Chapter 154 - She’s Gone

When she saw Zhao Sheng, Miss Su was shocked that he was looking for her. She rushed into the sedan and instructed the sedan bearer to leave as soon as possible. “Go back to the manor!”

The sedan immediately turned around and traveled towards the Ji Manor.

After she was far enough, Miss Su carefully lifted the curtain of the sedan and looked back. She only saw the crowd behind her, with Zhao Sheng out of sight. She heaved a long sigh of relief.

Zhao Sheng, a lowly peasant, was recently snipping around her like a ghost. He was likely planning to destroy her.

Miss Su’s previous guilt towards the Zhao Family had disappeared completely and turned into bitter hatred. She only hoped that the Zhao Family would disappear completely in this world, and never get any chance to pose a threat to her again.

If only the Zhao Family had disappeared, no one would know about her disgraceful behavior, and she could securely become Ji Yuxian’s wife.

In the dark sedan, a vicious light flashed out of the woman’s half-squinted eyelids, and her fists clenched hard.

The next day, Miss Su returned to her parents’ home with two pieces of satin as a gift.

Madame Su looked at the good satin and rejoiced, “Oh, my dear daughter! Even if you are the richest guy in Fuyang, you can’t buy such a good satin there! This is what those noble ladies wear in the palace!”

“Mother, it’s not a hard thing for me. If you like this, I can send someone to find more for you. People who come to Robes Square give me such presents every day, along with boxes of jewelry. I can’t find any more space to put them in my room and my room is getting messy because of them,” Miss Su said proudly, with her teacup in hand.

“If your presents make your room messy, you can give them to me. I’ve got space for them!” Madame Su approached her daughter and said.

Miss Su’s eyes blinked quickly, and she had a smile on her lips. “Okay! When you come to the Ji Manor next time, I will give them to you.”

Hearing this, Madame Su was filled with joy. She could not help but begin to think about other topics.

Although her daughter was not Ji Yuxian’s favorite yet, she could experience insurmountable benefits. Once she won Ji Yuxian’s heart, her family would live the life of the Ji Family’s wealth.

After a casual chat with her daughter, Madame Su suddenly asked, “Why haven’t I seen the Second Mistress in the Ji Manor recently?”

Miss Su looked around before lowering her voice and saying, “I heard that the Second Mistress is locked in the courtyard by Ji Yuxian because of her mistake. Even her sons can’t visit her at the moment.”

“Ah?” Surprised and curious, Madame Su asked, “What did the Second Mistress do?”

Miss Su shook her head. “I don’t know.”

“There are so many rules in Ji Manor!” Madame Su exclaimed.

“That’s because she’s a concubine, not the main wife. A concubine has no place in the Ji Manor,” Miss Su said disdainfully, but immediately recalled that her mother was also a concubine. She then said with a smile, “Mother, I don’t mean you. You are the main wife in our family!”

Madame Su curled her lips and said, “When we drove that fake Su Yuejiu out of the Ji Manor, the Second Mistress had also lent a hand. When you’re free, find an opportunity to visit her and tell her that we have not forgotten about her kind favor.”

Miss Su asked with disgust, “Why do I have to visit her? She is a prisoner now, and she can’t be of any help to me in the future, so I’m trying to get rid of any connection with her. Why should I get myself in trouble?”

Madame Su was cognizant of her daughter’s attitude. She stopped talking about this matter and shifted the topic. “Yue’er, I was in a hurry when I came to see you in Shengjing, so all my jewelry was left at home. You see, now I only have these shabby pieces with me. You say you have a lot of jewelry in your place. How about I have my maidservant go to your place with you and get several pieces for me!”

Miss Su laughed with embarrassment. “Mother, you don’t need to be in such a hurry!”

Madame Su quickly continued, “I’m doing this for your own good. When I go to the Ji Manor next time, I will wear the new jewelry and try not to embarrass you, so that those snobbish people won’t ignore you in the Ji Manor anymore.

Madame Su didn’t realize that she was intending to please her daughter with her words.

Miss Su slowly sipped her tea. After a long while, she put down the teacup and wiped the corner of her lips with a handkerchief. She said lightly, “Okay, let Su’er go back with me later.”

“Okay!” Madame Su swiftly responded, rejoicing.

After lunch, Miss Su went back to the Ji Manor, followed by her mother’s maidservant Su’er, who accompanied her to get the jewelry.

