Jiang Yu secretly slipped into the embroidery room, retrieved the wedding dress from beneath the daybed, brushed off the dust, and examined it carefully under the moonlight.
The wedding dress had faded, with large bloodstains prominently spreading across the torn hem and cuffs.
It was exactly the same as in Jiang Yu’s nightmare!
With the wedding dress that Pei Xiao had torn right before her eyes, how could that nightmare be false?
A splitting pain shot through Jiang Yu’s head, her vision turning crimson…
Suddenly, the image of Pei Xiao storming into the bridal chamber with his men flashed through her mind.
They swung their swords and beheaded the groom.
Jiang Yu desperately tried to flee, but Pei Xiao’s men stepped on her skirt, eyeing her brazenly. “Master, the Pei family’s new bride is quite feisty. Why not first…”
Pei Xiao signaled for them to step back, then bent down and lifted Jiang Yu’s chin, smiling as beautifully as a painting. “Jiang Yu? This pair of almond-shaped eyes is truly captivating. It feels like we’ve met before.”
His robes were white as snow, his voice gentle as the spring breeze.
The next moment, the cold tip of a blade pressed against Jiang Yu’s neck.
He covered her eyes as the dagger slowly pierced her flesh. “Be good, don’t cry. It’ll be over soon…”
“Madam!”
A man’s voice suddenly called from outside the embroidery room.
Startled, Jiang Yu crouched on the floor, her breathing growing increasingly rapid and uncontrollable.
Footsteps drew nearer.
Jiang Yu took a deep breath.
She must not panic!
Must not panic!
Trembling, she stuffed the wedding dress into her cloak and stumbled out unsteadily, her legs feeling like cotton.
Just as she stepped outside, she saw the Princess Manor’s steward carrying a lantern, searching for someone everywhere.
Jiang Yu simply sat down on the corridor bench, rubbing her ankle.
Spotting the graceful figure under the covered walkway, the steward wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and hurried over, bowing slightly. “Why is Madam Pei here? I’ve been searching everywhere for you.”
“Oh, the grass was too damp with cold, so I came here to shelter from the wind.”
Hearing this, the steward relaxed, letting out a long sigh. “It’s all that clumsy girl Liu Er’s fault. How could she leave a noble lady alone here? I failed to discipline her properly. Please don’t blame me, Madam.”
This steward had likely been bribed too, afraid that Jiang Yu might wander around and discover something.
Jiang Yu didn’t press further, only asking, “Where is Liu Er?”
“That little thief had sticky fingers—she stole the princess’s bracelet. We gave her fifty lashes, but who knew she’d die from it?” The steward sighed regretfully. “I handled this poorly. Please forgive my incompetence, Madam.”
Jiang Yu couldn’t tell how genuine the steward’s regret was.
But even if Liu Er was foolish, why would she wear a stolen princess’s bracelet and flaunt it everywhere?
Most likely, because Jiang Yu had noticed something suspicious about the bracelet earlier, someone had silenced Liu Er to prevent further investigation.
It seemed no one in the Princess Manor would tell her the truth anymore.
Clutching the bloodstained garment hidden in her cloak, Jiang Yu didn’t linger and left the Princess Manor.
On the way back, Qingdai had already fetched medicine from the physician and was waiting at the crossroads.
The carriage rocked and swayed on the journey home.
In the deep, dark alley, only the clip-clop of horse hooves echoed, as if striking directly at one’s heart.
Jiang Yu’s own heart was in turmoil. She closed her eyes, trying to remember more, but her mind remained blank.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall anything else…
But one thing was certain: the Pei Xiao who shared her bed day and night was no longer the man she was originally supposed to marry.
Her real husband had long been dismembered by Pei Xiao.
And for three years, she had lived harmoniously with the man who killed her husband…
Through the endless night, the wind blew like soft knives into the marrow of her bones, aching with a raw pain.Jiang Yu huddled in the corner of the carriage, knees drawn to her chest, wishing she could disappear entirely.
“Are you cold, Miss?” Qingdai draped her own outer robe over Jiang Yu and rubbed her hands to warm them.
As Jiang Yu gradually regained warmth, her long lashes fluttered open. “Qingdai, do you remember what happened in the bridal chamber on my wedding night?”
Qingdai’s hands stilled momentarily, her gaze flickering before she forced a stiff smile. “Miss, I was attacked by bandits in the rear courtyard that night and knocked unconscious too.”
Jiang Yu offered no response, merely nodding absently.
Of course. There was no one left around her whom she could confide in.
Why bother asking?
Jiang Yu tightened the robe around herself, staring blankly into the boundless dark night.
She couldn’t fathom what kind of person Pei Xiao truly was, but one thing was certain – he had intended to kill her on their wedding night.
She didn’t understand why he had spared her afterward, nor when he might decide to finish the job.
Perhaps on some tender night, the man lying beside her would suddenly plunge a dagger into her heart?
A shiver ran down Jiang Yu’s spine, and she hugged herself tighter.
Her parental home was far away in Gusu – distant water couldn’t quench a nearby fire.
Besides, if Pei Xiao could easily harm even a princess, how could she recklessly drag her father and mother into this?
The Duke’s residence had long lost its power and could barely protect itself…
Jiang Yu took a deep breath. Aside from returning to Pei Xiao’s side to uncover the truth, she had no other choice.
The carriage had already stopped outside the Pei residence.
Suddenly, a strong metallic scent of blood permeated the air.
Jiang Yu partially lifted the carriage curtain to see Qian Ren carrying a bundle as he walked toward the courtyard.
“Has Madam returned?” Qian Ren noticed the carriage and hurried over, cupping his hands in salute.
As he approached Jiang Yu’s carriage, he seemed to realize something amiss and tossed the bundle to a subordinate. “Take this filthy thing to the back hills for fertilizer.”
As the bundle flew past, Jiang Yu caught a glimpse of its round shape with blood dripping from the bottom, leaving a trail of crimson spots on the ground.
Liu Er had just been beaten to death, and now Qian Ren returned from outside carrying a blood-soaked package.
Had he returned to report completion of his mission?
Liu Er’s mouth had been covered, while her own eyes had been shielded.
Remembering those invisible hands in the dark night, Jiang Yu broke out in goosebumps.
“Madam, did you find Doctor Wang?” Qian Ren stepped forward, conveniently blocking the bloody bundle from view.
Jiang Yu’s eyes flickered as she alighted from the carriage. “Where’s my husband? Is he feeling better?”
“The master woke for a while, but his complexion remains poor. He’s fallen into a drowsy sleep again.” Qian Ren reached for the medicine package in Qingdai’s hands. “Madam, why don’t you check on the master? I’ll prepare the medicine!”
As he approached, the nauseating smell of blood grew stronger, and his fingertips seemed to retain traces of flesh.
Jiang Yu retreated half a step defensively, with Qingdai stumbling back alongside her.
Qingdai’s hand hung awkwardly in mid-air.
“I… I’ll do it,” Jiang Yu cleared her throat, breaking the awkward atmosphere. “I’ll feel better watching my husband take the medicine myself. Besides, I need to take medicine too, so I might as well prepare both batches together.”
Jiang Yu clutched the medicine package, pinching her palm as if punishing herself.
She needed to maintain her composure!
Until she uncovered the truth, she still had to play the role of the devoted, attentive Yu’er who depended on her husband.
But how could she face the man who had once tried to kill her, after experiencing such tremendous changes overnight?