Xiangyang City temporarily calmed down.

Lizheng Hall closed its doors. Whether by coincidence or because the Ye family’s silver had taken effect, over the following two or three days, no citizens came to make trouble at Lizheng Hall’s entrance or at the Ye family’s gate.

The Ye family had settled down, but Tong Zhiyang, the Prefect of Xiangyang, was now encountering difficulties.

“What? My wife and young master have disappeared?” Tong Zhiyang slammed the table and shot to his feet.

He and Madam Tong in the prefectural residence, his first wife, appeared to “treat each other with respect,” but everyone in Xiangyang City knew he feared his wife. Tong Zhiyang was even more aware that without his wife’s family’s support, he probably wouldn’t have been able to hold his position as prefect. Therefore, over the years, Tong Zhiyang hadn’t dared disobey his wife’s orders.

However, he ultimately couldn’t restrain his loneliness. Though he didn’t visit pleasure houses, he kept a mistress in a residence on the outskirts of Xiangyang City. The mistress was obedient and pleasant, gentle and considerate—far more lovable than the tigress at home. Tong Zhiyang privately had his servants address the mistress as “Madam” as well. He was indeed devoted to this mistress. After all these years, despite the great risk, he kept her by his side. Especially since his legitimate wife bore him no sons while the mistress gave birth to his heir, Tong Zhiyang was even more reluctant to abandon the mother and child.

He had always kept this pair extremely well hidden. Apart from his trusted confidants, no one else knew. Otherwise, he couldn’t have concealed them from the world for so many years. Now, suddenly hearing news of the mother and child’s disappearance, he nearly cried out in shock.

“What happened? Did He Shi discover them?” He Shi was the prefect’s wife. At this thought, Tong Zhiyang broke out in a cold sweat all over. If that venomous woman learned of this mother and child’s existence, forget the mistress—even his son might be murdered.

That was his only male heir!

The confidant hurriedly shook his head in denial. “No! Master, we don’t know who the other party is, but they left a letter saying they’re borrowing Madam and the young master for a few days and will return them after some time.”

“How outrageous!” Tong Zhiyang flew into a rage. “What does he take my people for? Merchandise?” Tong Zhiyang demanded sternly, “What do they want? Money? Or do they have a grudge?”

“This…” The confidant couldn’t explain. If they wanted money, the letter didn’t mention silver at all. If it was revenge, they could have killed them on the spot—why keep them? It seemed like blackmail, but for what purpose was unclear. Most importantly, this mother and child’s existence was so hidden—how did these people discover them? Could there be an informant who leaked the information?

“Snatching people in my territory—I see they’re tired of living!” Tong Zhiyang snorted coldly and ordered, “Search! Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find Madam and the young master for me!”

The confidant acknowledged the order, then saw Tong Zhiyang pause before continuing, “Keep your actions discreet. Don’t let He Shi discover anything.”

In the end, he was throwing caution to the wind.

…

Jiang Li learned that Tong Zhiyang’s mistress Ruan Suqin and her son had been settled from Ye Mingyu’s lips.

Ye Mingxuan and Ye Minghui still hadn’t been able to return to the residence. However, perhaps because Jiang Li had invoked Jiang Yuanbai’s name, Tong Zhiyang didn’t dare treat them with anything but courtesy. When Guan Shi and Zhuo Shi went again, the gatekeepers no longer gave them cold looks but let them in to see Ye Mingxuan and Ye Minghui.

Though the two were confined to cells, they were relatively clean and uninjured. After inquiring about what had happened these past days and learning that Jiang Li had been holding down the fort, they were surprised and couldn’t help sighing with emotion. They had originally thought an official family’s pampered young miss knew nothing of worldly affairs, but unexpectedly, in this critical moment, it was Jiang Li who had saved the Ye family. Their previous wariness and distance toward Jiang Li immediately dissipated by more than half.

The two instructed that during this time, the Ye family shouldn’t act rashly—they should remain calm and wait for people from the Weaving Bureau to arrive in Xiangyang. However, they needed to guard against someone scheming behind the scenes. If the Ye family had truly been schemed against this time, that person definitely wouldn’t let things rest and would find another opportunity.

