Nan Shiying, cloaked in her dress, sat by Nan Yuan'er's bed and reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
Her hand was not cold; even after being exposed to the biting wind, it remained warm. Yet, as it brushed against Nan Yuan'er's ear, her skin tingled as if covered in a thousand crawling ants, sending shivers of coldness through her.
Nan Yuan'er turned her head, trying to evade Nan Shiying's touch. But the slightest movement sent a tearing pain through her wound, and she dared not move again.
Nan Shiying lowered her head, and her smile finally broke through the thin veil before Nan Yuan'er's eyes, becoming clear.
In Nan Shiying's eyes, Nan Yuan'er saw her own haggard and disheveled reflection.
"Nan... Nan Shiying, did you come back just to watch the show?" Nan Yuan'er's eyes were like a muddy swamp, allowing hatred and anger to fester and grow. It seemed as if anyone who met her gaze would be dragged into the endless mire.
"A show?"
"Yes, you truly are a joke!"
Nan Shiying agreed softly. She lifted the quilt covering Nan Yuan'er and pointed to her wrist, saying, "You've just woken up, but has anyone told you that your wrist bone is fractured? Even if it heals, it will be left with a disability?"
Nan Yuan'er's eyes widened abruptly. Nan Shiying's words were like a heavy hammer striking her head. Her mind went blank for a moment before she began to scream wildly, "What did you say? Say that again!"
"Yuan'er, don't listen... Nan Shiying, I should have killed you long ago, you who are a jinx to your father and mother... Ah!!"
Green Wan, hearing her use such foul language, angrily twisted Liu Shi's arm. With a crisp "crack," the bone was dislocated, and Liu Shi's unfinished curse turned into a scream.
"Green Wan, slap her!"
Nan Shiying commanded indifferently.
Green Wan released Liu Shi's arm. Liu Shi's arm hung limply. Before she could even resist, Green Wan's palm landed on her face.
"Slap, slap, slap, slap~"
The sound was crisp and loud, Green Wan even managed to create a rhythm.
"Five... Niangniang, madam is your elder after all. Even if you don't consider the monks, you should consider the master, right, you..."
Nan Shiying turned and looked at the maidservant who had rushed into the room.
She had seen her at the peace banquet a few days ago. She was Liu Shi's personal maid, named... Qing'er?
Nan Shiying glanced at Green Wan. Green Wan released Liu Shi, bent down to pick up the shattered teacup from the floor, and slowly walked towards Qing'er. Qing'er trembled all over but still looked up at Green Wan. Green Wan smiled at her, then struck with lightning speed, directly embedding the shards into Qing'er's neck. Instantly, blood splattered everywhere, gushing out in a steady stream, forming bloody bubbles, splashing all over Green Wan.
Green Wan frowned slightly with a hint of disdain. Qing'er clutched her neck, the porcelain shards still stuck in her neck. Although the carotid artery was pierced, because Green Wan did not pull out the shards, Qing'er did not die immediately. She convulsed all over, her eyes rolled back, and she made 'ho ho' sounds, clearly on the verge of death.
Nan Shiying cast a slightly reproaching glance at Green Wan and said, "Look at you, you've dirtied Sister's room."
"This servant has sinned, please punish me, Niangniang!"
Green Wan knelt to beg for forgiveness.
Nan Shiying sighed ostentatiously and called out to the servants outside, " Hurry up and carry her out. If you call a physician now, perhaps there's still a chance to save her life."
Seeing Qing'er's tragic state, everyone was filled with fear. Nan Shiying, with a smile on her face throughout, acted more ruthlessly than a demon from hell.
No one dared to enter the room to carry her out. Nan Shiying's smile faded slightly as she said, "What, are the servants of the Nan residence all deaf? If your ears are no longer useful, then perhaps they should be cut off!" m..oΓg
Hearing this, everyone shivered. Overcoming their fear, they ran into the room and, fumbling, carried Qing'er out.
