Chapter 71- The Scummy Man Shows Up Again – Transcendental Translations

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Chapter 71

Clearing her throat, Jiang Ruohua straightened up, speaking this time in her natural voice.

“I can keep you alive, Li ge, and Ying ge too.”

Li ge froze, almost convinced she had misheard. She looked up, her gaze full of doubt, searching Jiang Ruohua’s expression.

“The Guogong Manor is a big place, and it takes more than your effort alone to achieve anything,” Jiang Ruohua continued in a measured tone. “For now, Ying Yiniang’s life isn’t in danger, but if you want to help her, you’ll need real support in a house like that.”

“If you’re willing to work for me,” she offered, “in exchange, when everything is done, I’ll arrange for both of you to leave safely. I’ll return your contracts and provide you with enough silver to live freely, just like anyone else. How does that sound?”

Jiang Ruohua extended her hand, now choosing to make her intention explicit.

“If you’re unwilling, I’ll take my leave and won’t bother you again. Tonight can remain forgotten.”

Li ge was stunned. Most clients who came to Xiangxue Tower were either wealthy or noble, but the young guest before her couldn’t be a day over twenty. It took only a moment for Li ge to realize the guest’s true identity.

“Miss… Lady Jiang, I don’t understand. What benefit is there for you in doing this?” A trace of unease flickered in Li ge’s heart. While she understood that Lady Jiang had been testing her, and her answers must have pleased the young lady, she couldn’t fathom why the grand Guogong Manor would take any interest in her and Ying ge. Yet Lady Jiang had sought her out, promised her a way into Guogong Manor, and even guaranteed safety and enticing terms in return. The offer was almost too good, prompting Li ge to tread carefully.

“Your arrival benefits me,” Jiang Ruohua replied, unwilling to reveal too much. “But since you’re quite well connected here at Xiangxue Tower, I trust you already understand one thing—the next heir to the Guogong title is my father, not the one who bought Ying Yiniang’s freedom.”

Li ge’s lips pressed together tightly. Within noble families, inheritance struggles could be especially cruel. While the Jiang family enjoyed a lofty reputation, its bloodline was thin. Inquiring as discreetly as she could, she had learned the household structure well enough to know that the current Duke was elderly. When he passed, his title would go to his second son, the accomplished general, but it seemed that someone else was currently in control.

No wonder…

“Please, Lady Jiang,” Li ge ventured, “allow me to understand my place in this. I come from humble origins, and even at best, I’ll only enter your household as a minor concubine. I understand my position well. I may try to use favor to rescue Ying ge, but as for the other masters, I lack both the power and the courage to oppose them. I fail to see why someone like me could be of any use to you—enough so that you would meet with me personally and ensure Ying ge and I are safe.”

“All I need is chaos,” Jiang Ruohua replied. “Ying Yiniang is pregnant right now, but she was accused of tampering with the tonic prepared for another pregnant concubine and my elder brother. Had she not conceived herself, she’d have already been expelled from the house.”

“The more unrest there is in the house, the better. And don’t worry about doing anything extreme; in fact, I detest using wealth or status to induce others to take risks on my behalf,” she added, eyes calm and steady. “Sometimes, people don’t need to actively do anything wrong to be perceived as wrongdoers. Simply follow what you wish to do; that alone will serve my purposes. There are things I cannot directly take on, but that you—being who you are—can accomplish.”

Li ge’s objective was plain: she only wanted her dearest friend to live. For that, she was willing to sacrifice any chance of comfort and enter the Jiang household herself. She couldn’t guess what Jiang Ruohua might gain from all this, and it was clear the young lady did not intend to explain everything. Yet this opportunity now lay before her, and Li ge doubted she had the power to refuse.

“Please, Lady Jiang, guide me. I wish to see Ying ge as soon as I can.” She bowed deeply once more. Approaching Jiang San Ye alone would have brought countless risks, especially as she would be entirely without support once inside. This way, with Lady Jiang’s patronage, she’d have a safety net and the confidence to proceed.

Jiang San Ye’s lovers were usually bought from places like brothels or theaters. They catered to him with calculated charm and flattery rather than genuine affection. Though he seldom truly cared for any of them, he indulged in their company for the pleasures of feeling desired and adored.

This much, Jiang Ruohua understood from her dreams. Eventually, Jiang San Ye’s fawning sycophants had discovered that presenting a meticulously trained courtesan to him proved far more advantageous than giving him a distant family daughter as a concubine. And thus, the Guogong Manor had gradually filled with women trained to entertain.

Li ge would need no special guidance. All she had to do was employ her talent for captivating men, and Jiang San Ye would likely take the bait.

Jiang Ruohua had already guessed when Jiang San Ye would visit Xiangxue Tower next. After briefing Li ge on the expected time, she realized the hour was growing late and prepared to leave.

【Why isn’t she here yet…】

Just as Jiang Ruohua stepped over the threshold, she froze. Li ge, who was still escorting her out, paused and asked gently, “Young master…is something wrong?”

Swiftly glancing around, Jiang Ruohua realized what that voice meant—Yin Wang was somewhere nearby.

“No, nothing,” she replied quietly. “You can stop here; I’ll go on alone.”

Li ge nodded, bowed, and returned to her quarters with her guqin, sensing that it was wisest not to pry. For her, knowing too much seldom led to good outcomes.

After Li ge’s departure, Jiang Ruohua stood in place, focused on the quiet surroundings. The scattered rooms around her emitted a faint glow, most of them still and silent. She strained her ears, already sure that these sounds weren’t figments of her imagination. Heaven had granted her a strange blessing, allowing her to hear this man’s inner monologue, and she had every intention of making the most of it.

【So sleepy… If I don’t finish this soon and get home to bed, I’ll be too tired to get up in the morning!】

The whiny tone was as clear as day, echoing in her ears. She was thrown into deep thought, reflecting on the vast disparity between the impression this man had always given—a stern, ruthless official—and the immature complaints of his true thoughts. Every time they crossed paths, she would hear his constant grumbling.

In her dream, Yin Wang had shown none of these signs, behaving as consistently severe and humorless as everyone knew him to be. Only she could hear his inner thoughts, a fact she kept secret, observing instead, as her curiosity deepened.