Free Web NovelChapter 171: Chapter 171: Successful Drugging, Night Raid on the Boudoir
"General Wei is right. He’s one of mine. Aren’t you leaving yet?"
Si Hai shot her a dissatisfied glare. ’Who is she calling "one of hers"?’
Ji Qingwu’s lips curved. "In a moment, one might leap from the flower bushes, another might crawl out of the pond, and one more could pop out from a crack in the rocks. Even with your formidable martial arts, General, I doubt you could handle being swarmed."
As she spoke, Wei Ting’s body tensed imperceptibly beneath his clothes.
Ultimately, his expression grew complex and unreadable. As he turned to leave, his smile vanished instantly.
Of course, he didn’t believe Ji Qingwu’s jest.
He left so decisively for two reasons. First, the matter he came to confirm had already been settled.
Second, something was wrong with his body. A numbness was spreading from his neck.
Wei Ting’s entire left arm was losing sensation.
Anger surged within him.
’She actually took advantage of my distraction to drug me. Even the secret agents of Xijin have never succeeded, yet I was bested by this woman, who supposedly lacks the strength to truss a chicken.’
His anger was directed less at her and more at himself for his lack of vigilance in her presence.
Ji Qingwu watched as Wei Ting scaled the walls and ran across the roofs, disappearing from the courtyard in a few quick bounds.
Having finally sent that formidable man away, her palms were damp with sweat. The fingertips of her left hand were still stained with a green liquid.
She then saw Si Hai, still standing in the same spot, his eyes glaring wide. Even though he wore a mask, she could easily imagine the furious expression underneath.
Ji Qingwu spoke to him with familiarity, "Si Hai, what are you doing down here? Have you been the one on duty recently? I thought you only appeared when my life was in danger."
Si Hai snorted coldly, continuing to glare at her without a word.
Ji Qingwu continued, "Next time, don’t show yourself so easily. You’ll frighten people. I can handle things myself."
Si Hai’s fists clenched. He said indignantly, "How could you handle it? I saw everything just now! You can’t betray the Master!"
From Si Hai’s perspective, Ji Qingwu was mostly obscured by Wei Ting’s figure. He could only see her lean forward and intimately stroke his neck with her slender fingers.
He hadn’t jumped down to protect her, but to catch her cheating.
Ji Qingwu: ...
She couldn’t be bothered to explain herself to the indignant young man.
Ji Qingwu walked over to the rain barrel in the courtyard, ladled out a scoop of water, and washed the medicinal juice from the tips of her left fingers.
The flowers and plants in her courtyard looked ordinary, but each one possessed a unique medicinal property. Other than her, no one could really tell what they were, assuming they were just common plants.
Just moments ago, as Wei Ting approached, Ji Qingwu had put her hands behind her back and crushed the juice from a leaf. This substance had the effect of paralyzing muscle tissue.
She had built up a tolerance to such a dose from years of collecting and preparing medicinal herbs.
But if this paralytic agent was applied to a person’s artery—especially on a martial artist whose Inner Strength circulated rapidly—its effects would double in potency.
Since Wei Ting had acted so recklessly in her courtyard, she naturally had to teach him a lesson.
A thought struck her, and Ji Qingwu quickly pushed open the door to her room.
Sure enough, she saw her maids lying scattered across the floor.
She knelt, checked their pulses, and was relieved to find they were only unconscious. However, they would likely be out for the rest of the night.
Ji Qingwu waved at Si Hai, who was still standing outside like a stiff door guardian, and called out, "Si Hai, come give me a hand. Take them to the servants’ quarters."
Si Hai reluctantly stepped forward.
Ji Qingwu first helped Lan Zhi up, dragging her to the small daybed in the outer room. Lan Zhi sometimes kept watch there at night, so it was a suitable place for her to rest.
When she looked back, she saw Si Hai still standing there blankly.
Ji Qingwu shot him an annoyed glance and urged, "Hurry up and help!"
Caught off guard by Ji Qingwu’s sharp tone, Si Hai froze for a moment. He was sixteen and usually only interacted with other young men in the Dark Guard Camp; he wasn’t good at dealing with girls.
