Chapter 1013 - 1015: No Pulse_1
Bai Ruozhu, upon hearing Yang Tianhua’s laugh, felt a burst of joy instantly bloom in her heart, though she pretended to be very worried on the surface and hung her head low.
The emperor’s eyes flickered with a cold light as he looked at Yang Tianhua and asked, "Does Minister Yang have objections to my decision?"
Jiang Yichun, who had been silent, looked at Yang Tianhua and said, "My wife is only asking for three days’ time, unlike Minister Yang, who spent so many days gathering evidence for Young Master Yang. What more dissatisfaction could Minister Yang have, or do you think you are the only one who can dictate what happens in Capital City?"
"Jiang Yichun, stop trying to label me! It’s you and your wife who plotted against my son—I, Yang Tianhua, won’t let this go!" Yang Tianhua roared.
"Audacious!" The emperor finally lost his patience, "Does our Imperial Study Room permit such loud disruption? Minister Yang, your temper is getting the better of you. Since this is the case, go home and rest for a few days, cool your temper, and there’s no need to attend the court either!"
"Your Majesty..." Yang Tianhua protested in dissent.
"Our decision is final, all of you may leave," said the emperor as he rubbed his temples. The eunuch by his side immediately said, "His Majesty is tired, have some sense and leave now."
Of course, this was mainly directed at Yang Tianhua.
Wang Shun ushered the three out of the Imperial Study Room. Yang Tianhua snorted coldly and turned to Jiang Yichun, saying, "Trying to harm my son? Just wait and see if you have what it takes!"
After thinking it over, since Bai Ruozhu’s maid was already dead, with death leaving no proof, and since the maid’s brother was in his custody, who could escape? What more could they do to overturn the situation?
Jiang Yichun cast him a cold glance and said, "Minister Yang, being loud does not make one right, and strength is not measured by the volume of one’s voice."
"Spare me your nonsense—I’m curious to see how long a tail-wagging dog like you, tossed out by your own family, can keep smiling," Yang Tianhua spat before leaving.
Wang Shun’s mouth twitched as he led the two through a different path to their departure.
When Wang Shun returned to the Imperial Study Room and relayed Yang Tianhua’s words outside, the emperor snorted coldly, "The Yang Family is like a cancer, but that doesn’t mean we dare not touch them. If they stay in line, so be it, but should they continue to act beyond their means and cause trouble, we will not hesitate to excise this cancer."
Wang Shun’s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly looked around. Fortunately, there were no others in the Imperial Study Room, only some of the emperor’s trusted dark guards sitting in the shadows.
"Please consider carefully, Your Majesty," Wang Shun, having the status of an eunuch, could not discuss state affairs, so he could only advise cautiously.
Tang Yin remained silent, but in his mind emerged the arrogant expression of Yang Tianhua, and even a hint of threat and hatred when he expressed his dissatisfaction.
Such a minister can’t be kept, yet the roots of the Yang Family ran deep, and he had only ascended the throne a few years ago. He must plan carefully and meticulously, without any negligence.
Well, let this incident serve as a test for Jiang Yichun and his wife to see if they are worth being entrusted with greater responsibilities.
...
On the way back home, Bai Ruozhu relayed what happened with Dongqing to Jiang Yichun, and the couple became even more cautious, recognizing Dongqing as a potential breakthrough.
Upon returning home, Bai Ruozhu first reported to her parents before returning to her room to discuss plans with Jiang Yichun.
Then Bai Ruozhu asked Jianqi to find Dongqing and create portraits of her brother and the mysterious master. Soon Jianqi completed the drawings and presented them to Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun.
Dongqing’s younger brother, Huzi, didn’t have any special characteristics, but from what Dongqing described, he seemed smaller than the average ten-year-old child. Dongqing said it was because there was a famine in their hometown, and Huzi had nothing to eat.
As for Huzi’s master, he had a crafty and sly look about him, and he was especially thin. It wasn’t clear whether Dongqing’s disdain colored her description, or if the man really looked that unpleasant by nature.
Jiang Yichun immediately arranged for his subordinates to investigate based on the descriptions, and by early the next morning, they finally had news about the master and apprentice.
The news didn’t come from the dark guards on Bai Ruozhu’s side; they kept a close watch on the Yang Family and didn’t notice anything unusual, not even the entry or exit of a pair resembling the said master and apprentice. However, Jiang Yichun’s men found the two residing within the Red-Light District of Capital City.
Comparing the outcomes, Bai Ruozhu realized how much less influential her forces were compared to Jiang Yichun’s. She felt quite dejected and pouted, but this also proved how capable her man was.
"Taking a child to that kind of place, he must be up to no good. But how did he happen to rescue Dongqing’s brother? And how did Yang Tianhua manage to find him? How do they even know about our maid Dongqing’s past?" Bai Ruozhu was very puzzled.
"The world is vast with many things we haven’t come across. Yang Tianhua must have put in a lot of effort to come up with a countermeasure after so long. The Yang Family is considered a prominent and respected family in the Capital; they have some depths that we’re unaware of," Jiang Yichun explained.
Upon hearing this, Bai Ruozhu felt somewhat discouraged. She realized that she, coming from humble beginnings, still had a long way to go.
Now that they knew Huzi’s location, Jiang Yichun took some people on a rescue mission. Bai Ruozhu wanted to join them, but Jiang Yichun sternly refused her, saying that the environment of the Red-Light District was unclean and that she might see things she shouldn’t, which could ’raise needles’ in her eyes.
After everyone had left, Bai Ruozhu came to a realization. He was worried about her seeing nude men, afraid that the bare bodies of the patrons would sully her eyes.
Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but laugh. It was a good thing Achun didn’t know what she used to see in her previous life, on television or at the beach; otherwise, Achun would have gone mad.
Jiang Yichun and his team returned in less than two hours, bringing back Dongqing’s younger brother, Huzi.
"We didn’t alert Lu Dan, he’s still asleep on the courtesan’s belly. If he finds out, it won’t be until tomorrow," Jiang Yichun said.
Bai Ruozhu glanced at Huzi, feeling that something about the boy was off. She couldn’t help but step forward and touch his head, saying, "Huzi, I’m a friend of your sister Dongqing."
Huzi had no reaction. Bai Ruozhu looked at Jiang Yichun, thinking the child might have been frightened, or perhaps ’Dongqing’ wasn’t actually her real name, so the boy wouldn’t recognize the reference.
"He’s been like this the whole way, hasn’t said a word. I don’t know if Lu Dan used some kind of drug on him."
Jiang Yichun spoke with hesitation as if afraid of startling Bai Ruozhu, and said carefully, "Do you want to check his pulse? I can’t feel anything."
Bai Ruozhu really got a shock. How could a living person have no pulse?
She hurriedly reached out to feel it. Indeed, his touch was somewhat cold. After searching for a long time, she actually didn’t feel Huzi’s pulse!
At that moment, Huzi’s head finally turned, and suddenly he looked straight at Bai Ruozhu, staring at her without any expression, which startled her so much that her hand sprung away from his wrist.
"Where is my sister?" Huzi asked, his voice very hoarse and devoid of the liveliness typical of children, it sounded rather eerie.
Bai Ruozhu thought perhaps this was an aftereffect of Huzi being brought back to consciousness. Anyway, the best thing to do was to take him to see Dongqing.