Chapter 104 "Kill him, and if you can't get down there..."
rustling sounds.
It felt like something was scratching his neck; it was numb, painful, and itchy.
He held his breath and gripped the hilt of the knife tightly with one hand.
"thump--"
Ji Chengning suddenly raised his eyes, his eyes filled with murderous intent. For a moment, he almost drew his knife and attacked.
However, he suddenly realized that the sound was his heartbeat.
He felt a tightness in his chest, his neck drenched in cold sweat.
She gasped for breath, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, the shadows she cast merging with the pale blue of her eyes.
"Master Li."
He held his breath and listened intently, vaguely hearing someone speak. The voice was clear and indifferent, as if nothing had happened.
The damp fingers left wet streaks on the knife handle.
Li Bi paused, "Lord Cui."
Polite, but also a little flustered.
After all—he had witnessed it with his own eyes—that this Lord Cui and his own general were always inseparable, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were inseparable. But since the assassination attempt, the two hadn't been seen together for nearly ten days.
Actually, it's not accurate to say that Ji Chengning and Cui Yao had no interaction whatsoever. They did have some official business. Li Bi had witnessed it once: one was handling business strictly by the book, while the other seemed hesitant to speak. Upon seeing Li Bi arrive, the other quietly stopped talking and silently withdrew.
The most terrifying thing is that the general didn't even try to stop him!
Li Bi looked as if he had seen a ghost. His expression was so astonished that even the general, who was buried in documents, looked up and gave him a cold, indifferent glance. "What is it?"
Li Bi swallowed hard. "No."
He had seen the assassin's corpse; the way it was killed was hardly human-like, but rather a complete gruesome death. When he first saw it, he gasped in horror. After learning that Cui Yao was responsible, he was both terrified and had a sense of "I knew it."
After all, he had seen the occasional eerie aura emanating from Lord Cui before. However, the general had spent every day with Cui Yao and should know his character better. He shouldn't distance himself from Cui Yao because of a few gruesome corpses, especially since those three dead men had come to assassinate him.
Full of doubts, yet unable to ask anyone.
Upon seeing Cui Yao call out to him, Li Bi quickly stopped.
The two weren't exactly close, exchanging only a few pleasantries before Cui Yao cut to the chase: "I've heard that the general hasn't been getting enough rest lately, so I'd like to trouble Lord Li to deliver this to the general."
Li Bi took it instinctively.
Yes, he looked down and saw a very plain jade bottle, without any decorations at all. It had a slender neck, and when he touched it, it felt warm to the touch. It was very smooth and delicate.
It probably contained either sleep aid pills or spices.
Li Bi said, "I understand," then paused, "but why doesn't Lord Cui go and give it to the general himself?"
He didn't say the rest of his words, but he wanted to say that the general would be happy to know.
However, Cui Yao only smiled slightly and said, "Thank you, sir." Her voice was softer, "Please do not tell the general that I delivered it."
After speaking, he turned and left.
Li Bi became increasingly puzzled, realizing that he wouldn't get anything out of Cui Yao, so he gently knocked on the door, "General, I have something to report."
"Come in and give your answer."
Li Bi strode into the room.
He first reported on the recent security situation in Yan County. After he finished speaking, he cautiously looked up at Ji Chengnin. Seeing that the general did not show any displeasure, he took the medicine bottle out of his sleeve.
"General, I've noticed you've looked tired lately, is it because of the night..."
"Did Cui Yao send you to deliver this?"
Li Bi paused, nearly biting the tip of his tongue.
"Yes—no, no," he said hastily, "it was delivered by my subordinates themselves," adding at the end, "without any instruction from anyone."
This made Ji Chengning laugh out loud.
"You," he sneered, "do you really think I'm deaf? You and Cui Yao were practically whispering in my ear, did you really think you could hide it from me?"
Besides, how could he not know what Cui Yao was thinking?
The more I think about it, the angrier I get, and the more I want to sneer.
There were a million ways to deliver the gift, but he insisted on letting him hear it, and not in front of him. What a pitiful young man Cui, what a clever and cunning heart he had!
Li Bi remained silent.
Although there was anger in Ji Chengnin's eyes, he was not afraid.
It wasn't that the young marquis had lost face, but rather that he knew very well that the general's anger was directed at Cui Yao, not at him. The fire at the city gates wouldn't affect him, this poor fish.
Sure enough, the general only scolded him once, then said, "Leave it there, you may leave now."
Li Bi felt as if he had been granted a pardon and hurriedly said, "Then this subordinate will take his leave first."
Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly heard Ji Chengnin say, "Stop."
"General?"
Ji Chengning grasped the bottle on the table, his fingers gently tracing the neck of the bottle.
