Chapter 22: The Snipe Pecking at Its Flesh

"Nonsense."

The lamplight was dim, illuminating only the two jade cups on the table. The jeweled cups formed a dreamlike sea of ​​clouds, a fairyland, with celestial beings depicted in gold thread and mortal drinkers toasting to each other in joy.

"Sister, you are wrongly accusing your brother." Ji Zhuang used a golden spoon to stir the wick of the lamp. The flickering flames and the shadows of the gems distorted the immortal's leisurely and comfortable face into an ominous and solemn scrutiny.

"It's not me who asked them to kill him." Ji Zhuang pinched the immortal's eyes and drank the wine in the cup.

"Let's end this quickly before it gets out of hand." Wu Zhuang's voice was hoarse.

"Since my sister is still ill, please don't worry about such mundane matters." Ji Zhuang poured a second glass of wine. "It's just the death of a few lowly people. Who dares to blame you or me for this?"

"It's you, not me," Wu Zhuang said. "Let this matter be resolved as soon as possible, otherwise..."

Wu Zhuang's voice was so soft, so soft that only Ji Zhuang could hear it. Ji Zhuang remained silent, a flash of fire igniting a fierce glint in his only remaining eye.

Then, from the darkness came two laughs from Ji Zhuang: "Sister, you are just saying that out of anger."

Wu Zhuang sighed and softened his tone, "A thousand-mile dam can be breached by a single ant. You and I are now completely dependent on the Emperor's favor. If word of this were to reach the Emperor, we would be nothing more than two lives that could be discarded at any moment."

"Sister, you're too modest. What the Emperor thinks is up to you." Xi Zhuang paused, "I'll tell them not to kill anyone."

Wu Zhuang pushed the wine glass in front of Ji Zhuang and said, "This wine is strong. I'm sick and can't handle it. Please drink it for me."

A pot of wine is emptied, life and death are decided, and the conversation shifts to other things.

"What does Jiang Jinhan want with those one hundred mages?"

"No matter what he does, if he gives enough gold, the man is his."

As Xi Zhuang spoke, he bent down to pick up the wine jar on the ground. The fat squeezed the air out of his lungs, and his red face turned purple in an instant.

He had no choice but to straighten up, gasping for breath, and swearing.

"Send someone who can be used," Wu Zhuang ordered.

Xi Zhuang was stunned for a while, until a burp came up and went out.

He clapped his legs and laughed, "Sister, you are indeed very smart. I have long wanted to develop vassal states in the North. You are really just handing me a pillow when I am dozing off."

Wu Zhuang laughed and said, "Jiang Hu can't prevent his brother from doing something stupid, no matter how many precautions he takes."

"It's called a man who knows the current situation is a hero." Ji Zhuang grabbed the bell and called in the young eunuch who was waiting outside. "Who the emperor appoints as the crown prince is always up to you, sister."

"Jiang Jinhan's background is not as good as Jiang Jue's, nor his sisters'. If he wants to be emperor, he still has to cling to his sisters' thighs."

The more Xizhuang spoke, the more excited he became. He grabbed the wine glass and poured it into his mouth. He kicked the young eunuch twice, asking him to fill it up quickly.

Compared to him, Wu Zhuang was as calm as a wooden doll.

"But an adult prince is not as easy to control as a child."

"The Imperial Medical Bureau told me he didn't have many years left to live." Ji Zhuang held up two fingers and made a circle. "Being pierced through by such a thick arrow shaft, he's incredibly lucky to have made it back to Dadu alive."

"He may not even live as long as the emperor. When the time comes, we will just have to find a crown prince." The two wine glasses in Xi Zhuang's hands clinked together, and the sound was crisp.

"The most urgent task is to quell the unrest and prevent others from taking advantage of the opportunity to cause trouble," Wu Zhuang warned.

"I know, I know." Ji Zhuang threw the wine glass aside. "But I must find the one who ran away and cut her into pieces. And that wild girl named Feifei, I will definitely teach her a lesson!"

"She is currently in Yunyang Marquis' Mansion, so just let Nangong Shao take action."

"Let her kill two birds with one stone."

*

The next day.

The bloodstains in the streets have been cleaned up, and the eunuchs and mages at the city gates have disappeared without a trace.

Everything seems to be back to normal.

Only the police who patrolled the streets all day realized what was happening.

The street corners and alleys that were once occupied by beggars were now occupied by groups of idle men. They stared at every young woman who passed by, and surrounded the lonely and frail ones.

"Captain Ji and his men captured a few, but it was no use." Gan Tang vividly described to Qiu Xuan what he had seen and heard. "They insisted that they were asked by the sorcerer to find the escaped Wuzhu Liu."

"It seems that they won't give up until they find Liu Hui." Qiu Xuan said softly.

"This group of people never lack excuses to cause trouble. They just deserve a beating." Feifei frowned.

"Those believers, even though the witches have ordered not to perform sacrifices without permission, but..."

Qiu Xuan said in a deep voice, "As long as someone instigates them, or some omen occurs, they will do anything to make themselves feel at ease."

For example, killing people.

"What else did Ji Tiao say?"

"Captain Ji also said they've already figured out the cause of death," Gan Tang recounted Ji Tiao's words vividly. "The man in the family murdered his parents and children. A local thug, who had been eyeing the family's wealth, took advantage of the situation and killed him as well, taking away the property. The perpetrator was a fool, too. The gold items were stained with blood. The officers followed the marks on the ground and found him at the door, catching him red-handed."

“That’s actually the case.”

"Also, luckily, the two sisters in this family were helping out at the pharmacy and hadn't been home for a few days, so they were able to escape this disaster."

Qiu Xuan pointed to the plate of food on the table and said, "You've been tired for most of the day, go play."

"They're all mine?" Gan Tang's eyes lit up, but she still said, "Madam, these are given to you by Captain Ji. Most people can't get the pastries from Xiangfulou."

"No matter how rare it is, it's just a few cakes," Qiu Xuan said with a smile, "If you like it, take it."

Gan Tang ran out happily with a plate of snacks.

"This Ji Tiao is quite capable." Feifei teased while holding a cup of plum tea.

"Drink your tea."

Jiang Jue is thoughtful. When they met yesterday, Feifei told him that she had no appetite. Today, Xu Sheren delivered all the dishes according to Feifei's order.

"I think you should drink some tea and calm down. You've gotten yourself into a lot of trouble, haven't you?"

Feifei naturally refers to Liu Hui.

"At that time, we couldn't just leave her alone."

The change in the goals of the witch's followers from yesterday to today indicates that the orders they received have changed. From making a big deal out of this, to finding Liu Hui.

There is no wall that is impenetrable, and the gang of thugs sent out by the village to look for people are the best at asking questions and finding people.

It would be best to get Liu Hui out before they lock onto Yunyang Marquis Mansion.

However, Qiu Xuan hadn't gained nothing. Liu Hui had explained many things, such as how Wu Zhuang mainly stayed by the emperor's side and never left the palace, while Ji Zhuang was attached to the mundane world, enjoying food, drink, and entertainment.

Everything outside the palace, including the selection of wizards, was done personally by his younger brother Ji Zhuang. He was also happy to appear in front of believers and enjoy their worship.

"I was thinking," Feifei said thoughtfully, holding the bowl, "If we get rid of the shaman Zhuang, won't everything be fine?"