Chapter 1789 – After the Noise, Let’s Get Down to Business
Wei Ci pressed his lips together, and when he locked eyes with Jiang Pengji, it felt as though his very soul was being pulled into those smoky, cloud-like depths of her gaze.
In that moment, he forgot how to speak and didn’t know how to start at all, completely at a loss.
Seeing his dazed expression, Jiang Pengji couldn’t help but chuckle, rising despite her shoulder injury to approach Wei Ci. With her uninjured right hand, she gently caressed his face. The gesture was intimate, like a lover whispering sweet nothings, radiating an indescribable allure that turned Wei Ci’s ears crimson.
If this kind of conduct came from a little rascal, it would seem utterly frivolous, yet the person before him was Jiang Pengji.
They were essentially unregistered spouses, and such affectionate gestures added a layer of charm to their relationship.
“Are you scared of me, Zixiao?”
Jiang Pengji’s lips curved into a smile, and Wei Ci noticed for the first time how pale her lips looked, thinner than usual.
“Scared? Where’s that coming from?” Wei Ci regained his composure, placing his warm, broad palm over Jiang Pengji’s hand, gently rubbing it. “I just find it a bit puzzling. Why put yourself in danger like this after you promised not to?”
In his past life, Wei Ci might not have noticed, but in this life, he saw clearly that his lord was particularly fond of ‘fishing for law enforcement.’
For instance, this supposed mastermind behind the scenes was none other than the person right in front of him!
What angered Wei Ci wasn’t the fishing method, but rather that she, disregarding her own safety, actually went off and took risks, returning with injuries.
After hearing the latter part of his words, Jiang Pengji immediately felt guilty.
She attempted to withdraw her hand, but the usually gentle Wei Ci suddenly became assertive, firmly grasping her hand.
The two of them held their ground, gazing into each other’s eyes, neither willing to back down first.
After a long moment, Jiang Pengji finally relented.
However, she wouldn’t admit to being intimidated by her partner.
Is caring for, understanding, and respecting a partner really being intimidated?
“This incident was my fault…”
Jiang Pengji hesitated, wishing to soften her tone, but Wei Ci was having none of it, poking her injury with his free hand.
Jiang Pengji, who usually remained unflappable even in the face of great danger, couldn’t help but flinch away, softly saying, “Zixiao, that hurts.”
She thought that by being a bit spoiled and soft, this hurdle would be cleared, but little did she know, Wei Ci had his own tricks.
“Is it really painful, my lord?”
The man who could face great calamities without batting an eye now had an earnest expression as he nodded relentlessly.
She was currently injured, after all. No matter what she did before, the most important thing now was for him to pamper and care for her.
Let’s just forget about the whole reckless business she did, okay?
Wei Ci, however, replied, “So my lord is indeed just flesh and blood, not some invincible body, and certainly not immune to blades and arrows like an immortal.”
Jiang Pengji rolled her eyes at his comment, “If I were truly invulnerable, then Wen Zheng and the others would be crying.”
If she were genuinely invincible, the Young Master wouldn’t have been created, to say nothing of coming into existence.
Wei Ci, being a righteous boy, didn’t catch the underlying meaning of Jiang Pengji’s words and, suppressing his anger, said to her, “Alright, since my lord is indeed flesh and blood, there is the risk of dying. If the enemy’s feathered arrows were to strike not your shoulder, but your heart, do you think that your heart would still remain undamaged?”
With a swift motion, Jiang Pengji extracted the arrow from her shoulder on the training field, the wound looking horrific and bloodied.
The original injury, only the width of a finger, had been gouged out to a width of three fingers, torn flesh hanging on display.
Just looking at it made Wei Ci wince, yet even if the other party showed no sign of pain, he felt heartache.
“My lord has always kept her word. Why has she faltered this time?”
Who had once promised Wei Ci never to act recklessly again, never to joke with her own life?
Jiang Pengji replied, “I have my reasons.”
Wei Ci said, “If I cannot share the burdens of my lord, then what use am I? If there is something my lord feels compelled to do, why can’t it be entrusted to me?”
Jiang Pengji chuckled resignedly, “To have you face this kind of assassination? Zixiao, you’d lose your life.”
“How does my lord know I wouldn’t willingly risk my life for you?” Wei Ci gritted his teeth, “I would! From my past life to this one, I’ve never flinched even once. Even if your injuries pose no threat to your life, I would still be willing to exchange my life for yours.”
Jiang Pengji furrowed her brow, realizing for the first time that Wei Ci was genuinely angry.
