After Transmigrating, My Younger Brother Always Tries to Seduce Me - Chapter 22
After the lingering spring rains finally subsided, the trio set off for the Capital.
With a month to spare before Prince Jin’s martial arts tournament, they had ample time to settle in.
Zhu Zhenzhen hadn’t seen Cheng Jiuxiao in ages. Since appointing him as manager, the inn’s staff occasionally caught glimpses of him, but Cheng Jiuxiao had vanished completely.
The carriage swayed violently, making the occupants uncomfortable.
Lu Yin broke the silence, finally voicing a question that had been weighing on his mind for days
Song Heng, why did you agree to accompany the Yan siblings to the Capital? Prince Jin has nothing to do with either of you.
Song Heng, who had been checking the Black Nether Token in his luggage, looked up, his expression unwavering.
I don’t know if it’s true, but Cheng Jiuxiao told me a secret Prince Jin is the mastermind behind the massacre of the Song Manor.
Since Cheng Jiuxiao isn’t here, I can say whatever I want.
Miles away, Cheng Jiuxiao suddenly felt a strange weight on his back, as if he were carrying something heavy.
Song Heng had long prepared his response for this day.
Why did I go to Changding before? Because Cheng Jiuxiao guided me there.
Why had he agreed to go to the Capital this time? Because of Cheng Jiuxiao’s guidance.
Song Heng’s lips curled into a faint smile. Hadn’t Cheng Jiuxiao promised to help him? He could have easily revealed the true enemy without exposing his own reincarnation by leveraging Cheng Jiuxiao’s enigmatic influence.
He glanced at the woman beside him, who also wore an expression of surprise. Her long lashes veiled the unfathomable emotions in her eyes, concealing her true intentions.
To guide her into joining me in fighting the enemy.
For three years, Song Heng had secretly developed his forces and laid his plans. His subordinates had already extended their reach into the Capital. While the Capital wasn’t yet completely riddled with his spies, he had cultivated many useful contacts there.
He couldn’t immediately grasp why he needed to guide her into fighting alongside him.
Zhu Zhenzhen asked, her expression slightly bewildered, How could he know? And why has he never mentioned this to me before?
Song Heng shook his head, maintaining his innocent act to the end.
She hesitated, then said, Cheng Jiuxiao’s words might not be entirely true. Let’s wait and see. We’ll investigate thoroughly once we reach the Capital.
It wasn’t that she distrusted Cheng Jiuxiao, but this matter was far too serious to take lightly. Caution was warranted.
Although their journey to the Capital had always been aimed at confronting Prince Jin, Song Heng’s words…
Zhu Zhenzhen stole a glance at him. He sat upright, as steadfast as a pine tree in the forest. His innocent demeanor showed no hint of doubt, as if he too had already confirmed Prince Jin as the mastermind.
Then why didn’t he tell me sooner?
How strange.
Though the Capital was distant, they traveled day and night, their horses swift and the roads smooth, arriving in just five days.
Unsure how long they would stay, they brought ample luggage and first needed to find lodging to store their belongings.
Entering the Capital now, they no longer resembled naive country bumpkins, showing no surprise at the city’s splendor.
The city’s opulence rivaled that of Shanghai before Zhu Zhenzhen’s transmigration.
As they strolled down the streets, they encountered countless novelties.
Zhu Zhenzhen and Lu Yin were dazzled by the sights.
The handsome man and beautiful woman lingered at various stalls, examining the wares.
The market offered exquisite trinkets, small and refined, though somewhat pricey. But their days working at the Sun and Moon Inn hadn’t been in vain.
They now held several silver notes, enough to fan out into a thick, fan-like shape.
Each flutter carried the scent of money.
What to do when they saw something they liked?
Buy it!
By the time they reached their lodging, the trio was already laden with bags and bundles.
The Capital lacked a Sun and Moon Inn. The innkeeper explained that one couldn’t be too brazen under the Son of Heaven’s gaze, so they had to rent a small residence through intermediaries.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, a middle-aged man, around forty or fifty years old, approached them with a wide, friendly smile. He walked with a limp, each step slow and labored.
The man stopped before them, his leg making him appear shorter than others. Maintaining his amiable smile, he addressed Zhu Zhenzhen, who was leading the group
Miss, you can call me Old Yue. He rubbed his hands nervously as he introduced himself. I’m the caretaker of this residence. If you need anything during your stay, just let me know.
Zhu Zhenzhen nodded in acknowledgment.
Before arriving, they had heard about the caretaker with a limp, whose duties included maintaining the courtyard and tending to the plants.
Guarding the residence was a relatively light task, as his leg prevented him from performing strenuous physical labor.
Old Yue led them to the side rooms, his tone becoming familiar as he asked, Where did the three of you come from?
Seeing that neither Zhu Zhenzhen nor Lu Yin spoke, and the atmosphere suddenly growing quiet, Lu Yin answered, Bian City.
Old Yue’s voice carried a hint of surprise. Bian City is quite a distance from the capital. What brings you to the capital?
Lu Yin was about to reply when Zhu Zhenzhen stopped him with a gesture.
We came to the Capital to find my sister, she said. My two brothers and I plan to stay with her. She’s thriving here, but her family’s fortunes have been declining…
Zhu Zhenzhen maintained a composed expression, spouting complete nonsense.
It’s always wise to be cautious, especially when traveling.
