Life hanging by a thread

"Ah Jin, are you really not going to let me go to the estate with you?" Jiang Jin sat in the carriage, finding Wei Shu's reluctant words somewhat amusing. Lou Xuan had invited her to the estate, and Jiang Jin couldn't refuse, so she simply used the excuse of soaking in the hot springs to meet with Lou Xuan.

"Don't worry, I'll be back tomorrow. It's just one night, not a month. General Wei, please bear with me today." Jiang Jin decisively lowered the curtain and instructed Zhou Cong to drive the carriage. She was afraid that if she delayed any longer, Wei Shu would have to come along. Abei sat with Jiang Jin on the small couch.

"Madam, I've heard that the general's estate outside the city has a hot spring with beauty-enhancing effects. It will surely make you even more radiant." Abei poured Jiang Jin a cup of tea. Jiang Jin recognized the aroma immediately as a gift from Lou Xuan.

"Ever since the General learned of the relationship between the Madam and His Highness, the tributes have never stopped," Abei said excitedly, listening to the voices outside.

"Madam, now that we're out of the city, should we go see Fourth Miss? I heard she left the city with her maids right after curfew was lifted this morning, and even Aunt Liu didn't get to see her one last time." Abei didn't understand why Fourth Miss seemed to have suddenly become a different person.

“There’s no stupid person in the family, just spoiled brats. Fourth Sister has never made a scene in front of outsiders before she stopped causing trouble.” Jiang Jin propped her head up and looked at the curtains fluttering in the wind. “She took the right step.”

"Madam, that's true too. No lady in the capital dares to marry a general, yet you dare and live so well. Now, the ladies in the capital may not say it, but they're all envious." Abei's flattering words on the way made Jiang Jin laugh incessantly.

The supply wagon traveled smoothly along the road, with three bodyguards hidden in the shadows protecting Jiang Jin. The estate had already received word and prepared charcoal, fruit, and other necessities for Jiang Jin.

"Madam, we were unaware of your dietary restrictions, so we had some prepared." The steward secretly glanced at Jiang Jin; she truly was as beautiful as a fairy descended from heaven, possessing unparalleled beauty. That was why Wei Shu was willing to soften his hardened heart and cherish this lady like a precious gem.

"No need for extravagance." Jiang Jin's mind wasn't on this, and she didn't know where Lou Xuan was, so she felt uneasy. After Jiang Jin went inside and dismissed the people gathered outside, she had A Bei close the door.

"Madam, please have some pastries to tide you over," Ah Bei said, handing the pastries to Jiang Jin after testing them for poison with a silver needle.

"You two should eat something too; you haven't eaten much on the journey." Jiang Jin handed the plate to Zhou Cong.

"By the way, there's more than one hot spring on the estate. After dinner, you can each go soak in the hot springs; that will make the trip worthwhile." Jiang Jin didn't have much of an appetite for the pastries, but she was looking forward to Lou Xuan's arrival.

"I'm going outside for a walk. With Yi Yi here, you don't need to follow me." Jiang Jin put on her cloak, grabbed a hand warmer, and left the house.

Wei Shu's estate was well-managed; perhaps out of fear of his reputation, no one had done anything foolish enough to enrich themselves. Jiang Jin saw the stream outside and remembered that Wei Shu used to like catching fish in the river when he was young. She thought that in the spring, she could have him come over to reminisce about the past.

Jiang Jin bent down to look at the clear river water when suddenly a pale pink stream caught her attention. A fishy stench filled her nostrils. Jiang Jin quickly picked up her dagger and slowly walked towards the stream.

As she drew closer, the pale pink water slowly turned crimson. Jiang Jin carefully circled around behind a rock, only to find the grass stained with blood. The bloodstains were still warm, suggesting that the person hadn't gone far.

"Yi Yi, come with me. The rest of you, split up and search." Lou Xuan is coming soon, and Jiang Jin will definitely not leave any hidden dangers on the estate.

As dusk fell, the crimson hues and the setting sun reflected each other. Just as Jiang Jin was about to quicken her pace, Yi Yi stopped her.

"There's a presence." Yi Yi used his sword to cut open the pile of firewood that had been laid out to the side, revealing a familiar figure to Jiang Jin.

"Young Master Yun?" Jiang Jin looked at Yun Fan, who was covered in blood and barely breathing, and immediately had Yi Yi take him quietly back to the side room.

“This…” Jiang Jin looked at Yun Fan, whose lips were purple and clearly not normal, and was at a loss. “I have an antidote pill here, and Yi Yi, can you help him clean his wounds?”

Jiang Jin took Yun Fan's pulse. Fortunately, it wasn't a particularly dangerous poison that would kill him immediately. Although the wounds on his body were deep, they hadn't damaged his lungs or internal organs. As long as the bleeding was stopped, he would be fine.

"Then quietly go to my estate and get some men's clothing and medicine for your wounds." Jiang Jin put down her hand and stood guard at the door for Yun Fan.

Logically speaking, since the Yun family is not involved in court politics, no one would be so bored as to target Yun Fan. Moreover, he has quite a few guards around him, and killing them all would not be an easy task.

"Ahem!" A faint sound from the tatami caught Jiang Jin's attention. Yi Yi looked at Jiang Jin with a somewhat innocent expression.

"My lady, I didn't use any force!" Yun Fan squinted, somewhat surprised to see Jiang Jin's unchanged complexion.

"Young Master Yun, this is Wei Shu's estate. I saved you out of gratitude for the favor in Bianzhou. Now that you're awake, have your men come and pick you up. I don't want to cause any unnecessary trouble." Although Jiang Jin felt it was a bit heartless, she was already entangled in too many matters; if she were to get involved in Yun Fan's affairs, things would become even more difficult.

