Chapter 62 Making a Deal with Lord Yan
Later that evening, the people Xie Qi had sent to follow Yan Wenhong also delivered a message to Jiang Zhi.
Yan Wenhong has been frequently visiting Shuyu Tower these past two days, and he sits there for an hour or two at a time.
Jiang Zhi then decided to go to Shuyu Tower the next day to meet this "brother-in-law" whom she had never met in her previous life.
The next day, Jiang Zhi used the excuse of going to see the silk shop to avoid the sight of the two female guards while trying on clothes inside, and went to the Shuyu Tower next door.
Inside the west wing of the second floor of Shuyu Tower, Yan Wenhong had just finished instructing his subordinates on handling matters when there was a gentle knock on the door.
The subordinate went to open the door and found a woman with a delicate figure and a face covered by a light veil.
The woman curtsied to her and said, "Jiang Zhi has come here specifically to see Lord Yan."
"Miss Jiang?" The subordinate was startled and turned to look at Yan Wenhong.
"Let her in. You go and keep watch outside," Yan Wenhong's gloomy voice came.
The subordinate immediately obeyed, letting Jiang Zhi in before leaving and closing the door behind him.
"Miss Jiang, what brings you here?" Yan Wenhong asked indifferently, his expression unreadable as he rubbed the teacup in his hand.
Jiang Zhi smiled and sat down opposite him. "I specifically sought out Lord Yan today because I have some things I'd like to say to him."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a cold sneer came from the other side, "You've got some nerve, thinking that the Loyal Earl's Mansion can't do anything to you?"
Yan Wenhong was slender and tall with a sharp, angular face and narrow eyes. Although he was quite handsome, he had an air of sinister malice about him.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhi simply shook her head slightly, "Of course not, I'm just here to make a deal with Lord Yan."
"Why do you think I would sit down and make a deal with the murderer who killed my brother?" Yan Wenhong slammed his teacup down on the table, his face frosty, his eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at her with ill intent.
"Miss Jiang took the initiative to come to our door today. Even if something happens here at Shuyu Tower, it can't be blamed on the Zhongqin Earl's Mansion, can it?"
Jiang Zhi felt as if she were being stared at by a cold, venomous snake, and even the air seemed to thicken.
We cannot show weakness, otherwise no one can predict what Yan Wenhong will do.
She took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure.
"The reason I dare to come to Lord Yan to discuss a deal is naturally because I have something that Lord Yan is interested in."
"Oh?" Yan Wenhong raised an eyebrow. "What could a sheltered young lady like you possibly have that would catch my eye?"
He wasn't like his incredibly stupid, good-for-nothing brother who would lose his life for a woman.
She's incredibly naive to think she can seduce him with her beauty.
Jiang Zhi sat upright, not avoiding his sharp, scrutinizing gaze at all. She parted her crimson lips slightly and said, "I can help Lord Yan find out information about the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
"Does Miss Jiang think I'm easy to fool?"
The entire Northern Garrison is now under Lu Yuan's control like an iron barrel. They spent several years planting spies in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but Lu Yuan wiped them all out because of the last assassination attempt, resulting in heavy losses.
Is Jiang Zhi out of her mind? How dare she make a deal with him under the guise of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?
"Lord Yan doesn't know yet, does he?" Jiang Zhi leaned forward and lowered her voice, speaking mysteriously, "Actually, my relationship with Lord Lu is quite extraordinary..."
Before she could finish speaking, a shy blush appeared on her face.
Yan Wenhong was finally surprised. "You mean, you and Lu Yuan are lovers? Your lovers?"
“Lord Yan’s choice of words,” Jiang Zhi bit her lip, “but the meaning is roughly the same. He is as close to me as I am, and he is still willing to listen to me a few times.”
Yan Wenhong suddenly chuckled briefly, "You, an unmarried young lady, are actually having an affair with a man? If he really likes you, why doesn't he just marry you?"
“Lord Yan, although Lu Yuan appears to hold great power and enjoys the Emperor’s deep trust, the factional struggles are fierce these days. Whoever ends up in that position will be the first to be purged.”
After all, no one would leave a sharp knife in the hands of someone who isn't a trusted confidant.
Yan Wenhong finally dropped his dismissive expression and began to seriously examine her. "Miss Jiang is indeed farsighted, but—how can I believe that Lu Yuan truly treats you differently and isn't just lying to me?"
"Well, please come with me, Lord Yan, and I'll prove it to you."
At the entrance of the Northern Garrison Command.
Jiang Zhi stepped down from a carriage and approached the guard at the gate, asking, "Excuse me, sir, is Lord Lu here today? Could you please inform him?"
The guard glared at her expressionlessly. "Who are you? Do you think you can just see my master as you please?"
Jiang Zhi said softly, "I am an old acquaintance of your master. As long as I show him this, he will definitely be willing to see me."
As she spoke, she took an inconspicuous hairpin from her hair bun.
The guard glanced at it with slight disdain and said, "What kind of junk do you think you are, sending this to the Northern Garrison Command? What do you take this place for? If you don't leave, don't blame me for locking you up in the Imperial Prison!"
Inside a carriage across the street, Yan Wenhong watched as Jiang Zhi stood there for a long time at the entrance of the Northern Garrison Command without going in, and couldn't help but sneer.
He must have nothing better to do than be tricked by a woman into coming here to waste his time.
"Let's go back."
Just as he was about to lower the carriage curtain, he saw a person come out of the Northern Garrison Command.
The man seemed excited to see Jiang Zhi and hurriedly went to greet her.
"Oh, Miss Jiang, what brings you here today? Are you here to see the boss?"
Jiang Zhi heard a slightly familiar voice and looked up to see that it was Yu Jun, who had escorted her to the imperial prison last time.
Just moments ago, Jiang Zhi was worrying about how to meet Lu Yuan, but upon seeing Yu Jun, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief. "Lord Yu, what a coincidence! I have some business with Lord Lu. Would you please ask him to come out and meet me?"
“What’s so difficult about that?” Yu Jun readily agreed, then slapped the guard who had just stopped Jiang Zhi on the head. “Don’t blame me for not warning you. If you dare to stop Miss Jiang again, be careful that the boss will send you to the prison to clean the floors.”
Without waiting for the guard's expression, he rushed inside to report.
A short while later, Lu Yuan, dressed in a flying fish robe, emerged. A brocade spring knife hung at his waist, the gilded hilt of the scabbard gleaming coldly in the shadows, swaying gently with each step.
"What do you want?" His voice was deep and husky, with an indescribable magnetism.
Jiang Zhi bowed and said, "Lord Lu, may I have a word with you in private?"
The guard at the gate stared in disbelief at his aloof and icy commander, who actually nodded and followed him to the entrance of a deserted alley.
The guard let out a wail in his heart.
Oh no, he really has to go to the imperial prison to clean and scrub tomorrow.
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