The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

Chapter 0749 Ruthless (2)

After much consideration, Yurong decided to remain in Luoyang rather than moving to the provincial city. She had her own reasons for making this decision. "This child is only one month old, and this is the most unstable period. Even if we leave, we must wait until the pregnancy is stable first." As her father-in-law was now the Minister of Revenue, divorce was still not an option even if no one could cure Jiang Hongjin's illness. Neither her father nor San Jie would agree to it. Therefore, this child was likely to be her only one, and she could not risk anything happening to her baby.

Jiang Hongjin was quite irritated by Yurong's stubborn insistence on having her own way.

Yurong said, "As long as we remain cautious, the person behind the curtain will not be able to drill himself into any gaps. Once the pregnancy is stable, I will leave Luoyang."

Seeing that Yurong was determined not to leave, Jiang Hongjin had no choice but to let her be. "Then, during this period, stay in the inner courtyard and do not go anywhere. Food and other necessities must also be handled by trusted confidants; do not let them pass through other people's hands."

Yurong was much more cautious than Jiang Hongjin in this regard. "Don't worry. During this period, the cook will prepare all my meals, and I won't let anyone else touch them." Even those servants she had bought in Luoyang had all signed lifetime contracts; their lives and deaths were in her hands, so they certainly would not dare to betray their master.

Jiang Hongjǐn said, "I've already written home. I believe Dad will soon send people over here." Ultimately, they still had too few capable and trustworthy people around them; otherwise, others would not have been able to drill themselves into any gaps.

Yurong was still somewhat worried. "You should still hire some guards. That would be safer." Although she disliked Jiang Hongjin, the interests of husband and wife were still aligned. At a time like this, they had to be of one mind; otherwise, others would take even more advantage of them.

Jiang Hongjin was now somewhat concerned about the hired personnel. "The Prefect has already agreed to assign six soldiers for my use." Who knew if others might bribe the hired men? It would be better to transfer a few people from the military. This action would invite gossip and criticism, but safety was now the priority, so even if it gave people something to talk about, Jiang Hongjin could not care less.

When Yang Duoming arrived in Luoyang, in less than a day, he had already found out that several guards with fairly good martial skills had been assigned to protect Jiang Hongjin.

Yan Xi stroked his beard and said, "Big Brother, those guards are quite skilled in martial arts. Now we've got some trouble."

Yang Duoming smiled in response. "Master didn't set a deadline either, so there's no rush." If it had been like last time, with a fixed deadline, this matter would have been somewhat troublesome. However, no deadline had been set this time, and there were no major issues in the northwest for the time being, so they could take their time to plan.

At the end of the first lunar month, Jiang Wenrui finally received Jiang Hongjin's letter. Upon seeing Jiang Hongjin write in the letter that he had been given a sterilising poison, Jiang Wenrui was furious beyond measure. "Who exactly used such vicious methods against my son?"

Mr Gao asked from the side, "Daren, what happened to the Second Young Master?" By agreeing to the Old Master Yu's request to send Jiang Hongfu to Haocheng, he knew that Jiang Wenrui had implicitly decided to bring Jiang Hongjin back to the capital. The official position had already been arranged; they were just waiting for the Ministry of Personnel to issue the transfer order.

Jiang Wenrui did not hide this from Mr Gao as he told him bitterly, "Jin-er was given a sterilising poison. I truly don't know what deep hatred the person behind the scenes has against our Jiang family." During his six months in Luoyang, Jiang Hongjin had offended some people. Those were merely disagreements stemming from political differences, not nearly enough to warrant such brutality.

Mr Gao's face was full of shock. How could such a thing happen? After composing himself, Mr Gao stated, "We must quickly find out who the mastermind behind this incident is." The Second Young Master still had no children, so this matter was an enormous blow to him. If his willpower was not firm enough, even his temperament and character could be affected.

