Xia Yan smiled in agreement. After chatting for a while longer, Jiang Quan said, "In that case, I'll first send an invitation card to the Li family and have them come to our manor for a discussion."
Xia Yan smiled, "Then I won't disturb you further, Master. I'll go check on Chao'er." As she closed the door behind her, the smile instantly vanished from her face. She walked straight through the corridor into the courtyard, where Cuiyu was attending to Jiang Chao. Seeing Xia Yan enter, Cuiyu quickly stood up and retreated to the side.
Jiang Chao lay motionless on the bed. Xia Yan sat beside him, lifting his hands wrapped in white bandages to her lips, whispering softly, "Chao'er, don't worry. Mother will definitely avenge you."
Lin Lang, standing nearby, asked, "Madam, are you truly planning to arrange a match between the eldest young lady and the second young master of the Li family?"
"Of course not," Xia Yan's smile turned sinister. "I want her to be nothing more than a concubine to Li Yang, never to attain the status of a proper wife. I want her reputation ruined, reduced to a plaything for the Li father and son, married into the Li family to suffer for a lifetime!"
Lin Lang couldn't help but shiver as Xia Yan chuckled lightly, "The second young master Li's proper wife? In her dreams!"
...
The incident at the Hundred Flowers House in the capital seemed to spread through every street and alley overnight. In recent days, the Jiang family had become the talk of the town, though ultimately as nothing more than a joke.
At the Brocade Hero King Manor, a young man stood by the window draped in an ink-black crane-feather cloak, his tall and straight figure accentuated. A snow-white pigeon flew in through the window and landed in his palm. He untied a small note attached to the pigeon's leg with a red thread. The pigeon's ruby-like eyes gazed at him as he gently stroked its head with his fingertip. The pigeon cooed happily before flapping its wings and soaring back into the azure sky.
Xiao Shao unfolded the note and his eyes sharpened. He tapped the table, and suddenly two figures in black appeared in the room.
"Master," one of them spoke first, "We've found out. Following the servant from the Imperial Academy, the letter originated from Jiang Quan's residence in the capital. The messenger was a maid serving the eldest young lady of the Jiang family. However, we found no connection between the two."
"Understood. You may leave," Xiao Shao said.
The room returned to silence. Ye Feng, standing behind Xiao Shao, pondered for a moment before speaking, "The previous rumors were also spread by this eldest young lady of the Jiang family. Master, her identity is truly suspicious."
"She's not the mole," Xiao Shao said. When they discovered it was Jiang Ruan, he too had been surprised. Knowledge of the Emperor's examination questions was typically limited to those close to the Emperor. Jiang Ruan was merely a sheltered young woman—there was no way she could be the palace mole. Yet there were many inexplicable things about her. For instance, during the incident at Vice Minister Shen's residence, she had even known about the most secretive hidden passage. His Brocade-clad Guards numbered in the tens of thousands, with many capable individuals, yet they could find nothing suspicious about this suddenly emerging eldest young lady of the Jiang family. It was as if she was supposed to know those secrets all along.
He had also heard about the incident at the Hundred Flowers House in the capital the previous night. Recently, the Jiang residence had been plagued by frequent incidents, all seemingly starting from the moment this eldest young lady returned home.
The evidence showed that the Brocade-clad Guards had found the servant who had accompanied Jiang Chao to the Hundred Flowers House the previous night, and he had admitted to being bribed to lure Jiang Chao there. The trail ultimately pointed directly to Jiang Ruan.
Xiao Shao couldn't help but frown. "There are inconsistencies in this matter. Continue investigating to see if she has any connection with the Eighth Prince." If she was Ye Li's pawn, that would be an entirely different matter.Ye Feng pondered for a moment: "What about the Second Miss of the Jiang residence? She came again a few days ago, and Butler Lin drove her out."
"No need to pay her any mind," Xiao Shao replied.
Ye Feng shrugged and said no more.
...
Meanwhile, at home, Li Dong received Jiang Quan's invitation card and shook his head in confusion: "Strange, what does Jiang Quan mean by this? We've never had much interaction before, why send an invitation suddenly?"
Li Dong, with his large belly, was being fed grapes by a beautiful concubine beside him, who said, "Perhaps he wishes to curry favor with you, Master."
Li Yang's lecherous eyes were roaming over Li Dong's newly acquired concubine. Hearing this, he interjected, "That won't do. Just yesterday, this Jiang Chao made me lose face. I must find an opportunity to teach him a lesson."
"Enough," Li Dong said. "Your younger brother will return to the capital in a few days. Don't cause trouble for him. What kind of person is Jiang Chao that you should bother with him?"
