Chapter 43: Ji Chan, You'd Better Hope I Never Catch You...

"You..." Xue Zhao pointed at A Chan.

"Young master, remember the Marquis's words—don't cause unnecessary complications." Before Xue Zhao could utter another word, the steward beside him quickly whispered to stop him.

Xue Zhao yielded, but A Chan wasn't done.

She stood up, looking at Xue Zhao, who was being restrained by the steward, and said unhurriedly, "Have you seen Xue Mingtang's corpse, Young Master Xue? When he died, all the blood in his body was drained."

She watched the fury burning in Xue Zhao's eyes and added the final blow: "He got what he deserved."

"Ji Chan, I won't let this go." Her words sent Xue Zhao into another rage. The steward, looking pained, covered Xue Zhao's mouth with one hand and forcibly dragged him out.

Xue Zhao struggled incessantly, muffled cries escaping his lips. Only after being dragged outside did A Chan hear him shout, "Ji Chan, you'd better hope I never catch you! I'll make sure you die a miserable death—a miserable death!"

A Chan waved at the steward, who had retreated outside the door. "Safe travels, no need for formalities."

The steward, watching A Chan smile as she saw them off, could only sigh inwardly.

Who would have thought that the formerly gentle and proper young lady of the household would become like this after leaving?

Though it was the Marquis's decision to expel her, and as a steward, he had no place to question it, he still felt the Marquis had made a mistake.

After the Marquis of Jinyang's household left, Chen Hui approached A Chan and asked curiously, "Do you have a grudge against the Xue family?"

A Chan turned around. "Haven't I told you? Xue Mingtang's sister was my father's mistress for many years and bore him a son and a daughter. After my mother passed, she became the Marchioness of Jinyang, while my mother was accused of adultery—and I was living proof."

Chen Hui was stunned. She looked at A Chan, who spoke of these things without a trace of anger, as if recounting someone else's story.

She didn't press further, just as she hadn't questioned the strange words A Chan had said to Xue Mingtang the other night.

Whether A Chan was Ji Chan or someone else, to her now, A Chan was the most important person in her life.

After a moment of thought, Chen Hui said, "This Young Master Xue doesn't seem like the type to let things go."

A Chan sighed faintly. "Who says otherwise? Having the Xue family's attention is enough to disturb one's peace."

Despite her words, the brief appearance of the Xue family didn't stop A Chan from enjoying her meals or her sleep.

Two days later, A Chan noticed the streets were suddenly crowded, with people all heading in one direction. Upon asking Shopkeeper Xu at the bookstore, she learned that everyone had heard the Marquis of Zhenbei was entering the city today and were rushing to Tian Street to get a look at the "Great Xia's War God."

Curious, A Chan asked Shopkeeper Xu, "Who gave him that title—the Emperor?"

Shopkeeper Xu chuckled. "Of course not. No one knows who started it, but after people heard the Marquis of Zhenbei had fought undefeated against foreign tribes at the western border, the title became widespread."

"Never lost? That remarkable?"

"Absolutely. Would Miss Ji like to join in?"

A Chan thought for a moment, then nodded. "Of course I will."

Shopkeeper Xu, speaking from experience, advised, "Then you'd better hurry. The restaurants along Tian Street are the best viewing spots—if you're late, there won't be any seats left."

A Chan smiled. "Understood. I'll just say a few words to Hui Niang and then go."

She turned back into the shop, where Chen Hui was sitting on a chair sewing sachets.

Three finished sachets already lay beside her—far more exquisite than the ones A Chan had casually bought outside.

No doubt these would sell well once the shop reopened.

"Hui Niang, I heard the Marquis of Zhenbei is returning. I'm going to Tian Street to take a look. Do you want to come?"

Chen Hui set down her needle. "I’d rather not. No need to court trouble."

"Alright. I’ll bring you some deer blood for you to try when I get back."

Chen Hui couldn’t taste human food—they’d tested it the past few days. Only blood products had any flavor to her.

Food wasn’t a necessity for her, but being able to taste it did brighten her mood.

She smiled slightly and reminded A Chan, "Be careful on your way."

By the time A Chan followed the crowd to Tian Street, the Marquis of Zhenbei hadn’t yet entered the city, but the wide street was already lined with onlookers.

After scanning the area, she spotted an empty seat by the window on the second floor of a restaurant across the street and hurried over.

The waiter at the door, seeing her arrive breathless, quickly invited her to rest before asking, "Will you be dining, miss?"

"Yes. I’d like a window seat on the second floor."

"Of course. Right this way."

Once she’d caught her breath, the waiter led her upstairs. As luck would have it, a window-side table was free, and she took it.

With such a prime viewing spot and noon approaching, it was natural to order food. Following the waiter’s recommendations, A Chan chose a pot of chicken congee, shredded chicken salad, braised chicken, and faux pheasant rolls.

