Chapter 52#

Male Beauty or Father#

On the sixth day, Jiang Xueya still had no news of Sang Chiyu. Su Ruhui grew anxious, dressed neatly, and went to report for duty, intending to find Jiang Xueya. Given the excessive cat hair at home, Su Ruhui’s military official robe was not spared. Before leaving, Su Ruhui hired an old woman to clean in the afternoon and feed Sang Baobao. Recently, dead cats with their bellies cut open had frequently appeared on the streets, and rumors circulated among the neighbors about a cat-abusing pervert. Su Ruhui locked the doors and windows, ensuring Sang Baobao had no way to escape before leaving. At the yamen, Su Ruhui did nothing all morning, drinking a whole pot of tea.

In more than ten days, aristocratic families from various regions would pay respects to the Grand Sect Master. The Eagle Guard was busy apprehending exposed demons in various places, working tirelessly. The “Divine Eye” secret technique practitioners recruited by the Frontier Guard were dispatched to various checkpoints to set up defenses and screen for demons. The Secret Sect was also conducting self-purges. The Ministry of Military Affairs manufactured a batch of bronze mirrors embedded with “Divine Eye” talismans, capable of X-raying the human body.

The most convenient way to distinguish between demons and humans was to use the Divine Eye to see through their bones. Except for Sang Chiyu, a half-demon with both human and demon bloodlines, other demons, no matter how strong their flesh and blood reconstruction abilities were, could not escape their core. Demons had a core, humans did not. By searching for the core in the chest cavity, one could determine whether it was a demon or not.

The Eagle Guard military officials set up checkpoints in the palace, inspecting the chests of every official from the Secret Sect who entered the palace for audience or duty. Once a core was found, they were immediately apprehended. This search was astonishing, uncovering many demons lurking among the humans.

Only Su Ruhui was idle and bored, with nothing to do.

Jiang Xueya was busy with affairs, and Su Ruhui felt a bit embarrassed to bother her. He sent someone to speak with Jiang Xueya, hoping to subtly inquire about Sang Chiyu. After waiting for a long time without seeing anyone, he heard many rumors, saying that Jiang Xueya had frequently entered the palace late at night recently, staying in the Grand Sect Master’s bedchamber until dawn. Some people chuckled, covering their mouths, saying, “I say, how could Lord Jiang achieve such a high position at such a young age? It turns out she pleased the Grand Sect Master with her skills in bed.”

Others wondered, “The Grand Sect Master has practiced asceticism for decades, how could he make an exception for Lord Jiang?”

“Old house on fire, I guess.”

Su Ruhui was stunned. Was the old man the system mentioned last time, who had an unspeakable relationship with Jiang Xueya, his maternal uncle?

Just as he was shocked, a small attendant knocked on the window, “Captain Jiang, Lord Jiang Xueya is looking for you.”

Everyone heard Jiang Xueya’s name and quickly shut up. Su Ruhui followed the attendant to the Dragon Cavalry Guard yamen, treading on thick snow, passing through the long Heavenly Street. Su Ruhui entered the gate of the Dragon Cavalry Guard, where Jiang Xueya was waiting for him at the bottom of the stone steps. She had an extremely striking appearance. It was high noon, and the sun was high, but the fierce light and shadow could not hide her beauty; instead, it made her features more prominent and her radiance captivating.

“I still haven’t found Sang Chiyu,” Jiang Xueya’s hand rested on the sharkskin hilt of her saber, her fingers tapping the tsuba. “That nemesis of yours is very good at hiding. All of Biandu are my eyes and ears, yet I can’t find a trace of him.”

Not finding him was also a good thing, meaning the demon race hadn’t found him yet, Su Ruhui comforted himself.

Su Ruhui then asked, “How are your family matters being investigated? Nothing serious, I hope.”

