Chapter 155: The Death of the Fake Li King
The Steward Yan outside the door witnessed the entire scene, surprised by his Master’s change, actively embracing a young lady!
Good heavens, he wouldn’t have dared to even imagine such a thing before.
Let alone embrace her, he had never even seen him speak to someone within three steps. Even his own young lady feared him, let alone other girls.
What shocked Steward Yan even more was Miss Ji’s attitude. With that kind of reaction, how could she be considered a young lady!
Being held by a man, she could still stare directly at him, neither shy nor flustered.
Steward Yan felt as if he had watched a grand play. This was more interesting to him than when Li King beheaded Zheng Yun. He quietly retreated to have tea and snacks prepared, as it seemed his Master would be staying here for a long time!
Inside, Jin Sui asked directly, “Jiulang, you’re not surprised at all that I’ve become a woman?”
Yan Jiulang chuckled, “What do you mean by becoming a woman? Brother Ji… Miss Ji has always been a woman, hasn’t she?”
Jin Sui took two steps forward and looked him in the eye, asking, “How can you be so calm? Don’t you have anything you want to ask me?”
If this were Yan Shiyi, she would have jumped three feet high by now. This person was so calm it was boring. Did he already see through my disguise?
“It’s not that Yan Jiu is too calm, but rather that too many shocking things have happened to Miss Ji, and Yan Jiu has already gotten used to it.”
Jin Sui choked, “Uh, are you immune to my affairs now?”
I haven’t done anything too major, just disguised as a man, then as an eunuch, and now I’ve resumed my female attire.
Everything I did during that time was for the persona! If I was impersonating Li King, I couldn’t be a good-for-nothing!
Jin Sui smiled lightly, “Yan Jiulang truly lives up to his reputation. It seems there aren’t many things in this world that can shock you! Regardless, thank you for saving me.”
“Are my Grandpa and younger brother also here?”
Yan Jiu shook his head, “They are at another villa. Liu Yun is too severely injured to be moved easily. Later, I will send someone to ask Daoist Ji and Jin An. If they are willing to come, I will bring them here.”
Jin Sui quickly said, “If that villa is safe enough, don’t bring them over yet! This is Yandi, right? If we bring them here, we’ll have to leave again and retrace our steps. It’s better for me to go find them!”
She was indirectly telling Yan Jiu that she would not be staying in Yandi.
Yan Jiu neither agreed nor disagreed, seemingly not understanding her hidden meaning. He said softly, “Are you hungry? I’ll have someone bring tea and snacks.”
Jin Sui nodded, “I am indeed hungry, but before we eat, I have one thing I need Jiulang’s help with.”
Yan Jiu quickly said, “Please speak, Yan Jiu is willing to serve.”
There was a haste in his tone that he himself didn’t notice. Jin Sui sighed inwardly, understanding his intentions. He wanted to use the method of serving her to make her stay.
As a major boss, it was rare to go to such lengths to keep a subordinate.
But now, she could only ask Yan Jiu for help: “The coachman youth who died in the Earth God Temple died for me. I want to give him a proper burial and provide compensation to his family.”
“Also…”
Yan Jiu gazed at her gently, not urging her, and waited quietly for her to think.
“Also, since he died for Ji Sui, then consider Ji Sui dead. Please have Yan Jiulang spread the word that the Fake Li King died at the hands of bandits.”
Yan Jiu’s expression changed slightly, “Have you thought it through?”
Jin Sui spread her arms, letting him see her attire, “Can I still impersonate Ji Sui?”
“If you are reluctant to leave the border city, what’s wrong with impersonating her again?”
Jin Sui’s heart skipped a beat. “Goodness, are you all so bold? You all say I’m bold, but I at least know I’m impersonating Li King, and the persona can’t collapse.”
One is you, and the other is Cheng Yu. You both tell me so openly that if I wanted to oppose the Real Li King, you would immediately stand behind me.
She quickly shook her head, “The border city belongs to Gu Changxiao. If I truly did something like that, I fear Jiulang would also fear me in the future.”
If you can help me seize Gu Changxiao’s border city today, someone else can help me seize your Yandi tomorrow.
Besides, I truly have no such ambition. I don’t want to be a queen or anything. All I seek is for my Grandpa and Jin An to be safe, to find a Peach Blossom Spring where I can sleep soundly, have enough to eat and wear, and live freely.
During the time I was impersonating Li King, I didn’t get a single peaceful night’s sleep.
“Furthermore, only if Ji Sui is dead can I secretly investigate the truth. I thought I could escape by leaving Yandi, but it seems that’s not the case! Since some people don’t intend to let me live in peace, I can only expose them.”
Yan Jiu said softly, “No matter what Miss Ji wants to do, Yan Jiu will help you.”
Jin Sui, as usual, cupped her hands in a salute, “Thanks! Jiulang, you’re a true friend.”
Realizing she had resumed her female form, she awkwardly mimicked a woman’s bow, clasping her hands together, “Is this right? Thank you, Young Master Yan.”
