Hui Jue looked at him nonchalantly though no one could see the cold sweat dripping all over his back under his monastic robe.
But after thinking about it all night, he finally made up his mind before dawn. The terms offered by Jiang Ruan were too attractive. Everyone rushed towards benefit and all the bustle in the world is for profit. Thus if he could really cure his son’s illness because of this, it would be a huge profit.
Although he had no clue who was behind Jiang Ruan, judging from the previous events, this young miss was still so powerful. The person behind her must not be an ordinary person. Even if the opponent was Eighth Prince, wealth was always obtained by taking risk, not to mention it would be an enormous amount of riches.
Hui Jue had travelled all the way to the imperial capital from Yuzhou. He had swindled for decades and never made any slip-ups. First, he understood some Buddhist texts. Second, he was skillful in deception. The most important thing was that he was bold and scrupulous. The truth was confused with the false, the false became the truth. Even those who were skilled in this field could hardly see the flaws.
But today, when facing the royal family, he couldn’t help feeling uneasy and confused. However, due to his many years of experience, in the end, those emotions left no trace on his face. The more compassionately Hui Jue spoke, the more Xuan Li felt that the monk harboured sinister designs. In the end, Xuan Li didn’t take his advice, thus, his purpose was achieved.
Jiang Ruan once reminded him that Xuan Li was a man who paid attention to fame. As someone who pursued perfection, while he might detain him in full view of the public, Xuan Li would certainly not treat him as a criminal. Otherwise, there would be great anger amongst the people. Furthermore, even if Xuan Li really did want to punish him, it would be in three days. But, in three days, would Xuan Li still have the chance to punish him?
His success or failure depended on this. Hui Jue shook his head, sighed, clasped his hands, and silently followed Li An’s imperial guards.
The people who surrounded the reservoir’s vicinity had no affection in their eyes at the moment, only panic. They were talking about the possibility of the dam collapsing in three days. For a moment, people went into panic. Xuan Li felt upset. For some reason, a vague sense of foreboding rose and he glanced at Li An. Li An understood and said with a somber look. “Didn’t you hear what His Highness said just now? Don’t listen to rumors and stir up trouble. Over the next three days, anyone who dares to take a step to leave will be punished by the law!”
Li An’s face wasn’t as amiable as Xuan Li. Both his looks and tone of voice were gloomy and oppressive, even somewhat ferocious. The people immediately fell silent due to fear.
Xuan Li waved his hand and said, “Let’s go back.”
At the same time, the reservoir chief who had been ashen-faced earlier followed him in a hurry, fawning all the way.
Although the crowd was still in a panic, because of Li An’s orders as well as being surrounded by soldiers, they felt uneasy and soon dispersed. When the crowd disbanded, two people stayed where they were. A man in a somber black robe, with a cold and detached facial expression, looked at the reservoir thoughtfully.
Next to him was a man who looked like a guard. “Master, Jin Yi and Jin Er have already checked. There is nothing wrong with the dam.”
Xiao Shao replied, “Watch carefully what’s going on here.” If there was no problem with the dam, it was not caused by humans. There was also a hypothesis that the rain would suddenly increase. He looked into the distance, his long eyelashes drooping, hiding the depth of his eyes.
“Let’s go.”
* * *
In the Jiang fu, Lu Zhu told Jiang Ruan what she had just heard and said with excitement, “Great Master Hui Jue has made an appearance. Eighth Prince has detained him. Will he confess?”
“No.” Jiang Ruan answered.
Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi were both worried. They heard Jiang Ruan say, “Xuan Li is too deep and naturally suspicious. He will not deal with Huij Jue so quickly, but even if he did, Hui Jue is able to distinguish his priorities. If he can’t bear it, he’ll be a rotten corpse. If he survives, he’ll be extremely rich. He’s a smart man and naturally knows how to make a choice.”
As a matter of fact, in her previous life, Xuan Li controlled Hui Jue’s entrance to the imperial court but Hui Jue’s position was not smooth sailing. There were numerous voices of opposition in the court as well as countless overt and covert attacks against him. However, Hui Jue still achieved the position of the Grand Preceptor.
Such a person only lacked courage for now, but his nature was remarkably unyielding.
Wouldn’t it be better in this life to use Xuan Li’s arrow and aim it at himself?
Her gaze suddenly turned cold. Lu Zhu noticed it and said, “Miss, one more thing, this servant met Fifth Yiniang on the way. She said that Master received a letter today, saying that he would marry off Miss to the Grand Councillor fu… it’s to the Eldest Young Master Li. Master seems to be preparing to send the marriage proposal[1] over.”
