No matter how outstanding Jiang Xin Zhi is or how he protects Jiang Ruan, today Jiang Ruan won't be able to escape even if she had wings. Even ten Jiang Xin Zhis couldn't save her now.
Jiang Dan watched Xia Yan and Jiang Xin Zhi thoughtfully before suddenly pulling the carriage curtain shut. The timid expression behind the curtain disappeared as her lips slowly curved into a smile.
The carriage wheels splashed through shallow puddles on the rain-soaked stone path. Watching Jiang Ruan's carriage depart, Jiang Xin Zhi showed no intention of leaving. Xia Yan smiled and asked, "Xin Zhi, don't you need to report to the military camp today?"
"The General has official business today and doesn't require my presence," Jiang Xin Zhi replied.
Growing anxious, Xia Yan pressed, "Then why don't you rest in your courtyard?"
"The weather is particularly fine today. I'd like to stay by the residence gates a while longer," Jiang Xin Zhi said with a smile. "Is there something you need, Mother?"
The sky was gloomy with continuous rain—far from good weather. Xia Yan bit her lip hard before forcing out, "Nothing." Seeing Jiang Xin Zhi showed no signs of leaving, her anxiety peaked. With gritted teeth, she turned and hurried back inside.
Once Xia Yan left, Jiang Xin Zhi's expression turned serious. He summoned two guards and ordered, "Keep watch at the gates. Follow anyone who leaves and knock them unconscious."
The two guards acknowledged their orders and departed.
Jiang Xin Zhi recalled Jiang Ruan's message delivered by Luzhu the previous night—preparing three identical carriages, arranging two highly skilled guards to follow discreetly, and finally visiting the Zhao family.
He didn't know what Jiang Ruan planned. When his younger sister truly wanted to keep something hidden, even he as her elder brother had no way to uncover it. Jiang Xin Zhi would never force her to reveal what she wished to keep secret—he trusted his sister completely.
Yet inexplicably, his eyelids had been twitching all day, as if foretelling impending misfortune. Suppressing his unease, he mounted his horse and galloped toward the General's Residence.
Xia Yan returned to Delicate Splendor Courtyard. When a servant reported Jiang Xin Zhi's departure, she immediately stood up in agitation. "Quick! Send two men to inform them—the second carriage carries Jiang Ruan. They mustn't mistake the target!"
The servant hastily complied. Only after he left did Xia Yan sink back into her chair with a long exhale. Lin Lang handed her a cup of tea. After several sips, Xia Yan finally calmed her racing heart. Remembering Jiang Xin Zhi's unusual behavior, her unease returned. She turned to Li Momo and asked, "Nanny, do you think they've discovered something? Why else would they suddenly change carriages?"
Li Momo reassured her, "Set your mind at ease, Madam. This old servant believes the young master is simply being cunning to guard against you. He couldn't possibly know your plans—otherwise why would he allow the young miss to go to Precious Light Temple with only two guards?"
Hearing this, Xia Yan finally relaxed. "That's what I thought too. Hmph, cunning indeed. But today that little wretch will certainly meet her end. What can two military men do? They're nothing but mantises trying to stop a chariot. This is all Jiang Ruan's own doing—forming such deep enmity with the Li family. Li An never forgets the slightest grievance—how could he possibly let her off easily?"
A cold smile spread across her beautiful face. "Precious Light Temple is far. Even if Jiang Xin Zhi receives word and rushes over, he'll be too late."Just yesterday, she suddenly received a letter—it was actually from Li An. In the letter, Li An bluntly stated his intention to eliminate Jiang Ruan and requested her assistance. Although Xia Yan was apprehensive about getting involved with a disgraced official like Li An, he was a master at manipulating people’s hearts. With just a few words, he stirred Xia Yan’s emotions to the point where she could hardly wait to tear Jiang Ruan to pieces.