The sedan stopped at the Ji Manor’s gate. As soon as Miss Su brought the maidservant into the courtyard, she met Old Yu, who was coming over.

Miss Su had an unexplainable fear for Old Yu. She quickly approached and asked with a smile, “Housekeeper Yu, are you going out?”

Housekeeper Yu stopped and politely replied, “Young Mistress Su, I’m looking for you.”

“What’s wrong?” Miss Su grinned and asked.

“Young Mistress, I heard that you took fifteen pieces of satin from Robes Square, as well as some jewelry. The satin was originally booked by other customers, but because you took them, we can’t record the purchase into the account book. Young Mistress, could you please return the satin and jewelry?”

Miss Su suddenly changed her face and her cheeks flushed red, especially because her mother’s maidservant was behind her. She sneered and said, “Housekeeper Yu, as you’ve said; I’m the Young Mistress in the Ji Manor, so I can’t take jewelry from my shop? It is said that a bold slave bullies the master. I didn’t believe it before, but it turns out that there is such a thing.”

Old Yu said, “Young Mistress, you misunderstood me. It’s just that there are rules for doing business. Our Ji Manor always pays the most attention to business rules. Even the previous Young Mistress and Old Master had never broken the rules and taken so many pieces from our shops. Please don’t make it difficult for the people working in Robes Square.”

Miss Su became furious with embarrassment. “Don’t bring up such rules with me! Yes, I took satin and jewelry, so what can you do with me?!”

Old Yu’s face remained unchanged and he continued, “I can’t do anything with the Young Mistress. I can only tell the Eldest Young Master truthfully.”

“You…!” Miss Su glared at Old Yu.

She didn’t believe that the Ji Manor’s masters and mistresses had never taken a few pieces of satin from their shops. The Su Family was also doing business, and there had never been such rules in her family. It was clear that this old slave intentionally caused trouble for her.

Okay, Old Yu was doing a good job. The Ji Manor would rather marry a mountain bandit as the Young Mistress over her. Now the Ji Manor was bullying her, the authentic Miss Su.

Su’er peeked behind her, with a sneer on her lips.

It seemed that Miss Su liked to brag about herself. In the Ji Manor, no one took her as a real mistress. Even a slave dared to scold her.

In front of so many people, Miss Su looked very disgraceful.

In the future, no one would regard her as the Young Mistress.

Miss Su dared not let Old Yu go and tell Ji Yuxian about what she had done, so she had to restrain herself. She snickered and said, “It’s just a few pieces of satin. Take them away from me.”

“I’m so sorry, Young Mistress,” Old Yu said lightly.

Miss Su snorted and walked to her courtyard.

The jewelry she had taken was still in her room, and the two pieces of satin had been sent to her parents’ house. Old Yu sent for someone to go to the Su Family to retrieve them.

Su’er originally followed Miss Su to the Ji Manor to get the jewelry, but now she took the Ji Manor’s people back to the Su Family to get the satin.

After the Ji Manor’s people left, Madame Su gave vent to a torrent of abuse.

“A group of slobs! It’s just two pieces of broken satin, yet they have to come to my door to take it back. They are bullying us on purpose!”

“A group of sluts! You must have never seen anything worth a penny in your whole life! It’s just two pieces of satin. Do you think we care?”

“After my daughter wins Master Ji’s heart, you’ll all get kicked out of the Ji Manor!”

…

When Su Wenqian came out and heard about what had happened, his face turned livid. He stamped his feet and roared angrily, “Stop abusing your power! Don’t you know what you did has brought shame to our family name?!”

His reputation was completely ruined by Madame Su and his daughter.

He was visiting her relatives and friends during this time. If this matter got around, how could he face his friends and relatives?

Both hate and anger began to surge up in him. He hated that the Ji Manor didn’t save his face, and he was also angry that his daughter didn’t get a say in the Ji Manor.

Miss Su wore a sullen face for two days and she didn’t go out. She looked displeased with everything. She broke a teacup and beat the servants. The people in the Lotus Pavilion all complained about her and despised her. No one wanted to serve her at all.

Miss Su didn’t realize that it was her problem. She only thought that all the people in the Ji Manor were against her.

After the noon of this day, Miss Su felt cold in her room. Seeing that the coal in the fireplace had already run out and the tea in the pot had gotten cold, she called for servants several times, but no one came in. She raised the teapot high and threw it out. Finally, Lian Zhi ran in.

“Young Mistress!”

