Meanwhile, Jiang Shijin was carried back to his residence. On the way, the pain overwhelmed him, and he passed out. When he opened his eyes again, he saw crimson bed curtains and a pearwood bed, with a figure sitting at the bedside.
“Jiang Er, you’re finally awake.”
It was Liu San’s voice. Liu San usually addressed him as a sworn brother, and the two often frequented gambling dens and brothels together.
“Speaking of which, I heard some news today. I thought it might be useful to you, so I rushed over to your place, only to find you in this state. I heard it was that Gu Ning who did this to you?” Liu San sighed and shook his head. “That woman is nothing but bad luck!”
“Hmph, hmph, hmph.”
Exactly, exactly.
A few days ago, he had visited Ningchun Hall and ended up contracting scabies. Today, he encountered her at his own pharmacy, only to be poisoned and reduced to this state.
“You think so too, right?” Liu San fanned himself leisurely and continued, “You must have heard about the incident at Zhenxiu Pavilion the other day. I was drinking peacefully in a private room when, for some reason, I ran into them and ended up jumping from the second floor. My leg was broken then.”
He glanced around and lowered his voice. “I think Gu Ning is downright sinister! Do you think she might possess some kind of sorcery?”
Although Jiang Shijin couldn’t utter a complete sentence, he shook his head vigorously twice to show his disagreement.
What a joke! There were no demons, monsters, gods, or ghosts in this world.
Otherwise, how could he have lived unscathed all these years while committing wicked deeds, bullying men, and oppressing women?
“Jiang Er, you don’t believe in such things? Then how do you explain the strange incidents that have happened to us?”
Wasn’t it obvious?
It must be that wretched woman Gu Ning playing tricks!
Gu Ning… Wait, but what about his scabies last time…
Thinking of her cold, indifferent face and the gentle yet detached smile she wore, Jiang Shijin clenched his teeth tightly.
He would definitely settle these two scores with her.
His contorted expression did not escape Liu San’s notice. Liu San lowered his gaze and chuckled softly, slowly fanning himself.
It seemed this fool Jiang Shijin had also figured it out.
His efforts to drop hints had not been in vain.
Nor had the considerable sum of money he spent to extract information from Wu Ju’s mouth.
“Even if you don’t believe it, I’m somewhat convinced,” Liu San said unhurriedly. “I once read in a book of curiosities about a type of demon that thrives on evil deeds and steals others’ fortunes. Jiang Er, look at Gu Ning—she harmed both of us without any grudge or enmity, yet she managed to latch onto the Shen family. Sometimes I wonder if Gu Ning is such a demon in disguise. I suspect that from now on, she’ll rise step by step with the Shen family’s support, perhaps even opening her clinic in the capital. It’s just a pity for the two of us…”
Rising step by step with the Shen family’s support, going to the capital?
How could a lowly female physician like Gu Ning be worthy of that?
Under the covers, Jiang Shijin clenched his fists as if he could no longer feel the pain.
He would never let her succeed.
Liu San chuckled again. “But speaking of the Shen family, we can’t ignore the young General Shen. To suffer from hysteria at such a young age is truly pitiable. And to have that demon-like Gu Ning as his physician makes it even more tragic. What if Gu Ning harbors malicious intent again and deliberately prescribes the wrong medicine…” He snapped his fan shut. “Forget it, pretend I didn’t say that. Cursing a patient like that is truly immoral.”
Liu San left, and the dim room fell back into silence. Yet his words echoed over and over in Jiang Shijin’s ears.
What if Gu Ning messed up Shen Jinyan’s treatment?
Madam Shen was so formidable—if things went wrong, Jiang Shijin would be lucky to escape with just a layer of skin stripped off.
Besides, his brother-in-law had been stationed in Lingcheng long enough; it was time for a promotion. A useful, legitimate brother-in-law would be enough for his father to hand the Jiang family over to him.
Jiang Shijin slowly smiled.
Just beyond the door, Liu San was carried by servants onto a sedan chair, swaying as he departed. Just before leaving the estate, he glanced back. Given Jiang Shijin’s vindictive nature, he would surely make a move against Shen Jinyan.
Once Jiang Shijin acted, Liu San could slip that substance into Shen Jinyan’s medicine. By then, controlling Shen Jinyan would mean controlling Gu Ning. And with Gu Ning under his thumb, Chi Yan would become nothing more than a puppet on the prince’s strings…
When that time came, the prince’s grand plan would succeed, and Liu San would obtain the life-saving elixir.
In high spirits, Liu San fanned himself leisurely as he left the Jiang residence.
…
“You want to fake your death to leave the Jiang residence?”
Jiang Yingyue nodded earnestly. “I’ve thought it over. As long as I remain the Jiang family’s Fifth Miss, they will always have the right to decide my fate.”
Rather than being treated as a bargaining chip, she would take matters into her own hands.
“So,” Jiang Yingyue grasped Gu Ning’s hand, “Doctor Gu, I hope you can help me fake a death from illness.”
She knew Gu Ning had many unusual medicines at her disposal.
“This manor belongs to the Jiang family, and there are many of their eyes and ears here,” Jiang Yingyue shook her head. “On my own, I could never escape.”
Outside the window, low murmurs drifted in, somewhat indistinct. Through the cracks in the window, a few prying gazes could faintly be sensed. Gu Ning closed the window tightly.
“Have you thought about where you’ll go after faking your death?”
“I want to go to the capital and set out in a month.”
Under the emperor’s feet, security was strict, and merchants came and went in great numbers. The medicinal herbs she prepared would sell more easily there. Most importantly, the capital was far away, making it unlikely she would encounter anyone from the Jiang family.
“What about Concubine Zhao?”
Zhao Qinghe’s hesitant, timid voice mingled with the chatter of the crowd, like a tangled thread that could not be cut or unraveled.
“I…” Jiang Yingyue shook her head. “I haven’t decided yet.”
The handkerchief in her hand was embroidered by her mother—a delicate pattern of moonlight reflected on water, crafted with great care. Yet it was also her mother who pushed her to meet with Master Wang and Liu San.
Sometimes she even wished her mother would ignore her like Madam Jiang did, or treat her with the same hostility and abuse as Jiang Shijin. Then she wouldn’t have been torn all these years.
“If I leave Mother here, I’m afraid the Jiang family and the people on the manor will bully her.”
Jiang Yingyue opened the window a narrow crack. Through the gap, she saw Zhao Qinghe bowing her head, apologizing to Zhou Sanniang. Silver strands already streaked her once jet-black hair, and her thin frame carried a sense of weariness.
“She has suffered enough hardship in this lifetime.”
“But if you take her with you,” Gu Ning continued, gazing out the window with her, “you’re not sure whether she might try to persuade you to return or even tip off the Jiang family.”
Jiang Yingyue nodded, standing by the window, watching Zhao Qinghe speak, watching her lower her head. She opened her mouth, but after a long while, only sighed.
“If you really can’t decide,” Gu Ning thought for a moment, “I actually have an idea.”