Chapter Thirty: The Failed Ambush

Soon, one of Duan Jing’s subordinates arrived to drive the carriage. As the vehicle pulled up to the house, two men helped the intoxicated Duan Jing inside, and the carriage was quickly driven away.

Jiang Bai returned to finish her meal and chat with her colleagues. After enjoying the evening, they finally left her home. Once Jiang Bai had tidied up and lay in bed, she found herself restless. For some reason, the memory of Jiang Hui’s gaze from that day kept flickering in her mind, leaving her uneasy. Living in the military camp made it inconvenient to go out, and she had yet to find an opportunity to deal with him. Tossing and turning, she eventually decided to get up and open the window for some fresh air. She walked over, pushed the shutters wide, and let the night breeze brush against her face.

Moonlight fell like water into the courtyard, casting a cold, serene glow. As Jiang Bai gazed into the distance, her heart remained agitated. Just then, a faint sound of footsteps drifted from afar. The corners of her mouth curled upward; feeling a spark of excitement, she quickly shut the window, hid behind it, and held her breath.

The footsteps grew closer and finally stopped outside her door. Jiang Bai’s heart began to race, her palms growing slightly damp.

"Doctor Jiang, are you asleep?" A deep voice came from outside—it was Jiang Hui!

Jiang Bai had not expected him to seek her out at such an hour. This was, truly, perfect.

She took a deep breath, trying to keep her tone from sounding too eager. "Young Master Jiang, it is quite late. Is something the matter?"

Jiang Hui chuckled outside the door. "Doctor Jiang, there is no need to be nervous. I simply have a few matters I wish to consult you on. May I come in for a moment?"

Jiang Bai hesitated for a moment before opening the door. Jiang Hui stood there, wearing his usual gentle smile, yet there was an unfathomable depth in his eyes.

"Young Master Jiang, what brings you here so late?" Jiang Bai asked, feigning composure.

Jiang Hui smiled slightly, entered the room, and closed the door behind him. He turned to look at her, his gaze probing. "Doctor Jiang, I have heard that your medical skills are exceptional, especially your acupuncture—it is said to be unparalleled."

Stunned by his directness, Jiang Bai retreated a few steps into the room. Uncertain why he brought this up, she replied vaguely, "Young Master Jiang is too kind. I am merely a common physician; my skills are barely passable."

Jiang Hui shook his head, walked slowly toward her, and lowered his voice. "There is no need for such modesty, Doctor Jiang. I have witnessed your skills with my own eyes."

Jiang Bai feigned shock, stepping back with a slight tremor in her voice. "Young Master Jiang, what do you mean by that?"

Jiang Hui smiled, a playful glint in his eyes. "Doctor Jiang, do you know why I am so interested in you?"

Jiang Bai shook her head. Feeling her performance lacked conviction, she quickly pressed a pressure point on her body to make her complexion appear paler.

"Because," Jiang Hui whispered, "your medical techniques bear a striking resemblance to someone else's."

Jiang Bai felt a surge of confusion, but she suppressed her inner panic and asked with forced calm, "Of whom do you speak, Young Master?"

Jiang Hui did not answer directly. Instead, he turned to the window, pushed it open, and stared into the night, speaking slowly. "That person once left traces on Jiang Ye. Had the coroner not been meticulous, we would have discovered nothing."

Jiang Bai shook her head again, her eyes filled with feigned terror. "I do not understand what you are talking about."

Jiang Hui turned around, his gaze sharp as a blade, fixed squarely on her. "Doctor Jiang, you understand perfectly. Jiang Ye did not simply fall to his death; he was struck in his vital points, and the technique used was very much like yours."

Jiang Bai’s heart skipped a beat, and she shook her head repeatedly, rushing to explain, "That is impossible! At the time, I was trying to bribe a servant, but he refused because the money was insufficient. I never even entered the premises!"

"So that is how it was." Jiang Hui wore an expression of sudden realization. He leaned forward until he was eye-level with her. "So, you were actually thinking of taking revenge on Jiang Ye."

Jiang Bai’s heart thudded like a drum, and fine beads of sweat formed on her brow. She suppressed her inner chaos, forcing her voice to remain steady. "Young Master Jiang, what are you implying? I never took action. You cannot pin a grudge on me!"