Liu Shi was no stranger to killing; on the contrary, countless people had died at her hands over the years. There were maids who tried to climb into bed with her, servants who were bribed, and the legitimate daughter of the Wang clan, Nan Yuqing, who stood in her daughter's way. The departed souls were numerous, but their deaths were either by beating or by being thrown into a lake. In terms of bloodiness, none could compare to the scene unfolding now. Moreover, Qing'er was her personal maid. When a personal maid was killed right before her eyes, with hot blood splashing onto her face, the fear that surged within her was indescribable. Every cell in Liu Shi's body trembled.
Qing'er took her last breath the moment she was carried out of the room. She probably never dreamed that she would lose her life simply for trying to curry favor.
Once again, everyone witnessed Nan Shiying's ruthlessness and dared not resist. However, while Qing'er was being carried away, someone slipped out.
...
Front Hall.
Nan Chaoyin and Ji Jinmo were in a standoff, the air thick with invisible gunpowder. The tense atmosphere was like dark clouds pressing down, threatening to destroy the city. The servants following the two men dared not even breathe, feeling as if the oxygen in the entire hall had thinned.
"Master, Master, something's wrong!"
A servant from the back courtyard rushed over, bringing news of Nan Shiying breaking into Nan Yuan'er's room, beating Liu Shi, and her servant killing someone. Nan Chaoyin's expression darkened. He knew that the news of Ji Jinmo's arrival at the mansion would prompt action from Qing Yuan, but he never expected Qing Yuan to go so far.
Was this action merely because Nan's servants were nearby? Or did Qing Yuan harbor some unsavory intentions?
Upon hearing the servant's words, the killing aura around Ji Jinmo suddenly dissipated, and a smile appeared in his cold eyes. He looked at Nan Chaoyin, tidied his robes, and reprimanded, "Prime Minister Nan should manage his wife and daughters better. My wife is gentle and kind; she would never do such a thing unless she was greatly provoked."
The little servant who came to report was dumbfounded. Who, who was gentle and kind? Could it be that the Prince was blinded by love and chose to be blind? Even if he talked until the cows came home, this word had nothing to do with Nan Shiying.
Nan Chaoyin did not want to get into a verbal spat with Ji Jinmo. Hearing that chaos had erupted elsewhere, he coldly said to Ji Jinmo, "If Your Highness is here to find the Princess, then please feel free. I, as your subject, cannot accompany you!"
With that, he actually turned and left without hesitation.
Ji Jinmo smoothed the hem of his robe. Thirteen took a step forward. Ji Jinmo slightly raised his eyes, and Thirteen retreated. Ji Jinmo strode to follow Nan Chaoyin, one in front and one behind, towards the back courtyard.
"Master!"
Seeing Nan Chaoyin arrive, the servants breathed a sigh of relief.
Nan Chaoyin saw the lifeless maid lying in the courtyard, like withered fallen leaves. Upon recognizing her, his expression became slightly unpleasant.
Qing Yuan had killed Liu Shi's personal maid, Qing'er.
The death of one maid was one thing, but one must consider the owner when punishing a dog. Qing Yuan had gone too far this time!
Hearing the servants' unified shouts from the courtyard, Liu Shi, as if grasping a lifeline, let out an urgent plea, "Master, Master~"
Hearing Liu Shi's rushed and fearful cry, Nan Chaoyin quickly entered the room. Liu Shi was kneeling on the messy ground, the blood from her knees having soaked through her dress and onto the floor.
Nan Chaoyin's gaze shot up to Nan Shiying, his eyes surging with anger and a strong intent to scold.
A flicker of panic crossed Nan Shiying's eyes, seemingly a mixture of fear and unease. However, upon catching sight of the figure following Nan Chaoyin into the room, all her nervousness and fear were replaced by an overbearing demeanor.
Seeing Nan Shiying's sudden change in expression, Nan Chaoyin, without turning his head, could feel the imposing killing aura and chilling frost emanating from Ji Jinmo.
He changed his scolding tone and angrily roared, "You scoundrel, hurry up and let your aunt go!"
"Heh~"
A cold laugh came from behind him. Ji Jinmo walked past him, went directly to Nan Shiying's side, looked down at her, then turned and stood beside Nan Shiying, asking Nan Chaoyin, "Prime Minister, who are you speaking to?"