Li Yang was about to say more when the concubine giggled and said, "This servant doesn't know who Jiang Chao is, but before entering the residence, I heard of the two daughters of the Jiang family—both are peerless beauties."
Li Yang's eyes lit up at this: "Is what you say true?"
"Of course it's true. This servant wouldn't dare deceive the Young Master," the concubine cooed. "The Eldest Miss of the Jiang family is enchantingly alluring, while the Second Miss is as pure and lovely as a fairy. Both are also exceptionally talented. This is common knowledge in the capital. The Young Master usually scorns noble ladies, so it's no surprise you wouldn't know."
"I had no idea Jiang Chao had such sisters. I'd like to see them for myself," Li Yang said, a strange glint in his eyes. "Father, when is Jiang Quan's invitation for?"
"Tomorrow," Li Dong replied, understanding his son's look all too well. "What, you want to go to the Jiang residence as well?"
"Such beauties—naturally, I must see them for myself. To see if the capital's rumors hold any truth," Li Yang said with a lewd smile. "Jiang Chao made me lose Mudan. If his sisters are beautiful enough, I might let him off the hook."
"Keep your wits about you," Li Dong warned. "The Jiang ladies are of noble status—not just anyone can trifle with them. You're not getting any younger; it's about time you took a wife. If you truly fancy one of them tomorrow, you might as well marry her."
"I'm not ready to marry yet," Li Yang's face fell, but then he turned back to the concubine and asked, "What are the temperaments of the two Jiang sisters like?"
"The Eldest Miss has only recently returned to the capital, so not much is known about her, but people say she carries herself with grace and appears gentle and refined," the concubine said with a smile. "The Second Miss is innocent and carefree, naive to the ways of the world—this is well-known in the capital."
"Both temperaments sound delightful," Li Yang licked his lips. "If I must marry, why not enjoy the blessings of both? That would be a fine thing indeed."
That morning, Jiang Ruan rose early and had the green rice porridge brought by Zisu. Just then, Shuxiang stood at the door peering in. Lianqiao noticed and asked, "Is something the matter?"
"This servant encountered the Second Young Lady," Shuxiang said with a smile. "She mentioned she received several bolts of silk and would like to invite the Eldest Young Lady to her courtyard to choose a couple of favorites."
Lianqiao nodded. "Understood. You may go about your duties." After Shuxiang left, Lianqiao relayed the message verbatim to Jiang Ruan and added, "The Second Young Lady is truly peculiar. With the Second Young Master still bedridden, she actually has the mind to invite you out.""It seems they've come prepared," Jiang Ruan remarked indifferently, idly toying with the embroidery before her. "Luzhu, go and find out if anyone is expected to visit today."
Jiang Susu wouldn't invite her without reason, especially at such a time. Since they were clearly setting a trap for her, she might as well face it with composure.
Luzhu returned shortly and reported, "Miss, I asked around the courtyard. It turns out that Chancellor Li from the capital is visiting today." She glanced at Jiang Ruan's expression and added uneasily, "I can't shake the feeling that something's amiss. Should we decline the invitation?" The manor was fraught with danger, every corner hiding schemes, and a single misstep could lead to falling into someone else's trap.
"No need," Jiang Ruan replied before Luzhu could finish. Startled, Luzhu looked up to see Jiang Ruan's enchanting eyes narrowing slightly as she smiled. "Such an old acquaintance—I’ve long wanted to pay a visit." Her tone was light, yet for some reason, Luzhu felt a chill run down her spine. Jiang Ruan's gaze was unfathomable, like peering through a mist.
After a pause, Luzhu asked, "In that case, should we prepare your attire and makeup?"
"Of course," Jiang Ruan replied with a faint smile. "Lianqiao, Zisu, stay in the courtyard today and work on the embroidery for me. Call Shuxiang in."
...
In Delicate Splendor Courtyard, Jiang Susu was meticulously dressing and adorning herself. The previous night, she had learned from Butterfly that Xia Yan intended to arrange a marriage for Jiang Ruan. She couldn’t fathom why Xia Yan would propose such a favorable match—Chancellor Li was a high-ranking official, and his son, Li An, was a talented young man. The thought of Jiang Ruan marrying into the Li family in grand style while her own reputation lay in ruins, uncertain of what future match awaited her, filled Jiang Susu with bitter envy. Determined to outshine Jiang Ruan today, she resolved to dress her finest. She had never met the legendary second son of the Li family, but if she could win his favor and ruin Jiang Ruan’s prospects, she would be overjoyed.
Anything that belonged to Jiang Ruan, she wanted to snatch away. Jiang Susu mused that perhaps this was their destined rivalry from a past life.
