He wanted to stand above others and bask in their admiration. In truth, he had achieved just that, which was why he never imagined the day would come when he would suffer such a crushing defeat—especially at the hands of a twelve-year-old girl!
Over the past few days, he had carefully pieced together the entire sequence of events and finally concluded that Jiang Ruan was indeed behind it all. He couldn't hide his shock. Ever since Jiang Ruan had castrated Li Yang, it seemed she had been systematically targeting the Li family step by step. Whatever her motives, such blatant provocation had dealt the Prime Minister's residence a heavy blow. How could Li An possibly accept this?
What was worse, rumors had begun circulating in the streets that the Emperor, upon seeing the Prime Minister's residence filled with countless treasures—even surpassing the wealth of the national treasury—had flown into a rage and was now contemplating executing the entire Li family.
Though these were mere street rumors, their origin traced back to the palace. The mixture of truth and falsehood made it impossible to discern reality. Li An himself knew that even if it was just to replenish the national treasury, the Emperor might very well take Li Dong's life.
But if that happened, the Prime Minister's residence would never recover!
No, he had to do something. He couldn't just sit and wait for doom. He couldn't let the Prime Minister's residence collapse over such a trivial matter.
He had already gathered information: the rain in the capital hadn't stopped, and wealthy families often visited the most famous temple in the city—Precious Light Temple—to pray for blessings.
And in two days, Jiang Ruan would be going there with the other young ladies of the Jiang family to donate offerings.
Precious Light Temple was located far from the city, at Cave Suitable Cliff, nestled among towering mountains and deep valleys. The long and arduous journey was precisely why it was so popular—people believed it demonstrated sincerity.
The fact that all the Jiang family's young ladies were going to Precious Light Temple presented a golden opportunity.
He had to turn the tables before the Emperor made a decision about the Prime Minister's residence. This had to start with Jiang Ruan, but now he couldn't appear openly, nor could he get close to her.
The only way was to abduct her first and then... make her confess that everything was a conspiracy.
Li An had always relied on schemes to harm others and had never made such a direct decision before. But this was the only way.
This would also be the first time he acted personally. He was certain Jiang Ruan wouldn't escape.
Slowly, he pulled out a bronze token from his pocket. It was palm-sized and exquisitely crafted. Li An clenched it tightly in his hand and then smiled faintly.
...
The spring rain in the capital had seemed on the verge of stopping, only to suddenly intensify, shattering any hope of relief and leaving people utterly disappointed. The citizens prayed day and night, begging the heavens not to punish the Da Jin Dynasty any further. But the heavens paid no heed—the rain showed no signs of letting up.
Xia Yan suggested sending the young ladies of the Jiang family to Precious Light Temple to pray for blessings. Firstly, it was customary for the Jiang family to donate offerings at the temple around this time every year to seek the Buddha's protection. Secondly, Precious Light Temple, being the most renowned temple in the capital, was considered highly efficacious and drew large crowds. Every year, wealthy families vied fiercely for the first incense offering. This year, however, the number of worshippers had dwindled due to the rain.
When Xia Yan made this proposal, Jiang Ruan agreed without hesitation. Luzhu anxiously said, "Miss, she must have ulterior motives. Why did you agree so readily?"Precious Light Temple was nestled among high mountains and deep valleys, with treacherous paths made even more muddy and difficult by the recent rains. The journey was so arduous that even the wealthy families who once frequented it now hesitated. Yet Xia Yan had proposed going to offer incense—surely there was more to it than met the eye.
"It's nothing," Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "When a clam shell is too tightly shut, there's no way to pry it open. But if it opens on its own, how can we not seize the opportunity?"
Luzhu had learned that Xia Yan had gone out earlier that morning and only returned in the evening, her expression strange. She had gone straight to Plain Heart Courtyard and spent a long time speaking with Jiang Susu before finally retiring to her room.
"A clam shell?" Luzhu was puzzled. "Miss, are you planning to—"
"Tomorrow, you'll come with me," Jiang Ruan instructed, motioning for Luzhu to lean in as she whispered a few more words. Luzhu's expression shifted several times before she finally protested, "Miss, no! It's too dangerous!"
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained," Jiang Ruan replied. "Besides, it's not entirely without certainty."
Luzhu bit her lip, then steeled herself and nodded. "This servant will obey Miss's orders."
Jiang Ruan smiled again as the steam curled up from the hot tea before her. This would be her second visit to Precious Light Temple in this lifetime. The first had been six years ago, when she had fought to offer the first stick of incense, praying for Zhao Mei's illness to improve. But she had failed to secure that first stick, and Zhao Mei's condition had never recovered.
In this life, she no longer believed in gods or buddhas. Yet it was precisely in this sacred place of worship that she would begin her bloody vengeance.
Li An? She slowly lowered her head. The steam from the tea obscured her face, but a sharp glint flashed in her clear eyes, and her rosy lips curved slightly.
