Chapter 670 - 672: Willing to Use Your Child’s Mother as Bait?
Old Master Du angrily pointed at Bai Ruozhu, yelling, "You think you can just terminate the agreement? Let’s see about that, you better prepare to see me in court!"
"Cui Fan, see our guest out!" Bai Ruozhu called out loudly.
The guard Cui Fan came in, glared at Old Master Du, and said, "Please!"
Old Master Du left snorting, Lin Ping’er had heard the quarrel in the yard, she came in worried and asked her daughter, "Are we really okay having offended the Du Family?"
"Mother, I’ve always wanted to do business in a peaceful way. I’ve been turning a blind eye to the Du Family, but they repeatedly challenge my patience. It’s just like they are never content, even Du Zhongshu, who was worth cooperating with at the beginning, seems to have changed. There’s no point continuing this partnership." Bai Ruozhu said.
Lin Ping’er sighed, saying, "As long as you’re sure, your father and I will always support you."
Bai Ruozhu hugged her mother’s arm, resting her head on her shoulder, and said in a somewhat coquettish voice, "My parents are the ones who love and support me most, you’re my lifelong security."
"You, you will have to get married in the future, your husband will be your true support, your father and I can’t accompany you forever." Lin Ping’er said helplessly.
These words were a bit melancholy, Bai Ruozhu did not want to continue the topic. She always paid attention to her family’s health, even her mother Lin Ping’er, who had the worst health, was getting better gradually. She just wanted her family to stay healthy and safe, wishing her parents a long life.
She glanced into the yard, she had wanted to buy a larger one, but now that they were parting ways with the Du Family, the lawsuit would likely entail significant expenses so her plan of buying a new yard had to be postponed.
She looked at the wooden box in her hands, then went back to her room to work on the materials for the tooth-filling.
...
Jiang Yichun received his assignment to capture Zhou Jue the night before and had worked all night. Though he was able to seize Zhou Jue’s hideout, he did not find any traces of Zhou Jue himself, only captured a few of his subordinates.
Upon returning to the Prime Minister’s office, he personally took charge of interrogating them, keeping a close eye on them, fearing they would confess something that could harm Bai Ruozhu.
"The Sixth Prince intends to capture that woman and take her back to our country for some research." One of them confessed, unable to bear the pain of the punishment.
Jiang Yichun had poison concealed on his fingertips, no matter the risk, he could not allow them to confess anything unfavorable to Bai Ruozhu.
"What sort of research?" He asked coldly.
"I don’t know, I honestly don’t. The Sixth Prince is naturally suspicious and would never tell us. It probably has something to do with the suturing technique." The man screamed in pain, his face turning several shades paler with each movement as his Pipa bone had been pierced with an iron hook.
"Where did the four captured doctors go?" Jiang Yichun relaxed a little upon asking, seeing that the man truly did not know.
Giving thought to the fact that Zhou Jue knew how to use poison, he would not need help from others, he could secretly research the cowpox himself, why would he tell others and potentially increase the danger?
"They are already on their way to Chengshui Country." The man confessed, "They should be taken by water, but I don’t know the specifics, the Sixth Prince would not let anyone know too much."
Jiang Yichun yanked the iron chain attached to the man’s Pipa bone, his scream resonating in the room.
"Where is Zhou Jue hiding? Or does he have any other hideouts?" Jiang Yichun asked again.
"I don’t know, I really don’t." The man was in so much pain he almost collapsed on the floor, but his Pipa bones were pierced by an iron hook and suspended by an iron chain. Collapsing would cause even more pain, so even though he was covered in cold sweat, he forced himself to remain standing, trying not to pull on the chain.
"Are you sure you don’t know?" Jiang Yichun signaled a guard standing nearby, who then applied a medical liquid to the criminal’s wound, causing him to scream even louder, until it seemed he was drained of all strength.
"Really, he’s probably ill again." The man finally gave in, spilling everything about how Zhou Jue would regularly fall ill and resort to taking their strength.
Jiang Yichun felt a chill, it made his stomach turn, it was something even a man could hardly bear to hear.
As soon as he confirmed that none of the criminals posed a threat to Bai Ruozhu, he ordered the interrogation results to be reported. Seeing that it was nearly daybreak, he rested in the office for a bit.
At daybreak, a guard came to report that the Prime Minister had arrived and summoned him for a meeting.
A sense of unease sank in Jiang Yichun’s heart, he thought the Prime Minister wouldn’t come because of the secret order, but it turned out that the Minister took this matter very seriously. Remembering the part in the secret order about "disposing Bai when necessary", he subconsciously clenched his fist.
Soon, he went to meet the Prime Minister, Sun Chengchao, his master Wu Yunfeng was also there.
Seeing his exhausted face with bloodshot eyes, Wu Yunfeng hastily said, "Mister Sun, although Yichun failed to capture Zhou Jue, he did destroy their base in Beiyu City, so he has made amends for his failure."
Sun Chengchao raised his hand to signal Wu Yunfeng to stop talking, he smiled and said, "I know you’re defending him, but I didn’t mean to reprimand him, I just want to know what happened."
Wu Yunfeng forced a laugh, saying, "You’re absolutely right, Sir."
Sun Chengchao then turned his gaze to Jiang Yichun, his voice turned serious, "You returned promptly and performed your duty well."
"I dare not fail your delegation, Sir." Jiang Yichun responded with his head bowed.
"Are you certain that Bai has not leaked the suturing technique?" Sun Chengchao suddenly asked.
"When I was stationed there, I’ve confronted Zhou Jue. He was unable to find Bai Ruozhu. Yesterday, while Bai was having the opening ceremony for her manor, Zhou Jue disguised himself as a woman and attempted to kidnap her. However, we managed to obstruct him, and he had to escape wounded. He has not had the chance to interrogate Bai up until now." Jiang Yichun deliberately avoided mentioning the incident when Zhou Jue first sought Bai Ruozhu, as many other people in the Prime Minister’s office already knew the incidences which followed; he figured Sun Chengchao would not only consult him.
Sun Chengchao said nothing but paced around the room for a while before speaking, "Bai is ultimately a potential threat, for our safety, we might have no choice but to eliminate her. What do you think, Yichun?"
Jiang Yichun’s heartbeat quickened, he kept his eyes downcast and answered in a calm tone, "Perhaps Bai may still be of use to the Imperial Court. To capture Zhou Jue, we can only use her as bait. If we could capture Zhou alive, we might be able to barter something with Chengshui."
Sun Chengchao suddenly burst into laughter, "You are indeed calculative, are you really willing to use your child’s mother as bait?"
Wu Yunfeng widened his eyes in surprise. He had been busy lately and with his daughter seriously injured needing his care, he was unaware of this development. Of course, his immediate understanding was that Bai Ruozhu was pregnant with Jiang Yichun’s child.
At this moment, Jiang Yichun could hear his own heartbeat clearly. He strove to calmly reply, "The interests of the Imperial Court are paramount over any person, any matter. I am fully aware of this and would never dare to forget."
"Is that so? You must remember what you said today." Sun Chengchao suddenly turned cold and said ominously.