Chapter 1633 – Unifying Nan Sheng, Killing An Huan (Forty-Five)
The cold wind can truly be fatal if it gets serious.
If Jiang Ji didn’t die at the hands of the assassins, but instead fell prey to a cold snap… that would be just too ridiculous.
Yan Lin frowned slightly.
“Does Zheng Ze not think this cold wave arrived rather opportunely?”
The budding conflict was swiftly diverted; as long as Jiang Ji handled it properly, this incident could be swept under the rug.
Yang Tao spoke up, “With several doctors consulting, can she act sick in front of all those eyes? A little illness? Who doesn’t drink medicine throughout the year?”
Yan Lin shook his head.
“Anything commonplace with her seems a bit off.”
Just as Yang Tao had mocked, a hundred assassins hadn’t harmed her in the slightest, yet she falls ill from the cold that very night?
Yang Tao chuckled, “Shaoyang, being bitten by a snake once, is now afraid of ropes for ten years. How could Liu Lanting be so monstrous? Relax; she’s just a person.”
Yan Lin rubbed his forehead and murmured, “Perhaps I’m overthinking things.”
“Shaoyang’s suspicions are not unfounded, though. Liu Lanting was ambushed just yesterday, and now news of her illness spreads. If the Nan Family hears of this, they’re likely to think this is a cover-up. If they pull some stunt and get caught, the Nan Family wouldn’t escape unscathed.”
Yan Lin couldn’t help but glance at his sidekick.
Well, this kind of analysis actually has some merit.
“Whether Liu Xi is genuinely sick or faking it, the Nan Family will likely be finished,” Yan Lin whispered. “Years ago, Liu Xi pretended to be gravely ill and ambushed Huang Song from behind. Now, falling ill pulls the snake out of its hole, making the Nan Family dig their own grave. It’s quite the coincidence…”
Yang Tao couldn’t help but remark, “Why are you addressing her by her name so casually in private?”
Yan Lin replied, “It’s not just me.”
Some of Qian Su’s loyal old officials affectionately called her “Liu Gong” to her face, but privately referred to her as “Liu Xi.”
For what reason?
It’s nothing but Yang Tao’s grievance.
Just by addressing her differently, as long as Yan Lin and the others didn’t harbor treasonous feelings, Jiang Ji wouldn’t mind.
Yang Tao sighed, “Ahem, I’m just worried about you. Liu Lanting can sometimes be broad-minded, but at other times is as narrow as a needle’s eye.”
Yan Lin felt warmth in his heart and smiled, “Don’t worry; I’ll handle this. She won’t get the chance to pick a fight.”
Whether in the past or present, Yan Lin’s interests were tied to Yang Tao’s.
If Jiang Ji moved against Yan Lin, it would indirectly weaken Yang Tao, and Yan Lin wouldn’t allow that to happen.
Meanwhile, Wei Ci, who had spent an entire night in “cold war” with Jiang Ji, blew on the prepared medicine before serving it to her.
Jiang Ji caught a whiff of the bitter herbal scent and couldn’t help but grimace, but she couldn’t express her displeasure and had to hold her breath to gulp it down.
“Cough cough… How much Huanglian did the doctor put in? It’s so bitter it’s killing me…”
Wei Ci responded, “There’s no Huanglian in the medicine.”
Jiang Ji retorted, “It’s still very bitter! My tongue feels all sour; why don’t you give it a try?”
She pointed at her lips, and Wei Ci couldn’t help but turn his head away.
The “try it” from the old lady clearly didn’t mean sampling the dregs; Wei Ci was well aware.
“I’m sick, yet you won’t even offer me a kind face. How sad.”
Jiang Ji hung her head, using a hoarse voice to accuse Wei Ci, trying to brush it all over.
Wei Ci sighed, his tone laced with helplessness.
“Is the Lord truly ill?”
Jiang Ji: “…”
Wei Ci continued, “Don’t forget, I’ve been by your side for over twenty years in the last life. Whether you’re genuinely sick or faking, outsiders can’t tell, doctors and officials can’t tell, but as your closest confidant, I know. My Lord, are you trying to use this illness to make me overlook yesterday’s incident?”
“Hum!”
Jiang Ji couldn’t help but pull the blanket up to cover her head.
She mumbled, “I’m not pretending to be sick just to fool you…”
Wei Ci said, “Is my Lord trying to say you are spreading word of the cold to mislead the Nan Family? To draw the snake out of its hole?”
Being sick at such a coincidental timing, the Nan Family might very well misunderstand Jiang Ji’s condition as a true death or severe injury. To avoid causing panic, she might be using the illness as a cover story. When Jiang Ji returned last night, it was already late, and there were hardly any people on the road. Besides a few confidants, no one knew Jiang Ji had played the carefree role again. As long as the information was sealed promptly, the chances of the Nan Family being deceived are quite high.
But Wei Ci would bet his head that this was absolutely not Jiang Ji’s primary motive for faking illness. Others acted with careful consideration first; she reacted impulsively and then thought about how to patch up loopholes, yet still managed to deceive everyone’s judgment and craft an image of being shrewd and deep-minded.
With every exit blocked by Wei Ci, Jiang Ji naturally had nothing to say.
Wei Ci said, “It’s not that I want to point fingers at my Lord, but I just hope you understand my attitude toward this matter… No, I should say my attitude toward similar incidents. Years ago, the Emperor risked his life repeatedly for the peace of the court, to root out the lurking dangers, yet the sacrifice was immense, leading to the Emperor’s passing at a young age. Back then, I lacked the courage to stop and advise him, and it remains a regret to this day. In this life, my Lord has given me the courage, and some words can no longer be bottled up in my heart; it’s alright to voice them.”
Jiang Ji remained silent for a long time, blinking her eyes sincerely at him.
“I’ll change.”
Wei Ci’s expression softened slightly, “My Lord doesn’t need to promise me anything; besides you, no one can constrain you.”
Jiang Ji: “…”
If only she had known that the consequences of her recklessness would be like this, she’d definitely think twice before acting.
“Forgive me for saying another thing, my Lord. You are the Lord, the backbone of our group, and also the future master of the world. Your life and death are not solely your own affairs; they relate to the fates of countless people in the world,” Wei Ci said, “On the battlefield, we don’t ask you to charge into battle like a military general, nor do we expect you to be more cunning than a strategist. These are just a bonus; their absence does not matter. For us, my Lord’s safety is the most magical spiritual pill. Do you understand?”
Jiang Ji recalled the Old Commander’s words from last night and fully grasped his meaning.
Different positions and roles meant different words and actions.
While everyone could tolerate her being a vassal with such recklessness, if she were to move up the ranks and keep the same pattern, she would soon lose their trust and loyalty.
Jiang Ji thought she had changed a lot, restrained herself, and significantly reduced the frequency of her reckless actions in battles, yet in Wei Ci and others’ eyes, it still was not enough. It’s indeed good for a lord to be battlefield-wise, but if she relied on her strength and acted recklessly, how could her subordinates rest easy?
No one in this world could harm her, but what about the Federation?
Marshals, nobles, and emperors share similarities in some aspects.
Seeing that she was silent, Wei Ci softened his voice, “I’m not being reckless or overstepping my bounds…”
Jiang Ji said, “I understand. It was my immaturity before; it’s my fault. You only spoke your honest advice.”
Relying on her strength to “do as she pleased,” even if she was formidable, in the end, she could only be a weapon rather than its wielder.
