Chapter 19 Chapter 19 This is... embroidered by her own hands. ...
The prison door slammed shut with a bang, and the heavy copper lock fell, the sound echoing in the narrow and cold space.
The prison at the Governor's Office was located behind the government office, in a low-lying area. It was nearly night when I was brought there, and the light was dim. As soon as I stepped through the prison door, a nauseating stench of dampness, decay, and blood filled my nostrils.
The damp ground shone with water, a layer of dark green moss grew in the cracks between the stone bricks, the walls were mottled, the shadows of mice were lingering in the corners, and the air was so stuffy that it was almost suffocating.
The three of them were roughly pushed and thrown in. There was only a thin layer of straw under their feet, which was moldy, slippery and sticky when they stepped on it.
Yin Shuang fell down and hit her elbow on the rusty iron chain in the corner of the wall, and she gasped.
She hugged her knees and spoke in a trembling voice: "I don't want to die... Girl, I don't want to die. My mother is still in Liangzhou. She is waiting for me to go back and get married..." As she spoke, she choked with sobs, tears rolled down her face, and her eyes were full of panic.
Wanniang looked around and felt her scalp tighten. She quickly supported her, "Don't cry, don't cry. The more you cry, the happier the jailers will be."
Jiang Ci didn't speak immediately. She stood in the darkest corner of the cell, head bowed, expression fixed. The torches outside cast dappled light, and her shadow, reflected on the damp wall, seemed particularly cold and desolate.
She replayed the contents of the letter over and over in her mind.
The handwriting was beautiful, the lines were smooth, and the writing habits were exactly the same as hers. Even the typos were imitated accurately. But there was a moment when she remembered that she had written the word "场" for more than ten years and habitually added an extra horizontal stroke. This mistake seemed unintentional to others, but if someone imitated it, it would be easy to write it correctly.
That subtle feeling of something being wrong has finally taken root in my mind.
She lowered her eyes and spoke softly to herself, "This handwriting is mine. But it's not me."
Wanniang turned around and looked at her: "Girl, what did you say?"
Jiang Ci finally came back to his senses and looked at the two of them. His voice was low but steady: "No rush, we are safe for now. We still have a chance before he comes back."
She walked over, squatted down, and while straightening Yin Shuang, she gently brushed the dust off her shoulders: "Will crying be of any use? What we need to do now is to find a way to get out of this."
Wanniang held her hand. Her palm was cold, but her tone was firmer. "Miss, you are right. There is no point in being anxious in this prison now."
Jiang Ci nodded slightly, slowly raised his eyes, and cast them towards the small window at the top of the cold wall behind him. Outside the narrow square hole, the night was as thick as a pool of ink, pressing down heavily and boundlessly.
A calm light flashed in her eyes: "Even if I have to die, I want to die with a clear conscience. I married into this marriage on the edge of a knife. Every day I live is a day I can protect Liangzhou."
The next morning, the sun was rising and the clouds were pale white.
Shen Ru'an was sitting in front of a bronze mirror dressing herself when she heard a message from her personal maid - last night Jiang Ci was ordered by the governor to be taken to the prison in the governor's office, but was not executed on the spot.
The comb in her hand suddenly broke with a "snap", and the broken teeth flew onto the table. The face reflected in the bronze mirror became more beautiful, but there was a cold light in the corners of her eyes.
She sneered, and the corner of her mouth slowly rose to one side. She didn't expect that she was so lucky and was still alive.
At this time, Ji Qiu pushed the door open with a lunch box in his hand and said with a smile, "The kitchen has made some bird's nest porridge. I brought it specially for you, sister."
Shen Ru'an leaned back and sat, his eyes falling on the food box through the bronze mirror, and said in a light tone: "Put it over there."
As she spoke, her fingertips tapped the table, her eyes never leaving the plain white porcelain cup in the mirror. Suddenly, the corners of her lips curled up, replaced by a gentle and bright smile. She turned around, stood up, and pulled Ji Qiu to sit down.
"My dear sister," she called her softly, "Do you still remember that day when you helped me steal the pictures and started the fire?"
Ji Qiu nodded, looking a little embarrassed.
Shen Ru'an held her hand and said slowly: "You also know that I wrote that letter, but if you hadn't taken action, how could Jiang Ci's map fall into my hands? So you and I are on the same page in this matter."
Ji Qiu felt a little uneasy. He gently broke free from her hand, frowning slightly. "What do you mean? You wrote the letter, and it was your idea to steal the picture. I was just following your instructions... Are you trying to push everything onto me?"
Shen Ru'an looked at her with a smile, as if she was looking at a well-behaved little animal. She raised her hand and gently touched her cheek: "You misunderstood. I just want to remind you that we are now grasshoppers on the same rope. Last night, my second cousin was extremely angry. I thought Jiang Ci would die without a doubt, but he just... didn't do anything."
She squinted her eyes, looking at the shadows of birds flying by in the morning light outside the window, and her voice sounded dreamy: "If he returns from the battle, it will be too late for us."
Ji Qiu's expression changed slightly, and his voice became tense: "Then what do you want to do?"
