After Abandoning the Ruthless Dao Swordmaster - Chapter 16

As Lin Meng shouted at her, Wu Su stood up on the tips of her toes and lit the lamp under the eaves of the courtyard before turning around.

 

In the dim light of twilight, her black and white eyes stared at Lin Meng.

 

She said softly: “Lin Meng, what’s wrong?”

 

——

 

Shortly after Wu Su left to go to the library, Lin Meng and Wei Li, who had been on the duty roster for the night of the celebration in Guanlan Pavilion, were taken away for questioning based on the order of handing in the pearl earrings.

 

When Xu Ling acted on behalf of His Highness the Ninth Prince, he naturally acted with great fanfare.

 

In the main hall of the West Garden of Prince Jing’s Mansion, the guards were divided into two rows, wearing silver military uniforms and standing strictly.

 

When Lin Meng and Wei Li were brought up, their legs were weak with fear.

 

Wei Li held Lin Meng’s hand and her voice trembled: “Lin Meng, Wu Su must have committed some grave mistake when she was on duty for me that night.”

 

Lin Meng was so frightened that she could hardly walk. She staggered, feeling that her legs were so heavy that she could hardly lift them up.

 

She didn’t respond to Wei Li’s worried whisper.

 

“Lin Meng, do you think so…” Wei Li shook Lin Meng’s sleeve again.

 

Lin Meng’s lips trembled, but she still didn’t speak.

 

“Lin Meng, why don’t you say anything?” Wei Li was so frightened that her voice ended in a cry.

 

She felt something was wrong. When she had first heard about the investigation into the missing pearl earrings, she had made some calculations in advance.

 

According to the duty roster, Wu Su was not listed as being on duty that night.  So Wei Li had sneaked into Steward Lu’s study late at night, and quickly changed the information so that Wu Su’s name was recorded in the book.

 

With this, no matter how much the Steward investigates, they won’t be able to trace it back to her. After all, she was indeed not in Prince Jing’s Mansion that night, and Lin Meng was a witness who could verify this.

 

At this time, the two of them had been brought into the main hall. Lin Meng’s face was pale, and Wei Li quickly knelt on the ground.

 

Xu Ling was about to move forward to help Wei Li stand up, when he heard Lin Meng’s trembling voice echoing in the hall.

 

“Sir, are you looking for the maid who left later that night?” Lin Meng asked while kneeling on the ground and bowing respectfully.

 

Xu Ling was stunned. He didn’t know why His Highness the Ninth Prince was looking for this person, but he still answered truthfully.

 

“Yes, we are looking for the maid who entered Guanlan Pavilion after the banquet ended that night.” He replied.

 

Lin Meng swallowed and spoke carefully. “I was not the last one to leave. The other maids who returned to the West Garden with me can testify.”

 

Wei Li’s eyes widened in shock. She suddenly turned around to stare at the girl beside her. “Lin Meng, I wasn’t in Prince Jing’s Mansion that night. How could it be me? A’Cun could…”

 

Thinking of Xue Cun, Wei Li remembered that he had received a severe beating as a punishment, and was still unconscious.

 

She paused for a moment before continuing.  “Sir, if you will take a look, you will see that my name is not recorded in the duty roster for that day.”

 

Xu Ling raised his eyebrows and glanced at her. He remembered Pei Jiuzhi’s explanation that the girl he was looking for was someone whose name was not written in the book.

 

Lin Meng knelt on the ground, head lowered, sweat forming nervously on her forehead.

 

She remembered that she had felt lazy that night and wanted to go back early.

 

Therefore, even though Wu Su explained that she was feeling unwell, she had still asked Wu Su to cover for her at the end of the banquet.

 

After she left, Wu Su must have made a mistake, angering His Highness the Ninth Prince, who then sent his servants to investigate for him.

 

She didn’t want this matter to be known to others, because the tempers of those noble people were unpredictable.

