Chapter 16: Mei Xi (Sixteen) Killing with a Borrowed Knife
Chun's whisper, filled with extreme fear, was like a poisoned ice needle, piercing Lin Jiaojiao's eardrum.
"Master Sikou...shoved something into Master Kuding's hand! Master Kuding...looked very strange!"
A chill instantly shot up from Lin Jiaojiao's tailbone and rushed straight to the top of her head. Her heart seemed to be tightly grasped and lifted up by an invisible hand, almost bursting out of her chest. The panic and fatigue that she had just suppressed in the side hall now came back like a flood that broke through the dam.
Sikou, Kuding, I didn’t expect it to be him. Lin Jiaojiao felt her eyes go dark and her body shook uncontrollably. She hurriedly held onto the door frame and barely stood firm.
Wanyan and the other two girls were still immersed in the fear of the approaching Shang army and did not notice her abnormality. Lady Yan still held her arm tightly, crying bitterly: "Sister...will we die...wuwu..."
Lin Jiaojiao took a deep breath. The cold air stung her lungs, but it also forced her to regain her sanity, which was on the verge of collapse. She couldn't panic! She absolutely couldn't panic! If she got confused now, it would be the end!
She looked at Lady Yan who was crying in front of her, Lady Wan who was equally frightened and helpless beside her, and Chun who had a pale face and eyes full of worry. A strong sense of responsibility was like a heavy rock, suppressing the surging fear.
She gently patted the back of Lady Yan's cold hand with her backhand, her voice extremely gentle, carrying a strange soothing power: "Don't be afraid, Sister Yan, I'm here." She looked at Lady Wan again, her eyes calm and firm, "Sister Wan, don't be afraid either. We won't die."
Her voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable certainty. That quiet strength, like warm spring water, instantly soothed the beautiful Yan's violent sobs.
Lady Yan raised her tear-stained face and looked into Lin Jiaojiao's eyes, which were as clear as a cold pond but now contained a determined light. The fear in her heart miraculously dissipated, leaving only an instinctive dependence.
Lady Wan also stared at Lin Jiaojiao in a daze. She could see solemnity and worry in her eyes, but deeper inside, there was a rock-hard tenacity. This tenacity gradually calmed her panicked heart, and she nodded subconsciously.
[External individual (Yan Meiren) emotion: Fear (peak) → Dependence (dominant). External individual (Wan Meiren) emotion: Fear/confusion → Stability (rising).] The system captures subtle changes.
"Chun," Lin Jiaojiao turned to Chun, her voice returning to calm, "Go prepare some hot water and clean towels to wipe the faces of the two sisters. Then... go to the small kitchen to see if there is any fresh millet and... um, the honey syrup that Kusi has just sent? If so, make some thick millet porridge and add some honey syrup to calm the two sisters down." She deliberately mentioned "Kusi" and "honey syrup", and her eyes lingered on Chun's face for a moment.
Chun immediately understood that the concubine was sending her away to investigate Ku Ding's situation. "Yes! I'll go right away!" She nodded vigorously and trotted out.
After calming Wanyan and the other daughters, Lin Jiaojiao walked to the window and gazed at the gray sky outside, her heart churning. Sikou... that old fox! What was he trying to do? Bribing Kuding? Withholding supplies? Or... something even more terrifying? The image of Zhao Liang flashed through her mind. Could it be... they were trying to pull the same old trick again, using me as a bargaining chip to sue for peace or save their lives?
A cold rage, mingled with a deep sense of powerlessness, washed over her. She was in a tyrant's lair, bearing the infamy of a "troublemaker," powerless and powerless. Her only recourse was her face and a sliver of public trust. Facing a veteran like Si Kou, a veteran of the officialdom for years, how could she respond? A direct confrontation? It would be like hitting a rock with an egg! Let it go? The consequences would be disastrous.
[Logic Module: Analyzing Target (Sikou). Behavior Pattern: Egoism (Dominant). Threat Level: High (Potential for Betrayal). Recommendation: Eliminate Threat. Emotion Simulation Unit: …Detecting Intense Host Anger/Powerlessness… Redundant Data Increasing… Attempting… Emotional Feedback… Zizzle… Recommendation: …Host's Beauty…Can Be Exploited…] The system's notification tone was a chaotic cacophony, ultimately returning to the topic of "beauty."
Beauty? Using beauty? Lin Jiaojiao smiled bitterly. Do you want me to seduce that old man Si Kou? System, are you crazy?! She rubbed her brows in frustration.
At the same time, in a hidden secret room deep in the royal court, lit by dim oil lamps, the atmosphere was completely different.
Sikou Zhao Qian was stroking his sparse goatee. Instead of panic, his face showed a hint of uncontrollable excitement and calculation. Sitting opposite him was Ku Ding, who was in charge of the treasury.
Ku Ding's face was pale, with sweat on his forehead. He rubbed his knees nervously with his hands, and his eyes were evasive, not daring to look Si Kou in the eye.
"Lord Kusi, there's no need to be so nervous." Zhao Qian's voice was slick, like that of an old fox. "The current situation is clear to anyone with a discerning eye. Xia Jie... is doomed! With the defeat at Mingtiao, Nanchao is barely surviving! The Shang army is at its peak, and King Tang's reputation for benevolence is known throughout the land. Why should we... be buried with that tyrant?"
Ku Ding's lips trembled: "But...but Lord Sikou...surrender the city...surrender the city and surrender, this is...this is a grave crime that will lead to the extermination of our clan!"
