Chapter 36 She seduced me.

In the afternoon, Achan went to the hunting shop and bought three Boiling Blood Grasses. This herb is usually used to refine Blood Activation Pills, which are pills given to low-level cultivators to quickly stimulate their internal potential.

The effect of Boiling Blood Grass is to allow the medicinal properties of the pill to be absorbed into the body as quickly as possible.

In addition to the Boiling Blood Grass, she also bought a piece of Fragrant Root, the root of a flower, yellowish-brown in color and about the size of a baby's fist. With just a little juice, it would neutralize the unique smell of the Boiling Blood Grass, making it impossible to distinguish the ingredients while retaining its medicinal properties.

The two special materials were not expensive, costing only twenty taels of silver in total, and they could be received immediately without waiting.

The transaction went more smoothly than expected, and Achan was in a good mood. When she left the West Market, she even bought five sugar cakes at the entrance.

After buying her things, she saw that it was still early, so she decided to go to Tianjie Street to pick up the clothes she had ordered earlier.

Ji Chan's mother's dowry included a shop on Tianjie Street, which was rented out to open a clothing workshop. The workshop has become increasingly famous in the capital over the years. A while ago, when A Chan signed a new lease agreement with the workshop's manager, she also ordered a few new clothes there.

The shopkeeper gave her a considerable discount, and Ah Chan didn't hesitate to spend money, ordering five sets of new clothes.

The journey from the West Market to the Tianjie Clothing Workshop wasn't very far, and Achan walked there.

As she walked through the Heavenly Street, she suddenly saw a group of Mingjing Guards riding dragon-blood horses galloping towards her.

Pedestrians on the street quickly made way for her. Achan was a little slow to react, but she quickly retreated to the side of the road.

Unexpectedly, the leader stopped his horse when he reached her side: "Miss Ji?"

Achan looked up at the person on horseback and saw that it was Jiang Qianhu, whom she had met several times before.

"Greetings, Lord Jiang." Achan greeted him, then asked with some curiosity, "Is Lord Jiang going out of the city on official business?"

“Yes, someone spotted a tiger demon in the mountains near Beijing. I’m going to take a look,” Jiang Kai replied casually.

Achan feigned a look of horror: "Is the person who discovered the tiger demon alright?"

“It’s nothing, a bunch of idle noble children found it.” Jiang Kai seemed to remember something, and added, “Oh right, Xue Zhao was in that group too.”

His master had broken ties with the Marquis of Jinyang's mansion over this Miss Ji, so they, as his subordinates, naturally had to find out who was in the mansion, as they would need them sooner or later.

So when those noble sons came to the Mingjing Division in a panic to report the case, he recognized Xue Zhao at a glance.

Ah Chan immediately changed her attitude: "Oh dear, it's such a pity that nothing happened."

Jiang Kai laughed heartily, cupped his hands in greeting to A Chan, and said, "Miss Ji, please take care on your journey. I'll be going now."

"Hey, wait a minute." Achan called out to Jiang Kai, who was about to leave, and handed him a bag of sugar cakes she was carrying. "These are sugar cakes I just bought. Give them to Commander Jiang so he can have some as provisions on his journey."

Jiang Kai didn't stand on ceremony, grabbing the oil paper package with his large, fan-like hand: "Then thank you, Miss Ji. If I run into that brat again, I'll beat him up for you."

"Then it's settled." Achan smiled and watched Jiang Kai ride away.

As Achan walked to the outside of the clothing workshop, before she even entered, she heard a man's voice from inside: "Bring out a few sets of your ready-made clothes."

This clothing workshop serves both male and female guests, but it has two rooms, east and west. You can go to the inner room to select materials and take measurements, so you won't be offended.

Achan didn't take the matter to heart and stepped inside.

Once inside, she discovered a group of young men standing in the hall. They looked extremely disheveled, their expensive clothes were almost all dirty and torn, as if they had just fled from somewhere.

She wondered if it was really such a coincidence that she had just heard Jiang Kai say that several noble young men had encountered a tiger demon, and then she met them here?

With just a glance, Achan spotted Xue Zhao standing among the group.

It really was them.

When she looked over, Xue Zhao's slightly gloomy gaze was also looking at her.

Just then, the shopkeeper walked over and blocked Xue Zhao's view.

"Gentlemen, please wait a moment while I go and fetch the new clothes." The innkeeper, who was receiving the male guests, led them to the west room with a beaming smile.

Achan didn't look at them anymore, turned around and said to the shopkeeper who was greeting the female guests, "Shopkeeper, I've come to pick up my new clothes."

The female shopkeeper recognized Achan and her voice softened: "Miss Ji's new clothes are ready. Please go to the inner room to change. If there are any parts that don't fit, we will make alterations for you."

Achan readily agreed.

