The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Struck It Rich

In the lower right corner of the bookshelf, Xia Wenjin found the book.

Looking at a book as heavy as a brick, but very light when picked up, flipped open, and indeed, the middle was hollowed out. A booklet, a stack of silver notes.

Open the booklet; one person per page, official position, age, preferences, blackmail material...

Packed full.

This is good stuff, Xia Wenjin smiled and took it, then picked up the silver notes.

Such a thick stack? Denominations ranging from fifty taels to five hundred taels, arranged very neatly. Counting that stack of silver notes, Xia Wenjin beamed, eyes shining, hitting the jackpot!

A voice suddenly interrupted: ”Whose silver notes?”

Xia Wenjin looked up abruptly and saw Huangfu Jingchen leaning against the door, looking at her leisurely.

She quickly stuffed the silver notes into her sleeve, looked around in surprise, and said, ”What silver notes? Where? You saw wrong!”

Watching her puff out her cheeks and deny, Huangfu Jingchen found it very amusing.

Why is she always so obsessed with money?

And yet, her greedy appearance is quite interesting.

Xia Wenjin walked over and said, ”Your wound just got treated, you should be resting. Why are you running around?”

Huangfu Jingchen laughed and said, ”It’s no big deal!”

Xia Wenjin glanced at him and said, ”I told you not to come here, so why did you follow?”

Huangfu Jingchen replied, ”Afraid there might be other dangers, wouldn’t feel at ease not following you!”

Xia Wenjin: ”...”

Is there a problem with this statement? Something strange about it? Her gaze shifted, and she laughed, ”You better get used to it; once we retrieve the Jade Pendant, we’ll go our separate ways!”

Huangfu Jingchen’s gaze deepened, watching her without speaking.

Xia Wenjin also looked herself over and then shook her head, saying, ”This women’s outfit is so awkward to wear, and it’s inconvenient for fighting. Once this is over, I must quickly change back! Let’s go, back to the other side.”

Watching Xia Wenjin swagger past him, with a bold demeanor, light steps, and fast strides, Huangfu Jingchen’s gaze became a bit obscure.

Returning to the courtyard, Kong Chan eagerly asked, ”What were you doing? Making me guard the door for you!”

Xia Wenjin answered leisurely, ”Nothing, see? I’m back!”

She entered the room and immediately closed the door.

Outside, Kong Chan said, ”Hey, what are you up to all secretive?” He grabbed Huangfu Jingchen who followed, asking, ”What’s she doing? Not letting us see, interrogating alone and running around!”

Huangfu Jingchen looked at the closed door and said, ”Don’t worry, Wenjin knows what she’s doing.”

Seeing Xia Wenjin approaching, Jue Zhou quickly asked, ”Miss, did you find it?”

Having been struck at an acupoint, he remained in a half-side position on the ground, his neck sore. However, his heart was full of hope, unexpectedly, the Four Beauties around the master also came. With their skills, as long as they promise protection, his little life would be saved.

Xia Wenjin replied, ”Found it!”

Jue Zhou sighed in relief, forced a smile, and asked, ”Miss, could you release my acupoint? I’m part of the Second Young Master’s people; falling into the government’s hands would look bad and disgrace the Second Young Master, wouldn’t it?”

Xia Wenjin smiled and said, ”You’re right!”

Watching her grin and slowly walk closer, Jue Zhou’s face was full of ingratiation; if not for lacking a tail, he was quite like a lapdog.

Xia Wenjin reached out and tapped a few points on his body.

Jue Zhou hurriedly said, ”Miss, not that acupoint, it’s here, here...” He pointed with his mouth to indicate the direction.

Xia Wenjin said, ”Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

Jue Zhou complied, ”Yes, it’s my fault, my fault!”

Xia Wenjin looked at him, asking, ”The people outside were bitten to death by those girls; why are there so many girls in the temple?”

Upon hearing ”bitten to death,” Jue Zhou felt a chill on his scalp, realizing that if not brought into the room by one of the Four Beauties, his acupoint would be struck, rendering him unable to move, and he might have faced the same fate.

Feeling a bit grateful in his heart, he said, ”The girls in the temple, some were bought, some kidnapped!”

”Go on!” Xia Wenjin smiled interestedly, ”This is a legitimate Buddhist Temple, having been around for years. You all work for the Second Young Master, why target women?”

Given that the Four Beauties had shown interest and weren’t angry, Jue Zhou, wanting to ingratiate, was naturally forthcoming: ”Five years ago, after Ming Qing promoted the temple’s Bodhisattva sending child gimmick, many female incense guests came to seek children. That so-called Fertility Zen Room has a secret door. At night, a few men enter through the secret door, and after a spring fling, nine times out of ten, they become pregnant. These female incense guests lose their virginity; if publicized, it would only cause them to fall into hell, leaving them no choice but death. So, these female incense guests almost always choose to swallow their anger; if they truly become pregnant, they can secure their status, since no one knows whose child it is. Ming Qing grew bolder, indulging more; if pretty, he’d step in himself; if ugly, let the trusted ones handle it!”

Xia Wenjin frowned, ”Focus!” She knew all this.

Jue Zhou quickly responded, ”Yes, yes, yes. In the long run, anyone around Ming Qing has had some involvement with women, to varying degrees.” He commented meaningfully, reminiscing, ”This kind of thing, without trying, won’t know; once experienced, feels irresistible, hard to forget. Haven’t the monks’ hearts grown wild? Many went to enjoy themselves at the brothels below the mountain. Some even snuck into the village at night to engage in illicit affairs, but being monks, this remains unsafe. Later, Ming Qing bought some girls and raised them in the rear mountain, allowing the men to enjoy them freely. But a few girls weren’t enough, so more were bought with silver.”

Xia Wenjin queried, ”Since silver was used, who did the kidnapping?”

Jue Zhou, somewhat proud, said, ”I was tonsured to become a monk solely for the Second Young Master, not really a monk. With talents like mine, what kind of woman couldn’t I have? I prefer those tender, budding maidens; when encountering a pretty one in the valley below, regardless of identity, I brought them up the mountain. After all, this rear mountain is our territory. Moreover, this is safer than going down to pick flowers.”

Xia Wenjin laughed, ”You kidnapped them, huh? What if someone refused passionately?”

Jue Zhou, a bit self-satisfied, said, ”No need to do anything, naturally, kill them!”

”Where are the bodies disposed?”

”Below the rear mountain cliff, feeding them to the wolves! Known to none, seen by none!” Jue Zhou was very proud.

Xia Wenjin said coolly, ”Destroyed the evidence, did a good job!” ℯℯ𝑙.

”Of course, can’t cause trouble for the Second Young Master. Miss, those girls trained well, if sold to the brothels below, could earn quite a bit for the Second Young Master!”

Xia Wenjin smiled slyly, ”You’re quite loyal, even thinking of the Second Young Master.”