An Jiu did not respond.
After the meal, Zhu Pianxian and Mei Yanran cleared the table. Sheng Changying seized an opportunity to say to Zhu Pianxian, "I need to step out for a moment."
Zhu Pianxian smiled faintly. "Go ahead, it must be something important."
As she spoke, she saw him out the door.
Once he was gone, Zhu Pianxian retreated inside and pressed herself against the door, peeking out stealthily. "He really left, huh. Couldn’t even tell I was just being polite! What a blockhead!"
"You can go if you want. I’ll take care of things here," Mei Yanran said.
Only then did Zhu Pianxian remember there was still someone else in the room. She quickly straightened up, smoothed her clothes, and cleared her throat. "Aunt Mei..."
"Go on," Mei Yanran said with a smile.
Zhu Pianxian hesitated for a moment before darting out the door.
Meanwhile, An Jiu was already waiting in front of Sheng Changying’s usual study.
"Sheng Zhangku," she greeted. Though Sheng Changying was no longer the head of the treasury, An Jiu still habitually addressed him by his old title.
Sheng Changying nodded in acknowledgment. "What brings you here?"
Seeing his serious demeanor, An Jiu couldn’t help but recall the shy expression she had once glimpsed when he was with Zhu Pianxian. A faint smile unconsciously surfaced on her face.
Sheng Changying was slightly taken aback.
"I wanted to ask where I can find work—like the kind at Misty Villa," An Jiu said. She needed to earn money, but aside from killing, she had few other skills. To gather fifty thousand taels, she would have to return to her old profession.
Sheng Changying pondered for a moment. "I recall there’s a Bounty Board west of Bianjing. It’s usually used for official government notices, but after nightfall, it becomes a place for bounty hunters to pick up jobs. The authorities tacitly allow it, and sometimes even assign tasks there themselves."
An Jiu nodded. "How does it work exactly?"
"Before midnight—that’s when the board resets. People scout the listings they’re interested in, and once the night watchman strikes the hour, they compete to claim them. After securing a notice, you wait briefly by the board, and someone will come to meet you." Sensing her intent, Sheng Changying added, "I can draw you a map of its location."
"Thank you," An Jiu said.
The two entered the study one after the other.
With no good hiding spots near the building, Zhu Pianxian had to conceal herself behind a rockery about twenty zhang away. The distance was too great to hear their conversation, but through a gap in the rocks, she could see An Jiu smiling faintly. Zhu Pianxian pressed herself against the stone, scratching at it impatiently as if she might leave marks. The moment the two went inside, she darted over to crouch beneath the window.
An Jiu had long since noticed Zhu Pianxian’s presence. Seeing her so anxious, she couldn’t resist teasing her a little. "Sheng Zhangku, I’ve noticed you’ve become even more handsome lately."
This was actually true. Sheng Changying had once looked perpetually haggard, as if he were never fully awake. Now, though he still didn’t seem particularly energetic, he appeared much healthier than before—and thus more attractive. His narrow, fox-like eyes carried a roguish charm quite different from Mo Sigui’s. They gave the impression of someone always scheming, and when he was relaxed, they were rather alluring. Anyone who didn’t know Sheng Changying well would assume he was a seasoned rake, full of mischief.
In Sheng Changying’s memory, An Jiu wasn’t the type to say such things. But he quickly understood and glanced toward the window, his voice tinged with amusement. "You flatter me."
Now it was An Jiu’s turn to be surprised. She had always thought Sheng Changying was a straightforward, earnest man. Truly... appearances could be deceiving!Since he was willing to cooperate, that was even better. An Jiu wasn’t stupid—she knew people like Zhu Pianxian were used to swindling money. The things she had used probably weren’t even worth a third of fifty thousand taels. She just didn’t like haggling, but if she got a chance for revenge, she wouldn’t let it slip.
“Let’s go out for a meal together sometime,” An Jiu said.
“A meal?” Sheng Changying lowered his head to continue painting, his dark hair cascading over his shoulders, his eyes slightly curved. “Alright.”
An Jiu’s ears twitched as she caught the faint scratching sound outside the wall. She added fuel to the fire, “Just the two of us. How about tonight?”
“There’s a place on Panlou Street that does roasted goose quite well.” Sheng Changying’s response was as good as an agreement.
Zhu Pianxian finally couldn’t hold back and stepped inside, wearing an impeccable smile. “What roasted goose are you talking about?”
“Nothing,” An Jiu cut in before Sheng Changying could answer.
Zhu Pianxian gave Sheng Changying a pitiful look. “This humble one suddenly craves roasted goose from Panlou Street for dinner tonight.”
Sheng Changying, who could still muster a bit of mischief behind her back, seemed to lose all his wits the moment he saw Zhu Pianxian. He hurriedly said, “Then I’ll accompany you to buy it tonight. If you’re tired, just wait for me to bring it back.”
An Jiu rolled her eyes inwardly. She couldn’t tell if he was genuinely like this or just pretending!
“I haven’t been out in a while either. Let’s all go together.” Zhu Pianxian wasn’t about to give anyone else a chance.
Sheng Changying agreed eagerly.
“Is the painting done?” An Jiu couldn’t be bothered to indulge these two any longer. She had originally intended to tease Zhu Pianxian, but instead, she’d become a catalyst for their sickeningly sweet interactions. She strongly suspected Sheng Changying had planned it this way from the start.
Truly, birds of a feather flock together—scoundrels and schemers, the lot of them!
“It’s done.” Sheng Changying handed the painting to An Jiu.
Zhu Pianxian leaned in closer. “What’s it of?”
An Jiu casually folded the painting in half and turned to Sheng Changying. “Thanks. I owe you another favor.”
“It was nothing, hardly worth mentioning,” Sheng Changying replied.
An Jiu tucked the painting away and walked out.
After a few steps, she suddenly remembered the way Zhu Pianxian’s expression had shifted several times before she left. A smirk tugged at her lips as she suppressed her aura and stealthily returned, climbing onto the beam without a sound.
Inside the room, Zhu Pianxian covered her face with a handkerchief, sobbing delicately. “Do you despise me now?”
“Never, never.” Sheng Changying reached out to wipe her tears, his voice tender. “In this lifetime, if I can have Pianxian as my wife, I will never betray you.”
Zhu Pianxian’s cheeks flushed slightly as she feigned annoyance. “Who said anything about marrying you?”
“Pianxian…” Sheng Changying grasped her hand and sighed. “If you don’t marry me, I fear I’ll grow old alone.”
“Nonsense.” Zhu Pianxian gently covered his mouth.
An Jiu curled her lip in disgust. How revolting.
She couldn’t understand—was this back-and-forth teasing really so entertaining? Wouldn’t smooth sailing be better? Did they have to stir up trouble just to cry and make up?
Still, she could see that in Sheng Changying and Zhu Pianxian’s relationship, Zhu Pianxian had initially taken the lead, but now the dynamic was more balanced.
Should she stir up some trouble of her own to tease Chu Dingjiang sometime?
An Jiu’s heart skipped a beat—this was already the third time she’d thought of him!
Realizing this, she lost all interest in watching their saccharine display. She quickly left and returned to her room to prepare the weapons she’d need tonight.
She donned her close-fitting outfit, strapped her weapons and medicine to her body, then wrapped the Dragon Subduing Bow in coarse cloth and slung it across her back. With that, her gear was ready.After dinner, she informed Mo Sigui and took a boat to leave the island.
Returning to her profession, An Jiu felt quite different from before—there was more concern, more hesitation. Logically, this should have hindered her assassination work, yet she had never felt so at ease in her heart. (To be continued...)
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