Ling Cang said gently, “This is for you. From now on, you are my, Ling Cang’s, wife, the eldest sister-in-law of the Ling Residence. The womenfolk will all trust and respect you.”
Su Nuan pursed her lips. Thinking about how she would have to take care of the women of the Ling Residence in the future, she reached out and took the ring, slipping it onto the middle finger of her left hand, regardless of whether this was a test or not.
“I, Su Nuan, swear to the heavens that I will protect the women of the Ling family in the future. I will defend with my life those who respect me. Otherwise, may I be struck by lightning and suffer a terrible death!”
Ling Cang heard the little scheme in her oath. He merely smiled and said, “As for those who don’t respect you, kill them and be done with it. No need to worry.”
Su Nuan’s face flushed red. This man was truly considerate. If he could live, he would be a wonderful husband.
Ling Yun stared at the black ring for a long time but said nothing.
Ling Cang said, “Second Brother, go prepare a room for Miss Su.”
Su Nuan did not refuse. Having a separate room would make it more convenient for her to move around at night.
Ling Yun said coldly, “Let’s go. You’ll stay in the side room next door.”
Su Nuan glanced at Ling Cang before stepping out to follow him.
A moment later, Ling Yun returned, frowning. “Big Brother, why did you give her the token?”
Ling Cang smiled helplessly. “If she was ordered to come and trick us out of the token, then giving it to her early might just save the lives of those in the residence.”
Ling Yun clenched his fists tightly, saying with resentment and unwillingness, “The fatuous ruler is unjust. Big Brother, you should not have come back.”
Ling Cang shook his head. “If I hadn’t returned, all nine branches of the Ling family would have been doomed. If she sneaks out, just let her go.”
A murderous glint flashed in Ling Yun’s eyes, but he still agreed, “Yes.”
Ling Cang leaned weakly against the pillow. “If she genuinely stays, I hope you can respect her and protect her.”
Ling Yun sneered. “Her father is no good man. I don’t believe she came here willingly. When night falls, she will definitely run away with the token.”
Ling Cang closed his eyes and said nothing, for he, too, had his doubts, yet he was powerless.
Seeing this, Ling Yun quietly withdrew. The sky outside had already darkened. He found a tree, climbed up, and hid, monitoring Su Nuan’s every move.
At this moment, Su Nuan was pulling Dong’er aside to talk. “Dong’er, this is your indenture contract. You should go.”
Dong’er dropped to her knees with a thud. “Young Miss, this servant will not leave. I heard what was said just now. Even if it’s exile, this servant wants to follow you, Young Miss.”
Su Nuan frowned and feigned anger. “How can I take you with me? The people of the Ling Residence also need to eat and drink. If you follow me, you’ll be an exile, just another burden. If you leave, at least you’ll be a free person.”
Seeing that Su Nuan was determined to send her away, Dong’er took the bundle and her indenture contract. She stood up and said, “Then this servant will leave. Take care, Young Miss.”
Su Nuan turned her back. “Go. I don’t want to see you.”
Dong’er lowered her gaze, concealing the determination in her eyes. She stood up and walked out without hesitation.
Su Nuan sighed. In this life, she hoped Dong’er would have a good future.
She had no time for sentimentality. After resting on the bed until midnight, she got up and prepared to act.
Little did she know that a tail was following her, watching her every move.
Ling Yun, who was following Su Nuan, was very puzzled. Was this woman acting like a thief? She actually dared to smash a lock to enter the storeroom. If she were stealing secrets, shouldn’t she be going to the study?
At this moment, Su Nuan had not noticed Ling Yun at all. She entered the storeroom and collected everything inside into her Space, sighing as she came out.
“The General’s Mansion is so poor. Fortunately, the linen and cotton cloth will be useful.”
After Su Nuan left, Ling Yun entered the storeroom to check. The sight gave him a shock. The storeroom, which had been filled with bolts of cloth and miscellaneous items, was now completely empty.