Shen Ru'an smiled leisurely, as if he was just chatting and admiring the moon: "Of course I will send her off so that she can die without any evidence."
When Ji Qiu heard this, he froze, his throat choked, and he wanted to say something but no words came out.
Shen Ru'an lowered her head and straightened her clothes, gently comforting her like a sister: "Don't be afraid, Second Cousin already hated her. If she dies, it will save us from bringing up the past in the future. What will we do if she bites you and me?"
Ji Qiu lowered his head, hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded slowly.
Shen Ru'an walked to the dressing table, took out a small porcelain bottle from the secret compartment, unscrewed it, poured out a little white powder, sprinkled it into the food box skillfully, and gently stirred it with a silver hairpin in her hair.
"This medicine is neither bitter nor painful. After drinking it, you won't struggle," she said lightly.
She handed the food box to Ji Qiu, and said gently: "Pretend to be a maid in the mansion, go to the governor's office, and say that you are worried that she can't get used to the prison food, so you send some food to take care of her." As she spoke, a faint smile crossed her lips.
Ji Qiu took the food box, his face pale, but he still nodded and turned away quickly.
Shen Ru'an looked at her receding back, his expression changed from gentle to cold, and he sneered softly.
"What a wooden thing."
The morning sun gradually became brighter, people and cars were coming and going on the streets, and the morning mist had dissipated.
Ji Qiu carried the lunch box of porridge and walked slowly towards the Governor's Office.
She was wearing the clothes of a maid in the mansion, her hair was combed meticulously, and she looked like an ordinary maid who delivered meals.
But her heart was already in a mess.
She kept her hand to her lips and bit her nails with her teeth. She was afraid of being seen by anyone when she walked. She lowered her head and avoided the gaze of every passerby.
"Do you remember that day when you helped me steal the pictures and started the fire?"
"You also know that I wrote the letter to frame Jiang Ci, and you also played a role in it."
Shen Ru'an's gentle yet venomous voice lingered in his ears.
She had originally… just wanted to be close to Ji Yang, to avoid being looked down upon by Shen Ru'an. She had never truly considered putting a woman to death. But now she had no way out.
"If she survives and speaks, it will be the end of you and me."
Shen Ru'an's words were like a whip, lashing her mind.
The closer she got, the more confused she became and the heavier her steps became.
As she walked through a narrow alley, the morning breeze blew and she suddenly stopped.
On the right hand side is an extremely inconspicuous small drugstore. In this alley where no one passes by, the sign under the eaves sways slightly in the wind. On the flag is written the word "medicine". The ink is a little faded, but it is eye-catching.
Ji Qiu's eyes were fixed. She stood there, staring blankly at the word "medicine".
She recalled Shen Ru'an's expression when he sprinkled the medicine into the porridge, and the understated words:
"It's not bitter, nor painful."
But in this world, is there really a death that is neither bitter nor painful?
Her throat was dry, and the weight of the lunch box seemed to crush her arms in an instant. She wanted to turn around, but she didn't dare; she wanted to move forward, but her feet felt rooted to the ground.
The crowd on the street passed by her, but she was the only one who seemed to be nailed to the spot.
At the same time, the sun was shining brightly in the courtyard and the summer breeze was blowing the branches, but Ji Yunfan was running with a newly made kite, sweating profusely.
He clutched the kite string tightly in his little hands and ran breathlessly to Ji Xu's house, shouting, "Dad! I want to fly a kite with Sister Jiang. She promised me!"
Zhu Niang was fetching water and was startled when she heard this. She squatted down with a serious expression to stop him: "Young Master, the Second Madam...can't see you now."
"Why?" The little person frowned in confusion. "Did she go out to see Second Uncle off? Then I'll go too!"
At this moment, Ji Xu, who was inside the house, heard the noise and walked out slowly. He looked a little tired, having just put on the navy blue cloak, and the fragrance of Jiang Ci's embroidery thread still lingered on the collar.
He bent down and asked softly, "Afan, who told you not to see her?"
Zhu Niang pursed her lips and finally replied, "Second Madam... was sent to the Military Governor's Office last night by order of the Governor-General."
Ji Xu's eyes were shocked: "What?" He stood up straight suddenly, without even having time to fasten his cloak, and his eyes suddenly became sharp.
"What happened last night?"
Zhu Niang looked troubled: "I heard... it's the crime of treason."
After hearing this, Ji Xu's expression suddenly changed, and the folding fan in his hand fell to the ground with a snap. He calmed down and asked in a low voice, "Is there any evidence?"
"...The Military Governor's Office said they intercepted the letter."
He was about to ask someone to prepare a car to go to the Governor's Office when he suddenly heard a silver bell-like laughter coming from outside the door.
"Cousin Zixu."
Shen Ru'an had dressed up beautifully today, her dress adorned with beads, her hair in a new bun, and her eyes sparkling. She walked into the courtyard with a smile, carrying a box of osmanthus cakes.
"Why did you come so early today?" Ji Xu's tone was light, but there was a hint of worry in his eyes.
