"Wanâer, can you come back with me to the mansion?" Chen Jie implored Huang Wanâer once more. "Being here, thereâs always something I might miss in taking care of you. Iâm worried something might happen."
Huang Wanâer shook her head and replied, "I heard Miss Su is pregnant too?"
"Yes," Chen Jie said, "how about keeping each other company?"
Huang Wanâer shook her head again, "No, Iâd rather not add to the trouble. Iâm fine here. Besides, youâre currently locked in a life-and-death struggle with Nan Batian; I donât want to distract you because of me."
"Itâs fine. I can handle it," Chen Jie assured her.
Ever since Huang Wanâer became pregnant, her mood had stabilized a lot. She finally seemed like a normal woman.
Huang Wanâer looked at Chen Jie and reached into her bosom, then pulled out a jade ring.
Handing it over to Chen Jie, she said, "This is an heirloom of the Huang Family, given to me by my heartless father when I married Nan Batian, to ingratiate himself with him. Iâve always carried it with me. Itâs said to ensure oneâs safety. Take it, Mr. Chen. You must be careful in your fight against Nan Batian; I hope you can be there to see our child born."
Chen Jie watched as Huang Wanâer handed him a beautiful jade ring stained with blood, clearly very valuable and absolutely one of a kind.
He remembered this ring, always hanging around Huang Wanâerâs neck. During those crazy days, he had seen the ring swing back and forth countless times on that pure jade neck, leaving a deep impression.
"For me?"
Chen Jie looked at Huang Wanâer.
Huang Wanâer nodded, "Yes, itâs for you. Having it is like having me by your side."
Hearing this, Chen Jie nodded gently and acknowledged, "Understood."
Chen Jie accepted the jade ring then said to Huang Wanâer, "Wait for me. Iâll soon take down Nan Batian; then Iâll come for you with a grand bridal sedan."
Huang Wanâer smiled, "Okay, Iâll wait for you."
Chen Jie continued talking to Huang Wanâer for a while, keeping her company. The emotions of a pregnant woman must certainly be well cared for.
The two chatted intimately, like this, without doing anything inappropriate, for after all, the child was important.
It wasnât until the evening approached that Chen Jie finally left.
Upon exiting the mansion, he emerged from the wine cellar of the tavern, leapt onto the rooftops to avoid the crowd, found a quiet place to descend, and walked home.
Walking alone on the street, ordinary citizens of Mianshui did not recognize Chen Jiusi, especially as he was dressed quite plainly today, and besides, a person like him was not someone common folk could easily meet.
As he walked the streets alone, Chen Jie saw some candied haws for sale and bought three skewers, intending to take them back for Ruirui to enjoy.
After buying the candied haws and walking down the street, Chen Jie suddenly heard a loud female voice, "Innkeeper, give us two of your best rooms, and bring out the fine wine and dishes!"
Initially, Chen Jie paid no mind to the voice, but something suddenly made him stop.
He turned and looked towards the entrance of the inn.
There stood a young man, leading a white horse and dressed like a wealthy gentleman, fair-skinned and handsome, speaking to the innâs attendant.
Behind him stood three people, nearly identicalâlikely triplets.
Their attire, however, differed; one held a longsword, probably a swordsman; another was slightly plump, with bulging temples and a reddish complexion, likely mastered in Inner Strength.
The last one had large hands and feet and a long reach, evidently practiced in external martial arts.
These three stood behind the fair and handsome young man, sharp-eyed, clearly elite soldiers not from the average rank, very vigilant as if to protect their well-to-do gentleman.
Noticing this, Chen Jie paused, touched his face to ensure it was unrecognizable, and then proceeded toward the inn.
Because he recognized who that fair and handsome man was!
Reminiscing about the past in Xiantao Village, within a certain cellar, he had encountered him once before. Though a year had passed, Chen Jie could still recognize her.
Yes, it was none other than Princess Ruyang, Zhao Ya, with the given name Yaya Timur, whom Ni Wenjun had kidnapped!
Had she been rescued? Chen Jie wondered about Ni Wenjunâs fate.
As he pondered, Chen Jie looked down and noticed a bite mark on the base of his thumb, faint, yet it made him frown; heâd have to ask his master later if there was any scar-removing ointment available. Although he had worn a mask that time, such a scar could easily betray his identity.
With these thoughts in mind, Chen Jie followed Zhao Ya into the inn.
In ancient inns, the first floor offered food, while the second provided lodgingâsimilar to the layout of Tongfu Inn.
"This guest..."
The innkeeper was about to greet Chen Jie, but upon catching sight of him, was visibly taken aback. After all, this inn was partly owned by the White Tiger Hall.
The current assets of White Tiger Hall were very healthy, maintaining not only its force of disciples and enforcers but also a portion of the money earned from salt for investment.
Indeed, White Tiger Hall had made numerous investments over the past year, many in the cityâs prime projects, and Chen Jie had bought shares in them, whether the proprietors were willing or reluctantly accepted his investment.
With one hand controlling nearly a thousand members of the White Tiger Hall and the other holding a significant cash flow, if Chen Jie took interest in a business, heâd send someone to negotiate a share transfer. If agreed upon, he would invest and share the profits.
If they declined, he would use his funds to open an identical shop next to theirs, selling the same products, but at a cheaper price.