Chapter 206: Robbed!

Su Jiu smirked and threw him a glance, before walking forward to knock on the door. Her voice involuntarily became gentler, probably because of the serene atmosphere surrounding the area.

“Is anyone inside?”

Very soon, an elderly woman walked out of the house. She stood behind the wooden gate, peering at Su Jiu and Ji Yuxian. “Who are the two of you?” she asked.

“We’re just passing by. It’s late, and we’re thinking of seeking shelter at your place for the night. Is that inconvenient for you?” Ji Yuxian held Su Jiu’s hand and answered politely.

“Oh!” The elderly woman immediately smiled amiably. She looked back and shouted, “Old man, there are guests!”

“Ah?” An elderly man walked out from behind the door. He had a head full of white hair and appeared to have problems with his hearing. He looked up and tilted his head as he threw them a glance, before saying with a smile, “We have guests! Please come in quickly!”

As he was speaking, the elderly woman had already opened the gate for Su Jiu and Ji Yuxian. “Both of you, please come in!” she spoke as she smiled kindly.

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“Apologies for the disturbance!” Ji Yuxian bowed his head with a faint smile, before securing the horse outside the gate and walking into the courtyard with Su Jiu.

The elderly pair welcomed Su Jiu and Ji Yuxian into their house hospitably. In a large wooden shack outside, layers of smoke emerged from the windows as the food was being prepared.

The layout inside the hut was very modest. A mottled antique wooden table was placed in the center of the room, and a wooden counter had been built against the eastern face of the wall. On the counter were teacups, tea leaves, oil lamps, and other objects.

Although the interior of the room was plain, it was neat and tidy, and not a single speck of dust could be found on the tabletop.

The old woman poured out a cup of tea for the two of them. “Very few people stop by here. The two of you must have lost your way!” she said with a smile.

Su Jiu exchanged a glance with Ji Yuxian and grinned without saying a word. She only thanked her warmly.

The elderly man picked up the bag of tobacco on the bench and said with a smile, “The two of you must not have eaten on the road, and we just happen to have rice in the pot! You guys can continue chatting. I’ll go and replenish the firewood!”

“I’ll go!” the elderly woman replied.

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“No need, you can accompany the two youngsters here. I can go alone!” The elderly man turned his head back to speak, before walking out with a hunched posture and a hand behind his back.

Even at this age, it was obvious that this elderly couple shared a very close relationship.

The elderly woman was not used to interacting with strangers, most likely due to her living as a hermit. She poured Su Jiu and Ji Yuxian a cup of tea, before heading into the courtyard.

The elderly man sat inside the wooden shack to refill the kindling, while the elderly woman carried a basin filled with chicken feed, before proceeding to rap the fence with a wooden stick several times. The hens, which were busy pecking on the wood, instantly scampered into the courtyard, surrounding the basin and clucking away.

At that moment, a large yellow dog ran in, carrying a rabbit in its mouth. The elderly man immediately stood up and walked over with a grin. “You knew that there would be guests today!”

The large yellow dog happily wagged its tail, waiting to be rewarded for its achievements.

The elderly woman walked over and added, “I will slaughter and clean this rabbit. We can stew it for the guests to eat!”

The elderly man hurriedly stopped her. “No, the water is cold! Let me do it!”

“Then, I’ll help you pour out some water!”

“Alright!”

The two of them laughed, before busying themselves in the courtyard, with the large yellow dog standing guard at the side.

Su Jiu leaned her body against the doorpost while holding a cup of tea. She gazed at the small courtyard, the elderly couple, the yellow dog, and the hens. She found this scene extremely peaceful and serene.

Ji Yuxian hugged her waist from behind. “What are you looking at?” he asked in curiosity.

“Ji Yuxian, when we get old, will we also be like this?” Su Jiu tilted her head and asked, her eyes radiant and shimmering.

Ji Yuxian’s eyes dimmed, and he gently kissed her cheeks. “We will!”

“Then, when the time comes, we can also build a few thatched huts in the mountain, raise a dog, as well as several chickens and ducks.” Su Jiu’s smile was pure.

Being woken up by the crow of a rooster and the singing of the birds in the morning, and making breakfast together after getting out of bed, then taking the dog out in the mountain for a walk.

Waking up at sunrise and resting at sunset, no longer fearing the end of time, and no longer fearing the fate of humankind.

Because… nothing could make them separate.

“Alright, everything will be according to what you wish for!” The man’s voice was doting and cheerful.

…

The rabbit meat had to be stewed, so dinner was pushed back a little. As a result, the elderly woman was very apologetic about it.

