221 Dark Secre (1/2)

Chapter 221: Dark Secret

Translator: TransnEditor: Transn

The assassination attempt in the Governor's Mansion practically did not set off any alarm bells. The fight between Gu Shenwei and the two assailants lasted for a very short time and did not attract attention from the patrolling soldiers.

But at the first glimmer of dawn, five assassins in black turned up at Kun Society.

With Maid Lotus and Slave Huan standing behind her, a pale-faced and tired-looking Shangguan Ru was leaning by her bedroom door. ”What's the matter?”

”There's a small matter we'll like to verify with Liuhua and Slave Huan.”

”Since it's a small matter, there's no need to disturb me.”

The speaking killer appeared a little awkward. ”It's not that small a matter. Someone tried to assassinate an important person in North City last night. We want to...”

”Now it sounds serious. I'm certain it has nothing to do with my people.”

”About this... we're merely acting under orders.”

”It was certainly not ordered by me.”

”Uh, did Liuhua and Slave Huan not leave Kun Society last night?”

”Nope.”

With an extremely unrelenting attitude, Shangguan Ru dismissed the Golden Roc Fort killers, but immediately after, her body turned soft and collapsed into Maid Lotus' arms.

This was the second time Shangguan Ru and Liuhua were ”possessed”, which few people understood. Furthermore, the symptoms this time were different from that of the previous time, and the condition lasted for a much longer duration. For three consecutive days, both of them could only lay in their beds weak all over, and could not stand up without assistance.

Neither Gu Shenwei nor Maid Lotus could do anything to help regarding this matter. As they did not want to bring in a physician who probably knew as much about the condition as them, they could only wait it out. On the other hand, an opportunity, perhaps the only opportunity there was ever going to be, to return to the Stone Castle and steal the Wayless Book arose. After the end of winter, their three-year deadline would not be far away.

Gu Shenwei still wanted to assassinate Wei Song, but not before questioning him why he assisted in the massacre of the entire Gu family. The killer also wanted to find out whether the person who saved him was Liuhua. However, for the time being, these objectives had to be put on hold. The Governor's Mansion was being heavily guarded, and crashing his way in would not do any good.

Shangguan Ru was sent back secretly to Stone Castle, such that even her elder brother Shangguan Fei was unaware.

Gu Shenwei falsely claimed that Bighead Kingpin had sent gifts once more. Riding a chariot together with Maid Lotus, he fetched the Tenth Young Master to the court of the Eighth Young Master. For a subsequent period of time, Shangguan Ru stayed together with Luo Ningcha.

This was a difficult compromise which Gu Shenwei expended a great deal of effort in order to achieve.

The first sticking point was Shangguan Ru herself, who would rather have died than agree to return in advance to Stone Castle and become a laughingstock. However, Gu Shenwei had already passed information to the Inner Residence, and as a result, Lady Meng dispatched her most trusted maid to beseech her daughter to return to the castle or else the lady herself would personally descend the mountain to invite her daughter back. Shangguan Ru had to relent.

Lady Meng subsequently approved Gu Shenwei's plan for the secret return when he followed the maid up the mountain and met her.

The most difficult person to persuade was Miss Luo Ningcha. She did not have a good opinion of either Lady Meng or the twins, and naturally refused to help. Gu Shenwei spent an entire afternoon explaining to her the principle of being adaptable to circumstances, and the benefits she would gain from this compromise. ”You can't always allow your enemy to be guarded against you. The best time to attack your enemy is when they have let their guard down.”

”Why do I feel that the things you ask me to do always benefit you but not always me?” Luo Ningcha was a little irresolute, but she was considerably smarter than before and could see that there were a few hidden things involved.

”Miss Luo, please think. If I openly stand on your side, I will, in fact, become useless to you. I have to protect myself first before I can serve you.”

”Humph. In any case, you're making use of me. Mama Xue was right. You're a sinister and cunning fella. Alright, I shall agree, but you'll have to give me a chance to make use of you.”

”I'm ready to carry out your orders at any time. I'm like a saber in your hands.”

Nobody would have guessed that Shangguan Ru was hiding by the Eighth Young Mistress' side. In fact, not many among Lady Meng's personal maids knew about it.

In the name of preparing gifts for her father and husband, Luo Ningcha recalled Maid Lotus and Slave Huan. The former would attend to Shangguan Ru while the latter served as the killer protecting the court.

Although Liuhua had been similarly ”possessed”, his importance was much less. He was the only one of the three killers to remain in Kun Society of South City, where he continued to ”protect” the absent Tenth Young Master and handled daily affairs on her behalf.

On the first night after returning to the castle, Maid Lotus accompanied Shangguan Ru secretly into the Inner Residence to meet Lady Meng.

Luo Ningcha summoned Slave Huan to the court of the Eighth Young Master, and upon seeing him, ordered her maids to torture him. ”Pull his ears, and don't you dare be soft.”

Xu Yanwei, who was one of the maids, seemed to have become very familiar with the mistress. She came forth and tugged the Gu Shenwei's ears a few times before asking to be pardoned. ”Miss Luo, Slave Huan is a killer. I'm a bit scared.”

After the uninvolved people left the room, Luo Ningcha habitually threw a few teacups and appeared to be in a foul mood. ”Audacious slave, what do you take me for to order me like that?”

Gu Shenwei could not tell where the mistress' anger came from. To welcome Shangguan Ru was something which they had agreed upon. Could she be going back on her word already? ”Miss Luo, nobody on Earth dares to order you.”

”It's you who keeps asking me to do this and that, and after I've done what you said, you don't even listen to me and I have to wait for your next idea.”

Gu Shenwei finally realized that the mistress' grievance had nothing to do with Shangguan Ru. ”Miss Luo, you've got something on Lady Meng?”

”Hee, that ogress thinks I'm stupid. I want her to suffer a shock.”

Luo Ningcha once more had a new name for Lady Meng. Gu Shenwei listened quietly and did not interrupt her, but she became unhappy again. ”You have to ask me questions, otherwise how would I have the interest to speak on?”

”Yes, Miss Luo, what have you discovered that can cause Lady Meng a shock?”