Chapter 691: with translation of chapter title

"Someone came over!" Qin Zhanhong's voice suddenly turned a bit colder.

Chen Wuji shook his head. "Impossible, you know how strict the guards in this courtyard are; even if one's martial arts were superb, it's hardly possible to slip in here soundlessly."

Chen Wuji still had some confidence in the abilities of the Chen Clan Personal Guard.

All around this house are the open and hidden posts of the Chen Clan Personal Guard.

Moreover, there are countless guards in this courtyard; the defenses are so strict that even a fly flying in might bump straight into a blade.

"Even if a master really sneaked in, why would he take your skirt? And it was pressed under my clothes."

Chen Wuji voiced his judgment: "If the other party deliberately picked your clothing, why not take the undergarments above, but only the lowest skirt? That doesn't make sense."

Qin Zhanhong nodded slightly. "Indeed, it's rather unreasonable. Unless, someone entered without alerting the guards."

"That is possible." Chen Wuji nodded. "But in this courtyard, who could enter directly without reporting? Only those three maidservants, and they wouldn't dare do that."

"My lord, there's still one person." Qin Zhanhong suddenly laughed.

"Who?"

"Your new wife, Lu Wanwan."

Chen Wuji nodded. "She is indeed one of them. Change your clothes, and later ask Chen Li; then it'll be clear."

"Mm!"

Chen Wuji, dressed neatly, summoned a maid to prepare hot water for Qin Zhanhong's washing, then called Chen Li over: "Eleventh Uncle, did Lu Wanwan come by earlier?"

"She did. You didn't know, Family Head?" Chen Li asked.

Saying this in front of Chen Li, Chen Wuji felt a bit embarrassed: "I was just busy a moment ago and didn't notice; I only saw traces of movement in the room, which made me think of her."

Chen Li instantly understood, immediately putting on an expression like an old auntie.

After a pause, his face suddenly turned stern: "Family Head, what did Lady Lu move? Could her identity be problematic?"

"It's fine; her identity is fine. I already asked Daoist Zhi Xu about it—the old Daoist is quite familiar with Lu Jia Village, and they have no dealings with the Qiang People." Chen Wuji said, "It's fine, no need to dwell on this."

"Yes!"

Chen Wuji turned and went back into the room: "Indeed, Lu Wanwan came by."

Hearing that, Qin Zhanhong smiled indifferently, then slipped into the wooden tub and beckoned charmingly to Chen Wuji: "My lord, why don't we wash together?"

"You've already cleaned me up quite well; I'll talk later when I return, first I must attend to business." Chen Wuji said—not that he neglects hygiene, but he's preoccupied with matters.

Qin Zhanhong gave an "oh," then muttered strangely: "What is Lu Wanwan doing with my skirt?"

"I don't think this is theft!" Chen Wuji said.

Qin Zhanhong also agreed with this view; she lightly scooped up water, patted her face, nodded, and said: "Although I'm not very close to Lu Wanwan, we've had plenty of contact on the way from Lu Jia Village to Wuyang Town; this girl is straightforward, lively, and has no other peculiar habits."

"Unless..."

Chen Wuji thought of a possibility: "Unless she took your clothes out of necessity."

"She recently had her heavenly menstruation; perhaps that's the reason."

Qin Zhanhong whispered a remark, thought it over, and confirmed her guess: "That must be it—she suddenly came in, found her heavenly menstruation had soiled her clothes, and furtively took my clothing to cover herself."

Chen Wuji nodded. "That makes sense, but what else is missing? She must have seen what we just did."

"A moment of excitement, a leak?" Qin Zhanhong couldn't help laughing.

"Hmm..." Chen Wuji nodded. "Put that way, it fits."

Qin Zhanhong burst out laughing, doubling over. "No way—I'll have a good talk with her later to see exactly what just happened, hahaha."

"Then there's nothing else; I'm leaving first." Chen Wuji said.

"Take care, my lord— that old treacherous scoundrel deserves death; we must deal him some harsh measures."

"Understood."

"……"

Chen Wuji left the manor and, guided by Chen Shuang, arrived at the place next door's next door.

It was a dilapidated empty residence; the owner seemed to have left years ago, the roof tiles mostly fallen off, and the courtyard overgrown with weeds.

The Qiang elder they had captured was currently detained in the courtyard.

Chen Shuang's move was heavy-handed; the idea is truly savage!

He erected a frame, suspending the Qiang elder upside down, head below, feet above.

Beneath it he placed a huge dung tub, white maggots floating in a layer, constantly wriggling.

This scene is practically a blessing for trypophobia sufferers.

As soon as Chen Wuji entered, he nearly got knocked over by the intense stench.

"Get rid of this thing quickly—are you trying to kill the enemy or us first?" Chen Wuji ordered, letting him interrogate the prisoner beside the dung tub; I don't know if the prisoner can endure it, but he surely can't.

In Chen Wuji's eyes, this is more terrifying than the smell of blood.

Chen Shuang received the order and quickly had people pull the dung tub away.

"Change the location!" Chen Wuji said, covering his mouth.

Although the dung tub was removed, the strong stench still lingered in the air.

"Here!"

The Qiang elder was lowered from the frame and moved to a side courtyard.

Although the dung-tub interrogation failed to pry open his mouth, he looks awful too—his face is waxy yellow, speckled with countless fecal-yellow spots.

Chen Wuji glanced at him briefly and roughly guessed what he had endured.

Surely he was overcome by the fumes and vomited; when he did, his vomit falling into that dung water would surely splash up a thousand dung flowers.

Just imagining that scene makes Chen Wuji's scalp go numb.

This bastard, faced with such disgusting torture, never opened his mouth the whole time.

He is indeed a tough bone.

"Take him away and wash him first." Chen Wuji said disgustedly.

This taste is really nauseating.

"Here!"