Chapter 69 A Modern-Day Liu Xiahui

Xie Qi watched the two of them talking in a language he couldn't understand, as if he were just an insignificant outsider, and felt very uncomfortable.

"Miss Jiang, are you heading back? Since we're going the same way, shall I offer you a ride?"

Yan Wenhong thought to himself, "Just as I expected."

Xie Qi then tried every means to sabotage his cooperation with Miss Jiang.

However, he is busy going back to verify whether her words are true, and he doesn't have time to waste here with Xie Qi.

Song Jianyuan's matter needs to be dealt with quickly.

If we're too late and Lu Yuan notices something and acts first, then all our efforts will be in vain.

Jiang Zhi also had something to say to Xie Qi, so she followed him out of Shuyu Tower.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Xie Qi asked her, "Yan Wenhong is a treacherous and cunning man. What is there for you to talk about with him?"

Jiang Zhi was about to tell him about this when she said, "Young Master Xie, please don't let Yan Wenhong know that we are acquainted."

If he knew that she had a close relationship with the Marquis of Wuyi's family, he would definitely suspect her motives for approaching him.

No matter how much information she gives her, Yan Wenhong will never truly believe her.

Xie Qi nodded, "I can agree to that, but shouldn't you tell me what deal you made with him to gain his trust so quickly?"

Yan Wenhong was suspicious and thoughtful. He had few close confidants, but those who served him closely were people who had been with him for more than ten years.

Jiang Zhi said, "He just happens to need me, and we're just getting what we need."

Xie Qi frowned, his face full of disapproval.

“It’s too dangerous for you to face him alone. He’s not a gentleman. Once he senses something, he certainly won’t show you any mercy.”

"Don't worry, Your Highness, I'm not someone to be trifled with either," Jiang Zhi laughed, her face showing a tenacious spirit that refused to admit defeat. "The outcome is still uncertain."

Xie Qi stared at her blankly.

He should have known long ago that this Miss Jiang was different from everyone else.

She appears quiet and refined on the surface, but in reality, she possesses the courage to burn her bridges and the boldness to survive even in the face of death.

It was precisely because of this quality that I was attracted to her, and that I couldn't help but want to get closer to her.

So he said, "Okay, be careful in everything, and don't hesitate to ask if you need any help."

After receiving her affirmative answer, Xie Qi stepped forward to examine her face.

Does the spot where you bumped yourself still hurt?

Jiang Zhi wrinkled her nose. "Of course it hurts."

Xie Qi smiled and reached out to gently rub the tip of her nose. "Sorry, I hit it too hard."

"However, Prince Xie is truly virtuous and upright. He didn't hesitate to push away a woman who threw herself at him. He's a modern-day Liu Xiahui (a legendary figure known for his integrity and virtue)," Jiang Zhi couldn't help but tease him.

Xie Qi immediately withdrew his hand awkwardly, "I, I didn't recognize you, otherwise I wouldn't have had the heart to push you away."

His voice grew softer and softer, and Jiang Zhi couldn't hear what he said after that.

But she was just joking and didn't take it seriously.

＊

Yan Wenhong acted quickly.

In just three days, he approached Jiang Zhi again, his face beaming with pride, as if he had won a battle.

"This time it's finally Lu Yuan's turn to suffer. You didn't see his expression, it was as black as the bottom of a pot! Hahaha."

"It seems that Lord Yan's matter went very smoothly." Jiang Zhi was not surprised to hear this, as if she had already expected the outcome.

"Miss Jiang has helped me so much, how can I thank you?" he asked, staring at her.

Jiang Zhi said, "Doesn't Lord Yan know very well what I want?"

“But she is, after all, your mother, the matriarch of the Jiang family. If Lord Jiang finds out about this, I’m afraid he will hold a grudge against my Zhongqin Earl’s Mansion.” Yan Wenhong said, seemingly troubled.

Jiang Zhi remained calm, only looking at him coldly, "Lord Yan, are you planning to go back on your word?"

“How could that be?” Yan Wenhong stroked the teacup in his hand. “I just hope that Miss Jiang will consider this carefully.”

Jiang Zhi chuckled, as if she had known all along that he would break his promise.

“Even if a deal falls through, we can still be on good terms. If Lord Yan doesn’t want to cooperate, I naturally won’t force him,” she said, getting up and walking towards the door. “Once I’m out of this door, there’s no turning back. If Lord Yan can’t handle this, I can go find another official.”

Yan Wenhong didn't budge an inch. "Oh? Miss Jiang has another suitor?"

“Of course,” Jiang Zhi smiled, “The young master Xie I met a few days ago was a good choice.”

Yan Wenhong's expression immediately changed.

Seeing that Jiang Zhi had reached the door, he finally stood up urgently and pressed down on the door that Jiang Zhi had just opened.

"Miss Jiang, why are you in such a hurry? I didn't say I wouldn't agree."

He gestured for Jiang Zhi to sit down and have a cup of tea so we could talk things over. Xie Qi prides himself on being a gentleman, and he would never help you commit such a heinous act as murdering your mother.

"How will I know if I don't try?" Jiang Zhi stood at the door, smiling at him. "Is Lord Yan planning to restrict me and not let me go out?"

"How dare I?" Yan Wenhong felt a headache coming on.

I originally just wanted to scare her and bargain with her.

Unexpectedly, she showed no respect whatsoever and turned on me in an instant.

They are even more difficult to deal with than those seasoned veterans in the imperial court.

"I was rude just now, and I apologize to Miss Jiang."

Jiang Zhi showed him no respect whatsoever, "I remember Lord Yan apologized before, it seems Lord Yan's memory isn't very good."

Yan Wenhong wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I swear, I will never dare to be disrespectful to Miss Jiang again, nor will I dare to doubt her again."

Jiang Zhi glanced at him before reluctantly sitting back down.

"The most important thing in cooperation is mutual trust. There's a limit to how many times something can happen. If there's a next time, then we have nothing more to talk about."

Yan Wenhong readily agreed.

"Regarding Wang Yuru—"

“We need to think this through more carefully,” Yan Wenhong said, his brow furrowed. “After all, she is the wife of an official, and her actions have far-reaching consequences.”

"Then Lord Yan agrees."

Yan Wenhong naturally agreed.

Before the two could discuss anything, there was a rapid knock on the door of the private room.

Yan Wenhong roared, "What is it? Don't you know I'm discussing important matters?"

The subordinate rushed in, looking at Jiang Zhi and then at Yan Wenhong. "Sir, Song Jianyuan, he, he..."

"Why are you hesitating? Wasn't he sent to Jiangnan by our people overnight? He should be on the ship by now."

The subordinate wiped the sweat from his face. "That's right, but Song Jianyuan suddenly suffered a heart attack halfway there and died on the ship. His body is still on the ship. What should we do with it, sir?"

"What?" Yan Wenhong exclaimed in surprise.

"Are you sure it was a heart attack that caused your death, and not that you were assassinated?"

The subordinate reported, "We have already consulted a doctor, and it is undoubtedly a heart ailment."

Yan Wenhong's brows furrowed as if a storm was about to break.

Song Jianyuan died so mysteriously.

It would be better to be captured by Lu Yuan and taken back, so they could take this opportunity to deal with Lu Yuan and plant their own confidants in the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Yan Wenhong's cold gaze fell on Jiang Zhi.

Did she know about this beforehand?