His movements were so gentle, almost like caressing a beloved's cheek, yet they sent a chill down Li Bi's spine.
"General?"
Ji Chengnin spoke calmly, casually tossing down the medicine bottle.
The porcelain vase collided with the driftwood tabletop with a "crack!"
Fortunately, it didn't break; it rolled onto the edge of the table, teetering on the verge of collapse.
"Tell Cui Yao not to bother, my daily expenses are none of his business."
"..."
Li Bi shrank his neck and said, "Yes."
Even though he was an outsider, Li Bi felt awkward because those words were obviously too hurtful, practically making it clear that he was not worthy of the person's words.
What exactly did Lord Cui do to make the general so angry? Ten days have passed, a full ten days, and his anger still hasn't subsided!
Report complete.
He went out, then turned back and gently closed the door.
Suddenly I felt a cold sensation on my neck.
He turned around abruptly and saw a tall figure standing under a pear tree not far away. The figure was dressed in gray, had black hair, and a pale face, looking like a ghost or a dark cloud. Li Bi was startled by the sight.
He strode forward and whispered, "The general has accepted it."
Then, the zombie-like man seemed to suddenly receive a few breaths of life, his eyes instantly brightening, making his pale face look less eerie. "Thank you, Lord Li."
Li Bi said dryly, "Don't thank me yet. The general knows it was you who sent it. He asked me to tell the lord that there's no need to send it anymore."
He suddenly stopped.
Because all the color had drained from Cui Yao's face.
"And what did you say?" His voice was unusually hoarse. When he looked at Li Bi, his eyes were fixed, as if they weren't the eyes of a living person, but rather embedded glass beads.
This strange look made Li Bi take a half step back. "The general also said that his affairs are none of your concern, sir. I'll be going now. I suddenly remembered that it looks like it's going to rain and I haven't brought in the laundry I hung out to dry yet. Hahaha, you can rest now."
After saying all that in one breath, Li Bi turned and walked away.
He moved with lightning speed.
There wasn't a sound behind him.
Li Bi was relieved that Cui Yao hadn't caught up to ask him why, and couldn't help but glance back curiously out of the corner of his eye.
Cui Yao remained standing in the same spot.
As the sun set, the red glow of the evening sky blurred and fell on his face.
Yet, red remains red, and white remains white.
Like a paper doll with rouge applied.
Li Bi's eyes darted around sluggishly for a moment, then she turned around abruptly, her hair standing on end, and ran away as fast as she could.
The next day.
The date for returning to the capital has been set, in just two days. In these two days, there is a need to prepare the carriages and horses, handle the documents, and finish up some follow-up work. Ji Chengning saw that the court had issued documents to the people he recommended, ordering them to come to the two places as civil officials. He also inquired about the reputation and resume of other officials before he felt at ease. He still had no free time.
However, the person urging him to rest early every day is now Zhou Yu.
"It's so stuffy in here." Zhou Yu got up and opened the window halfway. A breeze blew in, and he squinted his eyes contentedly. He also smiled at the motionless figure not far away. "Xiao Ning, staying in the room all day long is going to make you stupid."
Ji Chengnin didn't even look up, and wrote "Not Allowed" on the document in a flamboyant style.
His brushstrokes are sharp and powerful, penetrating the paper; his calligraphy reflects his personality.
"Stop nagging, Your Highness," he said after a moment, looking up. "It's not too late to go out for some fresh air after we return to the capital."
Zhou Yu walked to Ji Chengnin's side and naturally knelt down beside him. "You are the least fond of quiet," he said, scrutinizing Ji Chengnin's face. "It pains me to see you like this."
Before he could finish speaking, a document was casually tossed into his arms.
Ji Chengnin gestured for him to proceed.
Zhou Yu chuckled, opened it and glanced at it a few times, then felt dizzy and lightheaded. "I can't bear to look at these things."
"If you can't even look at documents now, what will you do in the future?"
Zhou Yu wasn't angry at all about the implied treason in those words; instead, he felt a little smug. Xiao Ning wanted him to ascend the throne.
“We’ll talk about the future later. Besides, don’t I have Xiao Ning?” Zhou Yu bent down slightly and looked at Ji Chengning from the side. “I’ll give you anything, like prime minister, grand tutor, or general.”
Ji Chengnin's response was as if he could no longer tolerate it, and he threw another document at him.
Zhou Yu accepted it.
His fingertips suddenly trembled.
It seems we've been targeted by something extremely cold and sinister.
He smiled and followed the gaze.
It's Cui Yao.
Zhou Yu raised his lips; he had never found Cui Yao so pleasing to the eye.
