Chapter 84 This beautiful, vengeful ghost's tongue held honey, her lips...
Yan County is extremely hot. Even at night, the heat is still intense, mixed with humidity, making people sweat on the back of their necks.
The sticky residue of honey lingered on Ji Chengning's lips, just like the way Cui Yao looked at him.
Sweet and lingering, impossible to shake off.
Ji Chengning's Adam's apple bobbed.
"I'm suddenly not so thirsty anymore," he said dryly.
Cui Yao was looking at him.
A pair of shoes, their color so pale it was almost translucent and bright, radiating an almost superhuman luster.
"Aren't you going to drink anymore?" Cui Yao's voice was incredibly gentle.
A cool breeze brushed past my ears.
Something's not right.
His cousin was acting extremely strangely, and those dreams that he had deliberately ignored and thought he had long forgotten suddenly flooded into his mind.
The blade pressed against his throat, chilling to the bone, and the assassin's fingers, far colder than the blade itself.
She snuggled close to the back of his neck.
Come, take his life.
Ji Chengnin's eyes darkened slightly. He raised his hand, gently placed two fingers on Cui Yao's wrist, gave her a light push, and gave his cousin a very handsome smile, "I won't drink anymore."
Cui Yao nodded.
The next moment, Cui Yao leaned forward and, using this strange posture, drank the honey water in the cup in one gulp.
He deliberately kept his lips pressed against the wet marks left earlier, and drank slowly enough for Ji Chengning to see his every move.
Hidden between two rows of pale teeth was a scarlet tongue—like the ghosts in those underworld paintings who complain about karma and reincarnation, their eyes wide open in death. They were painted with exquisite detail, their faces made of mica, deathly pale and devoid of any blood color, yet their lips and tongues were dotted with cinnabar.
The beautiful, fierce ghost had honey on her tongue, her eyebrows slightly arched, and she looked very gentle, yet her eyes were fixed on him intently.
Ji Chengning felt his neck getting increasingly wet.
However, this time it wasn't sweating from the heat.
I was filled with shock, fear, bewilderment, and confusion. Yet, amidst all these dark and negative emotions, a slight itch, like being bitten by an insect, crept up my spine, lurking beneath my skin, impossible to grasp.
The heat intensified Ji Chengning's internal heat, causing his once plump and moist lips to develop a layer of white skin that looked prickly and faintly showed signs of bleeding.
It makes one want to use something sticky and moisturizing to moisturize his lips.
Cui Yao's gaze grew increasingly dark.
Her long eyelashes trembled violently, completely concealing the emotions that shouldn't have been shown to Ji Chengnin.
The two weren't very close, but it was enough for Cui Yao to feel Ji Chengning's breath brushing against the corner of his lips from time to time.
Warm, and slightly trembling.
"Cousin." His fingers were still pressing on Cui Yao's wrist. "It's getting late. I'll go back and rest first. You should get some rest too."
He let go.
Cui Yao's little finger twitched slightly, as if she was trying her best to suppress something.
“Alright,” Cui Yao replied gently, “I will escort the Crown Prince.”
Ji Chengning immediately said, "No need, cousin, please wait."
After speaking, he turned and pushed open the door to leave.
"Creak—"
As he stepped out the door, he turned his head very subtly and caught a glimpse of his cousin standing motionless in the same spot.
She stared at him without blinking.
Cui Yao seemed to sense something, her eyebrows curved, and a dark, damp light seemed to surge in her pale eyes.
Ji Chengnin's breath hitched, and he nodded absentmindedly before striding away.
Once Ji Chengnin's figure was out of sight, Cui Yao's gaze slowly fell on the teacup in her hand.
The traces that Ji Chengnin had just left behind had long since disappeared.
He stared at the teacup, his Adam's apple bobbing violently beneath his collar.
One after another.
He lowered his head, his wet, red tongue licking the rim of the cup.
...
Upon returning to his room, the first thing Ji Chengning did was close the door.
"Bang!"
There were no wild beasts following him outside the door; in fact, if there were, his situation would be better than it is now.
Cui Yao's actions just now were really... too strange.
