Chapter 19: The Knock

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Jiang Wu’s expression changed. This was a serious matter; nothing else mattered, but Chu Yan absolutely could not have anything happen to her. Jiang Wu had no choice but to set everything else aside. After bidding farewell to the two attendants in the residence, she left with Qing Yang.

Once outside, she hurriedly made her way to the carriage, asking anxiously, “What happened? An assassination attempt? How is she now?”

“The information has been mostly sealed off; that’s all I know,” Qing Yang replied gravely.

Jiang Wu didn’t understand why Qing Yang was so worried. As for herself, she was more afraid that Chu Ling would lose his mind—no, she paused as she mounted the carriage—if anything happened to Chu Yan, then her plan to leave the residence would be ruined, and she would be the one to lose her sanity first.

“Qing Yang,” she turned to look at the equally worried Qing Yang, “if you get any news, notify me immediately.”

Qing Yang rubbed her brow. “You should be the one saying that. You usually get the news faster than I do.”

Jiang Wu didn’t waste any more time; after all, her source was inside the residence.

***

Back at the Prime Minister’s mansion, Jiang Wu went straight to Chu Ling’s study as soon as she returned.

She was actually a bit afraid.

If something had really happened to Chu Yan, this would be precisely the moment when Chu Ling was angry, and she wouldn’t get a good reception.

But she cared too much; if she didn’t find out whether Chu Yan was alive or dead today, she wouldn’t be able to rest.

However, when she arrived, only Chu Yi was there.

He told her, “Master has gone out.”

Jiang Wu cursed herself silently for being so foolish—if Chu Yan had been attacked, Chu Ling wouldn’t be sitting still.

Her gaze kept glancing at the person who had answered her, who now stood like a statue.

She felt this person should know something.

But since she had never been very fond of Chu Yi, even with her curiosity, she didn’t know how to ask.

Chu Yi wanted to ignore her gaze, but the lady's careful, curious, and embarrassed demeanor made it impossible for him to remain calm.

So he did something a shadow shouldn’t do and took the initiative to explain: “Princess Ruyue is unharmed. Master has already set out to receive her.”

Realizing this might cause Jiang Wu to overthink, Chu Yi tried to backtrack, but she seemed unfazed.

More precisely, Jiang Wu did care; she first breathed a deep sigh of relief hearing that Princess Ruyue was unharmed, then felt a tangle of complex emotions.

Chu Ling was not the kind to care for just anyone.

In that complexity, comfort prevailed.

Chu Yan was vulnerable now, and Chu Ling rushing to her aid was hardly a bad thing.

Feeling reassured, she noticed the servants cleaning the study, picking up shards of broken porcelain, which made her heart ache.

“Looks like Princess Ruyue was attacked. Your master’s mood isn’t good.”

Luckily, if she had come even earlier, that fire might have been aimed at her.

Chu Yi glanced at her and suddenly said, “These were broken before Master received the news.”

In other words, Chu Ling’s mood had been poor even before this.

Jiang Wu didn’t care why Chu Ling was upset; she just felt a chill down her neck and sighed with some regret.

“This news really adds fuel to the fire.”

Chu Yi pursed his lips and fell silent.

***

When not locked in battles of wit with Chu Ling, Jiang Wu generally didn’t like to think too hard.

This time, after the assassination attempt on Chu Yan, she pondered deeply—and sure enough, she found a problem.

Who would want to harm Chu Yan? She was currently in the limelight, representing the Great Qi in her youth, symbolizing peace between the two countries. After more than a decade of wandering, finally returning home, who would have the leisure to attempt her assassination?

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They were nearly at the capital.

Even if enemies lurked in the capital, who had grudges lingering after all these years?

As she thought about it, a person came to mind.

Jiang Wu hurried to the Zhang family.

Chu Chan’s in-laws.

The Zhang family had no branches; the entire clan lived together. The patriarch, Zhang, was formerly Minister of Rites and now the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty. Officially promoted, but practically stripped of power.

His sons held various government posts, mostly nominal. Chu Chan’s husband was a scholar at the Hanlin Academy, mainly compiling history books, not managing other affairs.

Nonetheless, the family’s foundation was solid; to ordinary people, they were exceedingly wealthy and noble.

Jiang Wu came without a formal invitation, catching the servants off guard. They hurried to welcome her while saying they needed to inform the matriarch.

She waved them off. “Take me directly to your Third Madam.”

No one dared object and led her straight to Chu Chan’s courtyard.

When Jiang Wu arrived, Chu Chan was speaking with a woman who was heavily pregnant, boasting proudly about how Master Third eagerly anticipated the child.

Chu Chan’s face was ashen.

Jiang Wu felt disgusted just listening. Whether it was Zhang Xiu finding so many surrogates, or the elderly man allowing a young girl to be pregnant, or the way favored concubines destroyed the wives—it all made her nauseous.

She was grateful for Chu Ling’s deep affection, which spared her from such revolting situations.

The woman who always picked fights with her—a sister-in-law—was clearly furious but dared not utter a word.

Jiang Wu’s expression tightened slightly. “Someone.”

One had to admit, those around Jiang Wu were well-trained by Chu Ling. At her command, someone knew exactly what to do.

A sharp-featured maid stepped forward, grabbed the concubine, and slapped her hard.

