Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside
Chapter 197: The Mysterious Ah Ji

Chapter 197: Chapter 197: The Mysterious Ah Ji

"How did you get your information?" Qin San Lang gripped the dagger in his hand tightly, still pointing the tip at Ah Ji’s neck from behind. "Who exactly did you ally with in Da Rong?"

Ah Ji paused slightly, then couldn’t help turning to look at Qin San Lang. This Young Marquis had a face that didn’t match his thoughts at all, but his eyes—deep and sharp—aligned perfectly with his mind.

After scrutinizing Qin San Lang for a moment, Ah Ji chuckled, but it was just a light laugh, and he didn’t take the bait of Qin San Lang’s words, well aware that it was a trap.

"Ah Ji has his own sources of information, but these channels cannot be disclosed. Young Marquis understands these rules, so please don’t make things difficult for Ah Ji."

When Ah Ji said this, he consistently referred to himself as Ah Ji, not using ’Ning someone,’ telling Qin San Lang and the others that his visit and the sources of his information had nothing to do with the Ning Family.

Qin San Lang and the others understood this.

Elder Qin couldn’t help but asked, "Does Old Man Ning have any plans with you? Was your departure from the Ning Family deliberate?"

Were they thinking of leaving a way out for the legitimate line of the Ning Family?

In the early stages of dynastic change, some far-sighted families would exile a legitimate son to preserve the bloodline, hoping that when faced with catastrophe, it would leave a seed for the family’s survival.

But Ah Ji had left the family more than a decade ago. At that time, Emperor Jingyuan hadn’t yet ascended the throne, and Great Chu was thriving. Old Man Ning wouldn’t have possibly banished his young son from the Capital, making him an outcast.

"General He is overthinking it, leaving the Ning Family was Ah Ji’s own desire," said Ah Ji with a smile. "The Ning Family has my older brothers and several capable nephews; they don’t lack one Ah Ji. Moreover, Ah Ji doesn’t fancy the opulence of the Capital’s aristocrats, nor the court disputes; I only enjoy traveling freely between heaven and earth, amidst mountains and rivers."

Everything that he disliked had nothing to do with the Ning Family.

"What is the third piece of news?" Seeing that he couldn’t extract the reason behind Ning Ji’s departure from the Ning Family, Qin San Lang simply skipped that and asked about the third piece of information.

"The third message is that there is a traitor among the so-called old comrades and friends of your two houses," said Ah Ji.

"A traitor? Who is it?!" Qin Er Lang, originally engulfed in the tragic news of Duke Ying Mansion abandoning their house and sending the Third Miss to the palace, snapped to attention upon hearing the third piece of information, questioning Ah Ji.

Ah Ji, however, just shook his head: "Ah Ji doesn’t know. I only know that a significant reason for the calamity befalling your two families is because of that traitor."

He paused, then added, "It could be several people."

"Why? Why would they do this?" Qin Er Lang couldn’t believe what he was hearing. "What did our family ever do to wrong them? Why would they cause our family to be destroyed?"

Those old comrades and associates, many of whom their family had brought up, yet their family’s annihilation was partly due to betrayals by these people.

Qin Er Lang simply couldn’t accept the third message... He didn’t want to stay in the countryside and wished to go to the northeast, intending to seek out these old comrades and assemble them for family revenge.

Now, hearing this, who else could he turn to?

In the face of Qin Er Lang’s grief and indignation, Ah Ji replied indifferently, "Who knows? Maybe they think that by eliminating your two families, they could rise to power and taste what it’s like to be National Dukes or Marquises."

He continued, "Ah Ji is telling you this message to warn you not to trust all the old friends and comrades of your two families. If you do and seek them out, it would be like throwing yourself into the net."

However... The garrison commander of Yangji Prefecture, General Liu, is reliable.

But he wouldn’t tell them this. If he did, Qin San Lang would definitely sense something was off and ask how he knew General Liu hadn’t betrayed their two families.

It would be too troublesome to explain, so it’s better not to say anything. They would find out eventually when they ran to General Liu’s side.

Yet Qin San Lang still suspected him.

A sudden pain in Ah Ji’s neck – the dagger’s tip had already pierced the skin of his neck, causing a few drops of blood to bead.

"Who exactly are you? How do you know these things?"

Qin San Lang pressed Ah Ji for answers, "It’s one thing for you to know about Duke Ying Mansion’s Third Miss. But how did you learn that uncles from our two families have survived? And how did you know there were traitors among our old comrades and friends? Are you the Emperor’s man, or did you participate in targeting our two families? Otherwise, how could you know all these things?"

It was impossible to know such significant news without being deeply involved.

"What exactly are you aiming for by approaching us? If you want our three lives, just say so directly; there’s no need for such roundabout tactics, especially when we’re just a few isolated soldiers and generals. As soon as you speak in the Prefecture, the garrison army will come, and no matter how fierce we are, we wouldn’t be able to escape."

Hearing Qin San Lang’s words, Ah Ji felt a surge of annoyance. This Young Marquis was indeed someone who didn’t trust others easily; even at this moment, he was able to articulate his doubts clearly and crucially.

"Young Marquis, I have said what should be said. What shouldn’t be said, no matter how much you question me, I will not tell," Ah Ji looked at Qin San Lang with a calm face, "I mean no harm to you. If you don’t believe me, you can kill me right now."

Qin San Lang’s brow furrowed; this Ah Ji was wagering his life in a gamble.

Qin San Lang did not make a move; if he killed Ah Ji, they—the ’three generations’ including Third Grandpa and several other families—would all die.

Seeing that Qin San Lang did not act, Ah Ji gently smiled, "Young Marquis has doubts, I understand, but these will be cleared up in the future, and there is no need for you to strain yourself thinking about it now. Just remember that Ah Ji has no intention of harming you."

Qin San Lang remained silent; this Ah Ji knew too much crucial information. And the Ning Family was merely a Bo Residence, relying mainly on military equipment, not speaking much in the court – how did Ning Ji come to know these messages?

Ning Ji was a man with too many secrets, and Qin San Lang dared not trust him.

Yet for their sake, for the sake of several families, Qin San Lang also couldn’t kill him.

"The Ning Family casts a Jade Pendant for every male. Hand over your Jade Pendant to us, and we will trust you," said Qin San Lang.

Upon hearing this, Ah Ji’s expression truly darkened; he knew Qin San Lang was difficult to deal with but didn’t expect such cunning.

"Young Marquis, this action is solely conducted by Ah Ji, you can’t drag down the entire Ning Family."

Ah Ji refused to hand over the Jade Pendant that could identify him and turned to Elder Qin, "Please forgive me, General He, the Ning Family Token is related to the safety of the entire Ning Family, and I cannot give it up."

Elder Qin also felt that San Lang’s request was a bit too much, and said, "San Lang, let it be."