Chapter 9
Frightened, she turned and ran to the nearby Fengchun Hall.
At this moment, Yin Su was sitting on a hollow carved wooden chair, sipping tea comfortably. He stared at the steam rising slowly from the porcelain jade cup, swirling in the air and dissipating like a flash of smoke. He gently stroked the peony pattern carved on it with his fingertips and smiled softly with his eyebrows lowered.
"Yin...Yin Su." Jiang Zhaoli held the door frame and called him faintly.
The man suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the pretty figure at the door. The woman was wearing a lotus pink, double-breasted, narrow-sleeved shirt with a milky white tube-top long skirt underneath. The skirt had gold edges and was embroidered with colorful lotus buds that were about to bloom, making it look lifelike.
The woman was panicked, her eyes staring at him pitifully, like a wounded deer, begging for his mercy.
She seemed to want to ask him something, but she didn't dare to get too close to him. She hesitated and was undecided.
Yin Su placed the cup on the wooden table. He pursed his lips and looked at her with a puzzled look: "Madam Jiang, what's wrong with you?"
Jiang Zhaoli looked anxious: "There is an assassin. There is an assassin in my courtyard."
Yin Su's expression suddenly became solemn. He quickly walked to her side and walked towards Wenming Cuiyuan at a steady pace.
When he arrived at the yard, he saw a man in black standing alone beside the locust tree. When he saw someone coming, the man tilted his head, glanced at him deeply, then jumped up, jumped onto the locust tree, stepped on the branches and turned over and left.
Jiang Zhaoli poked her head out from behind Yin Su and saw that there was no one in the yard. She asked uncertainly, "Gone...left?"
Yin Su stared at Jia Huai's direction with interest but did not chase him. He curled his lips slightly and said, "Well, let's go."
When he looked at her, his eyes were clear and filled with confusion: "That man seemed to be an acquaintance of Madam Jiang, but he seemed to have a problem with me and glared at me before leaving."
Jiang Zhaoli: “…”
In just a moment he thought of Song Shiyan. This guy had really fallen into his old habit again. He refused to leave even though the main door was open, but instead learned to climb over the wall. This time he even wore black clothes and a mask to intimidate her.
Wait, she remembered that her eldest brother said the day before yesterday that Song Shiyan was beaten by Master Song. He was wearing a mask probably because the wound on his face had not healed yet and it was inconvenient for him to see people, but it was his fault for him to stand quietly in the yard in black clothes.
Yin Su raised his eyebrows: "Madam Jiang, who did you remember?"
Jiang Zhaoli replied absentmindedly, "Hmm," and was unwilling to say more.
Yin Su pulled his lips and pretended to mention it: "It seems that Madam Jiang is very important to him, otherwise he would not have come to the courtyard to visit Madam Jiang on the first day of his marriage."
Jiang Zhaoli: “…”
Was he mocking her or being sarcastic about her? It didn't sound right. On the first day of her wedding, a man came to the courtyard to look for her?
Jiang Zhaoli coughed, trying to break the awkward atmosphere: "He's just a playmate since childhood. He's just a bit mean, but he's good at martial arts, and he's not a bad person."
There was an imperceptible evil spirit in Yin Su's eyes. The corners of his mouth slightly raised, and his eyes showed his true feelings: "Madam Jiang, if you encounter danger in the future, you can call me at any time like today. I will definitely protect you."
Jiang Zhaoli was stunned. Hearing him say this, she suddenly felt guilty. These past few days, she had been trying to take advantage of a villain with her gentlemanly heart.
The fear of him in her heart was thus alleviated a little. Maybe it was just like what he said yesterday, she happened to have a nightmare at that time and had not yet come to her senses, so she saw it.
Thinking of her grandfather's special instructions today, she gritted her teeth, looked at Yin Su's handsome eyes and said gently: "Yin Su."
She took a deep breath and looked at him intently: "My grandfather called me today and told me that I want you to move to Wenmingcuiyuan tonight and live with me."
Yin Su looked at her, surprise flashed in his eyes, and then a smile took over. He asked softly, "Is this also what Madam Jiang meant?"
