Volume One, Chapter Five: Difficult? Leave It to Me!

Returning home, Chichi immediately threw a silver ingot to Li You.

“This courtyard of mine is small; it can’t accommodate so many of you! Go buy some wine and meat. Tonight, we’ll make do outside. Tomorrow, I’ll find a proper place for everyone to stay!”

“Yes! Thank you, Young Marquis!” Li You accepted the order gladly.

After all, it wasn’t cold now.

They could endure one night outside.

With wine and meat, what harm was there in roughing it for a night?

Back inside, Chichi stared at the imperial edict casually discarded by Shen Ji, unable to calm down for a long while.

The Young Marquis had truly revealed the imperial edict!

Now, they really had no way out.

If the Young Marquis couldn’t find the silver, she would have to accompany him into the afterlife.

“Don’t worry!” Shen Ji noticed Chichi’s concern and said carefreely, “Rest assured, as long as the silver is still in Qingzhou, I will definitely find it!”

“But what if the silver is no longer in Qingzhou?” Chichi whispered anxiously.

“Then we’ll just make a swift escape!” Shen Ji laughed it off.

Living people don’t die from holding in their urine, after all.

Chichi was surprised, then fell silent for a moment before asking, “Does the Young Marquis intend to arrest the Song family and subject them to severe interrogation?”

“That’s definitely not feasible!” Shen Ji shook his head. “No matter what, the Song family are imperial merchants. Although I have revealed the imperial edict, without concrete evidence, the authorities won’t stand by if we just arrest them and torture them.”

Besides, colluding with the Fire Cult and plundering disaster relief funds was a crime punishable by extermination of the entire clan.

Confess and face leniency; resist and rot in prison.

This has been the case since ancient times!

As long as the Song family isn’t foolish, they won’t confess easily.

Chichi remained silent, then gave a resigned smile.

Enough.

She had already prepared for the worst.

There was no point in doubting the Young Marquis now.

Later, Li You returned with wine and food, and Shen Ji and Chichi ate a little together.

Back in the room, Shen Ji practiced martial arts with Chichi.

However, Shen Ji’s physique was too weak; he had to rest after a short while.

When he stopped to watch Chichi practice, he quickly noticed something was off.

“Your moves are wrong!”

“Young Marquis, where exactly are they wrong?”

“They’re too flashy! My father said, in a fight between two people, the goal is to strike a fatal blow in one hit!”

“But these moves were personally taught by the Old Marquis!” Chichi protested.

“Ah, well… I guess my father wasn’t willing to teach you the ruthless techniques. Let me show you.”

Shen Ji moved behind Chichi, grabbed both her hands from behind, and demonstrated the moves.

Feeling Shen Ji’s body pressed against her back, Chichi’s breathing became rapid, her voice barely audible: “Young Marquis, you can just demonstrate for your servant…”

Shen Ji glanced at their posture.

Hmm…

There seemed to be a hint of intimacy.

But a man and woman working together isn’t tiring, after all!

“Ahem…”

Shen Ji cleared his throat and said seriously, “I am teaching you how to channel your power!”

He then held Chichi’s hands firmly and taught her with earnestness.

His techniques were simple and precise, focused on one fatal strike.

He didn’t care if they were underhanded; as long as the opponent died, it was fine.

During the instruction, their bodies inevitably brushed against each other.

Shen Ji thought his willpower was strong enough to remain focused.

But he had overestimated himself.

By the end, both were flushed and heated.

Damn it!

It must be the vengeful spirit messing with them!

Shen Ji quickly stopped.

If this continued, they might accidentally spark something unintended.

As they paused, Chichi breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing Shen Ji also panting, she felt both fear and secret delight.

After a hesitation, Chichi mustered her courage and said, “Since the day I entered the manor, I was destined to belong to the Young Marquis, but your body is weak. You want to practice martial arts, but you must conserve your energy…”

Shen Ji struggled to calm the surging energy within, then grinned mischievously at Chichi, “I know! Otherwise, do you think I wouldn’t have eaten you up already?”

Hearing Shen Ji’s blunt words, Chichi’s face flushed even more.

