Chapter 11
When Ling Jingchu walked to the backyard, Jiang Yunshu was deep in thought with her eyes down.
Jiang Yunshu was somewhat surprised to see him.
"Where are those people? How did you get in?"
Ruan Qingshang asked first, and Ling Jingchu replied in a deep voice, "Those people are gone, Aunt Ruan, don't worry."
"There's something fishy about this. I'm sure everyone's been instigated by the thieves to do this."
Jiang Yunshu looked at him and felt that his face was pale and he seemed aloof, but he looked more like someone who was terminally ill but was still forcing himself to stay healthy.
I don't know if it was because I saw that large patch of dark purple, but I was a little worried that he would faint in front of everyone.
"Aunt Ruan, there's no need to worry."
Ling Jingchu spoke as if he were exerting a great deal of effort. Jiang Yunshu felt a pang of sadness as she watched him panting.
"Why don't you... sit down for a while?"
Ling Jingchu was taken aback for a moment, then slowly shifted his gaze over, his eyes deep and unfathomable as he stared at her.
But she felt that Ling Jingchu was saying that she was being nosy.
Because that look in his eyes was exactly the same as when Ling Jingchu reprimanded Su Ye that day.
She narrowed her eyes: "You like standing, right? That's fine, there's no room for you anyway."
Ruan Qingshang glanced at her, then stepped forward and pulled Ling Jingchu to sit down.
Jiang Jinhong walked in, looking exhausted.
Are you alright?
Ruan Qingshang strode forward and examined Jiang Jinhong from head to toe, his voice trembling slightly.
She also rushed forward, and Jiang Jinhong embraced the two of them, saying in a deep voice, "It's alright, it's alright, thanks to Jing Chu for getting those people to leave temporarily."
He paused, then sighed, "This matter needs to be investigated from the beginning. You all need to be careful recently, and it's best not to go out."
Ruan Qingshang gritted his teeth and said hatefully, "If I find out who is behind this framing of the Jiang family, I will never let them off!"
She shifted her gaze from her father's embrace to Jiang Yunzheng, who was still in a daze, seemingly lost in thought.
Jiang Jinhong patted the two of them on the back: "Things have been a bit turbulent these past few days. You two stay home and I'll investigate this matter thoroughly."
Jiang Shuyue's aunt and uncle originally wanted her to go home with them, but Jiang Shuyue was upset, so Jiang Yunshu let her stay.
As Jiang Yunzheng left, his gaze seemed to sweep over Baili Chuan almost imperceptibly, but Baili Chuan appeared completely oblivious, simply watching them depart.
After everyone left, only a few people remained in the house. Jiang Jinhong told the children to go back to their rooms first. After making such a fuss all day, the night had fallen on the eaves.
Jiang Yunshu also returned to her room. Ayao was brought back by Bai Zhi. Ayao was very happy to see Jiang Shuyue.
"Auntie, I learned origami today. Sister Qingdai said that once I fold a kite, she will take me outside to fly it!"
Jiang Shuyue laughed: "Ayao is so amazing! Then your aunt will be waiting too."
Jiang Yunshu was gazing out the window, her mind somewhat heavy.
"Auntie, are you going to sleep here tonight?"
Ayao's childish voice was full of expectation. She stared at Jiang Shuyue with wide, unblinking eyes, full of anticipation.
"Yes, is Ayao going with her aunt?"
Ayao nodded emphatically, then turned to look at Jiang Yunshu: "Mother, can Ayao sleep with Auntie?"
Jiang Yunshu managed a weak smile, patted A Yao's head, and nodded: "Of course, as long as A Yao is happy."
Then, as if remembering something, she became more serious: "Ayao, you're not allowed to bother your aunt with talking. If I see any dark circles under your eyes tomorrow, I'm going to hit you!"
Her tone was a bit harsher, but Ayao was still smiling, excitedly tugging at Jiang Shuyue's clothes: "Yes, yes, Ayao will definitely go to bed early!"
"I will never talk to my aunt!"
Jiang Shuyue and she exchanged a glance, and they both smiled knowingly.
In some ways, A Yao is very similar to her. In the past, when she was in the Marquis's mansion, she not only suppressed her own nature, but also suppressed the innocence and liveliness in A Yao's bones.
It turns into a tool that only knows how to bow its head.
She actually thought that this was for Ayao's own good.
"It won't go on until very late, don't worry."
Jiang Shuyue whispered in her ear.
After saying that, he took Ayao to her room.
As Jiang Yunshu watched the two figures gradually disappear into the distance, the smile on her face faded, and she sat down at the table with a worried expression.
Qing Shuang poured her cup after cup of tea, and she drank one cup after another, but the restlessness in her heart was still hard to calm down.
After a while, a figure flashed past the window, and Qingye knelt in front of her.
“Master, Young Master Yun Zheng met with a strange man at his restaurant a few days ago. The man was very cautious, and I was almost discovered, so I didn’t dare to follow him.”
“I stayed outside the whole time. Li Chuan went there later too. Not long after, Li Chuan and the young master came out, but we didn’t see that person come out.”
She thought of the short blade from before, and couldn't help but think of the Third Prince, who had a group of secret guards who used such short blades.
Baili Chuan is a prince of the Li Kingdom. He would not assassinate such an insignificant person for the sake of Mo Yanzhou.
It could only be Mo Yanzhou's bodyguard.
So that person hasn't left yet, and may have even seen Jiang Yunzheng.
"Alright, go ahead. Keep an eye on Jiang Yunzheng and report back if anything happens."