Shen Ru'an saw the dark blue cape on his shoulders at a glance. His eyes suddenly turned cold and his throat tightened. After a moment, he put on a decent smile, gently put down the cake in his hand, and said softly: "I came to see you. I invited a doctor today. I asked someone to find him. He is said to be good at regulating qi and blood. He will be here soon."
She changed her tone, noticing the solemn atmosphere in the courtyard, and frowned slightly: "What's wrong? What happened?"
Zhu Niang briefly recounted Jiang Ci's story. Shen Ru'an was not surprised after hearing it. He just shook his head and said, "I've heard about it too...collaborating with the enemy is a capital crime."
Ji Xu raised his eyes upon hearing this, his expression suddenly darkened, and his tone was not without chill: "You said she collaborated with the enemy? I don't believe it."
Shen Ru'an's tone was a bit tactful and consoling, but her eyes were always fixed on his expression: "I know you don't want to believe it...but that letter and that picture, it's said that she gave it to the coachman from Liangzhou personally, even the handwriting matches. I only found out about it last night, and I almost didn't sleep all night."
As she spoke, she glanced at the cloak again, her expression unmoved, yet anger was already welling up in her heart. She clenched her teeth, but still smiled as she spoke, "If Cousin Zixu is truly worried, why don't I accompany you to the Military Governor's Office to see her?"
Ji Xu looked at her for a moment, and finally said in a deep voice: "Baiyang, prepare the car."
He then turned to Shen Ru'an and said in a steady tone, "Cousin, you don't have to go. Stay and accompany Afan."
Shen Ru'an raised the corners of his lips slightly, with a hint of unconcealable pride in his smile, but his eyes were cold: “Go, by the time you get there, Jiang Ci will be almost dead.
She nodded and took Ji Yunfan's hand. "Alright. As a girl from the inner chambers, it's really not convenient for me to visit a place like the Governor's Office. It's too murderous."
Ji Xu said nothing more, just gathered his cloak and quickly followed Bai Yang out of the mansion.
As the hour of Chen was approaching, drums beat like hammers and flags fluttered outside the north gate of Fengdu.
The city gate slowly opened, and thousands of Dongyang soldiers in iron armor lined up in formation, wearing black armor and silver helmets, with swords and spears like a forest, and a murderous aura was overwhelming.
At the front, Ji Yang was wearing a black battle robe, sitting upright on a tall horse, holding the reins in his hands, his expression as cold and stern as a mountain or an iron wall.
Lu Linchuan rode along on horseback, smiling faintly, with a pot of wine hanging around his waist. The two rode side by side, passing through the city gate in the spotlight of the crowd, looking very majestic.
The roadsides were already filled with people who had come to see them off. Men were shouting their congratulations, while women and children were murmuring their wishes. Suddenly, two men in plain clothes murmured sneers in the crowd, their words frivolously sneered:
"Tsk, look at that woman. She's just ordinary looking, yet she dares to get close to the governor. Is she trying to be his mistress?"
"She's just a toy. Do you really want her to be your wife? She's the only one left in the brothel at the end of our alley."
Before he could finish his words, Ji Yang reined in his horse.
The surrounding soldiers fell silent for a moment, and the beating of drums also slowed down a bit.
He raised his eyebrows, and his cold eyes swept towards the crowd. He opened his thin lips slightly, but every word was cold:
"Drag those two gossipers out."
The Dongyang army immediately stepped forward, and before the two men could react, they were captured by iron arms and dragged to their knees in front of the army formation.
"Your despicable behavior, spreading rumors and insulting people, defaming women's chastity, have you ever thought that you were also born of women?" Ji Yang's tone was not loud, but it was like a blade passing through the ice, and every word cut into the bones.
The two men's faces turned pale, and they kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy: "General, please spare our lives! We know we were wrong! We won't do it again, we won't do it again—"
Ji Yang glared at him coldly for a moment, pursed his lips, and waved the whip in his hand:
"Ten military sticks per person, beat them."
"yes!"
Along with the sound of military clubs hitting flesh, screams resounded throughout the street, causing the crowd to groan and dare not say a word.
Ji Yang never looked back, but rode away, whipping his horse. On the long street, the Dongyang cavalry followed him, stepping on the wind and dust, and rushed out of the city.
On the other side, Ji Qiu walked into the pharmacy.
The shop was filled with a strong medicinal aroma, and the air was mixed with the smell of bitter roots and old wormwood.
Ji Qiu stood in front of the counter, biting his lip, and said in a very soft voice: "Boss... do you have that kind of medicine? After taking it, it seems like you are dead, but in fact... you are just in a coma?"
The shopkeeper's nonchalant expression paused, and he looked up at her for a few seconds, a hint of vigilance in his eyes: "Miss, are you trying to harm someone?"
"No!" Ji Qiu immediately shook his head, his expression panicked. "I'm not trying to harm anyone, I'm... trying to save her. If she doesn't die, she will actually die."
The shopkeeper pondered for a moment, then pulled out a small, pitch-black porcelain bottle from behind the medicine cabinet and gently placed it on the counter. "This is my specially made Soul-Forgetting Powder. Just one third of it will make a person unconscious and completely dead. To outsiders, they will appear dead and will gradually wake up after twelve hours."
