“My Lord Marquis’s Heir, you really are duplicitous. You spoke of her as utterly worthless just a moment ago, and now you’re feeling heartbroken?”
Qingyi teased Wen Qizheng, then added, “That Lord Zhao looked at me as if he was determined to have me. If you weren’t here, he would have devoured me whole.”
Wen Qizheng turned around and wrapped his arm around Qingyi. “Who’s feeling heartbroken? Let’s go. With this Marquis’s Heir around, let’s see who dares touch you.”
The two of them entered the grand hall together.
Jiang Ning could no longer remember how many punches and kicks had landed on her body. She clamped her legs tightly together, curled up into a ball, and fought bitterly against those trying to pry her apart, not daring to relax for even a second.
To be honest, she had considered death.
The original owner had the courage to take her own life rather than accept a tragic fate; what was there for her to fear?
This world was ultimately a foreign land, and she was merely a passerby. Perhaps, upon dying, she might even return to her original world instead.
“Ah!”
A man’s miserable scream echoed, followed by more and more shrieks. The oppressive force weighing down on Jiang Ning instantly vanished.
What was going on?
Timidly, Jiang Ning raised her head to look and saw a tall figure standing guard in front of her, defeating all the staff-wielding servants with absolute strength.
Hearing the commotion, several people emerged from the grand hall to watch. The person leading them was none other than Wen Qizheng.
“Gu Jianshen—he’s back.”
Watching that figure, Wen Qizheng was utterly taken aback.
“Hey—look everyone, what happened to that woman’s face?”
“It looks like her face is disfigured.”
“No wait, look closer. Hidden beneath those pitted, twisted features, there’s faintly another face. This woman used a disguise!”
Wen Qizheng also followed the crowd’s gaze, looking closely. In that instant, his entire world collapsed.
Jiang Ning!
It was actually Jiang Ning!
He had actually stood by and watched as Jiang Ning was assaulted by the staff-wielding servants. If Gu Jianshen hadn’t returned, what horrifying fate might Jiang Ning have met?
It was over. If Wenya found out, she would definitely throw a major fit at him!
Having beaten all the servants to the ground, Gu Jianshen bent down to support Jiang Ning.
The disguise on Jiang Ning’s face was completely ruined, faintly revealing her original features. Her palms had been pierced by a sharp object, with dried blood crusting over the wounds. Her clothes were caked in dark red blood and dirt, mixed together into a filthy mess, and several places had been torn into tattered rags by someone.
Looking at her in such a wretched and miserable state, Gu Jianshen’s eyes were filled with overwhelming guilt.
“Slap!”
Jiang Ning swatted Gu Jianshen’s hand away. At this moment of agitation, she had completely lost control of her facial expressions, though there was no doubt she must have looked hideous. Should she be grateful to Gu Jianshen for coming back to save her? Yet it was Gu Jianshen who had brought her here in the first place, swearing a solemn oath to protect her.
And the result?
Whether it was gratitude or resentment, Jiang Ning no longer cared to sort it out; she only felt an overwhelming sense of emotional exhaustion.
Supporting herself with her arms, she slowly sat up. In a fit of sheer exasperation, she grabbed Gu Jianshen’s outer robe and smeared it across her face. The meticulously crafted “plain” makeup was completely smeared, hanging on her face like a vengeful ghost from the underworld.
She wanted to wipe it all off, and she wanted to use Gu Jianshen’s clothes to do it, making his garments just as filthy as she was. Only then would she feel a shred of satisfaction.
Gu Jianshen did not stop Jiang Ning’s transgression; after all, he was the one who had abandoned her behind, and he was deeply in the wrong toward her.
Under the moonlight, Gu Jianshen stood quietly. At his feet sat Jiang Ning, leaning against his leg as she frantically wiped her face, gradually breaking into a suppressed, low, sobbing sound.
As those soft cries echoed, the expressionless face of Gu Jianshen slowly knitted into a deep frown.
In an instant, countless dark figures materialized around Gu Jianshen.
It was the shadow guards led by Yingyue.
“Take Concubine Jiang back.”
With Gu Jianshen issuing the command, a female shadow guard stepped forward to assist Jiang Ning.
Offering no further resistance, Jiang Ning allowed the other woman to lead her away.
Watching this scene, everyone tacitly retreated back into the grand hall, slamming the windows and doors shut tight for fear that someone might barge in.
