The Heir Apparent, Nangong Rang, was in poor health and could not handle his liquor. He was merely exchanging pleasantries with the guests when an attendant hurried to his side and whispered a few words into his ear.
The exhaustion in Nangong Rang’s eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a sharp clarity.
He immediately feigned dizziness. Understanding the cue, the attendant quickly apologized to the guests. “Our apologies, everyone. My master is feeling fatigued, and there are still important matters to attend to tonight. I shall escort him back first…”
Ignoring the hushed whispers behind them about how the Heir Apparent likely didn’t have much time left, Nangong Rang’s unsteady footsteps became brisk the moment they left the front hall.
“You just said Nanny Chen was beaten and her dowry maid is dead?”
The attendant said resentfully, “It might have been the work of the Second or Third Branch. The Old Madam has spoiled them so much they’ve become increasingly lawless…”
A flicker of interest appeared in Nangong Rang’s eyes. “If that’s the case, and this wife of mine is not only unharmed but managed to use a borrowed blade to kill the mole by her side, wouldn’t that make her even more formidable?”
When Nangong Rang arrived at the bridal chamber, Ruan Xingci was sitting there with practiced composure. The fan originally meant to cover her face was now being used to fan herself. Seeing him enter, she wore an expression that was half-smiling and half-not.
Bailu had not touched anything in the room. Instead, she stood beside Ruan Xingci with a face full of terror.
On the floor, Biyun’s corpse remained.
The intrigue in Nangong Rang’s heart deepened. He opened his mouth to speak but was overcome by a fit of uncontrollable coughing.
His coughs were heavy with a wet, rattling sound.
“What… what happened here, Madam?” Nangong Rang asked after managing to steady his breathing.
Ruan Xingci sized up her “cheap” husband. The man was tall and elegant with truly fine features. If he were in her original era, he could easily become a top-tier idol, with female fans obsessively defending him and swooning over his photos.
However, at first glance, his complexion was pale and his breath was weak. It seemed the rumors were true; among the six men chosen for the political marriage alliance, her husband indeed possessed the face of one with the shortest lifespan.
She had long heard that the internal struggles between the various branches of the Changchun Marquis Manor were complex. As the Heir Apparent, he had been ill for years yet his condition only worsened—it was clear how deep these waters ran.
She even suspected that Heaven had sent her through time specifically to save Nangong Rang. After all, her medical skills were so great they had made others envious enough to try and kill her…
Wearing a face that was both dark and rough, Ruan Xingci forced herself into a posture of a “pear blossom bathed in rain.” “You’ve finally come, my Lord. If it weren’t for the maid my stepmother arranged for me—who helped me drink that soup—you would have become a widower tonight.”
As she “cried,” she rubbed her face, which was far from beautiful by any standard, against the man’s chest.
The scent of medicine.
Nangong Rang took medicine year-round, so his body naturally carried its scent. However, on a handsome man, even the smell of medicine was pleasant.
Ruan Xingci thought to herself that such a good-looking husband could be considered a perk of her transmigration.
The corners of Nangong Rang’s mouth twitched.
The appearance of this new wife certainly didn’t show much of the Northern Kingdom’s sincerity.
However, with a body like his, marrying anyone was an irony in itself. Thinking of this, he felt no disdain in his heart.
“I will help you cover this up.”
Just as he finished speaking, someone else entered.
“Is the Madam in?”
The Nanny who arrived this time looked much more composed than the previous Nanny Chen, and she carried herself with more authority.
“The Heir Apparent… is here as well…”
The Nanny swept a glance over Nangong Rang. Although she was slightly surprised, she showed little hesitation or respect. “Lord Nangong, please listen. It seems my younger sister spoke inappropriately earlier and had a misunderstanding with the new Madam. I have come specifically to apologize. The Madam has just joined the household; if word spreads on her wedding night that she mistreated an old family servant, I fear it will affect her reputation in Fengjing in the future…”
Her words were both a threat and a subtle attempt to slander Ruan Xingci to her husband.