Under Ji Jinmo's oppressive presence, Nan Chaoyin had to suppress his anger and said in a slow voice, "I don't know how my wife offended Niangniang. I apologize to Niangniang on her behalf. Please, Niangniang, for the sake of my wife being just a sheltered woman who is truly insignificant and lacks any sense of propriety, spare her this once!"
Nan Chaoyin belittled Liu Shi to the point of worthlessness. Usually, Nan Chaoyin would coax and pamper Liu Shi with gentle words. Even though he had been staying with the Wang clan these past few days, he had never humiliated her like this in the past. Rationally, Liu Shi knew that her husband was saying this to make that b*tch Nan Shiying let her go, but emotionally, Liu Shi still felt as if her heart had been pierced by ten thousand swords, and she was deeply grieved.
Her eyes were already teary, but now she bit her lips tightly, so hard that she drew blood, yet she did not cry out in pain.
"Oh? Since Prime Minister thinks so little of your wife, why not divorce her and remarry?"
Ji Jinmo was a cold person. Just standing there gave people the illusion of being instantly frozen. But when he spoke, his words were both fierce and venomous. Nan Shiying always felt that Ji Jinmo must have been a mountain dweller in his past life, doing nothing but digging bamboo shoots in the mountains all day.
He would have dug up all the bamboo shoots on the mountain!
These words were tantamount to stepping on Nan Chaoyin's face, yet Nan Chaoyin endured it, his voice sounding as if it were squeezed from between his teeth, "This is my family matter, and it does not require Your Highness's concern!"
"Niangniang, I beg Niangniang to spare my wife!"
With that, Nan Chaoyin slowly knelt down. Whether intentionally or accidentally, he knelt on the broken teacups. The shards pierced his skin, and Nan Chaoyin frowned slightly, but then he smoothed his expression instantly.
Watching the slowly seeping blood, a hint of worry flashed across Nan Shiying's face. This perfectly timed display of reluctance and concern fell directly into Ji Jinmo's eyes. Ji Jinmo turned his head and, within Nan Chaoyin's blind spot, gave Nan Shiying a meaningful glance.
Nan Shiying raised her eyebrows at him, then lowered her eyes.
She performed the act of hiding her inner worry and tension while outwardly appearing indifferent so perfectly that if Ji Jinmo hadn't already known the role she was playing, he would have been deceived by her acting.
She often said that it was a shame others didn't join the Nan Qu Opera Troupe to perform; in his opinion, the person who most deserved to join the Nan Qu Opera Troupe was herself.
"Heh, and what if I say no?" Her hand fiddled with the hem of her clothes, her voice a little muffled. Certain small movements of her hands and body conveyed her inner unrest.
Nan Chaoyin did not speak but directly kowtowed.
There were so many shards of porcelain on the ground – large ones, small ones, and even microscopic pieces smaller than pebbles or grains of sand that the naked eye could not see. Nan Chaoyin kowtowed heavily. When he raised his head, blood trailed in the air, forming a bloodline with the movement.
"You..."
Nan Shiying's voice trembled slightly, and her body reacted faster than her thoughts, already taking a step forward as if to help him up.
Ji Jinmo's expression instantly turned grim. He turned and asked, "Ying'er, are you concerned about him?"
Nan Shiying moved her lips, and after a long while, she slowly spoke. Before her words could be uttered, a sigh came first, and then she said, "He... he is my birth father after all. Although I have been cruel to him, I still worry and feel uneasy. I know that such words and such emotions are very contradictory. I also know that Your Highness does not wish to see or hear certain things, but I do not want to deceive Your Highness."
"Your Highness, I..."
Nan Shiying gritted her teeth, and inexplicably, a layer of mist appeared in her eyes. Her pitiable appearance was a far cry from the arrogance and ruthlessness she had shown moments ago.
Seeing Nan Shiying's natural emotional shift that required no setup, the servants of the Nan residence finally understood why the Prince, regardless of the Fifth Miss's status, did not hold her accountable for marrying into the mansion and doted on her so much.
Who could resist the joy of taming a wild beast!