Chapter 214: Su Zhou

*Dong dong dong.*

Chen Ji stood in front of the door, poured himself a large gulp of wine, and then knocked on the large Chen residence gate.

He knocked the beast head ring on the vermillion lacquered big door, making a *dong dong* sound.

With a *creak*, a young servant peeked through the door crack: "Third Young Master!"

Chen Ji exhaled a mouthful of wine breath: "Open the door."

The young servant, smelling the wine breath, exclaimed: "Third Young Master, how much have you had to drink?"

Chen Ji pushed the young servant aside and squeezed through the door crack: "Not much."

Drinking the wine was to cover his tracks. Later, when people asked where he was tonight, he would have a good explanation.

The young servant was about to close the big door, when he heard the dense sound of iron hooves galloping from far to near outside Cui Yun Lane. He cautiously poked his head out to look, and saw the Jie Fan Guard, wearing conical hats and rain capes, riding past on horseback. The young servant panicked and said: "Third Young Master, Luo City is going to have military trouble again? Didn't you see anything when you came back just now?"

Chen Ji listened to the commotion outside the residence without turning his head: "It's not clear. You quickly go report to the Old Master and Madam."

After saying this, he swayed towards Ming Quan Garden. Before he even got there, the Chen residence was already bustling.

Maidservants in each courtyard quickly put on their clothes and ran out. Young servants held torches, guarding every part of the residence to prevent bad people from climbing over the walls. Chen Ji walked slowly, and all kinds of people came and went around him, a scene of startled birds and chaotic soldiers.

Chen Ji knew in his heart that the death of a fifth-rank Wu Jie General was a huge matter. The Department of Soldiers and Horses, the Jie Fan Guard, and the Secret Spy Department would definitely turn Luo City upside down.

When he returned to the entrance of Ming Quan Garden, before he even knocked, the door opened. Xiao Man pulled Chen Ji inside and whispered: "Young Master, where did you run off to? Sister Li Qiu said there's going to be military trouble outside again. Quick, sit in the room, the charcoal basin is already lit. I'll go pour you some tea to sober up."

Chen Ji recalled the Taotie that suddenly appeared and then escaped tonight, and casually, with a drunken intention, said: "Military trouble... Is someone going to rebel again? Then we should run quickly, fast, fast! Pack your things!"

Xiao Man pulled him back: "Young Master, why are you in such a hurry? What if it's nothing?"

Chen Ji suddenly sobered up a bit. During the time of the Liu family's military disaster, countless families wanted to escape the city. The ox carts and horse carts that escaped blocked the southeast, northwest, and north city gates.

Having experienced the Liu family's military disaster, it was normal for ordinary people to think of packing their things and running. Not wanting to run was unusual, unless... the other side knew early on that this was not a military disaster.

Chen Ji continued to probe: "What if it's nothing? How can there be so many 'what ifs'? Master Chen is well-known in Luo City. If anyone rebels, they will definitely not spare the Chen family. We must leave the Chen residence first. I'll take you to hide in an inn."

Xiao Man was anxious: "Master Chen will be a high official in the East Palace office in the future. Who would dare to do anything to him?"

Chen Ji said suspiciously: "Xiao Man, are you hiding something from me?"

Xiao Man was startled, and panicked to explain: "No, no, what could I possibly hide from you!"

Chen Ji *um*-ed: "That's good, let's run quickly."

Xiao Man bit her lip, watching Chen Ji, drunk and hazy, enter the room to pack his things, her eyes seeing that he intended to take her and escape Luo City together.

She thought it over and over, walked behind Chen Ji, raised her hand like a knife, and chopped at Chen Ji's neck.

"Sleep well, Young Master. Sleep well and everything will be alright."

One breath.

Two breaths.

Three breaths.

Chen Ji slowly turned over, covering his neck, and asked in surprise: "Xiao Man, why did you hit me?"

Xiao Man: "Xin Nan Xi Xi."

