Chapter 22: Jiang Mubai Suspects Feng Sanniang Is Still Alive

There are too many buried, blood-stained injustices in this world. As long as the murderers remain at large, the souls of those who died in grievances can never find peace; they remain forever shackled in a prison of suffering, while the living are unable to ever escape the agonizing sorrow.

Gu Nanshu is the exalted Princess of Beichen. For Zhong Muqiu to ask her to seek justice for Feng Sanniang—this strategy of drawing the fire from under the cauldron is truly precise. Moreover, Zhong Muqiu is not foolish at all; he knows how to use his own objectives to bargain with her. He is a shrewd man.

Yet, Gu Nanshu never imagined that the ever-earnest Zhong Muqiu would actually stand up for her and seek to clear her name. This is exactly how a brother should behave, and she was moved to tears.

This is her family. Although they are not connected by blood, the bond etched into their very bones is inseparable. They are warmth, peace of mind, and the eternal, sturdy pillar of strength in her heart.

At this very moment, she longed to rush forward and tell Zhong Muqiu: I am Feng Sanniang. I am still alive. I will avenge myself; you must not intervene, for it is too dangerous.

But she could say nothing now.

Gu Nanshu nearly wept again, but she was far braver than before. She needed to remain calm and strong. "Very well, I agree," she said. "However, Jiang Mubai is a court official. He is backed by the Eldest Princess of Beiliang and the Chief Minister, and he is soon to become the son-in-law of the Feng family. If you wish to seek justice for your sister, you will need concrete, irrefutable evidence to convict him. Do you understand?"

"I understand," Zhong Muqiu said firmly. "I have already uncovered some clues. On the day my sister died, it is said that her personal maid, Luxiu, witnessed with her own eyes that she was murdered by Jiang Mubai. I do not know why, but Jiang Mubai spared her life and sent her out of the capital. Her whereabouts remain unknown to this day. If we can find that maid, she would serve as a vital eyewitness to testify against Jiang Mubai for the murder of his wife."

Gu Nanshu was stunned. To think that Luxiu was still alive! This was undoubtedly a massive piece of good news and a crucial lead for her.

She tightened her grip on her sleeves and said with composure, "Let us not rush. Since I have given you my word, I will certainly keep it. For now, stay at the Miaoshou Clinic and take good care of your mother. Once she has fully recovered, I will send someone to bring both of you to the Prince's Mansion, where you will be settled. We shall make further plans then. How does that sound?"

"Very well. Thank you, Princess, for your kindness." Zhong Muqiu was overwhelmed with gratitude and kowtowed to Gu Nanshu once more. As a brother, he could finally be of use in overturning the blood-stained case for his sister.

Meanwhile, at the Jiang Estate.

In three days, it would be the wedding day of Jiang Mubai and Feng Yuxi. The entire Jiang estate was currently decorated with lanterns and colorful banners, and the servants were busy in a flurry of activity.

In the study in the back courtyard, a teacup was smashed to the floor with a loud "bang." Jiang Mubai, dressed in white, stood with an expression of extreme fury, kicking the subordinate kneeling before him while shouting in anger.

"A bunch of useless fools! I waited so long for her to travel alone, and yet you couldn't even handle a defenseless woman? Twenty-some assassins hired, and not one of you returned alive! How do you do your jobs? What use do I have for you!?"

Ever since he discovered at Jinyufang that the person hiding in the old Jiang estate that night was Gu Nanshu, Jiang Mubai had ordered his men to keep a constant watch on the Beichen Prince's Mansion and Gu Nanshu's movements.

The assassins he sent out today were cutthroats he had hired through Yi Fei on the Dark Net. He never expected them to fail. He knew that killing Gu Nanshu would be difficult, but he had not imagined it would be this hard. It seemed he had underestimated the importance the Prince of Beichen placed on his new Princess.

Yi Fei, kicked to the ground, scrambled up and hurriedly explained, "My Lord, it is not that your subordinates are incompetent. We were on the verge of success, but for some reason, the Prince of Beichen's commander, Lie Yan, suddenly appeared with his troops. They were overwhelming in number, and we were no match. Furthermore, there was a formidable expert protecting Gu Nanshu, which is why our men failed."

A formidable expert?

Jiang Mubai’s gaze turned sharp. His handsome face lost all traces of kindness, replaced by a cold, vicious edge. According to his intelligence, when Gu Nanshu was married off, Gu Lianxu had only sent a few guards, none of whom were experts. Moreover, after she entered the Beichen Prince's Mansion, the Prince had not assigned anyone to her. Where could she have found an expert?

"What kind of expert was with her?" Jiang Mubai asked with suspicion.

Yi Fei gestured with his hands, "He was a tall, burly man, looking quite rugged. His martial arts were exceptional, and he was clearly not from the Beichen Prince's Mansion."

A tall, burly man? And rugged-looking?

Jiang Mubai thought carefully, his expression shifting from shock to suspicion. He asked, "Was the place Gu Nanshu visited today the residence of the Zhong family, east of Fangyin Village?"

"Yes, My Lord."

Yi Fei’s reply caused Jiang Mubai to clench his fists. Fangyin Village, a tall, burly, rugged-looking man... wasn't that Zhong Muqiu, his nominal former brother-in-law? Why would Gu Nanshu be with him?

Gu Nanshu came from a prestigious family and was now the exalted Princess of Beichen. How could she possibly be mixing with a rustic peasant like Zhong Muqiu? Yet, she was with him, and she had even killed his men. What unknown secrets were brewing beneath these complex relationships?

Could it be that Gu Nanshu is not the real Gu Nanshu? If so, who is she?

Although Jiang Mubai had people monitoring Gu Nanshu, he had never specifically investigated her background. Now that he thought about it, something felt wrong, though he could not put his finger on it. It forced him to be suspicious. Jiang Mubai asked Yi Fei again, "What exactly did Gu Nanshu go to Fangyin Village for today?"

"It seems she took away an old woman and that big man. The old woman appeared to be severely ill. In the end, the group went to the Miaoshou Clinic," Yi Fei replied.

The old woman Yi Fei spoke of must be Jiang Qiaozhen, who had raised Feng Sanniang. When Feng Sanniang was alive, her relationship with Jiang Qiaozhen was like that of a mother and daughter. She had even proposed bringing Jiang Qiaozhen to the Jiang estate to be cared for, though Jiang Qiaozhen herself had refused.

Now that Gu Nanshu had not only taken Jiang Qiaozhen from Fangyin Village but also brought Zhong Muqiu along, it cast deep suspicion on Gu Nanshu's identity.

Who exactly is she? Why go to Fangyin Village to fetch Jiang Qiaozhen and Zhong Muqiu?

This was a vital piece of the puzzle. He was desperate to know what secrets Gu Nanshu was hiding, and why every action she took seemed inextricably linked to Feng Sanniang. What was the truth behind it all? What was the connection between Gu Nanshu and Feng Sanniang?

A sense of unease crept into his heart. He felt, deep down, that Feng Sanniang might not be dead.

Jiang Mubai immediately instructed Yi Fei, "Send men to keep a close watch on Gu Nanshu. I want to know every move she makes, including everyone she meets each day."

"Yes, My Lord."