The next morning, a hundred county soldiers and Chen Liuqi arrived early at Shen Ji’s home.

Chen Liuqi was a renowned detective in Qingzhou and one of the main forces investigating the whereabouts of the disaster relief silver.

“I’m going to break off the engagement now! In fifteen minutes, you all follow Chichi to the Shen family estate!”

After a brief command, Shen Ji took the marriage contract and headed to the Song family.

Upon arriving, he found the Song household bustling with activity.

Because Song Qingluan had gone missing, the Song family was as anxious as ants on a hot pan.

Since early morning, people had been coming and going nonstop.

Upon learning of Shen Ji’s arrival, Song Fanghuai hurried out.

Before Shen Ji could speak, Song Fanghuai gripped him and said, “Honored nephew, did you kidnap Qingluan? You and Qingluan may have a misunderstanding, but don’t do anything foolish!”

“I’d kidnap your grandmother!” Shen Ji pushed Song Fanghuai aside directly. “I’ve been so good to your Song family, yet you repay me with ingratitude, hiding her infidelity and trying to slander me? Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?”

Hearing Shen Ji dare to speak to him this way, Song Fanghuai’s anger flared.

Shen Ji had always been respectful to him, no matter how arrogant he was to others.

Did he think he could overturn the heavens today?

Song Fanghuai clenched his anger and hastily explained, “Honored nephew, you’ve misunderstood Qingluan…”

“Don’t waste my time with excuses!” Shen Ji slapped the marriage contract onto Song Fanghuai. “I’m here to break off the engagement!”

Yes, break it off quickly!

Cut ties with the Song family immediately!

When the entire clan faces extermination, he didn’t want blood splattered on him!

“Honored nephew, you…” Song Fanghuai feigned concern.

“Why won’t you listen? It’s just a misunderstanding. Why has it escalated to this?” he implored.

“Make it quick!” Shen Ji urged impatiently. “If you don’t hand over that marriage contract, I’ll set fire to your Song family!”

Song Fanghuai continued his insincere pleas for a while longer.

Seeing Shen Ji determined to break the engagement, he was “forced” to agree.

Shen Ji didn’t want to waste time or follow formalities; he burned both copies of the contract in front of them, thereby officially ending the engagement.

Watching the ashes, Song Fanghuai secretly rejoiced.

It seemed this fool hadn’t heard what Qingluan had been saying to that man.

But beneath his joy, Song Fanghuai was worried.

Where exactly had Qingluan gone?

She had been missing for over a day!

Could something terrible have happened?

“Sigh, why did it have to come to this?” After the contract turned to ashes, Song Fanghuai put on a show of sighing. “If you break the engagement, when your uncle reaches the afterlife, he won’t have the face to meet your parents!”

“If you want to have the face to meet my parents, that’s simple!” Shen Ji extended his hand. “I’m already so broke I can’t make ends meet, yet I gave your Song family so much silver. First, hand over two thousand taels for me to spend!”

Two thousand taels?

Song Fanghuai’s eyelid twitched.

What a waste!

Demanding two thousand taels right off the bat!

What big appetite!

Did he really think he was as foolish as Shen Ji?

Song Fanghuai cursed inwardly and took out a small piece of silver weighing about one tael, handing it to Shen Ji.

As he did, the silver slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.

“My uncle isn’t well-off either; there really isn’t two thousand taels! This one tael should last you a month if you’re careful with spending! I’m doing this to help you break your extravagant habits!”

Song Fanghuai put on a “for your own good” expression, but his heart was full of contempt.

“Are you sure there’s no two thousand taels?” Shen Ji grinned. “Don’t regret it later!”

Song Fanghuai gave a forced smile, “Honored nephew, you don’t mean to rob my Song family in broad daylight, do you? You’d put me in a difficult position!”

“Difficult, huh? I’ll help you with that!” Shen Ji was tired of wasting words with Song Fanghuai and turned to leave.

Watching Shen Ji’s back, Song Fanghuai couldn’t help but sneer with contempt.

A fool deceived by Qingluan, still daring to challenge him?

Didn’t he know his own limits?