She let out an "Ah!", and said in a panic: "Young Master, there was an insect on you just now. I wanted to help you kill it."

Chen Ji jumped in fright and quickly shook his body: "Did you kill it? Where is the insect?"

Xiao Man made a gesture of grabbing something from Chen Ji's shoulder, pretending to have already grabbed the insect in her hand, and fled in disarray: "Got it, got it! You sit in the room first, I'll go boil some water for you!"

In the room, Chen Ji's eyes calmed down. The Taotie was definitely related to Xiao Man. Even if Xiao Man didn't control it, she definitely knew who controlled it, and she definitely knew what happened tonight.

What should he do next? Distance himself from Xiao Man without showing it, or pretend not to know and keep her by his side?

If Xiao Man was a spy, then who taught her cultivation path? And who arranged for her to be by his side? What was her mission? Chen Ji's mind was full of question marks.

She thought it over and over, walked behind Chen Ji, raised her hand like a knife, and chopped at Chen Ji's neck.

"Sleep well, Young Master. Sleep well and everything will be alright."

One breath.

Two breaths.

Three breaths.

Chen Ji slowly turned over, covering his neck, and asked in surprise: "Xiao Man, why did you hit me?"

Xiao Man: "Xin Nan Xi Xi."

She let out an "Ah!", and said in a panic: "Young Master, there was an insect on you just now. I wanted to help you kill it."

Chen Ji jumped in fright and quickly shook his body: "Did you kill it? Where is the insect?"

Xiao Man made a gesture of grabbing something from Chen Ji's shoulder, pretending to have already grabbed the insect in her hand, and fled in disarray: "Got it, got it! You sit in the room first, I'll go boil some water for you!"

In the room, Chen Ji's eyes calmed down. The Taotie was definitely related to Xiao Man.

Even if Xiao Man didn't control it, she definitely knew who controlled it, and she definitely knew what happened tonight.

What should he do next? Distance himself from Xiao Man without showing it, or pretend not to know and keep her by his side? If Xiao Man was a spy, then who taught her cultivation path? And who arranged for her to be by his side? What was her mission?

Chen Ji's mind was full of question marks.

," Jianghu rumored that General Wang betrayed, presumably coming for revenge." Chen Ji looked at the soldiers behind him: "The soldiers that Master Chen is leading are..."

Chen Li Qin said "Oh," and turned his head to look at the soldiers of the Department of Soldiers and Horses holding torches behind him: "They are here to guard the residence, no need to fear. With them guarding the Chen family, you can all sleep peacefully."

One of the soldiers said respectfully: "Third Young Master, this subordinate will leave six soldiers here for you. If you need anything, you can call them."

Chen Ji felt relieved and politely returned the gesture: "Thank you, big brothers."

Chen Li Qin waved his hand: "Go back and rest. Tomorrow we will pack up and prepare to return to the capital, leave this troublesome place early."

"Yes," Chen Ji slowly retreated back into Ming Quan Garden, tightly closed the courtyard door, and fastened the bolt.

When he returned to the room, he stopped abruptly: when he went out just now, the hall door was open, but now it was not only closed, but the chattering Xiao Man was also nowhere to be seen.

Chen Ji was more and more certain that the Taotie was definitely controlled by Xiao Man. Seeing so many soldiers from the Department of Soldiers and Horses, she hid in the room out of guilt. He pushed the door open and entered the room, but stood rooted to the spot, a layer of fine cold sweat suddenly appearing on his back, the wine was gone!

Su Zhou!

He only saw in the dim candlelight, Su Zhou, covered in blood, weakly sitting on the edge of the bed, holding Xiao Man with an Emei thorn, the sharp tip pressed against Xiao Man's jaw, staring coldly at Chen Ji.

Xiao Man wilted on the edge of the bed, looking pleadingly at Chen Ji: "Young Master."

Chen Ji: ......

Su Zhou said in a cold voice: "Don't shout and make noise."