“Both of you must be hungry! There isn’t much good food in the mountains, but please have some of these!”

A fragrant dish of silky and tender rabbit meat was placed in the middle of the table, sautéed together with some local sun-dried wild vegetables, as well as bean curd. It appeared appetizing, and no worse than the dishes cooked in the city restaurants.

Su Jiu took a sniff, and complimented the dish sincerely, “It smells very good!”

“As long as the two of you don’t hate it!” The elderly couple were affable and not overly cordial, which made them feel at home.

The rice was coarse grain, a huge difference from the type that Ji Yuxian would usually eat. Despite that, he still ate calmly and leisurely, and he did not give off the impression that he was having difficulty swallowing it. As he ate, he picked up the meat and deboned it, before passing it to Su Jiu. When he saw her eating in a hurry, he paused to pat her on the back.

“No one is going to snatch the food away. Eat slowly!”

Su Jiu’s lips were stained with grease as she ate. “It’s way too delicious. It’s even better than the dishes at Qingxin Tavern!”

When the elderly woman heard that Su Jiu enjoyed the food, she happily pushed the meat dish towards her. “These are just unrefined tea and plain dishes. If this lady likes it, just help yourself to more!”

Su Jiu’s mouth was stuffed full of rice, and she spoke in a muffled voice, “You all eat too!”

Ji Yuxian’s lips subconsciously curved into a smile, probably because it had been a long time since he saw Su Jiu this happy.

After dinner, the elderly woman led them both into the western hut. She lit up the oil lamp on the table and said benevolently, “Although the bed is a bit old, the bedding is all new. Both of you must be tired after traveling the whole day. There’s hot water outside, and both of you should take a bath before resting!”

“Many thanks! We have troubled you so much!” Su Jiu replied with a smile.

“Not at all! It has been a long time since someone stopped by here. When we saw you both, the old man and I were elated!” The elderly woman smiled shyly, before turning around to leave.

Su Jiu turned around and arranged the bedding, while Ji Yuxian went out and returned shortly after. He stretched over and carried her up, before placing her on the bed.

The man knelt beside the bed on one knee and extended a hand to help her remove her shoes.

Beside his hand, there was a basin of steaming hot water, meant for washing one’s feet.

“Don’t!” Su Jiu subconsciously retracted her foot.

“I’m your husband! What’s there to be shy about?” Ji Yuxian lifted his head, with a warm tender smile on his picturesque and handsome face.

As he said this, he held her feet and removed her socks and shoes. After testing the temperature of the water, he soaked her feet into the water basin.

The man bent his body over, and his crimson robe dangled beneath his feet. Under the glow of the lantern, his black hair was akin to silk, and his profile was exquisite. With ample focus and concentration, he slowly massaged her slender and soft legs. The way he washed her feet did not seem lowly or menial, but rather, he made it appear as though it was a very natural thing to do.

Su Jiu glanced at her man, and her heart melted like the moonlight in the mountains.

The large yellow dog in the courtyard must have heard some noise, as he howled in the direction of the mountains. The flustered hens were clucking away, while the elderly couple was chatting about random topics in the neighboring hut, with laughter intermingled with their faint voices.

The night on the mountain was both lively and quiet at the same time.

The crescent moon hung clearly above the mountain peak, shrouding the mountain in a layer of misty splendor.

As the night deepened, the yellow dog and the hens in the courtyard all quietened down. The elderly couple had also extinguished their candles and had gone to rest, plunging the mountain into a deep sleep.

Su Jiu lay in Ji Yuxian’s embrace as she gazed at the lucent moon beyond the window. Starlight was reflected in her eyes, sparkling and twinkling brightly.

Ji Yuxian wrapped the girl within the quilt as he stroked her black hair. He asked in a low voice, “Is it cold?”

It was still the lunar month, and the mountains were chilly. At night, the wind was so cold that it permeated their bones.

Su Jiu shook her head, and her tender voice was slightly coquettish as she said, “Ji Yuxian, it’s nice here. I genuinely don’t want to leave!”

“Then, we can build a hut here as well. We can stay here whenever we want to!” Ji Yuxian replied softly.

Su Jiu giggled without replying.

“I’m serious!” Ji Yuxian propped her chin up as he smiled.

“Then, what about the Ji Manor? And the Dragon Conqueror Gang?” Su Jiu chuckled as she asked.

“No need to bother about them!” Ji Yuxian bent over and kissed the space between her brows.

He did not know how long he had to remain by her side. He only wished to see her happy every day.

“Once everything is settled, we can come back here!” Su Jiu said.

Ji Yuxian smiled faintly. “Alright!”

“Jiu’er!”

