Luck Reliant Beauty – CH 135

Chapter 135: Message by Carrier Pigeon

Beside them, Jiang Mi overheard the conversation between the two, her face grim.

Having served Cui Zi Xuan for a long time, she knew how much he had painstakingly tried to ensure the prosperity of the clan over the years!

He had put in so much effort, even paving the way to a bright future on their wedding night with countless bones, and now this had happened.

Jiang Mi possessed an innate political acumen. In her view, the fact that Later Zhou’s new Emperor Chai Rong would send the Zhao Brothers at such a crucial juncture indicated that the Zhao Brothers held considerable weight in his eyes. Such a promising figure, now befriended by the struggling Cui Clan of Boling, how could he easily offend him? That woman from the Zheng Clan of Xingyang must be the beauty she saw when leaving Mingzhou. She had not expected that while the beauty was striking and her outward demeanor intimidating, she was a complete fool at heart. She had taken it upon herself to welcome these Later Zhou soldiers in an attempt to curry favor with Cui Zi Xuan, but her deeply ingrained sense of superiority only fueled the resentment of both her and Cui Zi Xuan among the Later Zhou soldiers!

While Jiang Mi was lost in thought, the group returned to the wrecked ship.

Zhao Kuangyin was waiting for them. Upon hearing Zhao Kuangyi and his friends’ report, Zhao Kuangyin smiled sarcastically. He did not say much, only stating, “Since they came specifically to invite us, we cannot refuse Young Master Cui’s kindness. This place is old and dilapidated; let’s move to that ship.”

Zhao Kuangyi had the same idea. He laughed heartily and said smugly, “Big Brother’s right! We cannot refuse Young Master Cui’s kindness!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Kuangyi instructed everyone to start moving.

After a while, Zhao Kuangyi noticed Jiang Mi looking down, seemingly somewhat dejected. He could not help but look at his elder brother.

Zhao Kuangyin also turned to look at Jiang Mi.

He waved to Jiang Mi and called softly, “Xu Er, come here.”

Jiang Mi went over.

Looking at the petite Jiang Mi standing before him, Zhao Kuangyin, remembering her tears in her sleep last night, softened his tone. He said gently, “Xu Er, we are moving. Is there anything you need to prepare?”

So they were not planning to abandon her? Jiang Mi immediately looked up, meeting Zhao Kuangyin’s gentle yet insightful gaze. She blushed and quickly said, “I… I do not have anything to prepare.”

Zhao Kuangyin nodded and asked gently, “Xu Er, what are your special skills?”

Seeing Jiang Mi looking at him with wide, puzzled eyes, Zhao Kuangyin shifted his position. After finding a more comfortable position, he explained earnestly, “You are my savior. If you’re willing, Elder Brother Zhao will definitely support you for life. But Xu Er, you’re a man too. Having something to do will always make things easier.”

Jiang Mi understood and quickly said, “I’ve read many books.”

Before Jiang Mi could continue, Zhao Kuangyin nodded and said, “Alright. You can stay with Kuangyi for now.”

While the two were talking, Zhao Kuangyi and the others had already prepared everything. Even a carriage was found for Zhao Kuangyin.

Several burly men helped Zhao Kuangyin into the carriage, and then the group turned and headed towards the passenger ship where the Zheng Clan of Xingyang was.

After about 35 minutes, they arrived at the passenger ship. Amidst the grinning faces of the burly men, the scholar surnamed Shao and Zhao Kuangyi boarded first.

What they said was unclear, but a quarter of an hour later, the noble soldiers who came out to greet them all had extremely sour expressions, and the beautiful maids looked utterly disgusted yet had to force themselves to endure it.

The passenger ship was large, with many empty cabins. However, because Zheng’s entourage was so dissatisfied, Jiang Mi, Shao Xiaozi, and the other two low-ranking individuals were forcibly crammed into one cabin.

In the blink of an eye, evening arrived.

After a hot dinner with dog meat and fish, Jiang Mi, having been away for so long, finally enjoyed a delicious meal and a safe house and felt drowsy.

In fact, she found a corner, sprawled out, and quickly fell asleep.

The night grew deeper.

Shao Xiaozi, having played outside for a while, returned intending to talk to Jiang Mi about what had happened since they last met, only to find her already asleep when he entered the cabin.

Shao Xiaozi was quite disappointed. He muttered, “She really sleeps.” Reluctantly, he lay down on the deck not far from Jiang Mi.

Shao Xiaozi initially thought he was not sleepy, but to his surprise, he was snoring loudly within moments.

At this moment, Chen San and Zeng Si also entered the cabin. They glanced at Jiang Mi and Shao Xiaozi, then chose a slightly farther corner to sleep in.