Butterfly, while styling her hair, ventured cautiously, "Miss, perhaps it’s best not to go out today. Madam instructed you to stay in your room and not leave. If something goes wrong—"
"Who gave you the right to speak to your mistress like that?" Jiang Susu snapped impatiently. "I know my own affairs. Another word, and I’ll have you dismissed."
Butterfly’s hands stilled momentarily, and she fell silent.
Meanwhile, Li Dong and his son arrived at the Jiang residence and were conversing with Jiang Quan in the main hall. Xia Yan also came out to greet them. Li Dong’s lecherous gaze roamed over Xia Yan as he remarked with ambiguous meaning, "Minister Jiang is truly fortunate to have such a lovely wife."
Xia Yan stiffened but forced a smile in response. Jiang Quan burned with anger, but Li Dong was notoriously unrestrained in his behavior, and there was little he could do. Suppressing his rage, he said, "I took the liberty of inviting you today because, after years as colleagues, we’ve had little interaction—a regrettable oversight."
"Enough," Li Dong leaned back, his pudgy face creasing as his small eyes narrowed. "Let’s not mince words, Minister Jiang. You must have something to discuss today. What is it?"Jiang Quan had not expected the other party to be so rude and frivolous, speaking so improperly. He had always prided himself on his dignity and had never encountered such a person before—one he couldn’t afford to offend. A stifling anger welled up in his chest, leaving him momentarily speechless.
Seeing this, Xia Yan quickly stepped forward to smooth things over, smiling as she said, “Actually, it’s nothing too serious. We’ve simply heard that the young master of your esteemed household is both handsome and talented, a rising star among the youth. Considering that our own daughter is now of marriageable age, we thought to seek a favorable match—though we do feel rather presumptuous in coming to take a look.”
She had phrased it bluntly, and Jiang Quan couldn’t help but glance at Xia Yan. He found it strange that this woman, who had always carried herself with the grace of a lotus, would now speak such shameless words, and it left him inexplicably unsettled.
Li Yang, who had been sitting idly by, grinned at this. “From the sound of it, madam, you’re here to pick a husband for your young lady?”
From the moment Xia Yan had spoken those words, Jiang Quan felt the Jiang family had already lost all dignity in front of the Li father and son. He tightly shut his mouth, refusing to engage further. Xia Yan glanced at him and smiled. “Indeed.”
Li Yang chuckled as well. “I wonder—is it me or my younger brother that has caught your eye?”
“Young Master Li is a rising talent, and Elder Master Li is also exceptionally distinguished. Naturally, both are excellent choices.” Xia Yan tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, smiling. “But since Elder Master Li is here today, it must be fate.”
Li Dong fixed his gaze on Xia Yan. “Madam has a silver tongue and speaks so sweetly. I wonder if your young lady is as beautiful as you are?”
There was an unmistakable flirtatious undertone to his words. Xia Yan stiffened, and Jiang Quan, unable to bear it any longer, was about to rebuke him angrily when a crisp, girlish voice suddenly rang out.
“Mother!”
Li Yang’s eyes lit up, and he turned toward the hall’s entrance. There stood a stunningly beautiful young girl—her oval face fair with a rosy glow, dressed in a camellia-yellow embroidered silk blouse and a pale white brocade skirt. Her jet-black hair cascaded like a waterfall, with only a small section pinned up at the back, adorned with two pale ribbons. Graceful and pure, she looked like an ethereal fairy descended from the heavens.
She seemed to have only just noticed the guests in the hall and shyly lowered her head. After a moment’s hesitation, she stepped forward, her fair cheeks now flushed pink. As she drew closer, a vermilion beauty mark beneath her clear, innocent eyes became visible—truly, she was a vision of celestial loveliness.
“Father, Mother,” she paused, “Su Su didn’t know there were guests.”
From the moment Xia Yan saw Jiang Susu, her entire body froze. She turned stiffly to look at the Li father and son—only to find their greedy gazes fixed on Jiang Susu, their wolfish stares sending an involuntary shiver down her spine. Without hesitation, she snapped, “Who taught you such manners? Go back to your room!”
Her tone was so harsh that Jiang Susu seemed frightened, her eyes instantly welling with tears. She looked helplessly at Li Yang, who, under the gaze of those eyes, felt half his soul had already been stolen. He immediately interjected, “Miss Jiang didn’t mean any harm, madam. There’s no need to punish her. Besides, my father and I are hardly strangers.”His words were audacious, and Xia Yan was already extremely anxious. Jiang Susu frowned slightly, only to hear Li Dong also say, "She's just a child, Madam need not worry too much."
