Chrysanthemums Hanging by a Thread

Chapter Title: 070 A Chrysanthemum Hanging by a Thread

"What do you need me to do?" Zhu Xishi rolled up her sleeves and strode after him, her fierce gaze undimmed by the shadowy night, as ruthless as when she slaughtered pigs.

Fang Rulai glanced at her, explaining as they walked, "Banxia is causing chaos in the magistrate’s residence and the back courtyard, which forces Sun Chi out from the secret passage. This prevents him from doing anything to Mu Zhijin, but Banxia can't navigate the labyrinth of tunnels beneath the Sun family to find and rescue Mu Zhijin."

This is, after all, Sun Chi’s territory. He might lose interest in dealing with Mu Zhijin amid the turmoil outside, but before leaving, he would surely move Mu Zhijin to a place we couldn't find quickly.

Therefore, "To rescue Mu Zhijin, we need Sun Chi to willingly hand her over."

"Get Sun Chi to do that willingly? Is that even possible?" Zhu Xishi was skeptical.

Fang Rulai suddenly stopped, his gaze locking onto Zhu Xishi’s eyes. "Whether Sun Chi will hand over Mu Zhijin depends on you—and your so-called mother-in-law."

Zhu Xishi was confused. "My mother-in-law? Hasn't she already passed away? How could she still..."

"Not your former mother-in-law in Shengjing," Fang Rulai interrupted, pointing downward, "but your future mother-in-law here in Pingcheng—Mu Zhijin’s real mother, Madam Mu."

"Mu... Mu... She’s not my..." Zhu Xishi swallowed, suddenly bashful. "Why must we go to her? Can't we skip that?"

Fang Rulai’s gaze was grave. "I haven't had time to ask: after Mu Zhijin picked you up in her carriage, what happened? It doesn't seem like things went well."

Zhu Xishi’s rare discomfort showed on her face. "Indeed, not so well. So can we not..."

"No!" Fang Rulai cut her off sharply. "Unless you decide not to save the one who, time and again, shielded you and risked her life to ensure your safety—the one whose chrysanthemum is now hanging by a thread in dire peril!"

"Fang! Ru! Lai!" Zhu Xishi cried out in despair. Must she recount what happened again? She was already worried about Mu Zhijin’s innocence, but did she have to dwell on this “chrysanthemum hanging by a thread”? Fine, with this provocation, she was less resistant to seeing Madam Mu.

Zhu Xishi slapped her burning cheeks. "Alright, you win. Spare me your taunts. Just tell me what to do next!"

"Excellent. Step one: meet your mother-in-law and persuade her to help."

Hundred Flowers House was easy to find—the only place with a bright red lantern in the pitch darkness.

At the back door, a turtle-servant yawned as he opened it, but upon seeing Zhu Xishi, his face lit up in a smile as brilliant as a chrysanthemum. "Young Mistress, welcome! Please come in! Madam Mu instructed me: as soon as you arrive, notify her immediately! Please wait, I’ll..."

"Shut up!" Zhu Xishi’s hand nearly tore off the door ring. Young Mistress, Young Mistress—was she supposed to feel honored being the Young Mistress of a brothel? Was he angling for a reward, calling her that again and again? Furious, she snapped, "I told you, I’m not your Young Mistress!"

"Yes, yes, you’re right. Not yet. But Madam Mu said you’ll be part of Hundred Flowers House sooner or later, so you might as well get used to being called Young Mistress."

Great. Not only did she fail to silence him, she had to hear it several more times. Zhu Xishi’s head buzzed, and she unconsciously reached up to rub it. Turning her head, she spotted Fang Rulai, whom she'd temporarily forgotten.

He was visibly struggling not to laugh.

Zhu Xishi lowered her hand abruptly. "If you dare laugh, you will never eat my braised pork again!"

At her words, Fang Rulai instantly pressed his hands together, solemnly miming silent prayer.

She was satisfied. Zhu Xishi pursed her lips and turned back to continue with the turtle-servant, but was startled as soon as she faced him.

The turtle-servant who had just been obsequious now looked at her with contempt, as one would at a faithless lover.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Zhu Xishi had to ask, afraid that otherwise, he’d glare at her forever.

Tears streamed from the turtle-servant’s eyes. "Young Mistress, even if you’re dissatisfied with the Young Master’s performance in bed, you can’t put a green hat on him! And even if you do, you shouldn’t choose a monk as your lover! You..."

Smack! Zhu Xishi slapped him across the face.

Pfft! Fang Rulai finally couldn’t hold it in.

Ha! The turtle-servant was actually delighted.

Truly, tears mixed with laughter, paired with a lecherous face… Zhu Xishi, her arm still raised, swung it back again, disgusted.

This time, she missed. Just before her hand landed, the turtle-servant turned and ran. "So you’re a woman! Young Mistress, I misunderstood, I deserve to be hit. I’ll go inform Madam Mu for you right away."