Xia Yan had originally planned to make some arrangements during the trip to Precious Light Temple to make Jiang Ruan suffer. However, Li An proposed his own plan, which Xia Yan found absolutely ingenious. She thus handed the opportunity to Li An, still proceeding with the plan to have the Jiang family’s young ladies visit Precious Light Temple—but the plan was no longer the original one.
If it succeeded, all the better—she would simply reap the benefits. If it failed, it had nothing to do with her, Xia Yan.
Li An’s plan was bold and reckless, but even if something went wrong, the sudden appearance of a disgraced official couldn’t be linked back to her. Everything had been meticulously arranged, yet who could have anticipated Jiang Xin Zhi’s unexpected intervention, stubbornly switching the carriages? With four identical carriages, it was inevitable that Li An’s men might mistake their target.
If they made a mistake—she shuddered involuntarily but quickly reassured herself: no, the people sent would surely deliver the message in time. Today’s trip to Precious Light Temple would be Jiang Ruan’s inescapable doom. In the past, she had only escaped by sheer luck, but what awaited her at Precious Light Temple now was a net of heaven and earth—even two highly skilled bodyguards wouldn’t make a difference.
Because what Li An had brought wasn’t just one or two men, but an entire squad of soldiers.
The true elite troops secretly raised by the Prime Minister’s residence.
…
The journey was swift.
Traveling along the mountain road, the carriage inevitably jolted violently. Fortunately, the coachman Jiang Xin Zhi had found was highly skilled, managing to navigate the muddy path with remarkable steadiness, ensuring those inside the carriage felt no discomfort.
Cave Suitable Cliff was rugged and steep, its peaks like broken swords sliced in half, standing stark and intimidating. The dense mountain forests occasionally startled resting owls with the sound of passing carriages, sending them flapping into the sky, leaving behind fleeting black shadows.
In the past, this stretch of Cave Suitable Cliff, with its towering mountains, deep valleys, lush foliage, and jagged rocks, had been a uniquely perilous yet scenic spot where wealthy families would stop to enjoy the rare beauty. However, since the capital had been plagued by continuous rain, the roads had turned muddy, and the sun remained hidden beneath oppressive dark clouds. The once-beautiful scenery now carried an eerie undertone.
Five carriages moved silently forward. The one at the front belonged to Jiang Chao—the only carriage that looked different, less refined than the others but still far from shabby. Following behind were the carriages of Jiang Ruan, Jiang Susu, Jiang Li, and Jiang Dan. The coachmen remained silent, and so did those inside the carriages, leaving only the sounds of whips cracking against the horses and the turning of wheels to fill the journey.
Jiang Ruan leaned against the soft cushions inside her carriage while Luzhu prepared plum blossom tea for her. The carriage Xia Yan had arranged was indeed exquisite, even equipped with a small table. Having eaten little in the morning rush, Lianqiao and Zisu had brought some pastries along. Luzhu, with her deft hands, had preserved the plum blossoms picked the day before and was now brewing fragrant plum tea in the carriage.
The sweet aroma gradually wafted from her carriage, dispersing into the air and reaching the noses of those in the carriages behind.Jiang Li snorted disdainfully, "She certainly knows how to enjoy herself." Glancing around, she secretly resented that her own maids were nowhere near as clever or attentive as Jiang Ruan's, not even having prepared any snacks for her.
Jiang Susu, already preoccupied with her own thoughts, grew visibly tense beneath her veil upon seeing Jiang Ruan leisurely sipping tea and eating pastries. She muttered under her breath, "Seeking death!"
Jiang Dan, meanwhile, leaned against the carriage window in a light doze, completely indifferent to the situation.
The road ahead of Cave Suitable Cliff was relatively smooth, but after some time, they reached the most treacherous stretch.
The terrain here was narrow, flanked by steep valleys with only a single path in the middle, resembling the mouth of a gourd—hence its name, "Gourd Mouth." The valleys on either side were densely forested. Just as the first carriage entered Gourd Mouth, a rustling sound suddenly emerged from the woods.
The carriage came to an abrupt halt.
Lianqiao and Zisu paused, their hands trembling slightly with tension. Beads of sweat formed on Luzhu's forehead, yet Jiang Ruan continued to sip her tea unhurriedly.