Jiang Susu keenly sensed something amiss. Glancing at Jiang Quan and Xia Yan's expressions, her heart filled with trepidation, and she said, "In that case, Su Su will take her leave first." Without waiting to see the others' reactions, she hurried away.
Only when Jiang Susu's figure had completely disappeared did Li Yang withdraw his gaze and ask, "That was the second young miss of your household? Truly, seeing her surpasses mere reputation."
"Su Su is still young," Jiang Quan interjected. "We haven't considered marriage arrangements for her yet. I was referring to Ruan'er."
Xia Yan quickly chimed in, "Indeed, Su Su has a mischievous temperament. In truth, Ruan'er's disposition and appearance are truly first-rate."
Li Dong and his son exchanged a glance. Li Yang said, "There's no hurry. I must say, the second young miss of the Jiang family is indeed a rare beauty."
Xia Yan's anxiety grew. After exchanging a few distracted words with the Li father and son, they had lunch. As the wine flowed freely and spirits rose, Jiang Quan and Li Dong began discussing court affairs. Li Yang and Xia Yan excused themselves. Li Yang expressed a desire to stroll in the garden—though somewhat improper, given his family's immense influence, permission was granted. Xia Yan summoned Lin Lang: "Go find Shuxiang immediately and bring Jiang Ruan out." A flash of ruthlessness crossed her eyes. "For my Su Su's sake, you'll just have to endure a lifetime of suffering."
Jiang Ruan wore a new robe from Ruyi Tower, with Luzhu draping a deep red cloak over her shoulders. Her hair was casually styled in a tasseled bun, adorned only with a delicate silver jasmine hairpin. Naturally beautiful, the light application of makeup made her radiance even more dazzling. Shuxiang smiled beside her, "Young Miss is truly lovely, like a celestial fairy descended to earth."
"A celestial fairy?" Jiang Ruan chuckled softly. "I didn't come from the heavens." She was a vengeful spirit, returned from hell. Her purpose was to destroy the fairy everyone admired—how could she be a celestial being?
Shuxiang didn't quite understand her words, but Luzhu said, "Young Miss is dressed rather formally today. Could there be distinguished guests visiting the manor? But we're only going to Second Young Miss's courtyard to rest."
Shuxiang's heart skipped a beat. She stole a glance at Jiang Ruan's expression but saw nothing unusual. "The weather is pleasant today, so I felt more lively. There are no distinguished guests in the manor, and even if there were, it wouldn't be proper for young ladies to meet them."
Shuxiang lowered her head further, an inexplicable unease growing within her. Jiang Ruan smiled at her and said, "Neither Luzhu nor I have been to Plain Heart Courtyard before. Since you often move about outside, you should know the way."
The Jiang manor was neither too large nor too small, but since returning, Jiang Ruan had never once visited Jiang Susu's courtyard. Shuxiang couldn't discern the meaning behind Jiang Ruan's words, and even her usually steady demeanor wavered with suspicion. After a pause, she replied, "This servant has been there once or twice and can probably remember the way."
Jiang Ruan smiled. "Then we'll trouble you to lead the way."
Suppressing the strange feeling in her heart, Shuxiang curtsied. "Please follow me, Young Miss."
Shuxiang led the way, with Jiang Ruan and Luzhu following behind. Luzhu positioned herself slightly in front of Jiang Ruan, eyeing Shuxiang's back warily. Jiang Ruan, however, appeared completely at ease, her lips curved in a serene and composed smile.Upon reaching the entrance of Plain Heart Courtyard, Shuxiang stopped and said, "This is Plain Heart Courtyard."
Jiang Ruan swept her gaze over the courtyard gate. Even without entering, the stark contrast to Ruan Residence was immediately apparent. Plain Heart Courtyard was not only spacious, but every garden scene and rockery was meticulously arranged, exuding boundless elegance at first glance. Jiang Quan indeed played favorites—compared to Jiang Susu's Plain Heart Courtyard, Ruan Residence wasn't even as good as the servants' quarters.
Jiang Ruan followed Shuxiang to a room in Jiang Susu's courtyard. Pushing the door open, they found a small guest room with a teapot and cups on a low table. Butterfly stood in place apologetically, "The young lady just stepped out and hasn't returned yet. Please wait a moment, Miss. We'll go hurry her along."
"No matter, you may go." Jiang Ruan smiled politely. "Shuxiang, Luzhu, there's no need for you to stay either. Go with Butterfly to fetch Second Sister."
Shuxiang froze, eyeing Jiang Ruan suspiciously. Jiang Ruan chuckled, "What, are you afraid I'll run away? Don't worry, I'll stay right here."
