Jing Lei saw his master run out and hurriedly followed, only stopping once they were far from the mansion in the alley, where Jiang Yichun finally halted.
"Master, where have you been these past days? The madam has been looking for you!" Jing Lei said urgently.
Jiang Yichun turned to look at him and said, "I don’t want her to find ."
Jing Lei’s expression changed dramatically, "Could it be that you’ve truly had a change of heart? The madam is a good person."
He was usually quiet and didn’t know how to persuade Jiang Yichun at the mont.
"Don’t concern yourself with too much, just do as I instruct," Jiang Yichun said.
Jing Lei’s temper flared, "Unless you explain, forgive for not obeying."
"You..." Jiang Yichun nearly lost his temper, "Well, after a few days, you no longer recognize as your master?"
Jing Lei said with a stern face, "You said to follow the madam, she is to be our master and we’re to listen to her."
Jiang Yichun hesitated; indeed, he had instructed this.
He knew Jing Lei’s character well: calm, stubborn, and persistent in his actions; these are his strengths, but at the mont Jiang Yichun disliked Jing Lei’s attitude.
He took several deep breaths and reluctantly said, "There’s still evil energy in , I don’t want Ruozhu to know and worry, nor can I spend more ti with her and the child, so I must hide from her for now."
"Tell the madam the truth, she will understand you," Jing Lei said.
"She’s worried enough about already; let’s talk after I’ve cleansed the evil energy," Jiang Yichun said irritably.
Yet Jing Lei insisted, "The madam is indeed worried, but taking that other woman with you, the madam is heartbroken and in despair—I saw her cry for days."
Jiang Yichun’s fists clenched tightly at his side, feeling an ache as if cut by a knife.
He could only hide outside Jiuli Valley, unaware of the situation within, how could he know Bai Ruozhu cried for so many days?
Though he guessed she’d be heartbroken, hearing Jing Lei say so pained him unbearably.
"You can’t let go of the madam, why do this? You cannot fool , Master," Jing Lei said, blocking Jiang Yichun’s path.
Jiang Yichun took a deep breath, "If you still recognize as master, ask no more questions. Just let Ruozhu know I’ve taken Fu Lanying to the Quanrong Clan. Also, persuade her not to find —it’s not worth it."
After saying this, he turned to leave, but Jing Lei urgently caught his shoulder, "Master, you cannot leave!"
Jiang Yichun suddenly struck out, knocking Jing Lei down, and said sternly, "Don’t tell the madam about today’s events, or our master-servant relationship ends here!"
With that, he jumped onto the rooftops and quickly vanished into the night.
Jing Lei sat on the ground, his head spinning. He always believed his master wasn’t soone who would abandon others, but now seeing the master’s arrangent felt even more wrong.
Could the master have contracted so strange illness and is dying soon?
Or has the master encountered trouble, fearing it might implicate the madam and the young master?
Jing Lei dared not think further, fearing any more thoughts would disturb him, leading to questions from the madam.
Though he didn’t want to deceive the madam, he dared not rashly say anything to her; the master’s threat was serious indeed.
Upon returning to the mansion, he saw Jianqi standing in the courtyard, coldly asking, "Where have you been?"
Jing Lei didn’t speak much, nor did he lie, and said with a cold expression, "It’s nothing."
"Was there soone you pursued?" Jianqi continued.
"I don’t know," Jing Lei said and walked away.
Jianqi swiftly blocked his path, saying coldly, "Rember your status now; if you can’t be loyal to the madam, you’d better leave quickly. The madam doesn’t need disloyal subordinates!"
Jing Lei’s expression changed, but it was hidden by shadows, and Jianqi didn’t see his change.
"None of your concern."
Though Jing Lei’s montum was unchanged, he felt disheartened inside; he knew he should be loyal to the madam, yet he couldn’t betray his master—the feeling was quite unsettling.
Had Muyu encountered the sa situation, what would he do? Jing Lei felt so resentnt, thinking the master intentionally hid from him, making him play the villain?
Jianqi didn’t press further but coldly watched Jing Lei, pondering whether he should tell Bai Ruozhu tomorrow.
The next morning, nobody ntioned the events of the night, as Bai Ruozhu slept soundly. As they spoke far from the main house, Bai Ruozhu heard nothing.
Several tis Jianqi wanted to speak but chose silence, feeling uncertain about speaking rashly, fearing it might make his master even more distressed.
After breakfast, Bai Ruozhu changed her appearance, disguising herself as a 30ish swordsman with a small mustache, carrying a sword as she went out.
Not long after, she found the eting place ntioned by Zhou Jue’s subordinates, used the secret code Zhou Jue had given, and showed her badge to finally et Zhou Jue’s people.
"Greetings, Madam Bai." Four people saluted Bai Ruozhu, recognizing her even through her disguise, indicating that Zhou Jue had instructed them clearly.
"How many others are there? Are they all in this area?" Bai Ruozhu asked softly.
"There are over two hundred more, dispersed throughout the city, ready to gather at a signal," the leader replied.
Bai Ruozhu nodded—it matched her estimation. Although the Capital is large, with various factions surging, if too many people are brought in, it would attract attention. Two hundred or so is an adequate limit.
"The master instructed the two of us to stay by Madam Bai’s side, facilitating quicker mobilization." A guard stepped forward, "I am Ruhua, and he is iyu."
Bai Ruozhu twitched a bit, thinking to herself—did she hear wrong? Ruhua? iyu?
"Did Zhou Jue co up with your nas?" Such a strange humor could only be Zhou Jue’s, right?
Ruhua was quite nonchalant, "The master bestowed these nas upon us."
iyu blushed slightly, seemingly taciturn, "Yes."
Despite being big n called Ruhua and iyu, Bai Ruozhu felt a bit toothache-ish but figured it was best to act naturally, avoiding further harm to these poor guards’ dignity.
Perhaps to acclimate Bai Ruozhu or perhaps to show Bai Ruozhu there were worse nas—Ruhua introduced, "They are iyan and Jun Chuan."
Unable to hold back, Bai Ruozhu burst into laughter; did Zhou Jue need to be so extre—even having Jun Chuan, what about using normal nas?
Moreover, the one nad iyan was a burly man with nacing muscles, a face full of beard—how could he be iyan...
Compared to this, nas like Chen Feng and Muyu seed much better, knowing this joke would make Muyu appreciate Achun, right?
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