“You placed all the so-called evil aura onto the head of a newborn baby like me. You even connected this vicious curse with Grandmother’s fortune and destiny! Over all these years, whenever the Jiang family suffered any disaster or misfortune, this bloodline curse would automatically transfer the backlash onto me.”
“You abandoned me at the charity burial ground not because you feared I would bring misfortune upon you, but because you wanted to use me as the Jiang family’s shield against disasters. As long as I didn’t die, the Jiang family could continue stepping on my life to survive.”
“Utter nonsense! This is nothing but demonic speech meant to deceive people! Someone come! Tie this madwoman up!”
Old Madam Jiang no longer pretended to be ill. She screamed hysterically.
“I want to see who dares!”
Granny Cui shouted sharply again, stepping in front of Jiang Zhaoxue. Outside the door, the Black Armor Guards coldly drew their long swords.
Who would dare take even half a step forward?
“You want to tie me up? Do you think you’re worthy?”
Jiang Zhaoxue let out a cold laugh. She raised her right hand and pulled a silver hairpin from her head.
Without the slightest hesitation, she used the tip of the hairpin to fiercely pierce her own left index finger. Blood immediately seeped from the wound.
With a solemn expression, Jiang Zhaoxue quickly recited a string of obscure incantations. The blood flowing from her fingertip strangely condensed in the air, forming a blood-colored talisman.
“I, Jiang Zhaoxue, swear today with my blood!”
As soon as her words fell, her eyes turned sharp. The blood talisman at her fingertip suddenly pressed downward and struck the empty air.
“Break!”
In a dimension invisible to ordinary people, it seemed as if some invisible chains had instantly shattered.
A massive wave of murky, ominous energy followed the connection of their bloodline and violently poured back toward the old madam lying on the bed.
“Ugh…”
Old Madam Jiang’s eyes widened. The color drained completely from her face, and a mouthful of blood sprayed out from her lips.
“Old Madam!”
“Mother!”
The moment those words were spoken, Songhe Hall erupted into chaos. Screams filled the room as Madam Wang and the other female members of the Jiang family were frightened out of their wits and rushed forward.
Old Madam Jiang, who had vomited blood, did not even have the chance to say a single word before her eyes rolled back and she completely lost consciousness.
This time, the Jiang family’s forcibly maintained fortune had completely collapsed.
The Jiang family was thrown into utter chaos!
Standing amidst the confusion and screams, Jiang Zhaoxue casually wiped the blood from her fingertip with a handkerchief. Then she turned around and casually tossed the blood-stained handkerchief into the air.
“Granny Cui, don’t look anymore. Let’s go back.”
Outside the Jiang Residence, the onlookers were already so shocked that the entire street had fallen completely silent.
When she arrived, they had still been whispering among themselves, saying that this wild girl brought back from the countryside had risen to power overnight and become arrogant, disrespectful to her elders, and utterly rebellious.
But now that she was leaving, who would dare utter even half a word of criticism?
The forcibly smashed entrance gate and the heart-wrenching cries faintly coming from inside the residence both proved one thing:
This Princess Consort of Jing Prince was a living devil that no one could afford to provoke.
At this moment, she leaned against the soft cushion inside the carriage, closed her eyes, and found it difficult to describe how she felt.
Was she happy?
Not really.
Ever since she was born, she had been abandoned and raised by her master while learning mystical arts.
Did she hate the Jiang family?
Of course, she did.
But now, everything the Jiang family owed her had been completely reclaimed—with interest.
Yet she felt not even the slightest bit of joy.
“Princess Consort…”
Granny Cui sat outside the carriage and could not help but ask worriedly,
“We just left like this. What if Old Madam Jiang really…”
“She won’t die.”
Jiang Zhaoxue’s voice came from inside the carriage.
“Disasters always live for a thousand years. That old hag absorbed my fortune for more than a decade, so her foundation is quite strong. At most, she’ll be bedridden, suffering day and night from the pain of evil energy devouring her heart.”