Shuxiang's heart trembled inexplicably. For some reason, she always felt an indescribable fear in front of this second young lady. Under the gaze of those enchanting eyes, it was as if all her thoughts were laid bare, an unbearably uncomfortable sensation.
Luzhu gave Jiang Ruan a worried glance before bowing and leaving with Shuxiang and Butterfly.
Once the three had departed, Jiang Ruan stood up, her smile fading as she gently pushed open the door.
Plain Heart Courtyard was eerily silent—not a soul in sight. Resting her hand on the vermilion pillar by the door, she smiled faintly. Had Xia Yan deliberately sent everyone away, leaving her here to suffer between life and death?
But the taste of despair and helplessness—once was enough.
With a cold laugh, she turned and entered another room.
Moments later, the sound of unsteady footsteps approached from outside, the stumbling gait unmistakably that of a drunkard. Jiang Ruan pushed open the door and stood quietly in place.
Li Yang, thoroughly intoxicated, had been wandering the garden when he spotted a rather pretty maid. He tried to embrace her, but she slipped away, leading him—whether intentionally or not—to this very spot. By the time they reached the courtyard, the maid had vanished.
His vision blurred by drink, he could barely make out his surroundings. The elegantly arranged small courtyard bore a plaque reading "Plain Heart Courtyard." His heart stirred, forgetting where he was—this must be some young lady's boudoir. A grin spread across his face as he staggered forward.
Just then, Li Yang saw a young woman in red standing at the doorway. Though her face was unclear, her slender, upright figure suggested unparalleled beauty. Overcome with lust, he cried out, "My lovely—" As the red-clad figure turned and entered the room, Li Yang eagerly followed, shouting, "Don't run, beauty!"
Inside, a delicate fragrance enveloped him. Blinking in confusion, he found the space draped in sheer curtains, obscuring his view. Frustrated, he called, "Beauty, where are you?"
"You frightened me, Second Young Master Li." A soft voice whispered by his ear.
Li Yang's heart leapt as Jiang Susu's delicate features flashed before his eyes. Overjoyed, he turned and pulled the speaker into a tight embrace. "How forward of you, Susu. You move me deeply."The girl in red gazed at him quietly. Li Yang strained to open his eyes wide, yet her face remained indistinct. Without hesitation, he lunged forward. Unexpectedly, the girl suddenly smiled and said, "Second Young Master Li, Su Su has a gift for you."
Upon hearing this, Li Yang was intrigued. Having encountered countless people, he had never met such an interesting woman. She looked like a celestial fairy, yet she initiated such frivolous and unchaste behavior. His interest piqued instantly, and he asked, "What gift?"
The young girl replied softly, "The gift is—your death." As she spoke, she swung the vase hidden behind her back and smashed it fiercely toward him. Li Yang hadn't expected the stunning beauty to suddenly turn into a life-taking demon. Caught off guard, he took a heavy blow, blood immediately gushing from his head. His body swayed before he collapsed to the ground.
Jiang Ruan gazed coldly at Li Yang's crumpled form, a frosty smile playing on her lips. She crouched down, idly toying with a shard of the broken vase, then suddenly let out a soft chuckle.
Li Dong and Li Yang, father and son, were utterly repulsive. It was common knowledge in both court and public that they kept young boys and girls in the Prime Minister's residence for their perverse pleasures. When dealing with such shameless people, reputation was hardly the most important thing.
In her past life before she died, she had only known about Li Dong's abuse of Pei Er, but she wasn't sure if Li Yang had also taken part. Even if he hadn't, it wasn't excessive for the son to pay for the father's sins.
She tapped the shard against Li Yang's face. "Young Master Li, I've given you a gift. Shouldn't you return the favor?"
A short while later, Jiang Ruan walked out of the room. Just as she reached the entrance of Plain Heart Courtyard, she heard a servant's voice calling, "Young Master, where are you?"
It was Li Yang's personal servant. Jiang Ruan paused—it was too late to hide now. Her mind raced, but before she could think of a solution, she heard the servant let out a startled cry before falling silent. After a moment's hesitation, she stepped out of the courtyard gate and saw the servant lying face-down a few steps away, as if he had tripped and knocked himself unconscious.
Frowning, Jiang Ruan glanced around but saw nothing amiss. She calmly stepped over the unconscious servant and walked away without a second thought.
Perched in a tree, a man in black robes toyed with a stone in his hand, his dark eyes concealing his bewilderment. He had come to the Jiang residence to investigate matters related to Ye Li but had instead witnessed an unexpected scene. The Jiang family's eldest daughter seemed to harbor some deep-seated grudge against the Li family's second young master. Her ruthless actions, executed without hesitation, were truly astonishing.
...