“Are all of you dead? Didn’t you hear me shouting?” Miss Su scolded with indignation.

“Please don’t get angry.” Lian Zhi picked up the broken porcelain teapot pieces and threw them out of the room.

“I’m going to expel all of you cheap hoofs, one after another!” Miss Su raised her voice and shouted at the door.

“Forgive me, Young Mistress. You’ve always known that I’m loyal to you and I have been doing my best to serve you, Young Mistress.” Lian Zhi went over to massage Miss Su’s shoulders to show her loyalty.

“I certainly know who is loyal to me. Let’s wait and see,” Miss Su sneered.

“Yes, those servants are slobs. They deserve it!” Lian Zhi said dutifully with a smile, “The plum trees in the Thousand Plum Blossom Garden are blooming. May I accompany Young Mistress there to enjoy the fresh blossom and relax?”

“I’m not going anywhere!” Miss Su had the least intention to enjoy the blossom.

“I heard that the Eldest Young Master also likes to go there very much. Young Mistress, you may meet the Eldest Young Master there,” Lian Zhi said suggestively.

After knowing this, Miss Su pondered for a while and said, “Then help me get dressed.”

Lian Zhi grinned and said, “Certainly. To be honest, Young Mistress does not need to put on makeup. You are sure to catch the Eldest Young Master’s eyes. The Eldest Young Master will get obsessed with you.”

Miss Su’s face changed a little and she smiled. “A garrulous girl should be kicked out of my room.”

“Yes, please forgive me, Young Mistress.” Lian Zhi smiled and helped Miss Su hold her hair in place with a plum-decorated hairpin.

The two went out and headed for the Thousand Plum Blossom Garden. In the middle, they passed a garden. There were also red plum blossoms in the garden. Clusters of red flowers were like clouds and red smoke waving in the wind, giving off an exquisite sight.

Tired, Miss Su leaned on the rock of the rockery and asked Lian Zhi to pick plum flowers for her.

While waiting for Lan Zhi, she heard the laughter of a woman behind the rockery.

“Mingfu, the dress you are wearing today is very beautiful, and you are also wearing a dab of rouge on each cheekbone. Are you deliberately trying to seduce our master?” A woman laughed and asked.

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Mingfu stopped the woman. “If this is heard by someone and told to our master, I will be dead!

“There’s nothing to be afraid of! Anyway, you are serving the master. They can’t do anything with you.”

“Okay, don’t tease me. I know that the master is often out of the Ji Manor recently at night,” Mingfu said.

The other woman lowered her voice and asked, “Are you saying that our master goes to meet the Young Mistress at night?”

All the people in the Ji Manor knew that the Eldest Young Master loved the previous Young Mistress very much. Now a new Young Mistress came, but the Eldest Young Master completely ignored the new Young Mistress as if she did not exist at all. It was clear that the Eldest Young Master missed the Young Mistress.

Miss Su heard this and immediately stuck her ears to the rockery, listening carefully with glaring eyes.

Mingfu nodded and whispered, “Yeah, according to my opinion, the Eldest Young Master still misses the Young Mistress. He had not been able to sleep at night and finally couldn’t bear it anymore. By the way, the Young Mistress I’m talking about is not the one in our manor at present.”

Mingfu’s last sentence carried an obvious contempt.

“Of course I know that you are not talking about the one in our manor. I’m afraid this Young Mistress probably hasn’t seen the Eldest Young Master’s face yet. To be honest with you, even though everyone tells me that the previous Young Mistress was a bandit, I think she is more like our Young Mistress. This one in our manor now is worse than a bandit.”

Mingfu laughed dismissively and asked, “Have you heard that this Young Mistress went to Robes Square to steal satin and sent it back to her mother? She was caught by Old Yu and asked to return what she stole. Our previous Young Mistress has never done such a disgraceful thing!”

The other woman chuckled, and the sarcasm in her tone was even more dramatic as she followed, “She thinks she’s a lady, but what I see is a cheap girl. Our previous Young Mistress has never done such a shameful thing.”

Miss Su was sitting opposite the rockery. Her face was pale with anger, her body was trembling, her teeth were gritted, and her eyes were about to burst into flames.

Who was the servant with the loose tongue to publish what had happened yesterday?

No wonder Old Yu dared to treat her like that. It turned out that he didn’t see her as the real Young Mistress.

Not only Old Yu, but even these servants dared to speak ill of her behind her back.

