Although An Jiu lacked experience in interpersonal relationships, she had studied the backgrounds of many targets during her previous investigations. Those who climbed to the top of the political ladder were invariably ambitious individuals—even when they were too old to function, they still wished to live another five hundred years. How could they possibly let go so easily?
A centipede dies but never falls down, let alone when Prime Minister Hua was still alive and well, with a son steadily growing his own wings beneath him.
After much deliberation, An Jiu concluded that Mei Jiu’s marriage into the Hua Clan offered little hope for a good outcome. Would Heaven despise Mei Jiu’s temperament so much as to make her reincarnate only to suffer death again and again? Thinking this way, it seemed Heaven might dislike her too...
An Jiu’s mind wandered into a chaotic mess of random thoughts.
“Why so quiet?” Chu Dingjiang asked.
An Jiu snapped back to reality. “Maybe I shouldn’t leave either. I have an old connection with Hua Rongtian’s wife—I can’t just stand by and watch her die.”
“You have old connections?” Chu Dingjiang chuckled. “That’s unexpected.”
“Because I don’t speak pleasantly?” An Jiu had always believed she was earnest in attitude and sincere in words, but over the years, she realized others didn’t seem to think so.
Worried that subtlety might be lost on her, Chu Dingjiang spoke plainly, “You noticed?”
An Jiu frowned in thought, and Chu Dingjiang didn’t interrupt her musings.
Only as they neared Bianjing did she speak again, “Then why does Mei Jiu like me?”
An Jiu’s logic was simple: if someone liked her, it proved her way of speaking wasn’t entirely flawed. After all, no one could please everyone. So either those people had problematic ways of understanding, or her manner of speaking was niche—most people disliking it was normal.
Chu Dingjiang fell silent for a moment before sighing, “That Mei Jiu must be no ordinary person.”
In Mei Jiu’s eyes, nothing was truly bad—yet even she had once despised and feared An Jiu. Had they not been forcibly bound together, they might never have forged this bond through adversity.
“Many people have said I’m unpleasant, but it’s fine as long as a few can tolerate me,” An Jiu concluded.
Chu Dingjiang didn’t know whether to commend her contentment or lament her resignation.
In the end, he simply agreed, “It is fine. I find you quite tolerable too.”
Chu Dingjiang had initially been drawn to An Jiu precisely because of her uncomplicated nature. Since he cherished that purity, he was willing to overlook her many shortcomings.
Yet while affection was one thing, he didn’t want her to remain unchecked forever. That was why he patiently guided her forward—if she could become normal, all the better; if not, he wouldn’t mind caring for her all his life.
The pouring night rain concealed unspoken thoughts.
At the palace gates, Chu Dingjiang instructed her, “Just leave. No matter what happens, I’ll ensure Hua Furen’s safety.”
While he wouldn’t dare make such an absolute promise for the Hua Clan’s men, he knew Hua Furen’s origins. The emperor had arranged the marriage—the woman was a member of Wei Yue. Even if the Hua Clan fell, she could leave if she wished to survive. If obstacles arose, lending a hand wouldn’t be difficult.
“And Hua Rongjian,” An Jiu added, feeling it unfair to dump everything on Chu Dingjiang. “Actually, I’ll stay and work with you as the situation demands.”"Protect the Hua Clan." It was his personal wish, and he was reluctant to drag An Jiu into it. But seeing her insistence, he said, "Fine. Since Madam Mei needs to seek Mo Sigui for detoxification, you can go to him. If needed, I’ll come find you."
An Jiu finally understood why the Crane Control Army was so fixated on Mo Sigui—not just because they needed him, but also to guard against him. If he were to defect and use poison to control the shadow unit to work for him, the Crane Control Army might change hands!
Mo Sigui had shadow operatives around him, but if he didn’t want to be monitored, it shouldn’t be hard for him to deal with them.
An Jiu thought about how Mo Sigui had said earlier that night how glad he was to see her. Staying with him for a year or two shouldn’t be a problem.
"Alright," An Jiu agreed.
Chu Dingjiang nodded, watching her leave before his figure vanished into the rain.
When An Jiu returned to the living quarters, Sui Yunzhu came looking for her.
He mouthed, "Anyone around?"
An Jiu shook her head.
Only then did he lower his voice slightly. "The commander has arranged everything. Starting the day after tomorrow, we’ll leave in pairs. You and Madam Mei will go first."
An Jiu nodded without asking for specifics, simply relaying the message to Mei Yanran. Based on her conversations with Chu Dingjiang, she knew he would handle every detail—they just had to follow the plan.
After another day of watching the Crown Prince’s brawling spectacle, An Jiu returned to the living quarters in the early hours of the next morning and noticed two additional women in the courtyard—one was Mei Yanran, and the other had a similar build.
"Which one is Mei Shisi?" The woman was from the Crane Control Institute, an external cultivator skilled in swordsmanship and knowledgeable in archery.
Two months ago, she had "died" during a trial.
An Jiu stepped forward, and the woman tossed her a token. "After you leave, someone will meet you outside the west gate. Hand them the token, and you’ll be free to go."
Mei Yanran’s shift schedule differed from An Jiu’s, and another shadow operative had already taken her place for duty.
An Jiu took the token and immediately left the palace with Mei Yanran.
They exited smoothly with the token, changed clothes in a dark alley, and headed straight for the west gate.
The sky was just beginning to lighten, and the west gate was already crowded with people preparing to leave.
Two men noticed their approach and exchanged glances, but neither side made any sudden moves. Most of the people around were quiet—either half-asleep or eating breakfast—so approaching recklessly would stand out too much.
"The gates are opening!" someone at the front shouted.
The crowd suddenly stirred, pressing closer to the gate.
Merging with the flow, the two men approached. Taking advantage of the commotion, one whispered, "Chu?"
"Yes," An Jiu replied softly, slightly raising her hand.
The man caught sight of the token tassel peeking from her sleeve, subtly shifted, and with just a brush of their hands, took the token. Mei Yanran did the same.
The entire exchange lasted mere seconds, appearing as nothing more than an accidental bump.
The two men left, while An Jiu and Mei Yanran nonchalantly queued to exit.
Most people entering or leaving the city carried something, but since the two women had nothing, they split up.
An Jiu trailed behind a scholar, while Mei Yanran blended into a small merchant group.
Once outside the city, they reunited in a secluded spot and headed together to Plum Blossom Village.
When they arrived at Mo Sigui’s thatched cottage, he was directing a young apothecary’s apprentice to plow the fields.
"Miraculous Doctor Mo!" An Jiu called out, supporting someone as she approached. "Save my brother!"Mo Sigui turned his head, watching An Jiu's exaggerated acting with a conflicted expression. He raised his folding fan and pointed toward the room. "Get inside, get inside."
If she kept this up any longer, it would only make things more damn suspicious!
"Thank you, Miracle Doctor." Committed to the act, An Jiu quickly put on a tearfully grateful expression.
Mei Yanran swayed unsteadily, as if about to faint, and An Jiu hurriedly reached out to support her, making the scene appear slightly more natural.
Mo Sigui flicked open his fan, wondering just what kind of game they were playing! (To be continued...)
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