Ji Qiu took the medicine bottle, his fingertips trembling slightly, bowed to the shopkeeper, and whispered, "Thank you."
After she left the pharmacy, her hands and feet were cold, but she no longer hesitated. In this secluded alley, she poured out the medicinal porridge that Shen Ru'an had given her in the original food box and buried it with the dirt on the roadside.
Then he went around and around and bought another bowl of porridge at a porridge shop in the city. He carefully picked up a handful of Forgetful Soul Powder, poured it into the porridge, stirred it well, and sealed the box.
She stood there, taking a few breaths, as if she had finally pulled herself back an inch from the edge of the cliff. She looked up at the sky, which was getting darker, and the sound of drums could be heard faintly in the wind.
She hugged the food box tightly, hesitated for a moment in the wind, and murmured softly, "I really can't do anything that would harm someone's life..."
After saying that, he gritted his teeth, turned around and walked quickly towards the Governor's Office.
The gate of the Governor's Office is heavily guarded.
Ji Qiu, dressed in plain clothes, walked to the door with a cautious and respectful expression on her face. She pulled out a bronze token with dark patterns from her sleeve and held it up to her eyes.
"I am from the Dongyang Marquis' Mansion, and I have been ordered to come and visit the Second Madam."
The soldier on duty glanced at her warily, his eyes glancing over the token, but he didn't immediately move away. "The governor personally ordered last night that no one is allowed to visit the prison unless he gives a personal order."
Ji Qiu lowered his head slightly, his tone soft and almost pleading, "I'm not here to visit or chat... Since the governor didn't immediately punish Madam, it means he still has something to ask her. But Madam has been pampered since she was a child and has never eaten prison food. I'm here to deliver this bowl of porridge on the orders of the eldest son. If you really can't get in, you can pass it on for me."
She spoke sincerely, even with a slight tremor in her voice, holding the old lacquer lunch box in both hands.
The guard looked at her for a long moment, then glanced down at the bronze order. Finally, he nodded and took the food box. "Then go back. This isn't a place you can stay for long."
Ji Qiu breathed a sigh of relief, whispered a thank you, handed over the food box, turned around and left quickly, but his steps gradually became hurried.
After walking a few feet, she couldn't help but look back at the gate of the Governor's Office with a complicated look.
The cell was cold and damp, and the morning light could not penetrate the heavy iron door, leaving only a faint light in the corner of the wall.
Jiang Ci sat curled up in the corner, his back against the damp and cold wall, his knees drawn up to his chest, his hair slightly disheveled, his expression silent.
Her eyes were closed, as if she was suppressing her fatigue, or as if she simply didn't want to open them to face the turbid light of the sky.
Suddenly, with a "clang", the sound of a sword hitting the iron bars suddenly rang out in the silence.
Wanniang was the first to wake up and reflexively protected Yinshuang behind her.
Yinshuang had not slept all night. Her nerves were tense and she hid behind Wanniang tremblingly, her eyes full of fear, thinking that she was here to pronounce the verdict.
Jiang Ci also slowly opened his eyes and looked up at the person who came.
A military governor's guard stood in front of the prison door, his expression indifferent but without any ill intention. He held a black, old lunch box in his hand, knocked on the railing with the handle of his knife, and said coldly:
"Second Madam, this is the breakfast sent by the eldest son."
Hearing that it was Ji Xu, Jiang Ci's expression shifted slightly. He finally stood up and walked to the iron railings. His voice was slightly hoarse and contained a restrained softness: "Did Big Brother bring you any message?"
The guard shook his head: "No."
"Thank you." Jiang Ci replied in a low voice, his expression gentle but tired.
The guard nodded, put down the food box and turned to leave.
Wanniang carefully brought the porridge in through the window, opened the lid, and a warm rice aroma hit her face.
She handed the porridge to Jiang Ci, her eyes slightly reddened: "Miss, the eldest master still cares about you. Now that Madam Ji is not at home, only he...only he still remembers your kindness."
Yin Shuang added softly, her voice choking, "If the young lady had married the eldest son, she wouldn't have been falsely accused and suffered such injustice..."
Wanniang sighed softly, "What's the point of saying all this now? Girl, drink the porridge while it's still hot. You haven't had a drop of water since last night. Tell me, you've never suffered such hardship in Zichuan, alas..."
Jiang Ci listened to the familiar voice, his eyes reddened slightly, he nodded and took the porridge.
She sat back in the corner, sipping it sip by sip. The warm rice soup flowed down her throat into her stomach, as if dispelling some of the coldness in her body.
Just a cup of tea after finishing the porridge, Jiang Ci suddenly felt an inexplicable heat surging in her body. At first, it was just a dry throat, and then it was like a ball of fire swimming and rolling in her internal organs, burning her chest so much that she could hardly breathe.
Her brows slightly furrowed, her face turned pale, the bowl in her hand trembled, the porridge spilled onto her clothes, and she staggered and slid down to sit against the wall.
"Miss? What's wrong with you?" Wan Niang was sharp-eyed and rushed over to help her immediately. Yin Shuang also rushed over in panic. The two of them slowly supported Jiang Ci and leaned him against the corner of the wall.
