Chapter 182: Go See Jiang Rui
After Mo Zheng returned, Yang Luo told her about Zhu Yunxiao.
“Is what he said credible?” She gave a bitter smile. “In that life, I didn’t understand him clearly, but now that I’ve interacted with him more in this life, I understand him even less.”
Mo Zheng spread out the paper on the desk and began grinding ink.
“It’s credible. Since he came to confess honestly, he must say some truths, but… this person is not trustworthy.”
“Moreover, don’t think this person has changed and is different from the Zhu Yunxiao you knew. He hasn’t changed.”
“Miss Yang is formidable, so he comes to rely on and assist her. Once Miss Yang is no longer formidable, he will turn his blade against her.”
He still wants to use Miss Yang.
In the previous life, he killed her directly. In this life, he changed methods, but the purpose and intentions remain the same.
Yang Luo nodded. Yes, Zhu Yunxiao is still Zhu Yunxiao. What changed is Miss Yang.
“I’ll continue to interact with him and use what can be used.” She said, no longer mentioning this person, and handed the brush on the desk to Mo Zheng. “The Libationer left homework again? Write it quickly. Don’t stay up late anymore.”
Although Miss Yang’s identity is fake, the Libationer disciple is real. Mo Zheng studies diligently, and the Libationer teaches her earnestly.
Mo Zheng took the brush but did not write calligraphy. She said, “There’s one more thing that should be checked.”
Yang Luo looked at her. “What?”
“You said that in that life, when Zhu Yunxiao discussed marriage with you, his original wife Jiang Rui passed away from illness.” Mo Zheng said softly. “Now, although it’s different from the previous life, he has started approaching Miss Yang. Could Jiang Rui get sick and then pass away like in the previous life?”
Jiang Rui. Yang Luo’s expression changed slightly. “She has taken sick leave these past few days.”
……
……
As they entered February, the wind became much gentler.
Early in the morning, Jiang Rui opened the windows and took a deep breath, but perhaps choked, she let out a few coughs.
“Miss, you’re still ill.” A maidservant in the courtyard heard and hurriedly called out, “Don’t let in the wind.”
To avoid her second uncle and second aunt discovering she was faking illness and spreading it everywhere, Jiang Rui had not told anyone except her mother and younger sister that she was pretending to be sick.
Jiang Rui smiled and closed the windows, watching the maidservant come in carrying a bowl of medicine.
“How come drinking this medicine doesn’t improve anything.” The maidservant said, “Logically, it was personally fetched by the Heir from Hui Chun Tang, and so expensive.”
Hui Chun Tang is the most famous apothecary in the Capital City.
Originally, Jiang Rui had someone fetch some harmless medicine from a random apothecary to put on a show, but Yunxiao disagreed.
“Every medicine is three parts poison. You can’t take it casually, and the smell isn’t good.”
So he personally went to the best apothecary to get warming and tonic medicine.
However, since it was faking illness and she wasn’t actually sick, of course there would be no change after drinking it.
“Illness fades like drawn silk.” Jiang Rui said, walking to the desk. “Take it slowly.”
The maidservant helped her sit, saw the open book on the desk, scattered paper and brush, and urged again, “Miss, you’re recuperating now. Don’t read or do homework.” She complained, “The Young Lord Zhu also spoils you, actually fetching homework for you.”
Jiang Rui smiled and didn’t argue, just said she knew.
“Drink the medicine quickly.” The maidservant said.
Just as Jiang Rui was about to pick it up, a maidservant hurried in from outside. “Miss, a young lady says she’s your classmate here to visit you.”
Classmate? Companion reader young lady from the National Academy? Jiang Rui was stunned. Because of her aloof personality, she rarely interacted with others daily. Moreover, being ill, noble young ladies would avoid her—they didn’t want to disturb the patient or catch the illness. At most, they would have servants send gifts to inquire after her. Few would come in person.
“Who is it?” Jiang Rui asked.
The maidservant handed over a simple calling card. Jiang Rui took it and looked, her expression even more surprised.
It was actually Liu Chan.
Speaking of it, she was very familiar with the name Liu Chan, but the familiar one was the person—the fake Liu Chan.
After the real and fake Liu Chan switched back to their respective identities, she had no interactions with this real Liu Chan, not even spoken to her.
Why would this Liu Chan come to visit her?
Seeing Jiang Rui’s expression, the maidservant cautiously asked, “Miss, shall we see her?”
