After returning to Zhaoning Palace, Jiang Yu lay back on the bed, feeling exhausted. Gu Lin also lay down beside her.
“Ayu, even though I knew beforehand that what happened today wasn’t a real miscarriage, when I saw you cry out in pain, my breath seemed to stop for a moment.”
Gu Lin held Jiang Yu tightly in both hands, "Ayu, you absolutely cannot have anything happen to you."
"Don't worry, as you just said, today's scare was all a show for Pei Jian." Jiang Yu said cheerfully, "I don't know why, but the closer I get to my due date, the more at ease I feel."
"I wonder how my brother-in-law and the others are doing?"
Gu Lin pursed his lips. "Ayu, I told my brother-in-law about the Jiang family bloodshed without discussing it with you, and even sent him to the Pei family in person. Will you blame me?"
"How could that be?"
Jiang Yu chuckled and nudged Gu Lin's leg.
“Even if you didn’t say anything, my brother would still go to the Pei family after he found out about this.” Mentioning Jiang He, a hint of worry appeared in Jiang Yu’s eyes. “My brother and Ling Ku’s trip to the Pei family is fraught with danger, and they can’t bring too many people with them…”
"But I believe they will be alright."
Jiang Yu's voice was earnest and resolute, "Ah Lin, we will get through this together."
Just then, the little one inside her moved again, and Jiang Yu's lips curved into a slight smile.
She was initially worried that faking a fetal fright might affect the baby in her belly, but when the moment actually arrived, she wasn't afraid anymore.
"Alright, get some rest. You'll need to stay in the palace and rest during your pregnancy for the next few days."
......
On the other side.
"My lord, I've learned that the Pei family is currently recruiting new assassins."
Inside the inn, Ling Ku's voice slowly rang out, "It seems that the assassins Pei Jian sent to kill Pei Zhi last time were the elite of the assassins. They really don't even care about family ties."
"This is not really an opportunity."
Jiang He narrowed his eyes. "Although we can impersonate assassins, the selection and training of assassins is extremely cruel. Every step of the process is life-threatening. Ling Ku, we need to find another way."
"My lord, I can go."
Ling Ku spoke again, "Pei Jian recognizes your face, but he doesn't recognize mine."
"I can save my martial arts skills for last."
“No.” Jiang He’s face was so dark it seemed like water could drip from it. “Ling Ku, you need to know that even if you become an assassin, you might not be able to get close to Pei Jian.”
"My lord, this is truly a golden opportunity," Ling Ku persisted.
“Even if someone is to go, it should be me who goes.” Jiang He stared intently at Ling Ku. “Don’t forget, our disguise skills are enough to deceive everyone.”
The two argued for most of the night before finally reaching a conclusion.
The next day, just as dawn broke, the two began to act separately. Ling Ku approached the Pei family under the guise of a wandering swordsman, while Jiang He set his sights on Pei Ju.
Three days later.
"Master, we've discovered a promising talent; his martial arts are all top-notch." Upon hearing his subordinate's report, Pei Jian put down what he was holding. "A promising talent?"
The fact that none of the assassins sent out last time survived gave Pei Jian a great sense of urgency.
“Yes, he was originally a swordsman, but he had a drinking problem and ran away to Longyou on credit.” The subordinate continued, “Don’t worry, Master, I have investigated all of this.”
"How does my martial arts compare to yours?"
"He will not be subordinate to anyone."
Pei Jian's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this. "Where is this person? I want to see him right now!"
......
"You are the head of the Pei family?"
Ling Ku held a sword in his right hand, looking arrogantly at Pei Jian.
"How dare you! How dare you be so disrespectful in front of our patriarch!" A subordinate immediately drew his sword and charged at Ling Ku. Ling Ku showed no intention of backing down, and the two immediately engaged in combat.
Seeing this, Pei Jian silently stepped aside, also wanting to see Ling Ku's martial arts skills.
For added safety, Ling Ku had also disguised himself, so although Pei Jian was still somewhat wary of Ling Ku and worried that he might be a spy sent by someone else, he did not deliberately connect Ling Ku with Dayu.
After a few moves, Ling Ku clearly gained the upper hand.
"Indeed, your martial arts skills are excellent." Pei Jian clapped and praised, "Young hero, would you be willing to stay with the Pei family?"
“Stay in the Pei family? What good will that do me? I’m just taking a short break in Longyou.” Ling Ku grabbed the medicine flask from the pharmacy and drank the wine in one gulp. “I’m a free spirit by nature and don’t like being restrained.”
But not long after, the wine pot in Ling Ku's hand fell to the ground.
I started to feel dizzy, and the scene in front of me became increasingly blurry.
"Master, what should we do with that person?"
“This person is highly skilled in martial arts and will inevitably be of use to us.” Pei Jian’s voice rang out, and Ling Ku’s eyelashes fluttered slightly inside the room.
Although he had taken the antidote pill given to him by Mei Chu before coming, he was still unconscious for half an hour.
"What brilliant plan does the patriarch have?"
Pei Jian chuckled softly, "It just so happens that we recently developed a drug that can control people's minds. Let's give it to him to try and see how effective it is."
As Pei Jian spoke, he took out a pill from his sleeve. Hearing the footsteps getting closer, Ling Ku held his breath.
The pill dissolved upon contact with water, and Ling Ku felt a bitter taste spreading in his mouth as his consciousness began to fade again.
Half an hour later, Ling Ku opened his eyes.
"May I have your name?"
"have no idea."
"From this day forward, your name will be Pei Wu. And I will be your only master." Pei Jian looked at Ling Ku as if he were looking at his most prized creation.
"Pei Wu greets Master."
Pei Jian smirked, glanced at his subordinate beside him, and slowly leaned close to Ling Ku's ear, "Now, go and kill that person."
Pei Jian wanted to use this method to test the current "Pei Wu".
Upon hearing this, Ling Ku drew his sword almost without hesitation and headed straight for his subordinate. Unlike before, this time Ling Ku came with the intention of killing.
The subordinate was clearly struggling to cope with Ling Ku, and cold sweat was beginning to appear on his forehead.
"Master of the house, master of the house..."
Before his subordinate could finish speaking, Ling Ku slit his throat with a single sword strike.
"Master, the man has been killed."
"Well done." Pei Jian showed a satisfied expression, not even glancing at his subordinate beside him. "From now on, you will stay by my side."
"yes."
The sword in Ling Ku's hand was still dripping with blood. Like a puppet, he obeyed Pei Jian's orders and followed closely behind Pei Jian.
Only the chilling glint in his eyes revealed the depths of Ling Ku's emotions: he could so easily kill even a subordinate who had served him for so many years...
Ling Ku desperately suppressed the urge to kill Pei Jian with a single sword strike from behind.
He has to wait; he needs to find the mother Gu first...
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