Gu Jianshen didn’t think much of it. As another person’s informant, Jiang Ning was never associated with “loyalty” to begin with, and who she held in her heart was her own business.
However, was it truly such a coincidence?
She had experienced that kind of dream last night, too.
Gu Jianshen asked, “Whose name did she call out in her dream?”
The female shadow guard pondered for a moment and replied, “Menglang.”
Menglang?
Gu Jianshen remembered that the fairy had called him “bastard,” “dream man,” “eight-times-a-night guy,” and “tumbler doll”—a whole host of nicknames, but never the name “Menglang.”
It seemed he had misunderstood. How could Jiang Ning possibly be the fairy from his dreams? She didn’t have a cinnabar mole on her shoulder.
Gu Jianshen felt a touch of regret. If he hadn’t been unable to make a sound in the dream, he would have loved to hear the fairy call out his real name.
Just imagining the fairy calling his name made Gu Jianshen’s throat tighten, and he unconsciously swallowed. The scene from last night’s dream surfaced in his mind once more.
Fengyu Court.
After finishing breakfast, Jiang Ning paid a visit to Fengyu Court, only to be informed that Wen Ya was not there.
She knew that already; she simply wanted to see the place where Wen Ya used to live.
In the small courtyard before Fengyu Court stood tall wutong trees. The swing set beneath the trees had been built by Jiang Ning’s own hands. Back when Wen Ya was despondent and reluctant to go outside, Jiang Ning had coaxed her out to swing and soak in the sun, telling jokes to make her happy.
Wen Ya had said she regarded Jiang Ning as a blood sister, bound by deep affection despite having no shared lineage.
Yet, Jiang Ning wanted to ask: with what kind of heart had her good sister spiked the water she drank?
Wounds on the body could heal, but the pain in the heart lingered for a long time.
On her way back to Qingxiang Residence, she ran into Handong.
Handong seemed to have been waiting there deliberately. The moment she saw Jiang Ning, she spoke in a sinister tone, “Aunt Jiang, seeing you these days is truly harder than scaling the heavens.”
Before Jiang Ning could understand what she meant, Chuntao stepped in front of her like a formidable enemy, shielding Jiang Ning and barking, “Step back!”
Handong stared at Chuntao with fierce malice. Over the past few days, no matter how she tried to sneak into Qingxiang Residence, she had been discovered and blocked by this servant girl. Back when Yan’er served by Jiang Ning’s side, there had never been such resistance; everything had been smooth sailing without ever being noticed.
Handong snorted coldly and said to Chuntao, “It’s not up to you to take charge now.”
With that, Handong pulled out a piece of broken jade and commanded Jiang Ning in an authoritative voice, “Come over here!”
It was Little Stone’s broken jade.
Threatening her yet again.
Jiang Ning clenched her fists and walked toward Handong.
Chuntao anxiously stopped Jiang Ning, shaking her head at her. “Aunt Jiang, this person has malicious intentions. You must not meet with her again. The matter Aunt Jiang worries about will naturally be taken care of by someone.”
Jiang Ning froze slightly. “Chuntao, do you know something?”
Chuntao bit her lower lip, realizing she had let something slip. Fearing to speak openly yet unable to hide it entirely, she merely said, “Aunt Jiang will find out in time.”
Handong urged impatiently, “Jiang Ning! Come over right now! Don’t forget your family!”
Jiang Ning thought for a moment, then gently patted Chuntao’s hand. “It’s fine. I’ll go see what tricks she wants to play.”
Chuntao had no choice but to yield the path.
Jiang Ning walked up to Handong step by step and reached out for the broken jade. “What you asked me to do last time has been done. Give me Little Stone’s belongings.”
Currently, two rumors were circulating through the residence: first, that after Master and the Madam consummated their marriage, Master had been too rough and hurt the Madam, causing her to leave that very night in a fit of rage; second, that Master had vented his anger on Aunt Jiang by whipping her at the martial arts grounds.
