Thinking of Qian Gugu, Li Jinu felt another wave of melancholy.
When she was ten, while gathering mushrooms on Phoenix Cry Mountain, she heard faint moans of pain in the distance.
Though frightened, her intense curiosity drove her toward the sound.
There she found a woman in plain brown robes leaning against a tree, massaging her ankle while large beads of sweat rolled down her forehead, clearly in great pain.
Approaching cautiously and finding the woman harmless, Li Jinu treated the snake bite wound and helped her walk step by step back to a small temple.
The woman was deeply grateful and promised that Li Jinu could seek her help if ever in need.
At the time, Li Jinu didn’t take it seriously – what could someone who couldn’t even walk after twisting an ankle possibly help her with? Help with farming or fishing?
Forget it. If the woman got injured again, she’d just have to escort her back, wasting more time.
They later encountered each other several more times on Phoenix Cry Mountain.
The woman was very kind, bringing her delicious food and giving her a wooden hairpin.
Later, Nian Cuilan suddenly forbade her from going to Phoenix Cry Mountain again, threatening to break her legs if she dared.
Li Jinu had always feared her adoptive mother, so she never saw the woman again.
It wasn’t until she became a Shadow Guard that she learned what an important person resided on Phoenix Cry Mountain.
Looking back now, Nian Cuilan must have acted on Ye Jintang’s orders.
They were afraid she might gain a powerful backer who would make her difficult to deal with later.
The woman was truly good-hearted – the wooden hairpin she gave wasn’t ordinary either, but made from rare tribute wood from the Western Regions, incredibly hard and impervious to water and fire.
It was this very hairpin that helped Li Jinu escape danger after her rebirth.
If given the chance, she must personally thank the woman.
In the main hall, father and daughter each harbored different thoughts, creating a temporary silence.
Tap, tap, tap.
“Truly worthy of being Zhennan Hou’s daughter – remaining calm when facing bandits, just like the Marquis in his youth.”
It was Ye Langting.
Li Jinu seemed not to notice the sarcasm in his tone, bowing respectfully:
“Thank you for your praise, Your Highness.”
Ye Siyuan wished he could cover Li Jinu’s mouth.
“A family embarrassment for Your Highness to witness.”
Ye Langting didn’t take offense, pointing at Li Jinu as he asked:
“Since the Marquis calls this a family matter, then who is this girl to you? And why has it come before the authorities?”
Ye Siyuan was full of reluctance but didn’t dare be disrespectful. Knowing how the Crown Prince’s eldest grandson despised household scandals, he carefully replied:
“She is my long-lost daughter. But regarding today’s incident, I cannot yet determine what happened, though I will certainly uncover the truth.”
Ye Langting’s fox-like eyes curved as he stirred the pot:
“Li Jinu, did you hear that? Your father says he’ll see justice done for you.”
With that, he left the hall without looking back.
Li Jinu maintained her composure, bowing respectfully, but Ye Siyuan looked as if struck by lightning.
What had he heard? His daughter was called what?
Li… Ji… Nu?
He, the prestigious Zhennan Hou, the emperor’s favorite – his biological daughter was called Li Jinu?
Beyond his hatred for the Li couple, what he felt most now was the shame and embarrassment before the Crown Prince’s grandson.
Regardless, this name could not be used any longer.
He thought, once back at the residence, he must discuss choosing a new name with his wife.
Li Jinu could guess about seventy percent of his thoughts.
Looking into her father’s eyes, she seized the opportunity to speak:
“Father, I’ve heard from Momo that there’s a Great Compassion Temple near the imperial city. Please allow me to go seek protective talismans.”
Seeking talismans was merely a pretext; her true purpose was to sneak into Bright Moon Courtyard under cover of night. She couldn’t prevent Ye Jintang from staging this suicide drama, but she refused to sit idly by.
If Ye Jintang refrained from such schemes in this lifetime, all would be well. But if she dared try again, Li Jinu would make sure she paid dearly!
Sui County wasn’t far from the imperial capital, so the master and servants arrived quickly.
Following the usher monk’s guidance, Li Jinu purified her hands, burned incense, worshipped the Buddha, made offerings, and ultimately obtained six protective talismans.
Of course, the donation money came from Ye Siyuan.
Back in the temple quarters, she took out one talisman and offered it to him.