And Ji Yuxian even went to look for the fake Su Yuejiu.

Who was the real Young Mistress to them?

Thinking this way, Miss Su couldn’t help but shed tears. Her fingers grabbed the dry grass on the rockery, strangling her palm and leaving blood stains.

“Young Mistress, how do you like this bunch?” Lian Zhi held a bunch of newly picked red plum flowers in her hand and walked over while shouting.

As soon as her voice came out, Miss Su could hear the women draw in their breath behind the rockery, and the chat stopped.

Mingfu and the other maidservant were originally heading for the laundry house to pick up clean clothes. They stopped at the rockery to rest halfway. One of them was holding a stack of clean clothes. Hearing someone call the Young Mistress’s name, the two maidservants knew that what they said before was heard by others, and they immediately stood up and walked out.

Mingfu glanced at the other maidservant, whispering, “The Eldest Young Master hates us speaking evil of others behind their backs. He’s going to kill me if he knows this time.”

The other maidservant was also scared and only walked with her head low.

Miss Su looked at Mingfu and the other maidservant’s backs disappearing along the path. She reached out and grabbed the plum flowers in Lian Zhi’s hands, then threw them on the ground. After stomping on the flowers, she turned away angrily.

“Young Mistress, where are you going? You don’t want to go to the Thousand Plum Blossom Garden?” Lian Zhi didn’t know what had happened and she quickly caught up.

Miss Su was furious, and she also felt aggrieved at herself. Fury burst out of her chest. She did not return to the Lotus Pavilion but went directly to her mother to complain instead.

“What?” Madame Su was shocked and angry when she heard Miss Su’s words. “Ji Yuxian went to meet that bandit?”

Miss Su shed tears and said to her mother, “The maidservant who served him said so, so it should be true.”

“He’s so bad to you. He’s cheating on you. And that bandit must have made a lot out of the Ji Manor. I can’t bear it.” Madame Su was already enraged with the Ji Manor because of the two pieces of satin. This time, she seemed to catch the Ji Manor on the hip.

Su Wenqian walked in and saw Miss Su crying and Madame Su shouting. He frowned and asked, “What happened this time?”

Madame Su immediately told him about Ji Yuxian’s indifference to Miss Su, and how he would go out at night to see the fake Young Mistress. She cursed the Ji Manor while speaking, and Miss Su cried even more bitterly.

Su Wenqian sat on the chair, frowning and silent.

“Master, you have to help our dear daughter. What if Ji Yuxian and the fake Mistress have a bastard in secret, and the bastard finally inherits all of the Ji Family’s wealth? In that case, there is no way for Yue’er to carry on!” Madame Su complained.

“What can I do?” Su Wenqian sighed and said, “Now I’m thinking of our bad luck in Shengjing. It must be Ji Yuxian who has stabbed us at our backs.”

Madame Su gritted her teeth and said, “That’s enough! I’m losing my temper. Don’t push me too far.”

Madame Su paused, thought for a while, then said with a cold voice, “We can’t deal with Ji Yuxian. We have to start with the mountain bandit and show her what we are capable of to keep her away.”

“Have you got any idea, Mother?” Miss Su asked with tears in her eyes.

“I’ll send for someone to find out where she lives, then we can…” Madame Su leaned down and whispered in his daughter’s ear.

Su Wenqian looked over. “What idea have you got?”

“Master, I don’t want to bother you with this. To deal with a woman like her, I have my way.” Madame Su squinted coldly.

“But how can you find her, Mother?” Miss Su asked worriedly.

“We don’t know about her, but someone else knows. Don’t you forget Su Xing and Su Cheng? They had met this group of bandits before. Inform Su Cheng and Su Xing of this. I don’t believe I can’t find her.” Madame Su’s narrow eyes were filled with virulent hatred. She gritted her teeth, a vicious smile forming on her lips.

It was getting colder in the middle of winter, and there was light snow this morning. Su Jiu did not go out and read in her room.

At noon, the servant came in and reported that the bodyguards of the Qinglong Bodyguard Agency came with several cars of good white carbon.

Su Jiu knew that it was Ah Shu who sent the carbon to her, and she let the nanny lead the bodyguards to the backyard.

When she was going to focus on her books again, a servant came in and reported that there was another visitor.

“Who is that?” Su Jiu asked.

The servant replied, “It’s a woman. She says that she is asking for Mistress Su. I don’t think I know her, so I didn’t let her in. She is waiting outside.”

