In thе blink оf аn еye, sоmеthing unехрected hарpenеd that toоk еvеrуоnе by surprisе. Xing'er, who had been knееling silentlу on thе grоund аll this timе, suddenlу rаisеd hеr vоicе and declаrеd, "Mаster, this matter hаs nothing to dо with the cоnсubinе. It wаs I, а lоwlу servant, whо сouldn't stаnd sееing Cоncubinе Zhоu monoроlize уour favor. I sоught out the pоisоn mуself аnd plotted thе murdеr. I stоle thе hаirрin just tо lurе thе cооk awаy!"
Мadam Zhоu was tаkеn аbaсk. "Yоu'rе lуing!"
Her words сame out a bit toо hastily, and еveryоne lооked аt her with meaningful gazes. Panicking inwardly, she grew even more furious at this meddlesome maid. With a swift slap, she struck Xing'er to the ground. "You wicked creature! How dare you commit such a heinous act! Guards, give her twenty lashes and sell her to the brothel!"
Han Yan was startled. Xing'er was truly loyal, but being sold to a brothel would ruin her life forever. Madam Zhou's methods were truly vicious, and anger welled up in Han Yan's heart.
Concubine Wan opened her mouth to speak but hadn't yet uttered a word when she saw the frail figure in the hall suddenly dash toward a nearby bronze pillar. Her movements were too swift for anyone to react. By the time they thought to pull her back, all that remained on the ground was a figure lying in a pool of blood.
"Xing'er!" Concubine Wan let out a heart-wrenching cry. Stumbling, she pushed aside those around her and rushed forward. Xing'er had been her fellow personal maid serving the old madam, and the two had been as close as sisters. Later, when she was given to the master by the old madam, Xing'er became her personal maid, yet she never showed a hint of jealousy or resentment. Xing'er had followed her, never enjoying a single good day in her life. And now, her dear sister Xing'er had been driven to her death by these people!
"Mistress," Xing'er opened her eyes. Blood from her forehead covered her face, making her look ghastly and terrifying, yet she managed a faint smile. "In this household, only you treated Xing'er the best. Xing'er has nothing to repay you with, only this one life." Her voice gradually faded. "I beg one thing of you... please take care of my elderly parents..."
Concubine Wan tightly grasped her hand, sobbing uncontrollably. "I promise you."
Xing'er finally revealed a relieved smile on her face. Looking at Concubine Wan, she whispered softly, "Wan'er... let's be sisters again in the next life. But never be born into a wealthy family again."
She called Concubine Wan by the name she had used when serving the old madam. Through her tear-blurred vision, Concubine Wan seemed to see once more the spring blossoms of that year, two innocent young girls laughing and joking in the courtyard. They had once thought they would lead extraordinary lives, but fate had played a cruel trick. One had met a tragic and untimely death, while the other would remain forever trapped in this devouring mansion, never again seeing the light of day.
The person in her arms finally breathed her last. Concubine Wan laid Xing'er's body gently on the ground and turned to those seated in the hall with a sorrowful smile.
No one in the hall had expected Xing'er to suddenly dash herself against the pillar and take her own life. Han Yan had initially only been watching the scene unfold, but now she felt genuine anger. Xing'er's blood stained the floor. Concubine Mei's lips began to tremble, while only Madam Zhou wore an expression of unwillingness, as if she still had something to say.
Zhuang Qin stood up and took two steps toward her mother when suddenly her body swayed and she collapsed. Instantly, chaos erupted once more. Mama Chen hurriedly said, "Master, please don't let the blood frighten the young ladies."
Only then did Zhuang Shiyang remember his two daughters in the hall. With a wave of his hand, he ordered the servants to take them back to their rooms.
Before leaving, Han Yan glanced at Concubine Wan. Seeing her grief-stricken expression and disheveled appearance, she couldn't help but feel a surge of sympathy.Mama Chen escorted Han Yan back to her courtyard, instructed the kitchen to prepare a bowl of ginger sugar water to calm her nerves, then led Han Yan into the room to sit down, carefully closing all doors and windows.