His ears flushed red as he helped up a young, unconscious cleaning maid.
「About half an hour later.」
With their combined efforts, Wutong Garden finally returned to normal, albeit far too quietly.
Ji Qingwu went out again, planning to find Mrs. Qiao to discuss what to do next.
As soon as she entered the room, she was greeted by the enticing aroma of food and saw Jiu Jiu, who had been picked up by Nanny Li.
Several dishes were already set on the carved wooden table, including homestyle favorites like steamed sea bass and stir-fried shrimp. Chunhua carefully brought over a pot of braised "Lion’s Head" meatballs, which looked fragrant and delicious.
The family sat down at the table for dinner.
The little girl’s lip was stuck out in a deep pout. "Mama, you broke your promise. You didn’t come to get me today."
When Ji Qingwu heard that the Eldest Princess was visiting, she had asked Mrs. Qiao ahead of time to have someone else pick up her daughter from school.
She stroked Jiu Jiu’s head and asked softly, "Jiu Jiu, were you called on for recitation today?"
Mrs. Qiao, simply assuming the tutor was testing her granddaughter’s lessons, ladled her a bowl of soup.
The thought made Jiu Jiu even unhappier. She said huffily, "The recitation was canceled." ƒгeewebnovёl.com
The little girl had been crestfallen all afternoon at the thought of not being able to redeem her reward. Jiu Jiu had planned to throw herself into her dear mama’s arms for comfort the moment school let out.
But when she walked out, she saw Nanny Li instead and had nearly burst into tears on the spot.
Ji Qingwu asked, "Why was it canceled?"
Jiu Jiu used her short little chopsticks to stuff five shrimp into her mouth. Her mood was bad, but it hadn’t affected her appetite.
She mumbled, her mouth full, "The tutor said it was to help us develop the habit of finishing our daily lessons on the same day, but we don’t have to anymore."
Ji Qingwu instantly recalled what Princess Hua Chang had said about the Emperor being melancholy after the morning court session. ’Perhaps that was the reason for the cancellation. Is he so depressed that he doesn’t even want to see his own daughter?’
Jiu Jiu, thinking of the candy and sweet cakes she had lost out on, channeled her unhappiness into a hearty appetite, devouring two "Lion’s Head" meatballs that were bigger than her fists.
After dinner, Nanny Li took Jiu Jiu to play for a while to help her digest her food.
The mother and daughter sat by the low table and spoke softly about other matters.
As they talked, the sky outside grew dark.
When Ji Qingwu was about to leave, Mrs. Qiao asked, "Why didn’t you have Lan Zhi accompany you?"
"Lan Zhi is helping me sort medicinal herbs," Ji Qingwu said with a smile. "It’s just a short walk, and we’re still within the estate. I’ll be fine on my own."
Mrs. Qiao thought of the last time Xiao Wu was drugged and abducted by Ji Changyan right here at home, and she still felt a lingering fear.
"Have Chunhua walk back with you."
Ji Qingwu wanted to protest, but under Mrs. Qiao’s disapproving gaze, she could only nod in agreement.
The two courtyards weren’t far apart. After a short walk, they arrived at the entrance to Wutong Garden.
Ji Qingwu stopped and said to the maid behind her, "Chunhua, you can go back now. Mother still needs you to attend to her."
Chunhua said, "Let me see Fifth Missy inside the gate. That way, the madam can rest assured."
Ji Qingwu blocked her path and said with deliberate sternness, "What is there to worry about? I’m already at the gate to my own courtyard. It’s not like someone can abduct me from here. I remember Mother drinks a calming soup every night. You should hurry back and prepare it."
After Chunhua left, Ji Qingwu stared into the pitch-black courtyard.
’A careless oversight,’ she thought. ’I forgot to light the lamps before I left.’
Pushing open the main gate, she stepped onto the stone path and walked inside.
She once again passed the wutong tree, its branches thick with leaves.
It was a dark and windy night. The leaves scraped against one another with a rustling sound.
Ji Qingwu stopped in her tracks, sensing something.
