Chapter 30- The No-Man’s Land – Transcendental Translations

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Chapter 30

After a few mild words of admonishment, the Third Madam had to fulfill her duties as an aunt and called the doctor back to check on Jiang Ruohua. She instructed the kitchen to prepare some ginger soup and hot tea, and ordered the maids to take good care of her to ensure she wouldn’t catch a cold or fever. Only after confirming Jiang Ruohua was fine did she leave, taking Jiang Ruoting with her.

“Miss, the ginger soup is here,” Huachan said, taking the bowl from a younger maid and dismissing her. She personally served it to Jiang Ruohua, blowing on the hot soup before handing it over.

“Give it to me,” Jiang Ruohua said, reaching out for the bowl. After testing the temperature, she drank it all in one go. Immediately, she felt the warmth flood her throat and stomach. Wrapped in blankets, she soon began to sweat.

Huachan and Yin Qiu took turns wiping the sweat from her body. Yin Qiu, while replacing a cloth, said, “Today was truly frightening. That boat has been fine for so many years. How could it suddenly be so rotten? And it just so happened in the room Princess Shangyang was in.”

“Did you see the person who jumped in before I did?” Jiang Ruohua asked, holding a book in her hand to pass the time.

“It seemed… like a man, but we were too far away. After you jumped in, we were so focused on you that we didn’t notice much else,” Yin Qiu replied.

Jiang Ruohua casually laid the book down on the bed and, leaning against her soft pillow, looked at the two of them. “That was the heir of the Ming Marquis household.”

Both maids were visibly shocked upon hearing this!

Everyone in the capital knew what kind of person the Ming Marquis heir was. He was a second-generation wastrel, living off the reputation of his ancestors and the family title. His elder sister was a rising star in the palace, but the heir himself was a notorious scoundrel—lawless, arrogant, and constantly bullying others.

He frequently abducted women and even toyed with his own maids until they died, all covered up by his sister’s influence.

“The Ming Marquis household has been declining in recent generations. None of them have earned any official titles, and the remnants of their family’s estate are barely enough to sustain their wasteful lifestyle,” Jiang Ruohua said in a low voice. “I acted quickly, but the Marquis heir was even faster. The fall into the lake may have been accidental, but his attempt to ‘rescue’ the princess was surely no coincidence.”

Yin Qiu frowned. “Do you mean to say that the Ming Marquis heir… wants to marry Princess Shangyang?”

“He wouldn’t just secure a cushy official post; with the princess being a legitimate daughter of the Empress, her monthly stipend and estate far exceed those of any other princess. Ten times what the Ming Marquis household has to offer.”

And to obtain all of that, all he had to do was steal the princess’s purity. How simple.

Huachan’s eyes widened in anger. “Outrageous! That dog of a man! He has neither merit nor morals, always parading around like some debauched fool. Who knows what filthy diseases he might have? How dare he even think of tainting a legitimate princess?”

“Exactly. If I hadn’t jumped in, Princess Shangyang’s life would have been ruined today,” Jiang Ruohua said, her voice tinged with frustration. “Even for a princess, losing her purity to someone like that means she would have no choice but to marry him to preserve her dignity. I’ve faced my share of injustices in my past life, and I’ve seen far too many others.”

“Jumping in may have cost me a few sick days, but if I hadn’t, and that wretch had succeeded, how could anyone swallow that injustice?”

As a fellow woman, Jiang Ruohua felt a deep sense of sympathy for what could have happened. Since helping would also benefit her own situation, she saw no reason to stand idly by.

Besides, having trained in martial arts for many years, her body was strong enough to withstand a short time in the water. By now, she was already feeling perfectly fine.

“Let’s just have dinner quietly by ourselves,” Jiang Ruohua said. “It’ll be more peaceful this way. If anyone asks, just tell them I’ve gone to sleep.”

Yin Qiu nodded and, while the kitchen staff was being lazy, went to fetch a fresh set of nightwear for Jiang Ruohua. This new set of nightclothes was carefully brought in by her father’s trusted aide.

With the new nightwear, sneaking out at night would be much easier. Jiang Ruohua glanced at the clothes and left them on the bed. Soon after, Huachan returned with the evening meal and, seeing the nightclothes, remarked, “Miss, why don’t you rest for a day before going out again?”

“As soon as possible,” Jiang Ruohua mused. After a brief moment of thought, she decided that tonight would be best. Last night, Grandfather Gao had sent a message, asking her to pay him a visit at her earliest convenience, which meant that the mysterious Iron Token he had mentioned was now ready.

She had no idea who the true owner of this Iron Token was, nor did her grandfather reveal much. What role the token would play in her plans remained a mystery, but now that it was in her hands, she had no choice but to put it to the test.

Under the dim cover of night, Jiang Ruohua set out for Grandfather Gao’s residence.

“You’ve arrived,” Grandfather Gao greeted her as he opened the door.

Jiang Ruohua gave a respectful nod. “Grandfather Gao.”

The two, one old and one young, both clad in stealthy nightwear, shared a long history. Grandfather Gao, once a loyal servant and battle-hardened warrior who had followed the Duke of Jiang into countless wars, was still spry despite his age. After exchanging a few words with Grandma Gao, he led Jiang Ruohua deeper into the increasingly desolate outskirts of the capital.

Their destination was a notorious and eerie part of the city, one shrouded in both history and mystery. Thirty years ago, a meteorite had crashed into this very area, reducing it to rubble. Many of the local residents had perished in this disaster, and those who survived were too terrified to stay. Even though the emperor had ordered the area to be rebuilt, no noble family would ever consider living there. The commoners, fearing a repeat of the catastrophe or simply too poor to afford proper homes, had long abandoned the place.

The hastily reconstructed buildings were neglected and eventually fell into disrepair. With no one willing to maintain or live in them, the area had slowly turned into a haven for the homeless, a refuge for beggars, and a den for ruffians. Time had only deepened the neglect, and now the area had become even more rundown and forsaken.

It was a place where the strong ruled, and the weak were prey. The law held no sway here.

The streets were filled with vagrants slumped over in every corner, crammed into crumbling, leaky houses. In the summer, the stench was unbearable, and in winter, the cold seeped through the broken walls, leaving its unfortunate inhabitants shivering in misery. Many of them lived on theft, begging, or worse, and none could be trusted.

Jiang Ruohua felt a deep aversion to the place.

Here, power ruled all. Even the worst hovels had their own rules, their own so-called “kings of the street.” Even in the dead of night, the place was far from peaceful. Arguments erupted over scraps, fights broke out at every turn, and the air was thick with the sounds of curses, brawls, and vulgarities.

“Disgusting,” Jiang Ruohua muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing as she glanced around the filthy, lawless neighborhood.