Luck Reliant Beauty – CH 115

Chapter 115: Test of Love

At this point, Cui Zi Xuan, seemingly not wanting Li Wu to find an excuse to refuse, added seriously, “My clan is also going to Southern Tang’s Emperor’s place. I think His Majesty will grant Cui’s small request.” For a State Emperor, offering a woman who held no real value was indeed a small request.

Li Wu listened to Cui Zi Xuan finish speaking with a gloomy face.

After Cui Zi Xuan finished speaking, a guard approached Li Wu from behind and whispered in his ear, “Royal Prince, Cui is indeed quite devoted. Ever since he learned that the Emperor of Shu wanted to take Jiang as his consort, he has been traveling day and night, reportedly without closing his eyes for days and nights.”

Upon hearing this, the Southern Tang people standing around Li Wu immediately knew how to negotiate. Therefore, when they turned to look at Cui Zi Xuan, they saw him as a sucker, their smug gazes sweeping over him.

At this moment, Cui Zi Xuan’s gaze sharpened, and he stared fixedly at the shaded area under a tree to the side.

Standing in the shade of the tree was none other than Jiang Mi.

Cui Zi Xuan strode towards Jiang Mi. Reaching her, he stopped, bent down, and looked her up and down. A smile played on his lips as he said, “Ah’Mi, you’re alright. Very well.”

His eyes were so bright, even in the firelight, they seemed to shimmer with tears of joy. Jiang Mi looked up at him, and suddenly, an unprecedented sense of peace filled her heart.

Just then, an impatient voice rang out, “Cui Zi Xuan!”

The one who called him was none other than Li Wu, the Chief Envoy of Southern Tang.

Staring at Cui Zi Xuan, who had returned, Li Wu did not even glance at Jiang Mi but said in a deep voice, “I’m sorry, Young Master Cui, you’re too late!” His lips curled into a mocking smile. “If Young Master Cui had arrived a few days earlier, perhaps the Emperor of Shu would have bestowed Jiang upon you… Unfortunately, you’re too late; she’s now mine!”

Cui Zi Xuan stared intently at Li Wu.

After a long silence, Cui Zi Xuan raised his right hand and said with great poise, “This is not the place to talk, Lord Li, please!”

He had taken the initiative, gesturing towards the study.

The Southern Tang members knew. He intended to negotiate with them privately. At that moment, these people smiled, and Jiang Mi saw it. Surrounded by them and under the gloomy gaze of Li Wu, Cui Zi Xuan entered the study with them.

Almost as soon as Cui Zi Xuan left, the maids who served Jiang Mi surrounded her. They looked at Jiang Mi’s radiant face in the moonlight with envy and longing. Each of them seemed to wish they could take her place. After a while, one maid could not help but say, “Any daughter in the world who could receive such love and respect from Young Master Cui would be willing to die immediately.”

Jiang Mi was also delighted.

Her eyes glistened as she gazed towards the study, thinking to herself, “No matter what, Elder Brother is still my Elder Brother; he must still have some feelings for me… I wonder what kind of betrothal gift he would ask Young Master Cui for?”

Jiang Mi blushed and headed towards the side room, busily packing her things.

After Jiang Mi had packed all her personal belongings and sat on the tatami mat waiting for Cui Zi Xuan to come and fetch her, it was eerily quiet outside.

She did not know how much time had passed. The hourglass had run more than halfway, and the moon was high in the sky. Still, there was no sound from outside.

Suppressing her unease, Jiang Mi took a step outside. But she had only taken a dozen steps when dozens of Southern Tang guards emerged from the darkness.

The Southern Tang guards blocked Jiang Mi’s path, saying with forced smiles, “Your Royal Highness, it’s getting late; you should rest.”

Jiang Mi looked at them and asked, “Where’s Young Master Cui?”

There was no answer.

Jiang Mi took another step, but once again, her path was blocked by these men.

Looking at them, Jiang Mi pleaded in a low voice, “I…I just want to know where Young Master Cui is now.”

The Southern Tang guards did not bother to answer her. One of them said with a forced smile, “Princess, you should rest. You can ask tomorrow.”

From then on, no matter how much Jiang Mi pleaded, their answer was always the same: “Let Jiang Mi rest first!”

After persisting like this for almost half an hour, Jiang Mi had no choice but to turn around and go back to her room.

Jiang Mi did not sleep a wink all night.

At dawn, she dozed off, and when she woke up, she found it was already daylight outside. Jiang Mi was overjoyed. After quickly calling her maid to wash up, Jiang Mi rushed out impatiently.