"Yes, Master."
Aono disappeared quickly.
She looked at the deep darkness outside, then turned to Qing Shuang and said, "You stay in your room, I'm going out for a bit."
Qing Shuang nodded silently. After thinking for a moment, she changed into a simple and elegant dress that she didn't usually wear.
It's lighter now.
She still decided to go to the restaurant to take a look.
The nights in Jiangnan are very lively; the hotter it is during the day, the more people come out at night.
But the Jiang family's restaurant was deserted, with only a few people around.
There were too few people, so she changed direction and went to the kitchen behind the restaurant. Because she loved to eat there back then, she and Jiang Shuyue had even specially planned a route to avoid being noticed.
She put on a veil and carefully walked through the kitchen. There were few customers late at night, and they stood together chatting leisurely.
She crouched down, hiding behind the stove, and slowly made her way forward, hoping there would be more people around.
When there were many people before, she could just walk through. The kitchen was the busiest place, and no one would care if there was an extra person.
Fortunately, the group was engrossed in their conversation, laughing heartily and slapping their thighs, and didn't notice the person who had passed by.
Instead of going upstairs, she turned around and went to the back room on the first floor where the wine was stored. She walked to the wall with practiced ease, where a small wine bottle was hanging. She picked up the bottle, turned it over, and it separated, revealing a small key inside.
After picking up the bottle, she could see the groove behind it. She put the key in, and the wall popped open a little. She then pushed the door to the side.
I went inside.
A luminous pearl is placed in the dark room, so there is no need to deliberately turn on the lights.
The dark room was winding and twisting. She carefully made her way forward until she heard Jiang Yunzheng's suppressed, low roar.
"Those people almost killed us there today. Didn't we agree long ago that this matter wouldn't have anything to do with the Jiang family?!"
“They won’t go too far. Besides, if this matter doesn’t become a big deal, if the whole city doesn’t know about it, how can we bring that person down?”
The deep voice left Jiang Yunzheng speechless.
The hoarse, deep voice continued: "Young Master Jiang, our master is a man of great principle. Is this little matter really worth you yelling at me like this?"
"In a few days, the truth will come out. The Jiang family will not only suffer no losses, but will also be praised by everyone. Young Master Jiang, the master will give you what you want."
The man's voice was deep and seductive.
After a long pause, she heard Jiang Yunzheng's voice: "But those children are innocent. You didn't say you wanted their lives in the first place!"
“Young Master Jiang,” the man scoffed, “who cares about those people’s lives? Not even their own parents. They’re making a big fuss about this just so they can get some money from the Jiang family.”
"Do you really think the lives of the poor are lives? They're all money. If one dies, they'll have another one. Nobody cares."
"Even if we don't do it, these people will inevitably kill their own children because they can't pay their taxes in the future. Do you think everyone is as happy as you are?"
"See more of the world outside."
Jiang Yunzheng remained silent for a long time.
Her heart sank. Just as she was about to move forward, the wine jar was hit by something and made a very soft sound.
"Who goes there!"
Jiang Yunshu pursed her lips and quickly turned around. Just as she was about to leave, a force pulled her back.
The dark room was full of wine jars; soil had been buried inside the room to store the wine.
Suddenly, a person emerged from the mound of earth. She instinctively tried to throw the person away, but the person reacted quickly, covering her mouth and pulling her forcefully into their arms.
He whispered in her ear.
"It's me."
She looked at Ling Jingchu in disbelief, and then Ling Jingchu pulled her into his arms.
Ling Jingchu was hiding behind a wine rack, which was blocked by a large pillar, so she hadn't noticed the person at all.
This space is small; it was already difficult enough to place a wine rack, and now there are two people here.
Ling Jingchu held her tightly in his arms. With her back against a pillar and his chest in front of her, she felt a little uncomfortable.
But at this moment, she dared not move again.
She pressed herself against Ling Jingchu's chest and could even hear his heartbeat, strong and powerful, one beat after another.
Beneath the fabric lies a strong chest.
"Didn't you say that no one knows about the secret room, Young Master Jiang? You'd better pray that nothing goes wrong, otherwise no one in the Jiang family can be protected!"
The man sneered and threatened.
Jiang Yunzheng said with lingering fear, "It should just be an accident. There isn't much moisture here, and the soil easily clumps together. It was probably just the sound of a clod of soil falling down."
"No one will come."
The man snorted coldly, and the two of them left without continuing.
Jiang Yunshu's heart was in her throat; she felt like it was about to jump out of her chest. Ling Jingchu, on the other hand, looked calm on the surface, and his heart was beating steadily.
She only breathed a sigh of relief when the footsteps outside had completely disappeared.
"Ling Jingchu, you can go out now."
She continued speaking softly, but Ling Jingchu seemed stunned and remained silent for a long time.
She was squeezed and felt uncomfortable, but she managed to lift her head and look at Ling Jingchu.
"They're gone, Ling Jingchu."
She spoke softly, her breath gently brushing against Ling Jingchu's chin.
She felt that Ling Jingchu's eyes were even more profound. He pursed his thin lips, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and after a long while, he finally lowered his eyes to look at her.
The dim light in the dark room reflected on Ling Jingchu's deep-set brow bone, and his long eyelashes perfectly concealed the emotions in his eyes.
She gently patted Ling Jingchu's chest, about to remind him again, when Ling Jingchu suddenly pulled her into his arms.
His head was pressed against his chest by a large hand, making it feel stuffy and hard to breathe.
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