Wei Ci might not show his anger on his face, but his internal fury was no less intense than the pressure felt from outward expressions.
“…I suddenly have a question. Did the previous emperor truly die after riding a dragon to the heavens?” Wei Ci questioned, his eyes reddening as dark thoughts surfaced, “Was it yet another reckless act?”
Before Jiang Pengji could speak, Wei Ci, with watery eyes, continued, “No matter whether the emperor is truly dead or alive, or whether it was a reckless act to cleanse the court for Princess Yan… whether the emperor is dead or alive, but Zixiao truly died, committing suicide.”
Jiang Pengji’s expression turned grave.
“My lord’s actions naturally hold meaning, and as a minister, I shouldn’t pry too deeply, but Wei Ci isn’t just your subject; he is also your lover, correct?” Wei Ci asked her, “If my lord were to go first, do you think I would be dying for my lord or for love?”
Jiang Pengji replied, “I must do this.”
“But you could at least give me a heads-up,” Wei Ci pressed further, “This current batch of students from the Golden Scales Academy is the heart’s blood of my lord, and also of mine. Because of you, I care for their safety more than anyone else. Their futures play a key role in my lord’s grand ambitions. If you would just share some insight, I would naturally keep pace with you. In my lord’s heart, am I a clever person or a fool?”
If he were clever, with even a few clues, he wouldn’t be able to guess Jiang Pengji’s intentions, nor would he fall behind her pace.
If he were a fool, even if she explained everything to him in detail, he wouldn’t comprehend her intentions.
Jiang Pengji gave no reply to Wei Ci, her mind buzzing with the earlier words he had spoken.
Not long after the news of the former emperor riding a dragon to the heavens spread, Wei Ci had ended his own life. Whether his suicide was coerced by circumstances or voluntarily done, or a combination of both, the outcome was clear: Wei Ci died, but what about her past self? Did she truly die?
Analyzing the clues Wei Ci had previously shared, combined with her understanding of herself, Jiang Pengji felt that it was unlikely.
Perhaps, yet another instance of ‘fishing for law enforcement.’
But this fishing was a failure, costing Wei Cong his vibrant life, as well as Wei Ci’s.
As this speculation crossed her mind, a faint but undeniable pain shot through her chest.
After a long silence, Jiang Pengji half-sank before Wei Ci, her gaze level with his.
Leaning forward, their foreheads touched, she sighed softly, “I’m sorry, there won’t be a next time.”
Those light words brushed away the oppressive unease, anger, and bitterness swirling in Wei Ci’s heart.
Before this person, his principles and bottom lines felt as light as a feather.
“My lord doesn’t need to apologize.”
Wei Ci’s voice lowered, but the remnants of his earlier fury added a husky timbre.
“Do you want to see Jiang Pengji?”
Wei Ci’s eyes widened in shock, as if he had received a massive jolt.
Jiang Pengji placed her hands on his shoulders, laughing softly.
“The world knows me forever tagged as Liu Xi.” Jiang Pengji’s hands brushed against his ear, fingers lightly pinching his flushed earlobe as she spoke, “But, Zixiao, the name you want to hear, the person you wish to see, isn’t it Jiang Pengji all along? I want to tear away this identity of Liu Xi and restore the name both you and I have been familiar with for years.”
As she said this, Wei Ci suddenly understood the meaning behind her stratagem.
A familiar method of fishing for law enforcement, a familiar approach to achieving multiple goals.
Intricate plotting and wonderfully audacious maneuvers had never let Wei Ci down.
Jiang Pengji continued, “Most of the students from the Golden Scales Academy come from humble backgrounds, not even born into the poor gentry. More than half have no parents, relying solely on themselves. They have no family ties or backgrounds; all they can depend on is themselves. And they themselves are merely ordinary people, merely chess pieces meant for others to play with—none of it is within their control. I’ve said before, I won’t blame them; if blame must fall, let it be on those whose greed extends far too long.”
Wei Ci snapped out of the earlier argument and jumped straight into work mode.
“What does my lord mean…”
“Create a pretext and take down those greedy hands. What stronger excuse could there be than the attempt on my life?” Jiang Pengji scoffed. “Originally, I just wanted to eliminate these nuisances and send a warning to those who hadn’t yet moved, so that they would lay low. The students from the Golden Scales Academy will mostly venture into politics, whether staying in court or becoming local magistrates. They hold immense potential. Controlling them is equivalent to controlling the resources they will possess in the future. How could I allow that to happen? If those individuals succeed, will the future imperial examinations groom talent for me or for them to select their own pawns?”
Wei Ci responded, “But the lord chose the Liu Clan.”
