"My Lord, we have arrived at the Grand Tutor's manor," Xiao Liu reported from outside the carriage.
Lin Yanxi tentatively asked, "I, I was an imbecile before. I only just regained my senses today. The imperial physicians in the palace were all helpless. How could I possibly cure it?"
Shen Muzhou put the Soul Ring back into his embrace and said with a smirk, "I believe you will find a way. When I get what I want, this ring will be returned to its rightful owner."
Lin Yanxi knew he was determined not to return it. "Until then, keep this ring safe. If it gets lost, I will not spare you."
Not spare him? The entire court, even her father, wouldn't dare to be so audacious in front of him.
He glanced inside the manor gates, his gaze complex for a moment, then said, "I see you're afraid of snakes. Today, I'll teach you a move: to catch a snake, you must strike at its seven-inch vital point. Wait for the opportunity, and kill it with one blow. Snakes are the most cunning; they will only give you one chance to catch them. Never alert the snake prematurely."
She narrowed her eyes, not understanding what he was rambling about.
Shen Muzhou watched her light footsteps as she walked away, a smile reappearing on his lips.
She really was like a little rabbit.
After she left, Xiao Liu asked, "Someone from the Imperial Observatory has come to ask if the Heavenly Calamity Star has been found?"
The reincarnation of the Heavenly Calamity Star meant that Nan Min was about to face a catastrophe. All of it would be counted against her, and she would be sacrificed on the celestial altar for the prosperity and peace of Nan Min.
At that time, she would surely die.
Shen Muzhou's mother had been calculated to be a harbinger of misfortune and was executed on the celestial altar.
He had been too young then to save his mother, and it remained a lifelong regret and shadow.
Shen Muzhou remained silent for a long time before replying, "Tell the Imperial Observatory that no one was found in the western suburban woods. I encountered the Grand Tutor's second young lady outside the city."
"Yes." Xiao Liu thought for a moment and then asked, "What about the Gao family from a few days ago? How should we handle them?"
"Misfortune should not extend to the innocent. Spare his life."
---
Lin Yanxi was fretting about how to break the curse. Her maternal grandfather had taken her and fled Nan Min. Along the way, she had read many ancient books on talismans.
At that time, she had been half-addled and half-foolish. Apart from her grandfather, there was only a man in a silver mask who accompanied her every day. She had read through them superficially to pass the time.
How could she not remember anything now? If she had known she would be reborn, she would have taken it more seriously.
She shook her head helplessly. As soon as she stepped into the manor gates, she heard Xu Xiaoniang wailing and making a scene in the main hall.
Li Zi, seeing Lin Yanxi return, ran over overjoyed. "Second Young Lady, Second Young Lady, you're finally back! Are you injured anywhere?"
Lin Yanxi looked at Li Zi, who was covered in injuries, her forehead scabbed, and her lips bruised. She tenderly touched Li Zi's cheek, tears welling up in her eyes.
In her previous life, Tang Chao and Li Zi had accompanied her when she married into the Crown Prince's manor. Li Zi had been beaten many times protecting her. In the end, Li Zi's death had given Lin Yanxi the chance to be rescued from the manor by her grandfather.
Lin Yanxi said with a choked voice, "You're injured. They took advantage of my absence to bully you."
In fact, it wasn't just when she was absent; even when she was present, these people had never stopped dealing with the people in her chambers, openly or covertly.
Li Zi was so shocked she couldn't speak. After a long while, she recovered and said, "Young Lady, your mind has truly recovered. What the Eldest Young Lady said earlier was true. Father and Mother will be very pleased when they return."
Xu Xiaoniang's voice grew even louder. "Ah! I don't want to live anymore! The eldest branch's foolish girl is bullying our Lin Yuan!"
Tang Chao, waiting in the main hall, couldn't stand it and muttered, "For so many years, Aunt Xu has been managing the household. Haven't my Second Young Lady suffered enough bullying?"
Enraged, Xu Xiaoniang strode over and slapped her across the face, saying furiously, "You wretch! Who do you think you are to comment on your betters?"
Tang Chao dared not speak again, covering her face and glaring at her hatefully.
