Chapter 18: The Grassland Khan Seeks Help Online

“What’s the plan?” Jiang Lili’s curiosity was instantly piqued.

“The old doctor in the village, his grandfather used to work as an executioner. He knows how to hang people just right—long enough to make them suffer terribly but without causing any life-threatening harm,” Guan Yue explained.

“And in this autumn breeze, they’d easily catch a cold hanging like that.”

Guan Yue smiled slyly. “Don’t you have that magical backpack?”

“Have Xiaopang deliver some cold medicine to you. With you around, you can administer the medicine to these officers, but control the dosage. Don’t let them recover fully. This way, you can keep them in check for quite a while!”

“Plus, if they’re all sick on the road and struggling to take care of themselves, how would they have the energy to cause trouble for you?”

Jiang Lili was stunned and gave a big thumbs-up. “Brilliant!”

“Oh!” Guan Yue suddenly remembered something unusual. “By the way, remember how you complained to me before about that rogue officer Lin Gong making advances toward you during the journey?”

“When I was punishing them, I planned to give him special attention. But before I even got to him, some of my men came to report something strange. They said Lin Gong looked like he’d been scared out of his wits—like he was on the brink of death.”

Jiang Lili was shocked. “What happened? Was it a ghost?”

“The men said it seemed like an old firewood knife in the shed, which had been weathered for years, fell off the wall. The blade separated from the handle and happened to land directly on Lin Gong’s lower body.”

Guan Yue shook her head. “In short, Lin Gong is a complete eunuch now.”

Hearing Guan Yue’s description, Jiang Lili got goosebumps. It sounded terrifying, and she couldn’t even imagine how painful it must have been.

“What a coincidence,” she muttered, shaking her head. “Maybe this is just karma.”

After leaving the watchtower village, Guan Yue went to the study to discuss the next day’s trip to the city with Cheng Jiayu, while Jiang Lili headed to the guest room to check on Madam Yang.

As soon as Jiang Lili stepped into the guest room, the Marquis and his second son, Xin Cheng, moved to kneel before her.

Jiang Lili quickly stepped forward to stop them, holding them up lightly. “Please, this is absolutely unnecessary!”

Having such noble and loyal elder kneel to her felt like a loss of her own lifespan, Jiang Lili thought nervously.

After her repeated insistence, the Marquis finally relented.

With tears streaming down his aged face, the Marquis said gratefully, “Child, this time, it’s all thanks to you asking your grandfather to send people to help us. Without it, Wan Yi’s life wouldn’t have been saved.”

Wan Yi was the courtesy name of the Marquis’s wife, Madam Yang.

Madam Yang was leaning against the bed, her complexion now much rosier. Despite her age, her demeanor and gentle features still carried the grace and warmth of a noble lady, making her appear approachable yet dignified.

“Lili, you’ve been worrying about me. It’s Mother’s fault for troubling you.”

She reached into her sleeve and took out an exquisite jade bracelet adorned with gems and pearls. “Everything else of value I had was exchanged for food during exile. This bracelet was a gift from my mother when I got married. I couldn’t bear to part with it, but now I want you to have it.”

“Fulan, this bracelet will go to your sister-in-law. You have no objections, right?”

Though Madam Yang had been bedridden these days, she was still aware of the agreement between Chen Fulan and Jiang Lili. She believed Jiang Lili wasn’t inherently bad, only that she had been misled by her unworthy stepmother while growing up in the Shangshu Manor. Madam Yang’s heart ached for this child who had lost her mother so young.

She also felt it was time for the daughters-in-law of the two branches to put aside their differences and live harmoniously.

Madam Yang smiled warmly at Chen Fulan, who stood nearby, silent and hesitant.

“I have no objections. It should go to my elder sister-in-law,” Chen Fulan finally said, mustering significant courage.

Her gaze met Jiang Lili’s, and her tone was sincere. “Elder sister-in-law, I was wrong before. From now on, I will respect and trust you.”