 

If Wu Su complained about her, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to escape punishment.

 

In Yundu, if she indirectly offended a noble person like His Highness the Ninth Prince, she might be killed.

 

Therefore, Lin Meng chose her words carefully.

 

“That night, I went back to my courtyard early. Many people can testify, so the person you are looking for must not be me.”

 

Lin Meng’s voice trembled.

 

Wei Li spoke sharply: “If it wasn’t you, are you saying it’s me? It must have been Wu Su, she is so clumsy…”

 

She knelt on the ground continued to bow. “Sir, it’s really not me… Look at the record book…”

 

Xu Ling gave her a smile that he thought was very kind, and comforted her: “Girl, we have been told to look for a person who is not in the book.”

 

Xu Ling ordered someone to help her Lin Meng up, and escort her out. He had already investigated the situation before bringing her over.

 

That night, Wei Li had not returned to the small courtyard where they lived, and her name was not recorded in the duty book.

 

Lin Meng was sent back, and the journey back to the courtyard filled her with endless fear, without knowing the truth.

 

She knew that because she was afraid of being implicated, she had betrayed Wei Li.

 

Lin Meng didn’t dare to reveal the fact that she had asked Wu Su to serve the last dish for her that night.

 

Wu Su was probably the one who revealed the matter between Wei Li and Xue Cun to the City Guard.  She looked dull and silent, but she had easily repeated this gossip to get herself out of trouble.

 

It’s all Wu Su’s fault, Lin Meng thought bitterly, she took leave today and left Prince Jing’s Mansion, it must have been to escape investigation.

 

It’s not her fault… Lin Meng comforted herself that she had only told the truth.

 

Before she reached the courtyard, she had already pushed all the blame firmly onto Wu Su.

 

——

 

Lin Meng hid the details of the matter and stared at Wu Su.

 

“Wei Li and I were the ones recorded in the roster as being on duty that night. Wei Li happened to stay outside the mansion that night, so she was arrested instead of you.”

 

Wu Su looked at Lin Meng calmly. “So?”

“So it’s your fault that Wei Li -” Lin Meng raised her voice.

 

“She was the one who asked me to be on duty in her place, and you were the one who asked me to serve the last dish in your place.” Wu Su’s tone was calm.

 

“These things were your own choices, it’s only fair that you deal with the consequences.”

 

“Wu Su, you are so cold-blooded. Wei Li even gave you a birthday gift not long ago.”

 

Lin Meng had turned her self-blame into resentment.

 

“Hmm…” Wu Su did not seem moved.

 

“Don’t you have any conscience?”  Lin Meng didn’t want to admit that she was the one who had betrayed Wei Li, so she could only vent her condemnation onto Wu Su.

 

She rushed over and wanted to slap Wu Su straight in the face.

 

But Wu Su avoided it. She noticed the crazy look in Lin Meng’s eyes.  “Lin Meng, there seems to be something wrong with you.”

 

Her clear black eyes stared at Lin Meng, as if they could see through all her inner thoughts.

 

“Lin Meng, you are afraid, and you seem to have some resentment towards yourself. You are uneasy, so you want to push all these negative emotions onto me.”

 

Wu Su carefully interpreted her expression and inner thoughts. She spoke clearly, but with a bit of stiffness that was not human.

 

“Shut up! Shut up!” Lin Meng closed her eyes and shouted loudly.

 

She staggered and seemed about to fall to the ground, but Wu Su held her up.

 

Wu Su had already thought about it,  and felt that it would not be a good idea to let Wei Li take the blame for her.

 

Although she was afraid of being discovered, the worst that would happen would be that the nobleman might order her to be killed to vent his anger.

 

But she couldn’t really be killed by regular humans.

 

The matter has been exposed to this extent, and she can no longer hide.

 

Wu Su supported Lin Meng and brought her to sit on a chair in the yard.