Cui Yao was standing under the dense pear tree. He was tall and slender, and shrouded in shadow, as if he were being hung from the tree trunk with a rope around his throat.
His eyes, however, were still fixed in their direction.
How wonderful!
He died with his eyes wide open in disbelief.
Zhou Yu paused in his flipping through the documents, and suddenly, he had prepared a method of death for Cui Yao.
But soon, he wasn't so happy anymore.
Because the person who was already dead in his heart strode forward and knocked on the study door.
One after another.
"Thump, thump, thump..."
The frequency and force remain completely unchanged, but for some reason, this regular sound is chilling.
Zhou Yu subconsciously looked at Ji Chengnin.
Ji Chengnin didn't even notice what was happening. "Come in."
"Creak—"
The door opened.
The smile in Zhou Yu's eyes faded slightly.
"General."
The ghost-like figure spoke.
Ji Chengnin put down his pen and slowly looked up.
Their eyes met.
What a beautiful pair of eyes! The young marquis, who loves colors, actually thought of this. They used to be clear and bright, but now they appear unusually dark because their master cannot sleep peacefully.
Blood-red veins expanded and spread within the eyeballs.
Like the patterns formed after a gemstone cracks.
Eerie yet beautiful.
Ji Chengning raised his lips, but there was no smile in them. "A-Yao."
He still calls him that.
When Cui Yao heard this, she was suddenly startled.
Because Ji Chengnin had previously said that he didn't even know his real name.
They were repeating a lie so intimately, a lie they both knew perfectly well, as if a slap had landed casually on his face.
"I have official business to report."
Pronunciation in official business.
Ji Chengnin hummed in agreement.
Cui Yao did not speak immediately, but instead looked at Zhou Yu with a troubled expression.
Zhou Yu's expression changed slightly, and when he looked at Ji Chengnin, he seemed more confused and aggrieved. "Xiao Ning?"
Ji Chengnin wanted to sigh, "Your Highness, please go out first."
Zhou Yu's eyelashes trembled, looking as pitiful as a puppy drenched in a storm.
Ji Chengnin was silent for a second, then lowered his voice and said, "Ayu, you go out first."
Unintentionally, yet it reveals a sense of intimacy.
It used to be an intimacy that belonged only to him.
Beneath her sleeve, Cui Yao suddenly clenched her fingers.
The fingernail pierced the newly scabbed crescent-shaped wound and tore it open with ease.
Even though I found the image incredibly jarring, I tortured myself by looking at it over and over again.
The veins in his eyes trembled and spasmed violently, as if they were about to bleed.
Zhou Yu was finally satisfied, a faint blush appearing on his pale face. "I'll be waiting for you outside."
Ji Chengnin nodded.
Zhou Yu left satisfied.
"Speak."
Ji Chengnin's voice came from not far away, high above.
Also, sparse and indifferent.
It seems that they really have nothing but a subordinate relationship.
The little general who used to snuggle in his arms was, from beginning to end, just a dream of Cui Yao's.
He took a deep, but silent, breath.
My heart skipped a beat, then another.
Even his breathing was uneven, but his expression remained unchanged. Instead, he calmly and professionally reported the recent situation to Ji Chengning.
However, his voice grew hoarse as he spoke.
He stopped abruptly at the end, as if afraid his voice would tremble at the end.
His gaze wandered aimlessly, finally settling on a medicine bottle carelessly tossed beside the inkstone.
He has excellent eyesight and can tell at a glance that the wax seal has not been opened.
A fine, lingering pain spread through her limbs and bones. Cui Yao tried her best to smile nicely, her voice still soft and gentle, "I wouldn't be stupid enough to poison the Crown Prince."
Ji Chengnin seemed to only then notice the medicine bottle.
He smiled too, but much more composed.
"If you were me, would you still dare to use the things I sent you?"
Without hesitation, Cui Yao replied, "I dare."
Even if the prince were to kill him right now, he would rather not, not ignore him.
Ji Chengning paused for a moment.
I was momentarily distracted.
The next moment, the porcelain bottle was thrown into Cui Yao's arms without hesitation.
Cui Yao suddenly looked up.
The young man was as carefree and unrestrained as he had been in the past, casually tossing a peony into someone's arms, but he no longer had the heart to appreciate it.
He opened his mouth.
But all that could be heard was Ji Chengnin's voice, "I have already had carriages and horses prepared for you."
Cui Yao's eyes trembled violently.
A thousand words were on the tip of my tongue, but in the end, they all turned into a grateful, thin smile.
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness." His voice was extremely hoarse.
...
Two days later, on the return journey in the carriage.
His Highness the Crown Prince insisted that the cushions on Ji Chengning's carriage were softer and that the General's carriage should be used instead. He also said that he did not need anyone else to protect him, so the General had to stay with him to ensure his safety.
