Chapter 37, Thirty-Seventh Secret Chamber
As dawn broke, Cui Jiu escorted the two princes into the palace. He looked up at the rare sunrise and whispered, "The sky will clear soon."
The other guard, who hadn't heard what he said and was even more surprised that the usually taciturn Cui Jiu had spoken up, hurriedly asked, "Huh?"
Cui Jiu repeated, "The sky will clear up soon."
“Yes, yes, the weather is wonderful,” another guard quickly chimed in, “The wontons smell delicious.”
The sound of a wonton vendor tapping his wooden stick echoed from the end of the long street, knocking open the night and the doors of homes brimming with the warmth of everyday life.
Jiang Linzhi, living in a secluded mansion, was also awakened by the sound of wooden sticks being struck. She got up, looked at the newly renovated house, and at her new clothes that smelled of flowers, and chuckled softly.
"What's so funny so early in the morning?" Lu Huantang entered the room, followed by a group of maids. The maids carried in breakfast in single file, placed it on the table, and then withdrew.
Jiang Linzhi glanced at the overly lavish breakfast: "Someone marks scents like a dog, kind of cute."
He called her a dog first thing in the morning, but Lu Huantang wasn't angry. He helped her up and made no attempt to hide his possessiveness, saying, "The Jiang family has changed its steward, and the old practices are outdated." The old people should also go with the wind, and all the incense and rules should disappear.
Jiang Linzhi knew she was impulsive and unreliable, but she really didn't expect that her impulsiveness would make Lu Huantang, who also played with love, feel threatened. So she casually said, "If you're so worried, let's write the marriage certificate first. You can make a few copies and distribute them to all the officials, and then post them on the bulletin board to announce it to the world, okay?"
Although it was a joke, Lu Huantang nodded seriously. In the past, he really couldn't imagine what kind of woman he would willingly marry. She would probably be powerful, influential, and talented, which would greatly benefit his future.
But now, looking at Jiang Linzhi yawning with her mouth wide open, you could see her little tongue sticking out, Lu Huantang could say that none of these points applied.
It's just strange that it suits his tastes.
He just likes it.
Everything is proceeding according to plan, but the smoother and more successful things go, the more he fears that if something happens to him, Jiang Linzhi will really abandon him.
Jiang Linzhi saw through Lu Huantang's thoughts, but still felt it was insufficient: "Or we could have a child first, and then if I want to run away, you can use the child to threaten me."
Lu Huantang choked on his tea. He had considered it; he had even thought about using a spell on Jiang Linzhi to force her to trust him and involve her in the snuff bottle matter. But after spending so much time together, Lu Huantang didn't want Jiang Linzhi to suffer any injustice, so he firmly refused, saying, "No way!"
Jiang Linzhi looked at him in shock and confusion.
Lu Huantang explained, "Firstly, it's bad for your reputation. Whether you care or not is your business, but I definitely care if others say hurtful things about you. Secondly, if you dare to say that, would threatening you with the child really work?"
Jiang Linzhi was somewhat surprised by Lu Huantang's seriousness and also surprised that Lu Huantang knew her too well. She suppressed the emotion in her heart, shrugged, and said, "Alright, from today onwards, a new look for a new person."
Just as they were enjoying their meal, Lu Huantang suddenly said, "After you finish eating, take me to get the antidote?"
"What antidote?"
Following Lu Huantang's gaze, Jiang Linzhi looked down at her stomach, which was bandaged. "Oh, this? How would I know about the antidote?"
Lu Huantang's gaze was deep, and he tapped the table slowly with his index finger, which had a negotiating tone: "The Crimson Flower is not poisonous. Do you want me to continue?"
Jiang Linzhi paused for a moment, his eyes lowered, his expression unreadable. After a few breaths, Jiang Linzhi continued chewing his food and smiled, "You're quite clever. Tell me, what do you need in exchange for this leverage?"
Lu Huantang, who had been so composed just moments before, instantly turned cold. He grabbed Jiang Linzhi by the front of his shirt and glared at him, saying, "This is for your own life! I may not know, but you go and take the antidote yourself!"
Her eyes, green as jade, looked more like stagnant water overgrown with algae upon closer inspection, and for some reason, Lu Huantang felt a sudden, intense unease. But in an instant, that stagnant water rippled with bright life: "Now that your trump card is known, are you going to protect me for the rest of your life?"
Lu Huantang finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Have you lied to me about anything?" Jiang Linzhi suddenly challenged.
"No." Lu Huantang clenched his fist and answered with utmost seriousness.
"Alright, I'll take you to make the antidote." Without any objection or probing, Jiang Linzhi believed whatever Lu Huantang said today.
Even after racking his brains, Lu Huantang couldn't figure out that the secret passage in the mansion led to the palace. Relying on the compass and his walking speed, Lu Huantang deduced that the secret room was underground in the Chaoyang Hall of the palace.
The room was damp and cold, the lamp was covered in ash, indicating that no one had been there for a long time. Lu Huantang held Jiang Linzhi's hand and walked ahead.
Jiang Linzhi took out a luminous pearl the size of a baby's fist, then pulled Lu Huantang inside, saying, "This isn't some haunted house, there's no need to protect me."
After saying that, Jiang Linzhi tiptoed and planted a kiss on his cheek, whispering, "But thank you."
Even though Lu Huantang appeared calm and collected, Jiang Linzhi could still sense his unusual demeanor. His palms were unusually warm, and fine beads of sweat were visible, like the excited yet restrained state of a cheetah before its hunt.
Jiang Linzhi didn't care. She had already asked him, and the answer was that she trusted him. Anyway, she had already said that she would give him her life.