Her demeanor was utterly graceful.
The horses sensed danger and refused to move forward, no matter how much the coachmen whipped them. The Jiang family guards drew their swords, while the two guards sent by Jiang Xin Zhi stood firmly in front of Jiang Ruan's carriage, their expressions already tinged with bloodlust.
Jiang Li shrieked, the first to cry out, "What's happening?!"
As if her scream had triggered it, a deafening roar erupted, shaking the ground. From the valleys on either side of Gourd Mouth, a dark mass of figures emerged seemingly out of nowhere. The coachmen were terrified—these men, dressed in plain clothes like bandits, surged toward the carriages in a frenzied rush.
"Retreat! Retreat now!" The Jiang family guards hurriedly tried to shield the carriages and escape, but the bandits moved with unexpected swiftness, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.
Apart from Jiang Xin Zhi's two guards, the Jiang family had brought twenty men. These twenty had no choice but to engage the bandits, and soon the air was filled with the clashing of blades—sharp, metallic clangs—while the wind howled like knives. Hot blood sprayed in arcs, staining the delicate curtains of the carriages.
"How could there be bandits? How?!" Jiang Li screamed, but when she lifted the carriage curtain and saw the horrifying scene outside, she fainted on the spot.
Jiang Dan huddled tightly in a corner of her carriage, her two maids shielding her desperately. All three bit their lips, not daring to make a sound.
Only three carriages remained calm.
Jiang Chao's carriage was at the very front, yet the murderous bandits bypassed it entirely. At a glance, the area around his carriage was eerily untouched, requiring no rescue from the Jiang family guards—a strange sight indeed.
Inside her carriage, Jiang Susu wore a cold smile. The more brutal the slaughter outside, the more delight twisted her lips. She nearly couldn't resist the urge to fling open Jiang Ruan's curtain and witness her panic-stricken expression.
Jiang Ruan, however, continued to drink her tea. The two guards beside her carriage proved more effective than ten of the Jiang family's men—not a single drop of blood had yet stained her curtains.The Jiang family guards were outnumbered, facing at least hundreds of opponents outside. The more they fought, the more alarmed they became—these assailants bore no resemblance to mountain bandits. Despite their attempts at concealment, their movements clearly betrayed the skills of highly trained martial artists. Moreover, what kind of bandits would kill on sight without even demanding where the valuables were kept?
Despite their suspicions, the Jiang family guards were steadily losing ground. The attackers seemed intent on sparing those inside the carriages while slaughtering every last guard. As their numbers dwindled, Jiang Ruan set down her teacup and called, "Luzhu."
Luzhu paused, then immediately flung open the carriage curtain with a scream: "Help!"
The two guards stationed beside Jiang Ruan's carriage sprang into action. Moving with startling speed, they leaped toward the other carriages before anyone could react. With brutal precision, they drove their blades into the horses' hindquarters, forcing the animals to wheel around in pain.
The wounded horses reared and bolted like arrows into the distance.
The two guards repeated the tactic, sparing not even Jiang Ruan's carriage. In moments, four identical carriages were seen fleeing in four different directions from Gourd Mouth!
Hidden archers in the forest raised their bows, only to be halted by a sharp command: "Hold your fire!"
A gray-clad figure rose slowly from the shadows, his gaze icy with malice. "Trying to escape? Hmph. A futile struggle."
The four wounded carriages raced wildly, their drivers thrown clear. Inside, the young ladies were tossed about violently. Jiang Susu, unaware of the chaos outside, shrieked in terror as her carriage careened out of control: "Help! Someone help me!"
Only the howling wind answered her cries.
Faced with four identical carriages fleeing in different directions, the "bandits" hesitated, uncertain which to pursue. Their eyes turned toward the gray-clad man hidden in the forest depths.
