Capture the Jade (Attacking the Jade) - Chapter 20-Part 5
Chapter 20-Part 5
Lin Chengyou fell silent.
Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi exclaimed, “Owner, Madam E, has everyone in the building come?”
He Mingsheng and E Ji looked surprised.
“Everyone’s here, even the kitchen staff and cooks.”
Jue Sheng and Qi Zhi exchanged glances.
Could Senior Brother have been wrong?
Perhaps the demon hadn’t targeted another person, and the well in the illusion wasn’t tied to the obsession of any living person in the building.
Suddenly, Teng Yuyi spoke up, “No, someone’s missing.”
“Who?”
Lin Chengyou had evidently thought of this as well.
“Didn’t they say that Miss Ge Jin had her face ruined by a fierce ghost? Where is she, and why hasn’t she come? What are you waiting for? Lead me to her!”
***
Ge Jin held a book, gazing sadly out of the window.
The moonlight of Chang’an shone brightly, but it could not penetrate her lonely chamber.
Once, her place was always filled with visitors, but now she sat in solitude throughout the night. Ever since her disfigurement, her fortunes have plummeted.
The building was noisy tonight; surely something was happening. But over an hour had passed, and no one had come to tell her what was going on.
She remembered the Lantern Festival fondly, when noble young masters had taken her out on a joyful excursion.
The revelry lasted until dawn, and her poetry performances at the banquet had astonished everyone present.
Those days had been so glorious.
But it all vanished in an instant because of a “female ghost” who had barged into her room.
Everything turned to dust.
She reached for her veiled face, and a deep hatred burned in her beautiful eyes. How could she accept this? Her once flawless beauty, ruined by some so-called “fierce ghost.”
She wished this were all a nightmare—no, it had to be a nightmare.
After enduring so much, it was time to wake up.
Throwing aside her blanket, she ran barefoot to the dressing table.
Hesitating for a long time, she finally tremblingly removed the veil from her face.
Gazing at the crimson scar in the mirror, her heart shattered into a thousand pieces.
They said a ghost had caused her disfigurement, but such talk could deceive others, not her.
She wouldn’t let this go—she had to find out who that wicked woman was.
As she wept bitterly in hatred, footsteps suddenly echoed in the quiet corridor outside.
Someone walked right up to her door and knocked, “Knock, knock, knock.”
Ge Jin wiped her tears and cleared her throat.
“Who is it?”
A flat voice from outside responded, “It’s me, E ji. I heard you didn’t have dinner tonight, so I came to check on you.”
Ge Jin was puzzled.
Just half an hour ago, someone had come by and pasted a talisman on her door, saying it was from the Taoist priests at Qingyun Temple, and that it must be put up immediately.
They had also mentioned that things were dangerous outside, and everyone was to stay quietly in their rooms tonight without moving around.
She had been too tired from crying and had dozed off, so she hadn’t paid much attention.
But if everyone was supposed to stay in their rooms, why was E ji able to come to her now?
She tilted her head and listened carefully.
E ji was unusually quiet after knocking and hadn’t said another word.
Ge Jin coughed and said, “I’m not feeling well and have already gone to bed. Sister E, if there’s anything, let’s talk tomorrow.”
E ji lowered her voice, “Ge Jin, I’ve come secretly to see you. Lord Xu sent someone to visit you, and that person is right here with me. If you don’t believe me, open the door and see for yourself.”
Ge Jin’s heart stirred.
Ever since her disfigurement, she had been living in semi-isolation.
She had gone to great lengths to secretly send letters to her former noble patrons, and no one in the building knew about it.
If E ji said this, could it be true that Lord Xu had really sent someone?
Cautiously, she asked, “Did the owner not question this?”
E ji didn’t respond, but a man’s voice spoke up, “Madam Ge Jin, Lord Xu sent me to deliver some medicine for your injuries. Apply it daily to the wounds, and it will promote healing and relieve itching. Lord Xu also said not to worry—whether the one who harmed you was human or ghost, he will get to the bottom of it.”
Ge Jin’s heart pounded.
She rushed to open the door, but as her hand touched the latch, she hesitated.
Lord Xu was indeed thoughtful, and it wasn’t unusual for him to send medicine, but wasn’t this rather late?
Sensing her hesitation, the man whispered something to E ji before speaking again, “Perhaps you’re not comfortable opening the door. How about this? I’ll leave the medicine at the door, and you can take it yourself.”
E Ji added, “Ge Jin, we’ll leave now. Rest well.”
Footsteps sounded outside as the two walked away.
Ge Jin, leaning against the door, felt a pang of regret.
Why had she been so suspicious?
She should have opened the door right away.
If she had seen the man, she could have sent a message back to Lord Xu.
But the man hadn’t gone far—maybe she could still catch him.
Thinking this, she hurriedly opened the door.
The sight outside made her scream in terror.