After Guan Shi and Zhuo Shi returned, they relayed everything to the Ye family and conveyed Ye Minghui and his brother’s gratitude to Jiang Li. Jiang Li accepted with a smile. Perhaps it was true that adversity reveals true character—after going through hardship together, the Ye family’s attitude toward Jiang Li became much warmer.

Even Ye Rufeng no longer gave Jiang Li cold looks, though he wasn’t as amiable as Ye Jia’er.

However, because Ye Minghui and his brother were still away, Jiang Li’s meeting with Old Madam Ye had to be postponed. If Old Madam Ye learned that the Ye family was currently in danger, her heart wouldn’t be able to bear it, so everyone tacitly agreed to keep this secret.

After everyone else had dispersed, Ye Mingyu found an opportunity to speak privately with Jiang Li. “The matter has been handled.”

“Can Uncle Mingyu guarantee they absolutely won’t be caught by Tong Zhiyang?” Jiang Li asked.

“Of course.” Ye Mingyu said, “My skill at hiding people—how could he find them so easily? Besides, Tong Zhiyang is afraid his wife will learn of this matter and doesn’t dare search openly. That makes it even more convenient.”

Jiang Li smiled. “Then I must thank Uncle Mingyu.”

“Thank me for what?” Ye Mingyu said. “This is Ye family business to begin with. If anything, we Ye family members should thank you.”

“We’re all family—no need for formalities.” Jiang Li smiled gently.

These words made Ye Mingyu feel extremely gratified. Yes, this clever and outstanding young girl was their Ye family’s niece. Just thinking about it made him feel fortunate. Otherwise, how could Tong Zhiyang’s household have such a sweet and lovely niece? It simply wasn’t meant to be.

As the two chatted, they walked to the mansion gate. The Ye residence was located on the most expensive land in Xiangyang City. This entire street was home to Xiangyang’s wealthiest families, so there were very few residences on the street, but each large estate was especially spacious, occupying considerable land.

At this moment, the faint sound of opera singing drifted over.

Jiang Li asked, “Is there an opera troupe here?”

Ye Mingyu gestured with his chin toward a nearby estate wall. “Newly moved in. Haven’t seen the master, but they must be an opera enthusiast. These past few days, people have been seen listening to opera inside. Probably just their hobby.” Ye Mingyu was unsurprised. Having roamed the martial world for many years, what strange habits hadn’t he seen? Listening to an opera troupe in one’s residence was already quite ordinary.

Hearing this, Jiang Li’s heart stirred. She immediately thought of something.

Ji Heng was currently in Xiangyang. This person who loved listening to opera, had money to buy an estate here, was mysterious—could it not be Ji Heng?

Never mind “could it not be”—Jiang Li stared at the green stone bricks of that courtyard wall and sighed inwardly. She could be eighty or ninety percent certain that the newly arrived master Ye Mingyu mentioned was Ji Heng.

Even if this was the most expensive land in Xiangyang City, Ji Heng had no need to move here specifically. With his status, what kind of fine estate couldn’t he find? Yet he chose to be just a wall away from the Ye family. It was really hard not to think that Ji Heng had come specifically for her.

Was this man trying to monitor her?

A surge of anger suddenly rose in Jiang Li’s heart. Until now, she knew that Ji Heng and Right Chancellor Prince Cheng weren’t as antagonistic as they appeared on the surface—they had an unclear relationship. But Ji Heng hadn’t clearly stated which side he would stand on. Her future enemy was Prince Cheng. If Ji Heng stood with Prince Cheng, her chances of success were pitifully small.

Why must one always be suppressed by greater power? Even becoming the current Chief Minister, one still had to bow one’s head, still had to hide and scheme? Or were all the corrupt officials in court colluding together, in cahoots with each other?

Her heart was ice cold, her eyes startlingly bright.

Ye Mingyu didn’t notice Jiang Li’s distress. He simply stretched and said to Jiang Li, “I still need to go instruct my brothers about some matters. Ah Li, just walk around the residence. If you’re bored, go find Jia’er. You two young ladies have more to talk about.”

Jiang Li nodded.

After Ye Mingyu rode away on horseback, Jiang Li didn’t immediately return to the residence. She stood at the gate, staring fixedly at that courtyard wall for a while, listening to the faint opera music drifting from within, then slowly took a step forward.