After a long pause, the gray-clad man raised a hand in signal. Instantly, the bandits divided into four groups with military precision—a discipline utterly alien to common outlaws. The two guards Jiang Xin Zhi had assigned exchanged grim looks. As former soldiers, they recognized the tactic immediately: this was battlefield formation.
They'd suspected these weren't ordinary bandits, but never imagined they were facing an elite military unit.
The realization struck them—Jiang Ruan's ploy to confuse pursuers with identical carriages was doomed. Gourd Mouth's treacherous terrain offered only one viable escape route, now undoubtedly lined with these elite soldiers. No matter which carriage she took, she was as good as trapped.
Their duty was clear: find Jiang Ruan and protect her for as long as possible.
The two guards broke free simultaneously, shaking off their disguised opponents to sprint westward through Gourd Mouth.
On the hillside, the gray-clad man's lips curled in amusement. "The ending is foregone. Why waste effort?" His expression hardened as he turned to his subordinates. "After those two guards. Now."Jiang Ruan's carriage raced swiftly through the dense forest, its sides scraping against countless thick branches and vines along the way. Lianqiao tried pulling the reins to stop the frenzied horses, but to no avail. Luzhu laid all the soft cushions at the back of the carriage and tightly held Jiang Ruan's hand to prevent her from hitting her head.
Jiang Ruan pressed her lips together, her expression calm, her clear eyes unfathomably deep, exuding a cold and lethal aura.
The bandits behind them pursued relentlessly, yet Jiang Ruan's demeanor remained unchanged. Suddenly, Lianqiao cried out in alarm, "No! There's no road ahead!"
They had reached the end of Gourd Mouth, and before them lay the precipice of Cave Suitable Cliff. If the carriage continued charging forward unchecked, it would only meet destruction and death.
Jiang Ruan's expression hardened. She suddenly drew a small knife from her sleeve—the one Zisu had handed her that morning—its tip still somewhat blunt. With one hand, she seized the carriage reins, and with the other, she slashed downward fiercely. With a sharp snap , the rope split in two. The carriage lurched sideways, dragged forward several meters by the horses before finally coming to a stop just a few yards from the cliff's edge.
The horses, however, plunged headlong into the misty abyss without hesitation, vanishing instantly.
The overturned carriage lay on its side. Zisu, clutching her head, scrambled up and hurried to help Jiang Ruan. "Miss, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Jiang Ruan replied, tucking the knife back into her sleeve as she steadied herself with Luzhu's support. All three of them were disheveled, covered in dust from rolling on the ground, a pitiful sight.
At the same time, the two guards Jiang Xin Zhi had sent caught up. Seeing the severed carriage rope and the wreckage so close to the cliff, they sighed in unison, their gazes now filled with admiration for Jiang Ruan.
Even in such chaos, she had remained composed, her mind sharp and decisive, saving her own life with swift action. Even after narrowly escaping death, her expression remained as unreadable as ever. They had never seen a young lady with such courage. Then again, with a fearless and formidable elder brother like hers, it was no surprise his sister was no less remarkable.
But then, the sound of approaching footsteps reached them. The two guards tensed, stepping protectively in front of Jiang Ruan.
The bandit-disguised soldiers had split into four groups, and the one chasing Jiang Ruan numbered nearly a hundred. They glared at her with vicious intent—wolves ahead, a cliff behind, leaving her no retreat, like a lamb awaiting slaughter.
Jiang Ruan watched silently, her gaze steady, until suddenly, a slow, deliberate clapping echoed from the front. A familiar voice rang out, "Miss Jiang, what remarkable composure. Even in such peril, you remain unshaken."
The soldiers parted, and a figure in gray stepped forward, his steps deliberately slow, as if making a deliberate display.
Jiang Ruan smiled. "Second Young Master Li, what remarkable audacity. Even as a stray dog, you dare show your face in broad daylight."
The words struck a nerve. Li An's expression darkened instantly, his eyes glinting with malice. Then, as if recalling something, he smiled faintly. "If I were you, Miss Jiang, I wouldn't waste my breath on taunts—lest I suffer more for it later.""Bah!" Before Jiang Ruan could speak, Lianqiao had already planted her hands on her hips and cursed, "A prisoner like you, still daring to swagger about. Our young lady is perfectly fine, but you—lawless and unruly—better watch out or your head might roll tomorrow, your corpse hung on the city gates for three days as a warning!"
