GTB Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Something You Can’t Say Even If You’re Beaten to Death

Jiang Jiuchu, seeing the suddenly appearing man in black, screamed and recoiled in fright.

“Who are you?”

The black-clothed man, clutching the sword wound on his left shoulder, assessed Jiang Jiuchu with fierce eyes. Having seen countless women, he quickly realized the person before him was a woman disguised as a man.

Sensing someone behind him, his eyes darted around. After quickly analyzing the situation, he abandoned the idea of ​​kidnapping Jiang Jiuchu and instead said, “I am being pursued by enemies and fled here. I hope you can help me and send me back to the inner city of Kyoto.”

Leng Da immediately stepped forward to protect Jiang Jiuchu behind him, watching the man in front of him vigilantly.

“We have other matters to attend to. Whether we can return immediately depends on when our other master returns,” Leng Da said, then led Jiang Jiuchu into the tea room. He stood guard at the door, his eyes never leaving the man in black.

Shí Jìn looked at Leng Da in front of him and secretly rejoiced that he hadn’t acted rashly just now. Otherwise, even if he hadn’t been injured, he wouldn’t necessarily have been able to defeat this person.

He slowly sat down against the side of the boat. Having lost too much blood, his face was slightly pale, making him look somewhat sinister.

He lowered his head slightly, his eyes cast down, feeling very puzzled. The assassins didn’t seem to be pretending to assassinate him. Several of them clearly wanted him dead. It seemed he had leaked information this time, allowing someone to take advantage of the situation and try to deceive everyone by making a real attempt on his life.

Who exactly was it? Shí Jìn’s eyes flashed with ruthlessness, then the corners of his lips curled into a smile. Although he almost didn’t escape, the Crown Prince was definitely finished.

Things were better this way. The act of him and the Crown Prince being assassinated together would be even more convincing. After all, he had almost lost his life, so how could anyone suspect him?

As for the person behind it, he would definitely find them when he returned. The position of heir apparent could only be his.

Suddenly, a figure landed in front of him and asked in a cold voice, “Who are you?”

“Brother Fu.” Jiang Jiuchu saw Song Fuge return and immediately walked out of the tea room.

Song Fuge retracted his gaze and handed several types of flowers he had picked to Jiang Jiuchu, saying softly, “Go inside and wait for me.”

“Okay.” Jiang Jiuchu took the large bouquet of flowers, glanced at the person sitting on the ground, and turned to go back into the tea room.

Shí Jìn quickly stood up and cupped his fist in greeting. “This brother, I unfortunately encountered misfortune. Fortunately, this boat was here, so I had no choice but to intrude. Please forgive me.”

He secretly sized up the person in front of him, generally ruling out the possibility of him being an enemy. He thought that if this person refused to save him, he would truthfully reveal his identity.

Song Fuge’s gaze swept over the jade pendant at his waist imperceptibly. Without asking further, he instructed Leng Da behind him, “Take this young master down to the cabin to rest and help him bandage his wound.”

“Yes.” Leng Da stepped forward upon hearing this and gestured for Shí Jìn to follow. “Young master, this way please.”

Shí Jìn immediately cupped his fist and thanked him. “Thank you for your help. Please tell me your name, and I will definitely repay you handsomely in the future.”

Song Fuge said indifferently, “There’s no need for any reward. I’m a rather casual person. Meeting is fate, and it was just a convenient thing to do. We may not recognize each other if we meet again. Young master, don’t take it to heart.”

As Song Fuge spoke, he turned and entered the tea room. The jade pendant Shí Jìn wore at his waist was worn by several of the Dong Yue Kingdom’s princes.

Looking at his face, he already had some guesses in his mind. Perhaps this person was the ruthless and lustful Second Prince, Shí Jìn. He didn’t want to have anything to do with such a person.

Shí Jìn looked at Song Fuge’s departing figure. Seeing that he didn’t want to say more, he thought he was probably someone who didn’t lack money or thought that he was too dangerous since he was being assassinated, so he didn’t want to get involved.

Since that was the case, he didn’t need to say more. He then lifted his foot and followed Leng Da towards the lower level.

“Brother Fu, that person…” Jiang Jiuchu felt that the man in black didn’t seem like a good person.

Song Fuge said nonchalantly, “It’s nothing. Just pretend he doesn’t exist. Once the boat returns to the inner city, he’ll leave on his own.”

“Oh, okay.” Jiang Jiuchu didn’t think too much about it upon hearing this. She then looked at the flowers on the table. “Thank you for the flowers, Brother Fu. The arrangement is very beautiful. I don’t even recognize some of them.”

Song Fuge smiled. “I don’t know their names either. I just thought they looked nice, so I picked them all. Why are you still holding them? Put them down!”

“Oh, can I put them in that vase?” Jiang Jiuchu asked, pointing behind Song Fuge.

Song Fuge turned around, opened the carved and hollowed cabinet door, and took out the celadon vase. “You can put them in. This boat is mine. Chu’er can take whatever she wants and use it however she likes.”

Jiang Jiuchu was shocked upon hearing this. After all, such a boat was not cheap. But then she thought, Brother Fu’s Mo Feng Pavilion had items worth a thousand gold pieces, so what did a medium-sized painted boat amount to?

She took the vase and slowly and methodically wiped the flowers. She couldn’t help but think that the silver of their Jiang family was all managed by her mother.

Brother Fu was so good to her, he would definitely hand over the silver for her to manage in the future!

Wouldn’t she then be a wealthy magnate? As she thought about it, the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but rise. She thought, Ji Shutíng would definitely be envious to death at that time! Oh dear! How was she going to spend so much silver?

“What are you thinking about, Chu’er? Why are you so happy?” Song Fuge asked, looking at Jiang Jiuchu, who was arranging the flowers while lost in thought.

“Ah! Nothing… I wasn’t thinking about anything?” Jiang Jiuchu quickly snapped out of her thoughts, a hint of guilt flashing across her face.

“Thinking about nothing?” Song Fuge expressed disbelief. Her expression just now clearly showed she was deep in thought.

Seeing that Song Fuge didn’t quite believe her, Jiang Jiuchu quickly found a reason. “I was just thinking that I could travel the mountains and rivers with Brother Fu in the future, so I’m happy.”

Song Fuge stared at Jiang Jiuchu’s expression and pressed, “Really? Then why are you feeling guilty?”

“Me… am I feeling guilty?” Jiang Jiuchu blinked her big eyes and looked at Song Fuge innocently, feeling incredibly guilty inside.

“Yes, you’re feeling guilty.” Song Fuge stared at Jiang Jiuchu and nodded affirmatively.

He wasn’t too sure at first, but looking at the little girl’s appearance, he was absolutely certain that she must be thinking about something not very good, or rather, something good for her and not good for him.

After all, she was smiling at first, and she only felt guilty when he asked.

His curiosity was piqued. He moved closer to Jiang Jiuchu, his gaze fixed on her pink lips. “Tell me quickly, otherwise…”

Jiang Jiuchu swayed and quickly leaned back to the side, repeatedly denying, “I… I didn’t, I really didn’t.”

She was on the verge of tears. She was just thinking casually, how could Brother Fu have discovered something was wrong?

No, she couldn’t say it, she couldn’t say it even if she was beaten to death. Otherwise, Brother Fu would definitely think she was greedy and materialistic, how embarrassing would that be?