"Miss, this silver taels..."
The maid blinked slightly as the five thousand taels of silver were brought back, still untouched.
"Store it in the private vault."
Nan Yuan'er offered no further explanation, merely instructing the maid to lock the silver away. The maid acknowledged her with a "yes" and led the servants to carry the money chests back.
Nan Yuan'er dismissed the maids attending her, closed the door, and sat down in front of the mirror.
She lowered her head, caressing her right wrist. A long, ghastly scar marred her wrist. Whether it was tendons snapped or bones shattered, her hand possessed no strength. Even eating required her clumsy left hand. In the beginning, she often spilled liquids on herself, ruining countless dresses. Only recently had she become somewhat proficient, barely able to feed herself.
If she spoke of hatred, she wished she could flay and dismember everyone responsible for her crippled state, especially Hui'an. Unfortunately, after Nan Yujin's marriage, he was to travel to Yuzhou Commandery, leaving her with insufficient time to settle accounts with Hui'an.
She lifted her head and looked at herself in the mirror.
Suddenly, she smiled.
Her bright and radiant eyes were like shimmering spring water, yet her gaze upon the bronze mirror was as dark as a black hole capable of devouring everything.
Nan Yuan'er, you are truly a good-for-nothing!
...
After Nan Yujin had the silver transported back to the inner vault, he returned to his courtyard, his brow furrowed as if lost in thought.
Nan Yuan'er was truly peculiar. How was it possible that in the blink of an eye, she became unrecognizable? It was as if all her actions in the study were a deliberate performance for her father. Yet, she didn't strive for a good performance, but rather acted as if… as if she were hiding or showing weakness.
Nan Yujin couldn't fathom it, unable to comprehend the benefit of Nan Yuan'er acting this way, or what her intentions and motivations were.
He summoned someone and ordered them to inquire about the outside developments. He had explained everything he could and should to Nan Yuan'er. Now, they needed to guard against public opinion being manipulated.
As for his mother's death.
He had conducted secret investigations. The civilians who died at the Lantern Festival indeed met the same fate as his mother, all poisoned by You Lian.
Was his mother's death somehow connected to their deaths?
But his mother was an official's wife, while those people were mere commoners. Furthermore, he found no connection between these individuals. What was the motive of the poisoner? And why kill these people who showed no suspicion and could not be utilized in any way?
Nan Yujin pressed his temples.
And what role did his father play in all of this?
The matter was like a tangled mess, and Nan Yujin couldn't sort out the threads. He felt a sense of dejection.
...
"Oh?"
Listening to Jia Huan's account, Nan Shiying raised an eyebrow.
Nan Yujin's state was not important. What was important was that Nan Yuan'er was willing to show herself? Since her crippling, she hadn't left the manor.
And according to Jia Huan's description, Nan Yuan'er seemed to be in good spirits? She had become hysterical due to her disability not long ago. Now, had she finally come to terms with it?
Nan Yuan'er was not a magnanimous person. Someone like her, without some "lucky encounter," could never struggle out of the mire on her own.
What could it be?
Or rather, who could it be?
"Niang Niang, is there anything amiss?" Jia Huan, seeing that his Niang Niang had only said "oh" and then fallen silent, felt a pang of unease. Had there been any oversights?
Nan Shiying waved her hand, "No, you did very well."