Your Time Is Running Out

"But to become the top scholar, it'll probably cost quite a bit of money." Jiang Qiaoqiao actually reached out her fingers, seriously calculating how much silver it would take to buy the title of top scholar.

Jiang Yun couldn't help but glance at Xu Suwen, thinking to himself, Why is Miss Xu bringing this up for no reason?

Xu Suwen, on the other hand, couldn't help but smile and say, "To pass the imperial examination and become the top scholar, one needs real talent and substance. In the end, it's up to His Majesty to set the final exam."

Unexpectedly, Jiang Qiaoqiao's first reaction was to ask, "Then how much silver will His Majesty charge?"

Jiang Qiaoqiao had grown up seeing countless corrupt officials and greedy bureaucrats.

The entire Nanzhou Prefecture yamen was not a single clean one.

In her opinion, being an official meant being corrupt.

As for His Majesty the Emperor, he should be the biggest one of all.

Xu Suwen gently tapped her forehead. "How could His Majesty possibly charge money? All under heaven belongs to the king; everything belongs to His Majesty. What would he want with silver?"

"Then that's a bit problematic," Jiang Qiaoqiao pouted.

"Alright, it's getting late. Let's get some rest."

Jiang Yun returned to his room, but he didn't sleep. Instead, he sat in meditation, practicing his breathing and calming his mind.

He had to increase his strength as quickly as possible. He couldn't keep relying on Xu Suwen and her younger brother as if they were Magical Power storage tanks, using their Magical Power every time he encountered danger.

Moreover, they hadn't practiced Daoist Arts. In fact, the power they displayed was greatly diminished.

For the next half month, Jiang Yun rarely went out. He basically stayed in his room meditating.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qiaoqiao carefully put away the eighty taels of silver. The next morning, she began to collect clothes to mend them, or went to wealthy households to collect dirty clothes and wash them by the river.

Xu Suwen came to protect Jiang Qiaoqiao, so she naturally had to accompany her the whole time.

But looking at Jiang Qiaoqiao's small frame carrying a large pile of clothes, she couldn't just stand by and watch.

So, she helped Jiang Qiaoqiao carry a large pile of dirty clothes to the river and then helped her scrub them clean.

Although Jiang Qiaoqiao knew she was of noble birth and insisted that she could handle it herself.

But with Xu Suwen's persistence, Jiang Qiaoqiao could only give her some of the cleaner clothes to sort.

Back in the courtyard, she also picked up a needle and thread, learning how to mend clothes alongside Jiang Qiaoqiao.

Xu Suwen couldn't help but sigh inwardly, If my father and the rest of my family knew about this...

They'd probably set off firecrackers to celebrate.

Her family had wanted to raise her as a refined young lady since childhood, teaching her everything from chess, go, calligraphy, and painting to needlework and mending clothes.

But she had always preferred the Martial Dao, and had no interest in mending clothes. Her mother had persuaded her many times about this.

She claimed that even if she didn't do it now, she would still have to mend and wash clothes after marrying into her husband's family.

She had paid no heed to her mother's words.

Who would have thought that fate would play such a trick on her?

In half a month, Jiang Yun's Magical Power had shown initial results.

Jiang Yun calculated that if he were to use the Lightning Palm Strike, he should be able to cast it two to three times.

In just half a month, this progress was quite good.

On the morning after half a month, Jiang Qiaoqiao and Xu Suwen went out to collect clothes as usual.

Jiang Yun was meditating cross-legged when footsteps were heard outside the courtyard. It was Qian Bochou.

"Brother Jiang, hahahahaha."

From afar, Qian Bochou's hearty laughter could be heard.

Jiang Yun pushed open the door and smiled, "Constable Qian, what brings you here today? Please, come in."

Qian Bochou held a uniform in one hand and another silver ingot in the other, handing it over. "This is your salary."

"Salary?" Jiang Yun took the silver, looking a bit perplexed.

"I officially enrolled you half a month ago."

"This is your uniform, try it on."