Jiang Hui maintained his gentle smile, but his eyes grew sharper. He stepped closer, his voice low and oppressive. "Of course not. After all, you didn't do it, did you?"

Jiang Bai instinctively backed away until her spine hit the wall, leaving her nowhere else to go. Her fingers trembled slightly, but her face remained composed. "Young Master Jiang, if you suspect me, you are welcome to investigate. I, Jiang Bai, stand tall and walk straight; I fear no false accusations."

***

Jiang Hui chuckled, his gaze lingering on her face. He was clearly satisfied with the situation; Jiang Bai had been thoroughly intimidated. "Doctor Jiang, let us stop talking about this. Let us discuss something else."

Jiang Bai’s voice tightened, on the verge of breaking. "Discuss what?"

Jiang Hui narrowed his eyes, a playful tone in his voice. "Let us talk about which hand you used to save Duan Yue."

Jiang Bai’s heart sank, and she instinctively hid her hands behind her back. "What exactly are you trying to do?"

Jiang Hui pulled a silver needle from his sleeve and placed it gently on the table. His voice was low and slow. "This silver needle, Doctor Jiang—you should be very familiar with it, shouldn't you? It is with this needle that you saved Duan Yue’s life, is it not?"

Jiang Bai’s pupils contracted, though she quickly regained her composure. She was now genuinely angry, not just acting. He had actually sent men to infiltrate her territory! Damn it, how could the Red Brow Army be so incompetent?

"Young Master Jiang, what is the meaning of this?"

Jiang Hui’s expression grew even gentler. "I hope, Doctor Jiang, that your medical skills are not quite so remarkable. After all, some people deserve to die, and some simply should not be allowed to live."

Jiang Bai lowered her head, hiding her expression. Trying to play with a dog only to get bitten—she felt truly frustrated. "I..."

Jiang Hui chuckled, satisfied with her reaction. "Doctor Jiang, the matter of Jiang Ye truly has nothing to do with you. Rest assured, this ends here, and it will never involve you again. However, I hope you understand that when it comes to saving lives, one must know when to make choices."

Jiang Bai remained silent, preparing to manifest her plants. Someone as highly intelligent as Jiang Hui would make excellent fertilizer.

"Doctor Jiang!" Just as Jiang Bai prepared to strike, someone burst into the room. Jiang Bai looked up to see it was Duan Yue.

"Why are you here?" Duan Yue was clearly displeased to see Jiang Hui.

A flicker of annoyance crossed Jiang Hui’s eyes, but he immediately changed his expression. "My shoulder was aching, and I wished to ask Doctor Jiang for some help."

"It is late, and Doctor Jiang is a lady. It would not be appropriate for word to get out that you broke into her house at night," Duan Yue said, walking over to stand naturally in front of Jiang Bai, shielding her from Jiang Hui.

Hearing Duan Yue’s voice, Jiang Bai quickly retracted the vines she had been coiling behind Jiang Hui. Damn it! She wondered if Duan Yue had seen anything when he opened the door.

Jiang Hui’s gaze shifted between Duan Yue and Jiang Bai. He decided not to say anything more, merely nodding slightly. "Since Brother Duan is here, I shall not intrude further. Doctor Jiang, I will come to seek your counsel another day."

He turned and walked out, his pace steady, as if the tension moments ago had never existed. Duan Yue watched him go, knowing full well that Jiang Hui was a man of deep schemes and ruthless methods who would not give up easily. It was clear his visit today was not for any "aching shoulder."

Seeing Jiang Hui leave, Duan Yue finally breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to Jiang Bai and asked with concern, "Are you alright? Did he give you any trouble?"

Jiang Bai shook her head, forcing a smile. "I'm fine."

"Then what was he here for earlier?" Duan Yue asked.

"He only came to ask about some inconsequential matters." Jiang Bai felt a flash of irritation toward Duan Yue and did not want to answer.

Duan Yue frowned, clearly unconvinced. He stepped closer and whispered, "Jiang Hui is a man of devious intent. You would do well to stay away from him. His visit today was likely not so simple."

Jiang Bai nodded, though her heart was conflicted. She knew Duan Yue genuinely cared for her, but because his camp’s security was lax, allowing Jiang Hui to send men into her room, and because it was Duan Yue who had inadvertently saved Jiang Hui earlier, she was filled with resentment. She had missed this opportunity, and she didn't know when she would get another chance to kill him.