Su Jiu didn’t know who it was, so she said casually, “Let her come in.”

“Yes.”

Su Jiu put on a cloak and went out. As soon as she arrived at the reception pavilion, she heard someone coming into the courtyard with quick steps and scolding, “Where is that b*tch?”

“That b*tch is seducing my daughter’s husband. Today, I’m giving justice to Yuejiu!”

“Come on, no hiding! I’m going to confront her to her face! Doesn’t she feel ashamed of herself? Doesn’t she have a conscience?”

…

Su Jiu’s face changed, and she turned to see that the woman in yellow and blue clothes was scolding her while rushing into the courtyard. She knew that she was Madame Su, the Second Mistress of the Su Family.

The servants in the courtyard were all startled. This woman seemed very pleasant and friendly just now when she was asking for Su Jiu at the door. How did she suddenly change to be like this?

She stomped her feet and glared while lambasting Su Jiu. She looked like a mad monster who wanted to eat Su Jiu alive.

Everyone glanced at Su Jiu in the pavilion, then went out to stop Madame Su.

Madame Su saw Su Jiu. Ignoring the servants, she ran over, pointed at Su Jiu’s nose, and scolded, “B*tch! You are shamelessly having an affair with a woman’s husband! Even when you have been kicked out of the Ji Manor, you are still seeing the Eldest Young Master. You’ll go to hell and be hacked in pieces after you die. You are a fake Mistress! Now you are out of the Ji Manor, but you never give up clinging onto Ji Yuxian. You are so eager to find yourself bedmates. All of the other mountain bandits are men, isn’t that enough to satisfy you?”

Su Jiu stood there straight, with her hair held in place and her head high. She wore a white fox fur, but her face was a little whiter than the fox fur. Her delicate eyebrows were as cold as snow, and her fists clenched so hard that there was a horrible creaking sound.

“Get out.”

“Why should I get out? Give me a reason for justifying your seduction of a married woman’s husband. Today, I will let all the people in Shengjing know that you are a shameless vixen!” Madame Su’s eyes glared at Su Jiu. Her red lips and white teeth twitched rapidly with amusement, from which aggressive abuse burst out nonstop.

The other people were all scared by her craziness, and they went up to stop Madame Su and pull her aside.

However, Madame Su was like a crazy dog, biting whoever she saw. She pushed away everyone else, rushed to Su Jiu, pointed at her face, and scolded her, “Shameless b*tch! You are a motherless and shameless lowly pleb.”

Su Jiu slapped the woman in front of her with her sleeve and threw her hard far away.

The courtyard suddenly became quiet.

The woman screamed as she hit the wooden fence and broke it. She then rolled on the ground and wailed.

“Throw her out of my place.” Su Jiu’s voice was hoarse and slightly quivering, like a tight string that was going to break immediately.

This snapped the other people from their shock. They ran over and were going to take Madame Su out of here.

“Don’t touch me! My waist is broken. Oh, it hurts so bad!” Madame Su rolled on the ground with a swollen face and messy hair, bawling.

“She wants to kill me! Mountain bandits want to kill me!”

“Is there no justice? is there no law?” Madame Su cried.

“Mother!”

A scream was heard, and a woman ran in. She rushed to Madame Su’s side and asked in a panic, “Mother, what did they do to you?”

“Yuejiu, they are going to beat me to death! These savage mountain bandits are swollen with arrogance. My waist is broken and so are my teeth!” Madame Su cried loudly and her mouth was bleeding. She spat out two broken front teeth and looked miserable.

Miss Su stumbled to Su Jiu’s heels, dropped to her knees, and cried, “Miss, please spare my mother! She did this all for me. If you are angry with her, you hit me! Hit me!”

Su Jiu’s face was livid, but she couldn’t help but take a step back.

Miss Su approached Su Jiu on her knees, clutching Su Jiu’s cloak. She put on a tender and pitiful look, burst into tears, and cried, “Miss, please let us go! I was seriously injured by the mountain bandits and suffered a year in the mountains. It’s hard for me to finally come back. If Ji Yuxian doesn’t like me, I have nothing left!”

“Miss, you took my identity and became the Young Mistress of the Ji Manor. It’s been a whole year, but I don’t blame you. I beg you. Please give Ji Yuxian back to me, please!”

“I can give you whatever you want! I just need Ji Yuxian, please!”

