The whimpering sounds reached Wei Rulan, the rustle of the candlelight swayed by the wind, the scurrying of mice and cockroaches through dry grass, yet all she felt was that Nan Shiying’s voice was unclear. She stared blankly at Nan Shiying’s lips parting and closing, her ears feeling as if they were covered by a layer of cotton.
Her unfocused pupils were as hollow as if her soul had been instantly ripped out.
If all of this was a play from the very beginning, then what was she? A mouse that had stumbled into a trap, or a wretch crushed by the prey that fell into the pit?
At this moment, Wei Rulan broke down, “No, this is impossible, I don’t believe it!”
“You made Jia Huan kill the personal maid of the Princess of Da Li. How can this possibly be a play, this cannot be a play!”
Nan Shiying nodded, her tone dismissive, “You are right, but what if that maid was also a spy?”
Speaking of which, when she first heard Hui An wanted that maid dead, even she was taken aback. Nan Shiying didn’t know how Hui An discovered Bao Lan was problematic, but it wasn’t important. What was important was that Bao Lan’s death made the entire affair seem more real.
Wei Rulan suddenly collapsed onto the ground. She tilted her head back and burst into laughter, but as she laughed, she broke down into sobs.
She had thought herself incredibly wise, only to find herself the biggest fool in the end, not only losing everything but also her own life.
“Jia Huan, give her a quick end!”
Nan Shiying stood up, not sparing Wei Rulan another glance.
…
After Wei Rulan’s death, Jia Huan went to interrogate Bai Xinxin. After a day and a night, he finally got a location!
Jian’an Temple!
…
Bai Xinxin was imprisoned, Wei Rulan was dead, and Qin Yurou was driven mad!
Nan Shiying felt that she had been a little too deliberate!
“Master, if I say I didn’t do it on purpose, do you believe me?” Nan Shiying blinked her large eyes, looking at him. It was definitely not that she had been too ruthless, but rather that his women were too prone to courting death.
Ji Jinmo glanced at Nan Shiying, his expression unreadable. He merely placed a pastry in her hand, clearly unwilling to engage further. Nan Shiying continued regardless, “Master, the remnants of the Miao疆 in the manor should have been completely eradicated by now!”
Ji Jinmo raised his eyelids and tapped the table with his hand.
Xuan Thirteen entered with a young girl dressed in a black and purple fitted outfit. The girl had a cold expression, her body no longer as gaunt as before, appearing much healthier, though her small face was a bit thin, not as plump and cute as other children.
“Your subordinate, Manduo, greets my Lord, greets Her Highness!”
Her tense little face showed no emotion as she knelt before Ji Jinmo and Nan Shiying.
Nan Shiying stood up and took two steps, then retreated.
She turned and looked at Ji Jinmo.
Ji Jinmo turned around and nodded at Manduo, “From now on, you will follow the Princess, as a随行丫鬟 (attendant maid).”
Manduo glanced at Nan Shiying, then lowered her head again, “Yes!”
“Thank you!”
Ji Jinmo took her hand and slowly pried open her tightly clenched fingers. Seeing the nail marks on her palm, he gently caressed them with his fingertips, his heart aching.
Manduo pursed her lips. Sensing Nan Shiying’s gaze, she quickly averted her eyes.
“I’m going out for a bit, I won’t be back for dinner today!” Ji Jinmo stood up, reluctantly releasing Nan Shiying’s hand. He stated his plans. He had been staying at Xingyuan Pavilion for a while, and the small kitchen in the front yard had been constantly sending dishes to Xingyuan Pavilion. He heard that the chefs in the small kitchen of Xingyuan Pavilion had some complaints, and today they would likely be quite pleased.
Nan Shiying nodded, acknowledging, and did not ask where he was going or what he was doing. After seeing Ji Jinmo and Thirteen off, Nan Shiying looked at Manduo.
In her memory, although she was thin, her eyes were always bright, as if filled with a river of stars. She would always follow behind Nan Shiying, her eyes twinkling, happily calling out “Miss, Miss!”
Every time, Madam Wang would say, “You little imp, don’t cling to Miss, come over and work!”
“Little Man, get up!”
Nan Shiying’s voice trembled slightly.
“Her Highness, your subordinate’s name is Manduo!” She stood up, her voice cold. Her pursed lips drooped slightly, as if she held a grievance.
“Come here!” Nan Shiying ignored Little Man’s attitude and beckoned her.
Manduo walked forward, reaching Nan Shiying. Nan Shiying took her hands. Manduo tried to pull away, but feared hurting her by using too much force, so she could only let Nan Shiying hold her.
Nan Shiying opened Manduo’s hands and looked at the calluses on her palms. Her eyes reddened slightly. Although their life had been difficult before, Madam Wang, after all, doted on her granddaughter and never made her do heavy labor. Her palms had not had calluses before!
Manduo pursed her lips and lowered her head, making it impossible to discern her emotions at that moment.
“Wait for me for a moment.”
Nan Shiying suddenly stood up, walked back to the inner room, and emerged wearing men’s clothing. She took Little Man through the back gate of the manor and got into a carriage. Xuan Yi drove the carriage, heading towards the outskirts of the city.
Outskirts of the city.
Nan Shiying placed the prepared offerings before Madam Wang’s grave, lit incense, and kowtowed three times. Then she stood up and retreated to Little Man’s side, standing shoulder to shoulder with her before the grave.
Neither of them spoke!
The cold wind blew, making the treetops tremble. The saplings by the grave mound were accustomed to the invasion of the cold wind, allowing the wind to whistle and sway left and right without falling!
“Grandmother, was dying painful?” Manduo’s voice, infused with the wind, drifted into Nan Shiying’s ears.
Nan Shiying replied softly, “Not painful!”
“That’s good!” Manduo lowered her head and murmured, “I dreamt of Grandmother a while ago. Grandmother said she was doing well down there and that I shouldn’t worry, but how can I not worry? I don’t even know if anyone collected her body for her.”
Initially, no one told her who had saved her, nor where she was. But later, she learned she was in the manor and that Miss had saved her!
But she never knew that Miss had also taken her grandmother and built a grave for her.
Indeed, Grandmother had not lied to her!
Manduo looked up at Nan Shiying, her innocent voice chillingly cold, “Miss, I only want one person’s life.”
I only want Nan Yuan’er’s life!
Hatred seeped through her misted eyes. In her dreams, the only belief that sustained her life was this: she would make Nan Yuan’er taste a life worse than death!
As for the others, Little Man dared not think, and forced herself not to think!
“One life is not enough!”
Nan Shiying gazed at Madam Wang’s tomb. The old woman’s kind face appeared before her, and then she recalled the image of the elder being submerged in a vat, her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth gone, her limbs missing. She reached out and stroked Little Man’s head, her voice, though smiling, uttered words that sent a chill to the bone, “The entire Nan Manor is not enough!”