Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1183: Chapter 1185: Upstairs (Part 1)

In the courtyard of Yicui Building, a tall man wearing a mask raised his hand and slapped Jiao Bingqin, ”What use are you to me if you let Jiang Yichun go because you took pity on him?”

Jiao Bingqin’s face changed drastically as she knelt down quickly and said, ”Your Highness, please see clearly, Bingqin would never dare to betray you. Moreover, I don’t arrange the staff in this yard, so how could I secretly let Jiang Yichun go?”

Qingqiu walked over gracefully, exuding a seductive charm. She glanced at Jiao Bingqin and said, ”Are you suggesting that I didn’t keep a close eye on him? Although I’m in charge of everyone in this yard, I entrusted you to watch the Ghost Doctor and his daughter. If you had kept an eye on them, how could you have given Jiang Yichun the chance to escape?”

”I...” Jiao Bingqin was at a loss for words. How could she have known that the Ghost Doctor would act so desperately?

The tall man kicked Jiao Bingqin, who was kneeling on the ground, ”You’re getting bolder, messing up your tasks and even daring to drag my wife into this? Haven’t I told you that Qingqiu is my concubine?”

Jiao Bingqin’s body fell to the ground, her heart in shock. She had thought His Highness was just playing around with Qingqiu and that as a concubine, Qingqiu was nothing more. She did not expect him to value Qingqiu so much. If she had known, she wouldn’t have spoken recklessly just now.

The tall man snorted coldly and gripped Jiao Bingqin’s chin tightly, throwing a pill into her mouth. Jiao Bingqin, in terror, tried to spit out the pill, but it seemed to come to life, slipping down her throat on its own.

”Consider this a little punishment. Remember your place, or next time it won’t be so lenient,” said the tall man before turning around, wrapping his arm around Qingqiu’s shoulder, and walking back upstairs.

Jiao Bingqin lay weak on the ground, soon letting out a painful moan. Her body curled up, trembling violently, as if enduring unbearable agony.

...

Bai Ruozhu didn’t wake up until the next day. As soon as she did, she asked anxiously, ”Have you found Achun’s whereabouts?”

The expressions on both Lv and Chenfeng’s faces were very grim, but it was Lv who spoke first, ”We haven’t found him, but at least he hasn’t fallen into their hands.”

”What about the Ghost Doctor and his daughter? Was Achun saved by the Ghost Doctor’s daughter?” Bai Ruozhu asked.

Lv showed an embarrassed expression, ”We don’t have enough men, and it’s not convenient to mobilize local military forces, so we could only focus on finding Lord Jiang’s whereabouts.”

Bai Ruozhu clenched her teeth. It was all because of the royal treasure that they had to be extremely cautious. When would it ever end?

She felt irritated and struggled to get up, but Jianqi stepped forward with a stern face and said, ”My lord, you should be more careful with your shoulder. If it dislocates again, you might develop a chronic condition.”

Bai Ruozhu took a deep breath. If she couldn’t even take care of herself, how would she continue searching for Achun?

With that thought, she calmed down and began to think about how to resolve the situation at hand.

”Jianqi, send a message to the Commerce Association to locate the whereabouts of the Ghost Doctor and his daughter. Say that my brother’s master has been poisoned for many years, and since I couldn’t think of a solution in the Capital, I want to invite the Ghost Doctor to make a trip to the Capital,” Bai Ruozhu said.

Lv opened his mouth, ”But, but surely that would require the Emperor’s consent, right?”

Bai Ruozhu rolled her eyes at him, ”How would seeking the Ghost Doctor’s help in the Capital expose any information? Besides, ’when the general is out on the battlefield, he does not accept orders from home.’ Are we supposed to report everything and wait for replies? Would that be in time? Don’t worry about it, I’ll take the consequences!”

Lv’s face turned red with embarrassment. He knew he was being overly cautious and decided to do as Bai Ruozhu instructed, no longer trying to stop her.

”Now we will concentrate all our efforts on finding Achun. Leave the Ghost Doctor to the Commerce Association. They should be able to provide us with some information,” Bai Ruozhu said.

”Yes,” everyone responded.

...

In the Yicui Building, Qingqiu glanced down from the upper floor at Jiao Bingqin in the yard, who had fainted from pain and lay there like a dead dog. A strange smile curled up at the corner of her mouth before she turned and went back inside.

She had already sent away her guards. Moreover, her private chambers were off-limits to their prying eyes, especially since she was serving the lord as a concubine.

She walked lightly to the bedside in the inner chamber, extending her delicate fingers to tap on the bed frame as if she was playing a piano. But upon closer inspection, her movements were highly rhythmic and deliberate. Soon, her fingers stopped, and the neatly made bed shifted to one side, revealing a hidden secret passage.

She took a candlestick and descended, quickly arriving in a small room at the end of the secret passage where she saw a man seated cross-legged and healing. She curtsied, ”Qingqiu greets the master.”

The man addressed as the master opened his eyes, revealing a pair of pitch-black pupils that emitted a sharp gleam, and his face had such distinctive features that one would find difficult to forget.

”How are things outside? Has my wife come looking for me?” The man spoke, and wasn’t he Jiang Yichun, whom Bai Ruozhu was searching for desperately?

”Master, the wife has come, but Chiyou got there first. You were wise to hide in advance, but...” Qingqiu paused.

Jiang Yichun’s expression changed abruptly, concern washing over his face, ”But what? Did Chiyou attack Ruozhu?”

”Chiyou captured the wife, but she managed to poison him. Later, in order to escape, she dislocated her own shoulder. Her subordinates have already taken her away,” Qingqiu said, a look of shame on her face, ”Because Chiyou was always there, I wasn’t able to explain things clearly to the wife.”

Jiang Yichun’s heart clenched. He knew the pain of dislocating a shoulder. She was a delicate woman, how could she endure such suffering?

”Don’t blame yourself, master. Even if you hadn’t hidden in advance, with your serious injuries, you would’ve been unable to save the wife. You might even have been used by Chiyou,” Qingqiu said in a hurry, trying to console him, but the more she spoke, the more inappropriate it sounded, as if the master seemed too powerless after the injury.

Jiang Yichun sighed, striving to calm his emotions, ”Have we figured out who exactly Chiyou is yet?”

Annoyance appeared on Qingqiu’s face, ”He’s very cautious, keeping his mask on even during intimate moments. I really have no way to get a look at him. However, he said he would take me away soon; we might have a lead before long.”

”Making you serve as a concubine to such a person, I’m sorry you had to bear this,” Jiang Yichun sighed.

Qingqiu merely smiled faintly, ”What’s there to feel sorry about? Yicui Building saved my entire family. I, Qingqiu, understand what it means to repay a debt of gratitude. Besides, I’m already a faded flower, a spent willow; what does it matter where I am? Even by Chiyou’s side, I don’t lack for food or drink and suffer no hardship.”

After listening, Jiang Yichun didn’t say more. Yicui Building had its own rules, and even with Qingqiu here, he couldn’t interfere. Although he sympathized with Qingqiu, he wouldn’t break the rules of Yicui Building.

”You still need to be careful around Chiyou. Also, don’t go notifying the wife. I will find a way to contact her,” Jiang Yichun said.

”Yes, master, please heal well. I will take my leave now.” Qingqiu paid her respects and withdrew cautiously.