Ye Siyuan was surprised. He had assumed Li Jinu sought the talismans for her own safety and smooth fortune. He never expected this nominal father would receive one too.
Just as he reached for it, Li Jinu playfully shook her head, her starlit eyes sparkling as she raised both arms, intending to place it around his neck himself.
As a military commander, Ye Siyuan never believed in gods or ghosts, and he typically maintained distance from his children, who regarded him more with awe and fear than affection.
Suddenly having a daughter willing to personally adorn him with a protective talisman felt peculiar, yet it softened something within him.
Gazing into those innocent eyes, as if compelled by some unseen force, he actually lowered his stature slightly to let her fasten the talisman.
Li Jinu gave a slight, satisfied smile.
From afar, Liu Momo, preparing tea, nearly dropped her tray in astonishment:
Which young master or miss in the manor didn’t fear the Marquis? Even the most favored Second Young Miss dared not speak much in his presence.
This Eldest Young Miss was truly extraordinary. To achieve this on their very first meeting—the future dynamics within the manor were truly unpredictable.
She mentally noted: Although the Eldest Young Miss was raised in the countryside, she must not be underestimated from now on!
The golden crow sank westward, the sky gradually veiled in gray, surrounding scenery growing indistinct.
Estimating the time, Li Jinu left the temple quarters.
Outside Great Compassion Temple lay a horse pasture. If she rode, she was confident she could return within three hours.
Exiting the temple gates, she strode purposefully toward the pasture.
But after only a few steps, by the moonlight, she spotted a pure white steed grazing by the roadside.
With her sharp eyes, she immediately recognized it as a rare, exceptional treasure of a horse.
Such a priceless treasure, hard to find even for a thousand gold—why was it here?
How strange.
But exigent circumstances demanded expedient measures. The horse was gentle, and after checking its pulse to confirm no abnormalities, she hesitated no longer, urging the horse toward the imperial city.
Upon reaching the imperial city, she first sneaked into a pharmacy warehouse and found a bottle of potent stupefying drug.
Wasn’t this essentially theft?
Yet she felt no burden whatsoever—after all, this was the Hou Manor’s property, which, by extension, meant it was hers.
Taking what was rightfully hers—just a convenient matter!
By the time she reached Hou Manor, darkness had fully descended.
Even late at night, Bright Moon Courtyard remained brightly lit, for no other reason than Ye Jintang’s fear of darkness.
How absurd—someone so full of sinister schemes actually afraid of the dark. The mere thought was enough to make one laugh derisively.
Approaching Bright Moon Courtyard, she was surprised to discover guards hidden in the shadows, and their martial skills were not low.
Why would there be male guards here?
Did Lady Su know? Did the Marquis know?
Li Jinu unconsciously thought of her previous life:
Ye Jintang later became the Crown Prince’s successive wife, a truly glorious marriage.
Yet within a few years, the Crown Prince passed away, and she became the Grand Prince’s woman.
One couldn’t help but marvel—the Crown Prince and his son certainly had… eclectic tastes!
Could it be that these guards were from the Eastern Palace?
At this thought, her heart sank a little—the Eastern Palace and Ye Langting were long-standing enemies.
Her eyes darting around, she came up with an idea. She brought a kitten from outside the estate, used its noises to lure away the guards, and slipped into the courtyard.
Bright Moon Courtyard was spacious, with only Ye Jintang occupying the main residence.
She slipped the stupefying drug through the window, waited for the right moment, and sneaked inside.
To prevent any mishaps, she delivered an additional chop to the neck.
Perfect. Both master and servant were sound asleep.
She retrieved the Death Note, tucked it into her robe, then took out the chicken blood she had prepared in advance and began writing with a brush.
The chicken blood had been treated with medicine to prevent coagulation.
After becoming a Shadow Guard in her previous life, she had practiced Ye Jintang’s handwriting every single day, all to ensure she would never forget her blood-soaked hatred.
Years of relentless practice had not been in vain—her strokes now, in both form and structure, were indistinguishable from Ye Jintang’s own.
Even an expert examining it would swear the writing was Ye Jintang’s!
Having written it all out fluently, Li Jinu was quite pleased.
She even felt a flicker of anticipation: if Ye Siyuan or Su Yun were to see this Death Note, would they still protect Ye Jintang as fervently as they had in her past life?