Both Li Bi and the Crown Prince's attendants were speechless, because they weren't blind; the general's carriage had no cushions at all!
Regardless, Zhou Yu still ended up staying in Ji Chengning's car.
His Highness the Crown Prince stared intently at Ji Chengnin, and the more he looked, the more his heart softened.
He asked with concern, "Cheng Ning, you haven't looked well lately. Is something bothering you?"
"No, thank you for your concern, Your Highness." Ji Chengning read a book while casually stroking the puppy in his arms.
"Between you and me, why bother with those empty formalities?"
Zhou Yu said, his gaze following Ji Chengnin's movements downwards.
Yes, he thought coldly, that dog.
The puppy was wary and didn't want to get close to Zhou Yu. As soon as Zhou Yu reached out, it arched its back and bared its teeth, as if about to bite. Zhou Yu looked at it with disgust—he already knew where this dog came from; dogs like their owners generally annoy him.
"What a heartless little thing, all the good I've done for it."
Before the dog bit him, Zhou Yu tried to lure it with dried meat, but alas, it was completely useless.
It was about to bare its teeth again when Ji Chengning pulled it into his arms and pinched its mouth shut.
Zhou Yu snorted coldly, "Isn't it an ungrateful little devil?"
Ji Chengnin didn't even lift his eyelids, "Don't talk about it."
"Alright, alright, I won't say anything." Zhou Yu wasn't angry at all. He even got up to pour tea for Ji Chengning and gently placed it beside him.
He said softly, "Sometimes, people are not as good as animals. You have raised it for so long, and it cherishes your affection, staying in your arms and not getting up. It is much better than some heartless people."
Ji Chengnin raised his eyes, a dark glint flashing in them. "What does Your Highness mean by this?"
Zhou Yu leaned closer.
The bitter medicinal scent coiled around Ji Chengning's throat like a snake.
Zhou Yu laughed, "My little Ning, you know perfectly well who I'm talking about, so why ask when you already know the answer?"
Ji Chengnin did not answer.
A hand lifted Ji Chengnin's chin, and he admired the face so close to his, his eyes filled with deep infatuation.
“Xiao Ning, I have investigated Cui Yao’s identity. The Cui family he mentioned does exist, but the current head of the Cui family, Cui Yao, lives in seclusion. Few locals have seen him. Even the people I sent couldn’t find out what Cui Yao looks like. Such a mysterious person is willing to spend his family’s wealth to buy a minor official position to keep by your side. Aren’t you afraid?”
Those who do not seek small gains must have grand plans.
They all understand this principle.
Seeing that Ji Chengnin did not refute, Zhou Yu's smile deepened.
"You trust him so much, if he were to harm you, not to mention anything else," the voice coaxed gently, soft as a murmur, slowly entangling Ji Chengnin's heart, "as long as he steals a secret military letter and sends it to the border, you will be guilty of treason and collusion with the enemy. My little Ning, do you want the entire Ji family to be buried with you?"
Ji Chengnin's face showed no emotion whatsoever, whether it was enticement or intimidation.
"Your Highness, please speak frankly."
“That’s wonderful, I love seeing you like this.” Zhou Yu wasn’t offended. A sickly flush appeared on his pale face. He lowered his head and whispered in Ji Chengning’s ear, his lips soft, but he said, “Kill him.”
"What?"
Ji Chengnin suddenly looked up.
“I said,” Zhou Yu’s fingers lightly brushed against Ji Chengning’s lips, his heart pounding, and he trembled so much that he could barely hear his own voice, “kill him. If you can’t bring yourself to do it, then let me do it. Don’t worry, I will definitely not leave any trace, as if this person had never existed.”
Ji Chengnin did not answer immediately.
Zhou Yu knew that if he agreed immediately, Xiao Ning would no longer be his Xiao Ning.
This sentimentality, this nostalgia—that's what Xiao Ning is all about.
But he knew that Xiao Ning wouldn't let a threat stay by her side.
Thinking of this, I couldn't help but smile.
Ji Chengnin's mind was racing at this moment.
Cui Yao's identity is indeed suspicious, but she has never done anything to harm him.
If Zhou Yu wanted to, it would be incredibly easy for him to do it privately or openly exploit Cui Yao's identity.
Ji Chengning and Zhou Yu were childhood sweethearts, so how could he not know the Crown Prince's temperament? Once he made up his mind to do something, he would never allow anyone to object.
Going with the flow would not only eliminate a potential threat, but also prevent the Crown Prince from becoming suspicious.
Why did he refuse?
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Author's note: Chu~ Goodnight.
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