Chapter 449: Chapter 421, This Luck of Hers_1
Having learned from her adoptive father that so many people were looking for the gold mine, Taohua felt a vague sense of unease. Coincidentally, during this time, Xiao Yeyang and her two older brothers hadn’t been home for quite a few days, making her even more anxious.
It was her fault for not thinking things through, only anticipating the rewards for finding the mine, without considering how many people’s interests a gold mine could affect.
The Jiang Family, the most powerful relatives by marriage to the current Imperial Court, with two members as Empress Dowagers; Prince Duan, the late emperor’s favorite son, also involved in the secret affairs of the imperial succession.
These powers were the top predators of the food chain in this era, and what they set their sights on was something her family should stay well away from, lest they become the cannon fodder in their conflicts.
Having realized this, Taohua became even more eager to see Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao. After waiting another two days without their return, she sent Xiaoliu to deliver a letter to Xiao Yeyang’s residence in the city.
But after waiting for two days, there was still no definitive response.
Seeing this, Taohua became somewhat restless. After some thought, she quickly went to the old lady’s yard, excusing herself to bring winter clothes and charcoal to her master and Granny Gu, and then continued on to Taohua Village.
After the previous eagle had died, Xiao Yeyang had released another one there, which could find him directly.
On the boat, due to the increasingly cold weather, Taohua didn’t dare to stay on deck for long. Just as she was about to return to the cabin, she saw three blood-covered figures suddenly rushing out from the riverbank.
“Ah~”
Unable to hold back, Wang Manman screamed, “Miss, it’s that Master Wu.”
Taohua also recognized him, one of them was indeed Master Wu who had been with Master Five last time. Hesitating whether to rescue them, seven or eight sword-wielding men in black suddenly burst out from the shore.
“You’ve got to be kidding me?”
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Was her luck really that bad?
Taohua’s face instantly lost all its color, and unlike her previous hesitation, she quickly said to Xiaoliu, “Brother Xiaoliu, bring the boat closer to the shore, remember, not too close, don’t let anyone get on the boat.”
If it had just been Master Wu and his two companions, she could have pretended to be unaware and left, considering he was an Imperial Envoy. Even if she didn’t save him, at most, she would be listed as someone unsuitable to associate with, and he was unlikely to do anything extreme.
But now, the arrival of these unidentified men in black, who dared to kill even an Imperial Envoy, would undoubtedly kill to silence anyone and prevent leaks after the fact.
For the sake of self-preservation, she had to help Master Wu and his two companions deal with those men in black.
Without any hesitation, Xiaoliu personally took control of the boat, his forehead covered with large beads of sweat. They had fought with others in their previous courier jobs, but compared to the bloodthirsty men on the shore, they were merely engaging in minor skirmishes.
Both parties on the shore noticed the ship in the river but were too preoccupied to bother with it, and since the boat was still some distance from the shore, they paid it no mind.
However, they might not have paid attention, but the people on the boat took action.
“Bang Bang Bang!”
Once the people on the shore were within slingshot range, Taohua fired one sleeping pill after another towards the shore without stopping.
The men in black were very vigilant. When they saw the sleeping pills shooting their way, they thought they were some sort of hidden weapon and scattered to avoid them. Then, seeing the sleeping pills explode and a medicinal scent spread through the air, they immediately held their breath.
Wu Jingyi recognized the sleeping pills and quickly signaled his two subordinates to hold their breath, but he couldn’t help smiling bitterly to himself.
These tactics wouldn’t work against Prince Duan’s royal bodyguards. They were caught off guard last time because they had let their guard down due to Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai.
But these royal bodyguards, constantly on the edge of life and death, were very cautious and careful during combat; using sleeping powder to knock them unconscious was unlikely to be effective.
Indeed, as Wu Jingyi had thought, the men in black were not affected by the sleeping powder.
Seeing that someone on the ship dared to interfere, the men in black immediately sent two of them heading for the ship to attack.
However, they had run only a few steps when they stopped and started scratching themselves all over in a comical manner.
“What are you doing?”
The leader of the men in black roared in anger, but before he could finish speaking, he started to writhe himself as the extreme itching made it impossible for him to hold his sword steadily.
“Damn it!”
The men in black cursed in frustration.
They thought it was only sleeping powder and that closing their breath would be enough, but it was something else entirely.
Just as he was about to order a retreat, Wu Jingyi and his two companions attacked them.
On the ship, seeing the men in black affected, Taohua breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said to Xiaoliu, “Start the boat.” She then entered the cabin without looking back.
In the cabin, Taohua sat by the window and watched as the last man in black fell under the swords of Wu Jingyi and his two companions. She then quickly lowered the curtain.
“Miss, have a cup of tea!”
“`
Wang Manman had followed her father in escorting convoys from a young age, and though she had never witnessed such bloodshed before, her mental resilience had been honed early on. After the initial shock, she quickly regained her composure.
