Nan Fengluan cared nothing for her birth mother, but Nan Shiying did.
As Nan Shiying, Nan Fengluan could barely distinguish who she truly was. Yet, hearing Nan Chaoyin’s words, she found herself unable to control the malice welling up within her. For a fleeting moment, all she desired was to inflict the most brutal torture imaginable upon him, to keep him alive and suffering, living a life worse than death, until he could no longer endure, only then to scatter his ashes.
Nan Shiying clenched her fists, her hands hidden within the voluminous sleeves of her robe. The blood-red hue in her eyes instantly consumed the darkness within her pupils. She did not erupt in a furious denunciation of Nan Chaoyin’s despicable shamelessness, nor did she rush forward to claw and berate him. She simply gazed at him with unnerving calm, a calmness that suddenly gave Nan Chaoyin the illusion of being stared down by death itself.
Qingluan’s acting skills were perhaps a touch too impressive!
So impressive, in fact, that he himself momentarily faltered, unsure whether the person before him was his personal guard Qingyuan, or the Nan Shiying who had long since passed away.
Nan Chaoyin furrowed his brow, dispelling the thought that had suddenly arisen in his mind. He remained kneeling, yet somehow, his back had straightened.
"Your Highness, Yuan'er is gravely injured. Would Your Highness be pleased to visit her?" Nan Chaoyin inquired.
Nan Shiying took a deep breath, her face, suppressing her rage, turned a shade of green that indicated extreme distress. Lu Wan stepped forward, intending to speak, but Nan Chaoyin turned back at the opportune moment, giving her a profound glance. He then addressed Nan Shiying, "Your Highness's maid seems unwilling for Your Highness to see her own mother?"
Nan Shiying looked at Lu Wan. Lu Wan found herself momentarily unsure whether the sinister intent in her mistress’s eyes was feigned or genuine displeasure at her interruption. A tremor ran through Lu Wan, and she abruptly knelt, "Your Highness, this servant would never harbor such thoughts. I beg Your Highness to see the truth."
Nan Shiying let out a soft hum from her nose, her voice sharp and cold, "It better be so!"
With that, she looked at Nan Chaoyin and said, "Since Father pleads so earnestly, this consort shall accompany you back. It will be an opportunity to see what fate has befallen my arrogant elder sister!"
As she spoke, she strode past Nan Chaoyin, and Lu Wan followed.
Nan Chaoyin naturally did not wish for anyone from the Prince’s estate to accompany them. However, before he could voice his objection, Lu Wan preempted him, "Your Highness, it would be best if this servant accompanied you. Without this servant, how would the estate’s stewards dare allow you to leave?"
She wasn’t speaking for Nan Shiying’s ears, but for Nan Chaoyin’s. Her mistress had not brought down that old scoundrel, nor had she allowed herself to be threatened by him, merely because she still required the identity of 'Qingyuan'. Otherwise, based on Nan Chaoyin’s audacity in threatening her mistress with her birth mother, he deserved to die a thousand deaths.
Hearing this, Nan Chaoyin said no more.
Nan Shiying ordered a carriage to be prepared. Although Nan Chaoyin had arrived in a carriage, she clearly had no desire to share one with him. The carriages proceeded one after another, heading towards the Nan manor.
Nan Shiying rested her head on a soft cushion, her elbow propped against the carriage window, remaining silent.
Her Highness was in a foul mood!
Sensing this, Lu Wan dared not make a sound. The quiet atmosphere persisted for a long time. Nan Shiying turned her head and glanced at Lu Wan. Seeing her with her lips pursed and hands clasped on her lap, her right thumb digging into her left thumb as if somewhat nervous, Nan Shiying couldn't help but chuckle. "Enough, what are you so nervous about? I was merely thinking about some matters."
Seeing her mistress smile, Lu Wan let out a sigh of relief. She said, "This servant isn't nervous, Your Highness. This servant merely fears disturbing Your Highness's thoughts!"
Nan Shiying smiled enigmatically. Lu Wan asked, "What was Your Highness thinking about just now?"
Nan Shiying replied, "I was thinking about what expression His Highness would wear if he returned and discovered I had gone to the Nan manor."
"Oh, and also..." Nan Shiying stroked her chin, a playful smile emerging as she chuckled, "I was wondering how Nan Shiying and Fengluan would appear simultaneously?"
...
The carriages stopped at the Nan manor, one after another. Lu Wan helped Nan Shiying alight.
"Greetings, Princess Consort!"
Thanks to the previous display of dominance, the servants at the Nan manor this time were not as foolish. The moment Nan Shiying stepped through the gates of the Nan manor, the gatekeepers and guards knelt in unison, offering their greetings.
After all, the gates of the Nan manor were still impeccably new, and the blood of the servant who had died that day seemed to have stained the ground. Every time the Nan manor’s inhabitants passed by, they felt as if the seemingly bloodless ground still exuded a potent scent of blood.
"Ying'er, you should return to your room and rest. Your father..."
"Rest? Am I not here to visit my sister?" Nan Shiying interrupted Nan Chaoyin, looking at him with a half-smile. Nan Chaoyin, however, saw a certain message in her smiling gaze. He had forgotten that His Highness Ji Jinmo’s maid was following behind him. If Nan Shiying were to become completely obedient to him upon entering the Nan manor, this maid from the Prince’s estate would surely become suspicious.
"Yuan'er is gravely injured at the moment. It is best you do not disturb her. Go back to your room and rest. When you are needed, your father will naturally call for you," Nan Chaoyin’s voice turned cold, carrying an unspoken threat.
Nan Shiying drew her lips back in a smile that did not reach her eyes, her malice unconcealed. "Very well. But I will see her eventually. Please instruct Nan Yuan’er beforehand. She must not get too agitated upon seeing me, lest her newly reset bones be dislodged once more."
"Your father will do so!"
Nan Chaoyin turned and left with a flick of his sleeve. Nan Shiying watched his retreating back, then turned towards the corridor. "Brother really enjoys eavesdropping, doesn't he? I imagine he's listened in on quite a few conversations from behind the Huan Cai Pavilion!"
Nan Yujin frowned slightly, unsure if it was his imagination, but he felt that Nan Shiying at this moment was subtly different from the Nan Shiying he had seen that night.
He wondered if it was because she was within the Nan manor, and therefore, she did not want to reveal her true nature.
"Why have you returned?" Nan Yujin inquired.
Nan Shiying raised her tone, scolding, "Nan Yujin, there are differences in status. You currently hold no noble title nor official position. When you see me, you should naturally pay your respects. What? Is Nan Chaoyin teaching you such manners? Or are all the people in your Nan manor a group of rebellious individuals who understand nothing of status and disrespect the imperial family?"
Nan Shiying’s words were exceedingly harsh. If Nan Yujin insisted on not kneeling, the entire Nan manor would be branded with the crime of insubordination and contempt for the royal family. Such an offense was a grave crime punishable by the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire clan. Nan Yujin understood that Nan Shiying was forcing him to kneel, and also forcing him to break ties!
Nan Yujin’s expression shifted multiple times, but in the end, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed, "This commoner pays his respects to the Princess Consort!"