Chapter 36 Brief Alliance
Su Wantang slowly, one finger at a time, pried open Lu Jingyan's fingers and pulled her hand away.
"Major Lu, baseless speculation is meaningless."
“I need evidence. Solid evidence that can deliver a fatal blow to him.”
Lu Jingyan's tall body trembled violently.
He understood.
She wasn't trying to distance herself or shirk responsibility. She was telling him that if he was going to take action, he needed to be fully prepared, to strike decisively and leave Lu Wenbo no chance to turn the tables.
This woman was calmer and more ruthless than he had imagined.
After a long silence, Lu Jingshen slumped back in his chair like a deflated balloon, his voice hoarse and barely audible: "I understand. I'll investigate."
He promised, "I will investigate every single person who had any contact with your mother back then, especially him... inch by inch."
"Okay." Su Wantang replied with only one word.
The car restarted and slowly drove into the military compound.
We walked in silence, but some things had quietly changed.
...
Back in the small building.
After washing up, Su Wantang came out of the bathroom wearing a silk nightgown, her body steaming with moisture.
She stopped in her tracks.
The makeshift bed that belonged to Lu Jingyan on the floor was gone.
The tall man stood by the bed, holding a pillow, looking somewhat lost.
Seeing her come out, his ears turned red suspiciously, but his voice remained stiff: "The ground is cold, it's not good for your health."
After saying that, before Su Wantang could react, he placed the pillow on the other side of the bed and lay down himself, his movements as swift as if he were carrying out some kind of military mission.
Then, he lay down properly, his hands folded over his abdomen, his eyes closed, and his breathing became soft.
His posture created an invisible divide between the two sides of the bed.
A hint of a smile flashed in Su Wantang's eyes.
This man is quite interesting.
She didn't say anything, but pulled back the covers and lay down on the other side of the bed.
The lights were turned off, plunging the room into darkness.
In the darkness, they could clearly hear each other's breathing. Each breath, each exhale, mingled in the still air, carrying a subtle, indescribable scent.
This made her feel uneasy, and her mind was in a jumble.
“Lu Jingyan,” she suddenly spoke, breaking the silence, “I can’t sleep.”
The person next to him visibly stiffened.
"How about you tell me a story?" Her voice was soft and sweet in the night, with a hint of coquetry.
Lu Jingyan remained silent for a full half minute before squeezing out a few words through gritted teeth: "...No."
“Oh,” Su Wantang drawled, turned over, and faced away from him, “Then let me tell you one.”
"Once upon a time, there was a hunter who kept a wolf. Later, the wolf was bitten on the leg by another wild animal, so the hunter threw it away."
"Later, the hunter discovered that the dog that bit the wolf was his uncle's dog."
"Do you think that after the wolf heals, it will kill the dog first, or will it tear the hunter's uncle to pieces along with it?"
After she finished speaking, she fell silent.
In the darkness, Lu Jingyan's breathing suddenly became heavier.
Su Wantang closed her eyes, but her mind was racing.
Lu Wenbo, that old fox, is too cunning. Relying solely on Lu Jingyan to investigate from within the military is tantamount to operating on someone else's turf, leaving them vulnerable at every turn.
External force is required.
The next morning, Qin Zheng was summoned to the study.
"Young Miss".
"Here's ten thousand yuan and twenty gold bars," Su Wantang said, pushing a heavy cloth bag in front of him, getting straight to the point.
"I need you. Use all your connections—veterans, active duty officers, gangsters… use everyone you can."
Qin Zheng's pupils suddenly contracted.
Su Wantang tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, making a soft "tap, tap" sound, her gaze calm and sharp.
"I want all of Lu Wenbo's information. When did he come to Beijing? Who is he close to? What shady businesses does he have? What kind of people does he employ? I want him to be completely clean, inside and out. If you don't have enough money, just ask."
This is no longer a simple matter of gathering information; it's about digging deep and uncovering everything about Lu Wenbo!
Qin Zheng looked at the money and gold bars in front of him, and even more so at the young lady in front of him, whose mind was as deep as the sea. He was greatly shocked.
He didn't ask anything, just nodded heavily and picked up the cloth bag.
"yes!"
One word sums up his loyalty, a loyalty he swore with his life.
After Qin Zheng left, Su Wantang began to busy herself with the affairs of "Tangdixuan".
The hard furnishings of the courtyard are basically complete; all that remains are the soft furnishings and the staff. She personally drew up the furniture plans, found the best carpenters in Beijing to build them, and also took some fabrics and ornaments in a later style from the existing space. The entire courtyard presents a unique atmosphere that blends classical and modern elements.
The most crucial element is people.
