"I'll ask you one more time, who ordered you to do such a despicable thing!" Although Gong Shu could be very gloomy at times, he was wholeheartedly devoted to Nan Xuzong and naturally had no soft heart.
Ji Wushang looked on expressionlessly, then looked down at Zhu'er, who was still unconscious. He then looked at the monkey-faced man with the pointed mouth and said, "Tell me, and I'll spare your life. Don't tell me, and I'll make you wish you were dead." His words were soft, like a gentle breeze, yet they chilled the monkey-faced man to the bone!
Nan Xuzong paused slightly upon hearing this, turning his head to look at her, but failed to notice any change in her expression.
Is she also a heartless and ungrateful person? Or is it that I haven't yet understood her? Nan Xuzong felt a bitter smile in his heart.
"Did you hear me? Speak!" Gong Shu punched the pointy-mouthed, monkey-faced man in the left chest, and a clear sound of bone cracking could be heard! He wouldn't die from a few broken ribs, but the pointy-mouthed, monkey-faced man was in so much pain that he couldn't speak!
"Gong Shu," Nan Xuzong said, looking at him, "be gentler."
Upon hearing the words "be gentler," Ji Wushang felt a chill run through him from head to toe. Without a word, Nan Xuzong unleashed another golden thread, pressing several acupoints on the weasel-faced man's body. Looking at the expression on his face, Ji Wushang could clearly see the fleeting pleasure after excruciating pain!
"I'll talk, I'll talk!" the weasel-faced man shouted immediately. "I... I don't even know you! You're really bullying me!"
Didn't that woman say there was only one young lady, one maid, and two guards? How come a lame servant suddenly appeared! And he's crippled himself! The weasel-faced man muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming as he tried to come up with an excuse.
"Have you thought of an excuse yet? Do you want me to say a few words to you?" Ji Wushang gently patted Zhu'er's hand, his gaze drifting to the monkey-faced girl with her pointed mouth. "Hmm?"
"No, no, no..." The sharp-mouthed, monkey-faced man was terrified of Ji Wushang's gaze and immediately said, "It was a masked woman, about fourteen or fifteen years old. She said that as long as we do that to Miss Ji, she would give us fifty taels of silver! We, we didn't do anything! Please forgive us, sir, please forgive us, Miss Ji, spare our lives!" The sharp-mouthed, monkey-faced man suddenly thought of kowtowing, but found that his legs were so painful that he couldn't bend them. However, he forced himself to kowtow despite the pain.
Ji Wushang's face darkened as he listened. "What does that woman look like?"
"She...she's masked, I really can't tell what she looks like. Please punish me, Miss! Please spare my life, Miss!" the sharp-mouthed, monkey-faced man cried out suddenly.
Ji Wushang snorted lightly, then looked at Nan Xuzong, "Please punish them, Your Highness!" A sly glint flashed in Ji Wushang's eyes, "May I ask, Your Highness, when will Zhu'er and those two Iron Guards wake up?"
"In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea." Nan Xuzong nodded, then turned to Gong Shu, "Gong Shu, it's getting hot. Let them go down the mountain and surrender to the government!"
"Yes, sir!" Gong Shu nodded immediately upon hearing this.
The three of them were tied together in a row, with Gong Shu holding one end of the rope.
Originally, the monkey-faced creature had a broken leg, but Gong Shu twisted it a few times and healed the broken bones.
Ji Wushang bowed to Nan Xuzong again, "I will definitely thank you handsomely when we meet again another day."
"Very good." Nan Xuzong nodded slightly, looking at Ji Wushang with his eyes slightly lost in thought.
Ji Wushang lowered her head, a slight embarrassment on her face. "Please, Prince Nan, do not spread this matter... As for the person behind it, Wushang will definitely find out." Her voice was low, but Nan Xuzong could hear it. "As you wish." He knew that if such a thing were to spread, it would definitely have a significant impact on her reputation. Besides, this was clearly a power struggle within her household.
Nan Xuzong sighed. Wasn't he living a similar life in the Marquis's mansion? He was young and didn't understand when he was young, but as time went by, he felt a pang of pain in his heart whenever he thought of his deceased mother. If it weren't for the power struggles in the mansion, would she have died so young?
Seeing that he seemed to be thinking about some sad memories, Ji Wushang didn't want to disturb him. He stood there, unsure of what to do. The most important thing right now was to get them to leave... But he hadn't even asked him why he had suddenly appeared here.