Before they knew it, it was midnight.

Shao Xiaozi, being rather careless, slept soundly. In his sleep, he smacked his lips, seemingly savoring something delicious, and rolled over towards the corner where Jiang Mi was.

Unintentionally, after a few shifts, Shao Xiaozi was now right next to the soundly sleeping Jiang Mi. The night was a bit chilly, and in his sleep, Shao Xiaozi felt Jiang Mi’s body temperature and snuggled even closer to her.

Just then, Zeng Si opened his eyes!

By the dim light of the firelight streaming in through the window, Zeng Si turned over. Then, Zeng Si stretched out his long leg and brazenly stuck his foot between Shao Xiaozi and Jiang Mi. While Shao Xiaozi, still enjoying the fragrance, was about to crawl towards Jiang Mi, Zeng Si was large, unwashed foot was thrust straight under Shao Xiaozi’s nose.

Originally, Shao Xiaozi, in his sleep, had smelled the faint fragrance emanating from Jiang Mi. As he drew closer, his nose unconsciously twitched. But then, a stench assaulted his nostrils!

Even in his deep sleep, a look of pain crossed Shao Xiaozi’s face. He swallowed several times but could not vomit. Instinctively, he swiftly moved in the opposite direction, and in the blink of an eye, Shao Xiaozi was far away from Jiang Mi…

In the blink of an eye, the sun was high in the sky.

Last night was one of the few good nights Jiang Mi had slept in a while. Noticeably more refreshed after washing up and eating rice and smoked fish provided by the Zheng Clan of Xingyang, she was even more radiant and energetic.

Jiang Mi went to the deck and immediately saw the Zhao Brothers stretching their limbs. Seeing her approach, Zhao Kuangyin turned and smiled, while Zhao Kuangyi’s eyes lit up. He said happily, “Xu Er, you look great!”

Jiang Mi honestly replied, “I slept soundly last night without worrying about anything.”

Almost as soon as Jiang Mi finished speaking, Shao Xiaozi, yawning as he walked out from behind her, said with no small amount of envy, “Only you can sleep so well. I do not know what happened last night, but I kept dreaming that the carp I was about to eat turned into rotten fish… Ugh! It was so smelly…”

Unfortunately, although Shao Xiaozi was gesturing excitedly and speaking animatedly about his dreams, everyone present listened without reacting.

After spending some time on deck, seeing that it was getting late, Zhao Kuangyi returned to his cabin, with Jiang Mi following behind him.

Zhao Kuangyi was aware of Jiang Mi’s arrangements. Seeing her follow him, he smiled and said, “I don’t really have anything to do here…” Before he could finish, he met Jiang Mi’s large, quiet eyes, and his heart softened. He casually tossed her three letters, saying, “These are some carrier pigeon messages destined for various places. Would you like me to send them out?”

Jiang Mi readily agreed.

Seeing her bustling about so eagerly, Zhao Kuangyi smiled. Remembering something he had not done, he turned and left.

Although this cabin was supposed to be Zhao Kuangyi’s office, it was surprisingly empty. Besides some writing implements and the letters he had tossed to Jiang Mi, there was nothing else.

Walking to a small table, Jiang Mi began to read the three letters.

The first letter was simple; it was addressed to a close friend. The second letter was addressed to a general residing in Later Zhou, while the third letter was addressed to Cui Zi Xuan!

Upon seeing the words “To Cui Zi Xuan,” Jiang Mi’s hand trembled.

After a moment, she looked down at the letter.

The letter was simple, written in the name of Zhao Kuangyin, stating that they had met up with the people sent by Cui Zi Xuan and then asking Cui Zi Xuan if they would still meet in Suzhou as originally planned.

Jiang Mi read the simple letter for a long time.

Finally, Jiang Mi sighed softly, picked up the three letters, and went to find a burly man who kept pigeons.

The man was busy, but after understanding Jiang Mi’s purpose, he pointed to the pigeon coop, indicating which pigeon to release with which letter, and then continued with his work.

Jiang Mi went to the pigeons, released the first two letters, and as she prepared to release the letter for Cui Zi Xuan, she suddenly paused.

After a slight hesitation, she picked up the pen and ink placed to one side of the cabin for adding or subtracting from letters and quickly added a sentence to the end with her left hand: “I’m truly honored by the kindness of the people sent by Young Master Cui!”

After writing this, Jiang Mi glanced back, and seeing that no one was watching, quickly folded the paper, tied it to the carrier pigeon was leg, and released it.

Jiang Mi stood by the window, looking up as the pigeon flew further and further away…

…

Cui Mansion.