Just wait.
...
Huijue had been living quite comfortably these past few days.
To protect him, Guan Lianghan had invited him to stay at the Guan residence, even assigning guards to accompany him. Though Huijue didn’t fully understand the reason, he suspected Guan Lianghan and Jiang Ruan were connected to the same powerful figure, so he harbored no deep concerns. After the reservoir incident, his reputation in the capital had soared, and many noble families considered it an honor to host him. Yet Jiang Ruan had sent word for him to keep a low profile, minimizing his public appearances.
At first, Huijue had been displeased, but he soon realized that people revered deities largely because of their mystique. The more his fame grew, the more he needed to maintain an air of mystery. Jiang Ruan had said that to achieve great things, one must not covet small gains—caution and prudence would lead to greater fortunes in the future.
Now, Huijue treasured Jiang Ruan’s words and obeyed without question. He spent his days in quiet meditation at the Guan residence, rarely venturing out. On this particular day, as he stood by the window polishing his wooden fish, he saw Guan Lianghan chasing a young man through the garden’s corridor, shouting as they hurried out the gate:
"Lao San! Why are you using my troops again? No way, absolutely not! What do you take the Guan Family Army for? Damn it! Stop right there!"
Huijue adhered to the principle of turning a blind eye and deaf ear to impropriety, so he promptly shut the window with a snap.
Outside, Xiao Shao finally halted. Guan Lianghan, who had been striding too forcefully, nearly collided with him and jumped back, cursing, "What the hell is wrong with you? Give me back the military tally!"
Xiao Shao was indeed holding the Guan Family Army’s tally. Guan Lianghan lunged for it, but Xiao Shao sidestepped. After a few exchanges, Guan Lianghan could only sigh in defeat.He withdrew his hand, exasperated, and said, "Third Brother, do you think my soldiers are your personal property? What are your hundred thousand Brocade-clad Guards for?"
"The Brocade-clad Guards can't intervene openly," Xiao Shao replied coldly. "Lend me your military tally. I'll return it after use."
"No way," Guan Lianghan said sternly. "Last time, I took the blame for the reservoir incident. What illegal scheme are you plotting now? If His Majesty finds out, I'll be in deep trouble again." He glanced at Xiao Shao and suddenly added, "But since we're martial brothers, and as your second brother, I'm always generous. Tell me what you're planning today, and I'll lend you the tally. Otherwise, even if you take it, I'll make sure you can't mobilize the troops."
"I'm borrowing your men to pursue Li An," Xiao Shao answered straightforwardly.
"Li An?" Guan Lianghan frowned. "You know where he is? Why are you chasing him?"
When Xiao Shao remained silent, Guan Lianghan seemed to realize something. "A mission from His Majesty?"
Xiao Shao pocketed the military tally, smiled slightly, and turned to leave. "Thanks."
"Hey, I'm not done yet!" Guan Lianghan shouted angrily. "This is a big deal—I'm coming too! Third Brother, wait for me!"
His voice gradually faded into the distance.
...
Early that morning, Jiang Ruan rose before dawn, and her three maids were already up. After serving Jiang Ruan breakfast, Lianqiao began selecting clothes for her. Zisu suggested, "Today is for prayers—choose something plain."
In the end, Lianqiao picked a dark blue long coat for Jiang Ruan, paired with a simple black shawl. Accustomed to seeing her in bright, bold colors, the subdued attire, combined with her expressionless demeanor, gave her a stern and solemn air.
As Luzhu styled Jiang Ruan's hair, she said, "Miss, today might be risky. Should we prepare something for self-defense?"
Jiang Ruan nodded. Luzhu adorned her hair with sharp hairpins, their tips long and pointed—enough to serve as weapons.
Before leaving, Zisu hesitated, then grabbed a small knife from the fruit basket under the table. The knife, a gift from Jiang Xin Zhi, had a silver handle inlaid with pearls. Originally meant for display or peeling fruit, it was only finger-length. Zisu examined it and handed it to Jiang Ruan. "Take this, Miss. Better than nothing."
Jiang Ruan weighed it in her hand before tucking it into her sleeve. As the four stepped out of the mansion, they spotted a carriage waiting nearby.
Jiang Dan, Jiang Li, and Jiang Susu were squeezed into one carriage, Jiang Chao had another, while Jiang Ruan's carriage stood alone.
Jiang Ruan glanced questioningly at Xia Yan, who smiled gently. "Ruan'er, as the eldest legitimate daughter of the Jiang family, with so many maids attending you, it wouldn't do to crowd you with the others. I specially arranged this carriage for you."
Jiang Ruan examined the carriage "specially" prepared for her. Though ostentatiously decorated—even more so than Jiang Susu's—it was noticeably smaller, barely fitting her and her maids.