"It's getting late. I'm going up the mountain to find the abbot. Farewell." Nan Xuzong said, coming back to his senses and noticing the slight gloom on her face.
Seeing his reaction, Ji Wushang nodded. "Then I won't disturb Prince Nan's enjoyment. But I want to keep him here; I have a use for him."
"Here you go." Seeing her like this, Nan Xuzong knew that she might be planning something, so he pushed the tightly bound, pointed-mouthed, monkey-faced girl in front of Ji Wushang and made her kneel down.
Ji Wushang nodded and took his leave of Nan Xuzong, who then left with Gong Shu and the other two thugs.
The cart wheels rattled, and Ji Wushang, hearing the sound, turned to watch the departing figures. The two men, like boatmen, followed along, their steps uneven as they climbed the mountain.
"Hmm..." At this moment, a soft sound escaped from Zhu'er's mouth. Ji Wushang looked down and saw that Zhu'er was finally slowly waking up, and he was immediately overjoyed. The two iron guards also seemed to have taken a nap, rubbing their eyes as they woke up.
Ji Wushang looked at them and asked, "Did you sleep well?"
Upon hearing this, the two guards immediately stood up and knelt before Ji Wushang, saying, "We deserve to die! Please punish us, Miss!"
"How can I blame you? This weather makes you sleepy, and besides, you drank that lake water, so it's only natural that you fell asleep. Get up, all of you!" Ji Wushang said. At this moment, he turned his head and saw that Zhu'er had also woken up. "Miss?" she asked, her eyes still half-closed.
The two guards were deeply grateful to Ji Wushang. They looked at each other a few times before finally standing up and standing silently to one side.
"Is he awake?" Ji Wushang asked. "Then let's get ready and head down into the mountains. It's getting late."
"Um, Miss, Miss, aren't we going to look for that white bird anymore?" Pearl looked at her as she struggled to get up, then looked at her respectfully.
Ji Wushang smiled and said, "No, let's go downstairs soon!"
"Ah, who is he?" Zhu'er exclaimed in surprise as she looked at the bound, monkey-faced man in the distance. The monkey-faced man's clothes were still a bit tattered.
Upon hearing this, the two guards immediately drew their swords and were about to go and kill the man with the pointed mouth and monkey cheeks.
Ji Wushang said, "Wait, that person was planning to commit violence while you were resting... I subdued him."
The three of them looked at Ji Wushang. How could the young lady, who was so weak, have managed to subdue this weasel-faced man?
“What are you standing there for? I’m not afraid to tell you why you were asleep? It’s because someone instigated this person to put poison in the lake! If the poison hadn’t been put in such a small amount, I think you would have all slept until dawn! This person was thinking, thinking…” Ji Wushang didn’t finish his sentence, covering his face.
Immediately, Zhu'er and the other two knelt down before Ji Wushang, saying, "Your subordinate (Zhu'er) deserves to die!"
"Miss, are you alright?" Zhu'er looked at Ji Wushang with tears streaming down her face. If something happened to her, she would rather die herself!
"I've already tied everyone up, what could possibly happen to me?" Ji Wushang said in a deep voice. "But something's amiss right now, so none of you should make a sound! If even the slightest leak goes unnoticed, I'll send you all to the underworld!"
"Your subordinate obeys!" the two iron guards immediately replied.
Pearl insisted, "Miss, just tell me what to do!"
Ji Wushang nodded, "Take this person with you. If someone tries to frame me, I won't let it go!"
The three men listened with great anger, wishing they could tear this man to pieces and devour his flesh and bones, but they still listened to Ji Wushang's words and got up together to take the man with the pointed-mouthed, monkey-faced face down the mountain.
☆、091 An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth! (Awesome!)
Ji Dingbei didn't know how long he had followed the head monk before they arrived at Guanshan. Seeing the quiet courtyard, he dared not make a sound. The head monk, seeing that he was so humble despite his high position, felt even more respect for him and led him into the hall, asking him to wait. "Benefactor, please allow me to go inside and see how the abbot is doing."
"Thank you for your trouble, Master." Ji Dingbei had a request in mind, and of course, he was also respectful to the monk.
Ji Dingbei waited for a while before the head monk came out. The head monk looked at Ji Dingbei with a slight disappointment on his face and said apologetically, "I'm so sorry, Benefactor Ji, the abbot has gone into seclusion, but he left a note on his desk. It seems to be for you. Please take a look." As he spoke, the head monk took out a piece of paper from his bosom and handed it to Ji Dingbei.