Even the waiter, used to all kinds of customers, had never met such a chicken enthusiast. But he said nothing, merely nodding before heading to the kitchen with the order.

A Chan had just gotten comfortable when another person came upstairs. Their gaze swept over the window-side tables before landing on her—and they walked straight over.

Turning, A Chan was startled to find someone standing beside her. Upon closer look, she recognized them.

"Miss Lin, what a coincidence. Here to eat as well?"

It was Lin Sui, the one who’d righteously intervened with her shoe the day the shop was ransacked.

"I want this seat. How much to give it up?" Lin Sui seemed not one for pleasantries, cutting straight to the point.

A Chan smiled. "It's free. I’m actually here for the spectacle—the meal’s just a bonus. If you don’t mind, why not share the table?"

Though Miss Lin was somewhat distant, A Chan rather liked her. Someone who defended others couldn’t be bad.

Lin Sui hesitated briefly before sitting across from her. "Fine."

The restaurant was quick with service. Within fifteen minutes, the waiter had brought all three dishes. Without blinking at the extra person, he simply added another bowl when serving the congee.

A Chan ladled out two bowls, pushing one across with chopsticks toward Lin Sui.

Noticing Lin Sui’s gaze trained outside, she said, "There's still time before the Marquis of Zhenbei arrives. Why not eat something first?"

Lin Sui turned back. She’d quarreled with her family that morning and, after skipping breakfast, had been punished with an hour of kneeling in the courtyard. Now, ravenous, she didn’t hesitate and began eating the congee.

The chicken congee was delicious—the minced chicken in the porridge tender and smooth, ideal for elders.

As she ate, Lin Sui thought wistfully that her grandmother would have loved it.

As she lost in thought, A Chan placed a faux pheasant roll in her bowl. "Have some, Miss Lin. I could never finish this by myself."

Lin Sui took a bite. The mock pheasant roll, wrapped in pork caul fat, was fried to crispiness and seasoned with sauce. The crispy outer layer complemented the succulent chicken filling inside.

This reminded her of her childhood when her family was poor. Every Lunar New Year, her grandmother would fry vegetable fritters for her and her younger brother.

Now, she had more than enough silver and no longer had to wait for the holidays to enjoy greasy delicacies. But the family beside her were no longer the same.

"...Thank you."

"You're welcome. Are you also here to see the Marquis of Zhenbei?"

Perhaps the delicious food had soothed her mood, as Lin Sui finally responded to A Chan's words: "No, I'm here to see my father."

A Chan was surprised. "Is the General of Anxi returning to the capital today as well?"

"Yes, he came back with the Marquis of Zhenbei."

This made A Chan feel a little awkward. The General of Anxi held a high rank, but his reputation wasn’t particularly notable—at least, the commoners gathered here didn’t seem to know about his return, nor did she.

"That’s wonderful! I’ve never seen the General of Anxi before."

Though Ji Chan’s memories included the General of Anxi, in her recollection, this general had been stationed at Xiling for many years and hadn’t returned to the capital in ages.

"Hmm." Lin Sui responded softly. "Neither have I."

This topic seemed to make things even more awkward.

A Chan searched her memories again and finally recalled some rumors about Lin Sui.

The General of Anxi's Mansion had always claimed that Lin Sui had been frail since childhood and was sent to the countryside to recuperate. She only officially appeared in high society at the age of sixteen—last year.

However, Ji Chan had once caught whispers suggesting that Lin Sui wasn’t sent away for health reasons but because her birth was inauspicious for Madam General. She was fostered with a farming family and only brought back after her coming-of-age rite.

At the time, Ji Chan hadn’t believed this rumor. After all, the Madam General she remembered was a kind woman—how could she send away her own daughter over such a ridiculous superstition?

But after meeting Lin Sui, A Chan began to wonder if the rumor might actually be true.

As the two ate, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the stairs. A rough male voice called out, "Lin Er, quit dawdling down there! If you don’t hurry up, your father and elder brother will pass by soon."

"Got it, stop nagging."

With that, five young men dressed in luxurious attire ascended to the second floor.

A Chan glanced at them and raised an eyebrow slightly. Had Xue Zhao been appearing too frequently lately? To run into him again—what bad luck.

Her gaze then swept over the other four, and the more she looked, the more familiar they seemed.

After a moment of thought, she remembered—she had seen these men before at the tailor’s shop on Tianjie Street.

Xue Zhao noticed A Chan but this time, he turned his head away, ignoring her entirely.

Two days ago, after returning from Changping Lane, the house steward had reported all his actions to his father. As punishment, he had been forced to kneel in the ancestral hall for two days. His mother had also repeatedly warned him not to provoke Ji Chan for the time being. Afraid he might lose his temper, Xue Zhao decided it was best to pretend she didn’t exist.

