Chapter 23
“Good! Good! Good! At last, the day has finally come!”
Bai Wei clutched the letter and the Gold Hairpin, crying and laughing at the same time. “All these years of enduring humiliation have not been in vain!”
Zi Su said, “Third Concubine, do you have the account books?”
“Yes, wait a moment.”
Bai Wei wiped her tears, took out a small pair of scissors, and led Zi Su to a room in the back, where several rosewood trunks were stored.
“After I stole the account books, I was afraid Dong Jingmo would find out, so I took them apart and sewed them into the lining of the opera costumes.” Bai Wei opened a trunk, took out a costume, and carefully felt around. Then, at a corner, she found a loose thread, used the scissors to pick it open, and pulled out a sheet of paper.
Zi Su followed her, opening each costume and searching for the account book pages. As she searched, she asked, “You took the account books-didn’t Dong Jingmo notice?”
Bai Wei replied, “These past years, I’ve played along with that beast. Once I found where the account books were, I secretly practiced his handwriting and rewrote a new set. Luckily, he didn’t notice. All right, they’re all here.”
Zi Su carefully collected the account book pages, and Bai Wei tidied up the costumes. Just as the two were about to leave, there was a loud crash-the main door was kicked open from outside.
Dong Jingmo strode in, followed by a large group of men, dragging Yuan Hu behind them.
“Well, well, I never thought there would be such a traitor in my household.” Dong Jingmo’s face was ashen. With a wave of his hand, he shouted, “Seize them!”
The crowd surged forward. Zi Su raised both hands, and two Sleeve Arrows shot out, blinding two men.
Next, Zi Su pulled a Nine-Section Whip from her waist and swung it with fierce momentum, knocking down three more in an instant.
Seeing that the dozen or so strong men were no match, Dong Jingmo waved his hand again, and four archers entered, aiming their arrows at Zi Su.
Bai Wei suddenly pulled the Gold Hairpin from her hair, shouted, and rushed at Dong Jingmo, stabbing his arm fiercely.
Everyone’s attention was on Zi Su; no one expected the usually gentle and weak Third Concubine to suddenly charge. Caught off guard, Dong Jingmo was stabbed.
“Wretch!” Dong Jingmo roared in fury and slapped Bai Wei hard across the face. “Traitor!”
Bai Wei endured the pain and shouted to Zi Su, “Go! Run! Go!”
Zi Su stomped her foot, swept away the arrows with her whip, kicked open the window, and leaped out.
The archers hurried to the window and fired several more arrows.
Zi Su vaulted onto the roof, an arrow striking her shoulder. She staggered, nearly falling, but gritted her teeth, steadied herself, and sprinted away.
Dong Jingmo grabbed Bai Wei by the throat, his face ferocious. “After her! Don’t let her escape alive!”