bookrebus Chapter 73 is a Bewitching Incense
Chapter 73 is a Bewitching Incense
The door had just opened when Sikong Jin peeked out from the crack. Vice-General Mei Ruhua and her entourage tried to rush in, but Sikong Jin, still dazed, quickly stepped in to block them, slamming the door shut. She exclaimed, "Oh dear, what are you doing? My head's been caught in the door..."
"Sir, we just saw a man in black break in, and the guards are searching everywhere."
Mei Ruhua, her face cold, glared at Sikong Jin, whose clothes were disheveled.
"Assassin? What assassin?"
Sikong Jin blinked in confusion and asked with a blank look.
"Sir! Are you okay?"
At this moment, Meng Benbo rushed over with several guards, panting, and said, "That assassin ran really fast. We searched everywhere but couldn't find him. We only found this in the corridor of the master's room."
Meng Benbo handed over a few thin sticks of incense.
"what?"
Sikong Jin took it and examined it carefully, then sniffed it. After a moment, she squinted, a hint of doubt on her face. "Hmm? It's sleeping incense... No wonder I was sleeping so soundly. Luckily, I'm quick-witted and always on guard, reacting instinctively in a crisis..."
"Sir, the sleeping incense hasn't been lit yet!"
Mei Ruhua glanced at him. "Since the master is alright, everyone can step back. Continue the search carefully, strengthen security, and make sure the master, madam, and young master Mo are safe. Expand the search area and be sure to find the assassin."
Lord Sikong nodded. “Do as Vice General Mei says. Vice General Meng, you are in charge of searching for the assassin. If the assassin is male, send him directly to the government office. If he is female, send him to me. I want to question him thoroughly.”
"Why are the men sent directly to the government office, but the women are sent here?"
Deputy General Mei squinted at Sikong Jin, his tone revealing suppressed anger.
"Oh dear, Deputy General Mei, why are you looking at me with such a strange gaze? Do you think I have any ill intentions? You know, male assassins usually need to be tortured to talk, but we can't use torture on our own. Female assassins are usually more emotional, and dealing with them requires psychological tactics... This, I have a lot of expertise in..."
"Sir, no ordinary person would ever have such absurd thinking as you..."
"Most people wouldn't have this mindset, so someone who thinks this way is definitely not an ordinary person!"
……
The next morning, after accompanying Sikong Mo to practice his skills, Sikong Shu sent a generous gift to Xinyue Xiaozhu. The matter of the assassin in the middle of the night was not publicized. Meng Benbo and his guards searched until dawn but found no clues, and the matter was left unresolved.
Apart from the guards at Crescent Moon Pavilion, almost no one in the manor knew about this.
After having breakfast, Sikong Jin leisurely went to the Ministry of War.
Needless to say, he was scolded by his superior Fang Huixue again. Lord Sikong also secretly cursed her a few times to vent his anger. Then, a guard came over with a large pile of documents for him to handle.
Later, upon hearing that he could hire an assistant, Lord Sikong went directly to Lady Fang Huixue without saying a word and told her that he was still short of a female assistant. He was then kicked out by Lady Fang Huixue.
Because of this, Zhu Si laughed at him for a long time. The Minister of Works was furious. He was very angry and severely punished Zhu Si by making him copy the official code of conduct six times, and he also made a special statement that he should write it with his left hand.
As evening approached, before the sun had set, Vice Generals Mei Ruhua and Meng Benbo, along with their guards, waited for Lord Sikong outside the Ministry of War. As soon as Lord Sikong emerged from the Ministry of War, the group headed straight for Prince Duan's residence.
……
Meanwhile, in an elegant study within the luxurious and magnificent Prince Duan's mansion.
"Your Highness, this is all the information Lord Sikong has."
The maidservant entered the study and announced softly, afraid of disturbing the woman who was engrossed in reading at her desk.
Sitting at the desk was a woman whose beauty was captivating.
She possessed an unparalleled beauty, her hair styled in a high bun adorned with pale purple rose buttons, and a vibrant rose glass hairpin tucked at an angle. Beneath her arched willow-leaf eyebrows were a pair of clear, indifferent star-like eyes, their gaze subtly revealing a wise glint and a hint of cunning. Her skin was as white as jade, her lips were delicately pink, and she wore an elegant, lotus-colored light blue dress, exuding a noble and refined air, like the cool moonlight cascading in a gentle breeze, captivating and enchanting all who beheld her.
The woman suddenly raised her head, her bright, autumn-water-like eyes sparkling with a faint shimmer. She glanced at the maid and said indifferently, "Just leave it there."
Her tone was gentle and pleasant. The maid was momentarily stunned, and it took her a long time to come to her senses. She quickly put the letter in her hand on the table and then silently withdrew.
"Wait a moment!"
The woman suddenly spoke, and she quickly stopped and turned around respectfully. "Yes, Your Highness, is there anything else you require?"
"Is the banquet all prepared? When will Father return to the manor?"
The princess gently closed the book in her hand, turned her head leisurely, looked at the warm afterglow of the setting sun outside the window, and asked in a low voice.
"Your Highness, everything is ready. The Lord has returned to the manor and is currently in the study discussing official business with several other officials. He has already sent someone to wait for Lord Sikong at the gate."
"Well, you go out."
The noble and beautiful princess uttered these words calmly. Only after the maid's figure disappeared outside the door did she pick up the envelope on the table, neatly open it, and find several neatly folded papers inside.
She carefully read the letter, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. After a long while, she sighed softly, staring absently at the letter in her hand, and murmured softly—
"Seven years have passed, Brother Jin, do you still remember Hua'er?"
'Boom boom! '
In a moment of confusion, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in!"
"Your Highness, the Lord requests your presence in his study, saying there is something important."
Xing Fuhua put away the letter, tucked it into her sleeve, and then stood up. "I'll be right there."
"This Prince Duan's mansion is magnificent and spectacular!"
This was the first time Meng Benbo, a country bumpkin, had ever seen such a magnificent mansion, just like a resplendent palace.
This was also Sikong Jin's first time visiting the Duanwang Mansion, which looked very grand and luxurious.
The spacious and grand hall features a luxurious carved carpet and eight massive white jade pillars adorned with lifelike dragons and phoenixes. Large luminous pearls surround the ceiling, making the entire hall as bright as day.
"My lord, this Prince Duan's mansion is even more magnificent than the Sikong's mansion. Look at that painting of eight horses in front, it's probably worth over a million taels of silver. And that blue and white porcelain vase next to it, it's worth at least five or six hundred thousand taels of silver."