Han Yan’s mind churned with countless thoughts, feeling that today’s events held far too many inconsistencies. Madam Zhou clearly knew of Concubine Mei’s scheme, and Zhuangshan’s feigned poisoning was likely prearranged with the physician. What she hadn’t anticipated was that Concubine Mei had an extra trick up her sleeve—somehow obtaining Concubine Wan’s hairpin to frame others, costing Xing’er her life as she sacrificed herself to protect her mistress.
Thinking of Xing’er, Han Yan’s mind flashed to the fates of Ji Lan and Shu Hong in her past life, when they were punished by Zhuangshan. Unconsciously, she clenched her fists, her entire body beginning to tremble.
Shu Hong had grown concerned earlier when she saw Han Yan silent and lost in thought. Now, witnessing her fearful demeanor, she quickly stepped forward and grasped Han Yan’s hands. “Miss, are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
Han Yan snapped out of her nightmare-like state, meeting Shu Hong’s concerned gaze. For a moment, it felt as if a lifetime had passed.
Mama Chen had gone to oversee the kitchen. After the earlier incident, she became even more determined that her young mistress’s meals must not be handled by others. Ji Lan had just lit the warming stove and, seeing Han Yan’s condition, hurried over to comfort her. “You must have been frightened by what happened earlier. Don’t be afraid, Miss, we are all here with you.”
Surrounded by the two of them, Han Yan gradually calmed down. She then said, “Later, go and find out how the matter outside is being handled.”
Ji Lan nodded. “Understood, Miss.”
Han Yan leaned back and let out a long sigh. “What a pity about Xing’er—she was a loyal soul.”
Ji Lan and Shu Hong exchanged a glance and chimed in together, “Don’t worry, Miss. Everyone has their own fate. Perhaps Xing’er, taken by the King of Hell this time, will be reborn into a wealthy family in her next life.”
Hearing this, Han Yan could only offer a bitter smile. Next life? She herself was a person of rebirth and knew just how precious life was. One should not place hope in the next life. Carrying the mindset of having gained an extra lifetime, she was determined to reclaim everything she deserved from her previous life.
Her expression softening, Han Yan said quietly, “If it had been me in that hall today…”
“Don’t say such things, Miss.” Shu Hong was startled, her usually steady face showing a rare trace of panic. “We would never let such a thing happen. Please don’t worry.”
Han Yan shook her head. “If it had been me in that hall today, you must believe in my ability to protect myself. Never imitate Xing’er’s actions. Though it was loyalty to her mistress, exchanging her life would only leave me restless for the rest of this life.”
Ji Lan anxiously interjected, “Hush, hush! Nothing will happen to you, Miss. We will stay by your side. Madam once said we would accompany you even when you marry.”
Han Yan couldn’t help but chuckle, casting a sidelong glance at her. “Shameless girl, talking about marriage before even leaving the boudoir—aren’t you afraid of being laughed at?”
Seeing Han Yan smile, Shu Hong finally relaxed. For some reason, Han Yan’s earlier expression had unsettled her, as if a great distance had suddenly opened between her and her young mistress.
Meanwhile, Mama Chen had already gathered news ahead of Han Yan. Following Xing’er’s testimony, Zhuang Shiyang pinned all the blame on the servants. Madam Zhou, deemed negligent in managing her subordinates, voluntarily took Zhuang Qin to the family’s Buddhist hall to chant sutras and pray for forty-nine days.Later, it was revealed that the cook had been brought into the mansion by Concubine Mei. Zhuang Shiyang blamed Concubine Mei for her poor judgment and placed her under house arrest. Only Madam Zhou and her daughter, due to their illness, were provided with the finest food and drink, and for a time, precious tonics and medicinal herbs were continuously sent to Dove Tree Courtyard. Han Yan, however, was overlooked—but that is a story for later and not worth mentioning now.
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