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    Lady, escort the emperor! 9

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    Chapter 9: Undercurrents

    Li Nuo finally understood where his beautiful handwriting came from. He gazed at the floating Treasured Tome before him. It seemed he could unconsciously acquire a skill from any criminal mentioned within, like the female assassin’s calligraphy, the goat-bearded thief’s thievery, even using them without his knowledge.

    But calligraphy was one thing; this effortless pickpocketing skill, undetectable even by the two Martial Arts masters, Wu the Steward and his wife, was another matter entirely. Even without outwardly releasing True Energy, their perception should be far superior to that of ordinary people.

    If he were arrested for unconscious theft, how wronged he would be! He didn’t know if this ability was permanent or temporary. From now on, he needed to be careful. Being caught stealing in public would be utterly humiliating.

    Thinking this, Li Nuo glanced at the Treasured Tome and saw the number on the cover had changed.

    “Name: Li Nuo.”
    “Life Expectancy: Ten Days.”

    His remaining lifespan had decreased from eleven days to ten. Li Nuo didn’t know the exact time, but judging by the change, it must have passed midnight. It seemed the Tome updated at midnight every day.

    Li Nuo turned off the lights and climbed into bed. For his past self, midnight was still early, all-nighters were commonplace. But not anymore.

    He would reject staying up late, starting now. After a day of upheaval, exhausted in both body and mind, Li Nuo quickly fell asleep.

    Meanwhile, in another courtyard of the Li residence, a light still burned in a certain room.

    Wu the Steward placed a package of pastries on the table, smiling. “It’s truly a blessing from heaven! After that bump on the head, Young Master has become so much brighter. He can instantly add thousands upon thousands, and his demeanor in the county magistrate’s court today was quite reminiscent of the Master in his youth. It’s a pity the Master didn’t see it…”

    Before the table sat a middle-aged man. Tall and upright, with handsome and dignified features, sharp facial lines, and a look of authority and wisdom in his eyes. Three neatly trimmed strands of beard on his upper lip and chin added to his composure and steadiness.

    He picked up a pastry and put it in his mouth, chewing slowly. His face showed no expression, a slight weariness in his brow, only a rare gentleness appearing in his eyes when Wu the Steward mentioned his son.

    Wu the Steward said, “Young Master is truly different now, Master. Should you go see him?”

    The middle-aged man looked towards another dark courtyard, gently shaking his head. “He’s asleep. Let’s not disturb him. Let him rest well.”

    “Master returns rarely, always late and leaving early. It’s been a long time since he’s seen Young Master…” Wu the Steward sighed. “But Young Master was indeed greatly disturbed today. It’s good to let him rest.”

    The middle-aged man asked, “Has the assassin’s identity been confirmed?”

    Wu the Steward “thumped” to his knees, self-reproaching. “It was the daughter of Gu Wenhan, the Qinghe County Magistrate, whom Master sentenced to death a year ago. It was all my negligence, allowing her to infiltrate the residence, nearly causing a great disaster. Please punish me, Master!”

    The middle-aged man personally helped him up. “You needn’t blame yourself. Those who want to kill this official are as numerous as the fish in the river. Even with the utmost care, there will be oversights. It’s not your fault… It’s late. Go and rest.”

    The older man nodded, adding, “Master should rest early as well.”

    As he reached the door, the middle-aged man suddenly asked, “The manor surely doesn’t lack maidservants. Who summoned her into the residence?”

    Wu the Steward hesitated. “A month ago, three maidservants saved enough money for their release and wished to leave. Master had said not to make it difficult for the servants, so I gave them their indentures and let them go. With three fewer maidservants, the manor was short-handed, so I recruited three more from outside. I didn’t expect the assassin to be among them. She had no Martial Arts foundation, and I wasn’t wary…”

    The middle-aged man stroked his beard. “Did you personally recruit them?”

    Wu the Steward shook his head. “I was catching crickets with Young Master at the time. I entrusted Wang Mama to choose them from the slave market.”

    “How long had the departing maidservants been in the manor?”

    “Let me think… Two were here for three years, one for four.”

    The middle-aged man said slowly, “The maidservants entered the manor penniless. Their monthly allowance was one tael of silver, twelve taels a year. The manor’s expenses are minimal, aside from cosmetics and occasional pastries and sweets, there are few expenditures. Even if they saved ten taels a year, three years is thirty taels, four years is forty taels… a hundred taels for release… Have you considered where their redemption money came from?”

    Wu the Steward was stunned, scratching his head. “I really hadn’t thought that much about it…”

    The middle-aged man shook his head, asking, “And Wang Mama?”

