Chapter 1877: The Frail Young Master's Blessed Beautiful Wife 32

Seven days later again.

The Jin Manor even began preparing funeral supplies, and the atmosphere inside the manor was unprecedentedly solemn.

Correspondingly, Lord Sheng discovered that the spies planted inside the Jin Manor could no longer enter Luochun Courtyard, and the secrets were becoming increasingly hard to probe.

Yet the weak poison prepared each day was still watched by the spies as Jin Chen drank it down, making Lord Sheng anxious as if on fire, wishing he could personally enter Luochun Courtyard to investigate.

Thus, taking advantage of the Jin family members going to pray for blessings at the North Mountain Outside Temple, Lord Sheng still couldn't restrain himself; Jin Chen, who hadn't left Luochun Courtyard for a long time, sat in the middle of the entourage, inside the heavily guarded carriage.

Ye Yuchi stood by his side, lowering the carriage curtain.

"Someone is following us."

Jin Chen pinched his cheek, "Everything is ready today, A Ci, don't worry."

Ye Yuchi helplessly grabbed his hand, "After all, he's someone the Prince Li has nurtured for many years."

"Don't be careless."

Ye Yuchi, in her previous life, although she had no impression of this Lord Sheng, but after Duan Lingfeng became an aide of Prince Li's Manor, helping him usurp the throne and growing ever more pleased with himself, she began to deeply fear Prince Li.

Within the mountain weeds, a middle-aged man in indigo-blue short martial attire held a bow and arrow, coldly gazing at the carriage convoy below the slope.

Lord Sheng let out a cold snort, the scar on his face looking menacing.

"Ji Ji De, this revenge delayed twenty years—I hope you will be satisfied."

"This Jin Chen, who snatched my wife and children's fortune to be born, what right does he have to live carefree and at ease?"

"Charge!"

Lord Sheng gave an order, and immediately several squads of sword-wielding soldiers rushed out from the mountains, their momentum fierce as they charged at the carriage convoy.

"Whoa!"

The leading manor guards immediately reined in the warhorses, and, following the prearranged plan, charged onto the side path.

"Kill him! Kill Jin Chen!"

The soldiers pursued relentlessly; the mountain paths were mostly similar, and they had no idea this path was wrong.

By the time Lord Sheng realized something was off, the carriage convoy had already rushed into the bustling center street of Chuan Ze Cheng, with stalls lining both sides mostly belonging to the Jin Manor.

"Make way quickly!"

Duoyu rushed forward shouting, the reins lashing the horse's legs, the roar extremely loud.

"Assassins are trying to kill the young master of the Jin Manor! A reward of one hundred taels of silver for anyone who helps!"

"Not good!"

Lord Sheng cursed lowly, "Hurry up! Kill the person in that middle carriage! Don't waste time!"

If ordinary citizens were blocking the road, even the Prince Li's side would have trouble explaining.

But just then, the curtains of several carriages ahead fluttered in the wild wind, and manor troops rushed out—far from what Lord Sheng had expected; it was actually Ji Ji De and his wife, who had accompanied Jin Chen to pray for blessings.

"Really lively."

Jin Chen slightly lifted the carriage curtain, gave a courteous smile to the finally revealed Lord Sheng, closed his folding fan, his handsome, noble visage full of vigor—there was no trace of frailty.

"We've been tricked!"

Lord Sheng never expected this person to be so young, with such a deep scheming mind, putting on an act for so long just to lure him out!

But the next second, Lord Sheng was shocked to see Jin Chen "accidentally" fall from the carriage, rolling onto a stall and clutching his chest, unable to catch his breath.

"Young master!"

The stall owner hurriedly reached out to help, single-handedly grabbing the winnowing basket on the stall to block the soldiers' incoming blades.

Jin Chen breathed weakly, his complexion instantly turning pale and pitiable, even his thin lips bleeding.

"Lord Sheng…… I know you were once a close friend of my father, yet we haven't met in over ten years—why do you want to exterminate me?"

"Lord Sheng…… Who is Lord Sheng? When did Chuan Ze Cheng have such a figure?"

"Although this young master's timing is unfortunate, the Jin Manor often distributes porridge to help us—we can't just stand by and do nothing!"

"Exactly! We can't just watch outsiders bully the young master of the Jin Manor!"