However, Ling Yun was not a timid person. He immediately went out and followed Su Nuan.
In the woodshed, he finally saw clearly. He watched as whatever Su Nuan touched would disappear, and he could hear her muttering to herself.
“Can’t forget the firewood and charcoal. Grandmother’s health is weak; I’ll need to brew medicine for her on the road to exile.”
“Little Aunt has a weak stomach, so I’ll need to cook porridge for her too. I just hope everyone can hold on. Things will be better once we reach the northern lands.”
“It’s a pity I can’t get into the imperial palace. Otherwise, I’d empty the national treasury and let that dog emperor drink the northwest wind.”
Outside, Ling Yun was shocked, but in his heart, he supported Su Nuan’s actions. The wealth in the national treasury was all ill-gotten gains extorted from the common people; it shouldn’t benefit that dog emperor.
An idea sparked in his mind. He quickly entered the nearby kitchen, took out two steamed buns, and, while eating one, deliberately said in a loud voice, “There must be a secret letter in the palace. I’m going to the palace to see who is framing us.”
In the woodshed, Su Nuan blinked. She hesitated for a moment before walking out and asking, “Second Uncle, is the kitchen this way? Why is there no one serving in the General’s Mansion? I’m hungry.”
Ling Yun handed her a steamed bun with a cold expression. “The General’s Mansion never had many servants because we couldn’t afford them. I need to go out for a bit.”
Su Nuan took a bite of the steamed bun, eating with relish. “I heard you say you’re going to the palace. Take me with you. I know where to find something that can clear the General’s Mansion’s name.”
Ling Yun didn’t believe a single word she said, but he didn’t expose her. He just asked with a grave expression, “Really?”
Su Nuan nodded. “Really. But I need to change into men’s clothes.”
Ling Yun nodded. “Follow me.”
Su Nuan was very surprised. How did he agree so easily?
She followed Ling Yun to his room and changed into some old clothes he found for her. Just like that, the two of them left the General’s Mansion.
Ling Yun used his lightness skill and ran for a while before remembering that Su Nuan didn’t know martial arts and definitely wouldn’t be able to keep up. But when he turned back, he saw her following just three steps behind him.
Though surprised, he didn’t press the matter. The two of them stealthily slipped over the wall and into the imperial palace.
Su Nuan took out a stack of letters and handed them over. “Place these on the desk in the Imperial Study. This is evidence of Su Liren’s bribery. Even if it doesn’t kill him, it will make him shed a layer of skin.”
Ling Yun took the letters. After flipping through them, he said angrily, “Your father actually embezzled so much…”
He looked up, but Su Nuan was nowhere to be seen. Just what was this woman’s background?
In fact, Su Nuan had already found the emperor’s secret vault based on a secret she had heard in her previous life.
The current Yuan Kingdom had an incompetent ruler, and the court was in chaos. With the fall of the Ling family army, which had been able to suppress the neighboring kingdoms, it wouldn’t be long before the country ceased to be a country.
For his own pleasure, the emperor had moved the money from the national treasury to a secret vault in the Cold Palace. He didn’t even dare to post guards, afraid that people would discover he had money.
Furthermore, the emperor was terrified of death. Almost all the palace guards were at the main hall protecting him, which was why Su Nuan could move about the palace so easily.
She quickly slipped into the rockery in the Cold Palace, found the mechanism, and opened the secret passage to enter.
The secret vault was enormous. The steps were embedded with luminous pearls, so the visibility was excellent.
In the deepest part, Su Nuan saw countless shelves lined with numerous trays, each filled with gold, silver, and jewels that glittered brilliantly, making one feel as if they were in a mountain of gold and a sea of silver.
She estimated there were several million taels of silver. That dog emperor had so much money, yet he wasn’t willing to buy a single grain of rice for the soldiers at the border.
“Pah… Fatuous ruler.”
Su Nuan cursed and began to collect the shelves. Once the secret vault was empty, she used a dagger she had taken from home to pry out the luminous pearls embedded in the walls and stairs.