Xu Xiaoniang grabbed Tang Chao's earlobe and twisted it fiercely, saying, "I'll show you for talking back! If you glare at me again, I'll gouge your eyes out."
Lin Yanxi, with Li Zi, walked into the main hall and said, "Aunt Xu is making trouble, and she's making it at our main branch's doorstep! This is her way of trying to bully everyone in my chambers while I'm away."
"Second Young Lady, Young Lady, you've recovered, you've truly recovered!" Tang Chao rubbed her ear, overjoyed.
Xu Xiaoniang stood frozen. She had already heard from Lin Yuan that the fool had recovered, and it seemed to be true.
She collapsed to the ground, grabbed the white silk in her hand, and wailed, "Ah! I have been in this manor for decades, serving the master without making any mistakes. You, having just regained your senses, have publicly humiliated my Yuan. Such a tender and delicate girl, you've injured her ear like this. There is no room for my daughter and me to live in this Lin manor!"
Lin Yanxi remained silent, her eyes cold, with a hint of anger.
Xu Xiaoniang became more agitated as she spoke, standing up and preparing to hang the white silk from the beam. "Today, I will die in this main hall. When the master returns, let's see how you will account for this!"
"No, Aunt Xu, don't be rash!"
"Aunt Xu, the master will give you an explanation when he returns. Don't do anything reckless!"
Several maids tightly held Aunt Xu's waist, desperately blocking the white silk in her hand.
Lin Yanxi raised an eyebrow leisurely and clicked her tongue. "Everyone, step aside."
The maids exchanged glances and quickly knelt on the ground. One of them said, "Second Young Lady, if you apologize properly to Aunt Xu, this matter will be over. Don't cause a death; it will be difficult to resolve."
Aunt Xu let out a cold laugh, smoothed her dress, and raised her chin, as if ready to wait for Lin Yanxi to soften her stance and beg her.
Indeed, this tactic of hers had always worked in the Lin family.
Although Lin Yanxi's mother was the legitimate wife, after Lin Yanxi's maternal uncle died and her maternal grandfather disappeared, her mother's heart became heavy, and she gradually stopped managing the affairs of the manor.
Xu Xiaoniang staged a dramatic performance of a tragic victim and then a staged attempted hanging. She easily obtained the Grand Tutor's manor's seal, managed the household accounts, and even took possession of Lin Yanxi's mother's dowry.
Lin Yanxi reached out and snatched the white silk from Aunt Xu's hand, held it up to the setting sun, and then glanced at Aunt Xu. "This silk is as thin as a cicada's wing. It probably can't withstand Aunt Xu's robust physique."
Xu Xiaoniang's face changed, and she said angrily, "What do you mean by that?"
She had lived a life of ease and comfort in the manor for many years. In her middle age, her figure had become corpulent, which was her sore spot and something she was most sensitive about.
Lin Yanxi forcefully tore the silk, splitting the thin fabric in half. She then said to the maids behind her, "Go and fetch the best white silk from my room. That white silk is strong and unbroken, most suitable for hanging oneself."
"Since Aunt Xu likes hanging herself so much, I will give it to you. After all, your mother and daughter are always coveting things in my room."
Tang Chao cleverly stepped forward and replied, "Yes."
Then Tang Chao ran back with quick steps, a smirk on her face, towards the room.
Her young lady was finally showing her mettle. They had been bullied for so many years, and this was the first time someone was standing up for them.
Xu Xiaoniang was so angry she could barely breathe. She pointed her finger at Lin Yanxi and said, "You... this is how you treat me! No matter what, I am an elder in this house. You... you so lightly regard me!"
Lin Yanxi frowned, looking wronged, and retorted, "Hey? Aunt, you misunderstand. If you want to hang yourself, I'll find you the best white silk. If you want to commit suicide, I'll hand you a knife. If you want to drown yourself, I'll break the ice for you. Is this still lightly regarding you?"
Xu Xiaoniang was so angered by Lin Yanxi that she gasped for breath. She couldn't catch her breath and her body softened as she fell backward.
The maid who had spoken earlier quickly caught her and said, "Second Young Lady, Aunt Xu has always been in poor health. Why must you be so aggressive?"
