Green Mountain
Chapter 273 - 216, West Wind

Chapter 273: 216, West Wind

Chen Ji entered the main room, where the sweet and pungent smell of blood mixed with the smell of alcohol assailed his nostrils.

Beside the bed, several blood-stained white cloths were discarded, and the water in a copper basin by the window had also turned into bloody water.

Su Zhou lay unconscious on the bed, ever so quietly, with the crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes appearing even deeper under the flickering candlelight.

Xiao Man whispered, "Young Master, she has a total of seven wounds on her body, all of which have been stitched up and doused with strong alcohol."

Chen Ji was about to approach the bed to have a look but was stopped by Xiao Man.

He asked, puzzled, "What’s wrong?"

Xiao Man hurriedly explained, "Young Master, don’t get close to her. This fierce woman is very dangerous, don’t let her hurt you. If there’s anything you need, just tell me, and I’ll do it."

Chen Ji looked at Xiao Man, "You don’t want me to get close, are you not afraid of her yourself?"

Xiao Man said nonchalantly, "A maid has the fate of a maid, if she plots against me and succeeds, remember to burn some paper money for me on the 15th of July every year. Oh, and if you could burn four paper figures of little boys and girls, even better. One to heat water for my feet, one to cook for me, one to do my laundry, and one to massage my legs, so even in the underworld, I can enjoy the feeling of being waited on!"

Chen Ji couldn’t help but laugh and cry, "Alright, I’ll burn you two more, one hardworking to be your coachman, and another skillful to make you beautiful clothes."

Xiao Man’s eyes gleamed with anticipation, "That sounds so peaceful."

Chen Ji tapped her on the head, "Do you really wish for death that much?"

Xiao Man muttered quietly, coming back to her senses, "I was just thinking... Young Master, I’ll go wake that fierce woman up."

"Eh!" Just as Chen Ji was about to object, he saw Xiao Man already dash to the bedside like a gust of wind, calling out softly while nudging Su Zhou’s wound deviously.

Su Zhou inhaled sharply from her sleep, a cold sweat breaking out on her forehead with the pain.

Xiao Man asked anxiously and with concern, "Oh dear, what’s wrong, are you having a nightmare?"

Su Zhou glared fiercely at her, "Once I recover, you’ll get what’s coming to you."

Xiao Man looked innocent, "I just saved your life, how can you repay kindness with enmity?"

She leaned closer to the pillow and whispered, "You wanted to kill my young master, I didn’t take the chance to kill you, that’s already not bad. But let me warn you, don’t stir up trouble."

Su Zhou looked intently at Xiao Man for a long time, "As long as he hasn’t betrayed the Prince, I naturally won’t touch him. Not only will I not touch him, but I will also repay him."

From afar, Chen Ji asked, "What are you two whispering about?"

Xiao Man got up and smiled, "Young Master, she says she wants to drink water."

Chen Ji walked to a spot five steps away from the bed and hesitated before asking, "The government’s men are searching everywhere for you, I need to ask you seriously once more, will they be able to find Chen Mansion through any slip-ups you made? You’ve lost so much blood, could it attract hunting dogs?"

Su Zhou shook her head, "No, I escaped via the roof, and even if hunting dogs went up, the scent would be intermittent. Moreover, I’ve scattered mugwort and acorus powder, which will confuse the scent..."

Before she could finish speaking, light from a fire shone in from outside the window.

Xiao Man opened a crack in the window and saw the glow of a fire quickly approaching from beyond the courtyard wall, growing nearer and brighter, as if many people were rapidly advancing with torches.

The expressions on Su Zhou’s and Chen Ji’s faces both changed, and they said simultaneously,

"Did you inform the government of my whereabouts?"

"Weren’t you the one who said you covered your traces?"

Both spoke at the same time, each saying their piece, and then fell silent.

After a moment, Chen Ji spoke up, "Rest assured, I haven’t informed the government of your whereabouts. You stay put here and don’t move, I’ll go out to deal with them. If things look bad, you escape through the back window, and don’t worry about me."

...

...

Outside Mingquan Garden.

Spies from the Spy Department had all changed into official robes, and in the dark night, the torchlight illuminated their black garments, with a red embroidered python stretching across their shoulders to their chests, exuding a sense of austere authority.

In the ancestral laws of the Ning Dynasty, a man of utmost importance and a woman granted an imperial decree could wear the Python Robe, which originally represented the highest aspiration of a lifetime for a civil servant.

However, during the Jianing period, the one within Renshou Palace who liberally awarded Python Robes turned things around overnight. Tens of thousands of spies and Jiefan Guards could wear the robe, subtly placing them above the civil servants.

Within Chen Mansion, a spy was walking shoulder to shoulder with Chen Liqin, the latter wearing a disgruntled expression, "Does this newly appointed Mr. Hai Dongqing really want to turn Chen Mansion inside out? You don’t really think the Chen family is hiding criminals, do you?"

That Hai Dongqing explained with a smile that was neither too soft nor too harsh, "Mr. Chen, please don’t take it personally, I’m not targeting you, I’m actually helping you."

Chen Liqin flung his sleeve in irritation, "Nonsensical, how is this any help to me?"

Hai Dongqing teased, "If we were to skip Chen Mansion while searching, it would be fine if we captured that female assassin. But if we didn’t catch her, later people will gossip that only Chen Mansion and Zhang Mansion were left unsearched, and certainly, the criminal must be hiding in one of them. At that time, can the two lords still make things clear? ...Don’t you think that’s how it is?"

Chen Liqin, with a stoic face, replied, "Search if you want to search, but spare me the nonsense."

Hai Dongqing laughed heartily, "Still, Mr. Chen is understanding. Just now, Lord Zhang gave me a good scolding, spitting all over me... Search! Remember, don’t touch the Chen family’s property, otherwise I can’t protect you either!"

The spies dispersed into each courtyard. They drove out Chen Wenzong, who had already gone to bed, and even Chen Wenxiao, still recovering from his injuries, was helped out by a maid, limping along.

The spies searched meticulously, leaving no chest or bed unturned.

As the spies finally reached the gates of Mingquan Garden, one of them pushed at the garden gate but couldn’t open it.

He turned back and whispered to Hai Dongqing, "Sir, all other courtyards are open, only this one is bolted. It’s suspicious!"