Chapter 87

Feng Wu remained silent for a while before finally standing up.

Just as Feng Wu finally rose to fetch a water cup, Jiang Xiurun secretly let out a sigh of relief.

She didn’t believe a single word Feng Wu said about treating her and her brother well.

Feng Wu knew she was Feng Liwu’s woman, and given the fierce rivalry between the two brothers, how could he possibly have any pity for his elder brother’s woman? He probably wouldn’t let her live.

If she betrayed Feng Liwu, Feng Wu would certainly not spare her or her brother.

Since death seemed inevitable either way, what was there to fear? She might as well place her hopes on Feng Liwu and take a gamble.

Based on her usual interactions with Feng Liwu, she would never dare to be as bold as she had just been.

The Crown Prince was like a lord; if he so much as frowned, she would immediately prostrate herself on the woven mat.

If the shadow woman closed the door and shouted at Feng Liwu like that, given his temper, he would not tolerate such behavior. As for whether he would notice any flaws, that would be up to fate.

All she could do was this much.

If Feng Liwu didn’t die and discovered that the shadow woman was an imposter, she would be cleared of suspicion and wouldn’t implicate her brother… But if he didn’t notice… then that foolish man, who would take any woman, deserved to be stabbed!

At that moment, Feng Wu brought over the water cup. Like his elder brother, he had well-shaped hands, and his long fingers holding the clay cup looked exceptionally pale and slender…

Just as Jiang Xiurun was about to take the cup, Feng Wu suddenly splashed the water in her face and then grabbed her neck.

His tone remained as gentle and polite as ever, “You’re not trying to fool me on purpose, are you? Don’t think I’ll be as easily bewitched by your beauty as Feng Liwu.

If this doesn’t work out, I won’t let you die a quick death. You wouldn’t want to experience the feeling of having your flesh slowly cut off with a small knife, would you?”

Jiang Xiurun, struggling to breathe under his grip, glared at him and finally managed to break free, gasping, “You unreasonable madman! You asked me to do it, and I did. There’s no reason to splash water in my face! If you don’t believe me, go ask the other concubines in the Crown Prince’s residence! I’m done serving you!”

As she spoke, Jiang Xiurun suddenly twisted Feng Wu’s wrist and wrapped her long legs around his head.

This was a self-defense technique Feng Liwu had taught her. According to Feng Liwu, if used correctly, it could twist a man’s head off.

Feng Liwu had taught her well, and Jiang Xiurun had learned it thoroughly.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t dealing with an ordinary man.

Feng Wu, having practiced bone-shrinking techniques for years, could easily escape even when locked in a headscissor.

When Jiang Xiurun realized her move had failed, she decided to go all out.

She leaped onto Feng Wu and bit him hard. Feng Wu, in pain, tried to pull her off, but she jumped down herself, holding a vase and glaring at him warily.

Feng Wu had never encountered such a fierce and agile woman before.

He had almost fallen for her trick.

Thinking about it, Jiang Xiurun was indeed this kind of person.

She never let herself be taken advantage of in public, and with Feng Liwu’s favor in private, she must have been even more audacious!

At that moment, Feng Wu’s neck was slightly sore, but as he looked at the woman holding the vase, her hair disheveled, her almond eyes wide, and her red lips shining, she exuded an indescribable beauty and wildness…

All the good things in the world seemed to have been snatched by his elder brother first. What had those old ministers seen in Feng Liwu that made them pity him?

Thinking this, Feng Wu let out a cold laugh in his heart. Men always soften a bit in front of beautiful women, especially one as stunning as Jiang Xiurun.

In his youth, Feng Wu had been doted on by Emperor Duanqing in the palace, and all the women he encountered had fawned over him.

After wandering the martial world, the vulgar women he met there were naturally beneath the notice of a former prince.

During the days he had spent lurking near Jiang Xiurun, he had witnessed her charm when she disguised herself as a man.

She was truly a person of both literary and martial prowess, with an extraordinary demeanor.

Who would have thought that in the bedroom, she would be so fiercely unruly, which only heightened a man’s desire to conquer her.

Feng Wu thought he would make this woman understand that not every man’s backside could be slapped. But not now.

Only after eliminating Feng Liwu, the thorn in his side, could he see the light of day and do as he pleased.

So Feng Wu regained his gentle and refined demeanor, apologizing softly to Jiang Xiurun and telling her to rest well before leaving the room.

The room was guarded, so he wasn’t worried about her escaping.

Next, he would interrogate the maid Qian’er.

Although others couldn’t see how the two interacted, as a maid, Qian’er must know a thing or two.

Qian’er, who had immense strength, had been forcibly given a muscle-relaxing drug and couldn’t move, but she kept shouting, “You thief, where is my mistress? If anyone dares to harm her, I’ll become a vengeful ghost and never let you go!”

Feng Wu simply threatened Qian’er with Jiang Xiurun’s safety, demanding to know how the Crown Prince usually interacted with Concubine Yao.

Qian’er spat in his face and shouted, “Your mother must have hidden men under her bed when she was cheating on your father! How would I, a maid, know how a husband and wife interact? It’s not like the Crown Prince is as weak as your father, needing a maid in the room to help him with his back and hips!”