Soon, the soldiers wielding long blades were surrounded by the populace, impenetrable; without Lord Sheng's order, they dared not act rashly.

Ye Yuchi, heartbroken, supported the disappointed Jin Chen, "Lord Sheng, where did these troops come from? To me they don't look like regular soldiers."

Lord Sheng's expression changed, he coldly drew his blade toward Ye Yuchi, "Nonsense!"

The clever townsfolk speculated, "If not regular soldiers, then could they be… privately raised troops?"

"Impudence! How dare you doubt this official! I am… the Li…"

Before Lord Sheng's words even finished, a black shadow suddenly flew from the street corner, covered his mouth and abducted him, the movement so swift Jin Chen barely had time to react.

"Good partner."

The desire to win suddenly exploded!

Jin Chen casually picked up a hairpin that had fallen from the stall onto the ground, blocked his fingertip with his sleeve, and shot it out without a trace.

Whoosh!

The black shadow that had grabbed Lord Sheng's shoulder was deeply pierced, let out a muffled grunt of surprise and looked back, only to meet Jin Chen's peach-blossom eyes filled with inquiry; his heart panicked, and, enduring the pain, he hurriedly fled.

Lord Sheng was suddenly abducted; the remaining soldiers and assassins, leaderless, could not withstand the Jin Manor troops that Jin Chen had personally trained for over two months, and were ultimately bound and taken back to the manor for interrogation.

Meanwhile, the rumor that the young master of the Jin Manor had been gravely ill for months also collapsed on its own as Jin Chen bowed and expressed his thanks.

Aside from his face being a little pale and looking a bit sorrowful, he was still the young master who had been strolling the streets these past days, spending money freely.

——

Liu Family's rear courtyard.

"Lord Sheng! Do you know how much we've exposed today?!"

Duan Lingfeng's tone was furious as he stood up, coldly waving his sleeves, "If the matter of raising private troops gets out, the prince will have our skins!"

"I just wanted to test when that Jin Chen would die." Lord Sheng's face also looked terrible; he held back the teacup again and again, but in the end couldn't help throwing it away.

Though young, this person's scheming is not small; compared to his father, he simply exceeds him.

Even he was deceived.

Lord Sheng straightened his sleeves, glanced a few times at the black shadow guarding the courtyard, and asked doubtfully: "Young Marquis, where did these secret guards come from? I, old man, have never seen them before."

Duan Linfeng's gaze was somewhat strange: "Lord Sheng, these are Prince Li's secret guards; the Prince specially transferred them from the capital to assist."

Upon hearing this, Lord Sheng's face flushed then paled; saying it was assistance, it was actually surveillance.

It seems the events of this period have indeed displeased the Prince.

No, I need to consult the Master again.

Lord Sheng greatly trusts this Master whom he personally promoted; many of his clever schemes come from this person's hand.

That night, the news was transmitted back to Jin Manor.

The grey-clothed person said: "Ye Zining truly understands Duan Linfeng's preferences; after helping me place three beauties in the Liu Family's rear courtyard, they are now our eyes and ears."

Jin Chen held Ye Yuchi in his arms, lazily resting his chin on her neck, his tone casual.

Spread the word; I will go to the capital's imperial palace to accuse Lord Sheng, and I will not let it rest easily.

Yes, Young Master.

The grey-clothed person received the order, was about to leave, then heard Jin Chen say with interest: "By the way, have Duo Yu find the leftover New Year's firecrackers and set them all off at the East City Charity Estate tomorrow night."

Ah…?

The grey-clothed person did not understand and was shocked.

Just setting off fireworks—does the Young Master have any other orders?

Jin Chen came up with a plan, laughing heartily: "Just consider it a way to relax after being too busy lately."

... Yes, thank you, Young Master.

The grey-clothed person tried to read something from the Young Mistress's expression, but Ye Yuchi likewise did not know.

When only the two of them remained in the courtyard, Ye Yuchi wrapped her arms around Jin Chen's neck, raised her eyes doubtfully, and asked: "Husband, what are you planning to do?"

Since the Master spoken of by Lord Sheng is clever, almost demonic in wit, why not abduct him and make use of him?

Jin Chen kissed his ear, saying: "Ah Ci will know tomorrow."