Chapter 29 - Exploited

Although Jiang Ruan’s heart was like an immovable rock, when she saw the person before her clearly, she could not help but become distracted for a split second.

The youth dressed in black clothes was roughly in his twenties. His peerlessly graceful appearance was one that was rarely seen in the world: shapely eyebrows, cold eyes, snow-white skin and thin lips. Yet, she did not feel that this man was feminine. On the contrary, the sharpness of his features were distinct and he had a unrelenting heroic spirit. With drooped eyes, he looked at Jiang Ruan. Like specks of paint, that pair of eyes was extremely clear and cold like a still lake without a single ripple. (TN: “specks of paint” HOW is this a compliment??!!)

The two people were too close in proximity. Their breath was ice-cold, and she could feel an icy-cold sensation around her waist as well. In this kind of situation, it should have been an ambiguously romantic scene between them, however, one was cold hearted and the other was on her guard. Therefore, the two of them experienced no rush of excitement that one felt when they fell in love.

In this position, it was as if she had been disgraced[1]. In a flash, Jiang Ruan roused back into action. Inwardly, she felt irked and just felt that beauty could be such a seductive danger. In a blink of an eye, she retreated two steps and placed a distance between herself and the youth dressed in black clothes.

[1] Qīng Bó ( 轻薄 )- This phrase has several meanings such as being teased; of an item being light in weight/thin and scorned or disrespected. In this case, it refers to being disgraced as women were not allowed to be without a chaperone in ancient Chinese history. They also had to remain pure and untouched by any male. To be even seen by a man without a chaperone was considered a scandalous matter and made a lady impure and undesirable for marriage as they would be labelled as ‘promiscuous’.

Suddenly, she heard a faint clanging clash between swords from the outside. Jiang Ruan was shocked and quickly reacted. The black-dressed youth wordlessly and indifferently stared at her.

Originally, the temple was overtaken by Xia Yan’s assassins, however, she would not have sent two groups of people to kill her. If she was not the target, then these people might have been lured in because of this young man. While she had just resolved a problem, she was unfortunately entrapped in these circumstances now. Moreover, she was unsure if these people would silence her with murder. After all, her appearance here was an accident.

By the time Jiang Ruan raised her head to take a measure of him again, the man had already leaned against the door while she had been retreating from him. She was unsure of when he had brandished an elaborate dagger, but at the moment, he was fiddling with it in his hands thoughtfully. His gaze was not facing her at all, but Jiang Ruan knew that if she made the slightest movement, this person would definitely react too.

As she took a moment to ponder, Jiang Ruan slowly walked forward. Her movements were deliberately slow to demonstrate that she was completely harmless and without any ill will.

The fiddling stopped, as the youth watched her step forward until they were only a finger’s width apart.

Standing on the tip of her toes, Jiang Ruan could only just reach his chest height. Strenuously, she moved closer to his ears and lightly spoke in a hushed tone, “I did not see a thing.”

The youth dressed in black clothes was slightly shocked and lowered his gaze to study her. Jiang Ruan frowned and noticed that he was clothed in ice-silk fabric that had a black and scaly pattern. She knew he was definitely not any ordinary person. Thinking for a bit, she then added on, “Sire[2], please hide here. Naturally, we would not want to expose what is now happening in this room. If you killed me, I’m afraid it would be a bit of a problem. Although this problem would not be unsolvable, undoubtedly, it would definitely not be what you have planned.”

[2] Géxià ( 阁下 ) – Your distinguished self / your majesty / sire

“Who are you?” The youth garbed in black raiment finally spoke and his voice was as cold and clear as an icy-cold jewel.

“The eldest di daughter of the minister in the Ministry of War, Jiang Quan,” Jiang Ruan stated. In Chaozhong, Jiang Quan’s status could be considered as important. When this identity could be utilised, she would use it without any reservation. She was not afraid that an incident would occur. Firstly, in the memories of her past life, the Jiang family did not have any enemies. Secondly, even if she was that unlucky, if someone really had any history with the Jiang family, they would definitely know that she had a humble status in the Jiang family. She merely occupied her station as the di daughter in the family and would have no influence in the pecking order.

There was no benefit in killing her and would most likely bring forth complications into the situation. Jiang Ruan had already delineated some of the gains and losses so now she could only wait to see what decision the other person would make.

As the youth’s gaze took stock of her person, Jiang Ruan knew that her current outfit was simple and crude. Due to deliberate instructions, her clothes were still the worn ones that were once altered at the residence. Therefore, she would definitely cut an extremely pitiful figure and perhaps that man might even be suspicious of her supposed status. She then added on, “Imperial Censor Wang and Official Li Mi are in the side room for the men. If anything were to happen to me, they would certainly be unable to shirk any responsibility. I am afraid they would investigate for a very long time.”