The smile on Nangong Rang’s face vanished, but he did his best to control his emotions. The imperial physicians had told him he should not get angry.
Ruan Xingci hadn’t expected that a mere managing Nanny would dare to speak this way in front of the manor’s Heir Apparent.
Looking at Nangong Rang’s expression, it was clear that in the eyes of these lowly servants, this long-ailing husband of hers was going to die sooner or later. Their masters behind the scenes were likely encouraging this behavior, leading to the current situation.
Since she was here and intended to live a good life with this “cheap” husband, she would take charge of cleaning up these monsters and demons.
She asked directly, “It was your blind sister who offended me. Since you’re here to apologize, why did you start babbling to the Heir Apparent the moment you walked in? You sisters share the same affliction of blindness. Were those words you just said relayed by the Old Madam?”
Nanny Chen froze for a moment before denying it. “No, it was my own heart’s desire to advise the Madam. After all—”
Bailu closed her eyes. As expected, in the next instant, Ruan Xingci grabbed Nanny Chen’s ear, forcing her body forward, and delivered a sharp slap to her face.
“You old hag, what kind of thing are you to think you’re worthy of ‘advising’ me?”
Nangong Rang finally understood how the first Nanny Chen had suffered. The intrigue in his eyes grew even stronger.
Hadn’t the rumors for the past few days been saying that the noble lady from the Northern Kingdom staying at the guest house was weak and easily broken?
Nanny Chen was dazed. She had thought her sister was exaggerating, but she hadn’t expected this woman to actually dare to use her hands over a single disagreement.
Ruan Xingci gave her no time to react. She struck the same side of the woman’s face three more times with force until she was knocked to her knees.
One side of Nanny Chen’s face swelled up immediately. She hadn’t expected Ruan Xingci to possess such strength.
“Madam, you actually dared to hit me!”
She likely hadn’t grasped the situation yet and still wanted to reclaim some dignity.
Ruan Xingci didn’t say another word. She grabbed a nearby stool and swung it violently at Nanny Chen.
Nangong Rang and Bailu were both stunned.
“Aah—!”
Nanny Chen was sent flying. She sprawled on the ground, wailing, and even tried to reach out to grab Nangong Rang’s trouser leg.
“My Lord, the Madam is trying to kill me…”
At a time like this, she finally remembered who the master was.
Nangong Rang’s mood brightened considerably. He took the opportunity to call out to the outside, “Someone, come! Nanny Chen is tired. Take her away to rest.”
The battered Nanny Chen clearly harbored deep resentment as she was taken.
Nangong Rang acted as though he were simply letting the matter slide.
Ruan Xingci couldn’t help but frown. If her “cheap” husband always handled things so leniently, her future actions would be hindered.
“The Heir Apparent seemed content to just watch the show just now, throwing all the blame onto me…”
“What does Madam wish to say? Speak plainly.”
Nangong Rang’s interest in this plain-looking wife was growing.
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a wave of exhaustion. He sat on the bed, leaning lightly against the frame, and began to cough uncontrollably.
Ruan Xingci grabbed Nangong Rang’s hand and pressed her fingers directly onto his pulse point.
“You know medicine?” Nangong Rang reacted immediately.
He knew she meant no harm; the Northern Kingdom had no reason to send an assassin for a dying man like him.
Ruan Xingci’s eyes were clear as she said, “I know a bit. I can tell that you have been frail for years and have residual toxins in your body that have never been cleared. Now, your Five Zang organs are all damaged, and your Six Fu organs are all injured. If no cure is found, I’m afraid you won’t live past a year.”
Before Nangong Rang could speak, Ruan Xingci continued, “I know that a capable person could dig up this information, but as a noble lady from the Northern Kingdom, I shouldn’t have any such channels. I wish to strike a deal with you, my Lord. You will lose nothing.”
Nangong Rang became even more intrigued. “I’m listening.”