Cui Yao treated him with undeniable intimacy, yet it carried a deep ghostly aura, making Ji Chengning feel that his cousin had both wanted to get close to him and wanted to kill him, attacking him from the outside in, the blade deeply embedded, intertwined with and churning his flesh and blood.
Ji Chengning took a deep breath.
His neck was wet and cold, but what terrified him even more was that he didn't feel any aversion.
He casually took off his clothes, scrubbed himself vigorously like a horse, and then collapsed heavily onto the bed.
I can't think of anything.
The rising steam felt like a solid blockage in my throat.
Ji Chengnin covered his eyes with his hand.
If you can't figure it out, don't think about it.
With military affairs pressing, he had no time to waste on matters of the heart.
Ji Chengnin frowned, his breathing gradually becoming steady.
I slept without any dreams.
The next morning.
Ji Chengning reorganized his troops and marched towards Luanyang.
He led the way, wielding only light armor and a long blade, one man and one horse.
At this moment, on the walls of Luanyang City.
The sun was shining brightly, and sand and gravel rolled around.
The overwhelming white light was so bright it was blinding, and sweat poured down his face. Zhang Rang, growing impatient, asked, "Why haven't they arrived yet?"
The official beside him bowed and scraped, saying, "Perhaps Ji Chengnin heard of the general's formidable reputation and dared not come."
"Yes, who is Ji Chengnin? He's just a greenhorn who got his official title because he has a good father. He doesn't have any real skills."
His words caused the crowd on the city wall to burst into laughter, and even the summer heat didn't seem so unbearable anymore.
"Hahaha, I've also heard that Ji Chengnin is a pretty boy who only gained his current power by currying favor with the Crown Prince. Lord Zhang, if the General captures Ji Chengnin alive in the future, you must persuade him not to rush to kill him, but let the servants..."
Before he could finish speaking, the man, whose face had been filled with lewdness, suddenly changed his expression, his finger trembling as he pointed forward, "Ji Ji..."
Everyone suddenly looked up.
To resist the imperial army, General Xiao ordered his troops to defend the city and scorch the fields, thus creating a vast and open landscape with an infinitely expanded field of vision.
Amidst the scorching sun and the yellow sand, a tall and slender figure actually appeared in the distance, almost forming a line.
Zhang Rang's expression changed drastically. "Quickly, go and fetch the general!"
Before they could finish speaking, a series of steady footsteps approached them rapidly.
Everyone bowed down, but Xiao Dingguan ignored them and stepped forward in two quick strides.
The Hummer sped along.
In the blink of an eye, Ji Chengning had already arrived at the city walls.
From several feet away, it was enough for everyone to see his appearance clearly.
They had long known that Ji Chengning was young, but what surprised them was the rumor that Ji Chengning had a close relationship with the Crown Prince. So they naturally assumed that Ji Chengning must be beautiful like a pretty woman, or at least a gentle and graceful beauty.
The man below the city was tall and slender, his dark robes heavy as the tide, a long sword at his waist, and his handsome and fierce appearance almost revealed a hint of demonic aura. His face was as sharp as a knife.
The light was terrifying.
The city wall was completely silent.
Xiao Dingguan pressed his hand on the battlement and tightened it abruptly.
"Ji Lang," he uttered the name silently.
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he simply couldn't believe that Ji Lang, who died without a complete body, actually had a child. Anyone who had seen Ji Lang would never be able to guess that Ji Chengning was related to her by blood.
Because Ji Chengnin at this moment looks exactly like Ji Lang back then!
How interesting! The Ji siblings are truly fascinating!
Xiao Dingguan stared intently at Ji Chengning with reddened eyes.
The young general stood beneath a vast army, surrounded by arrows, yet when he spoke, he showed no fear.
He raised his voice and said, "I came with sincerity, but General Xiao is holding the city and refusing to come out. Does that mean that what he said to me in the letter is worthless?"
There was a slight smile in his voice.
It was as if he were facing not a menacing enemy, but an old friend he hadn't seen for many years. His unwavering resolve even shocked the generals surrounding Xiao Dingguan.
This young man remained calm and composed in the face of danger, speaking eloquently and disregarding life and death. If he survives today, given time, his achievements will surely rival those of the Marquis of Yongning.