After a period of silence, Ji Yuxian suddenly opened his mouth to speak solemnly, “…One day, when I’m no longer around, the Ji Manor will belong to you. However, I hope the Ji Manor will be your support, and not tie you down instead. You can do whatever you want freely, do you understand?”

Su Jiu raised her head with a frown. “Where are you going?”

“I’m not going anywhere! It’s just a contingency!” Ji Yuxian lowered his head and stroked her brows, the depths of his eyes boundless.

Su Jiu’s heart suddenly became flustered, and she hugged his waist tightly. “Ji Yuxian, you’re not allowed to have a contingency. And you’re certainly not allowed to leave me!”

“Mm! I’m not leaving!” Ji Yuxian bent over and kissed her soothingly, with exceptional tenderness.

Su Jiu supported his face and deepened the kiss, the fluster in her heart unable to settle. A hint of bashfulness flashed past her eyes as she asked softly, “Ji Yuxian, do you want me? Tonight?”

Under the dim shadows of the moon, black billows emerged in the man’s phoenix eyes. He suppressed them with utmost effort and hugged her with a smile. “How can we do it here? When we consummate our marriage, I want my wife to be comfortable.”

Su Jiu’s eyes were full of embarrassment as she muttered melancholically, “Fine! If you want to do it in the future, I won’t let you!”

Ji Yuxian chortled as he tightened his grip on her.

Drowsiness slowly overwhelmed her, and Su Jiu slipped into her dreamlands in the man’s arms. In her dream, Ji Yuxian was sitting behind her, while a cool breeze and the chirping of birds rang in her ears. It was so perfect and intoxicating that it made her reluctant to wake up again.

The moon was already high in the sky. When he heard the girl’s steady breathing in his arms, Ji Yuxian slowly opened his long eyes. He gently kissed her, treating her like an otherworldly and precious treasure.

He wanted her, and he was going crazy thinking about it, but…

He could not do it for now!

Perhaps one day, he would never wake up from his dreams. He could not want her selfishly, only to abandon her afterward!

Without him, she could still live without any restraints.

The man’s exquisite visage was slightly pale. He closed his eyes and planted a kiss between her brows with extraordinary tenderness, just like the night sky brushing by her dreams.

When Su Jiu woke up the next morning, she placed 100 taels of silver under the pillow.

Since the elderly couple had distanced themselves from secular life, they might not have any use for these things. Still, she could only convey their appreciation through this.

After breakfast, Su Jiu and Ji Yuxian bid farewell to the elderly couple, before mounting their horse and continuing their journey.

The two of them then reached a small town at the base of the mountain at noon. When Su Jiu saw the streets in the town, she found it slightly familiar. When she finally saw that noodle restaurant, she suddenly remembered.

The two of them walked in. It seemed that the small noodle restaurant was enjoying decent business, as all the tables seemed to be occupied.

Su Jiu found an empty table at the innermost part of the restaurant and sat down with Ji Yuxian.

A young lady walked over, her face still possessing the innocence of a child. “What do you two want to eat?” she asked with a youthful voice.

Su Jiu pinched her cheeks and answered with a smile, “Go tell your mother that we want two bowls of noodles and one platter of beef!”

“Okay!” The young lady skipped over to the kitchen at the back.

She conveyed the order to her mother, before coming out to have fun at the back of the counter. An old woman walked in from outside with a stick of candied hawthorn in her hand. She smiled kindly and said to the young lady, “My dear granddaughter, come and see what Grandma bought for you!”

The young lady immediately jumped out with a grin. “Candied hawthorn!”

The old woman hugged the girl in her arms. “Hold it carefully, and don’t get your hands sticky!”

“Grandma, eat it first!” The young lady received the candied hawthorn in her hands and moved it to the old woman’s mouth.

“Grandma won’t eat it! I bought this for you!”

The grandmother and granddaughter pair sat near the door, giggling and chatting away harmoniously.

It appeared that after seeing Qiao An, this old woman had already accepted that man and their child. Their family was harmonious and complete, and their relationship improved day by day.

Ji Yuxian had also guessed who this family was. He smiled and asked, “Back then, how did you manage to figure out their relationship with Qiao An?”

They had only bought a bowl of noodles while passing by the area.

“After Qiao An joined the gang, he did not talk much about his personal issues. Only once, after getting drunk, did he mention that his wife had betrayed him and that he had killed someone before fleeing. When we were here to eat noodles back then, I heard them discuss their family matters, and I had a strange intuition. Hence, I especially kept this store at the back of my mind.” Su Jiu had remembered the scar on the man’s face, and had heard him mention the name ‘Yu Xiu.’ She had never expected that they indeed had something to do with Qiao An.