"Mother, this puts me in a difficult position," Jiang Ruan said with a faint smile. "How can I accept such favoritism among sisters?"Xia Yan's smile deepened. "There's no need for such words, Ruan'er. All you sisters are good, but as the eldest, you naturally should set an example. Besides, we can't find another carriage now, so let's go first to avoid missing the timing for the first incense offering."
Jiang Ruan smiled without responding. Just then, a voice came from behind Xia Yan. "Mother worries too much."
Jiang Xinzhi strode over and patted Jiang Ruan's head. "Since they're all sisters of the Jiang family, it's indeed not good for A Ruan to ride alone in a carriage. Father has always been benevolent, treating concubine-born children and legitimate children equally."
At the mention of "treating concubine-born and legitimate children equally," Xia Yan's face darkened. Back when Zhao Mei was still alive, Jiang Quan had favored Jiang Susu and her siblings over Jiang Ruan and her brother. Now, with Jiang Xinzhi saying this in front of the servants, her heart tightened. When she looked up, Jiang Xinzhi still wore a composed and relaxed expression, not a trace of mockery in his demeanor.
Xia Yan cursed inwardly. The way Jiang Xinzhi and his sister never minced words made her wish she could tear their mouths apart.
"But we really can't find another carriage now," Xia Yan said helplessly.
Jiang Xinzhi smiled. "No matter." He waved his hand, and several carriages slowly approached—all identical to the one "specially" prepared for Jiang Ruan, three in total. Jiang Xinzhi said, "I've arranged these carriages. Please, sisters, ride together."
Xia Yan was taken aback, a chill running down her spine. She scrutinized Jiang Xinzhi's expression, but his face betrayed nothing. Forcing a smile, she said, "There's no need for you to go to such expense, child."
Jiang Xinzhi smiled. "Mother, don't worry. These coachmen are the best—fast and steady. My sisters won’t have to endure any bumps and can return quickly."
Jiang Ruan added with a smile, "Mother, don’t refuse. Could it be you don’t want to accept Eldest Brother’s kindness?"
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Xia Yan was left speechless by Jiang Ruan’s words and had no choice but to grit her teeth and agree. Jiang Susu, her face veiled, expression unreadable, was the first to head toward the rear carriage. Jiang Li was more than happy not to share a carriage with Jiang Susu and Jiang Dan. Jiang Dan bit her lip, timidly glanced at Jiang Xinzhi, and then slowly descended.
After the sisters boarded the carriages Jiang Xinzhi had arranged, Jiang Ruan finally got into hers with Luzhu and the others. Xia Yan struggled to maintain her smile as Jiang Xinzhi waved his hand. Out of nowhere, two tall guards approached. Jiang Xinzhi said, "Protect the young ladies well."
The two guards bowed in acknowledgment. Xia Yan was startled. "Xinzhi, what is this...?"
"With A Ruan and her sisters traveling so far alone, and Second Brother not skilled in martial arts, the household guards might not be enough," Jiang Xinzhi said with a smile. "These two brothers of mine are rough men from the army—they’ve seen blood and carry a heavy killing aura. With them protecting A Ruan and the others, I can rest easy."
When he said "seen blood and carry a heavy killing aura," he deliberately slowed his words, sending a shiver down Xia Yan’s spine. She almost didn’t dare to look up at Jiang Xinzhi’s expression.Jiang Chao sat in the carriage, his eyes fixed on Jiang Xin Zhi's every move. When he heard Jiang Xin Zhi mention that he couldn't fight and had specifically assigned two guards, he felt deeply insulted. His gaze turned even more venomous as he glared at Jiang Xin Zhi, cursing him hundreds of times in his heart.
After Jiang Xin Zhi finished giving his instructions, Jiang Ruan peeked out from behind the carriage curtain and smiled at him. "Big brother, you should head back now."
Jiang Xin Zhi patted her head, his expression as gentle as ever. "Be careful on the road."
Jiang Ruan smiled and lowered the curtain. Only when she could no longer see Jiang Xin Zhi did she lean back against the carriage and let out a soft sigh, murmuring under her breath, "I'm sorry, big brother."
Jiang Susu observed the siblings' interaction, a flash of jealousy crossing her eyes. Jiang Xin Zhi had become like a god of slaughter in the Jiang household, his aura so intimidating that no one dared provoke him, fearing the wrath of this battle-hardened soldier. Jiang Susu despised Jiang Xin Zhi, yet she envied Jiang Ruan for having such an outstanding older brother to protect her. There was a time when she, too, had Jiang Chao shielding her—back when he was at the height of his glory, praised by all as a scholar with the talent of a top imperial examinee. She had been immensely proud then. But now, Jiang Chao had become the laughingstock of the capital, while Jiang Xin Zhi had risen to the rank of deputy general. The more he protected Jiang Ruan, the more Jiang Susu's jealousy festered.
She yanked the curtain shut forcefully, recalling the words Xia Yan had shared with her the previous day. Beneath her veil, her lips curled into a smug smile.
(End of Chapter)
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