…

Unlike the Ye residence’s bright and spacious appearance, this neighboring estate’s entrance looked absolutely austere to an extreme degree. It was primarily black and white in color, with not even a lantern hanging at the gate. Jiang Li walked to the entrance and saw the gatekeeper was a rather delicate-looking young man.

Seeing this young man’s face, Jiang Li could confirm the master was indeed Ji Heng. Otherwise, whose gatekeeper could possess such looks? With such appearance, even placed in a male brothel, he would be outstanding.

Upon seeing Jiang Li approach, the gatekeeper said nothing and directly opened the large gate, assuming a welcoming posture and calling out “Second Miss Jiang,” as if he had long known Jiang Li would come to visit. Needless to say, this was again Ji Heng’s arrangement.

Jiang Li had never liked people who toyed with others’ hearts. Someone like Ji Heng, who held everything in the palm of his hand and could see through people’s hearts thoroughly—such a demon—she disliked even more. Therefore, rather than feeling pleased at being treated as an honored guest, she felt somewhat displeased.

After entering, a beautiful maid came to lead the way. Jiang Li saw that everywhere within this estate had no decorations—black bricks and white stones, austere to the extreme. It was hard to imagine someone as bewitchingly beautiful as Ji Heng would live here. But thinking about it again, it seemed quite fitting. His appearance and coloring could make poppies bloom in austerity. If beauty were added to beauty, it would be like the red dust of the mortal world—slightly frivolous.

Upon reaching the courtyard, she saw from afar that in the square courtyard, a high stage had actually been erected. On stage, someone with flowing eyes and gorgeous costumes was singing opera. Below the stage was only one audience member—a young man in red robes leaning on a long chair, his back relaxed, leisurely drinking tea.

The maid smiled. “My lord, Second Miss Jiang has arrived.”

Jiang Li walked forward slowly.

Ji Heng didn’t turn around, as if immersed in the opera, waiting until Jiang Li walked before him.

“The Duke has come all the way to Xiangyang to listen to opera.” Jiang Li said with a smile, her words perhaps sarcastic.

“They came on their own.” Ji Heng smiled carelessly. Jiang Li looked toward the stage and saw that though the female lead’s face was covered in oil paint making her features indistinguishable, her graceful figure and soft singing voice clearly identified her as the Little Peach Red who had performed at Jin Mantang’s banquet, singing “The Case of Jiu’er.”

How did Jin Mantang end up in Xiangyang? Jiang Li glanced at Little Peach Red on stage. She and the young male actors beside her sang continuously, but the emotion in her eyes was undoubtedly directed at Ji Heng.

Jiang Li suddenly understood. Ji Heng could make Jin Mantang perform at a place like Wangxian Tower, and Ji Heng could also make Jin Mantang, a theater troupe just establishing itself in the capital, famous. For Jin Mantang’s people, firmly grasping Ji Heng’s support would come much faster than diligently performing and carefully managing their business. As for Little Peach Red, such a powerful and influential patron, so young and so handsome—young girls were always easily captivated.

However… Jiang Li smiled faintly to herself. Before deciding to rely on Ji Heng, this great tree, they probably forgot what kind of person Ji Heng was. If only they had inquired about how the once-famous Xiangsi Troupe in the capital fell into disgrace, they wouldn’t have made such a rash decision.

Ji Heng was no kind-hearted person. He was ruthless and cunning, devious and vicious. Anyone who approached him with calculating intentions would probably end up calculated by him with nowhere to cry.

On stage, Little Peach Red was singing “Hearing the Bell at Sword Pass.” She was singing: “Truly a brokenhearted person hearing brokenhearted sounds! Such unforgiving bell sounds, such unforgiving rain. How can they match my inseverable longing, my inseverable feelings? Sprinkling on the window lattice, drop by drop striking one’s heart to pieces, shaking down leaves, sound by sound making my dreams impossible. Clang clang, the soul-startling sound rises from before the eaves, icy coldness, bone-chilling cold rises from beneath the bedding…”

Jiang Li looked at Ji Heng. “The Duke seems to enjoy listening to tragedies.”

