Chapter 105: The Setup
Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
Luo Ningcha's world had changed since she married into Golden Roc Fort.
Her manners, and her rules of seeing exclusively her husband, suddenly became people's laughing stocks. The power of arbitrarily taking and killing she used to take for granted was no longer available. She could not even control her own life and death.
She remembered every insult she received in the Inner Residence. The desire for revenge devoured her and made her sleepless at night. She was not stupid though, and was much more clever than Gu Shenwei had thought. What she lacked in her education were vision and strategy.
"Go on."
Luo Ningcha ordered. While Gu Shenwei detected her eagerness.
"The foundation of Meng business was the worldwide trading network. It was by Golden Roc Forts protection that the network could run smoothly, leading to the Meng family earning a lot. Bighead Kingpin abode by the rules, never messing with caravans that have the Golden Roc flag. Even so, his only daughter has been bullied by a Mrs. Meng all because they don't know about Bighead Kingpin in Golden Roc Fort. We'll teach them a lesson, and show them how capable Iron Mountain is."
"Stop!" Miss's voice suddenly cracked, as if Slave Huan had said something wrong. But Gu Shenwei knew he had impressed her.
"Sinister," Miss added. The word sounded unreal as if they came out on their own with no recipient.
"Exactly what Miss wanted," Gu Shenwei added. Both of them remembered Mama Xue's judgment on Slave Huan.
"Don't you dare say such things anymore."
"Yes, Miss." Gu Shenwei understood It was time for him to shut up. Miss's comprehension was better than he thought.
"That Liu Xuan you were talking about, I can't kill him."
"But I have an idea." Gu Shenwei had been waiting, and then he revealed how he and Maid Lotus had planned.
"Sinister," Miss repeated without a derogatory tone. Rather, she seemed to have realized something. "Wait for my news."
Before leaving, Gu Shenwei asked Miss to inform Eighth Young Master of his allegiance. Sooner or later, Shangguan Nu would learn. He might as well tell her beforehand.
Then, Gu Shenwei returned to East Castle, with an appreciation for Zhang Ji. During the one month in Archives Library, he had learned a lot; An armed killer might kill one person at a time, but a rich counselor could kill many more.
While waiting, Gu Shenwei and Maid Lotus were restless with the thought that Miss would screw things up if she lost her temper.
Maid Lotus's midnight dates with an East Castle killer were spreading. She lost many friends and received some judgment because of this. Gu Shenwei was partly relieved, for there were no longer rumors of him and Maid Lotus. However, his on-and-off "leadership" was again in jeopardy.
When the news finally came, Gu Shenwei was so desperate that he acted as soon as night fell. First, he kidnapped clueless Slave Zi and cut off his fingers to interrogate him. He wanted to confirm that Slave Zi knew nothing and that he learned the saber sharpening accidentally.
Gu Shenwei then murdered Slave Zi and dumped his body. He also killed three Snake Year apprentices who used to be close to Slave Zi.
At the same time, some Dragon Year apprentices were encouraged to conduct the last slaughter of this year, killing dozens of people. This, in turn, covered Slave Huan's murders.
Yet, Golden Roc Fort stopped this pointless slaughter, since there had been no one capable among Snake Year Apprentices. They sent most of Snake Year apprentices to Western Region as mercenaries, spies, and servants.
Compared with the strong Dragon Year apprentices, Snake Year apprentices were considered the weakest in history.
Liu Xuan's flogging to death was spread days later. Nobody connected it with the two apprentices, except a few insiders.
Rumor has it Liu Xuan was so bold that he tried to rape Eighth Young Mistress's maid. Being caught red-handed by maids, he had rashly taken off his clothes, pulled off Miss's veil, and almost degraded her in front of them. The maids then resisted desperately to protect their Miss.
Hearing this, Eighth Young Master immediately returned home and had Liu Xuan flogged to death. Liu Xuan was first flogged from the toes. Then after 300 floggings, he had had his lower body battered to pieces and finally had his head crushed.
Moreover, it was said his eyes and tongue had been cut out, as by the rules of Iron Mountain.
Liu Xuan's confession did not matter, since the maids, Eighth Young Mistress, and guarding killers all testified Liu Xuan was inappropriately naked at the scene.
Eighth Young Mistress's reputation became worse, but she threatened to kill herself for several days, which gained her back some of her good name. In addition, she no longer entered the Inner Residence. Shangguan Nu became both ashamed and angry, allocating two female killers on guard, and prohibiting male killers from entering the backyard.