If she didn’t want to see her, saying her body was inconvenient would also be normal.
Jiang Rui looked at this handwritten invitation. Compared to the invitations commonly used by other young ladies in the Capital City, it seemed crude and poor, but…
This was the first classmate to come visit her in person.
“Please invite her in.” She said to the maidservant, and instructed, “Prepare some good tea and pastries. Go to the living room. There’s a medicinal smell here.”
……
…….
In the deeply dark National Academy, the noisy evening reading voices gradually faded, and the diligent students all fell asleep.
Accompanied by a few night birdsong, Yang Luo opened the door, and Tao Hua flashed in from outside.
“This fellow really is something. You can’t judge by appearances. He’s truly ruthless!”
Tao Hua stood indoors, lowering her voice in exclamation, then placed a small bundle on the table and opened it.
“This is what I took from her home today while borrowing Miss Liu’s visit to Miss Jiang.”
Yang Luo and Mo Zheng gathered to look and saw several medicines and a scented sachet inside.
A faint medicinal fragrance instantly spread in the room.
“This scented sachet and medicine were both given by Zhu Yunxiao.” Tao Hua said.
Yang Luo was startled. “Poisonous?”
Tao Hua nodded. “I had Hei Shu check. The medicine and scented sachet are non-toxic separately, but together they form a chronic poison. It won’t flare up immediately but will lurk in the body. When needed, just add one more medicine, and it will flare up instantly.”
Although she had already guessed, the real verification still shocked Yang Luo.
So Jiang Rui was truly killed by Zhu Yunxiao.
Tao Hua continued, “Miss Jiang is truly deeply in love with this Young Lord Zhu. Even when talking to Miss Liu, she mentioned him several times.”
She then looked at Mo Zheng and Yang Luo.
“What next? Tell her about these…”
“No.” Yang Luo interrupted immediately.
If Jiang Rui made a fuss, Zhu Yunxiao would know he was exposed. Then how could they continue using him?
The room was quiet for a moment.
Yang Luo clenched her hand. “It’s not that I’m heartless…”
Before she could explain, Mo Zheng took over softly. “If we tell her, Jiang Rui won’t believe it.”
Yang Luo nodded quickly. “Right, she won’t believe it at all and will expose us.” She exhaled. “I’ve told her more than once that Zhu Yunxiao has issues with his character. She says they’ve been childhood sweethearts and won’t disbelieve him for my slander as an outsider.”
Tao Hua smiled. “Then, since she’s courting death, just leave her be.”
She then picked up the scented sachet from the table.
“I used knockout incense at night to steal it out. It must be returned before dawn.”
“She carries it like her lifeblood. She’ll definitely notice. Don’t let her raise a fuss and ruin our plans.”
Mo Zheng said, “Sister Tao Hua, first have Hei Shu replace the medicine inside, then send it back. As for the rest, don’t alarm her for now.”
Tao Hua glanced at Mo Zheng. The Young Master is still so soft-hearted. She pursed her lips in a smile and nodded.
“Also, have Liu Chan find a way to persuade Jiang Rui to come to school.” Mo Zheng continued. “Can’t let her isolate herself at home. If she’s really on sick leave with illness, the world won’t know.”
She walked to the desk as she spoke, picked up the brush, wrote a few simple sentences, and handed them to Tao Hua.
“Although we can’t tell Miss Liu the truth, I’ve hinted simply. Miss Liu is very clever. She’ll manage.”
Tao Hua smiled and took it. “Yes, Miss Liu seems quiet, but she handles things steadily.”
She then wrapped up the scented sachet and medicine.
“Rest assured, I’ll handle it right away.”
Yang Luo said softly, “Thanks for the trouble, Sister Tao Hua.”
Mo Zheng smiled and nodded.
Tao Hua said no more, opened the door, and disappeared into the night.
Yang Luo closed the door, looked at Mo Zheng as if to say something, then stopped.
Just now, she had been a bit ruthless toward Jiang Rui. She had finally reborn and reached this point. She couldn’t afford any more mistakes…
Mo Zheng looked at her and said softly, “Because of you, not only me—Miss Jiang’s fate can change too. Miss Yang, you really are our savior.”
Yang Luo was amused and sighed lightly. She said, “I hope we can all live well.”
Mo Zheng nodded. “We will.” She smiled again. “To live even better, I’ll find another helper.