The youthful figure simply eyed her and turned to stow away the decorative dagger in his hand. In her heart, Jiang Ruan heaved a sigh of relief and knew that the other person would not kill her. However, it was not necessarily on account of her threat that he would refrain from doing so.

Then the door was suddenly opened, and she saw a black figure barge in from the outside and greet the youth dressed in black, “Master[1], it has been arranged.”

[1] Zhǔzi ( 主子 ) – Master (term used by servant) / Your Majesty

Looking around by just the faint light of the moon, a group of corpses could be seen, lying disorderly on the ground. They were all dressed in nondescript black clothes that were meant for nocturnal activities. Their fatal wounds were all similar; there were lines of blood slit at the throat which clearly indicated they were killed in one slash.

The man that addressed the youth as master raised his head, and upon looking at Jiang Ruan, was a little surprised. He did not seem to expect to see someone still awake in the temple and hesitantly enquired, “Master?”

Was he asking if he could silence her with murder? Jiang Ruan chuckled coldly in her heart and only heard the youth dressed in black indifferently speak, “No need.”

Jiang Ruan’s thoughts raced quickly, those people were evidently after this young man. And in just that short period of time, these people had then breathed their last breath. And even then, this matter was quickly resolved without alerting the other people in the temple. In all probability, this youth’s influence was not small. Moreover, if she could make use of it…

Suddenly, she smiled, “Sire, there is still something that slipped through your net.”

The youth turned to stare at her and Jiang Ruan continued, “Wait for a bit.” Then she stood up and walked towards the room next door. In the neighbouring room, Bai Zhi and her other two maidservants had just bundled up the people who were knocked out. They were completely oblivious as to what had happened outside and saw Jiang Ruan enter the room. Lian Qiao questioned, “Young Miss, look…”

Jiang Ruan shook her head and placed a finger to her own lips as if to signal to her maidservant to remain silent. She then lightly remarked, “All of you will stay here and don’t move.” After saying this, strenuously, she dragged a person on the ground and backed out of the door. Lian Qiao wanted to follow suit but was pulled back by Bai Zhi, therefore, she could only remain behind in the room. Jiang Ruan went back and forth five times and finally managed to drag all of the five people in front of the black-dressed youth.

The youth and his attendant that stood beside him were both waiting for her to clear up the confusion. Jiang Ruan laughed slightly, “These people were drugged by fainting fumes and their bodies are unable to move. However, their conscious remains clear- if I converse with sire right now, then all of them will hear it. However, once awake, I am not sure what kind of problems they would give sire. So I am doing you a favour and brought this people to you, sire. Please handle them as you would see fit.”

They were still going to be killed at the lonely temple on a snowy night, so actually, they ought to share a similar fate with the other group of assassins. Although she spoke in an extremely easy manner, it was as if she had given him a chance to take an enormously convenient yet immoral course of action. However, how could this method of getting someone else to do her dirty work not be seen through by the two people in front of her. Still, what she said was extremely reasonable, therefore, the youth in black slightly gestured with his hand and his attendant immediately went forward with his raised sword. In a split second, with five cold tips of the blade, the people on the ground had no reprieves from death.

In her heart, Jiang Ruan already understood. While this person’s attendant was so brilliant, evidently his master would definitely not be ordinary. Although he had yet to reveal his face tonight, she was aware that he intended to lay low since concealing himself would definitely mean keeping another’s lips sealed. He had not killed her who was the di daughter of the Jiang family- this was mostly likely due to all the trouble it would cause. However, for these five dubious people, he could just take care of them as he wished. Thinking back to how she had initially wanted to handle this matter herself, she felt that now there was a better option before her; the technique of an immediate slash of death. No matter what, the suspicion would not be able to land upon her and the accusation could be washed away from her cleanly.

As she thought this far, her mood became somewhat better. Jiang Ruan smiled towards the young man in black, “The path has been completely cleared, sire, please go ahead.”

The youth dressed in black clothes glanced at her and his cold eyes showed an unreadable emotion that was cold, clear and unusual. Then, he suddenly turned and walked into the dark night. Jiang Ruan stared at the figure’s back. As he walked, his movements were natural and effortless and she could only see an understated sort of elegance. It was as if this elegance was deeply carved and flowed into his every bone, so that it was superficially inconcealable and unconsciously revealed with every step. Such an outstandingly magnificent appearance, she had never seen this even in her past life. As she tightly furrowed her eyebrows, she wondered when did the Great Jin dynasty ever have this sort of person? Who in the world was he?