Jiang Ci closed his eyes in pain, his voice hoarse: "I... my throat feels like it's being strangled, and I can't breathe..."
Her forehead was covered with cold sweat, her face turned blue, her body began to curl up, and her knuckles were tightly clasped around the hem of her clothes.
Yin Shuang exclaimed in surprise and quickly pulled the remaining half bowl of porridge at her feet. Wan Niang took it, put it close to her nose and sniffed it carefully. Her face suddenly froze: "It has no taste... But isn't this just ordinary white porridge..."
She looked at the bowl of porridge and murmured, "This was sent by the eldest son's people. How could it be possible... No, he wouldn't harm the girl. How could he harm you?"
"It's not him." Jiang Ci struggled to speak, his voice trembling slightly, but firm. "If he really wanted me dead, he wouldn't use such means. It's likely that someone is using his name."
As soon as she finished speaking, her body trembled violently, as if something was being pulled out of her body. Her throat felt sweet, and she spat out a mouthful of blood. The blood was as red as plum blossoms, splattering on her plain white dress, a glaring and terrifying sight.
Yin Shuang was so frightened that tears welled up in her eyes: "Hurry up and call the jailer! The girl is in trouble!"
Jiang Ci slowly closed his eyes, with blood still flowing in his throat, but he gritted his teeth and tried hard not to lose consciousness.
The morning mist had not yet dissipated at the gate of the Governor-General's Office.
As soon as Ji Xu's carriage came to a stop, he eagerly lifted the curtain and rushed out. He stumbled, and Bai Yang quickly stepped forward to support him.
"Young Master, please take care of yourself!" Bai Yang whispered, but Ji Xu pushed him away with one hand.
He took a breath, walked quickly to the door, and said in a deep voice to the guard: "I want to see my sister-in-law, Jiang Ci."
The guard recognized him, but was a little confused. He quickly saluted and said, "My Lord... didn't you send a maid to bring breakfast to the Second Madam? Why did you come here in person?"
Ji Xu paused, his brows furrowed, a flicker of alertness flashing across his eyes: "When did I send anyone? What did that person look like?"
The guard scratched his head and replied, "She was a young maid, quite pretty and pretty. She said she was ordered to deliver porridge and even had a token from the Dongyang Marquis' Mansion. However, she didn't go in. I was the one who delivered the porridge."
Before he finished speaking, Ji Xu's face suddenly changed, and a sense of foreboding suddenly rushed into his heart. He shouted coldly: "Not good - she is in danger!"
The guard looked panicked: "This... If the governor knew that I let people in -"
Ji Xu didn't hesitate any longer. He pulled out the sword from the guard's waist, and with a flash of cold light, he pointed it at his throat. "Take me in! If anything goes wrong, I'll take the blame!"
His tone was like a knife cutting through bones, and he spoke each word with great emphasis: "But if Jiang Ci dies from the thing you sent in, then tell me—what should I do with you when Ji Yang returns? Or, do you want me to execute you right here and now?"
The guard's forehead was covered with cold sweat, and he could only respond: "Master, calm down and follow me."
Bai Yang supported Ji Xu, and the group quickly walked through the corridors and went straight into the dungeon.
The prison was damp and rotten, and the lights were dim. Ji Xu staggered but walked quickly. Although he was weak, his steps were full of urgency.
As soon as I entered, I heard a rapid cough and a woman's low cry of surprise.
"Girl! Girl, wake up—"
Ji Xu's eyes flashed, and he looked in the direction of the voice, only to see Jiang Ci lying in the corner of the cell, his face as pale as paper, cold sweat soaking his temples, and blood at the corners of his lips.
"Open the door!" he shouted, almost gritting his teeth.
The guard hesitated for a moment, and seeing that he still had the knife in his hand, he had to step forward cautiously to unlock it.
As soon as the prison door opened, Wanniang and Yinshuang immediately rushed to Ji Xu, crying and sobbing: "Master, please save our daughter! She's been poisoned! She's really dying!"
Ji Xu did not hesitate any longer, dropped his sword, walked quickly to Jiang Ci, half-knelt down and picked her up.
Jiang Ci's eyelashes trembled slightly, his face pale, and he suddenly grabbed his sleeve and murmured, his voice so weak that it was almost inaudible:
"Brother... I... I was wronged..."
Before she could finish her words, her vision went dark and she passed out completely.
"Jiang Ci!" Ji Xu hugged her, his face ashen, his heart piercing like a knife. Without time to care about decency and etiquette, he stood up and walked out.
The jailer stepped forward quickly to stop him: "Young Master... I have received an order from the governor. The second lady cannot leave for the time being..." Ji Xu sneered, his eyes were as cold as frost, but his tone was low and powerful:
"Then I will commit suicide here as the son of the Marquis of Dongyang. If Ji Yang asks about it in the future, I will see how you respond."
The jailer was horrified and hurriedly stopped him: "No! No, Master—Quick, let him go!"
Seeing this, the guards also lowered their heads and stepped aside. However, they stopped Wanniang and Yinshuang where they were. Wanniang and Yinshuang knelt anxiously, "Master, saving the young lady is the most important thing. We can hold on here!"