The Liu Clan must have had control over that student early on, using him as a hidden chess piece that could come in handy in the future.
As a result, the lord dug them out and secretly pretended to give the student orders to assassinate her.
Fishing for law enforcement and borrowing knives to kill, letting the Liu Clan shoulder the blame for the assassination.
Jiang Pengji stated, “Choosing the Liu Clan had its reasons; I want to cut ties thoroughly with them while also forcing them to rein in their ambitions.”
“A complete severance is intended to restore Jiang Pengji’s name, while forcing them to temper their ambitions relates to heirs?”
Jiang Pengji shrugged, “Exactly. I still have no heirs, which has led the Liu Clan to grow reckless and harbor unwarranted thoughts. How many traps have they laid within the Golden Scales Academy? They’ve bribed several promising but not overly conspicuous students. Those students have potential, aren’t top scholars, but their temperament is suitable for politics. If they gain a foothold in court, wouldn’t that mean the Liu Clan has seized real power? If I happen to have an heir who can grow and thrive, that is good, but if I have none, or if they pass away prematurely, they will certainly advise me to adopt someone. If I were to die unexpectedly, the Liu Clan would ultimately profit at my expense…”
Wei Ci recalled those from the Liu family he had interacted with before.
“Is this idea from Clan Head Liu Heng?”
Liu Heng, the previous clan head Liu Ji’s younger brother, has been seriously ill for the past two years, entangled in bed since his mother’s funeral.
To avoid affecting the Liu Clan, Liu Ji had allowed his legitimate son Liu Heng to take over early.
Now, Liu Heng was the clan head of the Liu Clan, and also Jiang Pengji’s cousin.
Wei Ci had met Liu Ji and Liu Heng a few times; while he did not know them very well, he didn’t think either of them would be so reckless.
On the contrary, they were rather clever.
Even if they had ambitions, they wouldn’t leave an incriminating handle for Jiang Pengji to grasp in such situations.
Jiang Pengji shook her head. “Not my cousin’s idea. The internal situation in the Liu Clan is rather complex. This matter also involves my stepmother, Gu Zhen.”
“How does the stepmother…”
“She got involved because she harbors ambitions too.” Jiang Pengji initially wanted to conceal this but decided to unveil a bit due to her promise, “However, her ambitions started off small. It’s just that I was fanning the flames and gave her a push from behind…”
Wei Ci’s entire being became dazed, his mind swirling with three questions.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What am I doing?
Why would my lord involve her stepmother in this plot, cleaning up the Liu Clan, those restless clansmen, and Gu Zhen all at once?
Gu Zhen harbored ambitions, but her aspirations had only multiplied under the lord’s secretive nurturing.
Absolutely magical!
With a grim expression, Jiang Pengji said, “Gu Zhen is my stepmother, and I am not Liu Xi—this reason is more than sufficient.”
Wei Ci was silent; indeed, that reasoning was quite adequate.
Jiang Pengji continued, “Gu Zhen’s ambitions aren’t limited to merely being the Empress Dowager. I can give her endless riches, but human ambition knows no bounds. Once the seed of ambition sprouts, even without my prodding, she would eventually reach this point. I merely needed to neglect her, allowing her to hold wealth without power to flaunt it, and after a year or two, this is the kind of ambition she would grow. There has always been an insurmountable chasm between us; she knows I am not the true Liu Xi, but a ghost who made a deal with her—I keep her secret, and she gets the wealth and grandeur. Ultimately, this exchange isn’t secure; does she not worry that if I suddenly rise to power, I might stealthily kill her? After all, dead people keep secrets far better than the living…”
Wei Ci replied, “So Gu Zhen betrayed me…”
Jiang Pengji’s face turned cold.
“Gu Zhen is quite close with several old fogies from the Liu Clan, and I’ve heard she particularly likes those several children from the Liu Clan’s direct line.”
Without needing to say more, Wei Ci immediately understood everything.
“If you target Madame Gu Zhen… Meng Heng and Nie Xun on that side probably won’t be easy to explain…”
Jiang Pengji smiled disdainfully, “All I need to do is restore the Jiang surname. It’s not just separating from the Liu Clan, but establishing independence as my own family!”
Once she reclaims her Jiang surname, she can take her time cleaning up those people.
Jiang Pengji had no emotional attachment to Gu Zhen; their relationship had always been that of collaborators.
Gu Zhen had her ambitions, but Jiang Pengji merely took the opportunity to stoke the flames, pushing her aspirations across the line to find excuses for retaliation.
In the end, those with the dirtiest hearts are the ones who laugh last.