“Master Ji and I are engaged before we were even born! I waited 17 years before marrying him! I beg you, please don’t take him away!”

Miss Su wailed and pleaded while kowtowing. After a short time, bruises formed on her forehead and they started bleeding. She looked so miserable.

Su Jiu took several steps back again, having lost her anger. Her eyes widened, her lips trembled, and she looked at the woman on the ground with somewhat fear, as if it was a jackal or wolf on the ground.

No, even jackals, tigers, and leopards never made her so afraid.

“Miss, please let me go!” Miss Su was still crying.

“What is this for?”

There came the nanny’s scream. She rushed out of the backyard, took Miss Su’s arm, and pushed her back violently. She then stopped in front of Su Jiu, saying with a hoarse voice, “Stop pushing our lady anymore! Are we done yet? Where else do you want from her? This is neither the Su Family’s place nor the Ji Manor. Get out. You get out!”

Miss Su stumbled toward the steps because of the nanny’s push. She rolled down the steps and fell on the ground, screaming and crying loudly.

Madame Su ran over, with her hands around her broken waist. She pointed at the nanny and scolded, “You wicked servant! You live off of me while secretly helping this b*tch! How dare you push my daughter? What can you make out of her? How does she make you do such things to your masters?”

The nanny shouted angrily, “Second Mistress, you must make it clear to me. Who is my master? I serve the Eldest Mistress, not you and your daughter. Don’t push me, or no one will be happy in the end.”

The Second Mistress glared at the nanny. “You dare to threaten me? Don’t forget! If something goes wrong, your Eldest Mistress is the first one who suffers.”

“Yes, I am threatening you. If it’s not because of Eldest Mistress, why do I have to endure you and your daughter? Second Mistress, if you and Miss Su ever come again to disturb our lady, I’m afraid what’s between us is a life-and-death struggle!”

Miss Su was also terrified. She took her mother’s hand and said to her, “Mother, there’s no point arguing with her. Let’s go!”

“Who are you?” An angry cry came from behind, and everyone turned around suddenly.

The nanny immediately replied, “Master An, you are finally back. Please ask them to get out of here soon!”

Qiao An was back from the imperial court and heard that someone was making trouble in Su Jiu’s place. Qiao An hurried to come to find out about the situation. When he saw the people in the courtyard, he guessed that it was the Su Family. His face pulled long.

Madame Su wiped the blood from the corners of her lips, glanced at Qiao An, and sneered, “It turns out that other men are living in this courtyard, and Su Jiu still tries to seduce Master Ji. She truly is a shameless b*tch!”

With a cold look, Qiao An shouted, “Guys!”

Several servants who watched the courtyard came up.

“Get these two out of here!” Although Qiao An looked like a scholar, he brought a bit of official authority and majesty.

Several guards responded immediately and came to drive Madame Su and her daughter.

Miss Su hid behind Madame Su.

“Don’t touch me! Get your dirty hands off me!” Madame Su’s face was still swollen and sloppy. Her hairpin was out of place, and her embarrassed look made her look like a shrew.

Madame Su looked back, seeming to want to say something to Su Jiu. However, when she saw the nanny’s eyes which were full of hostility and anger, she swallowed and dragged her daughter away.

Everyone else also left, leaving Su Jiu and the nanny in the courtyard. There was a bleak light in Su Jiu’s eyes.

The nanny looked at her in distress and tried to comfort her. “Miss…”

Why hadn’t the Eldest Mistress arrived yet?

Her letter had been sent many days ago. Why didn’t Eldest Mistress come?

If the Eldest Mistress had arrived, maybe everything would have been different, and it would have been impossible for the greedy mother and daughter to be so arrogant.

Su Jiu turned and entered the reception pavilion.

Qiao An followed her. He looked at the girl’s straight back and sighed softly. He had something to say to Su Jiu, but at this time, he didn’t want her to worry about anything.

“Chief, you don’t have to worry about what those people say. If they dare to come again, just kick them out.”

Su Jiu’s face was pale, and her eyes closed. “Master An, tell me. Am I wrong?”

“Chief?” Qiao An gawked at Su Jiu in amazement.

“We are robbers, and what we want is money. I shouldn’t have feelings for Ji Yuxian, so I am wrong,” In the shadows, Su Jiu said slowly, “Ji Yuxian said people can’t be greedy. We should do what mountain bandits should do, and we should not talk about kindness and morality. We lack food ourselves, but why do we give our food to the poor? That’s why the Dragon Conqueror Gang is gradually getting down and out, and my followers have also left. I’ve made a mistake.”