Ji Xu glanced at the two of them, gritted his teeth and nodded: "Hold on, I'll take her to the medical clinic."
Bai Yang immediately took Jiang Ci's body and carefully helped him into the car. As soon as Ji Xu got in, he almost collapsed and sat on the lining.
"Go to the nearest medical clinic - quickly!" he shouted, and the driver immediately whipped the whip.
The carriage rumbled out, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The atmosphere in the carriage was heavy.
Ji Xu sat in a corner of the inner cabin. Jiang Ci's face was as pale as paper, his lips were purple, and his breath was almost imperceptible.
He stared at her intently, his fingertips gently probing her breath, his eyes darkening inch by inch, as if a huge rock was hanging over his heart, weighing him down so heavily that he couldn't breathe.
His hands had been trembling slightly without him noticing. "Cough..." He suddenly coughed twice, his brows furrowed, and his face turned pale.
Bai Yang heard the noise outside the carriage and quickly lifted the curtain, asking nervously, "Master, are you feeling unwell? I'll tell everyone to slow down."
"I won't die." Ji Xu said in a light tone without raising his eyes.
The carriage sped like an arrow, raising up dust.
Finally arriving at the clinic's entrance, Ji Xu was the first to push aside the curtains and jump out before the car even stabilized, barely waiting for Bai Yang to step forward and support him. His feet wobbled, but he held Jiang Ci steady in his arms and strode into the clinic.
"Hurry! Doctor - look at her!" His voice was filled with undisguised anxiety and anger.
An old doctor with a white beard came forward immediately. Seeing the situation, his expression changed drastically: "Poisoning? Help him into the inner hall quickly!"
The inner hall was filled with the aroma of medicine. Jiang Ci was placed on a wooden couch. His face was pale, his eyes were closed, his long eyelashes were trembling, and there were traces of blood at the corners of his lips.
The old doctor stroked his beard and frowned, then sat down beside the bed and reached out to feel her pulse. His fingers rested on the pulse for a long time, his brow furrowed tighter and tighter.
Ji Xu, who was standing by, stared at him nervously. After a moment, he asked in a deep voice, "How is it?"
The doctor withdrew his fingers, frowned, and shook his head, his tone full of hesitation. "Her pulse is weak, and her Qi and blood are deficient. She does have signs of poisoning. But... it doesn't seem like an ordinary drug poison. I've been practicing medicine for decades, and I've never seen such a reaction before."
"Is there any solution?" Ji Xu's brows were as dark as frost, and his tone was low.
"If we can examine the remaining medicine she took, perhaps we can analyze its properties."
Bai Yang reacted immediately, took out a carefully wrapped handkerchief from his bosom, and handed it over respectfully: "This is what she just brought out from the prison. She only drank half of the bowl of porridge."
The doctor took it, opened the handkerchief, and looked at the remaining porridge. He put it close to his nose and sniffed carefully. After concentrating for a moment, he coughed lightly and said, "The smell is very faint, as if... it is obscured by something. I will need to spend some time to investigate carefully."
Ji Xu sneered after hearing this, his tone mixed with strong sarcasm and self-mockery: "Oh, if there really were a famous doctor with all-powerful skills and vision in the world, why would I have been sick for so many years and still not recovered?"
After he finished speaking, he looked at the thin figure on the bed again, his eyes were heavy, his thin lips were tightly pursed, and he felt as if his heart was being hit by a huge stone.
He murmured, "Jiang Ci...you must not die."
Bai Yang was silent for a moment, then finally whispered, "Sir, you're not feeling well. You should return home and recuperate. Besides, she's the governor's wife. It's already inappropriate for you to take her out of the prison. I'll ask Zhu Niang to watch over the girl. If there's any news, I'll report it to you immediately."
Ji Xu closed his eyes, as if exerting great restraint, and finally nodded: "Okay."
He turned and tried to leave, but when he reached the door, he stopped and said coldly, "Keep a close eye on her. If I go back and investigate, it turns out that someone in the mansion is trying to harm her..."
He raised his eyes, his gaze stern: "I will make that person pay back tenfold. By the way, don't tell anyone about her affairs."
Ji Qiu hurriedly stepped into the mansion, his fingertips still trembling slightly and a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.
Her heart was beating like a drum, and she didn't know whether she was afraid that something really happened to the bowl of porridge, or she was afraid of Shen Ru'an.
As soon as he passed the hanging flower gate, he ran into Shen Ru'an who was about to go out.
Shen Ru'an was wearing a peach-colored skirt and had delicate makeup on. She looked at her with a smile on her lips. She glanced at Ji Qiu's pale lips and slightly messy hair, and raised her eyebrows slightly:
"You're back pretty quick. I was just looking for you. Is everything settled?"
Ji Qiu bit his lip, forced himself to remain calm, and replied with his eyes lowered, "It was sent in. The guard at the prison gate saw the token from the Marquis' Mansion and ordered someone to bring the porridge in."
Shen Ru'an smiled with satisfaction when she heard this, took two steps closer, pinched her cheek gently with her fingers, and said in a gentle but chilling tone:
"So good."