Hearing the commotion outside, Old Madam Cui asked weakly, “Xuan’er’s back?”

Cui Ziying was blowing on the medicine in her hand to cool it. She respectfully placed the medicine in front of Old Madam Cui and replied softly, “Replying to Grandmother, judging from the voice, it should be her.”

Old Madam Cui took a small sip of the dark medicine, chewed a candied plum, and said, “He’s still not giving up, still looking for Lady Jiang?”

Cui Ziying responded softly, “Yes.”

Old Madam Cui took another sip of medicine and chewed a candied plum. “Is he trying to search every place he might have missed before going to Suzhou?”

Cui Ziying replied again, “Yes.”

Old Madam Cui gave a soft snort and said, “From childhood to adulthood, whatever Xuan’er has set his sights on, whatever he wants, he will always spare no effort to grasp it. This departure was probably the first time he lost control.”

Cui Ziying remained silent.

Old Madam Cui was extremely dizzy, and unable to suppress her anger, she murmured, rubbing her forehead, “Even that Zheng woman is far more suitable to be Xuan’er’s wife than Lady Jiang! We cannot let Xuan’er continue like this; perhaps it’s time to bring up the matter of a secondary wife with him…”

…

Outside, Cui Zi Xuan was being escorted by guards towards his study.

Upon entering the study, Cui Zi Xuan saw a stack of letters piled on the table.

He walked over and silently began to read them.

When Cui Zi Xuan was not speaking, the outside was always remarkably quiet. Especially lately, the guards had been somewhat apprehensive.

Cui Zi Xuan was intelligent and possessed a photographic memory; he read and processed the stack of letters with remarkable speed.

Soon, he picked up a letter sent five days earlier by carrier pigeon from Suzhou.

Seeing the name on it, Cui Zi Xuan quickly opened the letter.

It was a letter from Later Zhou General Zhao.

As he read, Cui Zi Xuan’s gaze froze when he saw a line at the end with unusual, childish, and unsteady handwriting.

He stared intently at the sentence, “I’m truly honored by the kindness of those sent by Young Master Cui!”

The words were simple, but if Cui Zi Xuan was not mistaken, they clearly conveyed a sense of sarcasm and resentment!

Slowly, Cui Zi Xuan’s brows furrowed. He turned around and said in a deep, hoarse voice, “Guards!”

Several guards entered.

Looking at them, Cui Zi Xuan said decree, “Investigate who went to Suzhou without my permission!”

“Yes!”

In less than a quarter of an hour, a guard stood before Cui Zi Xuan and reported, “Reporting to Young Master, it was Zheng Jun, the Young Lady from the Zheng Clan of Xingyang. Her maid reported that she went to Suzhou to relieve the Young Master’s burdens.”

Upon hearing this, Cui Zi Xuan was face darkened.

He slowly said, “Summon all of Zheng Jun’s men!”

“Yes!”

Almost as soon as the first guard left, another guard rushed in and reported to Cui Zi Xuan, “Reporting to Young Master, Young Lady Zheng Jun went to Suzhou half a month ago. This evening, the three soldiers she sent have returned day and night and are now outside requesting to see Young Master!”

Cui Zi Xuan said, “Let them come here!”

“Yes!”

Soon, the three soldiers entered.

Upon seeing Cui Zi Xuan, all three men beamed. One soldier stepped forward and said first, “This humble servant greets our son-in-law! My Young Lady, knowing our son-in-law is busy, went to Suzhou a month ago and successfully located the generals sent by Later Zhou!”

Another soldier also stepped forward and reported, “Although Suzhou is currently under lockdown, the generals have been properly settled by my Young Lady!”

The last soldier remained silent, but his expression, like the previous two, was smug and expectant of praise.

Cui Zi Xuan’s face turned cold.

As the smiles on the three men’s faces slowly froze, Cui Zi Xuan calmly decreed, “Take all three of them away.”

“Yes, sir.”

The three bewildered soldiers had just been led away when Cui Zi Xuan was decree returned, “Lock them up separately. Send someone to question them about how their ‘Young Lady’ properly entertained my distinguished guest!” After a slight pause, Cui Zi Xuan added, “Make them recount everything from the very first moment they met the guest. Do not leave out a single word!”

“Yes, sir!”

Soon, the Zheng woman’s actions that day and the actions of the soldiers she sent were presented to Cui Zi Xuan in detail!

Looking at the meticulously recorded account in the dossier, Cui Zi Xuan’s hand gripping the dossier tightened, and the veins on his hands gradually bulged!

Just then, a maid was voice came from outside, “Is Young Master free? The Old Madam requests your presence!”