The Double-Chapter 505 - 155 Assassination_3

She always refused to readily accept others’ goodwill, and even if she did a good deed, she would make it appear as if it were nothing but a convenience. Jiang Li smiled, knowing that having gone through great upheaval and been displaced, it would be strange for the princess of Molan to easily give her true heart to others. Perhaps using such a frosty attitude to protect herself was simply Situ Jiuyue’s way of life.

Situ Jiuyue looked at Jiang Li and asked, "Jih Heng tells me you’re looking for medicine that causes false pregnancy?"

"Exactly," Jiang Li answered, "Could Miss Jiuyue perhaps manufacture it?"

"Of course." Confidence always surged in Situ Jiuyue when it came to such matters, and she said, "Fifteen days, within fifteen days, I can concoct it. Once this medicine is prepared and administered, it will mimic perfectly the condition of a woman who has conceived, to the extent that not even the imperial physicians can detect any flaws upon taking the pulse."

Jiang Li was delighted and said, "That would be ideal."

"However, this medicine will only work for three months. After three months, all signs will vanish as if they were smoke disappearing into clouds. Should someone take the pulse again, they will find no trace of a pregnancy. You need to consider this in your plans."

Situ Jiuyue did not inquire to whom Jiang Li intended to administer the medicine or for what purpose, likely due to her indifferent nature. But this also saved Jiang Li the effort of having to explain.

"Three months is enough," Jiang Li said with a smile. "Once again I must trouble Miss Jiuyue."

"It’s hardly a trouble. Jih Heng has paid me in silver, so naturally, I will complete the task well." Situ Jiuyue glanced at Jiang Li and said, "You are truly impressive, to have Jih Heng help you like this." frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Jiang Li was surprised: "Paid in silver?"

She had no knowledge of this matter, but after Situ Jiuyue said this, she turned around and continued her alchemy. Jiang Li did not want to interrupt her, so she left the room, gently closing the door behind her.

Having achieved her objective for visiting the Duke Residence that day, and with Jih Heng not around, staying any longer served no purpose. Jiang Li exchanged a few words with Wen Ji, who then escorted her out of the residence.

As they passed through the courtyard, suddenly a black shape flashed by, the beating of wings heard, and the creature perched atop the lantern hanging under the eaves, looking at Jiang Li, it cried out, "Fangfei, Fangfei!"

Jiang Li was startled and looked toward the source of the voice, only to see Shen residence’s starling addressing her with unbounded enthusiasm and cheerfulness.

For a moment, Jiang Li could not recall why the starling called her "Fangfei," rather, she was surprised and said, "How could it be here?"

"This bird belongs to the master. It’s called Xiao Hong," Wen Ji said.

Jiang Li: "Xiao Hong?"

Suddenly she remembered Jih Heng’s parting words from the night before, "You could also take a look at Xiao Hong," leaving her puzzled, as she thought Xiao Hong was someone she knew, but before she could ask, Jih Heng had already departed. She had not expected Xiao Hong to be this very starling!

Wait, hadn’t Jih Heng crushed it to death?

Back in the Shen residence, the starling had been so noisy that it prompted Jih Heng to contemplate killing the bird. Jiang Li indeed had seen him hold the starling tightly in his palm, his grip growing firm. She had believed that he killed it and had felt quite distressed over it. Now, to see that Jih Heng hadn’t taken the bird’s life after all and had even brought it to the Duke Residence, even giving it a completely unrelated name – Xiao Hong?

This was unmistakably a black starling!

Jiang Li lifted her head to see Wen Ji, still with his frosty demeanor. At that moment, Xiao Hong cheerfully called out to her again, "Fangfei, Fangfei."

Jiang Li: "..." She was still in disbelief, wondering how the bird could recognize her?

Nevertheless, she couldn’t linger there any longer. She stopped looking at Xiao Hong and said, "I must be going now," then left the Duke Residence.

Sitting in the carriage, Jiang Li reflected on everything that had happened that day in the Duke Residence and couldn’t help but feel it was all quite bizarre.

What was this situation, anyway? It left her completely baffled.

...

In Yanjing City’s Wangxian Tower, a room by the window, as always, was reserved early on.

Kong Liu had just returned from outside, parched, and grabbed the teapot on the table to take a big gulp. The precious pot of tea was worth hundreds of taels of silver, and he consumed it as if it were nothing. Lu Jiu watched and twitched with irritation but was powerless to intervene.

"I’m saying, the news from Yuzhou is all in," Kong Liu looked at the young man in red and said, "Prince Cheng seems ready to make a move; we must be prepared at all times. What did His Majesty say, again?"