Speaking of this, Jiang Xueya patted his shoulder and said, “Your report was timely. I sent people back to Yunzhou for rescue. The demons in the old mansion fled at the news. My useless father and brothers were locked in the cellar and almost lost half their lives. Fortunately, they were rescued. And now, my father has come to Biandu early.” She sighed, “Alas, if they had died, wouldn’t Yunzhou be mine?”

Su Ruhui: “…”

Jiang Xueya, this rebellious woman, seemed quite unhappy that her father and brothers were all safe and sound.

“My father is inside,” Jiang Xueya patted his back with her scabbard. “Stand up straight, don’t give yourself away. Remember, you are Jiang Quexie.”

Then she led him around the screen wall and into the hall of the Dragon Cavalry Guard. Stepping over the threshold, Su Ruhui saw the person sitting under the pine and bamboo plaque. The man had white hair, a majestic appearance, and sat in the high hall like an aged tiger, stern and imposing without anger.

He was Jiang Huaicang.

He turned his head, saw Su Ruhui, and said, “Quexie, you’ve come.”

Seeing this man, Su Ruhui felt a fine layer of frost on his back. Jiang Huaicang was too similar to the “Jiang Huaicang” he had seen in the Jiang residence, even the wrinkles when he smiled were identical. However, their demeanor was quite different. The fake in the Jiang residence smiled like a puppet, while this old man had a serious, warlike aura.

Su Ruhui smiled and bowed, “When did Father arrive? Quexie did not come to pay respects, which is truly impolite.”

“I just arrived not long ago. I didn’t have anyone inform you, so it’s not impolite of you.” Jiang Huaicang patted his shoulder. “Your elder brother also came. That boy is getting more delicate with age; he can’t stand riding in a puppet carriage and vomited all the way, so he didn’t follow me into the palace city.” He sighed, “You, child, you came to Biandu to seek a position without telling me. If your elder sister hadn’t sent a letter back to Yunzhou, your father wouldn’t have known you had joined the Eagle Guard.”

Su Ruhui smiled, “Thank you for your concern, Father.”

Jiang Huaicang was silent for a moment, his voice deepening a few shades. “I asked your elder sister to call you here to tell you something. You should know about the demon calamity at the Jiang residence, right? It was my oversight that allowed demons to infiltrate the mansion and occupy the grand house. It is truly a great humiliation. The silver lining is that none of us lost our lives. But your aunt…” Jiang Huaicang sighed mournfully, “She’s gone. Quexie, don’t worry, I will definitely track down those villains and ensure they have no burial place!”

Su Ruhui pinched his thigh, his eyes reddening, putting on a sorrowful act. “I never thought that after coming out, I would be separated from Auntie forever. Those villains occupying the Jiang residence must have come for you, Father. Father, please allow me to stay in Biandu to protect you. If Auntie’s spirit in heaven knew, she would surely be worried about your safety.”

“Don’t cry, little brother,” Jiang Xueya handed him a handkerchief. “Your aunt will surely bless us all with peace and safety.”

Su Ruhui took the handkerchief and pretended to wipe his tears. As the handkerchief touched his eyes, his eyelids immediately stung. Chili water had been sprayed on the handkerchief! Su Ruhui truly shed tears this time, his face streaming with them, unable to stop. Senior Sister was indeed resourceful; she had even anticipated Jiang Huaicang’s visit to deliver the bad news and specially prepared a chili water handkerchief for him.

He choked out, “Sister, thank you so much.”

“We are siblings, why the need for thanks?” Jiang Xueya said with a smile.

“Good child,” Jiang Huaicang held his shoulder and sighed sadly, “Since you have such filial piety, how can your father not fulfill your wish? So be it, you shall stay in Biandu, and after the Grand Court Assembly, you can return home with your father to pay respects to your aunt.”

The three exchanged warm greetings, as if they truly had deep familial affection, but in reality, they were all putting on a show. Su Ruhui, needless to say, was not their biological son at all. Look at this old man, Jiang Xueya slipped him an illegitimate son, and he actually believed it. It seems illegitimate sons were everywhere, and he couldn’t keep track of them all.