Jiang Yun took the uniform, smiled, and invited Qian Bochou inside to sit. He poured him a cup of hot water before asking, "Constable Qian, if you have something to say, just say it. We don't need to be so formal."

Qian Bochou took the hot water and shook the snow off his clothes. "The Lunar New Year is approaching, and the Prefect was quite happy."

"However, in the past half month, seven people have gone missing in our North City."

Qian Bochou's face was etched with distress. "If it were ordinary citizens who went missing, it would be one thing. But the North City is where the high officials and nobles live."

"With so many people disappearing one after another, the Prefect is under a lot of pressure."

"If he's under pressure, our lives become difficult."

Jiang Yun pondered for a moment, then asked slowly, "The North City? If I remember correctly, the Prince's mansion is in the North City, right?"

"Constable Qian, don't you have some idea of what's really going on?"

Hearing this, Qian Bochou's worried expression deepened, and he sighed, "Brother, do you think I don't know what's happening?"

At this, Qian Bochou subconsciously glanced outside the courtyard, ensuring no one was around before saying, "Perhaps it was the Prince's Mansion that captured them, but what can I do?"

"The Prefect ordered me to solve the case."

"There's no way I can lead people into the Prince's Mansion to search."

Jiang Yun frowned and asked, "Then what use do you have for me?"

Qian Bochou forced a smile, blinked, and said, "What I mean is, why don't we ask Miss Xu to take a look?"

Jiang Yun gave a wry smile and said, "I'm afraid I can't help you with that."

Qian Bochou was also worried in his heart, and couldn't help but curse inwardly, Arrest them if you must. If you're going to arrest common folk, just pin the blame on some thug. The high officials and nobles in the northern city aren't so easily fooled.

Meanwhile, a light layer of snow remained on the eaves of Prince Su's Mansion.

Prince Su's Mansion occupied a vast area, three li in circumference, with grand architecture and imposing momentum. It was surrounded by tall ramparts and four city gates. The gate towers were covered with green glazed tiles, and the main gates were adorned with vermilion paint and gilded copper nails. The four city gates were guarded by the elite guards raised within the mansion, and ordinary citizens dared not approach.

Inside the mansion, a dungeon exuded a strong smell of blood. The sweet and lovely Tang Wanxin stood before a cutting board, with various sharp and precise blades laid out beside her. She was covered in blood, and beside her were many bottles and jars. Within these bottles and jars were several fresh, red hearts. Strangely, two of these hearts were still beating.

A man lying on a bed had his abdomen cut open, yet he was not dead. His limbs were bound to the cutting board. He wanted to struggle but couldn't move, only able to watch as Tang Wanxin took out his heart. After taking out his heart, Tang Wanxin took another heart from a jar and placed it into his body. Then she sewed up his abdomen, but before long, the man's eyes widened, and he soon breathed his last.

"Still no good?" Footsteps sounded from behind the dungeon, and Xiao Jingyuan, covering his nose, walked in. He said in a deep voice, "My father can't wait much longer."

Tang Wanxin turned her head, slowly narrowing her eyes, and said, "The hearts of these commoners are still no good, but those two Imperial Guards are different. Their hearts might be useful for the Prince."

Xiao Jingyuan frowned and said coldly, "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. If they were ordinary Imperial Guards, I would have sent someone to capture them secretly."

"But those two are different; their identities cannot be touched."

"Think of another way."

Tang Wanxin narrowed her eyes and said coldly, "What about that person named Jiang Yun? Shall we capture him and try?"

Xiao Jingyuan shook his head and said, "I know your Tang family was destroyed and all your hard work was lost, but now is not the time for revenge, do you understand?"

"My father is almost at his limit. If my father dies, you won't live either."

Tang Wanxin spread her hands and sat on a blood-stained chair nearby. "A few days ago, didn't you specifically gather information about him?"

"After he fell seriously ill, he seemed like a different person."

"There must be some secret behind it."

"Perhaps his heart will work, trust me!"

Xiao Jingyuan narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "You don't have much time."