Ji Yuxian smiled lightly. “It might have been fate!”

A woman carried out the noodles from the kitchen. She asked her daughter, “Where are the customers who ordered the beef and the noodles?”

The young lady immediately pointed in Su Jiu’s direction. “There!”

The woman carried a tray over, and the gloominess on her face disappeared. Instead, it was replaced with a serene smile. “Sorry for making these honored customers wait for a long time!”

She bowed her head and placed the bowls of noodles on the table. When she slightly lifted her head and caught sight of Su Jiu, she was instantly frozen in place.

“M-Master Su?”

Su Jiu’s lips curved into a smile. “We were passing by, so we stopped by your family’s store to have some noodles!”

“Yes, yes!” The woman smiled emotionally. She called someone over, “Mother, take a look and see who came by!”

The old woman at the door raised her head doubtfully to have a look. After gaping at them for a while, she finally stood up shakily. “It’s… it’s…”

“It’s Master Su!” The woman immediately interrupted with a smile.

“Right… right!” The old woman’s cloudy eyes brightened up. “Master, why have you stopped by?”

“I passed here for work-related matters,” Su Jiu explained calmly with a smile.

After exchanging several pleasantries, the old woman asked, “Is Yu Xiu doing well?”

“Yes, after sitting for the imperial examinations, Qiao An ranked third and received the title ‘Tan Hua.’ He was officiated into court, and he’s now the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue!” Su Jiu replied.

The old woman and her daughter were both astounded. They could never imagine that after one short year, Qiao An would become an important court official.

“I just knew that Yu Xiu was a capable person,” the elderly woman choked back a sob, having been moved to tears. “He became an official! Our family’s Hong Qin was not blessed enough.”

“Mother, what’s the point of talking about this now?” the woman complained.

“Mm, let’s not talk about the past!” The old woman hugged the young lady at the side.

The woman called her husband out as well and introduced him to Su Jiu.

Feelings lingered as they exchanged looks, and it appeared as though their relationship was even stronger than before.

Without being laden with guilt, the husband and wife pair could finally start their lives together properly.

After the meal, the family vehemently refused to accept Su Jiu’s money. Su Jiu thanked them before leaving with Ji Yuxian.

Their horse passed through the town, and when they turned back, they could still vaguely see the woman and the girl standing outside the entrance of the noodle restaurant in the distance.

Outside the town, the road had become a meandering path that led down the mountain. The trees on both sides were thick and dense, and the moment they entered, it was dim and dark.

Both of them sat on the same steed. The horse trotted slowly, and Su Jiu nestled in Ji Yuxian’s arms, lazily observing the mountain scenery on both sides. After having her fill, her eyelids drooped drowsily.

“S-stop! I opened this path, and I planted these trees! If you want to pass through, leave behind your possessions and your valuables!”

Suddenly, a stuttering voice was heard ahead.

The horse came to a stop, and Su Jiu abruptly opened her eyes to look over. She only saw two people popping out of nowhere. One of them was holding an ax, while the other person was holding a vegetable knife as he glared at them ‘fiercely,’ blocking the center of the path.

She knew that the two of them had never robbed anyone before. They intentionally plastered on a malicious and devilish expression, and one of them had even cut out a piece of black cloth to cover an eye, posing as a “one-eyed dragon.”

Unable to hold it in any longer, Su Jiu burst into laughter. She used the cloak belonging to the man behind her to cover her face and chortled, to the point that her whole body shook.

“Wife, be more serious! We’re being robbed!” Ji Yuxian hooked his lips upwards into a faint smile.

“Quickly… Quickly get off the horse!” the robber opposite them ordered.

Su Jiu coughed lightly several times, before straightening her posture. She asked them with a bright smile, “Which organization do the two of you belong to? Even if we’re being robbed, we need to understand first!”

“Open your dog eyes widely and listen carefully! We belong to the Dragon Conqueror Gang!” the one-eyed dragon harrumphed coldly with pride.

“Dragon Conqueror Gang? Which Dragon Conqueror Gang?” Su Jiu asked curiously.

“If you haven’t even heard of the Dragon Conqueror Gang, you surely must have heard of Master Su Jiu!” The robber scoffed with disdain at Su Jiu’s ignorance.

“Oh, so it was Master Su Jiu!” Ji Yuxian nodded his head with understanding.

“Now, you should be scared!” The two robbers crooked their lips and sneered, “Hurry up and get off the horse. Leave behind all the money on you, along with your horse!”

