"Do you know Shi Yi?"
"Who is that?"
Kou Da’s puzzled expression didn’t seem fake.
Kou Da didn’t care about who Chuzheng mentioned. Suddenly, his demeanor shifted with a hint of confidence as he said, "Third Princess Consort, if you let me go now, leave the book, and keep silent after you return, you will still be the Third Princess Consort."
"What if I don’t?" The big boss always has a rebellious streak.
"Third Princess Consort, you don’t want to miss tomorrow’s sunrise, do you?"
"Are you threatening me?"
Kou Da chuckled, the wrinkles on his face piling up, surprisingly giving him a more kindly look.
It was obvious Kou Da had some kind of backup, daring to reveal his true nature at this moment.
"I suppose no one knew when the Third Princess Consort came over, so even if you disappear today, who would know how you vanished?"
"No matter how capable your brother is, can he conjure up evidence from thin air?"
"Third Princess Consort, you mustn’t choose the wrong path."
Chuzheng understood, "You want to kill to silence me?"
"Third Princess Consort, I’m just giving you a choice."
"Oh." Chuzheng’s face was cold, "Then thank you, oh."
Kou Da didn’t hear a hint of gratitude, but rather felt provoked.
"Third Princess Consort, don’t decline the toast only to drink a forfeit!"
Chuzheng suddenly chimed in, "I’ve poisoned your grandson."
Kou Da: "!!!"
"Do you think if I die, he can survive?" Who can’t make threats! Do you think I eat plants for a living?
Chuzheng bent down to pick up the book, "Is your grandson more important, or is my life more important? Why don’t you make a choice too?"
Kou Da: "..."
Though there was some change in Kou Da’s expression, he didn’t show much.
He wasn’t sure if what Chuzheng said was true or false...
What if she was deceiving him?
Kou Da steeled himself and whistled out the window.
A fierce murderous aura surged in, the sound of breaking windows followed the tail note of the whistle.
Whoosh—
The coldly gleaming long sword aimed straight at Chuzheng’s vitals.
Chuzheng rolled the book in her hand, effortlessly deflecting the sword. The book pressed against the blade, rotating counterclockwise, forcing the sword down.
The assassin was startled, not expecting Chuzheng to easily parry.
He immediately withdrew the sword and retreated backward.
But Chuzheng didn’t give her the chance, swiftly dodging behind the assassin, and a swift kick landed right on the assassin’s backside.
The assassin stumbled forward, with a swoosh, the sword pierced Kou Da.
Kou Da screamed in pain, startling the assassin who yanked the sword out, causing Kou Da to almost faint from the pain.
"It’s none of my business; she did it." Chuzheng stood to the side, passing the blame.
Assassin: "..."
If you hadn’t kicked me, how could I have stabbed my own master?
The assassin was more frustrated than ever; he hadn’t encountered someone so fast that he couldn’t even react.
Rage boiled inside Kou Da from the pain, "Kill her!! Kill her!!!"
Kou Da originally intended to capture Chuzheng, especially since she had Yann Qin behind her, and he didn’t want too much trouble.
But now he just wanted to kill this woman!
The assassin received the order, wielded the sword, and twisted to slash at her.
Chuzheng easily dodged; the assassin couldn’t even touch the hem of her clothes.
And each time she struck, the direct confrontation made the assassin’s hand go numb, nearly dropping the sword several times.
"Swoosh..."
The assassin stabbed Kou Da again.
Chuzheng immediately pointed, "It was her again."
"Swoosh..."
"It was her again!"
Kou Da began to roll his eyes, about to faint.
The areas the assassin stabbed weren’t fatal, but they hurt immensely!
The assassin realized he was being toyed with by Chuzheng, feeling that his dignity as an assassin was offended, immediately bellowed, unleashing all his might.
Chuzheng was done playing, swiftly dispatching the assassin in a matter of moments.
-
Chuzheng sneaked back to the mansion, spent a long time pondering over the book before finally calling Shi Yi in.
In the middle of the night, Shi Yi was actually a bit apprehensive.
"Miss, what do you need?"
Shi Yi stood outside the window, the full moon high in the sky, its silver glow dividing him into two halves, half bathed in moonlight, half hidden in darkness.
"Come in."
"Miss, it’s already late." Shi Yi refused politely.
Chuzheng took out the book, "Are you sure you don’t want to come in?"
The moment Shi Yi glimpsed the book, he faltered, the next second supporting himself on the windowsill, entering the room.
"Where... did you find it, Miss?"
"If I want to find something, naturally I will find it."
Shi Yi reached out to take it.
Chuzheng flung back, Shi Yi’s hand fell short, his gaze tensed slightly, landing on the girl before him.
Chuzheng stepped back two paces, casually flipping open the book, "What will you exchange for it?"
It’s rare to have such a lead; she wouldn’t let it slip by easily, right?
Shi Yi: "..."
Shi Yi withdrew his hand, also stepping back two steps, a meter of space suddenly existing between them.
"What does Miss want?"
Chuzheng placed the book behind her back, leaned forward two steps, whispered into Shi Yi’s ear.
For a long while, Shi Yi forced out a sentence, "Miss, let me think about it."
Chuzheng made a casual gesture.
Shi Yi quickly left the room, bounding up the outside trees in a few steps, the leaves concealing his figure.
Shi Yi sat on the branch, gazing through the overlapping leaves, looking at the window now closed.
He took out the jade pendant Chuzheng had given him, his thumb stroking over it, smooth and delicate.
Like...
Shi Yi’s eyes darkened, putting back the pendant, intending to leave.
In the next second, he thought of something, and sat back down.
Shi Yi sat until dawn, watching as that window was pushed open, a figure appearing inside.
Shi Yi suddenly felt it was a bit strange; among so many windows, she only opened that one...
Was it coincidence, or did she know he was there?
Given the limited suitable hiding places nearby, it wasn’t surprising that she could deduce his location.
Shi Yi brushed aside the random thoughts, carefully considering the terms Chuzheng had given.
Actually, he wouldn’t lose anything...
By all appearances, she was at a disadvantage.
After a day of hesitation, Shi Yi entered Chuzheng’s room that night.
Chuzheng seemed to know he’d agree, waiting for him.
"As long as I... you’ll really give it to me?"
"Of course, I keep my word."
"..."
-
Shi Yi took the book, leaving the room.
Chuzheng leaned by the window, calling to him, "It’s a ledger; what do you want it for?"
Shi Yi snapped back, "You know?"
"Of course." Chuzheng leaned out a bit, "Having obtained something, one naturally asks about its use."
Shi Yi: "..."
Chuzheng asked, "Is it the Kou Family you have a grudge against, or someone on the ledger?"
The man silently stood in the shadows; Chuzheng couldn’t see his expression.
Just when Chuzheng thought he wouldn’t speak, the man suddenly said, "...Prime Minister."
After speaking, Shi Yi regretted it. What does this have to do with her, why tell her...
As mentioned earlier, now the Imperial Court has both a Prime Minister and a Minister of the Appointments, their powers are equal, a result of power balance.