First “The Case of Jiu’er,” now “Hearing the Bell at Sword Pass”—all such sorrowful and tragic operas. Could it be that Ji Heng couldn’t stand seeing others happy, even refusing to listen to happy operas?

“I don’t like watching comedies.” Ji Heng toyed with the folding fan in his hand and smiled. “Too fake.”

Jiang Li stared at him, momentarily at a loss for words. Ji Heng’s statement that comedies were too fake revealed some clues about his character.

What kind of person was he?

Casting these wild thoughts from her mind, Jiang Li said again, “I just didn’t expect the Duke to live near the Ye family.” She spoke half-jokingly, “Those who don’t know might think you came for me.”

“What if I said I did come for you?” Ji Heng asked in return.

Jiang Li was momentarily stunned.

A relaxed smile still hung at the corners of his lips, his eyes like amber of varying depths, passionate yet indifferent, more captivating than gold, jade, pearls, or gemstones, making one unable to stop.

“Then I can only keep a respectful distance.” Jiang Li said lightly.

Ji Heng laughed silently. He propped his chin with the fan handle, his gaze carrying a kind of wicked innocence. He said, “Second Miss Jiang truly understands the principle of protecting oneself wisely.”

“The weak seeking survival are always walking on thin ice.”

“Second Miss need not belittle yourself.” He narrowed his eyes. “The weak don’t set traps to lure the prey into the cage.”

Being with Ji Heng always involved verbal sparring, which wasn’t relaxing. Jiang Li was also very puzzled. He originally had nothing to do with her life, yet because of a series of coincidental events, they kept being drawn together. Now even avoiding him was impossible—he had already begun to suspect her.

She had to keep walking forward step by step.

Jiang Li smiled. “We’ve talked for so long—isn’t the Duke tired? Little Peach Red’s voice is worth a thousand gold pieces. Don’t let it go to waste.”

Her change of topic was extremely crude and forced, yet her attitude was natural and gentle, as if she was completely unaware. Ji Heng couldn’t help glancing at her again before turning his head with a smile. “Quite right.”

Seeing Ji Heng finally stop talking to Jiang Li and turn to look at her instead, Little Peach Red on stage immediately sang with even more vigor.

Watching this, Jiang Li found it amusing. They say the most skilled actors, to perform well, must immerse themselves in the role to capture the emotion. But Little Peach Red’s mouth was singing opera while her eyes clearly watched Ji Heng. This could be called absent-minded. However, this young lady’s devoted heart would probably fall to pieces like mud, because she didn’t know this beauty in red robes was accustomed to only being the observer of plays, never entering the play himself.

“Pitiful, your fragrant soul, a wisp scattered with the wind, yet making my blood and tears flow like rain in a thousand lines. Facing danger, eyes wide with fury, teeth grinding harshly, trembling jade body, pallid flower-like face.”

Little Peach Red sang on and on without stopping, the wind from her water sleeves also carrying a tragic meaning. Yet Jiang Li detected a trace of killing intent.

She thought she had misheard. This was genuinely a tragedy, the sorrowful and tragic singing voice was real, but Jiang Li, who had become especially sensitive to people’s subtle emotions, sensed a trace of imperceptible coldness within this sorrow.

She looked up at Little Peach Red.

Little Peach Red still carelessly sent tender and affectionate glances toward Ji Heng. Those eyes were full of charm, quite pitiful. Yet Jiang Li felt that the way Little Peach Red locked onto Ji Heng was exactly like a wild beast.

Her spine involuntarily straightened, her fingers quietly curling within her sleeves, as if she had caught the scent of some conspiracy.

“Eyes wide, unable to save you or take your place, grief-stricken, how can I repay you, how can I face you? Most heartbreaking, year after year when pear blossoms bloom, from now on, seeing pear blossoms brings sorrow.”

When singing the last word “sorrow,” Little Peach Red’s voice suddenly became sharp, making one frown involuntarily. Jiang Li’s heart tightened. Before she could react, she saw Little Peach Red, dressed in white opera costume, suddenly leap from the stage, water sleeves flying, a glint of silver in her palm, lunging straight at Ji Heng!

She was actually an assassin here to kill Ji Heng!

Before Jiang Li could cry out in alarm, she saw that the young male actors and old female role players who had just been performing with Little Peach Red on stage suddenly appeared from all directions, all fierce and malicious, nothing like their earlier captivating performance.