As for Jiang Xueya, she had left home at a young age, meeting her father and brothers only a handful of times throughout the year. Su Ruhui remembered Jiang Xueya saying that the Jiang residence never prepared a seat for her during New Year’s. Once, she rushed back for New Year’s, and upon entering the house, she saw that they had already started their New Year’s Eve dinner, the large round table packed, with no room for an extra seat. Since then, she had never returned. Around New Year’s, she would grab a wine pot and find Su Ruhui and Zhou Xiaosu, and the three of them would get drunk at a brothel until dawn.

Jiang Huaicang said to Jiang Xueya, “You, child, year after year I send letters asking you to come home for New Year’s, and year after year you don’t return. Just when you were finally getting married, I hoped you would come home and stay for a while longer. Who would have thought the Grand Sect Master would suddenly issue an edict, making your younger brother marry in your place? You don’t need to tell me, you must have curried favor with the Grand Sect Master, and he actually indulged your mischief!” Jiang Huaicang sighed, “Never mind, never mind. You are dedicated to your career and have no intention of marrying, so Father won’t force you. You must take care of your health and not let your old father, thousands of miles away, worry.”

These words, spoken not like an act but with genuine emotion, even moved Su Ruhui a little. Indeed, the older the ginger, the spicier it is. Jiang Huaicang’s acting was truly superb.

The attendant saw Jiang Huaicang off. Jiang Huaicang walked down the stone steps with his hands behind his back, his gait majestic and steady, truly different from the fake Jiang Huaicang Su Ruhui had seen at the Jiang family’s residence before. Su Ruhui took out his Divine Eye talisman, activated the secret technique, and the light and shadow before him suddenly changed, revealing the intricate textures of all things. He saw Jiang Huaicang’s limbs, bones, and meridians.

“You suspect he’s a demon?” Jiang Xueya asked beside him. “The Eagle Guard has set up checkpoints at the palace gates. Everyone entering the palace must be inspected. He can’t be a demon.”

“Just to be safe, let’s take a look.”

“Does he have a core then?”

“No.”

“It seems those demons have already fled,” Jiang Xueya said with a furrowed brow. “The clue is broken now. Your uncle wants me to investigate the mole, but I don’t know where to start.”

“It’s not broken,” Su Ruhui said in a deep voice. “Senior Sister, your family is indeed not clean. If you want to find the mole, you should investigate your father.”

“How so?” Jiang Xueya’s expression tightened.

Su Ruhui spread his hand, revealing a tiny Wind-Stealing Spider in his palm.

“That day when I returned home, I brought many Wind-Stealing Spiders. Due to lack of materials and a short construction period, many spiders’ core star arrays were not sensitive, and seven out of ten spiders failed to find their way back. I just found one on your father, hidden under his collar. This indicates that your father was one of the demons who came into contact with me that day, and I dare to bet that he is the so-called fake Jiang Huaicang.” Su Ruhui’s expression was solemn. “He impersonated himself.”

Jiang Huaicang must have touched his satchel that day. His spider’s legs had barbs, allowing them to cling to people like burrs. Jiang Huaicang’s acting was indeed excellent; when playing a demon, he perfectly grasped the nuances, portraying the demon’s peculiar strangeness just right.

Unfortunately, Su Ruhui’s Wind-Stealing Spider exposed him.

Jiang Xueya stared at the small spider in Su Ruhui’s palm, her eyes dark and unreadable. Su Ruhui understood her internal struggle. Although she and Jiang Huaicang were not close, they were still father and daughter by blood. If her father colluded with demons, that would be treason. Loyalty and filial piety were difficult to reconcile; asking her to righteously eliminate her own kin was truly difficult.

She picked up the Wind-Stealing Spider, crushed it into powder between her fingers, and sighed wistfully, “Male beauty or father, which should I choose?”