Yan Jiulang let out a low chuckle, “No need for that, Miss Ji. Just be yourself.”
Soon, maidservants brought tea and snacks, along with a tea stove. Yan Jiu personally brewed milk tea for her.
He didn’t hide the fact that Imperial Court inner attendants had come to Yanzhou, suspecting they had other tasks, but he hadn’t found out what they were yet.
Jin Sui relayed Fang Ze’s words, saying with some worry, “If this inner attendant is someone from Prince Yu’s faction, will they resent Gu Changxiao?”
Yan Jiu slowly rubbed his tea bowl and asked softly, “Does Miss Ji plan to contact Li King?”
Jin Sui was stunned for a moment, then gave a self-deprecating laugh, “No matter the reason, he made me leave the border city in such a humiliating way, I can never forgive his actions.”
“Ji Sui is already dead. Li King has nothing to do with me anymore. I only want to avenge Ji Sui now, and then, completely break free.”
Yan Jiu nodded, “I understand Miss Ji’s intentions. In that case, the funeral for the Fake Li King must be grand to achieve the effect you desire.”
After the meal, Yan Jiu took his leave. He would not stay overnight at this separate courtyard. At the same time, he would personally go to the Earth God Temple to arrange the funeral for the Fake Li King. This news would spread throughout Yandi as quickly as possible.
This early winter was destined to be turbulent. Before the common people could recover from the matter of the Real and Fake Li King, they received the news of the Fake Li King’s death at the hands of bandits. Truly, life is unpredictable!
Jin Sui wrote a letter to her Grandpa and Jin An, telling them to recuperate well at the villa. As for Liu Yun, he should not leave for now.
After she finishes settling things in a while, the grandfather and granddaughter will quietly leave. This time, they definitely won’t encounter any danger.
She couldn’t help but think that she would inevitably need Yan Jiu’s help then. Adult friendships are maintained by mutual benefit. Yan Jiu is treating her so well now because he naturally wants to keep her under his command.
If she insists on leaving afterward, Yan Jiu will surely be unhappy. She’ll have to give him something in return.
Jin Sui pondered what she had that could impress Yan Jiu. For business cooperation, she wasn’t Li King now, so she couldn’t mobilize manpower or resources. Moreover, she couldn’t stay in Yandi, making business difficult.
Giving him a secret recipe? That’s not appropriate either. It’s good to have more secret recipes, and it doesn’t matter to the Yan Clan if they have one less. Furthermore, no matter what the recipe is, it takes time to test its success.
Jin Sui looked at the falling snow outside the window, her mind wandering. She actually thought of something that would be perfect to give to Yan Jiu, and she believed that even if he received it, he wouldn’t be unwilling to let her leave.
Having lived two lives, Jin Sui feared owing favors the most.
Using the original owner’s body, she shouldered the responsibility of taking care of Grandpa Ling and Jin An, and also vindicating Father Ling.
Gu Changxiao saved the grandfather and granddaughter from the bandits and took a knife for Jin An. She impersonated Li King and returned him a better border city. Even though she was driven away and heartbroken, she didn’t want revenge; she considered it repaying a debt of gratitude.
In this life, it would be enough to be strangers with Gu Changxiao.
The coachman youth died for her. She was avenging both that youth and herself, and she must find and kill all the black-clothed men!
Of course, she doesn’t have the ability to take revenge on the mastermind, Prince Yu, yet. But Prince Yu is also on her blacklist. Even if I can’t kill you, I will secretly trip you up!
Then there’s the person she owes the most to now—Yan Jiu.
Although the work isn’t finished yet, she needs to think about how to repay the debt first.
Jin Sui asked a maidservant for paper and brush. When Steward Yan heard that Miss Ji was painting, he was surprised again. So, Miss Ji, after resuming her female form, could still do some things a young lady should do.
He thought she only knew how to fight and kill!
Halfway through painting, her eyes got tired, so she went for a walk in the courtyard. She was dressed warmly, and the maidservants had already brought several pairs of new shoes.
There were indoor cotton shoes and outdoor deer boots. She put on the boots and went into the courtyard to tread in the snow.
She asked the maidservants, “How much snow usually falls during the first snow in Yandi?”
The maidservant smiled, “It snows for at least three days. This year’s snow is coming quite late; it snowed in mid-September last year.”
Jin Sui repeatedly told herself that the border city was no longer her concern, but she couldn’t help but wonder if those refugees who had just left the mountains, and the people who traveled a thousand miles to the border, had warm houses to live in.
She hoped Cheng Yu could make proper arrangements and not let those people who had traveled so hard to reach the border city face freezing or starving to death again.
As the maidservant said, the snow indeed fell intermittently for three days before clearing up. Long icicles hung from the eaves, and icicles and snowflakes intertwined on the trees, creating a scene more beautiful than mid-spring.
Those who can appreciate the beauty of the snow must have no shortage of food and clothing. The common people fear the severe cold the most.