 

She hadn’t figured out the entire situation yet, but after thinking about it for a moment, she said to Lin Meng, “Then I’ll tell the truth clearly, and ask for her to be let go.”

 

After finishing speaking, she turned and walked out of the courtyard.

 

Lin Meng was overwhelmed with self-blame. After Wu Su helped to sit in the chair, it still took her a long time before she came back to her senses.

 

Wu Su is going to bring back Wei Li! Lin Meng stood up with excitement.

 

But if Wu Su really goes to confess, won’t the fact be exposed that it was Lin Meng who asked her to stay late, giving her a chance to make a mistake?

 

In the end, Lin Meng decided she still wanted to stop Wu Su, and ran out of the courtyard after her.

 

As Wu Su walked out of Prince Jing’s Mansion, she lowered her head and glanced at the brocade pouch hidden in her sleeves, the gift from the Little Highness.

 

She knew that the Little Highness had been investigating this matter, and he would likely be very disappointed if he knew that she was the maid who offended the nobleman that night.

 

He would hate that she had lied to him, and he might even discover that she wasn’t human.

 

The note and the golden key inside the brocade bag would be taken away, and she would never see them again.

 

So be it, Wu Su thought.

 

She asked passers-by, followed the procession escorting Wei Li, and chased after her.

 

——

 

In front of the Riyue Pavilion, two maids helped the frightened Wei Li down from the carriage.

 

Wei Li clutched her chest. Her face was flushed and her heartbeat was racing because of the fear she had experienced not long ago.

 

After Lin Meng was taken away, Xu Ling’s following words had shocked her.

 

Xu Ling spoke to her in a deep voice: “Girl, don’t be afraid, we are not punishing you.”

 

“Perhaps you did something that night at Guanlan Pavilion to make His Ninth Highness look at you differently. Now, he wants you to be by his side.”

 

Xu Ling comforted her, helpless to explain.

 

“Ninth…Ninth Highness?!” Wei Li’s eyes widened, and she was filled with unexpected joy when she heard Xu Ling’s words.

 

“Well, so that night, was it really you?” Xu Ling asked again. Seeing that Wei Li’s reaction seemed wrong, he wanted to confirm.

 

Wei Li’s hands hanging by her sides tightened, and she knew this was an excellent opportunity.

 

Wu Su probably thought that she would be punished, and would not dare to tell the truth.

 

She took a deep breath and nodded to Xu Ling: “It’s me.”

 

Xu Ling respectfully led her towards the Riyue Pavilion.

 

——

 

In front of Wei Li’s eyes, the door of the Riyue Pavilion stood closed, guarding the entrance to a huge building whose high pavilion was lost in the clouds.

 

The Riyue Pavilion where Pei Jiuzhi lived was the tallest building in Yundu, higher than even the Emperor’s Yunli Palace.

 

Over the years, almost no one has entered the Riyue Pavilion, not even Xu Ling.

 

He saluted Wei Li respectfully: “Girl, you can open the Riyue Pavilion now.”

 

“What?” Wei Li was shocked.

 

“His Highness the Ninth Prince said that you would have the ability to open the door once you arrive in front of the Riyue Pavilion.” Xu Ling had followed Pei Jiuzhi’s instructions strictly.

 

In an instant, Wei Li was at a loss: “I…I don’t know.”

 

“That’s fine, it’s getting late today. I’ll take you to the post house to rest first. If you remember how to open it, come and open it.”

 

Xu Ling just thought she was frightened today.

 

Wei Li narrowed her eyes and nodded.

 

She was escorted by the guards to the largest post house in Yundu.

 

This escort was very grand, and Wu Su heard about it along her way.

 

Soon, she stood in front of the post house, eyeing the strict guards in front of her, and thought of Lin Meng’s hysterical face.

 

She had to go in and take responsibility, she was the one at fault for what happened that night.

 

Wu Su walked up calmly, and the guard stationed in front of the post house raised his halberd with an angry expression.