Ji Yuxian raised his hand and tucked Su Jiu’s hair, which had been ruffled by the wind, behind her ear. “In the past, did you all come out to rob others like this?” he asked with a smile.

Su Jiu threw him a glance and said indignantly, “We were honorable mountain bandits!”

Ji Yuxian’s chest thumped, and his lips glistened like water. “What about them?”

“They…” Su Jiu giggled, “At the very most, they’re chefs that have gone through a mid-life career switch!”

Chefs that had a mid-life career switch?

Ji Yuxian chuckled and kissed Su Jiu’s face. “Then I must trouble Master Su Jiu to make a move personally, and send these two ‘chefs’ on their way back to the shrine!”

When the two robbers on the other side realized that Su Jiu and Ji Yuxian did not have much of a reaction, and were still whispering sweet nothings to each other, they instantly felt as though their dignity was shredded and their profession was insulted. They raised their voices and lifted the knife and ax in their hands as they slashed them towards the two of them.

“Ah!”

A terrified cry shot out from the top of the mountain. A man was descending the mountain with a donkey cart, and when he saw the bandits conducting a robbery, he shouted, before using the donkey cart to block the two robbers. He dragged Su Jiu’s horse and ran towards the direction of the town.

Su Jiu was stunned.

That horse was Ji Yuxian’s personal mount, and it was as arrogant and intelligent as its owner. No matter how many times the man tugged it, the horse did not budge. He lifted his head and yelled, “This horse has been shocked silly! Hurry up, you two! Get off and run away on your feet!”

“Who is this brother?” Su Jiu remained seated on the horse as she asked.

“I was just passing by!” That person raised his head to answer.

At that moment, the two robbers had climbed over the donkey cart with much effort, and they were already charging over. They raised their axes viciously and swung them at that passer-by.

“Who asked you to be such a busybody?!”

Su Jiu’s eyes became cold. She leaped forward to give a mighty kick, sending the two men flying in an instant.

The girl stood on the donkey cart, overflowing with charisma.

“I originally assumed that the two of you were just being forced by circumstances, leaving you with no choice but to rob a few valuables. I never imagined that you would want to hurt a human life, using the name of my Dragon Conqueror Gang as your front. This little master can no longer spare you!”

The two of them collapsed onto the ground, and their eyes looked up in stupefaction. Flabbergasted, they asked, “You… Who are you?”

Su Jiu jumped off the donkey cart and teased with a smile, “Aren’t you all from the Dragon Conqueror Gang? How can you fail to recognize your own Chief?”

The Chief of the Dragon Conqueror Gang?

Master Su Jiu!

The eyes of the two robbers instantly dimmed, and they fainted just like that.

What kind of sin had they committed? While posing in the name of the Dragon Conqueror Gang, they had attempted to rob the Chief of the Dragon Conqueror Gang herself!

When the passer-by at the side noticed the sudden reversal, he was shocked silly as well.

Su Jiu found a rope meant for securing firewood on the donkey cart. She proceeded to tie up the two robbers, before throwing them onto the cart.

She walked towards the passer-by and fished out a silver ingot, before passing it to him. “We have to continue our journey on the road. I must trouble this fellow-townsman to escort these two people to the government office. This money can be considered as traveling expenses!”

The passer-by hurriedly shook his head and rejected, “I will certainly send these bad guys to the government office. I can’t accept this silver!”

“Just take it! Treat it as a form of our gratitude for the aid of your donkey cart!”

Su Jiu shoved the silver into the man’s hand, before turning her head to face Ji Yuxian, who had extended a hand towards her. Under the sunlight, the man’s hand was immaculate and elegant. It was as fair as jade, and not even a trace of his veins could be seen.

Su Jiu grasped his hand and mounted the horse with ease.

Ji Yuxian flicked the reins, and the steed raised its hooves. It leaped up and trod on the donkey cart, before jumping right off.

The two robbers on the cart had their stomachs stamped on by the horse, and they instantly raised their heads to wail.

Su Jiu felt that Ji Yuxian’s horse must have done that purposely!

“Both of you, please take care. I will send these men to the government office!” That passer-by seemed to have woken up from his stupor, as he waved at Su Jiu and Ji Yuxian.

Su Jiu reclined into Ji Yuxian’s arms, as pleased as a punch.

Behind her, the man’s eyes were brimming with warmth. He kissed her forehead gently. “Are you that happy that someone is doing bad things under the guise of the Dragon Conqueror Gang?”

Su Jiu quirked her brows. “That just means that the Dragon Conqueror Gang’s fame has spread to all corners of the country!”

Ji Yuxian smiled gently. “Indeed, Master Su Jiu’s name has become renowned far and wide!”