During these three days, Jin Sui was constantly painting. When her hands got cold, she would warm them by the fire and drink milk tea, then go out to look at the snow.
She didn’t rush to ask the maidservants when Yan Jiu would come. It was basic courtesy not to cause trouble for others when staying as a guest.
What she didn’t know was that although Yandi was covered in a silver blanket, the news of the Fake Li King’s death at the hands of bandits was as shocking as throwing a fish oil firearm into the ice and snow.
Yan Jiu intentionally spread the news to the border city immediately. Cheng Yu, disregarding the wind and snow, led border soldiers to the grave overnight.
Ignoring the obstruction from the Yan family and risking a falling out with Yan Jiu, he dug up the grave and opened the coffin for an autopsy.
Unfortunately, the corpse was unrecognizable. It was said that the bandits who killed the Fake Li King were former subordinates of Zheng Yun, those who had escaped the Zheng Yun case.
They had disfigured the Fake Li King’s corpse like this to vent their anger.
After the autopsy, Cheng Yu said nothing. He respectfully offered incense at the grave and apologized to the Yan family before returning to the border city with the border soldiers.
Chen Yunniang and a group of women, their eyes red from crying, choked out, “Is it really Daoist Ji?”
Cheng Yu nodded in public, “Heaven envies talent.”
The border soldiers all began to cry softly. Although that Li King was fake, the bond he had with the border soldiers when he was in the border city was real.
They hadn’t even had time to say a proper goodbye, and now they were separated by death.
Only after everyone had left did Cheng Yu quietly say to Chen Yunniang, “It’s not Daoist Ji! I knew it. With his intelligence, how could he easily die at the hands of bandits?”
Chen Yunniang’s sorrow turned to joy, “Really!”
“Really! Although the corpse was disfigured, its build was sturdier than Daoist Ji’s, and its feet were large. Anyone familiar would know it was a body double.”
Chen Yunniang asked doubtfully, “Then why did Lord Yan arrange such a grand funeral for Daoist Ji’s body double? And spread the news everywhere?”
“Naturally, it’s to protect the real Daoist Ji! There are still many people in Yandi who want Daoist Ji’s life!”
“Does the Prince know?”
Cheng Yu was startled, “That’s right. I’ll send a letter to the Prince immediately, hoping he won’t be misled by the false news.”
Chen Yunniang sighed softly. “As intelligent as you are, you were thrown into a panic upon hearing the news of Daoist Ji’s death and rushed to the Yan family to conduct an autopsy without regard for anything else.”
Let alone the Prince!
In matters like this, only an outsider can see clearly. The more someone cares, the more easily they will believe lies.
Chen Yunniang guessed correctly. When Gu Changxiao received the secret letter and read the short sentence, ‘Ji Sui was assassinated by bandits at the Earth God Temple at night.’
In that instant, Gu Changxiao felt a buzzing in his ears, and the world around him turned into nothingness.
He felt as if his soul had left his body, his chest struck heavily, his vision blurred, and his hands lost the strength to even hold a piece of paper.
He only heard Han Xing exclaim in panic, “Your Highness!”
Only then did he realize he had fallen off his horse. At the same time, a sweet taste filled his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Han Xing and the others were greatly alarmed and quickly helped him off his horse, “Your Highness, what happened? Quickly, get some good medicine.”
Gu Changxiao came back to his senses, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and said, “This King is fine.”
He pushed away Han Xing and the others, and dug out the piece of paper from the snow. His hands trembled uncontrollably, his heart felt as if it were being fiercely squeezed, and every breath caused a sharp pain in his chest.
At this moment, Han Xing also saw the words on the paper. He was equally shocked, feeling as if the world was spinning, but he quickly reacted:
“Your Highness, this news must be false!”
“Daoist Ji is so intelligent, how could he be killed so easily! Besides, you sent Liu Yun to escort him secretly, and Daoist Ji had fish oil firearms. A few bandits couldn’t possibly harm her!”
Gu Changxiao’s despairing eyes gradually regained their light, “Yes, with his personality, he wouldn’t fail to use fish oil firearms and let himself be slaughtered.”
“This King must go and see for himself. Whether alive or dead, I must see the person!”
He mounted his horse and tried to turn it around, but Han Xing stopped him, “Your Highness, please wait. Lord Cheng will definitely go to see for himself. If you go back now, you’ll fall right into that person’s trap!”
Gu Changxiao let out a roar, not at Han Xing, nor at the Black Feather Camp soldiers, but at himself, at fate, at those invisible hands that manipulated destiny.
He was like a trapped beast, his body and mind pushed into a dead end.
A thought couldn’t help but surface in his mind: What if it’s true?
He was still with Daoist Ji and Jin An. What if Liu Yun’s rescue was not timely? What if he didn’t have time to use the fish oil firearms? What if he really died…
It was for him to live, at least for him to live, that I parted ways with him, not hesitating to make him hate and resent me, to make him leave the border city so miserably.
But the result was, he still died.
Gu Changxiao, you are truly useless!