Xue Zhao didn’t come to cause trouble, but the tall young man called "Lin Er" strode toward their table instead.

Lin Heng approached with a frown, his tone unfriendly. "Lin Sui, what are you doing here?"

A Chan studied his features and was surprised to find a resemblance to Lin Sui. Considering they shared the same surname, was this man her brother?

But given his attitude, their relationship didn’t seem good.

"None of your damn business."

Well, it was downright hostile.

"Oh, I see. You’re here to see Father, aren’t you? Don’t tell me you actually think he’ll take your side after you made Mother sick at home? Keep dreaming." Lin Heng sneered, looking down at his sister, who had been raised in the countryside with no manners.

Lin Sui stayed silent, but A Chan saw hesitation in her eyes.

Lin Heng wasn’t about to let it go. "Father despises people like you—vile and shameless. How dare you steal your own sister’s fiancé?!"

This seemed to hit a sore spot. Lin Sui’s expression darkened with fury. "Sister? Only you would call that filthy nobody your sister. The General of Anxi has only one daughter—me. What kind of trash is your so-called sister?"

As the argument grew heated and seemed on the verge of turning physical, A Chan rapped her chopsticks against the edge of her bowl. "Young master, isn’t it rather rude to stand by someone else’s table and pick a fight?"

Lin Heng glanced at A Chan, thinking to himself—what kind of person would sit with Lin Sui anyway?

Just as he was about to retort, Xue Zhao, sitting not far away, suddenly spoke up. "Brother Lin, hurry over. The General of Anxi’s procession is coming."

By now, cheers had risen from downstairs. Lin Heng hesitated briefly before turning and walking back to his table.

Lin Sui and A Chan also turned their attention to the street below.

The Marquis of Zhenbei’s procession was slowly passing by.

At the forefront rode the Marquis himself atop a jet-black steed.

Though the Marquis was likely older, he appeared to be in his forties. Clad in black armor and without a helmet, his features were ordinary, but his gaze was fierce. When his eyes swept over the crowd, the cheers of the onlookers faltered.

A Chan swore she heard a child crying in the crowd—probably terrified.

To the Marquis’s left and slightly behind him rode a much more elegant middle-aged man. A Chan heard Lin Sui’s brother shout, "Father!"

The man below seemed to hear Lin Heng’s voice. He looked up, smiled, and cheerfully replied, "Heng’er."

Unlike Lin Heng’s excitement, Lin Sui simply watched in silence as the middle-aged man rode past. He might have noticed her standing upstairs, but he showed no recognition.

Clearly, he didn’t recognize his own daughter.

The procession soon passed by. Lin Heng, too excited to bother with Lin Sui, declared loudly that he was returning to the General’s Mansion to wait for his father. The others followed him downstairs.

Lin Sui didn’t leave. She sat back down and took a sip of her now-cold porridge.

"Are you alright?" A Chan asked.

Lin Sui glanced at her. "What, pitying me?"

Just as she was about to say she didn’t need sympathy, A Chan murmured, "Just a little envious. At least you still have a father."

Unlike her—her father had abandoned her.

Lin Sui recalled the rumors about Ji Chan, and some of her resentment faded. True, at least she had a father. Even if they didn’t know each other before, she could get to know him now. But after Ji Chan’s mother died, she had no one left.

After finishing their meal, A Chan went to pay the bill—only for Lin Sui to beat her to it.

"Thanks for the seat. It’s on me today," Lin Sui said.

A Chan didn’t refuse. "Alright. Next time, it’s on me."

Having enjoyed the parade and a hearty meal, A Chan bought a bucket of fresh deer blood before heading home.

Though Lin Sui had no desire to return home, she had nowhere else to go besides General Lin's residence. The two of them left the tavern and headed in opposite directions.

The entourage passed through Tianjie Street and soon approached the outer walls of the imperial city. The Marquis of Zhenbei slightly turned his head and asked the General of Anxi Lin Cheng beside him, "Was that General Lin's youngest son earlier?"

Lin Cheng smiled. "You flatter him, my lord - the boy is just mischievous."

"Youth should be lively. My Cheng'er is nearly the same age as your son. Perhaps they could play together in the future."

Lin Cheng's lips twitched into a forced smile. "As my lord commands."

The Marquis of Zhenbei and General Lin Cheng's return to the capital to present their military reports had caused quite a stir. Though the emperor did not personally greet them, he sent the Third Prince to welcome them in his stead.

The other officers took pride in the honor, but the Marquis of Zhenbei remained cold and indifferent, as if looking down on the Third Prince.

The Third Prince, however, showed no displeasure. After all, a warrior of the Fourth Realm was entitled to some arrogance. Originally, the emperor had sent the Crown Prince to greet them, but the Crown Prince refused. Surprisingly, the emperor wasn't angry and simply dispatched the Third Prince instead.