Ji Dingbei took the paper, opened it, and saw sixteen characters: "A cursed star, destined to be alone. One thought can lead to demonic possession, one glance can lead to enlightenment."
Ji Dingbei didn't understand. The first eight words, "a cursed star, destined by fate," were easy to understand. It meant there was no way to deal with it, and even if he couldn't withstand the pressure, killing that wicked creature would be fine. But the last eight words, "one thought can turn one into a demon, one glance can turn one into a Buddha"? Who was being referred to?
"Thank you, Master." Ji Dingbei hesitated for a moment, but still thanked him. "It is inconvenient for me to preside over the abbotship, so I will trouble you to guide me down the mountain. To be frank, I am about to lead troops to the southeast today, and I am afraid that I will not return, or that when I return, everything will have changed. I am still worried about my children, and I wish to take advantage of this little free time to see them a few more times."
“Your sincerity is truly moving. Please follow me.” The abbot nodded and took another path.
Ji Dingbei sighed. If Heaven and Earth were moved, they wouldn't have made him suffer the fate of being a cursed lone star! Now he is not a father, not a husband, and a son who cannot practice filial piety at his parents' feet. Is this what it means for Heaven to be moved?
——
Ji Wushang finally managed to descend the mountain with Zhu'er and the others. After inquiring around and learning that Ji Dingbei hadn't returned yet, he had the little monk lead him to the Buddhist hut to rest. He figured if he didn't go looking for what had happened on the mountain, others would surely come to him!
As they approached the foot of the mountain, Ji Wushang explained the situation to the three men. The two guards immediately obeyed and took the man with the pointed mouth and monkey-like face to another place to hide him. Only then did they follow Ji Wushang down the mountain and back to the backyard.
Sure enough, Ji Wushang had just entered the courtyard of the Buddhist temple when he saw Ji Yinxue walking out from inside. He looked slightly surprised, but then the surprise disappeared.
Ji Wushang looked at it with genuine disappointment. Others might not have noticed his expression, but he certainly did!
Unexpectedly, the people who hurt us are often the ones closest to us. It's true, not many people knew we had gone up the mountain. The only ones offering incense and prayers at this Buddhist temple were Aunt Nangong, Ji Yinxue, Aunt Xie, and Madam Yuan. Considering the sharp-mouthed, monkey-faced woman who spoke, she must have been about fifteen or sixteen years old. I guessed her age from her accent; now that I think about it, it's probably the person in front of me.
Thankfully, I'm lucky to be alive! Otherwise, I would have almost fallen victim to her scheme!
"Big sister, you're back?" Ji Yinxue stepped forward, looked her up and down, trying to figure out what was going on.
Ji Wushang looked at her. Was she still trying to see if she looked disheveled or if her clothes had been torn? Ji Wushang sneered inwardly, but said warmly, "Hmm, this mountain is quite interesting. We didn't go far before we had to rest. The sun was just too strong."
"Didn't Eldest Sister go up the mountain?" Ji Yinxue asked tentatively, then looked at Zhu'er and the two guards beside Ji Wushang. Zhu'er looked radiant and seemed perfectly fine, while the two guards stood spiritedly behind Ji Wushang. Ji Yinxue couldn't help but wonder, had they failed? Or had her maid misheard? Had Ji Wushang not gone up the mountain to look for any white bird at all?
“No, it’s just halfway up the mountain,” Ji Wushang said. “But what are you doing in this courtyard?” He smiled, took her hand, and patted it gently.
Ji Yinxue's heart skipped a beat, but then she smiled warmly and said, "I just took a short rest, didn't I? I've been waiting for you! Auntie is in the courtyard, so I didn't dare to disturb her. Auntie Xie is with Grandmother. Since you're alright, you should rest well. You must be tired from climbing the mountain. When Father comes back, we can go back to the manor together."
"Hmm." Ji Wushang smiled, withdrew his hand, and the smile on his lips had not yet disappeared. "Zhu'er, come inside."
"Yes." Zhu'er bowed to Ji Yinxue and then followed Ji Wushang into the house.
Ji Yinxue's smile remained frozen as she turned to look at Ji Wushang, her hand beneath her long sleeves slowly clenching into a fist. "If it doesn't work the first time, I refuse to believe it won't work the second!"