Meanwhile, Shuxiang had been waiting in the garden for a while before heading toward Plain Heart Courtyard. Halfway there, she saw Luzhu running toward her in a panic. Shuxiang quickly asked, "What's wrong? You look so flustered—has something happened?"
"N-nothing," Luzhu stammered, avoiding her gaze. "You should return to Ruan Residence first. I still have things to do." With that, she hurried off again. Seeing Luzhu in such a state, Shuxiang felt slightly reassured. After a moment's thought, she turned and walked in another direction.
After concluding official matters with Li Dong, Jiang Quan strolled casually around the Jiang residence, casually bringing up the topic of a marriage alliance between the two families. Though Li Dong was lecherous, he was also a cunning old fox, skillfully evading the subject with ambiguous words. Xia Yan, who had been accompanying them, chimed in occasionally, but Li Dong's stance remained unclear, insisting that it ultimately depended on Li Yang's opinion.
As the three of them walked, they drew closer to Plain Heart Courtyard. Just then, a delicate-looking maid suddenly rushed out from the side, her face filled with panic. Spotting Xia Yan, she fell to her knees as if seeing a savior, crying, "Madam, please save our eldest young lady!" But as she looked up, she froze, seemingly only now noticing Li Dong's presence.Xia Yan gave the maid a puzzled look and frowned, "What do you mean by that? What happened to Ruan'er?"
The maid seemed frightened, stammering and not daring to speak. Xia Yan grew increasingly anxious, "What exactly happened?"
Just as she finished speaking, a distorted, shrill scream came from the Plain Heart Courtyard, so piercing that everyone present shuddered involuntarily. Xia Yan froze for a moment, then without another word, hurriedly strode toward the courtyard.
Lin Lang followed closely behind. The Plain Heart Courtyard was eerily quiet, with no one in sight. Xia Yan first checked the small guest room, where everything was calm—the teapot and cups on the table untouched, exactly as they had been before.
Lin Lang was stunned, and Xia Yan was equally bewildered. Then, another woman's scream rang out from outside, this time clearly coming from Jiang Susu's room.
At that moment, Xia Yan had no time to question why the location had shifted to Jiang Susu's room. An inexplicable sense of foreboding gripped her. Pushing Lin Lang aside, she rushed into Jiang Susu's chamber.
The moment she entered, a nauseatingly thick stench of blood assaulted her senses. Xia Yan's eyes widened in shock at the horrifying trail of blood on the floor. A heart-wrenching sob reached her ears, striking her like a bolt of lightning. She took a few steps forward—wasn't the person weeping in the room none other than Jiang Susu?
At Jiang Susu's feet lay Li Yang, his head covered in blood, his features unrecognizable. His eyes were tightly shut, and his condition seemed dire.
"No—" Xia Yan's eyes widened in horror. Footsteps sounded behind the door, and before she could react, Jiang Quan's voice rang out, "What's going on?"
The voice abruptly cut off, followed by a horrified cry, "My son!"
Li Dong's eyes bulged in disbelief as he rushed to Li Yang's side, shaking his body frantically, "My son, wake up!"
But Li Yang showed no response. Li Dong's gaze dropped to his son's lower half—the fine silk robe was drenched in blood from the waist down. His eyes then fixed on a mutilated, bloody object nearby, and he let out a guttural howl of agony.
No one could remain indifferent upon seeing their son castrated in such a manner.
Li Dong looked up again, his eyes bloodshot with rage, "Jiang Quan, I'll make you pay for this!"
"It wasn't me, it wasn't me!" Jiang Susu trembled uncontrollably, her face streaked with tears. "He was already like this when I entered the room. It wasn't me, I swear it wasn't me!"
But no one could believe her. Given the scene before them, the most plausible explanation was that Li Yang, overcome with lust, had attempted to assault Jiang Susu, who in a fit of rage smashed a vase over his head and then castrated him.
Xia Yan quickly defended her, "No, it couldn't have been Susu. Susu is timid—she would never do such a thing to Second Young Master Li. Lord Li, please stay calm. The real culprit must still be hiding in this room. Where is Ruan? Susu, weren't you with Ruan? Where is Ruan?" She was convinced this was Jiang Ruan's doing and that Jiang Ruan might still be in the room.
Before Li Dong could respond, a soft, gentle voice came from outside, "Father, Mother, what's happened? Why is everyone in Second Sister's room?"Xia Yan stiffened as she saw Jiang Ruan standing at the courtyard gate, dressed in fiery red robes that blazed like flames. Today, she had even applied a light touch of makeup, making her appear breathtakingly beautiful. In contrast, Jiang Susu, who had been crying uncontrollably, looked utterly disheveled.