The Marquis of Zhenbei and the other generals entered the palace for an audience with the emperor, who personally hosted a banquet in their honor. They feasted in the palace until evening before finally departing.

The Marquis of Zhenbei had drunk heavily, and though his breath reeked of alcohol as he exited the palace gates, his eyes remained sharp and clear.

The Marquis's carriage had been waiting outside the palace all afternoon, driven by his former Personal Guard, now the house steward of the Marquis's household.

"My lord," the house steward greeted with a bow upon seeing the Marquis emerge.

The Marquis glanced around and frowned. "Why are you alone? Where are Yu'er and Cheng'er?"

The house steward swallowed hard. "My daughter and grandson... have perished."

"What did you say?" The Marquis's expression remained calm, but the surrounding cobblestones suddenly shattered, sending fragments flying and injuring horses and retainers from other households waiting nearby.

Yet the Marquis paid no heed. His fierce gaze bore into the house steward. "Say that again."

The house steward had no choice but to recount recent events.

"The young lady had been keeping a young man outside the household. But her paramour conspired with her maid to murder her. The case was investigated personally by her husband, and the two culprits were executed by his hand."

"And Cheng'er? How did he meet his end?"

The house steward bowed his head deeply. "According to the house steward of the son-in-law's household, the young master set his sights on a maid serving his son-in-law. Unable to bear the humiliation, the maid stabbed the young master to death in the middle of the night before taking her own life."

"Preposterous!" the Marquis roared. "Where is Yan Liru? Bring him to me."

"The son-in-law is ill—deathly ill, it seems. He hasn't appeared at court for some time now," the house steward replied truthfully.

The Marquis seemed unconvinced, narrowing his eyes. "Let's go. To the Yan residence."

Soon, the Marquis's carriage halted before the gates of the Yan household. The Yan house steward, recognizing the Marquis, didn't dare delay and immediately opened the main gates to welcome him in.

Without ceremony, the Marquis strode straight to Yan Liru's bedchamber.

Storming into the chamber, his fury abated slightly upon seeing Yan Liru lying ill in bed. "What happened?" he demanded.

Yan Liru stiffly sat up. "This unworthy son-in-law greets you, Father-in-law."

"Everyone, out." At the Marquis's command, all withdrew.

He gripped Yan Liru's shoulder and tore off his sleeve, revealing festering black lesions beneath. "You've been poisoned with corpse poison? Who did this to you?"

"So it's corpse poison..." Yan Liru appeared bewildered before asking, "Does Father-in-law know of a cure?"

The Marquis pondered before replying, "The Demon Seal is still in your possession, isn't it? Perhaps it could be used."

Yan Liru lowered his eyes. "Fearing the Bright Mirror Bureau might trace the Demon Seal, I hid it elsewhere. It's not with me now. Does Father-in-law have another method to expel the poison?"

Though he said this, Yan Liru had already tried using the Demon Seal when he noticed his flesh rotting and even court physicians failed to cure him—but to no avail.

The Marquis surely knew this. Mentioning the Demon Seal was merely a ploy to seize it.

Without the Demon Seal as leverage, the Marquis might abandon him. Yan Liru would never hand it over.

"There may be another way. I need time to think it over. Set your mind at ease, my son-in-law. With me here, you'll be fine."

"Then I entrust myself to your wisdom, Father-in-law."

Their conversation remained civil, neither mentioning Fang Yu.

The Marquis soon left the Yan residence. On the carriage, the house steward ventured, "My lord, are we just leaving? Won't you question the son-in-law about my daughter and grandson?"

"He won't talk. Later, have the Yan house steward apprehended for questioning. He'll know."

"Yes."

Before midnight, the Marquis's house steward arrived at the Marquis of Zhenbei's study, where lamps still burned brightly. The Marquis of Zhenbei was not yet resting.

"My lord, I've obtained information."

"Speak," the Marquis commanded, standing by the window with his hands behind his back.

"The man said the maid who killed the young master was procured by the son-in-law. Her name was Ru Hui, and she was the very image of the son-in-law's former beloved. He showered her with affection."

The Marquis's gaze sharpened. "Beloved? A woman named Chen Hui?"

"Yes."

"Where is Chen Hui?"

The house steward whispered, "Chen Hui was killed by the young master using a reanimated corpse just before that woman's arrival."

"How remarkably convenient. Did Yan Liru truly notice nothing? Was he truly unaware, or playing the fool?" The Marquis sneered.

The house steward kept his head bowed, not venturing a reply.

"Whether in flesh or spirit, I want to see their bodies. Find the burial sites of Chen Hui and that treacherous maid. I will see for myself whether those who killed my grandson were mortal or specter."