But when she rushed to the courtyard gate, she found two rows of guards still standing outside. These Southern Tang guards were fully armed and expressionless. As soon as Jiang Mi stepped across the threshold, they all stared at her. Then, just like the night before, they blocked her path again.

Looking at them, Jiang Mi’s lips trembled as she said, “It’s daytime now. Didn’t you say it would be alright today?”

The guards just stared at her expressionlessly, still not answering.

Jiang Mi was forced back into her room.

For the next three days, Jiang Mi was confined to this small courtyard, unable to leave. And no matter what she tried, those guarding her would not utter a single word.

By this time, Jiang Mi was very uneasy.

Finally, on the fourth day, Jiang Mi, trying to go out through the side gate again, saw Li Wu passing by on a nearby path.

Immediately, Jiang Mi jumped up with joy, shouting, “Brother, Brother!”

Jiang Mi’s shout was loud and clear, filled with intense excitement. Li Wu turned around.

After glancing at Jiang Mi, Li Wu, for some unknown reason, finally took a step towards her.

Soon, Li Wu stood before Jiang Mi.

Seeing him, Jiang Mi was so overjoyed that tears streamed down her face. Her voice trembled as she asked, “Brother, where’s Cui Zi Xuan? Where is he?”

Li Wu stared at Jiang Mi expressionlessly.

Only after her excitement turned to surprise, and then back to calm, did Li Wu smile and say, “Cui Zi Xuan? Someone discovered that during his time as an official in Shu State, he repeatedly collected military intelligence data on Shu State and sent it to Later Zhou to enrich himself… He should be imprisoned by the Emperor of Shu now, right?”

“Impossible!” Jiang Mi screamed. “You are lying! He wouldn’t do that, and His Majesty would not have imprisoned him!”

She stopped screaming. Jiang Mi glared angrily at Li Wu, shouting, “You are lying! You’re lying!”

As Jiang Mi’s screams grew louder and her expression more agitated, Li Wu’s gaze grew colder, his face increasingly grim.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Wu’s chilling voice came through, “You’re right. The Emperor of Shu did not want to arrest him. But the evidence we provided is irrefutable!”

He said, “The evidence we provided!”

So, Cui Zi Xuan was betrayed by these Southern Tang people?

Jiang Mi abruptly took a step back. She stared intently at Li Wu, realizing for the first time that she, his little sister, held no weight whatsoever in this man’s heart. Therefore… He did not hesitate to frame her beloved, so… he had always only cared about her appearance, intending to give her a meaningless title and keep her around… He never came to save her, never!

Jiang Mi backed away, staring at Li Wu as she retreated!

Meeting Jiang Mi’s distant and rejecting gaze, Li Wu’s expression grew increasingly grim.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside.

In the blink of an eye, a guard rushed over. He knelt down abruptly behind Li Wu. A loud announcement rang out: “Royal Prince, Prince Kang and Princess Qingyue knelt for a long time, pleading for Cui Zi Xuan several times. Cui Zi Xuan, I don’t know what he said to the Emperor of Shu, has now declared Cui Zi Xuan innocent and released him!”

“What?” Li Wu whirled around, glaring angrily at the guard.

The guard was startled. Pale-faced and drenched in cold sweat, he prostrated himself on the ground, trembling as he said, “I would not dare lie. Cui Zi Xuan is already on his way.”

Upon hearing this, Li Wu said in a sinister tone, “How interesting. Just released from prison, probably hasn’t even had a proper meal, and already wants to come looking for trouble again?”

As if thinking of something, Li Wu’s lips curled into a smile. He said, “Young Master Cui is coming again, so this Prince must treat him well!” Saying this, he turned to Jiang Mi, whose face was ashen and who was looking at him pleadingly, and said with a forced smile, “Good Little Sister, didn’t Cui Zi Xuan keep saying he liked you? Today, how about Elder Brother test his feelings for you?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Li Wu waved his hand and shouted, “Men, tie Jiang up!”

…

When Cui Zi Xuan stormed into the embassy again, he immediately heard a commotion coming from the loft ahead.

As he listened, Cui Zi Xuan’s face darkened, and he strode towards the loft.

This loft was where Jiang Mi had stayed for the past few days. But when Cui Zi Xuan arrived, he immediately saw Jiang Mi tied to the vermilion railing of the second-floor loft. Below, firewood was piled up, and several Southern Tang guards were waiting there with torches in hand.