She let out a soft laugh. Compared to dying directly, she preferred watching them struggle like rats in a gutter, barely surviving while tearing each other apart.
Granny Cui’s heart trembled.
In this world where filial piety governed everything, a woman who dared to act so decisively and sever a blood-related sinful bond with such ruthless determination was truly one of a kind.
A mistress of the household with such decisive methods was exactly the stabilizing pillar that their storm-ridden Jing Prince’s residence desperately needed.
Half an hour later, the carriage smoothly entered Jing Prince’s residence.
The moment they stepped through the moon gate of the main courtyard, the scent of agarwood mixed with medicinal fragrance drifted toward them.
The door of the main room was half open.
Just as Jiang Zhaoxue stepped onto the stairs, she heard Laifu’s excited voice coming from inside, full of dramatic flair like a storyteller at a teahouse:
“Master! You didn’t see it! The princess consort stood right there at the time, pointed at Madam Jiang’s nose, and cursed her out. She exposed every single one of those vicious things they did back then!”
“Old Madam Jiang even wanted to have someone tie up our princess consort! Ha! Granny Cui shouted once, the Black Armor Guards drew their swords, and those Jiang family guards were so frightened their legs went weak!”
“In the end, that old madam spat out a mouthful of black blood right there and collapsed!”
“The princess consort didn’t even spare her another glance. She left in a grand manner. She was practically like a celestial maiden descending from the heavens!”
Inside the room, Xiao Chenghuai wore a moon-white casual robe and was lazily leaning against the couch.
His originally pale face now held a hint of a healthy person’s color.
Listening to Laifu’s endless narration, the corners of his lips curved into a faint smile.
When he lifted his head, he happened to see Jiang Zhaoxue stepping over the doorway.
“Has the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden returned?”
Xiao Chenghuai slowly straightened his body, his deep voice pleasant to the ears.
Laifu turned around and saw them. He immediately shut his mouth in fright, lowered his head, and retreated to the side.
Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyebrows and strode over. Without any hesitation, she sat down on the brocade stool opposite him.
With a sweep of her eyes, she noticed that the small red sandalwood table between them not only held freshly brewed sweet dew tea, but also four or five plates of extremely delicate pastries.
All of them were sweet.
Jiang Zhaoxue’s eyes lit up slightly.
She had grown up with Old Blind Man at the charity burial ground, enduring the elements and often going hungry. What she lacked the most was sugar.
After arriving at the prince’s residence, she had never specifically mentioned it. She had only eaten a few extra pieces of jujube paste pastry on her first morning there. She never expected that this man had actually remembered it all and now had these snacks prepared for her every day.
Xiao Chenghuai gently pushed the teacup toward her.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyebrows and looked at him. Somehow, she sensed a hint of concern in his words.
Her heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
For all these years, she had grown accustomed to bearing all consequences by herself. In this world, no one had ever calmly poured her a cup of hot tea when she returned after slaughtering her way through enemies, covered in hostility and bloodlust.
Jiang Zhaoxue concealed the fleeting ripple in her eyes and smiled brightly.
“It wasn’t hard. I was just collecting debts. It was extremely satisfying.”
She picked up a piece of jujube paste pastry and took a bite. The brightness and arrogance of a young girl returned to her face.
“Your Highness’s Black Armor Guards are quite useful. But I caused such a huge commotion at the Jiang family today. Aren’t you afraid of being dragged down by me?”
Xiao Chenghuai watched her eat the pastries like a satisfied little fox, a trace of amusement flashing in his eyes.
“This prince has been plagued by illness for years and has a violent temper. Who in the entire capital doesn’t know that?”
He slowly lifted his own teacup and took a sip.
“If the princess consort of Jing Prince’s residence were someone who could be easily bullied and pushed around, then that would truly bring shame to this prince. Since I have already said that I will help you, I will never break my word.”
“Imperial decree has arrived!”
A sharp announcement suddenly came from outside.