Jiang Wenrui instructed, "You'll have to make the trip for this matter." The person behind the scenes was so vicious. How could Jin-er, a boy who just came off the hairy donkey, possibly be a match for those people? Since Jiang Wenrui himself could not get away, he could only ask Mr Gao to make the trip instead.

Mr Gao did not refuse the instruction either. "I'll make the necessary arrangements at home first, then I will depart." Jiang Wenrui had saved his life, so he was extremely loyal to him.

That day, Jiang Hongjin went drinking with his colleague, Tongpan Su. That colleague summoned a singing courtesan to entertain them. As soon as the courtesan entered the private room, she gave the two men a respectful curtsy. "This humble woman greets the two honoured gentlemen."

Tongpan Su was about to ask Jiang Hongjin what song he wanted to hear when he noticed that Jiang Hongjin was still staring fixedly at the courtesan. Smiling, Tongpan Su asked, "Jiang Daren, what song would you like to hear?" Previously, rumours had circulated that Jiang Hongjin was impotent, and he had believed them. This belief stemmed from one occasion when he and Jiang Hongjin had been drinking together at the Prefect's residence and had ended up staying overnight because it was too late. Jiang Hongjin had rejected the beauty the Prefect had sent to him. Unless a man was Liu Xiahui📹, no man could possibly dislike beautiful women. Yet, unexpectedly, not long after the rumours spread, news came that Han Shi was pregnant. At first, he thought it was a fake rumour spread by Jiang Hongjin to restore his reputation, but he later learned that Han Shi was truly pregnant.

Jiang Hongjin came back to his senses and replied, "Su Daren, you choose instead!" The singing courtesan's pair of moist, watery eyes that seemed as though they could drip water made him involuntarily think of the person who haunted his dreams and occupied his thoughts.

Tongpan Su selected a song titled 'Tears of a Beauty'.

The singing courtesan lightly parted her cherry lips and sang: "Who pities the weary and fading beauty of Dongyang, languid from springtime idleness, inferior even to the lotus blossom, whose secluded feelings grow deeper in lonely places." When she sang this line, she narrowed her bright eyes slightly, seeming to look and not look at the same time. She cast Jiang Hongjin a glance that appeared both affectionate and faintly resentful.

Sitting to the side, Assistant Magistrate Su was so captivated by the singing courtesan's charming and seductive appearance to the point where his bones nearly melted. However, when Jiang Hongjin saw the girl's flirtatious display, he completely lost his appetite. Just now, his heart's opening must have been confused by a ghost for him to think that this woman's eyes resembled the person in his heart.

Jiang Hongjin waved his hand. "You may leave." If he looked any longer, he wouldn't be able to drink his wine. Alas, in this world, how could there possibly be someone who truly looked like her?

Tongpan Su felt that Jiang Hongjin was like a block of wood, far too insensitive to romance and charm. Despite his internal thoughts, he made sure not to betray even a glimpse of it on his face. "Jiang Daren, come, have a drink."

After pouring half a stomachful of wine down his throat, Jiang Hongjin staggered out of the tavern. Seeing this, Chang'an hurried forward to help him into the sedan chair.

Tongpan Su was also drunk and let the servants lead him back. The place where Jiang Hongjin lived was not far from the restaurant; even by sedan chair, it was only twelve li.

When they reached a bend in the road, a group of bandits suddenly appeared. There were more than ten of them; some holding large blades while others carried wooden clubs. The moment they saw Jiang Hongjin's group, the bandits rushed forward and beat them viciously.

Chang'an shouted, "Who are you people, daring to commit violence openly on the streets?" They were travelling on a main road; these people truly acted as though there were no laws or heaven above them.

Hearing Chang'an's shout, Jiang Hongjin sobered up immediately. However, before he could speak, someone pulled him out of the sedan chair.

Jiang Hongjin looked at the bandit gripping his neck. The bandit was stocky and burly, with a thoroughly fierce-looking face. Forcibly suppressing the terror in his heart, Jiang Hongjin said, "Did someone hire you to kill me? As long as you let me go, I can pay double the price..."