Chen Fulan, stubborn by nature, had shown remarkable humility, which made Jiang Lili regard her in a better light.

Jiang Lili accepted the bracelet from Madam Yang, exchanged a few pleasantries, and discussed the plan to leave in four days with the Marquis of Zhaoping household. Then, she pulled Xin Che aside, leaving the others behind with expressions that hinted at intrigue.

“What is it? Why so cautious?” Xin Che asked, noticing the serious look on Jiang Lili’s face.

Jiang Lili had been thinking about Xin Che’s third sister, Xin Ningyu, who had been sent to marry into a grassland tribe.

“I have something important to ask you,” she said.

Xin Che, tall and well-proportioned, had the physique of a classic nine-head-body ratio. Jiang Lili found it tiring to tilt her head up to speak to him, but before she could complain, Xin Che leaned down slightly to hear her better.

“Which grassland tribe did Third Sister marry into? What’s the name of the khan?”

Jiang Lili had little knowledge about the grasslands, as their tribes were not only aggressive toward the Great Sheng Dynasty but were also embroiled in internal conflicts.

After speaking, she worried that she might have brought up a painful subject for Xin Che and quickly explained, “Guan Yue told me she has a close friend traveling with a team in the grassland tribes. They might be able to help Third Sister.”

When Xin Che mentioned his third sister, a flicker of concern crossed his eyes. He replied, “The tribe is called the Boer Grassland Tribe, and its leader is Arunna Danjue.”

Hearing the name, Jiang Lili’s heart sank. She felt a wave of despair wash over her until Xin Che added after a brief pause, “He also gave himself a Xia name—Yan Zhaoyue.”

The moment Jiang Lili heard the name “Yan Zhaoyue,” her blood ran hot with excitement.

Xin Che’s sister might have a chance!

She couldn’t bear the thought of a 17-year-old girl perishing tragically in a foreign land.

With the information confirmed, Jiang Lili hurriedly sent a message in the group chat to Yan Zhaoyue.

[Jiang Lili: Young Master Yan, has the Great Sheng Dynasty’s marriage envoy arrived?!]

Yan Zhaoyue’s reply was a long string of complaints.

[Yan Zhaoyue: Not yet, I haven’t noticed. I’m already so weak; how would I have time to care about a marriage envoy?!

Help! My two barbarian younger brothers are trying to k*ll me! I’ve only been here five days and have already survived two ass*ssination attempts!

Several of my secret guards were injured protecting me. If this continues, I might not make it out alive.

You know how weak I am. Today, during the tribe’s hunt, I even missed my arrow shots. I’ve completely lost my authority in front of the grassland people.]

[Lili, I’m really scared!]

Jiang Lili’s excitement from earlier quickly diminished after reading Yan Zhaoyue’s reply. Although the identities of both parties in the arranged marriage matched, the “Weak Young Master” Yan Zhaoyue seemed utterly unreliable. How could he possibly protect Xin Ningyu?

In her memory, Xin Ningyu rarely attended gatherings of noblewomen in the capital, often citing illness as the reason. She must have a delicate constitution, Jiang Lili assumed.

Forget it, she thought. It’s better to confirm with Xin Che about any chronic illnesses Xin Ningyu might have and prepare the necessary medicinal herbs.

The journey for an arranged marriage would be arduous, and preparing these in advance could help Xin Ningyu endure it better.

Jiang Lili asked Xin Che, “I’ve heard that Third Sister is frail and has been recuperating at home for years. Does she have any chronic illnesses? What herbs should I prepare for her?”

To her surprise, Xin Che raised an eyebrow in astonishment. “Third Sister? Frail?”

He couldn’t help but smirk and said, “Where did you hear that?”

Jiang Lili was confused. “She never attends noblewomen’s gatherings in the capital. Isn’t it because she’s always sick?”

Xin Che chuckled softly and uttered three words: “She fakes it.”

Jiang Lili blinked. “What?”

<< _ >>

Related Posts

Leave a Reply