In the Control Crane Army, Madam Mei’s code name was Hongyu, and her original name was long forgotten.
She was an assassin cultivated by the Control Crane House, without any family background, drifting like a floating weed. Her martial arts were fairly ordinary, but she had managed to survive among the many assassins through sheer calculation.
The path of an assassin was cold and bloody. Calculation alone was not enough – she still clearly remembered the final test before leaving the Control Crane House. It was not an assignment, but a one-on-one duel, just like when she first entered. This time, it all came down to raw ability – no matter how much calculation one had, it would be futile.
She was very clear that if it came to that day, she would become an insignificant sacrifice in that trial. She was unwilling to accept that, so before the trial, she used various poisons to kill the three elites in her group. Even if she was executed for breaking the rules, it was better than having her neck lightly slashed on the battlefield!
To her surprise, after the incident, not only was she not punished, but she was openly praised in front of everyone.
That’s when she realized an important truth: this path had no rules at all, only the living and the dead.
It was precisely because of this incident that the higher-ups noticed her and deliberately sent her into the Control Crane Army family as a mole.
“I encountered Yelu Quancang in the plum blossom forest. Even though I’ve been working for him for so many years, I don’t understand him. As for that court scholar, I understand him even less,” Madam Mei said.
Chu Dingjiang asked, “Why do you work for him?”
“Why…?” Madam Mei had a moment of absent-mindedness, lowering her eyes and muttering, “If not for him, then for whom else can I work…”
It turned out she was a dodder, needing to cling to something to stand upright.
There were many such people in the Control Crane Army, including An Jiu – accustomed to taking orders, used to being commanded, and longing for freedom. But when they truly obtained freedom, they began to feel lost. Madam Mei had grown up in that environment, and after leaving the familiar rules, she could no longer live like an ordinary person.
“I know the current emperor is a wise ruler, but we have no turning back. Once we take a step into the abyss, we will sink deeper and deeper.”
Although she was always talking wistfully, constantly needing to cling to others to survive, Chu Dingjiang would not mistakenly think of her as a weak woman – that was merely a habit. “You have contact with him. Do you have any code words?”
Madam Mei remained silent.
Chu Dingjiang knew that no matter whether serving Yelu Quancang was out of submission or active betrayal, once she recognized a master, she would have a certain degree of loyalty. So she must be hiding some things.
Chu Dingjiang speculated that Madam Mei was a single thread in Yelu Quancang’s hands, and wouldn’t know too much. Tonight, he just wanted to confirm whether she was hiding anything and wasn’t in a hurry to pry open her mouth.
“Madam, take your time to think. Before you’re ready, please stay in this room.” Chu Dingjiang got up and left.
The smile on Madam Mei’s face gradually faded, and the cup in her hand suddenly shattered.
Chu Dingjiang had not gone far. Hearing the sound of the porcelain breaking, he smiled faintly and quickened his pace to where Lingxi was being held.
The Blood Demon came to meet him. “The person inside has woken up.”
Chu Dingjiang nodded. “Take a few people to keep an eye on Madam Mei. No matter what excuse she makes, don’t let her out, not even to use the outhouse.”
The Blood Demon thought that killing people wasn’t too much trouble, but this was too despicable! But still, he immediately carried out the order.
It was pitch-black inside the room, but Chu Dingjiang could move through the darkness without any problem.
He found a stool and sat down, not far from Lingxi. “You should understand why I’ve invited you here.”
“Binding is binding, don’t call it an invitation,” Lingxi said.
Chu Dingjiang had just been to see Madam Mei. Lingxi was certain that separating them like this must mean he had some sinister intentions!
However, Chu Dingjiang’s response somewhat surprised her, “No, she wouldn’t say anything. She only lamented her past, saying her life has been bitter.”
“Bitter?” Lingxi let out a light laugh, making no further comment.
” I don’t plan to force her to reveal the truth, because I believe you will tell me.” Chu Dingjiang sensed her wanting to deny it, and quickly continued, “You don’t need to refute it. After all, she has been Madam Mei for so many years, enjoying glory and wealth. Your martial arts are even higher than hers, yet you’re only a maid. Aren’t you resentful at all?”
Lingxi was silent for a moment, and when she spoke again, her tone was noticeably less forceful than before, “Habit… Habit is truly terrible. Sometimes I even forget that I’m the same as her, not just a servant attending to her.”
Lingxi was sent to Madam Mei’s side to assist from the sidelines. If Madam Mei was gone, she would have no reason to exist. Whether it was the Control Crane Army or Yelu Quancang, what they valued was just Madam Mei’s position, while Lingxi had always been an appendage.
“I may not be as powerful as the Emperor, but I can give you endless wealth and status. I can only give you a chance to choose your own life.”
Chu Dingjiang remembered that when the Mei Manor was attacked, Madam Mei was seriously injured, but Lingxi risked her life to rescue her. He did not believe this was out of deep master-servant affection. It was because Lingxi knew that once Madam Mei was gone, her everything would be gone as well. If she didn’t care about wealth and status and just wanted freedom, she definitely wouldn’t have done that.
“A hundred thousand taels of gold, a manor in the mountains, fly away from here. Lingxi will cease to exist, only you.”
Chu Dingjiang offered this deal, causing Lingxi’s heart to skip a beat. After a moment, she asked, “How can I trust you?”
“You tell the truth, and I’ll kill Madam Mei. Then I’ll find someone to replace you, give you the money, the deed, and even a household registration in Hexi County. This is my plan. Whether you want to take the gamble or not, you decide. I don’t have the time or energy to gain the trust of a suspicious person.”
“And if I don’t say anything?”
“Death.” In the darkness, Chu Dingjiang sat motionless, his towering figure like a tombstone.
What Yelu Quancang promised was much more than what Chu Dingjiang offered, but that also meant they would have to pay a greater price. Lingxi knew without thinking that even if the plan succeeded, what she would get would be far less than Madam Mei. It would be better to…
“I need to think about it.”
“I’ll wait for your good news.” Chu Dingjiang took out a stack of silver ingots from his pocket and placed them on the tall stool nearby. “There are fifty thousand taels of gold here.”
Chu Dingjiang reached the door, paused, and said, “Don’t even think about running. There are two formations set up here.”
Lingxi didn’t respond. She reached out and took the silver ingots worth fifty thousand taels of gold.
The Mei family was an imperial merchant, with a massive wealth of millions. Over the years Madam Mei had been married, she had saved up a considerable private fortune. But even if the Mei family was that wealthy, as a servant, Lingxi had never had the chance to touch it. Chu Dingjiang’s offered price was extremely tempting to her. And he said he would kill Madam Mei, so those private funds…
Chu Dingjiang returned to the bedroom. An Jiu had already woken up and was sitting at the table eating the leftovers from lunch.
“Why are you eating leftovers? Can’t you wait a moment?” Chu Dingjiang reached out and touched the plate. “It’s still cold!”
“I had a few bites to tide me over, waiting for you to come back.”
“What do you want to eat for dinner tonight?”
“It’s late, just make something simple.”