Before he could finish speaking, he heard someone shout from a distance, "What are you people doing...?" It was the patrol constable who came rushing over.

The moment the constable spoke, Jiang Hongjin felt a burning sensation spread across his face. Then he felt a sharp pain at the back of his head and collapsed to the ground.

Upon hearing that Jiang Hongjin had been attacked, the Prefect of Luoyang flew into a rage. "This is utterly lawless." To dare commit violence openly on the streets, and even use vicious methods against an Imperial Official, was truly beyond all law and order.

After giving instructions to his subordinates, the Prefect asked his adviser, "Who exactly do you think Jiang Daren has offended for them to use such vicious methods against him?"

The adviser replied, "Daren, I think the person behind the scenes likely has a grudge against the Jiang family."

Since Jiang Hongjin had not really offended anyone in Luoyang either, it was impossible that he would have formed any life-and-death enemy there.

The Prefect ordered, "Those bandits must be forced to confess, and the mastermind behind this must be captured." Since something had happened to Jiang Hongjin under his jurisdiction, who knew whether Minister Jiang would vent his anger on him? Setting everything else aside, the charge of poor public security alone would already be enough for him to drink a whole pot.

Jiang Hongjin woke up at dawn the next morning. The moment he opened his eyes, he remembered what had happened the previous day. Jiang Hongjin called out, "Chang'an, Chang'an..."

The steward Changming walked in and said, 'Second Young Master, Chang'an suffered serious injuries and still hasn't woken up yet. But please rest assured, Second Young Master. The physician said Chang'an's life is not in danger. After recuperating for some time, he will make a full recovery." While saying these words, Changming did not dare raise his head to look at Jiang Hongjin.

Jiang Hongjin was extremely perceptive. Looking at Changming's expression, and recalling how unbearably painful his face had been before he fainted last night, Jiang Hongjin reached up to touch it, only to discover that his face was wrapped in a thick layer of material. He shouted, "Quick! Bring me a mirror!"

Changming responded with a miserable expression. "Second Young Master, please lie down first. You can look in the mirror later!" The Second Young Master's face had been injured. No matter how hard they tried, it was impossible to hide this injury from the Second Young Master.

Jiang Hongjin forcefully pushed Changming aside, grabbed the mirror on the table and looked into it. Seeing his face wrapped in a layer of white gauze, he panicked and tried to tear off the bandages to see the wound.

Changming lunged forward and grabbed Jiang Hongjin's hand. "Second Young Master, you mustn't touch it. If you do, it may leave a scar." Last night, he had actually seen the wound on Jiang Hongjin's face. It was very deep, and the physician had said it would definitely leave a scar. But Changming did not dare tell Jiang Hongjin this.

How could Jiang Hongjin not understand what it meant to be scarred? If scars remained on his face, he would no longer be able to serve as an official. Therefore, Jiang Hongjin no longer dared to tear off the gauze.

Changming said cautiously, "Second Young Master, please lie back down on the bed!"

Jiang Hongjin's hand, which was holding the bronze mirror, was trembling. Forcing himself to remain calm, he asked, "Did the physician say the injury on my face would leave a scar?"

Fearing that he would not be able to hide the truth from Jiang Hongjin, Changming answered, "The physician only said that you must not become angry and that you must recuperate carefully. He said nothing else. But I think that if this physician is not capable enough, we can return to the capital and ask the Imperial Physicians to treat you. Second Young Master, the Imperial Physicians are highly skilled. You definitely won't be left with any scars."

Grinding his teeth, Jiang Hongjin asked, "Were the bandits caught?" Only by capturing the bandits could they trace the person behind them.

Changming nodded. "Three were captured, while the others escaped. The Prefect has already issued orders for a citywide search. I believe they'll all be captured very soon."

Jiang Hongjin said coldly, "I want them to suffer a fate worse than death." As for the mastermind, he was determined to hack that person's corpse into ten thousand pieces.