Ji Qiu lowered his head and said nothing.
She returned to her room and the moment she closed the door, she felt as if she had lost all her energy. She leaned against the door for a moment before she began to pack her luggage with trembling hands.
She opened the wooden box and found several sets of clothes neatly folded, as well as a hairpin lying inside. It was a gift from Chen Ru'an when she came of age. Ji Qiu was suddenly stunned.
Memories flooded back. She remembered that she was always weak and sickly when she was a child, and the girls in the city didn't like to play with her. Only Shen Ru'an took her hand in front of everyone and said, "I'll accompany you."
At that time, she was so grateful that she almost regarded Shen Ru'an as half a sister.
Later, Shen Ru'an, disgusted by the meowing of cats, threw a kitten from a neighboring courtyard into a well at night. Fortunately, a servant passed by and the cat was saved. Afterward, Shen Ru'an was furious.
She didn't understand it at the time, but when she thought about it now, she felt a chill down her spine.
Later, Shen Ru'an said, "Come with me to Fengdu. Ji Yang is your destined lover, the god of war, and the best man in the world." She followed him as if she was bewitched.
She closed the box, her eyes clearing a little. It wasn't that she didn't understand Shen Ru'an's thoughts, but she had never really dared to disobey. Until today, she finally realized that she had been quietly dragged into an abyss by her.
She prayed that Jiang Ci would wake up, prayed that she would not die because of this. Because if the woman really died, Shen Ru'an might still kick her away with a smile and pretend that she knew nothing, which she always did.
And I will be responsible for a life, and I will never have peace in my life.
Ji Qiu wiped the corners of his eyes with a handkerchief, picked up his bag, avoided the people in the mansion, and walked quickly to the street.
She hired a carriage and said to the driver, "Leave Fengdu and head south, the faster the better."
After returning from the clinic, Ji Xu did not rest at all. He immediately summoned Bai Yang and the steward of the mansion to conduct a thorough investigation of what happened in the prison this morning.
He sat in the corridor, coughing several times in a breath. His face was pale, but he suppressed his discomfort and said in a low voice: "Who sent that bowl of porridge this morning? Where did it come from? Have you found out?"
The steward bowed his head and reported: "My lord... this morning, a servant did see the close friend brought by cousin Shen Ru'an, wearing maid's clothes, leaving through the side door."
Another servant continued, "Some of us saw her not long ago, carrying a bag and hurriedly leaving the house through the back door."
Ji Xu's eyes glared, his fingers tightly gripping the armrest, his voice growing colder: "Send someone after them! Stop them and bring them back immediately!"
"Yes!" The steward responded and left.
Ji Xu took a breath, raised his hand to press his forehead, and turned to walk towards Shen Ru'an's yard.
It happened that Shen Ru'an was sitting in the pavilion admiring the flowers, holding a round fan in her hand, chatting and laughing with a maid.
Seeing Ji Xu's sudden visit, Shen Ru'an was startled, and hurriedly stood up and saluted, saying in a gentle voice: "How come cousin Zixu has time to come here?"
"Where is Ji Qiu?" Ji Xu asked bluntly, with undisguised coldness in his eyes.
Shen Ru'an's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she was slightly startled: "Ji Qiu? She...wasn't she embroidering a handkerchief in the yard this morning?"
Ji Xu took a step closer and said in a deep voice, "This morning, she changed into the maid's clothes and used the token of the Marquis of Dongyang's Mansion to deliver a bowl of porridge into the Governor's Office. Now she has disappeared. She is your good friend. Didn't she tell you when she left?"
Shen Ru'an's face turned pale, and her lips opened slightly, revealing a bit of shock: "This...how could this happen...I really don't know, she didn't say a word to me."
Her eyes flickered, and she suddenly sat down slowly, as if lost in thought. "However, she has indeed been acting a little strange recently... I've asked her about her concerns several times, but she refused to speak. Cousin Zixu, you know, she has always admired my second cousin... She always says that my second cousin is a child of destiny, and that it would be wonderful for her to become his concubine. Do you think she would..."
"Enough." Ji Xu said in a low voice, stopping her speculation.
He stood in front of Shen Ru'an, his eyes calm and serious: "Don't run around anymore. There is no witness at the moment, so don't speculate anything. Wait until I find the person."
After saying that, he didn't wait for Shen Ru'an to reply, and left, leaving her standing alone in the wind.
When he returned to his courtyard, servants came forward to help him, but he waved his hand to refuse, walked into the house, sat on the couch, and let out a long breath.
"Just last night, Jiang Ci was detained, and this morning he was poisoned."
"If she was collaborating with the enemy, why would she leave behind a letter that would have nailed herself to death? And why would she let a rude coachman take her out of the city? The risk is too great."
"How could she make such a stupid mistake when she's so smart?"
Ji Xu frowned and looked at the swaying tree shadows outside the window, his eyes becoming increasingly cold.
"Someone must have wanted her dead," he whispered, "and used me to do it."
Ji Xu's thoughts were swirling, and he suddenly felt dizzy and his head was heavy. He held onto the edge of the soft couch, his body tilted, and he slowly leaned back onto it.