Xiao Dingguan said coldly, "General Ji," he deliberately emphasized the word "little," "you said in your letter that as long as we lay down our weapons, the court will pardon our crimes. But I would like to ask you, General, what crimes have we committed that require the court's pardon? What wrong have the people of Luanyang done? Don't those corrupt officials who took advantage of natural disasters and man-made calamities to embezzle state funds for their own private gain deserve to die?!"
Before he finished speaking, soldiers immediately echoed his words, their shouts shaking the heavens.
Unlike the officials who fawned over them, these soldiers from ordinary families genuinely believed that Xiao Dingguan was right.
When Xiao Dingguan came, he killed corrupt officials and distributed official rations, which was a great favor to them. As for the rumors in the city that Lord Xiao indulged in pleasure and extravagance, which official doesn't do the same? It's only human nature!
The next second, Xiao Dingguan's expression of grief and indignation changed instantly. He sighed deeply, "General Ji, you come from a military family. Marquis Yongning has dedicated his life to serving the people. If Marquis Yongning saw you pointing a blade at innocent civilians today, I wonder what he would think?"
Ji Chengning laughed, “General, what you say is absolutely right. The court selects officials to benefit the people, but now local officials are abusing their power for personal gain and oppressing the people. Their crimes are unforgivable.” He said loudly, “Therefore, all the officials who broke the law in Yan County have been beheaded by me. If you do not believe me, you can go to the outside of Yan County and see if there are thirty-seven heads hanging on the city wall!”
Upon hearing this, everyone was astonished.
Apart from Xiao Dingguan's staff and close attendants, no one was allowed to leave or enter Luanyang City, and news traveled slowly.
Now, upon hearing that all the corrupt officials in Luanyang had been killed, they were all horrified. The soldiers from poor families looked on with even greater disbelief and uncertainty, exchanging bewildered glances.
Ji Chengnin comes from a noble family. Would he really offend officials for the sake of the people?
Ji Chengning came to quell the rebellion, not to clean up the internal affairs. He would not gain anything by doing so!
But whether it's true or false, this news will surely spread like wildfire throughout Luanyang.
Xiao Dingguan glanced at the soldiers and servants, and how could he not know what they were thinking? He nodded slightly.
Upon receiving the order, Zhang Rang immediately led a girl over.
The child was held by an adult and forced to stand in the gap between the battlements.
The girl looked to be only seven or eight years old. She was so thin that her eyes were sunken and all the bones in her body were sticking out, as if they were about to burst through her brand-new silk dress.
Ji Chengnin's expression darkened slightly.
What is Xiao Dingguan planning to do?
Zhang Rang, in a shrill voice, shouted, "Ji Chengnin, you make it sound so nice, what do you mean by 'punishing corrupt officials'? Bah! It's just that those officials were blocking your way, and you couldn't tolerate them!"
He gripped the girl's thin shoulder with one hand and shrieked, "Don't believe him, everyone! Ji Chengnin is nothing but a hypocrite, a madman who kills without hesitation. He even poisoned Qian Wuniang, who was supposed to deliver the message to him!"
Upon hearing this, the soldiers felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over them from head to toe.
All crows are black, indeed.
Ji Chengnin's face darkened.
Has something happened to Qian Wu Niang?
The girl was probably a relative of Qian Wuniang. When Zhang Rang mentioned Qian Wuniang's death again, large tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to fall, which made people's hearts ache.
Zhang Rang was even more satisfied, and said with a sneer, "Qian Wuniang was ordered to deliver a message to him. Ji Chengning pretended to give Wuniang some food, but Wuniang was reluctant to use it and took it home."
They gave it to her two little...children, but unexpectedly, the food was all poisoned! Fifth Sister is gone, her little Seventh Sister is dead too, leaving only this girl!
Zhang Rang pushed Qian Xiaojiu, and the little girl, who was as thin as a kite, hung precariously by the city wall, a sight that made people tremble with fear.
Qian Xiaojiu's face turned deathly pale.
"Tell me, did Ji Chengnin kill your sister?"
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Author's note: I'm back, I'm back.
I don't know what the problem is, but I've been vomiting everything I eat lately and I have no energy.
I feel much better today, and I definitely will tomorrow.
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