"Ruan'er, weren't you and Susu choosing fabrics inside the room? How did you end up outside?" Xia Yan asked urgently.
"I waited for Second Sister for a long time, but she never came. I thought I might as well go look for her myself," Jiang Ruan replied. "But I couldn't find her, so I had Luzhu accompany me to the garden to pick some red plum blossoms. I thought they would look nice in a vase later." As she spoke, she raised her hand, revealing a few branches of red plum blossoms.
Xia Yan collapsed to the ground, while Jiang Quan felt a throbbing pain in his temples. Watching Li Yang lying unconscious on the ground, Li Dong's face darkened with malice as he shouted, "You wretch! You'll pay for my son's life!" Before anyone could react, he lunged forward with a sharp shard of broken porcelain from a vase. Jiang Susu jumped back in fright. Li Dong, being overweight and not very agile, barely missed her, but she felt a searing pain on her right cheek. When she touched it, her hand came away covered in blood.
"Outrageous!" Jiang Quan bellowed. The guards in the courtyard rushed to restrain Li Dong, but Jiang Susu had already collapsed into hysterical sobs, clutching her bleeding face. The sight of her daughter's bloodied visage struck Xia Yan like a blow to the heart, and she fainted on the spot.
"Call the physician, quickly!" Jiang Quan ordered urgently.
Li Dong also had his men carry Li Yang away. "We're leaving immediately," he snarled before turning to glare at Jiang Quan. "This isn't over, Jiang Quan. You will pay for this!"
After Li Dong and his entourage departed, Jiang Quan rubbed his temples, then hurried off to Delicate Splendor Courtyard, worried about Jiang Susu and Xia Yan. Plain Heart Courtyard was once again left empty and silent.
Luzhu stood silently by Jiang Ruan's side. Amidst the bloodstains on the ground, Jiang Ruan smiled faintly and said softly, "Shuxiang, aren't you coming in?"
Shuxiang's face was deathly pale as she stared at Jiang Ruan as if she were a demon. Earlier, when she saw Luzhu's expression, she had thought the plan had succeeded and hurried to report to Xia Yan. But now, it was Jiang Susu who had fallen into the trap. If this was all just a coincidence, it was far too convenient.
"You must remember the path to Plain Heart Courtyard well—never forget it for the rest of your life," Jiang Ruan said with a smile. "Right?"
Luzhu couldn't hide her disdainful gaze, while cold sweat trickled down Shuxiang's back. She knew Xia Yan would not let her off lightly this time. The girl in red, however, seemed to blend seamlessly with the bloodstained scene, showing no trace of panic. With a faint smile, she turned and walked away.
...
For the Jiang family in the capital, this day was anything but ordinary. In just a few short days, Jiang Chao had lost a finger, Jiang Susu's face had been disfigured, Xia Yan had fainted from rage, and Old Madam Jiang had taken to her bed in illness.
The grand Jiang residence, unbeknownst to anyone, had begun to show the faintest signs of crumbling. The signs were too subtle to notice, but the rot had already taken root, waiting for the day it would break through the surface and consume the once-glorious mansion entirely.
Jiang Ruan sat at the table, sipping tea. The newly brewed hundred-flower honey, sent from the estate, had been distributed to each courtyard. Paired with freshly picked red plum blossoms from the garden, the simple floral tea had a unique and delightful flavor.In the afternoon, an incident occurred, and by evening, Jiang Dan had come to visit. She looked at Jiang Ruan with wide eyes and said, "Da Jiejie, I stayed in my courtyard all day today and didn’t go out, but I heard you were there too. Did Second Sister really smash Young Master Li Er’s head open?"
Jiang Ruan smiled at her. "Oh, Second Sister’s news is quite swift. But it seems you don’t believe it?"
"No, no," Jiang Dan quickly waved her hands. "It’s just that Second Sister has always been so gentle. I never imagined she’d have the courage to harm Young Master Li Er." As she spoke, she studied Jiang Ruan’s expression closely.
"Even a rabbit will bite when cornered," Jiang Ruan said leisurely. "Those who appear docile on the surface can have a fierce side—it’s just that we don’t usually see it."
Jiang Dan paused, then smiled. "Da Jiejie is right." After chatting for a while longer, Jiang Dan timidly bid farewell and left. Lianqiao escorted her to the courtyard gate and, upon returning, remarked, "This Fourth Young Lady is truly strange. Madam doesn’t treat her well, yet she’s so eager to inquire about Second Young Lady’s affairs." She shook her head. "Isn’t she being overly nosy?"