This Jin Mantang troupe was actually a front for assassins. The mastermind behind them must have understood Ji Heng well enough, knowing Ji Heng watched and listened to opera, so they set up this theater troupe—but what they staged was a Hongmen Banquet.

What an undeserved disaster!

Assassins attacked from all directions, and facing her was the murderously intense Little Peach Red. Jiang Li had nowhere to hide. Even though she wasn’t the target, Jiang Li knew perfectly well that once Ji Heng died, they wouldn’t spare her either. Moreover, blades and arrows had no eyes—even if Ji Heng didn’t die, accidentally killing her was entirely possible.

She had been reborn once, planning every step carefully—not to die here in such an absurd misunderstanding!

Jiang Li immediately reached for the whistle in her sleeve, but Little Peach Red’s martial arts were unexpectedly superb. She saw that hidden within the water sleeves were several daggers, already pressing close, a matter of life and death in an instant!

Just then.

Light flashed before her eyes. From an angle, a peony suddenly bloomed.

The dagger embedded itself in the brilliant peony, as if also stunned by this peony’s beauty, advancing no further.

Jiang Li looked carefully—it wasn’t any peony. It was Ji Heng’s folding fan. He had opened the fan, blocking Little Peach Red’s strike.

The next moment, she felt her body lighten. Ji Heng supported her back, pulling her backward. That beautiful gold-thread fan was positioned across his chest, revealing its stunning complete design.

Little Peach Red was also stunned.

Her dagger that could cut through iron like mud had been lightly blocked by that gorgeous folding fan, as if her attack was worthless. And the peony on the gold-thread fan, its petals curled and unfurled, exquisitely beautiful, seemed to mock her insignificance.

Jiang Li’s soul had yet to settle.

No matter how calm and composed she normally was, at this life-and-death moment, especially since today’s assassination attempt came so inexplicably, she couldn’t smile and face it as calmly as before.

The one smiling and facing it was Ji Heng.

He held the fan horizontally before him, his bright red robe trailing to the ground, falling beautifully. The sunlight outside dimmed, yet he appeared even more brilliant in the darkness, and even the peony on the fan seemed to be blooming desperately.

His hand loosely supported Jiang Li’s back. Jiang Li wasn’t as tall as him, so from afar, it looked like he had drawn her into his embrace. If he lowered his head, his chin would touch the top of Jiang Li’s head. Yet he didn’t glance at Jiang Li at all. His long, narrow phoenix eyes smiled gently, containing endless shimmering colors, gazing at Little Peach Red.

Jiang Li turned her head to look at Little Peach Red.

The woman whose face was covered in oil paint naturally showed no expression. Only her eyes were cold and hard as iron, no longer showing the graceful charm of when she sang opera.

“Who sent you?” Ji Heng asked softly.

His voice was also very gentle, as if facing a friend, or as if reluctant to disturb a delicate beauty, containing infinite tenderness.

Little Peach Red said nothing.

“Even if you don’t say it, I already know.” The smile at the corner of his mouth was faint, carrying a strange bewitchment. “If you tell me, I’ll let you end quickly.”

Jiang Li’s heart turned cold. To speak of such terrible things in such an intimate tone—this person was truly frightening.

Just then, looking at the actors gradually closing in around them, Jiang Li suddenly realized something. How could such a large estate have not a single guard visible? To say Ji Heng had no guards, she absolutely wouldn’t believe it.

As she was thinking this, Little Peach Red let out a cold snort, and together with the other actors around them, they all lunged at Ji Heng!

From all directions, all were formidable enemies. Neither fleeing nor staying seemed viable. Jiang Li steeled herself and simply threw herself to Ji Heng’s side. She believed that someone as cunning as Ji Heng would absolutely not wait around for death. There would be a way. But she also couldn’t embrace Ji Heng and leave her back to Little Peach Red—if Ji Heng used her as a human shield and pushed her out, that would be too unjust!

In a daze, she seemed to hear Ji Heng laugh. Then Jiang Li felt her body suddenly move with Ji Heng. She saw behind Ji Heng, an actor with a white-painted face raising a sword and stabbing straight toward Ji Heng’s back.