The notion that Gu Jianshen lacked any tender affection for women had spread far and wide.
Many young servant girls now shrank in fear whenever they saw Gu Jianshen. If Master would even whip Aunt Jiang, wouldn’t they be beaten to death if they made a mistake?
Regardless of the details, the private conclusion drawn by everyone was that Master and the Madam had consummated their marriage.
Dangling the broken jade in her hand, Handong sneered coldly. “You did quite a fine job with this matter. I can give it back to you, but you’ll have to come and fetch it yourself.”
Jiang Ning stepped closer to Handong and raised her hand to take the broken jade.
Right at that moment, Handong suddenly launched an attack without warning.
In a flash of lightning, she thrust one hand out and tightly grabbed the hand Jiang Ning was extending. At the same time, Handong’s other hand pounced toward Jiang Ning’s mouth with astonishing speed, as if trying to force something inside.
This chain of movements was swift as the wind, leaving Jiang Ning with no time or opportunity to react.
Witnessing this scene, Chuntao paled in terror. She rushed forward in desperate anxiety, wanting to stop Handong’s evil deed.
However, despite sprinting with all her might, Chuntao was ultimately hindered by the distance and arrived a step too late.
By the time she reached them, Handong had already successfully stuffed the object into Jiang Ning’s mouth.
“Hahaha—” Having succeeded, Handong burst into wild, arrogant laughter that echoed through the air, full of triumph and insolence.
“Hahaha—cough—”
However, the laughter did not last long.
An unknown object flew into her open mouth like a shooting star. When she realized what had just flown into her throat, she turned utterly terrified.
She tried frantically to cough it out, but no matter how hard she coughed or clawed at her throat with her fingers, it was all in vain.
Handong’s body began to tremble involuntarily, her heart filled with horror and despair, which ultimately turned into rage as she glared dead at Jiang Ning before her.
Jiang Ning spat out several mouthfuls of saliva, stopping only when her mouth no longer tasted bitter. Wiping the corners of her lips, she fixed a dark, grim gaze on Handong and said, “How could I keep such a good thing all to myself? You had better sample it yourself.”
“Day in and day out, it’s nothing but poisoning after poisoning. Can’t you come up with some fresh tricks?”
Handong pulled out a dagger hidden against her thigh and lunged at Jiang Ning. “Drop dead!”
The moment Handong lifted her skirt, Jiang Ning realized something was wrong and turned to run. Seeing Handong chasing her with a dagger, she ran even faster.
“Halt!”
As if she would halt—Jiang Ning ran as fast as her legs could carry her.
The female shadow guard responsible for monitoring Jiang Ning was not far away. She watched cold-eyed as Jiang Ning was pursued, completely unmoved.
Jiang Ning’s maidservant, Chuntao, charged toward Handong instead. “With me here, I will never let you touch a single hair on Aunt Jiang’s head!”
Jiang Ning was terrified by Chuntao’s actions and hurriedly dashed back. “She has a weapon! People usually run away from that, yet you’re rushing forward! Have you lost your mind being a maidservant?!”
Jiang Ning hoisted Chuntao onto her shoulder and continued dodging Handong.
Chuntao was completely dazed. “Aunt Jiang, you’re so strong… Wait, no, put me down quickly! I need to protect you, Aunt Jiang!”
Jiang Ning didn’t say a word, simply sprinting while carrying Chuntao on her shoulder.
“Aunt Jiang!”
The commotion here had already alerted the nearby patrolling guards, who came running in their direction.
Only then did the female shadow guard reveal herself, drawing her sword to protect Jiang Ning and the maid.
With her safety finally guaranteed, Jiang Ning dared to stop and catch her breath.
When she looked back at Handong, she saw her collapsed on the ground a short distance away, completely motionless.
Jiang Ning’s face turned pale.
The guards hadn’t even surrounded her yet. Handong couldn’t have collapsed for no reason, unless…
It was that pill from earlier!