Fang Rulai’s smile froze. First, the turtle-servant guessed her gender just from a single “pfft.” Second, he didn’t dodge by accident—the speed required martial arts, and not low-level skills at that. Third, a turtle-servant in a brothel actually knows martial arts?

"What’s his name?" Fang Rulai asked Zhu Xishi.

The question was so serious that Zhu Xishi dropped her “no braised pork if you laugh” retaliation and simply said, "Lame Liu."

Fang Rulai eyed the agile figure receding in the distance. "Are limping types now striving for new heights every day?"

Zhu Xishi understood her confusion. "He’s really called that, though I hear he’s never actually limped."

"Not lame, but called Lame Liu; possesses the skills of a bodyguard yet works as a turtle-servant," Fang Rulai mused. "Hundred Flowers House is far more impressive than expected."

Mu Zhijin counts as one—a former top scholar now a courtesan.

Lame Liu counts as another—a master of martial arts content to serve as the lowest staff.

Madam Mu is another.

Around forty, plump and fair, her youthful allure said to have bewitched half of Pingcheng is long gone, but the charm in her eyes and brows, seasoned by life, still dazzles.

Of course, as long as she doesn’t open her mouth and ruin her own image.

"Young Mistress, you’re finally back! Do you know how scared I was when you left with the butcher’s knife? I feared the Young Master’s bedroom skills would drive you to seek new lovers, but now you’re back, all is well! Lame Liu, go serve the nourishing soup I’ve kept simmering for you. Your Young Master used to be evergreen in all seasons, but now he wants to taste the feminine side again—how could I as his mother not help? Young Mistress, don’t worry, I’m not doubting my son's skills. With my genes, even if he’s more on the receiving end, if you stimulate him a bit, I believe he’ll soon regain his manly vigor..."

Her speech was rapid and overwhelming. Even prepared, Zhu Xishi was crushed and left powerless to resist. "No... I... ah, thank... he’s not... that... sigh."

She gave up arguing.

Madam Mu, rushing over, actually stopped her verbal barrage, for she finally noticed Zhu Xishi’s disheveled appearance.

"Young Mistress, what happened?"

Zhu Xishi was delighted—finally a chance to speak! No time to waste on these “Young Mistress” formalities; best to get to the point.

"Madam Mu, Mu Zhijin and I..."

"So the Young Master finally showed his vigor, eh? Look at how your clothes are torn—such style, such beauty! Half-covered, half-exposed, so alluring. My son is truly remarkable, easily shifting from passive to active. Must be because his root is strong!"

Zhu Xishi stood with her mouth agape, stuck mid-word, inhaling the biting night wind. What haven’t I endured in this life?!

Showed vigor? Can she only see my torn clothes, and not my dirty, battered state?

Too stylish? Too beautiful? I’m nearly naked, shivering like a pig waiting for slaughter, and she calls it beautiful?

This is why Zhu Xishi dreaded seeing Madam Mu again. Even in Shengjing, where she was fierce and dominant, facing Madam Mu was like a piglet meeting the old sow—a mere apprentice before a master.

Second round, still defeated. Proud as she was, she would not give Madam Mu a third chance to best her!

Zhu Xishi snapped her mouth shut, tilted her head, and signaled to Fang Rulai: You’ve met the person you wanted; now it’s your turn to ask her for help.

Fang Rulai was casting Zhu Xishi a sympathetic look, while his own eyes sparkled with admiration for Madam Mu.

How forthright! How formidable! How perfectly aligned with modern tastes!

With such a person, if she’s willing to face Sun Chi as planned, Mu Zhijin will surely be saved!

Catching Zhu Xishi’s signal, Fang Rulai straightened, stepped forward. "Madam Mu, you are a heroine among women, a hero among heroines, a great among the great, a Martian among Martians, among..."

His words were cut off by Madam Mu’s even faster speech, easily capturing her attention.

"Stop! Who are you?" Madam Mu sized up Fang Rulai. "A woman! Small chest, but hips not small. Ah, you must have bound your chest, right? So clever. With that unique monk’s robe, a flat chest is all the more alluring. But what’s with your shaved head? Did you really shave it all? Come, let me touch..."

Fang Rulai didn’t hesitate. She bent her knees and lowered herself, offering her head to Madam Mu’s hand. "Madam Mu, touch as much as you like, for as long as you like—just hope that after you’re done, the Young Master’s chrysanthemum remains intact."

Madam Mu’s hand paused instantly.

Fang Rulai, head bowed, could finally smile. "Madam Mu, Jin Young Master’s chrysanthemum awaits your rescue!"

Thank you, dear Choudan Haha, for your bouquet of encouragement. Happy New Year's Eve—may you soon have a professor!

Also: Dear readers, you must all be having a feast tonight. Remember, eat more veggies and drink less! Not everyone can drunkenly kiss a professor like Erqian—if you accidentally kiss Second Brother...

Haha, dear readers, you know I adore you, right? Take care of your health! (Spins the ring...)

This book is exclusively released.