Begonia Courtyard.
"Master, the Patrol Battalion and the Imperial City Bureau are investigating Qiao Kun's death, as well as the affairs involving Zhou Qi and the Third Prince, from both public and covert angles."
As she spoke, Yutang presented a list. "These are the noble sons who incited Zhou Qi. Their goal was to have Zhou Qi marry Princess Anyang, and then... and then they planned to secretly..." Yutang did not finish the sentence.
Looking at the list, the coldness in Xie Jiuli’s eyes intensified. "Leave the Patrol Battalion and the Imperial City Bureau to their own devices. But as for these men, cut out their tongues, break their legs, and ensure none of them keep their manhood."
"Rest assured, Master. Your subordinate will make them wish they were dead!"
Yutang continued, "My subordinates discovered that the Third Prince and his associates frequently frequent a secluded residence in the east of the city to indulge in debauchery. In the past two years, many innocent young women have fallen victim to them."
"Lead the Jingzhao Prefecture to investigate. These women must not die in vain."
"As you command."
Shortly after, Uncle Rong entered. "Eldest Miss, word has come from the palace. Noble Consort Chen denies ordering the Second Princess to the dark prison. In a few days, the Emperor may present a fake Princess Anyang."
Xie Jiuli curled her lips in a meaningful smile. "A fake princess!"
She glanced over sharply. "Is Noble Consort Chen’s word credible?"
Uncle Rong replied, "The Empress says it is. Noble Consort Chen has always been preoccupied with vying for favor, her mind filled only with trivial romances. She has no dealings with the Second Princess and, in fact, loathes the Second Princess's birth mother. It is unlikely she would kindly allow the Second Princess to go to the dark prison to vent her anger."
He added, "The Empress believes someone in the palace may be using the Chen family to strike at Princess Anyang. As for who that person is, it is currently unknown."
Xie Jiuli’s expression darkened instantly. "It seems someone wants to test whether the Feng family still has any useful assets left."
Uncle Rong was startled for a moment. "Could it be the Emperor?"
Xie Jiuli was silent for a long while before saying, "Whether it is him or not, we will only know once we investigate."
***
The panic in the Capital had barely lasted a few days before another earth-shattering event occurred.
Several noble sons were found, one after another, suffering the same fate as Zhou Qi: tongues cut out, limbs broken, and castrated.
The only difference was that these men were dumped right at the gates of the Jingzhao Prefecture.
The threshold of the Jingzhao Prefecture was nearly trampled flat. The Magistrate, Lu Ming'an, felt as if he had been struck by lightning, fearing his official cap—and his head—was on the verge of being lost.
These were all noble sons; he dared not offend any of their families. He had no choice but to grit his teeth and steel himself to begin the investigation, hoping to provide an explanation to the noble families!
***
Sichun Pavilion.
"My Lord, your subordinate is incompetent. I have not been able to uncover the connection between Ninth Miss and Princess Anyang."
Changfeng knelt. "However, I have discovered that Ninth Miss’s reason for entering the Capital is related to the assassination attempt she suffered at Liurong Temple some time ago."
"Has A-Jiu been..." Ying Yuan instantly reined in his overflowing emotions. "With her skill, who in this world could hurt her?"
Changfeng continued, "The assassins were arranged by the Tianji Hall, and one of the killers is linked to Tianlong Temple."
"Wipe out the Tianji Hall." Gloom filled Ying Yuan's eyes, and murderous intent bristled.
"...Tianji Hall... the Tianji Hall has already been wiped out by Lou Qi and his men," Changfeng whispered, appearing very nervous.
A dark, blood-red glint shone in Ying Yuan’s eyes; his brows arched, and a cold sneer played on his thin lips. "Then dig up their ancestral graves, whip their corpses, and grind their bones to dust!"
"Understood."
Noticing his master’s bloodshot eyes, Changfeng cautiously stood up and brought over a plate of sweet cakes from a small table, presenting them respectfully with both hands.
Ying Yuan picked up a piece with his jade-like fingers and took a small bite.
It wasn't as sweet as A-Jiu's candy.
Uncle Tong entered the room and, seeing the bitten cake, sighed silently.
Ying Yuan turned back. "A-Jiu’s entry into the Capital is not only because the assassins are linked to Tianlong Temple, but also because of Princess Anyang, isn't it?"
Changfeng exited the room, closing the door softly.
Uncle Tong walked over, stood behind his master, and began massaging his temples.
"I will say it again, my Lord: if you wish to know, you should ask Ninth Miss yourself." He paused, then added, "However, the recent events in the city are indeed related to Ninth Miss. Those noble sons were maimed by Yutang. If I hadn't spent many years with Ninth Miss and understood her subordinates, I wouldn't have been able to tell."
Ying Yuan closed his eyes. After a long silence, he spoke. "A-Jiu is avenging Princess Anyang."
Uncle Tong did not answer. Given everything happening in the Capital, it certainly appeared to be the case. After all, they knew quite a lot about the filthy business the Third Prince, Zhou Qi, and the other noble sons engaged in behind closed doors.
"There is one more thing. My Lord, you should prepare yourself."
Ying Yuan opened his eyes. "What is it?"
Uncle Tong did not stop massaging, continuing steadily. "Since Ninth Miss has intervened in the Princess Anyang matter, she will sooner or later discover the link between the Chen family and the Wojing people. Although we have never joined forces with them, we know the Chen family has Wojing people behind them. Ninth Miss has always hated the Wojing pirates."
Ying Yuan’s hand, resting on the table, curled inward. His gaze was deep and somber. "...A-Jiu... A-Jiu, she..."
Knowing but not telling, and letting it happen. If he were A-Jiu...
"My Lord, I have actually always wanted to advise you: you should be completely honest with Ninth Miss about many things. If she knew you had been bearing the burden of humiliation for so many years, she would certainly understand."
"She is brilliant, vibrant, and clear in her loves and hates. I am already mired in this filthy swamp; how could I dare to dream of plucking the bright moon from the sky?"
Ying Yuan closed his eyes and said no more. Meeting A-Jiu in Suzhou was the only beautiful thing in his life; let that beauty remain there forever.
Uncle Tong felt for his master. From the bottom of his heart, he hoped his master would let go of his hatred and stop living in the dark. Since meeting Ninth Miss five years ago, he could clearly feel his master changing from the cold, world-weary, bloodthirsty puppet of revenge he once was, into someone who could discover that there was more to life than just vengeance.
Ninth Miss was his master’s light.
So, he tried once more. "My Lord, when Ninth Miss came of age at the end of last year, the young Prince of the Prince Beichen's Estate proposed to her."
*Crack.*
The table suddenly split down the middle.
"That toad Ji Chenzhi—if not for A-Jiu’s sake, I would have razed the Prince Beichen's Estate to the ground. Where does he get the courage to hop around?"
"From Ninth Miss."
Ying Yuan gasped, turning his head abruptly.
Uncle Tong’s expression remained unchanged as he withdrew his hands. As he cleared away the shattered table, he said steadily, "My Lord, there is no need for anger. Ninth Miss did not agree then, but that does not mean she will not agree in the future. Would you really be willing to watch Ninth Miss and the young Prince together, living a life of..."
"Shut up!"
Ying Yuan turned his head away awkwardly, looking out the window. Since arriving in the Capital to initiate his revenge plan step by step, he spent most of his time sitting by this window.
It was the only place from which he could see the sea of flowers in the greenhouse, where butterflies danced from time to time.
Those butterflies looked exactly like the birthmark on A-Jiu’s shoulder.