Chapter 753 - 755: Shock! He’s Back!
"Someone like Jianqi can’t not have a story, but Bai Ruozhu doesn’t intend to probe into his past wounds. Instead, she tells him, "I want to establish an underground faction that includes information gathering, clandestine business, and an increase in dark guards. I have no wild ambitions; I just like to be proactive and avoid being too passive."
Jianqi looks at Bai Ruozhu in slight confusion. He used to think she was just a clever agricultural girl, but as the days go by, he finds her more and more incomprehensible, her thoughts more elusive, and he is often perplexed by the aura she exudes.
"What gives her such confidence?" he wonders.
"If the faction continues to expand, perhaps I can help you achieve your goal, but..." Bai Ruozhu’s voice trails, "if revenge is your goal, I can only help you create opportunities. The actual act of revenge, you’ll have to do yourself."
"Revenge is not my goal," Jianqi quickly replied.
Bai Ruozhu thought he had damaged his throat due to a grudge and was surprised to hear revenge wasn’t his aim.
"You want to establish an intelligence network, I can help you. However, it may not be faster or more comprehensive than the Commerce Association," Jianqi said.
Bai Ruozhu shrugged casually, saying: "I know that, but the Commerce Association’s information is not mine. They won’t be at my disposal even if I wanted to investigate something, so I’d rather have my own intelligence agency. As for you, it’s time you talked about your wish."
Jianqi hesitated for a moment before saying, "Help me find a woman named Lizhi."
"A woman named Lizhi... There must be plenty of them. Any specific features?" Bai Ruozhu asked, frowning.
"I’ve found many Lizhis during my years in the Commerce Association, but none of them were her. Only when I find her will I know for sure," he replied.
Bai Ruozhu wanted to ask more, but seeing that Jianqi did not want to continue the topic, she decided against it.
She handed over the dividends she had recently received from the Welcome guests as start-up funds. Jianqi didn’t expect Bai Ruozhu to trust him so much. He looked at her with a different eye when he left.
After another two days, the fields in the suburbs of the capital were purchased. Bai Ruozhu directly had the manager lease it out, making a profit collecting rent every season.
That afternoon, a dark guard hurried in to report, "mistress, your uncle is back in the capital!"
Bai Ruozhu jumped up in excitement, grabbed the arm of the dark guard, and asked, "how is he? Did he get hurt?"
"No, no, he was escorted into the palace by the prefect of the capital and looked very healthy," the dark guard pulled his arm away nervously, his face turning red.
"That’s fine, that’s fine." Bai Ruozhu murmured, taking a while to let go of him.
She quickly informed Lin Zhenghui and had a servant go to the Welcome guests to order a banquet, intending to welcome Jiang Yichun that night.
Lin Zhenghui was also delighted. He and Bai Ruozhu waited for Jiang Yichun in the yard. By dusk, the courses were delivered, placed in large insulated food boxes because it wasn’t time to set the table for fear it would get cold.
In the end, both Bai Ruozhu and Dengdeng waited a while but didn’t see Jiang Yichun return.
"I’ll send someone to ask at the palace gate," Bai Ruozhu apologized to her master with a smile. Since she invited the old man over, it was embarrassing that Jiang Yichun hadn’t returned.
"I’ll send someone to ask instead. We wouldn’t want the palace to know you’re asking around," Lin Zhenghui suggested. He had people who could inquire inside the palace.
"Much obliged to you, master," Bai Ruozhu said with an apologetic smile. Inside, she cursed Jiang Yichun for not returning, vowing to confront him about it.
After about half an hour of waiting, Lin Zhenghui’s informant returned, saying Jiang Yichun was having dinner in the palace.
Lin Zhenghui looked toward Bai Ruozhu, concerned, whispering, "An Imperial Decree cannot be easily ignored; don’t take it to heart, little girl."
If she wasn’t taking it to heart, who was? Having finally returned to the capital, instead of reuniting with her and their child, he was dining in the palace with someone else. It was clear who that someone else was, the Princess Diao Bin!
Knowing that the child is sick, he doesn’t rush back to see him. What kind of imperial decree? He’s not afraid to violate it; he’s clearly happy where he is!
"Forget it, we won’t wait for him. Let’s enjoy the food," Bai Ruozhu said, laughing as if nothing had happened.
Lin Zhenghui looked at Bai Ruozhu feeling a bit sad. "Alright, I’ll dine with you," he said.
Bai Ruozhu called Meiran to set the table, swearing to ignore Jiang Yichun for three days, no, five days.
Bai Ruozhu and Lin Zhenghui started eating and drinking soon. Bai Ruozhu talked more than usual and was even a bit chatty. Lin Zhenghui gave a bitter smile, thinking that she was trying to lighten the mood.
As Bai Ruozhu began to get a bit dizzy from the alcohol, there was news from outside.
"Mistress, something’s happened. Mr. Jiang was carried out of the palace on a stretcher!"
"What?" Bai Ruozhu sprang to her feet, her voice louder than usual, startling everyone around her.
"What kind of injury did he sustain, what happened?" She grabbed the collar of one of the men and demanded.
Luckily, she had only practiced some basic martial arts and didn’t have considerable strength, or she might have choked him. The man, trembling with fear, said, "We couldn’t investigate the situation in the palace. Someone is escorting Mr. Jiang. He should be here soon. Maybe you should get ready?"
Bai Ruozhu let go of the man and ordered, slurring her words, "Meiran, heat up some water!"
Lin Zhenghui quickly took Dengdeng from Meiran, who ran to heat up some water.
Bai Ruozhu swayed toward the main gate with Lin Zhenghui and Dengdeng following closely behind. "If I knew Jiang would be in trouble, I wouldn’t have drunk with you even if it killed me," he said anxiously.
Ignorant of his words, Bai Ruozhu staggered forward. She nearly tripped several times but was saved by Jianqi appearing from the shadows. Lin Zhenghui glanced at Jianqi; he hadn’t noticed such a caring side to him before.
Not long after Bai Ruozhu arrived at the front gate, a team of Jinwu Guards rushed by with a stretcher. Bai Ruozhu saw the man on the stretcher and immediately dismissed her decision to ignore him for three to five days. She called out "Achun," and rushed toward the man on the stretcher...