Wen Qizheng and Qingyi remained outside the doors, declining to re-enter the hall to hide from the impending storm.
Gu Jianshen walked step by step toward the entrance of the grand hall, his expression fluctuating unpredictably, heavy with murderous intent.
Terrified, Qingyi cowered behind Wen Qizheng.
Swallowing hard, Wen Qizheng forced a calm facade and said, “I genuinely didn’t know that was Jiang Ning. You didn’t tell me either.”
Giving him a cold, indifferent glance, Gu Jianshen brushed past Wen Qizheng and headed toward the main gate.
Letting out a sigh of relief, Wen Qizheng grabbed Qingyi’s hand and bolted. “Let’s scram! Quick, let’s scram!”
Bang—
With a single kick, Gu Jianshen smashed the door open and stepped inside.
In an instant, cries of terror and pleas for mercy echoed endlessly.
“Concubine Jiang, that Lord Zhao, the Minister of Rites, has fallen from power.”
“Our Master is truly decisive and swift. Last night he raised a ruckus at the Minister’s mansion, and bright and early this morning he delivered evidence of Lord Zhao’s corruption and bribery straight to the Emperor’s desk. By noon, the Minister’s mansion was sealed off, its assets confiscated, and its occupants thrown straight into prison. All those lackeys who clung to that corrupt official have also lost their official caps. It’s truly deeply satisfying!”
“Also, our Master has received a promotion! He was promoted from Junior Minister of the Dali Temple to Minister of the Dali Temple, completely seizing executive control and authority over the Dali Temple. Concubine Jiang, guess what happened to the former Minister of the Dali Temple?”
Chuntao enthusiastically chattered away, recounting the events unfolding outside to Jiang Ning. Lying in bed, however, Jiang Ning showed little to no interest, asking perfunctorily, “What happened to him?”
Chuntao smiled. “Sent straight to prison.”
Naturally. If Gu Jianshen wanted a promotion, he inevitably had to strike down the corrupt elements first, clearing out the seat so he could step up into it.
At the entrance, the plaque of the Gu residence had been replaced with a brand-new one bearing the characters “Gu Residence” written in Gu Jianshen’s own personal handwriting.
Yet Jiang Ning cared not a whit whether Gu Jianshen had been promoted.
“Chuntao, go to the East Courtyard again and find out whether that Jiang Yuan霜 has finally woken up or not.”
Three whole days had passed since that night. Jiang Ning had returned to her Qingxiang Residence, while the East Courtyard had welcomed its very first female resident—Jiang Yuan霜.
The East Courtyard, an area Jiang Ning could barely even hope to approach the entrance of, was now where Jiang Yuan霜 lived directly.
Right now, the entire estate was buzzing with rumors that the Master had assumed a new official post with a new beauty in his arms, treating Jiang Yuan霜 as the second mistress of the household.
Jiang Ning cared nothing for these empty titles either, but she had sent people to the East Courtyard day after day, hoping to meet with Jiang Yuan. She had countless questions she wanted to ask her, yet the reply returned every single time was that she remained unconscious.
Jiang Yuan霜 had indeed been drugged, leaving her vulnerable to Lord Zhao’s manipulation.
The reason Gu Jianshen had dumped Jiang Ning and rushed off with Jiang Yuan was precisely to hurry back and find Jiang Cheng. He feared Jiang Cheng might leave overnight, making him hard to find and delaying treatment for Jiang Yuans condition.
Thanks to Jiang Cheng’s medical treatment, Jiang Yuan had woken up the very next day.
Yes, Jiang Yuan had already been awake for several days.
Yet they threw back the excuse that she “remained unconscious” to fob her off; Jiang Yuan refused to see her.
Why?
Clearly, Jiang Ning had already made her identity explicitly clear; they were blood-related cousins—so why refuse to see her?
A guilty conscience!
Hesitating slightly, Chuntao said, “Concubine Jiang, that young lady is currently enjoying high favor. If you keep seeking her out, in the eyes of others, it will only look as though Concubine Jiang is consumed by jealousy and trying to cause trouble for her. Most likely, they will never allow you to see her.”
Awakening as if from a dream, Jiang Ning realized that aside from Jiang Yuan’s refusal to meet her, Gu Jianshen was likely playing the role of the gatekeeper in all of this as well.