The servant beside him saw this and his face suddenly changed. He hurried forward to touch his forehead. His fingertips touched the scorching temperature and he exclaimed:
"Master, you have a fever again! Coincidentally, the doctor my cousin invited is still in the mansion. I'll go get him right away!"
Ji Xu half-leaned on the couch, his fingertips trembling slightly. He couldn't remember how many years it had been since he had been so busy and tired.
His eyelids were heavy, and finally, unable to resist the weakness of his body, they drooped down little by little.
The lights in the clinic were dim, and the flame of the copper lamp flickered, reflecting the pale face of the woman on the couch.
Jiang Ci lay quietly, without a sound. The doctor knelt before the bed, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. He reached out a trembling hand and felt her wrist again.
His face suddenly turned pale, as if he was suddenly frightened. He swayed and fell to the ground, his voice trembling: "No... No way... The pulse... The pulse is cut off? This is clearly... dead?"
When Zhu Niang heard this, she stood up suddenly, almost knocking over the table, and screamed in a sharp voice: "Impossible!"
She rushed forward, staring at Jiang Ci's face intently, and grabbed her hand and stuffed it into her palm: "How could she die! How could the girl die? She..."
The doctor, sweating profusely, approached her again, still terrified. This time, he carefully probed the side of her neck. After a long pause, his face paled even more. "The pulse is extremely weak...almost non-existent. The skin temperature is dropping, and she no longer breathes like a living person."
Zhu Niang felt a chill in her heart, her throat tightened, and her eyes instantly turned red, but she gritted her teeth and forced herself to calm down: "I have to return home immediately to report to the eldest master... The girl can't die. She hasn't cleared her name yet, and she hasn't waited for the governor to return, she hasn't..."
She didn't dare to think anymore, turned around and rushed out of the clinic and ran towards Dongyang Marquis Mansion.
At the same time, in the dungeon of Dongyang Military Governor's Office.
Wanniang huddled in the corner, hugging her knees, staring out the cell door, her gaze fixed on the dark passage. Yinshuang's eyes were red, and her voice was trembling. "It's been a whole day... Why is there still no news?"
Wanniang gritted her teeth and didn't answer, only clasping her hands tighter: "Nothing must happen... She's tough and can handle it. We also believe that the eldest master will protect her."
Her eyes were filled with fear, but she still managed to remain calm.
At this moment, Jiang Ci's consciousness was buried deep in darkness.
She seemed to be dragged into a bottomless abyss, the wind was sobbing like crying, and intermittent screams and wails were heard in her ears.
The sky and earth were scorched yellow and filled with blood.
Smoke rose from all over Liangzhou, city gates collapsed, and battle flags fell. In the streets, civilians fled, children cried, and the elderly fell with no one to help them. The throats were pierced by swords and spears, and the corpses were scattered all over the ground.
With Liangzhou City broken, Zichuan is no longer at peace. Iron cavalry storms tear through the city walls, setting fire to temples and schools. Young girls are abducted, and old men die tragically in the streets.
She stood in a sea of blood and corpses, dressed in red. Before her was the familiar land, but it was no longer what it used to be.
The wind blew up the broken tiles and walls, and fireworks shot up into the sky, burning her so that she couldn't open her eyes.
She wanted to shout, to call Ji Yang, to call her father, or to call anyone, but her throat seemed to be strangled by an invisible hand and she couldn't make a sound.
She wanted to run, wanted to stop everything, but her body could not move. She could only watch her compatriots die one by one and her homeland fall.
Blood splattered on her shoes and her hands.
She looked down at her hands, as if immersed in the sin of this nightmare...
She struggled in her dream, but her body became increasingly stiff and cold in reality.
The bedside oil lamp burned silently, but the flame suddenly jumped and almost went out.
-
The night in Qingzhou is as cold as water, and the wind blows the flags outside the camp.
Ji Yang had just finished discussing pre-battle arrangements with Lu Linchuan and returned to the commander's tent. Still in his armor, he stood tall and silent. Yue Bai was about to step forward to serve him, but he waved him away.
He stripped off his armor and arm guards, then his heavy coat, revealing his dark grey undergarment. Throughout the march, he remained neatly dressed and moved briskly, seemingly unfazed. But as he stripped down to his waist, preparing to change and wash, his expression suddenly faltered.
When the fingertips touch the lining on one side of the rib, there is a slight bulge.
He lowered his head, frowned, and slowly pushed aside the layer of fabric with his fingertips.
It's a talisman.
The fabric is carefully selected, with tight stitching. The shape of the tiger head is still childish, but it is drawn very carefully. The fangs are round and blunt, the eyebrows and eyes are bright, and it vaguely reveals a bit of youthfulness and naivety.
He was stunned for a moment, looking at the small ball of cloth hidden very deeply with a complicated expression. His fingers slowly stroked the amulet, and his mind went blank for a moment.
He suddenly remembered her sitting under the lamp embroidering on the eve of the battle, holding exactly this dark blue cloud-patterned cloth in her hand.
This is... embroidered by her own hands.
His Adam's apple moved slightly, and suddenly, some emotions that had been stuck in his heart suddenly rushed up -
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com