How could a robber fall in love?

“No, it’s not like that!” The nanny shook her head and interrupted with a choking voice.

“This time, it’s not your fault,” Qiao An said heavily, “It’s mine. We pushed you into the Ji Manor regardless of the consequences.”

Su Jiu gently shook her head. “It’s my indecisiveness. I left the Ji Manor, so I shouldn’t see him anymore. Today they came, and I can finally break up with Ji Yuxian.”

The nanny covered her face with her hand, crying out loudly.

Oh god! This was unfair. Madame Su and her daughter had taken Su Jiu’s identity and her husband, but they still didn’t want to let her go.

Eldest Mistress, please come and help us.

“Master.”

At that time, someone knocked on the door and came in, saying, “There is a visitor from the General’s Manor, and he let me give this letter to you, Miss.” He turned to Su Jiu.

Qiao An was not surprised. It seemed that he knew what it was about.

Su Jiu turned around and quickly took the letter.

This letter must have something to do with Hu Dapao.

She quickly opened it, and graceful handwriting greeted her eyes, which however gradually became messy.

“Su Jiu, I just listened to my brother and my father’s conversation. Hu Dapao is in danger!”

Su Jiu’s hand holding the paper suddenly trembled, and she looked up at Qiao An. “Master An, something happened to Dapao!”

Qiao An frowned and said, “I already knew it when I was in the palace. I came back as early as possible today to discuss this matter with you, Chief.”

“What happened to Dapao?” Su Jiu asked anxiously.

“In the urgent report from the front, the Qiang Clan and the Naye Clan suddenly mounted a sneak attack on Youzhou together. It happened when Dapao took the soldiers to Yanyun Pass to check the defense forces. Near the Gugu River, Dapao met the invading foreign enemy. There were only a thousand of them being besieged by 30,000 foreign soldiers. They hid in Mount Hala out of despair, and we don’t know whether they are dead or alive now.”

Su Jiu’s mind went blank, and she asked in a low voice, “What is the situation now?”

“It is said that the Qiang Clan and the Naye Clan have gathered a total of 100,000 cavalries this time. About 30,000 are stationed near Mount Hala, and the other 70,000 have already broken through Pingyang. Their next target is Yanyun Pass.”

It was not Qiang Clan’s first invasion. Previously, they were defeated by Nangong Shu. Ha Chi, the head of Qiang Clan, sued for peace, but he allied with the Naye Clan in secret. Taking advantage of Daliang dropping the guard after the war, he gathered 100,000 soldiers and came back.

The Qiang Clan and the Naye Clan were formerly one clan. Later, however, they started a civil war and separated into two clans. They had been intolerant of each other after the separation, and the war between them never stopped. This time, somehow, they suddenly united.

Qiao An continued to say, “His Majesty just received the news, and is now discussing the matter. I expect that tomorrow morning, General Nangong will be announced to be the captain. He’ll go to Northern Xinjiang to drive out foreign enemies.”

Tomorrow morning?

Nangong Shu needed at least one whole day to prepare the army. Therefore, he would leave the day after tomorrow.

The news that Hu Dapao was besieged by the foreign army reached Shengjing was at least a week ago. By the time Nangong Shu led the army to Northern Xinjiang, was it possible for Dapao to be alive then?

30,000 soldiers besieged him, but Hu Dapao only had a thousand people.

Su Jiu’s face was pale. Her heart was burning with anxiety, and she wanted to know the specificities of Hu Dapao’s situation over there now.

Pondering for a moment, Su Jiu made a decision. “I’m going to Northern Xinjiang now.”

Qiao An was also anxious and was suddenly shocked when he heard this. “Chief, you’re going to Northern Xinjiang?”

“Yes. Although the general’s army is not slow, I’m faster on my own. Dapao’s situation is unknown, so I must go there in person,” Su Jiu said with a bright look and a firm voice.

Otherwise, during the period of waiting for Dapao’s news, she would be on pins and needles, which would be even more difficult for her.

Qiao An pondered for a while before saying, “Then I’m going to pack up and go with you. We’re leaving together tomorrow morning.”

“No, you stay.” Su Jiu stopped him. “You need to go to court every morning. You are not as free as before. You can’t leave for a long time, so you stay here and help gather information. I’m going alone.”