Qian’er, furious, cursed fiercely, insulting Feng Wu’s parents thoroughly.

Although Feng Wu had been wandering the martial world for a long time, he had never encountered a woman who could curse so viciously.

He slapped Qian’er twice, hard.

Qian’er didn’t make a sound, but she spat a mouthful of blood at his face and grinned at him with blood-stained teeth.

The birthmark on her face, now flushed and dark, made her look like a demoness from hell.

Seeing that he couldn’t get any information, Feng Wu didn’t bother wasting more time with the frightening girl and left.

Although he hadn’t learned much, it was clear that Feng Liwu usually spent time with Jiang Xiurun without any guards or maids present.

This would make it easier for the shadow woman to strike.

The hairpin the shadow woman wore was laced with deadly poison.

A single scratch would be fatal.

When Feng Liwu leaned in for intimacy, the shadow woman would simply pull out the hairpin, and the deed would be done!

The most important thing was to ensure that Feng Liwu didn’t notice anything amiss before they were alone.

The shadow woman’s appearance, altered through disguise and bone-shaping, was almost flawless, but Jiang Xiurun’s unique body scent was hard to imitate.

However, Feng Wu had a solution: he would have the shadow woman wear a scented sachet, claiming she was taking medicine for her weak constitution.

With this plan in mind, Feng Wu’s steps lightened.

Years of planning were about to come to fruition!

Unconsciously, he found himself outside Jiang Xiurun’s room again.

Peering through the window, he saw that the woman seemed to still be under the effects of the drug, lying on the bed asleep, her cheeks as pink as peach blossoms, her slightly parted lips delicate and inviting.

Feng Wu couldn’t help but touch the bite mark on his neck, where her teeth had left a row of imprints that hadn’t yet faded.

…

However, Feng Wu had originally thought that the shadow woman could be further trained for a few more days before returning to Luo’an to meet Feng Liwu.

Unexpectedly, before the Mochi Literary Gathering was even halfway through, the ever-busy Crown Prince of Qi arrived in a hurry at the border of Wei.

It turned out that although Jiang Xiurun had survived falling into the river, two people were still missing.

The guards protecting her didn’t dare to hide this and sent an urgent message to the Crown Prince via carrier pigeon.

After receiving the letter, Feng Liwu felt uneasy and decided to write back, ordering the guards to escort Jiang Xiurun back first.

Since he was inspecting the canals and was not far from the border, he would meet her there and bring her back to Luo’an.

Upon receiving the letter, the guards didn’t delay and informed “Jiang Xiurun,” telling her to prepare to return to Luo’an with the Crown Prince.

This played right into Feng Wu’s hands.

After all, if they returned to the Crown Prince’s residence, there would be too many variables.

If they were on the road, amidst the fatigue of travel, it would be easier to find an opportunity to strike.

The Crown Prince of Qi dying of a sudden illness on a journey would be a most dignified death.

His father could easily cover it up, and Feng Wu could use the excuse of having faked his death to pray for his father’s health, living in seclusion in the deep forests, before rightfully reclaiming his position as Crown Prince.

So, on the day he received Feng Liwu’s letter, “Jiang Xiurun” bid farewell to her teacher and hurried back.

Accompanying her was Qin Zhao, who had come to search for the body of his brother-in-law Xu Ying, and they would meet the Crown Prince together to explain the situation.

Three days later, when their carriage reached the border of Wei, Feng Liwu, standing atop the high city gate, saw the approaching convoy.

However, noticing Qin Zhao escorting the carriage, he frowned slightly.

As the city gates opened, the carriages entered one by one. Qin Zhao first reported the situation to the Crown Prince.

Having lost his brother-in-law, Feng Liwu couldn’t say anything too harsh and simply told Qin Zhao to grieve, promising to send more people to Wei to search for the missing two before dismissing him.

Seeing Qin Zhao’s sorrowful expression, Feng Liwu’s heart couldn’t help but drift to the woman resting in the prefect’s residence within the city.

He knew how much his young tutor loved her ugly maid.

With the maid’s fate unknown after the danger in Wei, Jiang Xiurun must be heartbroken.

Feng Liwu wasn’t good at comforting people, and the few techniques he had were learned from Jiang Xiurun.

So, after meeting with Qin Zhao at the government office and handling some urgent matters, he picked up some local specialty pastries his subordinates had bought and headed back to offer his young tutor a taste.

It had been days since they last saw each other.

That reckless girl must have been having too much fun outside, drinking with a group of men at night and accidentally falling into the river… Just thinking about it made his heart skip a beat, and he silently vowed never to let her go out and play wildly again, even if she begged him on her knees.

His precious one had to be within his sight, where he could see and touch her, for him to feel at ease.

Since the convoy had arrived late, by the time Feng Liwu entered the prefect’s residence, it was already evening.

Without a trusted maid like Qian’er, the young tutor didn’t allow the prefect’s maids to enter her room.

It was said that she hadn’t eaten and seemed listless, having retired early to wash and rest.

When Feng Liwu pushed open her door, the room was lit only by a dim lamp, casting flickering, ghostly shadows.