 

“I came to look for the lady inside, I worked with her in Prince Jing’s Mansion.” Wu Su explained softly.

 

The guard thought it was Wei Li’s friend who was looking for her, so he reported it to his superior.

 

Naturally, Xu Ling would not stop Wei Li from meeting her friends, so he planned to let her in.

 

After passing the first level, Wu Su walked towards the pavilion where Wei Li was resting, but was stopped by the maid..

 

“I’m Wu Su, coming to see Wei Li.” Wu Su spoke calmly.

 

The place in front of her didn’t look like a place where prisoners were held. What on earth was going on?

 

The maid nodded at her words,  and walked back into the pavilion to inform Wei Li.

 

Wei Li was inside the room, dressing in front of the mirror. When she heard of Wu Su’s arrival, she stood up in shock.

 

Did Wu Su know the truth?

 

Wei Li immediately said to the maid: “I don’t see her, so don’t let her in.”

 

The maid returned to the front of the pavilion and bowed to Wu Su. “Miss, Miss Wei Li doesn’t want to see you.”

 

Wu Su stood in front of the gorgeous door in confusion. She narrowed her eyes and thought for a long time.

 

She couldn’t begin to understand what kind of creature human beings were.

 

She turned around and left, walking slowly. Behind her, the bright pavilion shone with dazzling light, reflecting her black and white figure.

 

Wu Su planned to return to Prince Jing’s Mansion, so she took a shortcut , following the path behind the post house.

 

As a result, after taking only two steps, she saw a familiar figure standing at the end of the path.

 

Wei Li had sneaked out to meet her once she remembered the locked Riyue Pavilion.

 

That night, if it had indeed been Wu Su in the Guanlan Pavillion, she must have a way to open the door.

 

“Wu Su——” Wei Li stopped her.

 

Wu Su turned around and looked at her quietly: “Wei Li, I was not present at the mansion today and you were arrested on my behalf. I will explain the truth. Why… why did you refuse to see me?”

 

“Wu Su, stop talking about this!” Wei Li asked, “Can you open the Riyue Pavilion?”

 

“What is the Riyue Pavilion?” Wu Su was confused. She had never heard of this name.

 

“It’s Ninth——” Wei Li was about to continue talking when another figure appeared from outside the alley.

 

“Wu Su, Wei Li has already taken the blame for all this. Don’t come back to fight with her!”

 

Lin Meng vaguely saw Wu Su’s figure, and she shouted loudly.

 

Under the silent moon, her voice was a little unreal.

 

Wu Su was stunned for a moment and looked back.

 

At the same time, she felt a familiar demonic energy coming towards them, as fast as lightning.

 

Deep in the bustling streets and alleys of Yundu, a sinister black energy appeared.

 

The black energy sprang forth violently, striking like a serpent, and swiftly collided with Lin Meng standing  at the other end of the alley.

 

In an instant, blood gushed forth like a fountain, and a sickening chewing sound could be heard from the mass of black energy.

 

Wei Li was so terrified that she let out a shrill cry and immediately fainted. Lin Meng was dead, and the strong smell of blood filled the alley.

 

Wu Su didn’t even have time to communicate with Lin Meng’s dying soul.

 

The black energy, infused with an evil bloody colour, rolled towards the two of them, entangling them until they were tightly restrained.

 

Wei Li’s scream had pierced the night sky, and the guards stationed inside the post house rushed out to find blood spreading all over the ground.

 

His Highness the Ninth Prince had ordered them to bring a girl back, but she had secretly left the inn and was  kidnapped.

 

No one noticed that Wu Su was also taken away.

 

The black energy that was responsible had disappeared into the moonlight of the night sky.

 

At the same time, Pei Jiuzhi, who was still in the centre of the formation for the Heaven-Worshipping Ceremony, suddenly opened his eyes.

 

Tonight’s farce about Wu Su, Wei Li and Lin Meng ends here.