"Many thanks to Lady Jiang for saving my life. Of course, even if I hadn't intervened, you would have been safe and sound. But I was being arrogant." A deep weariness was evident in Yun Fan's eyes.

"I have some questions I'd like to ask you privately, my lady. Would that be convenient?" Yun Fan glanced at Yi Yi, who was cleaning his wounds.

“Okay.” Jiang Jin gave Yi a wink and then stood guard outside the door.

"Did you have a rabbit-shaped jade pendant when you were young, which you later lost while swimming in the lake?" Jiang Jin frowned and nodded. "That was indeed when I was young, but many years have passed."

"Excuse my boldness, but does your wife have a red mole on your left shoulder?" Yun Fan's question was quite presumptuous, but Jiang Jin saw no lust in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I can't tell Yun Langjun about this. If there's nothing else, please leave as soon as possible." Jiang Jin was about to open the door when she heard Yun Fan's deep voice behind her.

"It's like a dream, yet not a dream. Madam Jiang, I wish you all your wishes come true." Jiang Jin turned to look at the pale-faced Yun Fan with some curiosity.

"Young Master Yun, you're having a nightmare. With your injuries, you shouldn't think about these things, or you really will go to see the King of Hell." Jiang Jin opened the door and let Yi Yi in to wipe Yun Fan's wounds before leaving.

"Madam, Madam!" Ah Bei's eyes lit up when he saw Jiang Jin, and he pointed to the hot spring in the distance.

"Abei, I'm going to soak in the hot springs first. You stay outside and keep watch." Jiang Jin knew Lou Xuan was already waiting inside.

The heat of the hot spring hit them in the face. Xueya was helping Lou Xuan undress when she saw Jiang Jinshan arrive late and teased her, "My wife has really grown up now, she's not even enthusiastic about soaking in the hot spring anymore."

"Yun Fan appeared at the manor severely injured, so I asked Yi Yi to stay and take care of him." Jiang Jin took off his cloak, which was stained with a slight smell of blood, and put it aside.

"The Yun family is not prominent in the capital. I wonder how he brought about his demise. Could it be because he enjoys traveling and sightseeing?" Jiang Jin asked, somewhat puzzled, looking at Lou Xuan's pensive expression.

"Was he alone?" Lou Xuan recalled the scenes of each encounter with Yun Fan; he didn't seem like the type to get hurt alone.

"That's the strange thing. He had many servants in Bianzhou and even brought a cook from the capital. Given how much he values ​​his life, how could he possibly come to the outskirts alone? Unless everyone around him died and he fought his way out, what grudge could drive him to such a vicious act?" Jiang Jin stepped into the warm pool, lay on the rock, and looked at Lou Xuan on the shore, asking.

"The Yun family doesn't participate in factional struggles. Yun Fan hasn't entered officialdom; he's just a carefree heir who spends his days painting and amusing himself. The Yun family seems to have no ambition, which is also related to the fact that their noble title hasn't been lowered." Lou Xuan sat by the pond, watching Jiang Jin lean comfortably against a rock and close her eyes.

"Anyway, the title won't change. If they keep causing trouble, they might lose it and just live a life of eating, drinking, and having fun. That's why I'm wondering who's so ruthless towards the Yun family." Jiang Jin felt the warmth of the spring water driving away much of the chill from her body.

"By the way, I encountered something absurd in the palace yesterday." Jiang Jin briefly recounted the news she had overheard in the artificial hill.

"So you suspect the Fourth Prince isn't as he seems on the surface?" Lou Xuan frowned upon hearing this. Her younger brothers were never easy to deal with, but she hadn't expected there to be a snake among them besides the wolf.

"But why would he be stupid enough to drug me?" Jiang Jin was now unsure of the Fourth Prince's thoughts.

"Anyway, Wei Shu impeached quite a few fathers of aristocratic families who were on good terms with the Fourth Prince today. They're probably all asking for family punishment right now." Lou Xuan found the events of the day in court amusing; for the first time, she found Wei Shu's impeachments exceptionally shrewd.

"If Xueya hadn't told His Highness and Wei Shu yesterday, and if I hadn't happened to have the sleeping potion Wei Shu gave me, I might have actually fallen for his trick." Jiang Jin clenched his fist and punched the air a few times.

"That's how it is in the palace; you have to be vigilant at all times." Lou Xuan got off the pond and leaned against a rock, just like Jiang Jin.

"I hope there won't be any setbacks for the private school Your Highness is going to establish. I noticed that Dou Gong didn't look too happy at the New Year's banquet." Jiang Jin observed that although His Majesty was happy, few of the noble families affected by the private school were.

"Don't worry, there will definitely be twists and turns. Those people won't just watch me build the private school smoothly. But I have my father behind me. If you ask who in the entire court likes the private school the most, it's definitely my father's faction." Xueya massaged Lou Xuan's shoulders.

"Your Highness has been busy with the New Year's banquet these past few days and must be exhausted. Yesterday you even met with Lady Wang from the Yeting Palace." Jiang Jin also reached out to massage Lou Xuan's arm.

"Your Highness, it's the first time the Imperial Concubine has been in charge of the New Year's Eve banquet. Has anything interesting happened? I think it would be strange if the banquet didn't go smoothly, given the Imperial Concubine's personality."

Jiang Jin recalled that yesterday's New Year's Eve banquet had been very well arranged, with singing, dancing, and food. They had even categorized the drinks in case some ladies weren't used to them—this was unlike the way a noble consort would behave.