“Naturally so!” Su Jiu smiled so brightly that flowers seemed to bloom in her eyes.

Even though she said this, Su Jiu still planned to deploy some men out to Yuhu Mountain to root out these wandering bandits once she returned to Shengjing City.

Their Dragon Conqueror Gang was now involved in honorable businesses, and could not risk having their reputation dirtied by these random cats and dogs.

Afterward, two of them continued on their journey.

When evening came, they arrived at the closest town to Shengjing – Huangliu Town.

The sky was getting dark, and both of them planned to stay the night at the town, before entering the city early the next day.

Once they entered the town, they realized that it was way too small. There were simply no guesthouses, and they could only seek shelter at the house of a landlord surnamed ‘Liu’ for the night.

When both of them weaved through the streets to look for this Landlord Liu’s house, they encountered a woman in shabby clothes begging along the streets.

Quite a few people were crowding around the area. Some of them had good intentions and passed her a bowl of rice. The woman received it and thanked them, though she did not eat it. Instead, she carefully poured it into a cloth bag, before returning the bowl. “I will leave it for my son to eat. He still hasn’t eaten yet!” she said with a smile.

“He has already chased you out! Why do you still care about him?” another person asked hatefully.

“My family’s Sheng’er also had no choice, so I don’t blame him!” The woman smiled bitterly.

Su Jiu looked on curiously. Her footsteps slowed as she heard the other people debate.

“What a sin! That mistress from the Zhao Family was picked up from the mountains. After being fed well for one whole year, she ran away, and when she returned, she even brought a mother back!”

“Indeed, the moment she arrived, she chased the Zhao Family’s mother out of the house. The mother and daughter pair then occupied the Zhao Family, and I heard that they eat well and laze around every day, only relying on Zhao Sheng’s income from selling firewood!”

“Ay! Zhao Sheng has no conscience. Now that he has a wife, he abandoned his aged mother!”

“I heard that Zhao Sheng’s father-in-law’s family does business in Shengjing City. They know that many influential people, including his wife and mother-in-law, use this to oppress him so that Zhao Sheng would not dare to oppose them.”

“For real? If their family is involved in the business, would she still follow her daughter to the mountains to suffer? Only that dumb Zhao Sheng would believe that!”

“Really? I heard that Zhao Sheng saw it with his own eyes!”

…

Su Jiu’s footsteps gradually slowed down, and she turned her head towards Ji Yuxian. “Su Yueqiu and Madame Lin are no longer members of the Su Family. I should not meddle with their affairs, but the mother and daughter pair are using my name for their gain. I can’t look on without lifting a finger!”

After listening to the conversations of the pedestrians, Su Jiu understood that the “Zhao Sheng” they mentioned referred to the man that kept looking for Su Yueqiu.

Su Yueqiu had brought Madame Lin into the mountains, and they were still throwing their weight around like before.

They had even used the Su Family to oppress the Zhao Family, and Su Jiu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Mm! Let’s go over and have a look!” Ji Yuxian pulled Su Jiu by the hand.

The two of them inquired others to find out where the Zhao Manor was. They then galloped over on horseback, taking advantage of the fact that the sky was not dark yet.

The Zhao Manor was ten kilometers away from the township, and they arrived within the time it would take to burn a stick of incense.

The Zhao Manor was a standalone hut, and they lived at the base of the mountain. They were completely different from the elderly couple that met on the mountains; the Zhao Family’s courtyard was in a complete jumble, with flying chickens and leaping dogs running amok.

The gates rattled in the wind, and before they even stepped through the doors, they could already hear the cries of a child.

Su Jiu peeked inside through the gaps in the fence and spotted Zhao Sheng sitting in the kitchen shed, fanning a fire to cook. He was carrying a child of approximately one year old on his back, and the child was wailing away, probably because he was being tormented by the thick plumes of smoke.

Piles of firewood and random junk littered the courtyard, and everything was dirty and messy.

Zhao Sheng coaxed the child, replenished the firewood, and had to make sure that the porridge did not burn, all at the same time. His four limbs were all completely occupied.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a woman walked out – It was Madame Lin.

Madame Lin was holding an object in her hand. She waved her hand and hit the child on the head. “You bastard, what are you bawling about?!” she chided. “From morning till night, you only know how to cry. You are an unlucky star, just like you dad!”

The child began to cry even more after being hit.

Zhao Sheng carried the child into his arms, feeling sorry for him. He mumbled, “Don’t hit the child, he still doesn’t understand things!”

“He doesn’t understand, but you do! Half a day has passed, but the meal is not even ready yet! Useless thing!” Madame Lin’s face was nefarious; she showered coarse words like there was no tomorrow.