“Where do you think you’re being so insolent in front of the lady?”

No concern for the fact she was pregnant.

Even Chu Chan was stunned.

When the concubine realized it was Jiang Wu, she turned pale and knelt down. “Madam…”

Jiang Wu didn’t want to hear any excuses and waved her hand, and the concubine was dragged away.

Only then did she look at Chu Chan. She knew the woman’s life was miserable but hadn’t expected it to be this bad.

Despite standing up for her, Chu Chan’s face looked even worse now, probably more humiliated in front of Jiang Wu.

Jiang Wu wasn’t interested in her petty feelings. After dismissing everyone, she asked directly, “You sent someone to assassinate Chu Yan.”

Chu Chan’s face stiffened, panic flashing in her eyes, but she immediately denied it without hesitation. “What are you saying? How could I do such a thing?”

“Chu Yan is dead.”

“What?” Chu Chan cried out in shock. “They said the attempt failed.”

Realizing she had spoken recklessly, she quickly covered her mouth.

Jiang Wu sighed from above. She didn’t understand her sister-in-law at all.

“You’re really stupid. You can’t even fight those concubines, and you want to kill her?”

Chu Chan finally realized Jiang Wu was bluffing.

“You…” she fumed. “What do you know? Do you realize that woman ruined my entire life? If not for her vain, cunning mother, I wouldn’t have ended up like this.”

Jiang Wu couldn’t judge this tangled history; the two had been entangled for years with complexities no outsider could understand.

But there was one thing she had to say: “Your brother personally went to fetch her, Chu Chan. He’s very angry.”

No one in Great Qi feared Chu Ling less, not even Chu Chan. Besides, she and her brother weren’t especially close.

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Chu Chan’s face turned deathly pale. She snapped back to reality, having been so caught up in her husband’s grudges that she forgot about her brother.

Jiang Wu was thinking about how to warn her not to provoke Chu Yan again. If something went wrong, who would compensate Chu Ling?

Before she could say anything, Chu Chan suddenly knelt before her.

“Sister-in-law, please don’t tell my brother.” She wept with tear-stained cheeks.

Jiang Wu was too surprised by the term “sister-in-law” to reply and dodged her grasping hand.

Chu Ling’s reputation was such that even his own sister feared him to this extent—she was willing to kneel before Jiang Wu?

The sight was pitiful, so Jiang Wu’s threatening words softened awkwardly. “You can’t even fool me. How do you expect to fool your brother? But don’t worry too much; he’s your brother. What can he do?”

Tears streamed down Chu Chan’s face. “He definitely won’t let me go.”

Jiang Wu wanted to say it wasn’t that bad but couldn’t bring herself to say it.

It was hard to say; Chu Ling was ruthless and this involved Chu Yan. It was complicated.

“Well… what good is it to beg me?”

Better to go and beg Chu Yan for forgiveness, though that might be more painful than death for Chu Chan.

“Of course it helps. He only listens to you.”

Huh? Who listens to whom? Jiang Wu was shocked, wondering if she’d misunderstood, when Chu Chan’s sobbing stopped abruptly, and she looked up at her.

“Jiang Wu, do you know why I hate you?”

“Hm?” Jiang Wu struggled to keep up with the sudden change in tone.

“I’m really… extremely jealous,” Chu Chan’s eyes showed no falsehood; she truly envied her. “Why? Why do you get such a good husband? One who loves only you, who dotes on you no matter what you do.”

Jiang Wu was so startled she forgot why she was there and quickly took a sip of tea to calm herself.

Who? Chu Ling? Doting on her? Was that how he appeared to outsiders?

Chu Ling’s genius in personal conduct raised Jiang Wu’s understanding to another level.

See, even knowing what a terrible person he was, people scared of him still saw him as a good husband.

In the end, Jiang Wu vaguely promised to help speak well for her and left under Chu Chan’s envious gaze.

What the hell? Standing outside the Zhang residence, she began to question the purpose of this visit. Was this slick talk just Chu Chan’s new way of teasing her?

***

Knowing Chu Yan was safe and realizing Chu Ling wouldn’t return soon, Jiang Wu slept soundly for once.

But she was a light sleeper. Even in her dreams, she felt a cold, fierce gaze piercing her, an unease that woke her.

Opening her eyes, she saw a figure sitting by the round table not far away, jolting upright in alarm.

The fright was momentary; she knew this person too well. Even in the dark, with only a vague silhouette, the tall figure and familiar aura were unmistakable.

“Master?” She wasn’t sure of the time. “Did you just return? Why are you here?”

He didn’t say a word! Who was he trying to scare? Emboldened by the darkness, Jiang Wu still dared to show a vexed frown.

Then, with a wave of his hand, the room suddenly lit up. Jiang Wu’s face froze.

With the light, she clearly saw the man sitting there—his eyes cold enough to freeze, as if capable of killing with a glance. Though illuminated, his face was as dark as if shrouded in shadow.

Beneath the cold was a well-hidden anger, which Jiang Wu understood. But strangely, she also sensed a hint of sorrow emanating from the man’s deathly still presence.

That was unsettling.

Jiang Wu panicked. What was wrong? Why was Chu Yan like this just after returning? What was going on?

Just then, the man’s low, angry voice came: “Where did you go today?”