A smile immediately bloomed on Ji Yinxue's face. She thought of Ji Wushang's "secret"—wasn't this also a "secret" between her and him? Hmph, Prince Nan? I can risk my feelings for him, Ji Wushang, can you?
Ji Wushang was taking a sip of tea when she suddenly froze. Zhu'er noticed and immediately asked, "Miss, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing, it's just that something hit my heart. A cup of tea will do." Ji Wushang nodded. Just now, when he held Ji Yinxue's hand, he clearly felt her pulse was beating quite fast! Explanation one: she had been traveling, but she said she rested in the courtyard, which meant she was lying! Explanation two: she had something to hide, so her heart would naturally beat faster!
A glint of shrewdness flashed in Ji Wushang's eyes. "Zhu'er, have you seen if Aunt Nangong has woken up yet?"
"Yes." Upon hearing this, Zhu'er went and asked the maidservant on the other side, and then learned which room Aunt Nangong was in and that she was resting and had not yet woken up.
Ji Wushang smiled and pursed his lips. Today, he'd give them a taste of their own medicine! Forget about Aunt Bai and Aunt Nangong, he'd deal with them one by one! He still remembered his first visit to this Buddhist temple—it was quite a spectacle, with everyone shouting about catching them in the act! This time, it'd be for real!
Ji Wushang smiled, leaned close to Zhu'er's ear and whispered something, then stuffed some medicine bottles into Zhu'er's hand and gave her some instructions.
Zhu'er nodded in agreement. Having witnessed so much happening around Ji Wushang, everyone roughly knew that Aunt Nangong and Aunt Bai were somewhat dissatisfied with Ji Wushang and naturally wanted to side with him!
After an unknown amount of time, Ji Wushang was just about to fall asleep, propped up on the table with her hand, when she heard a commotion outside. Ji Wushang woke up and saw Zhu'er running in from outside, "Miss, Master is back."
“Very good. Go out and see Father.” Ji Wushang stood up and said.
When the two entered the hall, they saw Ji Dingbei drinking tea. Although he looked somewhat displeased, he smiled when he saw Ji Wushang arrive and Ji Yinxue walk in from outside. "Come, please sit down."
The two sisters bowed and then sat down to the side, chatting with Ji Dingbei.
When the topic of the mountain came up, Ji Dingbei fell silent for a long time before finally asking, "Why haven't I seen your aunt?" He was speaking to Ji Yinxue, who was just about to say that Aunt Nangong was asleep when she suddenly heard a scream from the courtyard!
"Ah!" The sound was so loud it seemed to shatter the heavens! Ji Wushang heard it; it was Aunt Nangong's scream of agony. How satisfying!
Ji Dingbei was also taken aback, "What happened?!"
“Master, no, something terrible has happened! Concubine Nangong, she, she…” An old woman practically crawled over from outside to report.
Ji Dingbei immediately stood up, took three steps in two, and led the way to Aunt Nangong's place, searching room by room. When he looked up and saw a large crowd there, he rushed over and pushed through the crowd, shouting, "What's going on!"
He had barely finished speaking when he was stunned by the scene before him!
Ji Wushang and Ji Yinxue also rushed over there with their maids.
What I saw was that Aunt Nangong was lying on one side with her clothes half undone, completely stunned. Her gaze was on the man next to her, who was shirtless and had a pointed mouth and monkey-like face! His pointed mouth and monkey-like face still had a slight blush, as if it were a sign of what had just happened!
Those around were too afraid to speak. There was witness testimony and physical evidence... Concubine Nangong had actually cheated on Ji Dingbei with another man while he was on his way up the mountain! If word got out, Concubine Nangong's life would be over!
Ji Yinxue looked on, her gaze falling on the weasel-faced man with the pointed mouth. That was the man she had bribed to plot against Ji Wushang! And now, he was lying in her own mother's bed!
Instantly, Ji Yinxue felt as if her chest was filled with blood. This... this was clearly Ji Wushang's doing! And he still said nothing happened! Ji Yinxue felt as if her mind was about to explode. She never expected Ji Wushang to pull this stunt! This stunt!
Ji Wushang looked shocked and dared not speak.
Ji Dingbei was stunned. All around were maids and servants; this was in front of so many people! How dare this woman be so audacious as to cuckold him like this? Moreover, he was a dignified First-Rank General of the Northern Garrison! What could Aunt Nangong possibly be dissatisfied with!