“But…” Qiao An frowned. Youzhou was at war, and Su Jiu wanted to go there alone.

He was really worried about her.

Su Jiu turned and told the nanny, “Help me pack up now. I’m leaving.”

“Ah?” The nanny panicked. “Miss, are you going to Northern Xinjiang? It’s at war! How can you go to such a dangerous place?”

“It’s getting dark. Chief, you can wait till tomorrow,” Qiao An said.

“No, if I arrive one day earlier, Dapao may have more of a chance to survive. I’m going now, and maybe I can pass Qinghe County by tomorrow morning,” Su Jiu said and hurriedly went out.

The nanny immediately followed up.

Qiao An frowned. After thinking for a while, he wrote two letters and asked for people to deliver the two letters immediately.

The nanny couldn’t stop Su Jiu, and she had to pack up clothes and snacks for her. She said with tears, “Miss, take care of yourself. You must come back early.”

Su Jiu said, “Don’t worry. After I leave, you stay here, and Qiao An will take care of you.”

After that, Su Jiu chose a fast horse and bade goodbye to Qiao An and the nanny. The city gate wasn’t closed, and she quickly left the manor and rode towards the gate.

When she went out of the city gate, it was around three p.m. in the afternoon. Su Jiu glanced back at the towering gate of Shengjing, with a tinge of sadness in her eyes.

She said lightly, “Ji Yuxian, I’m leaving. This is our end. From now on, you and I are strangers to each other.”

With that said, Su Jiu turned and ran towards the official road without hesitation.

She did not go far, and suddenly stopped when she saw the people ahead.

Ah Shu and Chang Huan were waiting for her on their horses.

When they saw Su Jiu, the two rode towards her. Chang Huan said, “Boss, Dapao is in danger! Let’s go and save him together!”

“What about Princess Yu Long?” Su Jiu asked.

Chang Huan said seriously, “Boss, I am Chang Huan, not Xia Huan.”

“Chief, I have made proper arrangements about everything in the bodyguard agency. There’s not much to say. Let’s go!” Ah Shu said.

“Good.” Su Jiu nodded. “Dapao is one of us. We should save him on our own.”

“Yes!”

Ah Shu and Chang Huan nodded together.

“Go!” Su Jiu said and galloped down the official road. Her light black hair flew wildly against the wind like a wild eagle flying again in the sky, crossing lightning and spreading wings, and no one could stop her.

At this time, at the Shili Pavilion outside Shengjing, a carriage was parked on the official road half an hour ago.

Peach kept looking to the south, but she didn’t see the person she was waiting for coming.

Peach walked in front of the carriage and whispered, “Eldest Mistress, the Eldest Young Master and the Second Young Master said that they would meet us at the Shili Pavilion this time. We’ve waited for an hour. Why hasn’t anyone showed up? What happened?”

They came from Fuyang. When they were approaching Shengjing, the Eldest Young Master suddenly said that he was going to visit a friend, and he took the Second Young Master to another road. They said they would meet Peach that day and enter the city together.

Peach had been waiting for the Eldest Young Master and the Second Young Master for a long time and hadn’t seen them yet.

The Eldest Mistress sat in the carriage with her eyes closed and touched a longevity lock, which was an ornament shaped like a lock, worn by a child as a symbol of longevity. The silver lock looked bright because of her frequent touch. She heard Peach’s anxious voice, got up, and walked down the carriage.

“Since they are not here yet, let’s go rest in the pavilion,” Eldest Mistress said.

“Yes, Eldest Mistress.” Peach took a soft futon and placed it on the pavilion’s bench.

“Shengjing’s wind is freezing. Eldest Mistress, please put on a cloak.” Peach took the fox fur cloak and carefully helped Eldest Mistress tie the straps.

At this time, there was the sound of horse hooves. In the distance, Peach saw three people rushing towards them speedily, as if they had an urgent task.

The Eldest Mistress raised her eyes slightly, only to see that it was a woman at the front. The woman didn’t hold her hair together as normal women did. Her hair covered half of her face.

In an instant, the three crossed the Shili Pavilion and went away.

The Eldest Mistress looked at the woman’s slender back and, somehow, her eyes suddenly trembled. She seemed to recognize her.

“Eldest Mistress, what happened?” Peach asked when she saw that the Eldest Mistress’s eyes glowed.

The three people passing them were like a fast wind. They came and left quickly, disappearing into the shadows. The Eldest Mistress shook her head and looked away.