She changed into all five outfits in the east room without any problems. Every time she changed, the shopkeeper would praise her, never repeating himself. Ah Chan couldn't help but think that there was definitely a reason for her success.

After she changed out of her clothes, the shopkeeper wrapped up the new clothes and kindly asked if she needed a carriage. Ah Chan naturally agreed.

When the carriage arrived, she came out of the inner room and saw that Xue Zhao and the others had changed into new clothes and come out as well. However, there was another person, Xue Mingtang, in the group.

Achan glanced at them, thinking to herself, "The Xue family really is a persistent ghost."

Xue Mingtang also saw Achan, but did not react.

He came to pick up Xue Zhao after receiving the news. Xue Zhao chose to buy clothes here simply because this shop used to nominally belong to his mother, and all of their family's clothes were made here.

Not long after, the shop fell into Ji Chan's hands.

Xue Zhao was naturally dissatisfied with this matter, but after being taught a lesson by Bai Xiuming last time, he had at least learned to restrain himself and did not say anything unpleasant to A Chan, but deliberately ignored her.

After watching Achan leave in the carriage, Xue Zhao walked to Xue Mingtang's side and whispered, "Uncle, Mother has been sick for several days because of her. Do we really want to see her continue to be so smug?"

Xue Mingtang narrowed his eyes slightly. He had been keeping an eye on Ji Chan for some time and discovered that she and Bai Xiuming had not been in contact for nearly a month.

Although it's unclear how Ji Chan won over Bai Xiuming, their relationship is clearly not yet at the level that Sister thinks.

Ji Chan must be dealt with, and we must act before she and Bai Xiuming have any deeper entanglement.

Xue Mingtang was still hesitant at first, but recently he found an excellent excuse.

It seems he needs to find a way to drive the rampaging zombie back to Changpingfang, so that it will be easier to create an accident.

Ah Chan had no idea that someone was eyeing her so covetously.

After returning home, she dried the boiled blood grass she had bought on the stove with the fire burning, while on the other side she ground up the root of the fragrant plant and repeatedly dripped the squeezed juice onto the boiled blood grass.

After being processed for more than an hour, the Boiling Blood Grass was dried out, and the faint bloody smell that naturally clung to the leaves completely dissipated.

Achan checked the dryness of the Boiling Blood Grass, and satisfied, took them off and ground them into powder in a millstone.

Then, various spices for making calming incense were selected from the cabinet, ground into powder, mixed together, and finally, dragon bone powder was added and stirred evenly.

Several powders mixed together emit a faint fragrance of winter plum blossoms, not strong, but refreshing and pleasant.

This incense powder is perfect for making incense seals. Although it's a bit wasteful, the effect will definitely be excellent. Achan wrapped up the incense powder and waited for Zhao Wenyue to come and pick it up the day after tomorrow.

On the appointed day, Zhao Wenyue didn't arrive at Achan's shop until after noon.

She had just had a fight with that old hag from the Xue family before leaving home, and was in a bad mood. When she got to the shop, she intended to take the face powder and leave immediately, but was stopped by Achan.

"Cousin, do you know how to make incense seals?" Achan asked.

Zhao Wenyue nodded: "I've learned a little."

"That's good." Achan handed her the packaged incense powder. "This incense powder can be used five times. Just light it before going to bed each night. However, this incense is specially formulated for Lord Xue's symptoms. If you don't have insomnia, it would be best for you to sleep in a separate room from Lord Xue for the next few days."

Zhao Wenyue blushed slightly; she didn't sleep in the same room as Xue Mingtang anyway.

The old woman from the Xue family said that she was just a concubine and could not live with her son, so she insisted that she move to another side courtyard.

Zhao Wenyue was naturally dissatisfied. When she first entered the Xue family, she had several arguments with the old woman over this matter.

However, she couldn't tell Achan any of this. After taking the perfume powder, she gave Achan the prepared silver and left in a hurry.

After receiving the perfume powder, Zhao Wenyue did not immediately return to the Xue family. Instead, she went to a well-known spice shop near the Xue family. After entering the shop, she immediately asked the shop assistant to call out the owner.

"Miss, would you like to buy perfume powder?" the spice shop owner asked gently.

"Can you test whether the ingredients in the face powder are appropriate?" Zhao Wenyue asked.

The shop owner paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "Of course."

"Could you check if there's anything wrong with this bag of face powder?"

Since Xue Mingtang's safety was at stake, Zhao Wenyue was extremely careful. Although Ji Chan said she was only doing this business with her for the money, she still had to be cautious, after all, Xue Lang was her family.

The shopkeeper smelled the bag of incense powder again and again, then took out some powder and put it on the incense burner to test the scent. Finally, he smiled and said to Zhao Wenyue, "Miss, don't worry. This is just a calming incense with a delicate fragrance. The person who made this perfume has very good taste."

"Is there a problem with the face powder?"