Jiang Ruan merely smiled without responding. Her feelings toward Jiang Dan had grown quite vague. She only remembered that after Third Concubine’s death, Jiang Dan had been raised by Zhao Mei. Back then, Jiang Dan wasn’t as timid as she was now—though still somewhat fearful, she had been extremely ingratiating, and Zhao Mei had liked her very much. Although Jiang Ruan had sometimes felt displeased by Jiang Dan’s attempts to win favor, she ultimately pitied her for losing her mother and understood her eagerness to please. Yet, the usually gentle Jiang Xin Zhi had never warmed to Jiang Dan. Though he never showed it openly, there was always a subtle distance and politeness between them.
In her past life, Jiang Dan had seemingly married into a noble family as a concubine. As a daughter of a concubine herself, she couldn’t aspire to be a legitimate wife in any respectable household. Jiang Ruan wasn’t entirely clear about what happened afterward, but she wondered whether Jiang Dan had played any role in her becoming the Nation-destroying Enchantress.
Just then, voices were heard outside. Luzhu pushed the door open and gestured toward the courtyard with a frown. "Shuxiang just returned. Her face is covered in slap marks, and she can barely walk. She looks terrible."
Jiang Ruan smiled. After botching such an important task today, Xia Yan wouldn’t let Shuxiang off easily. Still, as a pawn placed in Ruan Residence, she was too valuable to kill outright, so Shuxiang’s life had been spared—for now. "Young Lady," Zisu asked, "there’s something I don’t understand. When Madam sent those four maidservants, why did you single out Shuxiang for special treatment? You didn’t pay as much attention to the others."
"Perhaps it’s an old grudge," Jiang Ruan murmured. Then she turned to Luzhu. "Luzhu, aside from the Li father and son, were there really no other visitors to the residence today?"
"I asked many people, and there truly weren’t," Luzhu replied. "Did Young Lady see something amiss?"
Jiang Ruan shook her head. That servant of Li Yang’s couldn’t have fainted on purpose. If it wasn’t an outsider, then someone within the residence must have been secretly aiding her. But that also meant everything she had done today had been witnessed by another pair of eyes. Whoever had helped her wasn’t necessarily a friend rather than an enemy.
Who could it be? Jiang Ruan pondered in silence.
...In Delicate Splendor Courtyard, Xia Yan smashed the last celadon teacup on the table. The maids around her didn't dare to breathe loudly. Lin Lang stepped forward to console her: "Madam, please don't let anger harm your health." With a sharp "smack," Xia Yan slapped her across the face, leaving five distinct finger marks on Lin Lang's cheek. She didn't dare move a muscle, and the other maids, seeing even the most favored Lin Lang being struck, stood frozen in place.
Xia Yan's heart felt ready to burst with rage. Recalling the final words of the physician who had examined Jiang Susu, her heart ached even more: "The young lady's wounds are quite deep, and she has lost a significant amount of blood. Though she is stable now, she will likely be left with scars."
Jiang Susu's flawless beauty could topple cities, yet now her face was ruined—how could she ever marry into a noble family in the future? She hated Li Yang, who had the audacity to die in Jiang Susu's bedchamber, and she hated Li Dong for scarring Jiang Susu's face. But most of all, she hated Jiang Ruan. She refused to believe Jiang Ruan had no hand in today's events!
The plan had been foolproof. All Jiang Ruan had to do was enter that small guest room, drink the tea on the table, and then Li Yang would enter the courtyard and do the deed with her. Once Jiang Quan and Li Dong caught them in the act, everything would be settled. Jiang Ruan's reputation would be ruined, forcing her to become a lowly concubine in the Li household. Yet, against all odds, Jiang Ruan never entered the guest room or drank the tea. Somehow, Li Yang ended up collapsed in Jiang Susu's chamber, and Jiang Susu had returned to her room at the worst possible moment!
Now, Li Dong surely harbored venomous hatred for Jiang Susu. No matter how much Xia Yan despised Li Dong, with Li Yang injured so severely and even castrated within the Jiang residence, she dreaded the retaliation Li Dong might unleash. The thought sent a chill down her spine.
"This won't do. I must find a way," Xia Yan muttered, pacing the room several times before resolutely walking to the desk. She ordered Lin Lang to grind ink. "I will write to my father and seek his counsel."
...
Meanwhile, Jiang Quan sat in his study, massaging his temples. Over just a few days, streaks of white had appeared at his temples. His beloved son and daughter had suffered such misfortune, and though fury burned in his heart, the perpetrator was none other than Li Dong—a subordinate of the Eighth Prince.
Hong Ying stood behind him, her delicate hands gently pressing his scalp as she soothed, "Master, please ease your worries. The Second Young Lady and Second Young Master will recover."
(End of Chapter)
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