Jiang Zhaoli: “…”
Why does he always talk like this?
Jiang Zhaoli's cheeks suddenly turned red. She lowered her brows slightly, and the delicate hands in her sleeves unconsciously clenched. She turned her head uncomfortably and looked around, as if someone had seen through her thoughts and torn her face open, seeing through her thoroughly, leaving her with nowhere to hide.
She frantically twirled her meticulously combed black hair by her ears with one hand and answered casually, "Well...well, it's okay. Didn't it say in our contract that after we get married, you move to Wenming Cuiyuan and we pretend to be a loving couple and don't live together? What if others get suspicious?"
"Besides, the maid brought in your things yesterday. I originally wanted to call you in person, but I forgot because of my busy schedule. If I had known you were drunk, how could I have left you alone?" When saying this, Jiang Zhaoli's voice was obviously lower, and she didn't even dare to look him in the eye.
Yin Su's eyes darkened. This Miss Jiang's ability to lie was obvious at a glance.
He pretended to be enlightened and said yes, his eyes filled with a gentle smile: "Madam Jiang is right, I was not thoughtful enough."
Jiang Zhaoli pursed his lips and said, "Yin Su, I have something to ask you."
Yin Su had an expression as if he knew everything and was willing to tell it all.
Jiang Zhaoli asked tentatively: "Yesterday I heard from the servant that he saw you and Miss Wen in the side room..."
There seemed to be a flash of hurt in Yin Su's eyes, and his face was full of disbelief: "Madam Jiang, you don't believe me."
Jiang Zhaoli: "I believe the person behind this. Since he dared to let the servant say this, it means that he has successfully calculated you and let him see it. I am just curious about how you escaped before we arrived?"
Yin Su said frankly, "I grew up in a hunter's family. I have been dealing with herbs and prey since I was a child. I know a little about medicine. When I went to the wing room yesterday, I didn't know there were women there. Just as I was about to leave, Miss Wen rushed over. I had no choice but to use the Ecstasy Powder on her. The effect of this medicine can cause hallucinations for a period of time."
Jiang Zhaoli remained silent. Yin Su seemed to be able to adapt to life in the Jiang Mansion better than she had imagined. He had an innate alertness without her even reminding him.
Could it be that this is a skill he acquired from catching prey since he was a child?
Jiang Zhaoli stared into his eyes and asked without thinking: "Do you think there is a drug in this world that can force people to tell the truth?"
Yin Su raised his eyebrows, as if puzzled. His amber eyes were filled with endless tenderness, but there seemed to be some unfathomable emotions hidden deep in his eyes: "Madam Jiang, are you still thinking about the false accusation yesterday? There is really no medicine in the world that can force people to tell the truth. If there is, there is no need to judge the criminals who have made mistakes. They will confess everything after taking the medicine."
Jiang Zhaoli lowered his head with regret.
Yin Su suddenly changed the subject -
"But hypnosis does exist, and it has the same effect as the drug you mentioned."
"Hypnosis, what is that?" Jiang Zhaoli suddenly raised his little face and clenched his palms.
Yin Su glanced at her, his tone was gentle but every word was clear, piercing her eardrums: "Hypnosis is to blur a person's consciousness and control his mind. You can make the controlled person say whatever you want her to say and do whatever you want her to do, even -"
He paused for a moment, then suddenly looked in the direction of Jia Huai and then at Jiang Zhaoli's expectant face, and then curled his lips: "Even killing people is not up to you. I wonder if Madam Jiang has heard of the Jade Face Crowned Man known in the Jianghu."
"Of course I know. He is a world-famous villain. It is said that he is extremely handsome, but he is tyrannical and bullies the people. He never shows his true face to others. Those who have seen his true face have all died by his sword. Every time he performs a mission, he covers his body, revealing his eyes, but he does not cover his jade crown. Over time, everyone calls him the Jade-faced Crown Man."
Yin Su just smiled faintly when he heard this: "Since those who have seen his true face have all died by the sword, why is it said that he was extremely beautiful? Isn't this contradictory?"