She stood in front of Jiang Ruan, and the nearest soldier immediately struck her chest with a palm. Lianqiao was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Lianqiao!" Zisu screamed in shock. Luzhu shielded Jiang Ruan even tighter. Seeing Lianqiao on the brink of death, a flash of anger crossed Jiang Ruan's eyes. But when she turned back to Li An, her voice was eerily calm. "What exactly is Second Young Master Li here for? Is bullying a maid your idea of skill?"
Li An smirked. "In the end, she was just taking the hit for you. Miss Jiang values a mere maid so highly, yet you don’t know how much it pains me that you injured my elder brother."
Jiang Ruan scoffed inwardly. Li An continued, "Before, I underestimated Miss Jiang’s cunning. But I never imagined you’d be so ruthless. Now, left with no choice, I must oppose you. Don’t blame me, Miss Jiang." The more amiable his tone, the more intense the glee on his face, like a beast that had finally found prey to toy with, his eyes burning with excitement.
"Second Young Master Li plans to abduct me?" Jiang Ruan asked. "Aren’t you afraid of compounding your crimes?"
Li An laughed heartily. "It’s just Miss Jiang’s bad luck—coming out to offer incense only to be kidnapped by mountain bandits, losing her virtue, failing to receive Buddha’s protection. What does that have to do with me?"
The two guards glared at Li An, furious. Such accusations would ruin the reputation of any unmarried young lady. But they knew that with so many soldiers present, abduction was just the beginning. The horrors Jiang Ruan might face afterward sent chills down their spines.
"Mountain bandits?" Jiang Ruan smiled. "Aren’t they soldiers?"
Li An paused, narrowing his eyes. "Miss Jiang is sharp as ice, but the outcome of this game is already decided. You have no escape. Come with me now."
Jiang Ruan shook her head. "The outcome is far from certain."
"Don’t waste your breath," Li An warned.
Suddenly, Jiang Ruan gave a faint smile. Her stunning eyes bloomed with a fleeting joy, but it quickly sank into a pool of icy darkness.
"Is that so?" she enunciated slowly, "Crimson... Thunder... Army."
Li An’s pupils dilated in shock. He stumbled back two steps involuntarily. "You—" His mind reeled like stormy waves. How could she know?!
The Crimson Thunder Army was the private force raised by the Prime Minister’s estate, a secret even Ye Li was unaware of. These soldiers usually disguised themselves as farmers. The Crimson Thunder Army was the estate’s final trump card, answering only to him alone—a secret unknown even to Li Dong and Li Yang. How could Jiang Ruan possibly know?!
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly. "Second Young Master Li is afraid? What exactly are you afraid of? That your flawless secret has been exposed?"
The Crimson Thunder Army stirred restlessly. Seeing Li An’s expression, they knew Jiang Ruan had become a dire threat to him. Their weapons instinctively turned toward her."A secret kept too long ceases to be a secret." Jiang Ruan's voice was light and calm, yet Li An felt she was hinting at something. Suppressing the panic in his heart, he sneered, "Nonsense."
"Second Young Master Li's actions today are clearly meant to exonerate the Prime Minister's residence, aren't they?" Her hair was disheveled, her clothes soiled from rolling in the mud moments ago, yet standing there, she exuded a delicate grace with an almost chilling beauty.
She continued, "But from the moment you made this decision, the Prime Minister's residence lost any chance of redemption. You've lost."
Li An's heart skipped a beat as a sense of unease rapidly expanded within him. He wanted to order his subordinates to immediately seize Jiang Ruan and prevent her from speaking further, but she swiftly declared, "Privately raising troops, plotting rebellion, with all the evidence at hand—is this enough?"
She continued, "Your current actions have truly sealed the fate of the Prime Minister's residence."
