Chapter 70: Cut Her Down!

“What’s the matter?” Li Yunjie noticed the shift in Murong Lanyue’s expression and teased, “Are you afraid, Miss?”

The muscles in Murong Lanyue’s face twitched ever so slightly. “You jest, sir. If I feared defeat, how would I dare open a gambling house?”

“You misunderstand,” Li Yunjie’s gaze suddenly sharpened. “I do not mean you fear losing.”

“What I mean is—”

“You fear this tax silver.”

Murong Lanyue’s face darkened instantly, a barely perceptible murderous intent flickering in her eyes.

“Could it be, sir, that this silver is of dubious origin?”

Li Yunjie replied in a low voice, “And what if it is, as you say?”

With those words, a stalemate descended, tension thick as drawn blades.

The crowd, seeing the tax silver on the table, hastily stepped back. To openly use tax silver—one had to be either a noble of royal blood or a desperate outlaw. Either way, not someone to provoke lightly.

Li Yunjie smiled, continuing, “If you fear it, I have a solution.”

“Simply recast the silver into ordinary ingots, and it could flow unnoticed into the market.”

“With a gambling house of this scale, within the time it takes a stick of incense to burn, this silver would change hands seven or eight times.”

“By then, what was black would become white.”

“Be careful with your words,” Murong Lanyue said coldly. “That’s a crime punishable by death.”

Sensing things were slipping beyond control, she feigned ease and said, “Enough, enough. We need not wager this round. I’ll pay your stake, sir, as promised.”

With that, she turned to leave. Winning or losing no longer mattered.

“Wait, Miss!” Li Yunjie’s smile was cold and insincere. “Have we met somewhere before?”

Murong Lanyue did not turn back, her voice heavy, “I have never seen you, sir.”

Li Yunjie’s face grew serious. He leaned toward Su Qingmeng and whispered,

“Cut her.”

Su Qingmeng was stunned, her brows knitting as she glanced at Li Yunjie.

Surely not?

But Li Yunjie’s gaze was unwavering. “Cut her!”

Though she didn’t know why, Su Qingmeng chose to trust him.

With a metallic ring, the sword was drawn.

In a flash, it pierced Murong Lanyue’s right shoulder.

Her body trembled, blood flowing down the blade, staining her gown.

The act was so sudden the crowd was left dumbfounded.

“How could they?”

“They attacked without warning?”

“She already conceded. It’s not as if she refused to pay.”

“Exactly…”

In an instant, the room was filled with scorn directed at Su Qingmeng.

“Ah, ah!” Li Yunjie joined the commotion. “You are far too reckless!”

“Just because your mood was spoiled? Was it necessary to go so far?”

He hurried forward, supporting Murong Lanyue, his face full of concern. “Miss, are you alright?”

Su Qingmeng stared at Li Yunjie, bewildered.

Aren’t we comrades?

What’s the meaning of this?

Wasn’t it you who told me to cut her?

Murong Lanyue’s lips were pale as she whispered, “It’s nothing.”

“I spoiled your mood, sir. I hope you won’t hold it against me.”

“Next time you visit, I will make sure you enjoy yourself.”

With that, she cast a cold glance at Li Yunjie, endured the pain, and pulled herself away from the sword, heading straight for the upper floor.

Li Yunjie watched her retreating figure, a subtle smile on his lips.

…

On the way back to the inn.

Su Qingmeng did not say a word to Li Yunjie.

Clearly, she resented being used.

But it was Shi Yi, who had watched the spectacle, who voiced his curiosity. “Sir, we’ve won so much money—why did you injure the owner, Miss Murong?”

Li Yunjie chuckled. “Don’t you think she looked somewhat familiar?”

Shi Yi pondered for a long while and shook his head. “None of the courtesans you’ve met in recent years have been named Murong Lanyue.”

Li Yunjie’s expression darkened. “Is that all I’ve ever met—courtesans?”

“Well, yes,” Shi Yi replied earnestly. “Most noble ladies in the capital look down on you and refuse to speak with you.”

Su Qingmeng secretly smiled.

That’s exactly what I would have said!

Li Yunjie shot Shi Yi a glare and said coldly, “Do you not recall the fourth-ranked sorcerer from last night?”

Shi Yi’s brows furrowed. “Are you suggesting Murong Lanyue is that sorcerer?”

Li Yunjie nodded.

“So,” Su Qingmeng finally spoke up, sensing the truth, “you wanted me to test her?”

“Precisely.”

“But,” Shi Yi was puzzled, “that sorcerer was of fourth rank—how could she be caught off guard by your sword?”

Li Yunjie paused, voice serious. “She was holding back.”

“How did you spot the flaw?” Su Qingmeng asked, curious.

According to Li Yunjie, the sorcerer last night wore night attire, and in the darkness, even her face was hard to discern—how could he notice anything strange?

Li Yunjie calmly took out the two banknotes Murong Lanyue had given him.

“When she handed these to me, I caught the scent of orchids.”

“The sorcerer from last night had the same fragrance.”

“I remember now!” Shi Yi exclaimed, enlightened. “Sir is especially sensitive to women’s perfumes.”

Li Yunjie’s lips curled—why did that sound so odd?

“So, then,” Su Qingmeng ventured, “the tax silver found in Song Yongnian’s secret chamber might have ended up in this gambling house?”

“Exactly.” Li Yunjie nodded.

“In that case, what will you do next?”

Li Yunjie grinned, “Set a long line to catch a big fish!”

…

Back at the inn.

Li Yunjie asked Shi Yi to prepare brush and ink.

“Who are you writing to, sir?” Shi Yi asked curiously.

“To Chancellor Su,” Li Yunjie replied as he wrote. “I’ve been in Jiangnan for some time—it’s only right to report my progress to the emperor.”

“But if it’s for the emperor, why write to Chancellor Su?”

“Now that Song Yongnian has fallen, someone must take his place as prefect of Jiangnan.”

“How are the two connected?” Shi Yi still didn’t understand.

Li Yunjie sighed, “The complexities of officialdom are beyond your grasp.”

News of Song Yongnian’s case would soon reach the capital. The crown prince and Su Ming would compete to recommend their own candidates for the prefect’s post.

The Song family had long served the crown prince in secret—this much the emperor surely knows.

Now, with tax silver found in the Song mansion’s secret chamber, the emperor’s trust in the crown prince would inevitably waver.

Su Ming would gain an advantage in securing the prefect’s seat.

More importantly, suspicion would be planted in the emperor’s heart.

That was precisely what Li Yunjie wanted.

When the letter was finished, Li Yunjie placed it, along with the tax silver, in an envelope.

He walked to Gong Qingfeng’s room and knocked.

“Your Highness, please come in,” Lin Mao greeted respectfully.

Li Yunjie explained everything in detail.

Gong Qingfeng listened, then said calmly, “Rest assured, Your Highness—I will have someone escort the letter safely to the Chancellor’s residence.”

Li Yunjie bowed. “Thank you.”

“But since it bears the official seal, why not have a courier deliver it?” Lin Mao asked, puzzled.

“There are too many spies for the crown prince in Jiangnan. I don’t trust official couriers.”

Gong Qingfeng smiled. “Your Highness is thorough. Lin Mao, you should deliver it yourself.”

“Yes, sir,” Lin Mao replied with a bow.

With business concluded, Li Yunjie relaxed and poured Gong Qingfeng a cup of tea, probing,

“Dean, may I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

Li Yunjie paused. “Do you recall painting a scroll called—”

“The Splendid Rivers and Mountains…”