Chapter 84
"Was the person delivered inside?"
"Yes, locked in the same cell as the most vicious inmates."
The next morning, the Wei family servants mobilized many people, leading the refugees who were bound with hemp ropes to the government office to file a report.
Yin Ji was attending court and absent from the office, so the registrar took charge of imprisoning the refugees. Jiang Lin seized the opportunity to have Chu Ba discreetly toss the Fourth Prince into the mix. The lower-ranking officials, unfamiliar with the prince, assumed he was just another refugee and paid no extra attention. However, Jiang Lin instructed Chu Ba to inform the refugees that the Fourth Prince was the mastermind who had manipulated them into robbery and murder. Had it not been for him, they wouldn’t be rotting in jail awaiting death.
By the time Yin Ji returned to the office and recognized the prince, it would be a miracle if the Fourth Prince still had breath left in him.
As a courtesy, Jiang Lin also had Jiang Rou returned to the Qinghe Wangfu. He also had written a letter detailing her crimes, entrusted to Chu Ba for delivery. Whether the Fourth Prince lived or died, Jiang Rou’s fate was sealed, either executed by the Qinghe Wang or left to the system’s whims.
Although he was uncertain whether the system would persist after Jiang Rou’s death, Jiang Lin secretly hoped both would vanish together.
"Young Madam," Chu Ba reported, "that woman Xun Qi threw out last night was incredibly lucky, she was trampled by so many refugees yet survived with minor injuries. I returned her to the Zhao family."
"Mm," Jiang Lin nodded. "Did you extract any information?"
"She admitted Jiang Rou advised her to ‘save’ the young master, hoping to leverage gratitude into staying by his side." Unfortunately for her, the Wei family defied conventions by outright ejecting her, leaving no room for schemes.
Chuba added: "I carefully probed her mouth. She didn't know about Jiang Rou's involvement with the Fourth Prince. She brought refugees to the Wei family not only to covet the Young Master, but also to the Young Madam's dowry and the New Year's gift from the Yun family. Her main purpose is to have someone kill you, the Young Madam."
Jiang Lin wasn’t the least surprised. "Then her injuries were well-deserved."
Chu Ba agreed. "This woman is too shameless. She dares to covet the young master. She is not even worthy of carrying your shoes, Young Madam."
Jiang Lin loved to hear Chu Ba’s flattery, it resonated deeply. "Well said. Next time I cook, you’ll get a portion."
Chu Ba promptly thanked him and, noting Jiang Lin’s good mood, ventured to inquire about last night’s "system." Curiosity brimming, he asked, "Can a human brain really house foreign objects? Young Madam, if Jiang Rou dies, might the system remain? If I split her skull open, could I see it?"
A profound yet tricky question. Jiang Lin pondered briefly, comparing the system to a gu worm, a metaphorical parasite planted in Jiang Rou’s mind by a shadowy manipulator. Though it whispered malice, it lacked physical form, therefore even cleaving her skull would reveal nothing.
Chu Ba shuddered. "It's really insidious, instigating others to do bad things, but he himself is nowhere to be found, and no one knows who the real bad guy is. Fortunately, the Young Madam is smart and can find out that Jiang Rou is not right, and can find a way to get rid of that thing."
Jiang Lin sighed. "I’m unsure if eradication is possible. Time will tell."
Jiang Lin felt that what Chuba said was absolutely right. The system was really insidious, and the person who created this thing and allowed the system to complete the task by any means necessary was even more insidious. Jiang Lin just felt it was a pity that he couldn't kill the person who created the system and set it up in this way.
"Deliver another message to the Sixth Prince: Concubine Su is at Lotus nunnery. Then go to the Lotus nunnery and keep an eye on it. Don't let anyone escape. If you have the chance, check the Lotus nunnery carefully. I suspect there is something wrong with it."
No ordinary nunnery would allow a man to live there for such a long time, especially a prince who escaped from the palace.
With Chu Ba dispatched, Jiang Lin headed back to nap, exhausted from last night’s chaos, heartfelt confessions, and prolonged yearning for Wei Yunzhao’s physique.
Yawning as he reached his room, the housekeeper intercepted him. "Young Madam, a servant from the Yin family requests your presence, Master Yin wishes to speak."
Jiang Lin rubbed his nose, guessing Yin Ji had discovered his covert delivery of the Fourth Prince to the jail.
Jiang Lin felt that it was really not easy for him to eliminate a scum.
Arriving at the Yin residence, he found Yin Ji glowering, eyes blazing.
Yin Ji jabbed a finger at Jiang Lin. "Must you two never cease? Why did I ever cross paths with such troublemakers? That was the Fourth Prince, the emperor’s son! You dumped him in jail and had him beaten? Do you comprehend the penalty for killing royalty? If last night’s refugees didn’t annihilate the Wei family, so you are waiting for the imperial decree to exterminate the whole family?!"
Yin Ji had worked in the Dali Temple for many years. He had investigated all kinds of cases and encountered all kinds of strange things. However, he lost his temper more often during his ten years in the Dali Temple than during his one year as the prefect of Shenjing. His hair fell out in clumps. Yin Ji felt that if he served as the prefect of Shengjing for another two years, no, a year, or even less than a year, he would die and lie directly in the coffin.
Though fearless in his career, the Wei couple terrified him. Ordinary plaintiffs brought minor grievances, a corpse or two at most. But the Wei family? They hauled bodies by the cartload!
Refugees by the dozens were bad enough, but smuggling in a prince?
Do they think their life is too long or are they tired of living?
Yin Ji was so angry that his face turned red and his neck became thick. He regretted how he got on the pirate ship of these two evildoers in the first place.
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