Li An felt as if struck by lightning.
Slowly, very slowly, he raised his head and asked in a dreamlike voice, "Was it you who spread those rumors?"
Jiang Ruan responded with a faint smile.
The Prime Minister's residence had stood firm in the court for many years—how could it collapse entirely over a mere reservoir incident? If the Emperor truly executed the entire Prime Minister's family over this, it would undoubtedly chill the hearts of court officials, leading to another upheaval in the political landscape.
A ruler's greatest fear is instability among the people. The court's various factions maintained a delicate balance, and even if this equilibrium were to be disrupted, it should be done gradually. How could it be overturned in one fell swoop?
Unfortunately, Li An, blinded by concern, had lost his usual composure. Jiang Ruan had Jiang Xin Zhi help spread rumors that reached Li An's ears, ensuring he would grow restless.
Truth mixed with falsehood, falsehood with truth. Once a brilliant mind loses its rationality, the mistakes it makes can surpass even those of ordinary people.
He had ordered the hidden Crimson Thunder Army to emerge, disguised as bandits. The Crimson Thunder Army was his last remaining asset, and he had believed this plan foolproof—yet Jiang Ruan had exposed his secret in an instant.
Suddenly, he understood: the reservoir incident alone wasn't a capital offense. But the charge of privately raising troops and plotting rebellion? That would leave the Prime Minister's residence—with no chance of survival!
When the Prime Minister's residence lacked a crime, she had used his own hands to deliver the fatal charge of treason.
She intended to annihilate the Prime Minister's residence completely, leaving no possibility of resurgence.
Such venomous cunning, such ruthless methods!
Li An staggered back, his face as pale as paper.
A man who had prided himself on his brilliance all his life, now defeated by a young girl raised in the inner chambers—how could he accept this?
Jiang Ruan suddenly seemed to remember something and smiled. "Luoshu Gate, Yanluo Corner, Crimson Thunder Temple, and Ziyun Society—I presume the Crimson Thunder Army stationed there has already been cleared out."
Li An's slowly recovering complexion turned ashen once more. The places Jiang Ruan had named were all secret hideouts of the Crimson Thunder Army—locations so well-concealed that none but the Crimson Thunder Army and himself should have known of them. How did she know? And what did her words imply?
Jiang Ruan answered his unspoken question: "The Zhao Family Army and the Guan Family Army assisted His Majesty in arresting the traitorous officials..." She glanced behind Li An. "Of course, the true elite of the Crimson Thunder Army are here. You mobilized so many elite soldiers just to capture me—I'm truly honored."
Li An stared at her fixedly, his gaze now utterly transformed. His face twisted with desperate madness as Jiang Ruan gently placed the final straw that broke the camel's back: "Second Young Master Li, you've lost."
A metallic taste rose in Li An's throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. "I haven't lost! I haven't lost!" he roared. "Seize this witch! Kill her!" he shouted at the soldiers around him.
The two guards beside Jiang Ruan immediately drew their blades. A faint glint flashed in the distant sky. As the guards shifted positions, Jiang Ruan suddenly whispered, "Ignore me. Slash Li An's clothes—hard."Though the guard was puzzled, having witnessed Jiang Ruan's fearless demeanor towards Li An and how she had driven him pale with rage, he had complete faith in her decision. Without hesitation, he raised his blade and slashed toward Li An's robes.
The Crimson Thunder Army initially thought the guard was trying to protect Jiang Ruan, but to their surprise, he charged straight for Li An. They rushed to block him, only to realize his target wasn't Li An himself. Amid the crowd, his sword energy surged forth, slicing clean through Li An's outer robe. Li An instinctively recoiled, but the guard—exceptionally skilled in the military—swiftly twisted his sword, the energy shredding Li An's robe to tatters.
The fabric disintegrated into scraps, leaving everyone stunned by the sudden turn of events. Even the Crimson Thunder Army stood frozen, unsure whether to fetch Li An a new robe or turn their attention back to Jiang Ruan.