Lin Yanxi swiftly grabbed the maid and slapped her across the face with both hands.
"Ah—" the maid was thrown to the ground by the force of the slap.
"Where did this little maid come from, daring to order the legitimate daughter of the Grand Tutor's manor to apologize and scold her master for being aggressive? I'm telling you, it would be difficult to resolve if a life were lost, but there are many ways for me to resolve matters involving a little maid like you. As for you, you have committed the great crime of disrespect. Think about how you will resolve it."
The maid trembled on the ground, her body shaking, and clutched Xu Xiaoniang's skirt, saying, "Aunt Xu, save me."
Aunt Xu shielded her and said, "This is Xiao Cui, the head maid in my chambers. Let's see who dares to touch her!"
Lin Yanxi nodded and repeated, "Xiao Cui? Disrespecting a superior cannot be tolerated. Tsk tsk, it cannot be tolerated. Li Zi, go find Xiao Cui's deed of indenture. If she is a slave born into the family, considering her ancestors, she can be expelled from the manor. If she is a purchased slave, send her to do hard labor."
Xiao Cui shook her head repeatedly. She was indeed a purchased slave and had been used to being arrogant in the manor under Aunt Xu's influence. Going to do hard labor would be worse than death; it was not a life for a human.
Li Zi obediently nodded and went to find the deed of indenture. This Xiao Cui had often used Aunt Xu's influence to suppress them, and she deserved a lesson.
Tang Chao's hands held a wooden tray, on which hung a white silk ribbon, thick and strong.
Lin Yanxi's slender fingers lightly brushed the silk, and she glanced at Tang Chao nonchalantly. A cold smile played on her lips. Despite the mocking expression, the smile remained as lovely as a flower.
"Here you are, Aunt Xu."
Xu Xiaoniang stood stiffly, increasingly finding Lin Yanxi's smile eerie. She didn't know how to respond.
"Aunt Xu, quickly take the white silk," Lin Yanxi urged again.
Xu Xiaoniang took a step back, her resentment building. She flipped the wooden tray, and the white silk ribbon fluttered in the air for a moment before falling straight to the ground.
"What is Aunt Xu doing? You say I lightly regard you, which truly makes me uneasy. I must comply with you in all matters. If you wish to die, I naturally cannot stop you. I have given you the best silk with both hands, for fear you might not achieve your desire. Is this still lightly regarding you?"
Lin Yanxi's figure was petite, and her features were delicate and childlike, yet she exuded a commanding aura that exerted an invisible pressure.
Xu Xiaoniang swallowed, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead. As she found herself in a predicament, unable to advance or retreat, a voice with full of vigor rang out.
"What is going on here?" Lin Ze walked in from outside, frowning as he looked at the white silk scattered on the ground and the kneeling servants.
It was Lin Yanxi's father, and behind him was her mother, Jiang Wan.
Xu Xiaoniang threw herself into Lin Ze's arms, crying, "Master, you're finally back. This second daughter of yours is bullying me to death! She... she's forcing me to hang myself!"
Lin Ze, holding Xu Xiaoniang, his eyes were fixed on Lin Yanxi. There was no blame, but surprise and joy.
Lin Yanxi's nose felt sore, and tears welled up in her eyes. Seeing her father and mother again, after what felt like an eternity, a myriad of emotions surged into her heart. In her previous life, her mother had died of illness, and her father had been executed for treason.
Her trembling long eyelashes looked as if they had been dipped in water. She trembled and called out, "Father, Mother."
Lin Ze looked at her with surprise. He pushed Xu Xiaoniang away and excitedly held Lin Yanxi's shoulders, saying, "Zhaozhao, you, you've truly recovered."
He had always doted on this second daughter the most. She had been clever and sharp since childhood, but unfortunately, after returning from the estate at the age of eight, she had suddenly become foolish.
Jiang Wan looked at Lin Yanxi, a hint of strangeness on her face. After a few seconds of stunned silence, she asked, "Zhaozhao, how did you recover?"
She took Lin Yanxi's hand and repeatedly searched her body for any signs of a talisman or spell awakening.