Chapter Sixty-Two: Against One's Will
Inside the Zhu Family Manor, Zhu Zichuan was in a hurry to deliver a message to the Yongle Gang, and left in a rush with four attendants.
Watching his ninth brother depart, Zhu Ziqiao asked worriedly, "Eighth brother, is it really safe for ninth brother to go?"
Zhu Zixing laughed and said, "Fifth Brother, please don't worry. If I weren't absolutely certain, how could I let Ninth Brother take such a risk!"
Zhu Ziqiao: "Alright, then what is your plan? Tell me the secret!"
Zhu Zixing: "In my letter, I invited Shi Jiquan to have a talk, hoping that the Yongle Gang and the Zhu Family Village would stop fighting and each get what they wanted."
Zhu Ziqiao: "Will Shi Jiquan be so easily fooled?"
Zhu Zixing: "I have said that competing with us will only result in mutual destruction, so he will definitely come to talk."
Zhu Ziqiao: "So, are you planning to use poison, or just kill him outright?"
Zhu Zixing said calmly, "Use both! But the real crisis lies not in either of them."
Zhu Ziqiao: "What do you mean?"
Zhu Zixing laughed and said, "I will invite Shi Jiquan to Yuehu Tower. Fifth Brother can take a few men to ambush him halfway. When the time is right, I will step in to stop him. I will handle the rest."
Zhu Ziqiao: "Why not just kill him?"
Zhu Zixing: "Shi Jiquan dared to come because he was confident he could escape unscathed. If we act rashly, we will only miss the opportunity. Letting Fifth Brother ambush him is just to mislead him, to make him lower his guard. By using deception, we can make him die without knowing why."
Zhu Ziqiao: "I understand, I'll go prepare right away."
After Zhu Ziqiao left, Zhu Zixing smiled and muttered to himself, "The main character in this play is the most important one. Tenth Sister, it's time for your brother to meet you!"
In the Moon Lake Pavilion, a girl of sixteen or seventeen, dressed in an orange traditional Chinese dress, sat facing the lake, quietly playing the zither, with a maid standing beside her.
The sound of a zither lingered on the lake, where a two-story pavilion was reflected, winding and swaying in the water.
At this moment, Zhu Zixing rode his horse to a short distance away, stopped immediately, and strode over.
Upon seeing this, the maidservant exclaimed, "Yue'er! The Eighth Young Master is here!"
The girl stopped playing her zither and remained silent in thought. Zhu Zixing stepped forward and said, "Little sister, the morning breeze is chilly and the lake air is damp and cold. Remember not to sit like this in the future."
Zhu Ziyue stood up gracefully and said softly to him, "Thank you for your concern, Eighth Brother. I will keep it in mind from now on. It's chilly here, let's go upstairs and talk some more!"
Zhu Zixing hurriedly said, "No need, little sister. I have important matters to attend to today, so I cannot stay for long."
Zhu Ziyue: "My brother still has things to do, yet he came here to see me. He must have something to ask me!"
Zhu Zixing laughed and said, "Little sister is so clever. I really do have something to ask of you!"
Zhu Ziyue smiled and said, "Why do you say that, Eighth Brother? As long as it's your business, I will do my best to help."
Zhu Zixing: "This matter may be difficult for my younger sister. You have always been kind-hearted, and I am worried that you will not be able to bring yourself to do it."
Zhu Ziyue was stunned and said, "So, this is something that involves harming or killing people."
Zhu Zixing said shamelessly, "That's right. Recently, the Yongle Gang and the Zhu Family Village have been killing each other. I can't bear to cause more casualties."
Zhu Ziyue sighed and said, "So you want to kill Shi Jiquan once and for all."
Zhu Zixing: "I know you are reluctant, but if we don't do this, the Yong and Zhu sides will inevitably engage in another bloody battle, and even more people will die because of it. Besides, I was born into the Zhu family, so naturally I have to consider the family. I think you don't want anything to happen to your elder brothers either."
Zhu Ziyue closed her eyes, remained silent for a long time, then opened them and said softly, "Eighth Brother, tell me! What should I do?"
Zhu Zixing: "Shi Jiquan is a cautious and prudent man, and also very resourceful. To deal with him, we must deceive him. Therefore, I hope that you, my younger sister, can play a tune on the zither and perform a dance for him."
Zhu Ziyue said softly, "Would it be alright if I used my beauty to seduce you?"