But when the crowd caught sight of Li An's state, a collective gasp rippled through the air.
After a brief moment of shock, Li An snapped back to reality and desperately covered his lower body, consumed by humiliation and fury.
"He's a eunuch by birth," the guard beside Jiang Ruan muttered under his breath before abruptly clamping his mouth shut, realizing she was still nearby.
Li An was utterly terrified. Two of his lifelong secrets—the first exposed by Jiang Ruan, the second laid bare before the crowd—were his fatal weaknesses!
Even though he now covered himself, everyone had already seen it clearly. The seemingly handsome and spirited Second Young Master Li was, in fact, a eunuch by birth. How could this be?
Li An was both horrified and enraged. If earlier, after Jiang Ruan revealed the Crimson Thunder Army, he had been driven by desperate fury, now that his darkest secret was exposed, he was completely unhinged.
Not just unhinged—he was terrified. He couldn't understand why Jiang Ruan's guard had suddenly torn his robes open. Only Li Dong and Ye Li knew about this—how could anyone else know? Slowly, he turned his gaze toward Jiang Ruan.
Jiang Ruan smiled back at him.
Li An had been born with this affliction, a deeply hidden flaw. In her past life, Jiang Ruan had heard of it from Ye Li. Ye Li had held this secret over Li An, ensuring his loyalty.
Otherwise, why, after all these years in the Prime Minister's residence, did Li Yang—who indulged in pleasure—earn Li Dong's favor, while Li An, despite his brilliance, received only distant courtesy from his father?
Otherwise, why had Li Dong been so furious when Li Yang was castrated? Because Li An was a eunuch by birth, and with Li Yang rendered useless, the Prime Minister's household had no heir.
Jiang Ruan said softly, "Second Young Master Li, a secret kept too long ceases to be a secret."
Li An felt all the blood in his body rush to his head, his entire being freezing over. Suddenly, he threw his head back and let out a heart-wrenching scream—so piercing that the crowd winced. He snapped his head up, eyes bloodshot with madness, and howled, "You witch! I'll kill you!"
The Crimson Thunder Army, finally grasping the situation, lunged at Jiang Ruan. With the kill order given, there was no reason to hold back. Her two guards fought desperately to shield her. Jiang Ruan's eyes darkened slightly as the distant thunder of hooves echoed through the valley. A figure on a towering steed led a vast contingent of soldiers—their numbers rivaling the Crimson Thunder Army's.Jiang Ruan suddenly let out a sharp cry: "Li An! Your Prime Minister's residence has been secretly raising troops outside, plotting rebellion! Now you seek to silence witnesses by killing me, an official's family member!" Her voice rang clearly across the entire valley: "Even if I die, I won't die by your hand!" With that, she turned and leaped off the cliff.
"Young mistress!" Zisu screamed, nearly fainting on the spot.
Luzhu's eyes widened in shock when she heard the "whoosh whoosh" of arrows cutting through air. A large contingent of cavalry came sweeping in like a storm, charging into the Crimson Thunder Army and engaging them in battle.
Several riders at the forefront galloped straight toward the cliff edge.
Zhao Yuanfeng swiftly dismounted and grabbed a guard by the collar, roaring: "Where's the young lady?"
The guard shook his head despondently: "She jumped."
Zhao Yi, walking behind, stiffened instantly. Guan Lianghan frowned: "What? Impossible?"
That scheming Jiang Ruan—how could she suddenly jump off a cliff?
Li An stood frozen for a moment before suddenly bursting into laughter, ignoring the soldiers restraining him: "Retribution! Retribution! That demon woman deserved to die long ago! Retribution!"
Guan Lianghan kicked him: "Shut up." He turned to Xiao Shao approaching from behind: "What now?"
Xiao Shao, clad in dark brocade robes, wore an expression of chilling indifference. His gaze toward the cliff edge was unfathomable. As he turned, Zisu suddenly grabbed his sleeve, weeping: "Please save my young mistress! I beg you, save my young mistress!"
(End of Chapter)
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