[1] Gēng tĭe (庚帖) – written marriage proposal on which are stated the year, month, day and hour of one’s birth
“Ridiculous!” Lian Qiao couldn’t help saying, “Miss is still so young. Any ordinary official family would not marry off a daughter from a di wife so early!”
Jiang Ruan showed a faint smile. Jiang Quan made this decision only after he had received the letter. Li An loved to torture people slowly. This must not have been his idea. She assumed Eldest Young Master Li, sick and bed-ridden, had finally awoken and was ready for revenge.
Shifting the disaster to the East of the Yangtze river (i.e., transferring one’s misfortune to another), that Jiang Su Su mother and daughter pair still wouldn’t get what they’re looking for.
“Miss, you absolutely shouldn’t,” Bai Zhi said anxiously. “It would be better to ask Eldest Young Master no, ask Master?”
“What’s the hurry?” Jiang Ruan was calm and unruffled. “If he wants me to join the Li household upon marriage, it also depends whether he has that fate.”
“The marriage proposal is almost there,” Bai Zhi said hurriedly. “Master is so ruthless that he wants to let Miss jump into the pit of fire instead of Second Miss. The people of Yan Hua Yuan will be even happier to see it happen. Miss, you have to plan for yourself!”
Jiang Ruan looked at her anxious appearance and suddenly gave her a faint smile. “Don’t you believe me? What about making a bet with me? “
Bai Zhi was stunned.
“I bet that in three days, Jiang Quan will cry, begging them to withdraw the marriage proposal,” Jiang Ruan said.
* * *
In Yan Hua Yuan, at that very moment, the atmosphere that had been bleak a few days before was unusually harmonious. Jiang Su Su nestled up in Xia Yan’s arms and asked, “So to say, Jiang Ruan will marry Li Yang, that cripple, soon?”
Xia Yan took a look at her reproachfully. “Keep your voice down a bit.” Even so, she couldn’t help smiling. “Yes, the Li family is not an ordinary place. If she goes in, it will be no different from brothel prostitutes. Li Dong…” Realizing something, she suddenly stopped and glanced at Jiang Su Su.
Although Jiang Su Su knew nothing about the affairs between men and women, she guessed a little from Xia Yan’s words. Instead of being shy, she smiled with satisfaction.
“Is that so? She harmed me and my elder brother, creating enmity between Maternal Grandfather and us. Even inside the fu, she’s extremely arrogant. Wouldn’t it be letting her off too lightly by keeping her alive?”
“When she enters the Grand Councillor fu, her life will be so painful that she’d rather be dead,” Xia Yan said coldly, “Li Yang hates her to the bone. How can she get any benefit? At that time, even if you trample her under your foot, no one would dare to say anything.”
Jiang Su Su Su’s beautiful eyes flashed and seemed to be extremely happy. Suddenly, she thought of something. “What about Jiang Xin Zhi? If he knows about it, he won’t leave the matter at that.”
“Your father and I have decided to keep it from him for now. After we are done with this matter, it won’t be too late to deal with that little bit*h.”
Xia Yan stroked Jiang Su Su’s head. “Su’er, whoever harms you, Mother will make her pay a thousand times a hundredfold the price.”
Jiang Su Su nodded cunningly and nestled in Xia Yan’s arms with a twinkling of malice in her eyes.
No matter how arrogant those two siblings were, the one in charge of the Jiang fu was her mother. There was also Jiang Quan at the top. What about being a Deputy General, what about his military achievements? If her father wanted Jiang Ruan to marry a cripple, she had no other option but to marry!
Having Jiang Ruan enter the Grand Councillor fu was also helping her to accomplish her goal. Now, the marriage proposal had been sent to the Grand Councillor fu. Jiang Quan had an unshakeable determination to use Jiang Ruan as an exchange for an alliance with the Li family. Jiang Ruan wouldn’t be able to escape disaster this time!
“Mother, I want to see it right now, Jiang Ruan’s tragic fate after marrying into the Grand Councillor fu.” Jiang Su Su claimed.
“Soon.” A sinister smile appeared in Xia Yan’s lips. “The marriage proposal has been sent over. The date has also been set up by your father and Grand Councillor Li. Li Yang hates Jiang Ruan to the bone and his desire to torture her is even stronger. In my opinion, he will marry Jiang Ruan back to his home as soon as possible. I will take the opportunity to talk to your father about it, so that no unpredictable change may happen.” Her voice became slower and overcast. “However, marriage is ordered by parents and arranged by the matchmaker. No matter how long the night is, it will be a dreamless night.”
