Mu Qingfeng was instantly startled awake and recalled the words the man had uttered just monts ago — the Jiumu Aristocratic Clan?
Mu Qingfeng glanced around. It was midnight, and rain was about to fall. Aside from the distant barking of a dog, there was truly no one else in sight.
Mu Qingfeng hesitated only for a mont before his expression quickly turned calm, and he swiftly examined the figure before him.
It was a middle-aged man dressed in plain black clothes. At first glance, he seed no different from an ordinary person. However, the man’s knuckles were covered with calluses, with even thicker ones on his forefinger and thumb. Mu Qingfeng imdiately deduced that this person was a soldier from the battlefield. Moreover, the man was injured in the chest and had fallen unconscious, making it impossible to get any information from him.
The Jiumu Aristocratic Clan currently guards the northern border, with General Ding responsible for its defense.
Mu Qingfeng promptly made a guess, bent down to lift the man, and slowly proceeded.
Compared to other aristocratic families, the Jiumu Aristocratic Clan was not outstanding within such circles and had long been in decline. Its lineage had withered, leaving behind only the eldest son, Xia Tongjun, and the daughter, Xia Zhiqian.
Mu Qingfeng did not know much about the Jiumu Clan, having only accidentally encountered Miss Xia at Siyan Lake, which prompted him to pay a bit more attention. Although Mu Qingfeng was not short, dragging a robust man was indeed laborious. The drizzling rain gradually intensified, and based on the vague impression in his mind, Mu Qingfeng headed towards the current residence of the Jiumu Mansion.
Fortunately, the mansion of the Jiumu Clan was unlike those of other aristocratic families. Initially, Mu Qingfeng was taken aback, but later realized that the Jiumu Clan in Nanzheng was one of the oldest aristocratic families, not one of those later ennobled, thus making its secluded location understandable. Because of this, Mu Qingfeng had so recollection of the Jiumu Mansion.
However, the distance was too far. It was not without difficulty that Mu Qingfeng hired a carriage and finally arrived at the current location of Jiumu Mansion, situated at the foot of Qisu Mountain. Though at the foot of the mountain, it greatly differed from the mansion of the Eldest Princess—especially since the construction of the Eldest Princess Mansion had included the excavation of Immortal Lake, pushing the Jiumu Mansion into a corner near the base of the mountain.
The old steward, holding an aged lantern, shivering, sluggishly opened the large gate.
"Who’s there? In the middle of the night," he jumped as he then saw the two figures.
"Uncle, this is soone from your mansion. He’s injured," Mu Qingfeng spoke, lacking strength, his legs nearly giving out from exhaustion.
The old steward flinched. Although slightly puzzled, he was sowhat experienced. Seeing that Mu Qingfeng was a fine gentleman, not appearing to be a bad sort, and looking at the unconscious man, though uncertain, he moved aside.
"Young master, let’s get him inside first," the steward didn’t say much but turned and called for help.
Several servants hurried out, not even properly dressed, imdiately coming to carry the man; without wasting words, they lifted him in and laid him down in the side room, while the old steward examined him closely with the lantern.
"Who is this?" Suddenly, an object fell from the black-clad man’s grasp, and a servant imdiately picked it up and handed it to the old steward.
The old steward’s expression changed, and he quickly looked towards the unconscious man.
"Young master, thank you for bringing him. We’ll inconvenience you to rest here for a mont while I report to the lady," the old steward said promptly, his expression carrying a touch of urgency.
"Uncle, go ahead," Mu Qingfeng knew, the other party had recognized the newcor. Although he hadn’t seen the token clearly earlier, he had roughly made out it to be a military token.
Mu Qingfeng thought about leaving, but he was rely a frail scholar; his legs felt like they weren’t his own. Additionally, the alcohol began to take effect, making him dizzy, and the figures before him seed to double.
"Young master, please have so rest—" The servants kindly offered Mu Qingfeng so hot tea. Thirsty, he drank a cup, and the hot tea circulated through his body, driving out the influence of the alcohol, and he gradually slumped over the table, falling asleep without a care.
anwhile, the old steward hurried into the inner courtyard. At this ti, except for the old woman on night shift, everyone inside had gone to sleep.
"Uncle Li, it’s so late. Can’t this wait until tomorrow..." the old woman yawned as she held up the lamp.
"What do you know? Quickly, take to see Madam," the old steward said as he barged in, "Lead the way."
Madam Xia was a very frail person. Thin and weak, she was helped up by the maid and the old woman. Upon hearing what the old steward said, she instantly panicked and was at a loss.
"Uncle Li, what should we do? What do we do now?"
"Madam, don’t panic. I’ve already sent Jing Si to fetch the physician, and I have sent soone to the Hongnong Aristocratic Clan’s mansion. By early tomorrow morning, we will have Madam Huang co over," Uncle Li said calmly.
Madam Xia nodded, but the first thing she thought of when she heard soone had been injured was her son. What if sothing had happened to him? What would she do then?
"Quickly, go wake up Miss."
Uncle Li thought about organizing, but he didn’t speak. The madam was timid and indecisive, whereas the miss was decisive. At this ti, it was better to have the miss around.
Xia Zhiqian ca out quickly, her hair adorned with the simplest of ornants, yet her clothes were neatly worn.
"Uncle Li, is the person who brought the news still here?" Xia Zhiqian imdiately asked, "If he brought the person here, he must have heard Uncle Hong speak. Ask him if he said anything else."
The old steward suddenly slapped his forehead, realizing he hadn’t thought of that, and imdiately sent soone to inquire.
The person sent returned quickly, saying that the ssenger was now so drunk that he had passed out in the side room and could not be woken by any ans.
Everyone felt powerless, but thankfully, the physician had arrived, and now all hopes were pinned on Uncle Hong.
...
Ju Nanyi hadn’t expected soone to call him at this ti, although he was on duty tonight. It was rely a symbolic duty; usually, there was nothing to tend to.
Ling Ge stood in the main hall and upon seeing Ju Nanyi, he imdiately approached him.
"Scholar Ju—" Ling Ge glanced around, "Lord Ju, sothing has happened. I’m unable to handle it and would like to ask you to co along."
Ling Ge trusted Ju Nanyi imnsely. Because of the incident at Siyan Lake, he had almost been implicated by the Crown Prince’s wrath. A slight misstep could have lost him his position, but Ju Nanyi had managed to divert the Crown Prince’s attention with just a few words.
Therefore, Ling Ge was very grateful to Scholar Ju and, considering the Crown Prince’s esteem, now Ju Nanyi held the position of Jingcheng in the Criminal Investigation and Prison Departnt. Fortunately, it was Ju Nanyi’s night to be on duty.
Ling Ge didn’t think twice and went straight to Ju Nanyi.
"Commander-in-chief Ling is being modest. I’ve just arrived at the Registrar, and I’m afraid..." Ju Nanyi was temporarily assigned here, and since he didn’t officially have the positional papers, he still addressed himself as a subordinate, even though his rank was equal to Ling Ge’s.
"Lord Ju, this is no ordinary matter. One of our guards has been attacked, and the manner of his death is very strange. Based on our past experience, it doesn’t seem to be the work of a human. I’m afraid sothing unclean has entered Zheng Capital."
Ju Nanyi was a bit startled upon hearing this, and even more puzzled. With the Empress Dowager’s birthday coming up and Mage Yu Sheng arriving, which unclean things dared to enter Zheng Capital at such a ti?
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