Seeing that Daohua’s face was still deathly pale, she carefully stepped forward to pour her a cup of tea.
When Daohua reached out to take it, she realized her hands were trembling so violently that she immediately retracted them, saying somewhat stiffly, “I won’t drink it.”
Wang Manman silently set the teacup down.
After a while, Daohua asked, “Who came out with us today?”
Wang Manman immediately reported the names of those who had come.
Clasping her hands tightly, Daohua fell silent for a moment before saying, “Tell Brother Xiaoliu to warn them that they must forget everything that happened today and not speak a word of it to anyone. If anyone dares to talk, sell them out directly.”
Wang Manman nodded, “Understood.”
Some time later, they arrived at Taohua Village.
Getting off the boat, Daohua quickly ran up the mountain.
Gu Jian was tidying up the vegetable garden in the courtyard. Seeing Daohua, he first smiled with joy, but when he noticed her pale face, he immediately dropped his hoe and walked over to ask, “What’s happened to you, girl?”
Upon seeing Gu Jian, Daohua steadied her spirit. Thinking of how her master once sent a bodyguard flying with a single stick, she couldn’t help but tell him about the incident she had just encountered.
After listening, Gu Jian’s expression changed. Seeing Daohua as if she had been frightened, he immediately reassured her, “Girl, you did the right thing. It’s all right now. The weather has turned cold these days and your sister has been coughing more violently. Go take a look at her for me.”
Daohua’s attention was diverted, “Is Granny doing okay?”
Gu Jian replied, “She coughed for quite a while last night and is still sleeping. You’ve come just in time. Go to the kitchen and stew some rock sugar with pears for your sister.”
Daohua nodded, first went to check on Granny Gu who was still asleep, then turned to head for the kitchen.
Seeing that Daohua had entered the kitchen, Gu Jian immediately hurried out of Taohua Temple.
Once Daohua had prepared the rock sugar and pears and fed them to Granny Gu, Gu Jian returned with Wu Jingyi and two others.
Because of his severe injuries, Wu Jingyi had passed out. The other two were also seriously wounded and were settled by Gu Jian in Xiao Yeyang’s room.
“Master, why did you bring the three of them back?”
Smiling at his worried disciple, Gu Jian said, “Don’t worry, I’ve erased all traces on the road. No one will find this place.”
Hearing this, Daohua let out a huge sigh of relief.
Gu Jian found her reaction somewhat amusing and then felt a tinge of admiration for his young disciple’s fortune, “If they hadn’t encountered you this time, they would have had no chance of survival.”
Doubtful, Daohua asked, “Aren’t they the Emperor’s secret agents? Who would dare to kill them?”
Gu Jian let out a cold laugh, “Not everyone in this world listens to the Emperor.”
…
The Imperial Palace.
Renshou Palace.
The Empress Dowager’s face was ashen as she looked at Duke Cheng’en, her voice tinged with deep sorrow, “Brother, you’ve been foolish. Can the Jiang Family even touch the gold mine? Secretly mining gold is a capital crime that leads to the extermination of the family.”
Duke Cheng’en furrowed his brows, “Please calm yourself, Empress Dowager. I had no choice. You’ve seen the Emperor’s attitude towards the Jiang Family over the years. I only wanted to secure a backup for the Jiang Family.”
The Empress Dowager rubbed her throbbing forehead, “Brother, I don’t care if you want to secure a legacy for the Jiang Family, but it cannot involve the gold mine. There is no such thing as a secret that doesn’t leak. Once the news of the Jiang Family’s secret mining operation gets out, it will be akin to handing the Emperor a knife.”
“As long as I’m alive, the Emperor wouldn’t dare to touch the Jiang Family for the sake of his reputation. But if the Jiang Family commits treachery, not even the whole court could save them.”
Duke Cheng’en hesitated, “But that’s a gold mine. If the Jiang Family gets it, it could guarantee wealth for generations.”
The Empress Dowager replied sternly, “No amount of wealth is worth anything without life to enjoy it!” Pausing, she then asked, “How far along is the gold mine operation?”
Duke Cheng’en replied, “We’re still searching, but it’s confirmed to be within Ningmen Prefecture.”
After contemplating, the Empress Dowager said, “Later, go see the Emperor and tell him you have a gift for him, but that it is not yet ready. As soon as it is prepared, you will personally present it to him.”
Duke Cheng’en understood the Empress Dowager’s implication, his heart heavy with reluctance.
To locate the gold mine, the Jiang Family had expended considerable effort and resources, and now that they had found it, they had to surrender it to the Emperor. The very thought made him feel a great sense of loss.
Seeing his reaction, the Empress Dowager shook her head almost imperceptibly and patiently explained, “The national treasury is depleted, and there are continuous conflicts on the Northern Frontier. If the Jiang Family can assist the Emperor at this time, wouldn’t he remember their favor? Such a great contribution wouldn’t go unrewarded by the Emperor. Don’t just focus on small, immediate gains. Look at the bigger picture.”
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