Before she finished speaking, there was a *creak*, and Chen Ji closed the door and went out.

Su Zhou opened her mouth. She looked at the closed door, then lowered her head to look at Xiao Man slumped on the ground, unable to say a word for a long time.

"He just ran like that?"

Su Zhou laughed coldly: "Your Young Master is quite righteous."

Xiao Man frowned and said: "He's definitely gone to get reinforcements! Quick, let go of me! Just now I was careless and you ambushed me, otherwise I would never have let you succeed! If you have the guts, put down your weapon, and see how I beat you flat!"

Su Zhou couldn't help but laugh when she heard Xiao Man's words.

But as soon as she laughed twice, she pulled at her wound and coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of blood that fell on Xiao Man's shoulder. Xiao Man glanced out of the corner of her eye and let out a disgusted "Yi".

The door was pushed open again, and then closed again. Chen Ji, looking startled and unsettled, leaned against the door: "Are the soldiers outside here to catch you?"

Su Zhou carefully assessed Chen Ji in front of her: "Why are you back? I thought you went to get reinforcements. Why didn't you call people?"

Chen Ji explained: "If I brought reinforcements, I assume this maidservant would definitely not survive."

Su Zhou was startled.

Chen Ji continued to ask in a low voice: "Who exactly are you?"

Su Zhou didn't answer.

Chen Ji asked again: "I just heard someone say that someone killed General Wang to avenge Jing Wang. Was it you?"

Su Zhou thought for a moment, and the corner of her mouth slightly hooked up: "It was me. If you hand me over to the eunuch party now, it would be a great merit."

Chen Ji was silent for a long time: "You let go of Xiao Man, and I'll let her bring hot water to clean your wound. Don't worry, I absolutely will not report you to the authorities."

Su Zhou scrutinized him: "Why won't you report me to the authorities?"

Chen Ji explained: "I am close to the World Son and the County Lord. You are helping the Prince take revenge, how can I report you to the authorities? It's just, why are you seeking refuge here with me?"

Su Zhou's eyes shifted: "Before the Prince passed away, he entrusted someone to send a letter saying that if I encountered danger, I could trust you. Now I am seriously injured, and Luo City has been sealed by the eunuch party. I need you to get me out of the city. Do you dare?"

Chen Ji of course didn't believe this woman's words. Just an hour ago, she was saying she wanted to kill him as well. But if she wanted to kill him, she shouldn't have held Xiao Man when she sneaked in, but should have waited for an opportunity to directly kill him. He assumed the reason she didn't kill him was that she had doubts about pouring dirty water on General Wang and didn't want to wrongly kill an innocent person.

Looking at it this way, the other side wasn't completely crazy and had a testing intention.

Thinking of this, Chen Ji said seriously: "Don't worry, since it was the Prince's entrustment, I will definitely find a way to get you out of the city. You first let go of Xiao Man, and let her handle your wound."

Su Zhou thought for a long time, gradually withdrew the Emei thorn, and stared straight at Chen Ji.

Xiao Man felt the coldness leave her neck and quickly stood up, ran to Chen Ji's side, grabbed his arm, and stuck her head out: "Young Master, we should quickly report her to the authorities!"

Chen Ji patted Xiao Man's arm: "Don't panic. You go and boil water. Whatever you do, don't alert the Department of Soldiers and Horses outside the courtyard."

"Ah?" Xiao Man's eyes widened: "Young Master, I feel like she wants to kill us!"

Chen Ji comforted her: "It's alright, go quickly."

Su Zhou's whole body tensed, her hand gripping the Emei thorn tighter and tighter, but her face still held an interested testing expression: "I've already let go of your little maidservant, you really don't plan to report me?"

Chen Ji said seriously: "As I said, since it was the Prince's entrustment, I will definitely not fail you. Wait in the room for a moment, I'll be right back."

Su Zhou responded without changing her expression: "Go ahead."