Old Yue dragged his leg, but his pace didn’t falter. He turned his head halfway back and asked, Then why rent a house? This neighborhood isn’t cheap. Why not just stay at an inn? The money you’re spending on rent would cover three or four days at an inn.
Old Yue’s mind works fast.
Zhu Zhenzhen replied, Though our family’s fortunes have declined, we still have some savings. We can’t possibly stay with those riffraff at an inn.
Her tone carried a hint of disdain, like that of a pampered noblewoman.
Old Yue fell silent but quickened his pace. After dropping them off, he muttered a few words and left.
The two rooms were connected, with one located down a separate corridor, just a short walk away.
Zhu Zhenzhen glanced at the layout and declared, Lu Yin will stay next door to me. Song Heng can take the other room.
Lu Yin had never practiced martial arts and remained a frail, defenseless man. For his safety, it was best to keep him close.
As for Song Heng…
Zhu Zhenzhen recalled that even during their basic training, Song Heng had displayed a natural aptitude for martial arts. With diligent practice, he should now be able to hold his own against her.
For now, she didn’t need to worry about him.
Lu Yin had no objections to the organization’s arrangements. He grabbed his luggage and went inside to settle in.
Zhu Zhenzhen was about to enter the house to pack her belongings when she noticed Song Heng seemed to have something to say.
She paused her hand on the door, turned, and asked, What is it?
Song Heng’s gaze drifted past Zhu Zhenzhen’s head, toward the interior of the house. A landscape painting screen blocked the view, obscuring the layout.
It’s nothing much, he said hesitantly. I just thought, since Lu Yin hasn’t practiced martial arts, wouldn’t it be…
He trailed off, but Zhu Zhenzhen had already considered this.
Don’t worry, she reassured him. With me by his side, he’s not going to lose any limbs.
Undeterred, Song Heng persisted, But if thieves attack at night, I’m worried you’ll have to keep an eye on Lu Yin, which will disrupt your rest and make it hard to sleep.
A warm current flowed through Zhu Zhenzhen’s heart. So that’s what Song Heng was really worried about.
Now, Zhu Zhenzhen was even more determined not to let him switch rooms.
In that case, she declared, as his elder sister, I need to step up. What’s a little sleep deprivation compared to everyone’s safety?
Song Heng ……
Zhu Zhenzhen handed him his luggage, urging him to hurry back and unpack. After all, they planned to go out for a few strolls later that evening.
The courtyard featured a pond. Though not crystal clear enough to see the bottom, one could still clearly observe the fish swimming freely within.
Just before they were about to leave for dinner, they happened to see Old Yue sitting by the pond, feeding the fish, his lame leg stretched out to the side. Zhu Zhenzhen politely greeted him.
After taking a few steps, she turned slightly to Song Heng and said, If we’re eating out later, let’s order extra desserts. If you like, we can even bring some back to enjoy at night.
If you three are dining out, you might want to try Min Yue Pavilion, Old Yue said, his hand still tossing fish food into the pond. Hunched slightly, he didn’t turn around, as if casually chiming in. It’s a bit noisy, but the food is top-notch.
Zhu Zhenzhen’s interest was immediately piqued. She stepped forward to chat with Old Yue and inquire about the menu. After all, the best way to avoid tourist traps when it comes to local cuisine is to get recommendations from the locals themselves.
However, their plans for dinner were doomed from the start. Just a few steps out the door, someone bumped into them with such force that the unprepared Lu Yin nearly fell.
Fortunately, Zhu Zhenzhen reacted swiftly, grabbing Lu Yin’s shoulder to prevent a fall.
Once Lu Yin regained his balance, he began patting himself down, his expression darkening with each touch. After checking his sleeves one last time, even his slow mind finally grasped the truth his money pouch had been stolen!
The moment he shouted the realization, Zhu Zhenzhen felt personally insulted. How dare someone try to pull a fast one right in front of her? In the presence of a professional, everyone else should step aside.
By the time Lu Yin yelled, the thief was already a blur in the distance. Zhu Zhenzhen locked her gaze on the fleeing figure and, with instinctive speed, took off in pursuit.
The night crowd was far denser than during the day. The narrow streets were suddenly lined with vendors, drawing the attention of passersby. The crowd surged forward, then scattered, and no matter how she tried to avoid them, clusters of people seemed to materialize directly in her path.
Her pursuit was repeatedly interrupted, her momentum broken again and again. Even her exceptional speed couldn’t be fully unleashed.
The thief’s silhouette was about to vanish into the crowd. Zhu Zhenzhen bit her lip, leaped onto a nearby rooftop, and began sprinting across the eaves.
Her speed increased exponentially, allowing her to steadily close the distance between herself and the thief.
Dressed in flowing white robes, her long skirt trailed gracefully across the eaves. Her feet barely touched the tiles, making no sound as she moved with ethereal lightness across the rooftops, resembling a divine maiden soaring toward the moon.
The people on the street caught only fleeting glimpses of a white blur in their peripheral vision. When they looked closer, they saw nothing, shaking their heads and dismissing it as a hallucination.
As she overtook the thief, she gauged the distance and leaped down, pinning him to the ground. With a speed too fast for the eye to follow, she twisted his arm behind his back, the crisp crack of dislocated bone echoing through the air. The thief’s face contorted in agony as he let out an uncontrollable scream.
But by then, they had already reached the pitch-black alleyway, where no one would notice the brutal scene unfolding.