    Wu the Steward said, “She should be asleep by now. Speaking of Wang Mama, I don’t think I saw her much today…”

    The middle-aged man sighed softly. “Wang Mama…”

    Wu the Steward finally realized something, abruptly looking up, shocked. “Master means someone gave those three maidservants the redemption money, to create a shortage of manpower in the manor, then using Wang Mama to recruit the assassin, to assassinate Young Master…”

    He suddenly slapped his thigh, belatedly understanding. “That damned Wang Mama! I knew she was overly attentive that day. It was all pre-planned, a treacherous, ungrateful wretch! I’ll go find her!”

    With that, he rushed out like the wind.

    The middle-aged man stood at the table, calmly picking up another pastry and eating it.

    Moments later, Wu the Steward returned, muttering, “Wang Mama is gone. That damned woman, she escaped…”

    The middle-aged man’s expression remained unchanged, seemingly unsurprised by the outcome.

    He slowly paced, taking three incense sticks from a cabinet beside the desk. Lighting them with the candle, he inserted them into the incense burner, saying with a sense of both regret and reflection, “If I remember correctly, Wang Mama has been in the family for ten years, hasn’t she?”

    Wu the Steward angrily said, “Ten whole years! Ten years raising a viper in our bosom! A dog would be better!”

    The middle-aged man shook his head slightly. “In this life, many things are beyond our control.”

    Watching the three incense sticks slowly burn in the burner, he bowed before it.

    Wu the Steward curiously asked, “Three incense sticks, Master, who are you memorializing?”

    The middle-aged man didn’t explain, simply saying, “It’s late. Go rest.”

    That night.

    Outside Chang’an city, by a river.

    A small boat gently rocked, a ripple spreading outward on the water’s surface.

    A plump middle-aged woman carried a box into the boat’s cabin. A man already waiting there couldn’t resist opening it. Moonlight shone on the contents, reflecting a golden glow, turning his eyes golden as well.

    Greed showed on the woman’s face. “So much money! It’s enough for us to enjoy our lives…”

    The man said fearfully, “What if your master finds out? If we’re caught, we’ll be flayed alive…”

    At the mention of her master, the woman’s face paled, but she forced composure. “What are you afraid of? As long as he doesn’t catch us. Tonight we leave Chang’an, leave Da Xia, go to Da Chu, to Da Qi. His hand can’t reach that far… You… what are you doing?”

    Before she could finish, her voice became shrill and pained. She looked down in disbelief at a dagger plunged into her chest, then painfully looked up at the man opposite.

    The man pressed his palm against the dagger’s hilt, forcing it deeper into the woman’s heart until the blade was fully submerged, then grinned. “Who’s talking about our whole lives? With this much gold, I can find any beautiful woman. Why stick with someone old and faded…”

    The woman’s eyes widened, filled with resentment, her hands gradually falling limp.

    Just as the man hid the wooden box and prepared to throw the woman’s body into the water, he heard a voice.

    “You men are all the same, she risked her life to earn all this gold, to elope with you, and you dare to kill her! Are you even human…”

    “Who’s there!”

    The man jumped, turning sharply to find a slender figure standing at the bow of the boat, appearing seemingly out of nowhere.

    In the hazy moonlight, he couldn’t see the person’s face, only that their voice was effeminate, though not a woman’s.

    The man’s throat moved, about to speak, when he saw a flash of white light, followed by dizziness. He saw the moon above, below, left, and right…

    Thump!

    Something seemed to fall into the water, then he knew nothing more.

    Clang!

    The slender figure at the bow sheathed their sword, looking at the two corpses. “That was quick. With your skills, you couldn’t escape. Falling into that man’s hands would have been far worse. So thank me…”

    Then, stepping over the headless man and the woman’s staring corpse, they entered the cabin, somewhat disdainfully picking up the bloodstained wooden box. With a light foot tap, they left the boat, vanishing into the rippling water.

    Shortly after, the boat burst into flames, consuming everything.

    Late at night. In a deep mansion in Chang’an, within an underground chamber.

    Two figures whispered.

    “Didn’t you say you succeeded?”

    “I did. I infiltrated the Li residence, using a secret technique to destroy his heart meridian. I confirmed he had no breath or pulse. I then falsely informed the little maid to act that night. Anyone would suspect them, even that effeminate master would probably think it was their doing. Then we leak some information, let Li Xuanying fight them, and we’ll sit back and watch, becoming the fisherman behind the scenes…”

    “But he’s alive.”

    “Bloody hell!”

    “How do we explain to His Highness? Should you go assassinate him again?”

    “You go! After this, that Li fellow will be on guard. If I go now, it’s like walking into a trap. You know Li Xuanying’s methods. I warned you, if I fall into his hands, don’t blame me for betraying you…”

    “Forget I said anything.”

    “I still can’t figure it out. How could that fool be alive? He clearly had no breath or pulse. Was it because the technique was unused for so long, that the user became rusty…”

    (Chapter end)

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