Was it a ghost?
The recent rumors of ghosts haunting the manor instantly seized the old woman's heart. She trembled all over, abruptly opened her eyes, and looked towards the source of the sound. Upon seeing it, her soul nearly fled her body.
It wasn't a ghost, but the person's reputation was far more terrifying than any ghost.
She tumbled off the couch, her movements so abrupt that her plump body collided with another person's arm. The other old woman, who had been drowsy, was jolted awake by the impact!
"I say, Granny Wang, what are you rushing about like this for? Did you see a ghost?"
Granny Wang's mouth felt bitter. A ghost? She would have preferred seeing a ghost.
Seeing Granny Wang did not reply, the other old woman abruptly stood up, about to scold. However, upon seeing Granny Wang's current state, she followed Granny Wang's gaze backward. With just one look, she scrambled down from the couch as if fleeing from hell.
"Your servant, your servant..." she stammered, unable to speak coherently.
The other old woman had already knelt on the ground along with Granny Wang.
"Are you all accustomed to staying in my rooms, my ladies? Is the backrest of the couch a bit too hard? Do you need me to have someone add more cotton for you?"
The more Nan Shiying spoke with such gentle words, the more the old women trembled. In the past, simply because the gatekeeper had been difficult, she had ordered the gates to be blasted open and had the person dragged out and beheaded. Later, at a banquet, it was merely due to her displeasure that Liu Shi's old woman, personal maid, and steward Nan Fu were all beaten to death alive. As for the recent marriage banquet, although they hadn't witnessed it firsthand, the entire household was buzzing with rumors that Nan Shiying had directly disfigured the Fourth Miss's face.
Although it was later discovered that the Fourth Miss's facial injury was not disfiguring, the person before them was a cruel and vicious living Yama with a dark heart and poisonous methods. They absolutely dared not provoke her.
Yet, they never dreamed that this Fifth Miss, who was at odds with the Nan family, would one day return to the manor so silently!
If they had heard even the slightest hint of news, they wouldn't have dared to sneak into the main bedroom today.
"Your Highness, spare us, Your Highness, spare us!"
Granny Wang and the other two kowtowed forcefully. Their heads struck the ground with dull thuds, and blood flowed from their foreheads, instantly dyeing the ground red.
"Prepare another room for me!" she commanded.
Granny Wang and the other two could hardly believe their ears. So, she didn't intend to punish them?
Seeing that the three old women had not moved, Lu Wan glared and reprimanded, "What, didn't you hear Her Highness's command?"
The three old women quickly said, "No, no, we heard, your servant obeys!"
The three of them hastily replied, got up, and rushed to run out. However, their legs were still weak, and they stumbled over each other, falling to the ground. Finally, they scrambled out.
"Lu Wan, go tell the Nan manor's servants to prepare water!"
Lu Wan paused slightly, then accepted the order, "Yes!"
Granny Wang and the other two cleaned out the best guest room in Pinglan Pavilion, excluding the main bedroom. The moment they left the room, they felt a scorching heatwave. They dared not believe it and looked up at the main bedroom engulfed in flames in the distance. The fire raged, painting the sky a resplendent red.
The Nan manor's servants, as if prepared, raised water缸 as the flames were about to spread to other rooms.
With preparations made, this deliberate arson did not spread. It only reduced the main bedroom of Pinglan Pavilion to ruins. The Nan manor's servants cursed inwardly, thinking Nan Shiying was a dangerous madwoman. Only Granny Wang and the other two knew why Nan Shiying had set fire to the room.
Sensing the gazes on her, Nan Shiying turned her head and gave Granny Wang and the other two a slight smile. That smile was breathtakingly beautiful, but beneath that extreme beauty, Granny Wang and the other two felt unprecedented fear.
...
Nan Shiying's return to the manor immediately caused a stir throughout the city. Madam Wang, upon hearing that Nan Yu Jin had been injured by Nan Shiying's maid, was both shocked and furious. If Nan Yu Jin hadn't stopped her desperately, she would have gone to Pinglan Pavilion to settle the score with her.
Liu Shi was currently by Nan Yuan'er's side. Nothing like Nan Shiying or Madam Wang mattered now. Her beautiful eyes were red and swollen from crying. She lay half across Nan Yuan'er's bed, tears flowing ceaselessly. A small胖子 sat beside her. Seeing Liu Shi crying again, the little胖子 became somewhat annoyed: "Mother, can you stop crying? Father isn't here, who are you crying for?"
Liu Shi suddenly looked up, her gaze towards the little胖子 fierce and resentful: "Lin'er, Yuan'er is your elder sister. She is so severely injured, and you don't care at all? What did Mother always teach you? You are siblings born of the same mother. You must watch over each other, support each other, and..."
"Enough, enough, I'm tired of hearing you say it!"
The little胖子 was even more impatient. Siblings born of the same mother? Mother and Father always talked about Elder Sister, as if no one else in the entire manor, or even the entire Lin Yuan, was more outstanding than Elder Sister. It was just a slightly better destiny, wasn't it? Why did Mother and Father love her more?
"I'm leaving!"
The little胖子, ignoring Liu Shi's calls, got up and left.
Liu Shi could only signal to the servants. The little胖子's attendant, understanding the signal, quickly chased after him.
...
"What elder sister, what nonsense about elder sister!"
The little胖子 was extremely annoyed. He remembered when he was young, he always liked to stick to her, pester her, but she disdained him. Perhaps she thought he was too young to remember, but he actually remembered everything. He remembered her disliking his drool, her pointing at his nose and telling him to get lost, and every time he cried and asked his mother why Elder Sister wouldn't play with him, his mother would always say Elder Sister had more important things to do.
More important, so he was the least important, right?
"Young Master, little young master, wait for this servant!"
Hearing the calls from behind, the little胖子 hid. He only peeked out his little head after confirming the attendant had gone far away, looking around. A column of black smoke rose in the distance. The little胖子 froze.
Had the manor caught fire somewhere?
He had never seen a fire in his life!
The little胖子 followed the direction of the black smoke, winding and turning until he finally reached his destination.
Oh, it really had caught fire!
The servants of the manor, seeing the little胖子 walk in with his hands behind his back, felt their scalps tingle.
Why did the young master come here? Was this a voluntary delivery of a head?
"Oh, is there a fire?"
A slightly childish voice came from behind. Nan Shiying turned her head, her gaze pausing slightly.
Both the former Nan Shiying and the current Nan Shiying were seeing this youngest son of Liu Shi and Nan Zhao Yin for the first time.
Liu Shi had protected him very well, even preventing him from stepping into the courtyard where Nan Shiying used to live, and not letting him attend any banquets. Until now, people outside knew that the Nan manor had a young master, but very few had seen him.
However, why hadn't Liu Shi kept a good eye on him today?
What a pity!