“Watch out!” Jiang Li cried out in alarm.

This wasn’t at all because she was kind-hearted and couldn’t bear to see bloodshed, but because she was thinking of herself. If Ji Heng died here, she wouldn’t survive either. Just as she was about to reach into her sleeve again, she saw the white-faced man with the sword suddenly freeze, as if someone had struck his pressure points. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he slowly fell backward.

Through his chest, a silver arrow had pierced clean through.

“Rustle rustle.” Jiang Li followed the direction and looked up to see that at the four corners of the estate’s eaves, black-clothed guards had appeared at some point. They held bows and arrows, faces expressionless, hands never stopping, simply shooting arrows continuously with “swish swish swish” sounds.

The courtyard immediately filled with one scream after another.

But these screams were much quieter than ordinary people’s, so the neighbors nearby didn’t notice. Jiang Li guessed the Jin Mantang people were all death warriors, specially trained people whose dying sounds were quieter than others.

Little Peach Red had been single-mindedly trying to assassinate Ji Heng. She never expected Ji Heng had already made arrangements outside. Seeing her companions fall one by one, her heart grew uneasy, yet her eyes had also turned red with killing intent, and she rushed at Ji Heng recklessly.

Jiang Li sighed inwardly.

She couldn’t see Little Peach Red’s expression clearly, but from her actions, Little Peach Red’s heart was in chaos. However, no one could have anticipated this. That the Jin Mantang people were death warriors here to assassinate Ji Heng was surprising enough—that Ji Heng had prepared an ambush in advance was even more surprising. Little Peach Red had performed exquisitely, but she didn’t expect that Ji Heng had seen many plays and could clearly distinguish true feelings from false intentions.

The Jin Mantang people thought they were performing a play for Ji Heng to watch, but Ji Heng truly treated Jin Mantang as a play.

That beautiful, languid and bewitching young man moved with particular elegance. His movements weren’t as swift and fierce as Little Peach Red’s, but he was like a hunting venomous beast, unhurriedly approaching his prey. Jiang Li couldn’t even see them fighting—she only felt that Ji Heng effortlessly used that gold-thread fan to break the dagger in Little Peach Red’s hand.

He didn’t hesitate to break Little Peach Red’s four limbs and dislocate her jaw.

Jiang Li watched, her whole body turning cold.

Even though she had died once, even though she had been tortured by Princess Yongning and Shen Yurun, someone like Ji Heng who felt nothing, who even seemed to enjoy being in such a bloody environment—Jiang Li couldn’t be as comfortable in it as he was. She only wanted to leave.

Little Peach Red had been subdued. The jade-like beauty now lay on the ground without any dignity, like a pig or dog ready for slaughter. In her current state, she couldn’t even commit suicide.

Ji Heng walked forward two steps, approaching Little Peach Red. Little Peach Red’s body was covered in blood and filth, yet not a speck of dust touched Ji Heng’s gorgeous robe hem.

He remained high and lofty, remained the observer who consumed no mortal food, only watching plays.

“I gave you a chance.” Ji Heng bent down slightly, as if very sympathetic, speaking softly, “What a pity you refused it.”

A trace of fear suddenly flashed through Little Peach Red’s eyes. Jiang Li saw it clearly.

Even death warriors’ final support lay in their fearlessness of death, but fearlessness of death didn’t mean fearlessness of things beyond death. When they lost their final trump card—the ability to end their own lives at will—what they had to face was something ten thousand times more terrible than death itself.

This had been the truth since ancient times.

Jiang Li recognized the guard called Wen Ji walking over and saying to Ji Heng, “My lord, we’ve kept ten alive.”

The fear in Little Peach Red’s eyes intensified. Under these circumstances, Ji Heng could still keep ten people completely alive—this was truly too terrifying. Most importantly, what did ten survivors mean? It meant more opportunities to exploit. Human nature couldn’t withstand testing. Ten death warriors in a private prison could reveal far more truth than one death warrior.

Ji Heng wouldn’t let this opportunity pass.

“Your opera was performed quite well.” Ji Heng smiled. “What a pity.”

Author’s Notes:

Only the peony is the true national beauty—when flowers bloom, they move the capital!

I absolutely love the Duke using the peony gold-thread fan as a weapon! So handsome!