Jiang Mei Zhu was flustered. Looking up, she saw Chen Ran staring at her, and her heart skipped a beat.
This official... so young...
He wore a luxurious embroidered robe of flying fish design, adorned with a matching Jin Yi Wei Thousand-Household Officer's hat.
His fair complexion and bright, star-like eyes were even more striking against the colorful attire.
How handsome!
She had never seen such a person in her rural life!
For a moment, she couldn't help but stare, lost in admiration.
At that moment, Jiang Jie noticed Chen Ran's gaze on his younger sister and quickly said,
"Thousand-Household Official, this is my sister..."
Jiang Mei Zhu finally snapped out of her trance and quickly bowed down, mimicking her mother's manner,
"This humble woman, Jiang Mei Zhu, greets the official!"
Chen Ran waved his hand, motioning for the mother and daughter to rise,
"Jiang Jie, I will arrange for your mother and sister to stay in the capital. You can rest assured and focus on recovering. I have a use for you later. If you serve me faithfully, I will not treat you poorly!"
"Thank you, Thousand-Household Official! Your great kindness, I will never forget..."
Jiang Jie started to cry again. His acting was indeed impressive.
Chen Ran waved his hand and walked out of the detention cell. He took Jiang's mother and sister out of the Northern Town Garrison.
He arranged for them to stay in his old house. They were just ordinary women from Ba County, unfamiliar with the capital and wouldn't be able to wander around.
Moreover, Chen Ran had assigned two Jin Yi Wei guards to stand outside, buying them daily necessities while keeping an eye on them.
Jiang's mother was old and had never seen the world before. She was very timid and walked behind, unable to speak.
Jiang Mei Zhu looked at Chen Ran's courtyard, her eyes blinking with curiosity. Although Chen Ran's old house was humble, her family only had a few thatched houses in Ba County. She had never lived in such a courtyard with blue bricks and tiled roofs.
After leading them into the courtyard, Chen Ran said,
"You two can stay here for now. I'll make further arrangements after Jiang Jie finishes his task."
Jiang's mother quickly bowed to express her gratitude.
Jiang Mei Zhu blinked her eyes and whispered softly,
"Official, may I have a word with you?"
Chen Ran nodded and led her into the inner courtyard room.
Inside, Jiang Mei Zhu bowed to Chen Ran,
"Official, what crime did my brother commit? Please enlighten me."
Chen Ran said calmly,
"Do you not know what crime your brother committed?"
Jiang Mei Zhu shook her head,
"My brother was mischievous from a young age. He often roamed outside and rarely came home when he was a teenager. This humble woman does not know what he has been up to."
Chen Ran said calmly,
"Jiang Jie joined the Fragrant Incense Sect and is the leader's right-hand man. The Fragrant Incense Sect rebelled years ago, and the court has strictly forbidden it. Your brother's crime is punishable by death, even if it doesn't involve the extermination of his entire clan."
Although his voice was flat, Jiang Mei Zhu trembled at his words. Her beautiful eyes instantly filled with tears.
She truly did not know that her brother had joined the Fragrant Incense Sect.
Hearing Chen Ran's words, she was terrified.
Extermination of the entire clan! Wouldn't that mean her mother and her would be beheaded too?
Including her maternal uncle, her uncles, and her father, that would be three generations!
They would be finished!
Thinking of this, she quickly knelt down,
"Official, my brother is foolish and ignorant, that's why he went astray!"
"Please be merciful and spare us!"
Chen Ran said coldly,
"If mercy was all it took, then what would the Jin Yi Wei and the Dali Temple do?"
Jiang Mei Zhu became even more frightened.
Although she came from a rural background, she wasn't a foolish woman. She thought quickly and came up with another idea.
Since the Thousand-Household Official had arranged for her and her mother to stay here instead of putting them in jail, it meant they wouldn't be beheaded!
That meant there was still a chance for them!
Thinking of this, she raised her head and looked at Chen Ran with tear-filled eyes.
"Official, as long as you spare us, this humble woman... will agree to anything!"
Her tears like pear blossoms, she looked even more pitiful!
But Chen Ran seemed as hard as iron. He just smiled faintly,
"Agree to anything? What can you offer?"
He turned around and started to walk out.
Of course, he wasn't really going to leave. He was just playing a game of cat and mouse.
Sometimes, getting what you want too easily is not enjoyable.
There needs to be some twists and turns to make things interesting!
Seeing him leave, Jiang Mei Zhu became anxious. She looked down at herself.
Yes, what did she have?
The only thing she had was this youthful and attractive body...
"Official, I am still a virgin. I can give you anything!"
She said with a sense of urgency,
"I don't ask to be your wife or concubine. Even as a slave or a maid, I'll do anything..."
She had already made up her mind. If she was truly punished for Jiang Jie's crimes, she might be abused by prison guards in the jail.
This Thousand-Household Official of the Jin Yi Wei was so handsome. It wouldn't be a loss to devote herself to him!
Maybe...
He could even be her husband!
As for status... she dared not even dream of it.
Chen Ran stopped and turned back to look at her.
His superior gaze made her feel a sense of intense shame. It was as if he saw through her.
But this feeling also came with an extreme thrill, making her heart tremble and her skin goosebumps.