“I am useless, but you are not… you even eat the food that I buy!” Zhao Sheng cradled the child and coaxed him, all while muttering softly under his breath.

“Hey! Do you dare to talk back to me? So what if I eat your food? Do you think I’m also willing to? Let me tell you this; our Su Family in Shengjing has wealth and power. You have also met the Eldest Miss of the Su Family, and she can send people to destroy this house of yours at any time. If you provoke me, I will immediately call Su Yuejiu over! If not for my daughter, why would I come to this poor and impoverished place to suffer? You should have already understood this, so learn how to be grateful!”

“Yes… I understand!” Zhao Sheng hastily bobbed his head.

Su Yueqiu walked out and wanted to carry the child. “Mother, go back into the house for a while!”

Madame Lin smacked her hand. “What does this have to do with you?! Go busy yourself with what you need to do!”

Su Yueqiu glimpsed at her sobbing child, before turning back into the house.

The sky was already dark. Su Jiu stood outside the gate and had an unrestricted view of this family, but none of them realized that there were people outside the courtyard.

Su Jiu sighed and said, “Madame Lin is already relying on someone else’s charity. Yet, she can remain so unbridled. I guess this is also considered a talent!”

“Those who only know how to bully honest people are the lowliest scum,” Ji Yuxian added nonchalantly.

“Although Zhao Sheng is pitiful, he’s also despicable. A man that can’t even protect his mother and child, can he still be considered a man?”

Su Jiu harrumphed coldly and did not knock on the door. Instead, she pushed open the gate, which was already on the verge of collapse, and walked right in.

Zhao Sheng only realized that there were visitors once both of them walked into the middle of the courtyard. He slowly stood up, and spoke with a wooden expression on his face, “You both… Who are you?”

Su Jiu’s gaze swept past him, and she raised her voice coldly at the house, “Madame Lin, Su Yueqiu, roll out for me!”

Whispers were heard in the room, and very soon, Madame Lin trudged out from the house. She carefully peeked out, her mannerism completely different from her shrewish and domineering behavior a while back.

When she confirmed that the person was Su Jiu with her own eyes, Madame Lin’s complexion instantly paled. She walked forward and smiled awkwardly as she said, “It’s Miss Yuejiu! Why have you come here? Are you here to bring me and Yueqiu back into the city?”

Zhao Sheng immediately looked anxiously at Su Jiu. Even the child in his arms had stopped crying.

Seeing that Ji Yuxian was also present, Su Yueqiu subconsciously became terrified. She hid behind Madame Lin’s figure, trembling in trepidation.

“I heard that you and Su Yueqiu were using the Su Family’s name to run amok here. I especially stopped by to see for myself!” Su Jiu sneered.

“No… We did not!” Madame Lin hastily waved her hands in denial.

Ignoring her, Su Jiu turned to look at Zhao Sheng. “Where’s your mother?”

The girl was an absolute beauty, but she carried a baleful aura around her. Zhao Sheng froze and immediately bowed his head. “My mother… My mother, she…”

“Your mother is outside begging for food, but you are at home serving these f*cking women who bully you. A donkey must have kicked you, huh? How big is the hole in your head?” Su Jiu could not help but reprimand. She then glanced at the child in his arms. “Why are you raising a son? What if he marries a wife in the future and kicks you out to beg for food?”

Tears suddenly streamed out of Zhao Sheng’s eyes. He choked, “I’ll go find my mother now!”

“Come back!” Su Jiu shouted at Zhao Sheng, who was about to take his leave. Her frosty eyes darted at the mother and daughter pair. “You guys go and find her! After you find her, carry Zhao Sheng’s mother back!”

Madame Lin froze. “We… go?”

“Go on!” Su Jiu ordered.

Madame Lin and Su Yueqiu were instantly frightened. Their complexions were the color of dirt, and they almost knelt onto the ground. “Alright… alright! We’ll go and find her.” They immediately bobbed their heads.

“Go on, I will be waiting here. I want to see the person within an hour, understand?” Su Jiu instructed dryly.

“Yes!”

The mother and daughter pair stumbled out.

Zhao Sheng carried the child and stood transfixed, not knowing what to do.

Ji Yuxian wrapped his arms around Su Jiu’s shoulders and said with a smile, “Wife, quell your anger! You scared the child!”

Zhao Sheng hastily pulled out two stools for Su Jiu and Ji Yuxian to have a seat. Following which, he carried his son and squatted at a faraway corner.

Su Jiu felt enraged when she looked at that man. She pulled Ji Yuxian by the hand and exited the courtyard.