The maid was arranged by Maid Lotus, who was one of Miss's 10 maidens. The maid had seduced Liu Xuan into the room and only started screaming after he pulled off his pants. She and Miss were the only insiders in the yard.
While Miss acted exceptionally good, Gu Shenwei started to consider how to help her beat Lady Meng. If he should succeed, it would not only be Luo Ningcha's triumph, but would also help destroy one of Golden Roc Fort's revenue sources.
Three days after Liu Xuan's death and two days after East Castle's slaughter, Slave Huan and Maid Lotus were summoned urgently by Eighth Young Master.
They were summoned to the front yard hall.
Eighth Young Master seemed worried. Though the master of all killers, he had always been caught up in family affairs. Yet, he never knew the two respectful teenagers killed Liu Xuan. He summoned them for other reasons.
"She only trusts people who came with her."
"She" referred to Eighth Young Mistress. Shangguan Nu appeared helplessly angry. His eyes flashed. If it were not for her identity and looks, he would have buried her for good.
"In the future, you two will take turns guarding, changing every 10 days. you can ask for leave during the monthly tests."
Though not part of Gu Shenwei's plan, the two undertook it at once and expressed appreciation towards master and Mistress.
Shangguan Nu paid attention to Slave Huan, for he did not trust any male now, not even a 16 boy. Besides, Slave Huan was tall and handsome, not like a teenager at all.
"You took the oath to Mistress?"
"Yes, my master. I received grace in Iron Mountain, and vowed to Bighead Kingpin to protect Miss."
Shangguan Nu did not know about the servants in Iron Mountain. Thus, he could only trust them for now. Difficult as his wife was, she would not in a million years try to seduce a man.
"Behave yourselves, you two have promising futures."
At first, the two youngsters thought Eighth Young Master was merely talking cliches. Whereas, when midsummer arrived, they knew Shangguan Nu's plans: Dragon Year apprentices were bound to be extraordinary. Golden Roc Fort had had their destinies arranged.
Shangguan Nu asked solely Slave Huan to stay and revealed that on future guard, he needed to report anything suspicious. "Whoever you have or will pledge to, remember your true master is me."
Then Gu Shenwei crept, pledged his allegiance in tears, and said he knew everything from Master Shifu. But if not for the owner's help, he would never survive. His life belonged to his master, hence he would do everything in master's benefit. Furthermore, he would report on his doings.
This acting was highly difficult. Gu Shenwei dressed up his emotion to where even he could not recognize himself. Only when he said these words against his will did really appreciate those days spent with Slave Yao.
Shangguan Nu received the second allegiance, honestly cold and sincerely graceful. This was part of his education, and he had strengthened it following his father and elder brother.
Afterward, he believed he had controlled the teenager. With so many killers in the fort, only a few were worthy of attention, among whom was Slave Huan.
Gu Shenwei had made a big progress in his revenge. Now he needed time, which Mama Xue had left little for him.
When Gu Shenwei took the turn to watch, he at the same time acted as a "conspiracy teacher".
Shangguan Nu had a room renovated, within which was a solid hollowed-out wooden wall. Behind that, there was another door to the side room. This way, Miss was completely separated, free of rumors.
Moreover, Gu Shenwei taught Miss everything he learned from Tie Hanfeng and Zhang Ji, helping analyze wars among women in the Inner Residence.
"My Miss needs alliances. Keep note of those objected by Lady Meng, especially whose status is lower than their identity. They must have held grudges. Also, pay attention to those favored, they'll pay prices for favors. These people tend to betray once there is no reward. Remember to be discreet and only observe. Only when Bighead Kingpin acts is when Miss is able to make alliances."
Miss told a lot of stories of the Inner Residence, leaving Gu Shenwei heavy-headed. The struggle between Women was not any easier to understand than Jianghu in South City.
Nevertheless, master and servant could not always hold private talk; Luo Ningcha usually had reliant maids present. When the maids managed to make up excuses, Gu Shenwei would report the same exact lies.
Shangguan Nu never doubted it. He believed in his wife's fidelity. The report was merely routine, and an instinct of his to collect information.
Fortunately, Gu Shenwei's only served 10 days of guarding, and Maid Lotus's 20 days watching. After that one month, both of them had escaped from Miss, joining a new society to obtain the title "brown-belt assassin".
Furthermore, Gu Shenwei had been secretly inciting antagonism between Iron Mountain and Meng family. Yet little did he expect, before he planted the hatred through Miss to Bighead Kingpin, he himself would first confront the Meng family.