Upon seeing Cui Zi Xuan approach, the Southern Tang people all turned to look at him.

Cui Zi Xuan glanced at Jiang Mi, who was tied up in the loft. Seeing her still innocent and unaware eyes, completely devoid of fear, he inwardly groaned.

Jiang Mi probably still believed that Li Wu had feelings for her like an elder brother, and that even if he tied her up and piled firewood below her, she would think it was all an act… Little did she know, Li Wu hated her to the core!

After a moment of pallor, Cui Zi Xuan’s expression quickly returned to normal. He turned to Li Wu and asked with a smile, “What does Elder Brother Li mean by this?” His question was gentle, but his eyes were as sharp as a hawk’s.

Li Wu seemed to be in a very good mood, leisurely observing Cui Zi Xuan. After a long pause, Li Wu spoke. “Young Master Cui, as expected of the heir of The Five Noble Houses and Seven Surnames, is trying to marry my little sister. That night you offered a gold mine as a dowry…” Li Wu chuckled, pausing deliberately before continuing, “Unfortunately, I’ve always thought that for a young man like Boling’s Cui Zi Xuan, being wealthy is a given. Offering one or two gold mines doesn’t necessarily show much sincerity!”

Cui Zi Xuan understood his meaning. He asked, hands behind his back, “Then what does Lord Li mean?”

Li Wu spat angrily on the ground, drew his sword with a whoosh, and tossed it to Cui Zi Xuan, saying, “I’ve heard that you young masters always compare yourselves to gold and jade. I have no other intentions, but if you, Cui Zi Xuan, are willing to stab yourself and have the courage to rescue my little sister from the fire, then I, Prince Li, hereby grant your marriage request!”

With that, Li Wu chopped with his right hand and shouted, “Set it on fire!”

With a few loud “bangs,” several guards threw their torches at the piles of firewood, and in the blink of an eye, the piles burst into flames!

The piles below were large; once lit, they quickly spread, forming walls of fire!

In the blink of an eye, the flames danced wildly. Cui Zi Xuan turned deathly pale. He looked up at Jiang Mi, whose face was unusually pale and whose features were stunningly beautiful, reflecting the firelight!

Jiang Mi had snapped out of her daze, but her expression remained remarkably calm.

She simply stared intently at Cui Zi Xuan, her eyes glistening with tears. When she met his panicked gaze, she even gave him a sweet smile. Cui Zi Xuan saw her lips curve, silently saying to him, “Don’t worry about me.”

She said, Don’t worry about her!

Cui Zi Xuan closed his eyes tightly.

At this moment, although Cui Zi Xuan’s face was pale, the guards behind him were even paler. After exchanging glances, the guards quickly surrounded Cui Zi Xuan, and then one of them raised his right hand, aiming for the back of his neck!

…Just as Li Wu had said, for a prominent family like Cui Zi Xuan, on whom the Clan placed so much hope, money was never an issue. Their only precious possession was their lives; they could afford to lose anything, but not their lives!

Whether it was Jiang Mi, Li Wu, or even the Emperor of Shu, their lives were not as important as a single hair on Cui Zi Xuan’s head! This understanding was ingrained in the subconscious of these bodyguards from childhood!

Just as the bodyguard swung a chop at Cui Zi Xuan, Cui Zi Xuan moved!

He stepped forward, whether intentionally or unintentionally, avoiding the bodyguard’s hand… After, Cui Zi Xuan picked up the sword Li Wu had thrown to him, and then, amidst the screams of the guards, he swung the sword towards his own right side!

With a “thud,” the blade pierced flesh, and blood splattered!

Just as Cui Zi Xuan plunged his sword into his own chest, on the loft, the bound Jiang Mi let out a desperate scream, “No… Young Master Cui… No!”

As she screamed, Jiang Mi began to wail hysterically.

Downstairs, after stabbing himself, Cui Zi Xuan, pale-faced, released his grip, letting the hilt of the sword dangle there. Then, with blood gushing from Cui Zi Xuan, he turned to Li Wu and asked in a hoarse voice, “Is this enough?”

Li Wu was clearly stunned, staring at Cui Zi Xuan in disbelief. He had been prepared to taunt Cui Zi Xuan if the sword had pierced his own thigh or somewhere else. But he never expected Cui Zi Xuan to give him no chance to offer an excuse!

Li Wu found his voice stuck in his throat. His lips moved, and finally he said, “That’s enough.”

Almost as soon as Li Wu finished speaking, Cui Zi Xuan rushed into the loft…