She instructed Qin Zheng to spread the word that Tangdixuan was hiring.
The requirements were so demanding that everyone thought it was a pipe dream.
First, one must have a dignified appearance and be at least 1.68 meters tall.
Secondly, they must have a clean background, sign a life-long contract, and be absolutely loyal.
Third, one must be proficient in at least one of the following: playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, dancing, or tea ceremony.
The news caused an uproar in the entire capital's employment agencies. This wasn't hiring servants; it was selecting imperial concubines!
For several days in a row, there were very few applicants, and even those who did were far from meeting Su Wantang's requirements.
Just when everyone thought the plan was going to fall through, Qin Zheng brought back a group of people.
Twelve girls.
They stood in a row, dressed in faded old military uniforms, their posture upright, their eyes filled with a determination and discipline that ordinary girls lacked.
“Miss, they are all female soldiers who retired for various reasons, or military dependents with financial difficulties. Their backgrounds are absolutely clean, and I can guarantee their loyalty.” Qin Zheng’s voice carried a hint of pride.
Su Wantang's gaze swept across the faces of the twelve girls one by one.
They may not be the most beautiful, but each of them is spirited and has a clean and pure temperament.
“Very good.” She nodded in satisfaction. “From today onwards, you are all members of ‘Tangdixuan’. From now on, you will be called by the months from January to December. January, you step forward.”
A girl with the tallest figure and a cold face stepped forward.
"What are you good at?" Su Wantang asked.
"Report! Hand-to-hand combat, fire!" January's voice was strong and clear.
Su Wantang smiled: "Very good. From now on, you will be their instructor. I don't care what you did before, once you're here with me, you'll learn new things."
She pointed to the guqin, chessboard, and tea set arranged in the courtyard, "Within a month, I want each of you to be able to sit here elegantly, play a piece of music, play a game of chess, and brew a pot of fine tea. Can you do that?"
The twelve female soldiers looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion.
It's fine to send them to the front lines, but to let them dabble in these romantic and frivolous things?
"Those who can't do it can leave now." Su Wantang's tone was indifferent. "Those who stay, from now on, you will share honor and disgrace. If one person makes a mistake, the whole group will be punished. But also remember, as long as you are loyal, I, Su Wantang, will guarantee you a life of plenty and that no one will dare to bully you."
His words combined kindness and severity.
The eyes of the twelve girls gradually shifted from confusion to determination.
"We swear to serve Miss to the death!"
A unified sound rang out in the courtyard.
The core team of the "Twelve Beauties of Tangdi Pavilion" was thus formed.
...
On the other side, in the military region office.
Lu Jingyan looked at the report in his hand, his brows furrowing into a knot.
"The trail went cold when it reached Lu Wenbo's secretary, Zhao Qiang?" His voice was as cold as ice.
Gao Jianjun said with a solemn expression: "Yes. The last warehouse receipt for that batch of stolen military supplies was signed by Zhao Qiang. But when we went to investigate, Zhao Qiang had already disappeared. All the relevant files and records were deliberately destroyed, leaving no trace."
What a brilliant escape!
Lu Jingyan slammed his fist on the table, the solid wooden table making a dull thud.
This was undoubtedly Lu Wenbo's doing—sacrificing a pawn to save the king, leaving no one to testify.
His good second uncle's influence in the military was far more extensive and complex than he had imagined.
"Keep investigating!" Lu Jingyan squeezed out the three words through gritted teeth. "Even if we have to turn Beijing upside down, we must find that Zhao Qiang!"
"yes!"
Exhausted and chilled, Lu Jingyan returned to the small building.
It was already late when he pushed open the courtyard gate, only to be stunned.
The courtyard was brightly lit.
Su Wantang changed into a neat pantsuit and stood in front of a group of girls.
"Keep your back straight, chin slightly tucked, eyes looking straight ahead with a smile, but not in a fawning manner."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.
She personally stepped forward, adjusted a girl's posture, and gently tapped the girl's back with her finger. "Remember, you represent the face of Tangdixuan, the most noble place in the entire capital. You must have the demeanor befitting this nobility."
Under the moonlight, the aura of a leader who was strategic and in control emanating from Su Wantang made Lu Jingyan feel a strong sense of unfamiliarity.
Is this still the same woman who was shivering with her knees drawn up to her chest in a Shanghai restaurant?
Is this still the same woman who would blush, show weakness, and look at him with misty eyes in front of him?
He stood in the shadows, watching her calmly command the landscape, watching the twelve female soldiers follow her with eyes of admiration and awe.
Unbeknownst to Lu Jingyan, he was replaced by something deeper and more intense.
It's a poison called infatuation.
Once you're hooked, you can never quit.
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