With their own thoughts, the two arrived at the innermost part, which was a circular secret room. In the center of the room was a table with a wooden box on it.
Jiang Linzhi stopped at the entrance of the secret passage. She handed the luminous pearl to Lu Huantang and said, "It's in the box."
Lu Huantang walked over; the wooden box was so heavy his hands trembled. He slowly opened the note inside, which contained only two sentences:
"A rosy complexion emerges, and snuff bottles follow."
"Kill all the Jiang family women, and Zhu Yan will surely perish."
The two sentences, though fantastical, still reflected all the current facts. For a moment, Lu Huantang didn't know whether Jiang Linzhi had deliberately placed this there to test him, or if it was genuine. If it was the former, he simply wasn't trusted by Jiang Linzhi, but if it was the latter... Lu Huantang dared not think about it.
The Jiang family's daughters are nothing more than Jiang Linzhi.
One life, linked to the life and death of two nations.
After calming his chaotic emotions, Lu Huantang raised his hand and burned the yellowed paper. He then forced a smile and said to Jiang Linzhi, "Let's go."
Despite knowing the secret he had longed for, Lu Huantang couldn't sleep all night, tossing and turning.
The only advantage is that Jiang Linzhi won't die. No matter what method she uses, she knows best how to save herself.
As he was pondering this, Jiang Linzhi turned around and hugged Lu Huantang, saying, "Don't you like sleeping in my bed?"
She couldn't tell Jiang Linzhi about her worries; the fate of the entire nation rested on her shoulders. She knew best how tired she had been all these years. There was no need for him to add to her burden with more polite words of concern. He changed the subject, saying, "I can't sleep here. It smells like Xun Lingxiang. I want to go back to the Marquis's residence to sleep."
"Fine," Jiang Linzhi sat up, rolled up his sleeves, pointed at Lu Huantang, and started cursing, "You treat me like an object, huh! You don't cherish me now that you have me! You just want to pack up and leave!"
Lu Huantang knew very well how many people had been planted outside. He quickly covered Jiang Linzhi's mouth, which was about to spill everything, and hugged her to comfort her: "Grandma, I'm annoyed by him but not by you. I'll take you with me when I go back to the Marquis's mansion. Anyway, you'll be the mistress of the Marquis's mansion sooner or later."
"Then what do you mean? Explain yourself!" Jiang Linzhi softened slightly, but still wouldn't let it go.
Everyone understands the reasoning; Jiang Linzhi just wants Lu Huantang to say it, to embarrass him.
Lu Huantang knew, of course, that Jiang Linzhi was pretending not to understand. He leaned close to Jiang Linzhi's ear and mumbled, "Jealousy."
Jiang Linzhi chuckled foolishly, "I can't hear you."
The person in his arms was laughing so hard that it tickled Lu Huantang's chest. Lu Huantang pressed her head down hard against his chest, not letting her see her expression, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Jealous! Jealous!!"
Jiang Linzhi punched him wildly, and Lu Huantang loosened his grip a little. Jiang Linzhi, his face flushed red, suddenly looked up, took a deep breath, and was about to continue hitting Lu Huantang.
Unexpectedly, Lu Huantang reacted quickly, pressing her against his muscular chest. Jiang Linzhi was breathless and speechless, flailing her arms like a caught crab, slapping at the perpetrator.
After several attempts, Jiang Lin lay exhausted on Lu Huantang's body, motionless.
After some playful banter, Lu Huantang's earlier embarrassment dissipated. He lowered his head and kissed Jiang Linzhi's slightly sweaty forehead, saying, "Anyway, we can't hide our relationship anymore. Shall we move in tomorrow? Besides, I have no family here. You're the most powerful person in the Marquis's mansion, and no one will make you suffer. If you're not comfortable here, you can come back whenever you want."
"Why are you in such a hurry to bring me home? What's wrong with you?" Jiang Linzhi joked.
“Yes.” Lu Huantang hugged Jiang Linzhi contentedly, but offered no explanation. A few years ago, he was abandoned in the Jiang mansion like a pile of rotten meat, but now the mistress of the entire Jiang mansion slept beside him. He had to hold on tightly to everything he had.
Looking at the sleepy Jiang Linzhi in his arms, Lu Huantang said softly but solemnly, "Don't worry, no one will dare to bully you in the future, not even with a disdainful look."
Jiang Linzhi didn't hear clearly, but still mumbled a reply.
Seeing that the person in his arms was too sleepy to keep her eyes open, Lu Huantang slightly curled the corners of his mouth and gently patted Jiang Linzhi's back like he was coaxing a child, accompanying her to sleep.
The next day at court, Lu Huantang temporarily set aside the secrets he wanted to know and instead seized upon any minor mistake to suppress the Regent's faction. With his military achievements and the Emperor's additional appointment as a member of the Imperial Guard, he was now a pillar of the Emperor's faction among the civil officials.
Even Jiang Jinyi's face darkened as he pressed on relentlessly.
As soon as Lu Huantang stepped out of Kanggan Gate, he sensed something was wrong. The streets outside the palace gates and the palace itself were unusually quiet. The officials who had just finished court had vanished as if they had evaporated into thin air.
Weapons are not allowed to be brought to court. Since the Red Earth Sword was not with him, Lu Huantang condensed his qi into a blade and carried it on his back without making a sound.
The next moment, Jiang Jinyi appeared at the end of the long corridor. He had a cold face and strode towards Lu Huantang.
Lu Huantang sheathed his sword and asked, "What instructions does Your Highness have?"
“It’s just the two of us here, so there’s no need to pretend to be hostile. Is the matter almost settled?” Jiang Jinyi looked at the spy he had placed next to Jiang Linzhi with an appreciative smile.
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