"It's not that there's no problem. The spices used are a bit too strong. It might have a miraculous effect on people with insomnia, but it's best for ordinary people not to use it."

The shopkeeper's words were exactly what Ji Chan had told her before, and Zhao Wenyue finally felt relieved after hearing this.

That evening, when Xue Mingtang returned to his room from his mother's, he smelled a faint fragrance. Zhao Wenyue, dressed in a thin dress, was sitting on a low table by the window, making incense sticks.

Xue Mingtang walked over and took a look: "What is this?"

Zhao Wenyue softened her voice: "This is a calming incense I bought especially for my husband. You haven't been sleeping well these past few days, and I've heard that this incense powder is very effective."

Xue Mingtang didn't refuse, but asked, "Where did you buy the calming incense?"

Zhao Wenyue immediately replied, "I bought it from a nearby spice shop. Does it smell nice?"

She did buy two kinds of scented powder at that spice shop today, but neither of them were calming incense.

Although her husband never talked to her about Ji Chan, she felt that the Xue family must have some resentment towards Ji Chan, so it was best not to mention in front of him that the spices were bought from Ji Chan.

Xue Mingtang leaned closer and took a sniff. He really liked the smell, so he nodded and said, "It smells good."

Zhao Wenyue finished making the incense sticks, lit the incense powder with incense sticks, and put the lid of the incense burner on top.

Wisps of smoke rose from the incense burner, and soon the whole room was filled with a faint fragrance of plum blossoms.

After Zhao Wenyue left, Xue Mingtang leaned against the headboard, thinking about the arrangements he had made recently.

He needs to catch that zombie as soon as possible. This case has dragged on for too long. Although the higher-ups haven't urged him because no one has died, if it continues to be delayed, he'll probably be seen as incompetent in Yan Liru's eyes.

Recently, he has tracked down the whereabouts of the zombie, but he needs someone's help to drive it to Changping Ward. Perhaps Lord Yan can send someone to help him?

Normally, he would be unable to sleep at night just thinking about this case, but today he felt his eyelids gradually getting heavy.

Xue Mingtang lay back on the bed, closed his eyes, and quickly fell asleep.

The incense powder in the incense burner was burning slowly, and the scent of dragon bone powder, catalyzed by the boiling blood grass, gradually seeped into Xue Mingtang's limbs and bones, but he was completely unaware of it.

The next day, Xue Mingtang had a good night's sleep and felt refreshed.

After getting up, he glanced at the incense burner on the low table and saw that all the incense powder inside had burned out.

He couldn't help but think that since the incense powder was so effective, perhaps he could light another incense burner tonight.

Upon arriving at the Ministry of Justice, Xue Mingtang went to Yan Liru to demand the release of the prisoner, only to be told that Lord Yan had taken sick leave that day. He was surprised; how could Lord Yan have suddenly fallen ill?

Yesterday evening, at the Yan residence.

After Fang Yu's funeral, Old Wu, who was sent by the Marquis of Zhenbei to protect her, disappeared.

It's unclear whether he went to apologize to the Marquis of Zhenbei or fled out of fear of punishment.

Yan Liru didn't care about this matter. Fang Yu's case had already been made airtight, and even if his father-in-law came back, it would be difficult for him to say anything.

Moreover, his father-in-law cared more about his own bloodline than about Fang Yu. Now that Cheng'er had taken over the family line, Fang Yu was no longer so irreplaceable.

The mansion is much more comfortable to live in now that Fang Yu is no longer here.

These past few days, Yan Liru had been quite exhausted from trying to appear heartbroken in front of others. Before dinner, he took a short nap on the couch for half an hour, and when he woke up, he found the room quiet.

"Someone come here!" Yan Liru called out.

"What are your orders, sir?" the maid waiting outside asked immediately.

"Where is Ru Hui?"

"Miss Ru Hui went to the main kitchen to make some snacks for the master half an hour ago. Judging by the time, she should be back soon."

The maid also found it strange. The main kitchen wasn't too far from the master's courtyard, but it was through the garden. Could she possibly get lost?

Yan Liru waited in the room for a quarter of an hour, but when Ru Hui still hadn't returned, he left the courtyard and headed towards the main kitchen.

Now that Fang Yu is gone, even if he shows concern for Ru Hui, no one in the mansion dares to say a word.

It wasn't completely dark yet. As Yan Liru walked through the garden, he passed by two artificial hills and suddenly heard the rustling sound of fabric rubbing together.

He frowned slightly and stopped walking.

Once the footsteps stopped, the sounds from behind the artificial hill became even more unrestrained, and the sound of clothes being torn could even be heard.

Yan Liru was still wondering who was so bold when he suddenly heard a man yell "Ah!" followed by a sharp sound that shattered the silence.