"Exterminate the clan?" Zhao Qian sneered, a flicker of disdain in his eyes. "If we continue to resist, when the city is broken, everything will be destroyed. That would be the true extermination of the clan! Lord Kusi, you have been in charge of the Kusi for many years. Don't you know how much food the royal court has in stock and how many soldiers it has available? How many days can we hold off the Shang army? Half a day? An hour?"
Kudin's face turned even paler and he was speechless.
Zhao Qian took a step closer, lowering his voice and beckoning, "A man of insight is a true hero! I've already made contact with... ahem... people outside the city." He mentioned it vaguely, but Ku Ding understood instantly. His eyes widened as he looked at Zhao Qian in disbelief. He... he had actually been secretly communicating with the Shang army?!
"As long as we can offer the capital, and especially..." Zhao Qian's eyes flashed with greed and ruthlessness, "offer that 'troublemaker', Concubine Mei Xi. She is the beloved daughter of King Jie of Xia. Handing her over to King Tang intact will be a great achievement. Then, not only will our lives be safe, but wealth and glory will be within our grasp! We might even be able to secure a position in the new dynasty!"
"Offer...offer the Concubine Yuan?!" Ku Ding screamed in shock, then hurriedly covered his mouth, his heart pounding. Not only did they want to offer the city, they also wanted the Concubine Yuan as a gift?!
"What? Are you reluctant to part with it?" Zhao Qian sneered, staring at Ku Ding with eyes like a venomous snake. "Don't forget, your Kusi's accounts... can't withstand scrutiny. How much profit have you made from them over the years? If Xia Jie knew about it, or if that Princess Yuan found out..." He deliberately prolonged the last syllable.
Ku Ding shuddered all over, as if he had fallen into an icy cave. He had indeed abused his power over the years to embezzle a lot of materials for his own benefit, and his accounts were not clean, which became his fatal handle.
"Lord Kusi, this is your last chance!" Zhao Qian pressed a small domino, inscribed with strange runes, into Ku Ding's trembling hands. "Take it! Contact your trusted aides in Kusi. I need you to do two things: First, immediately transfer all the food, medicine, and cloth currently in Kusi, especially... the 'tribute' destined for Nanchao. Hide it in a place we designate! Second, closely monitor the actions of Concubine Yuan, Meixi, especially those around her! Report any unusual movements to me immediately!"
Ku Ding gripped the cold domino like a red-hot iron. He stared at Zhao Qian's face, etched with greed and cruelty, a conflict brewing within him: fear, greed, and a tinge of guilt towards Lin Jiaojiao. Ultimately, the fear of death and the desire for wealth overwhelmed everything. He lowered his head, his voice hoarse, "...Yes. Your humble servant... obeys."
"Very good!" Zhao Qian smiled with satisfaction and patted Ku Ding on the shoulder. "After the mission is accomplished, you will definitely get some benefits! Go, and move quickly! The Shang army... won't wait for us!"
Ku Ding left the secret room in a state of despair. Zhao Qian watched him leave with a sinister look in his eyes. "Hmph, idiot! After this is done, you won't be able to live. People who know too much don't live long..."
He turned and whispered to the shadows, "Go, tell them that the fish... have taken the bait. Tell them to prepare. Once we succeed, we will attack the city immediately!"
On the other side of the hall, Chun hurried back with a tray on which were three bowls of steaming millet porridge that exuded the fragrance of grains and a hint of honey.
She quickly walked over to Lin Jiaojiao, placed the tray on the low table, and while passing the porridge, she whispered hurriedly in a voice only the two of them could hear: "My Lady! I went to the kitchen! Master Ku Si... he's not here! The steward said that Master Ku Si just left in a hurry, and his face... looked very bad! Also... I was at the door of the Ku Si, and it seemed... I seemed to see one of Master Si Kou's trusted servants sneaking around nearby!"
Ku Ding was not around, and Si Kou's confidants were spying nearby. Lin Jiaojiao's heart sank to the bottom. This was definitely not a coincidence. They must be plotting something, and... Ku Ding might have been dragged into it by Si Kou.
A surge of crisis washed over her like an icy tide. She felt like a small boat in a storm, vulnerable to being swallowed by the surging waves. Fear, anger, helplessness... a cascade of negative emotions threatened to overwhelm her.
No! This can't go on! Lin Jiaojiao bit her lower lip fiercely. The sharp pain made her sober again. She had to do something. She looked at the bowl of steaming, golden millet porridge in front of her. The rich rice aroma mixed with the sweet smell of honey strangely brought a trace of comfort.
She picked up a bowl of porridge and handed it to the still sobbing Miss Yan: "Sister Yan, drink some porridge to warm yourself up." Her voice was still gentle.
Lady Yan took the bowl and felt the warmth in her palm. The sweet aroma made her sip involuntarily. The warm rice porridge slid into her stomach, bringing a warm current that dispelled some of the chill and fear. She raised her tearful eyes and looked at Lin Jiaojiao: "Sister...you drink too..."
Lin Jiaojiao nodded and picked up a bowl of porridge. She did not drink it immediately, but gently stirred the thick rice porridge with a bamboo spoon, watching the golden rice grains floating in the bowl, her eyes gradually became sharp.
A bold and risky plan flashed through her mind like lightning. She wanted to kill someone with a borrowed knife! Using Xia Jie's sharpest knife!
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