Jiang Suihuan furrowed her brow slightly. “Why are you asking me for your things?”
“Sister, don’t play dumb with me.” Jiang Meier’s expression was sinister and terrifying. “Wasn’t the small chest in the dwarf’s hands taken by you?”
Only then did Jiang Suihuan remember—she had indeed taken a small chest from the dwarf and had Ying Tao place it in the study.
The dwarf had said that the chest was something he stole from the Nanming Wangfu and that it belonged to Jiang Meier. But how did Jiang Meier know that the dwarf had stolen it and that it had ended up in her hands?
After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Suihuan quickly understood the whole story. She said gravely, “You were the one who told the dwarf where I lived.”
“Exactly.” Jiang Meier looked extremely displeased. “That dwarf wanted to seek revenge on you, so I casually told him where you lived. Who knew that scoundrel would repay kindness with betrayal and steal my chest!”
Jiang Suihuan smiled mockingly. “Then go ask him for it. Why come to me?”
Jiang Meier clenched her fists, her eyes filled with rage. “When the dwarf’s body was brought back, I personally searched it. There was nothing on him. Don’t think I don’t know—you must have taken the chest!”
“How strange. It was Gu Jin who brought the dwarf’s body back. Instead of asking him, you come to me.” Jiang Suihuan narrowed her eyes. “It’s possible that he took it, isn’t it?”
“Impossible!” Jiang Meier denied without hesitation.
“Why?” Jiang Suihuan raised an eyebrow. “But now that you mention it, what exactly is in that chest of yours? Why do you care so much that you’d come all the way to the ancestral hall to confront me?”
As far as she knew, Jiang Meier detested the ancestral hall and had never been willing to set foot inside. Whenever there were festivals requiring ancestral sacrifices, Jiang Meier would feign illness to avoid participating.
Over time, the Houye and Hou Furen actually came to believe that Jiang Meier fell ill on sacrificial days because she was highly spiritual and deeply connected to the ancestors of the Houfu, which made them even more partial toward her.
Upon hearing Jiang Suihuan’s words, Jiang Meier’s face changed, and she stammered, “The chest contains my jewelry, which is very valuable.”
But Jiang Suihuan didn’t believe her. “Since childhood, our parents have given you countless pieces of valuable jewelry. Now that you’ve married Chu Jue, you’ll only have even more. Yet you’re going to such great lengths for this one small chest. Isn’t it a bit far-fetched to claim it’s just jewelry?”
Jiang Meier grew flustered and, in her shame and anger, snapped, “It’s my property, regardless! It has nothing to do with you! You’d better return it to me immediately, or I’ll tell Father and Mother.”
Jiang Suihuan could see it now—that chest must contain something shameful or illicit, which was why Jiang Meier was so anxious about it.
She let out a cold laugh. “Then go ahead and tell them! Without any proof, how can you claim that I took the chest?”
“In fact, why don’t you go fetch Father and Mother right now and explain to them how your chest ended up in the dwarf’s hands!”
Though kneeling on the ground, Jiang Suihuan’s presence was sharp and formidable, her words cutting like knives. “By then, Father and Mother will know that you conspired with the dwarf to kidnap me and tried to have me killed!”
Jiang Meier’s legs weakened, and she staggered, shouting, “How dare you! I never conspired with the dwarf to kidnap you—I only told him where you lived!”
Jiang Suihuan narrowed her eyes, “You’re an accomplice. According to Dayuan law, accomplices are equally guilty as the mastermind. Kidnapping the Marquis Family’s Daughter is a capital offense!”
Suddenly remembering something, she asked, “Did you also kill the three dwarves? You were afraid they’d expose you, so you sent someone to kill them in the shadows.”
Jiang Meier had already turned pale at the previous words, but became agitated upon hearing this, stamping her foot, “Nonsense! What does the dwarves’ death have to do with me? I only learned they were dead after they were brought back!”
Jiang Meier’s intense reaction suggested the dwarves’ deaths weren’t connected to her.
Even so, her repeated schemes to harm Jiang Suihuan were utterly unforgivable!
Jiang Suihuan slowly rose from the ground, staring expressionlessly at Jiang Meier, “Heaven sees all deeds. You’ve occupied Jiang Suihuan’s position for ten years and even tried to kill her. Aren’t you afraid of divine retribution?”
These words were spoken on behalf of the original host!
In the dim ancestral hall, Jiang Suihuan’s pale complexion contrasted sharply with her crimson lips, her eyes filled with hatred like a vengeful spirit emerging from hell to claim Jiang Meier’s life.
Jiang Meier recoiled in terror, teeth chattering uncontrollably, “Have you gone mad? You’re not dead, are you?Jiang Suihuan advanced step by step, her voice was gloomy, “I’m not dead—I merely took a trip to the underworld and returned for revenge!””
“Don’t come closer, stay away!” This was the first time Jiang Meier had seen such a terrifying expression on Jiang Suihuan’s face. Even the matter of the jewelry box was forgotten in her panic as she retreated until her back hit the altar, leaving no escape.
Jiang Suihuan pointed behind her, murmuring eerily, “Look, the ancestors of the Houfu are watching you from behind. Father and Mother say you share a bond with them. Don’t worry, one day you’ll join them down there.”
A chill ran down Jiang Meier’s spine. Stiffly turning her neck, she saw nothing but cold memorial tablets behind her, as if the Houfu ancestors were glaring coldly at her.
She screamed and fled.
The two maids guarding Jiang Suihuan rushed over at the noise, only to see Jiang Suihuan smoothing her skirt before calmly walking out.
“Tell my parents I’ve deeply reflected. If there are family banquets in the future, there’s no need to invite me back.”
The maids exchanged bewildered glances.
“Is this still the same Di Xiaojie from before?”
“Suddenly she seems so imposing!”
“I’m totally captivated…”
Jiang Suihuan swaggered out of the Houfu, taking out the medicinal pills she had prepared for Houye and Hou Furen. Just as she was about to discard them in the trash, she paused.
Having spent two days refining these tonics, it seemed wasteful to throw them away. Better to keep them for herself.
With a clear conscience, she stored the pills in her laboratory and hired a carriage to the horse market.
Renting carriages was inconvenient; she planned to buy one for easier travel in the future.
Perhaps it was the off-season, as the horse market was quiet with few people, just rows of stables housing various horses.
Jiang Suihuan strolled leisurely, intending to pick a horse that caught her eye.
The horse dealer assessed Jiang Suihuan—dressed plainly without much adornment, he assumed she was from an ordinary family who couldn’t afford the horses here and didn’t bother to approach her.
Jiang Suihuan didn’t mind, continuing her walk. The horses were either sleeping or eating grass, utterly silent and peaceful.
Only a pure black horse in the corner, like a not fully tamed wild horse, was restlessly raising its hooves and neighing in the stable.
Jiang Suihuan stood outside, her eyes filled with admiration. Although she didn’t understand horses, this black horse was glossy and sleek, its size twice that of the other horses—clearly a fine steed at first glance.
“Boss, what breed is this horse? Why does it seem so different from the others?” Jiang Suihuan asked the horse dealer in the distance.