Zhu Zixing smiled and said, "You are the best candidate. As a worldly woman, Shi Jiquan would find it hard to be moved. But you are elegant and refined, young and innocent, and as beautiful as a fairy. Anyone who sees you will be unable to resist your charm. When he asks about your background, you can cry and say that you were saved by me."
Zhu Ziyue: "Rong Zhi's appearance is nothing but an illusion. I'll remember that."
Zhu Zixing took out two packets from his bosom and said softly, "The red packet contains poison, and the blue packet contains the antidote. Once you have everything prepared, take the antidote when the music is finished. After the dance ends, offer wine to the deceased. One day later, you will die from the poison."
Zhu Ziyue took the item and asked softly, "The poison will only take effect in a day. What kind of poison is it?"
Zhu Zixing: "The Heart-Eating Powder is made from a mixture of several snake venoms. Those poisoned will experience slow blood circulation and weakened meridians. Once internal energy is used, the meridians will rebound, accelerating the onset of the poison, but the fastest it will take is three quarters of an hour."
Zhu Ziyue: "I never imagined there was such a poison."
Zhu Zixing: "Shi Jiquan is also a wise man. To be on the safe side, it would be best to put both tea and wine on the table."
Zhu Ziyue: "I understand. When will Shi Jiquan arrive?"
Zhu Zixing narrowed his eyes and said, "Let's do it this afternoon. You get ready now, and I'll go back and wait for news."
Zhu Ziyue: "Take care, myna bird."
Zhu Zixing: "No need to see me off."
Zhu Ziyue watched the myna bird fly away, then looked at the poison in her hand, feeling deeply saddened. She murmured, "Though I am reluctant, fate is cruel."
When Zhu Zichuan arrived at the Yongle Gang, he was surrounded by wooden buildings and bamboo houses. After passing through a forest, he came to the depths of the dense woods, where several courtyard houses came into view. Dozens of people were practicing with guns outside the gate, and the leader was Lü Zhong.
Zhu Zichuan was led directly into the earthen house by the guide. After a short stay in the courtyard, Shi Jiquan received him.
Zhu Zichuan entered the hall, cupped his hands, and said, "I am Zhu Zichuan, the ninth son of the Zhu family. Greetings, Chief Shi!"
Xiang Kui exclaimed in surprise, "What? You're the young master of the Zhu family! Aren't you afraid of death?"
Shi Jiquan: "Brother Xiangkui, please stop being rude! Young Master Zhu, what brings you to our humble abode to see me?"
Zhu Zichuan remained calm and said generously, "Chief Shi, I have come here to negotiate peace. Baiyun City is currently in chaos, with small strongholds and gangs everywhere, but they cannot control the situation. Only the Yongle Gang and the Zhu Family Village can save the people of Baiyun. My father and brothers know the benevolence of Chief Shi and his men, and cannot bear to see the villagers suffer such a massacre. Therefore, they hope that our two families can consider the greater good, cease hostilities, negotiate peace, and restore order to Baiyun City."
Shi Jiquan smiled and said, "I am very pleased that your Zhu Family Village has this intention. Our peace is indeed the key to the future of Baiyun City. Please go back and tell your father and brother that as long as the Zhu Family Village does not invade my Yongle Gang, the Yongle Gang will not cause you any more trouble."
Zhu Zichuan said, “Chief Shi is a man of great integrity, and I greatly admire him. I have a letter from my elder brother, who specifically requested that it be delivered to you personally. Please take a look, Chief Shi.” After saying this, he presented the letter.
Shi Jiquan opened the letter, read it briefly, and stood up, smiling as he said, "So it was written by the Eighth Young Master himself! Ninth Young Master Zhu, please go back and tell your brother that Shi Mouren will definitely go to discuss the pacification of Baiyun City."
Zhu Zichuan: "Zichuan will certainly tell my elder brother the truth. Chief Shi is busy with many matters, so Zichuan will take his leave now."
Xiang Kui angrily said, "You came and you think you can leave! Chief, we should keep them here and see what tricks the Zhu Family Village dares to play next!"
Shi Jiquan: "Nonsense! Young Master Zhu is all scholarly airs, never mentioning martial arts. What does the affairs of the martial world have to do with him? Reborn brother, send Young Master Zhu off for me."
Reborn stepped forward and said, "Please, Ninth Young Master!"
Zhu Zichuan: "Thank you for your understanding, Chief Shi! Please!"
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