"Help--"

As soon as the sound rang out, the maids and servants who heard it nearby rushed over, but Yan Liru was the first to react.

Yan Liru strode around to the back of the artificial hill and found Yan Cheng, who was grabbing a woman by the neck and about to force himself on her, in a cave that the craftsmen had deliberately made.

"Yan Cheng, what are you doing?" Yan Liru's face was ashen.

Yan Cheng turned his head and saw that the person who came was his father, and his expression changed drastically.

He quickly released the woman who was choking him, turned around, and asked in a trembling voice, "Father, what are you doing here?"

Yan Liru did not answer, but simply commanded, "Come out."

Yan Cheng stood there motionless until the woman behind him, whose shirt was torn and revealed most of her snow-white shoulder, was exposed.

It was none other than Ru Hui.

When Ru Hui's lifeless eyes saw Yan Liru, a glimmer of light seemed to return, and she trembled as she cried out, "Master, please save me... Young Master, he... he... Waaah..."

Ru Hui cried so hard that she was heartbroken and swayed unsteadily, unable to stand up, and fell straight to the ground.

Yan Liru was filled with a mixture of heartache and anger upon seeing this scene, and his face was distorted with rage.

His gaze toward Yan Cheng carried a hint of ferocity.

Yan Cheng also sensed his father's anger, and while backing away, he stammered, "Father, please listen to my explanation. It was her, she seduced me on her own initiative. I really didn't mean to."

He pointed at Ru Hui, who was cowering in the corner, and tried to pin all the blame on her.

He thought Yan Liru was angry because his mother's seven-day mourning period was not over yet, and he was being intimate with the maid during the mourning period. Little did he know that Yan Liru was actually concerned about Ru Hui herself.

"You still dare to argue!" Yan Liru was furious. He dragged Yan Cheng out of the artificial cave and kicked him in the stomach before Yan Cheng could say anything.

Yan Cheng was kicked two meters away, but Yan Liru was still not appeased. He looked around, found a piece of wood on the ground, and swung it at Yan Cheng.

Yan Cheng, however, was unaware of the seriousness of the situation and kept begging for mercy: "Don't hit me anymore, Father. I know I was wrong. I will never do it again. It was really this maid who seduced me."

When the servants of the Yan family heard the noise and rushed over, they saw their young master covered in blood from the waist down, and the master carrying a piece of wood stained with blood.

Yan Cheng curled up on the ground, clutching his leg and wailing incessantly, repeatedly shouting, "My leg is broken! Go get a doctor!"

The steward arrived a little late and was unaware of what had happened, only knowing that the young master had angered the master and had his leg broken.

His expression changed when he saw Ru Hui emerge from behind the artificial hill, her clothes disheveled, and his gaze turned to the expressionless Yan Liru.

The steward sighed inwardly and told someone to fetch the doctor.

Yan Cheng groaned as he was carried away by two servants. Yan Liru walked towards Ru Hui and was about to touch her hand when he saw her suddenly take several steps back, as if she was terrified.

The maids and servants who hadn't left yet all looked at Ru Hui with strange eyes. Some looked at her with pity, while others, like Yan Cheng, looked at her with ill intentions.

In their hearts, Ru Hui may be innocent, but after the matter was blown up, Ru Hui became the culprit who sowed discord between Yan's father and son.

She might even be branded as someone who seduced her master.

Having gained such a reputation within the household, how will he establish himself in the future?

In the past, they might have thought that the master would take Ru Hui as a concubine, but now that the young master has seen her body, how could the master still want her?

The maids who were usually on good terms with Ru Hui felt sorry for her, but none of them went forward to comfort her.

The Yan residence was deathly silent at night.

After the doctor treated Yan Cheng's leg injury with medicine, it was fixed and bandaged with a wooden board. Because of the leg pain, he couldn't sleep very well.

In the middle of the night, he vaguely heard the door creak, as if someone had come in.

He opened his eyes and vaguely saw the slender figure of a woman in the darkness.

"Who?" Yan Cheng asked.

It wasn't until the woman walked to his bedside that Yan Cheng recognized her face. It was the same woman who had seduced him with her eyes in the garden during the day, but who had caused his father to break his leg!

"It's you," Yan Cheng said hatefully. "You bitch, you dare to come here?"

Ru Hui looked down at Yan Cheng: "Young Master Yan, we meet again."

"What?" Yan Cheng was puzzled by her strange words. What did she mean by "we met again"?

“I have always admired Madam Yan for raising such a filial son as Young Master Yan,” Ru Hui said slowly. “So I think that if Madam Yan were gone, Young Master Yan would be very happy to go down and keep her company.”

Yan Cheng then realized something was wrong and was about to call for help when someone covered his mouth. The hand was icy cold and incredibly strong, leaving him powerless to struggle.

Ru Hui looked at Yan Cheng, then put a finger to her lips and whispered, "Shh—"