"Rumors may not be credible, and sometimes even what you see with your own eyes may not be true. There are too many falsehoods in this world. Madam Jiang has been living a life of luxury since she was a child. I'm afraid she doesn't know what it feels like to be hungry."
"Mrs. Jiang, have you ever seen the unpalatable taste of gnawing on tree bark, grass roots, or even eating soil?"
Jiang Zhaoli looked at him in surprise. She had only heard of it but had never seen it with her own eyes.
Suddenly I remembered that Yin Su grew up in a hunter's family. He had to go up the mountain to hunt in thin clothes in the winter. It was common for him to go hungry. If he didn't catch any, he would starve. If he did catch any, he would not be willing to eat it. He would take it to the market to sell it so that he could save some money to buy charcoal for the winter. So he must have often been hungry and cold.
Thinking about it, she slowly said: "Although you and I are not real husband and wife, you will follow me from now on. I will not let you go hungry. Even if the three-year period is up, I will give you enough money to live for the rest of your life."
Yin Su pursed his lips, his eyes seemed to be filled with a lingering depression. After a long while, he said with a half-smile: "In that case, I would like to thank Madam Jiang for her sympathy."
Jiang Zhaoli was about to speak when the words just now flashed through his mind. Wait, the Jade-faced Man...
A moment of joy flashed across Jiang Zhaoli's face. Why didn't she think of the Jade-faced Crown Man? Although the Jade-faced Crown Man was notorious, he would do anything for you as long as you paid enough money.
In this case, she could look for the Jade-faced Crown Man to help her investigate the case of her parents and reveal the real culprit behind the scenes. Although the Ministry of Justice said that it was just an ordinary robbery and murder case, she didn't believe it.
Now that she has taken over her father's position, it is time for her to cultivate some confidants.
Jiang Zhaoli returned to the hall and began to look through the account books, while Yin Su left the house.
He said that his friend from Min Kingdom was leaving Luo City today, and he wanted to go and see him off. After hearing this, Jiang Zhaoli remembered that she had not had the time to meet Yin Su, her friend from Min Kingdom, yesterday.
—
Changming Street is the most famous street in Los Angeles and also the main street. The street starting from Wanpin Building and winding all the way to the city gate is called Changming Street. On both sides stand blue brick and black tile houses in an orderly manner. A lantern in the shape of a peony is hung at the eaves of each house.
Every night, the lanterns on the eaves light up, and the lights from thousands of homes instantly become a sky full of stars.
The streets are spacious and clean, with a constant stream of people. There are vendors hawking their wares for a living, guys driving cars loaded with goods, groups of women strolling together, and children and the elderly jogging along Changming Street.
At the southernmost end of Changming Street, there is a Wanpin Building, which is adjacent to Mudan Street in the west and Yueju Street in the east. It is a three-story attic with upturned corners. The second and third floors are surrounded by open-air corridors and pavilions. Standing here, you can have a panoramic view of Changming Street, Mudan Street and Huaju Street at night.
There are ten steps from the bottom floor to the inside of the building. On the top floor hangs a door plaque with the three characters "Wanpinlou" inscribed on it, which powerfully displays its charm. Its door is open, and people come in and out, with a bustling atmosphere.
There were nobles in gorgeous clothes and ordinary people in ordinary clothes, all laughing and playing together.
There is a square platform against the wall in the hall. The platform is half a meter high. On weekdays, there will be storytellers telling stories at 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.
There were wooden square tables arranged in an orderly manner below the stage, each of which was decorated with exquisite flower porcelain and a bunch of dazzling red peonies.
Yin Su stood in the second-floor pavilion, his amber eyes looking down at the people coming in and out with a hint of scrutiny.
In a moment, a bold young lady came downstairs, holding a purse in her hand, waving at him with a smile, her shy cheeks as tempting as pink peaches.
Yin Su turned around and leaned against the fence, blocking the woman's sight, and stared at the boy in front of him with a little impatience.
The boy was about sixteen, with his hair in a half-bun, delicate features, and was wearing a navy blue brocade robe. There was a hint of grievance between his brows.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