Outside the courtyard was a piece of flat land that had been cleared. At that moment, no crops had been planted, and it was completely barren.

It was almost the 15th, and the moon was shining brightly, scattering its moonlight around the mountains.

Su Jiu sat on the field and sighed in exasperation, “How despicable!”

The mother and daughter were despicable, and that good-for-nothing Zhao Sheng was also despicable!

Ji Yuxian also sat directly on the ground. He pulled the girl into his arms and rested his chin on her head. “In this world, everyone has a way of surviving. If you want to be angry, then you won’t be done even when you’re old!” he joked as he laughed warmly.

He understood that Su Jiu grew up in an environment that encouraged vengeance. She was born into suffering, and yet, she could not bear to see suffering. Now that she had already become Master Su Jiu, she was accustomed to the complexities of a human heart in the flourishing society and had gradually integrated into it as well. However, at the bottom of her heart, good and evil were still clearly distinguished, without any room for tolerance.

His Jiu’er was precious in this way.

Su Jiu leaned against the man’s propped legs. She crooked her head and narrowed her eyes in a smile. “I know, sometimes I’m still too impulsive!”

Ji Yuxian gently stroked her cheeks. “Your husband is here, so your impulsiveness doesn’t matter!”

Su Jiu’s heart was so warm that it melted. Her fingers plucked at the blades dried grass on the ground one by one. “The problem is that Zhao Sheng is too incapable!”

Otherwise, no matter how competent Madame Lin was, she still would not dare to be this arrogant!

“Do you think he’s just being cowardly? In reality, he is greedy, and he wants to keep his wife. Because of this, he ignored the fate of his mother. He may be pitiful, but more than that, he is despicable!” Ji Yuxian commented dryly.

Su Jiu nodded her head in agreement. “These kinds of people are not worthy of pity!”

If he was someone else, she would be too lazy to bother with him. However, Madame Lin had used the name of the Su Family to oppress the Zhao Family, and she could not watch idly.

Su Jiu turned her head to stare at that dilapidated courtyard. So it turned out that Su Yueqiu had spent a year here after being rescued back then.

A greedy and vain girl like her would be unwilling to marry Zhao Sheng. She must have been threatened or deceived to have married Zhao Sheng and given birth to his child.

From the looks of things now, the mother and son pair of the Zhao Family only had themselves to blame. This was their retribution!

Before an hour was up, Madame Lin and Su Yueqiu returned.

Sure enough, they had lifted Madame Zhao back. Both of them had found some discarded palanquin, and the chair on it only had one leg left. Madame Zhao was cowering on it as they carried it back shakily.

Zhao Sheng hastily went up to receive her. When he saw how unkempt she was, and how she had been reduced to a bag of bones, he knelt and hugged Madame Zhao’s head, while sobbing painfully.

Madame Lin and Su Yueqiu watched on awkwardly at the sidelines.

Su Jiu and Ji Yuxian walked in and waited for the mother and son to finish crying, before saying,

“I am Su Yuejiu. Madame Lin has already been divorced, and Su Yueqiu has also publicly announced that she no longer has any association with the Su Family in court. Therefore, the two of them no longer have anything to do with the Su Family. No matter what they do, it has nothing to do with the Su Family!”

Madame Lin bowed her head, and under the cover of the night, her eyes seemed to flash with gloominess. However, she did not dare to refute Su Jiu’s words.

Su Jiu arched an eyebrow. “Everything I said was correct, right?”

Madame Lin forced out a smile. “Yes, it’s correct!”

Su Jiu looked back at Zhao Sheng. “You understand what I mean, right?”

Zhao Sheng was in a stupor as he nodded his head. “I understand!”

Madame Zhao also spoke up, “We understand this lady’s words!”

Su Jiu nodded her head and did not speak any further. She then turned her head and exchanged a glance with Ji Yuxian, before turning around to leave.

Madame Zhao chased after her and expressed gratefully, “Miss, it’s late, and it’s not safe to travel on the mountain road at night. You should stay with us for the night.”

“No need, many thanks!” Su Jiu replied. She contemplated for a moment, before turning and saying to Zhao Sheng, “Madame Lin and her daughter have been chased out of the Su Family and have nowhere else to go. If they leave your family, they can only resort to begging. From now on, do you understand what you need to do?”

Madame Lin clenched the sleeves of her dress tightly. She glared at Su Jiu but did not dare to blatantly express herself.

Zhao Sheng was stunned, and he nodded his head, seemingly understanding what she was insinuating. “I… I got it!”

The conversation ended there. Without speaking any further, Su Jiu left the Zhao Family’s courtyard together with Ji Yuxian.