"Why did you come over so suddenly?" Jiang Bai changed the subject, trying to ease the atmosphere.

Duan Yue smiled. "I heard Jiang Hui came to see you, and worried he might harm you, so I rushed over."

***

Hearing this, Jiang Bai felt a sense of helplessness. She sighed inwardly and said, "Thank you, General."

Duan Yue waved his hand, laughing. "What are you thanking me for? You saved my life, we get along well, and I’m fond of little Xingzhi. No need to be so formal over small matters."

"I wonder when Jiang Hui will come back," Jiang Bai thought, trying to calculate when she could make her next move.

"He shouldn't be back anytime soon," Duan Yue said, wanting to put her at ease. "There are some issues in the capital that require Jiang Hui to return immediately."

"Is that so? That is very fortunate," Jiang Bai said calmly.

"Don't worry. We have people keeping an eye on him. I will assign a few more guards to you; from now on, take them with you whenever you go out. I won't let such an accident happen again." Duan Yue had been startled to hear of Jiang Hui’s visit, which was why he had come personally.

"Really? Then thank you, General." Jiang Bai felt calmer now, and she was genuinely grateful for the guards, as it would ensure Jiang Ye was protected when they went out in the future.

"It is a pity, though. The Jiang family has great power. We truly dare not let him meet with an accident here." Duan Yue felt frustrated as he thought about it. If he could have acted, he would have done so long ago; there would be no need for this shadow-play, which was not satisfying at all.

Jiang Bai felt a jolt of alarm. She had almost moved against Jiang Hui just now. She feigned curiosity, asking, "Even if we acted, would they necessarily find out it was us?"

"The decree for the enfeoffment will arrive soon. If something happened to Jiang Hui here, it would be a direct insult to the Jiang family. That old Emperor is dim-witted; if the Jiang family were to whisper in his ear, he might use us as an example to warn others." Duan Yue felt stifled at the thought.

"Then it is indeed best not to let him meet with an accident here," Jiang Bai said, relieved.

"Yes, we can only send him away safely." Duan Yue felt equally unwilling.

"But something already happened to Jiang Ye here," Jiang Bai reminded him, referring to the person she had eliminated.

"Jiang Ye’s incident happened earlier, before we had arrived. Plus, Jiang Hui has already vented his anger; it’s hard to say who would be in the wrong if it came out. Besides, we have already planned to send Jiang Hui away, which counts as peaceful coexistence with the imperial court. Most importantly, we need time to rest and reorganize. If the capital sends an army, we might not be able to resist." Duan Yue was honest, not holding back, and explained it clearly to her.

"That’s good, then I can rest easy." Jiang Bai exhaled, her face showing unstoppable exhaustion.

"In that case, Doctor Jiang, please get some rest. I will leave these two soldiers here with you for now. Once I return, you can choose your own personal guards." Seeing the fatigue on her face, Duan Yue decided not to intrude any further and rose to leave.

Jiang Bai nodded and saw him out. Once the door was shut, she let out a long breath, her legs softening as she sat on the edge of the bed. She rubbed her temples; the exertion of trying to manifest her powers and then pulling them back so suddenly left her with a throbbing, needle-like pain in her brain. She knew this was the result of exhausting her abilities.

She took a deep breath, struggling to calm the turbulent discomfort within. Her fingers trembled, and sweat beaded on her forehead, as if every nerve were screaming from the overexertion. There was no help for it; her powers were still at the primary level. A single attack drained her completely, let alone the strain of stopping mid-attack.

The pain of the backlash made it difficult to even remain conscious. She truly hoped she would have another chance to awaken her life-bound plant and successfully advance to the intermediate level.

Just as Duan Yue had said, Jiang Hui did not visit her again in the following days. Seven days later, he departed, leaving in such a hurry that it was as if he had never been there at all.

Later, Jiang Bai learned from a gossiping young apprentice in the pharmacy that the Jiang family’s businesses in the southwest had suffered heavy losses, and Jiang Hui had returned home to handle the crisis.

"Doctor Jiang, please, you must come quickly!" Pan Rui burst in while Jiang Bai was lecturing the apprentice.

"What is the situation? Tell me slowly and clearly." Jiang Bai stopped immediately, told Chen Jie to take over, grabbed her medical kit, and ran out while Pan Rui filled her in on the details.