holder that had burned all night, watching as the flames consumed the paper bit by bit until it turned to ash. His voice was calm and rational: "Cinnabar has her duties; from her perspective, it was right not to intervene in protecting Mo Xier at that time. I will not hold this against her."
Qinglong opened his mouth as if to say something but lowered his head instead: "Master is wise."
"If I were truly wise, I should have brought her by my side long ago," Night Star's voice dropped to a barely audible whisper.
Unsure of what to say, Qinglong suddenly remembered something: "Master, those four from Penglai Nation have been quiet all night. Should we call Xuanwu and the others back?"
Night Star pondered for a moment. "How is Baihu's injury?"
"He is no longer in serious danger. Although he cannot use his energy for now, he can move normally," Qinglong reported truthfully.
Night Star nodded. "In that case, you should call Zhuque back. The sooner we go to Luzhou Island, the better; there is no need for delay."
"Master, now is a crucial time for us. It would be better to let Baihu and Zhuque complete the mission with us before they leave."
Qinglong understood the general's intentions, but now the situation around the general was unclear, even the emperor had begun to show ambiguous attitudes in court, which was truly concerning.
Night Star nodded and then shook his head. "I have my own arrangements for these matters; just tell them to set off as soon as possible."
He felt a bit uneasy, but he did not know the source of this unease. Perhaps it was years of intuition that had accustomed him to a life filled with hidden dangers.
Maybe it was because the emperor's gaze toward Mo Xi'er was too intense, or perhaps Mo Xi'er's injury made him realize for the first time that he was not an invincible war god, but rather a helpless person who could not even protect the woman he loved. More likely, it was all just his own speculation.
For someone like him, who accompanied a ruler as if walking with a tiger, many things had to be approached with caution.
"Welcome, esteemed guests! Are you here for a meal or a room?" The enthusiastic voice of the waiter interrupted his thoughts. He looked up and saw the waiter greeting a new group of customers.
Three young men dressed in black cloaks and wearing Conical Hats entered. The leader appeared slightly older, handsome in appearance, while the two behind him were actually twins, their features and expressions identical, except one was slightly taller and the other slightly shorter.
"Prepare three Upper Rooms for us and get some bathwater ready; you needn't trouble yourself with anything else," said the leader, Amu, his voice polite as he handed a silver coin to the waiter.
The waiter accepted the coin with a smile. "Certainly! I'll prepare that right away. But why not try our restaurant's famous braised beef? We just slaughtered a cow this morning; it's fresh!"
At these words, all three men stiffened.
The taller twin, Arsen, suddenly grabbed the waiter's neck and slammed him against the table, his voice hoarse as if smoked. "What did you say?"
Caught off guard, the waiter couldn't make a sound as his throat was constricted; he flailed his limbs, unsure of what he had said wrong.
A large hand separated them; it was Amu. "Arsen, that's enough!" After saying this, he panted heavily and glared fiercely at the still-shocked waiter.
The shorter man, Alin, approached without speaking and gestured with his hands about something. Only then did Arsen's expression soften somewhat; he took a few deep breaths and sat down on the bench at the table without saying another word.
The leader, Amu, apologized to the waiter. Watching the waiter run away in a flustered and anxious manner, he shook his head with a bitter smile and turned to the short Alin, saying, "It seems this isn't a place for us to stay long, Alin. Your injuries are serious, and we need to stay here for another night. Are you okay with that?"
The short Alin nodded, smiled, and made a few gestures.
Seeing this, Arsen scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Alright, I won't be impulsive anymore. You should rest well; I'll go buy you some buns." After saying this, he looked at the leader Amu. "You stay here to take care of Alin; I'll handle the rest."
Amu and Alin exchanged smiles and said with some relief, "It's rare to see you starting to care about others, you stubborn one. Now, your voice isn't fully recovered yet. Going out might cause trouble; it's better if you two go upstairs while I buy some clothes and provisions."
Just as he was about to leave, he unexpectedly looked up and met Night Star's gaze. They both nodded slightly and smiled at each other, nothing more.
Night Star recalled how they reacted when they heard the waiter's casual mention of "braised beef" earlier and couldn't help but glance at the tightly closed door.
In Penglai Nation, cattle are revered, and it is believed that the azure cow holds divine status that is sacred and inviolable. Not only is slaughtering for meat forbidden, but even plowing fields does not involve using draft animals. The status of cattle has evidently reached a level of reverence akin to that of a deity.
Just from that careless remark by the waiter, the expressions of the three changed drastically, nearly leading to a fight. It must be someone from Penglai Nation; however, it was unclear what connection these three had with those mysterious individuals from Penglai.
Jiang Wei, dressed in white robes and resembling a refined gentleman as he waved a gold-edged folding fan, appeared relaxed in front of a pot of fragrant tea. Compared to the anxiousness of the three beside him, he seemed much calmer.
A few days ago, he had already noticed Night Star, who was handsome and composed with steady steps and impeccable manners. Initially curious about such an extraordinary person in this remote area, he intended to befriend him. However, that night he discovered someone was spying on him. He remained still but secretly sprinkled glow powder on that person. By dawn, he found that trail of glow leading into that man's room.
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