At daybreak.
A scream pierced the sky.
When Jiang Wei, Gu Yanchuan, and others arrived, Jiang Yu’s maid Lan Xiang stumbled out of the room.
Lan Xiang’s face was deathly pale: “My young lady, young lady’s room… inside… there’s…”
Halfway through her words, she covered her mouth, realizing she had spoken out of turn.
Jiang Wei felt smug inside, but on the surface, she wore an expression of concern and worry, eagerly stepping toward the room: “What is it? Has something happened to my sister?”
The door was wide open, revealing the bed curtains drawn shut, obscuring the scene on the bed.
But beside the bed, a man’s foot was faintly visible.
Jiang Wei gasped in surprise and reached out to pull back the bed curtains: “Where did this scoundrel come from…”
As the curtains were drawn aside, the sight before her choked the words in her throat.
Xue Ji’s eyes were wide open, his face pale and lifeless, his neck drenched in blood—he had been dead for some time!
Jiang Wei shrieked in terror, stumbling backward and falling to the ground.
The titled women who followed her inside were also badly frightened.
Liu Shi, the wife of the Vice Minister of War, let out a piercing scream and rushed forward.
She never imagined that coming to watch the commotion would lead to the sight of her own son lying dead. She immediately broke into heart-wrenching sobs: “My son, how could you have died!”
Gu Yanchuan, who had followed behind, also turned pale.
How could this have happened!
Jiang Wei struggled to compose herself, her face filled with anxiety as she cried out loudly: “Where is my sister? Where has my sister gone?”
Liu Shi’s eyes were bloodshot as she wailed uncontrollably: “It must be that vile woman who killed my son and fled! I will make her pay with her life!”
Jiang Wei reacted swiftly, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed: “Although my sister is willful and spoiled, she would never kill someone recklessly. My sister… where is my sister? Could she have been kidnapped by thieves?”
Her face full of urgency, she pleaded with the Dowager Lady of Cheng’en Marquis: “Old Madam, I beg you to report this to the Princess and send people to search the temple. My sister is still betrothed—we cannot let thieves ruin her reputation!”
The Dowager Lady of Cheng’en Marquis also turned pale, but before she could speak, an arrogant voice came from outside the door.
“Why is everyone gathered here? This is a sacred Buddhist temple—such clamor is utterly improper!”
Everyone turned to see the Princess standing at the entrance, accompanied by her maids and guards.
Seeing the Princess arrive, the noblewomen from the noble families hurriedly bowed in greeting.
Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Wei stepped forward and knelt before the Princess.
Tears welled in her eyes: “Your Highness, please hear me. The Vice Minister’s son has died in my sister’s room, and my sister is also missing. There may be thieves at work. I dare to beg Your Highness for mercy—please send someone to search for my sister.”
Liu Shi wept bitterly: “What thieves? It must be that wretched woman fleeing from guilt! My poor, unfortunate son!”
The maids accompanying the Princess exchanged puzzled glances.
Princess Yong’an also furrowed her brow.
Jiang Wei assumed the Princess’s frown was due to disgust and secretly rejoiced, already thinking of how to fan the flames further. But then, from behind the Princess’s luxurious gown, a familiar figure emerged.
Jiang Yu looked utterly bewildered: “Were you all looking for me?”
Jiang Wei’s words were instantly choked in her throat!
Everyone else also looked astonished, except for Liu Shi, whose eyes were bloodshot as she lunged forward: “Wretch! It’s all you! You killed my son!”
Jiang Yu dodged aside, watching coldly as Liu Shi threw herself to the ground, knocking her head until it bled.
Liu Shi had only one son, Xue Ji, whom she had doted on excessively.
Over the years, Xue Ji had harmed countless women. Liu Shi either lured them with money or pressured them with power, suppressing everything and allowing Xue Ji to grow increasingly lawless.
In her previous life, Liu Shi had humiliated her to protect Xue Ji, claiming her son was too young to understand such matters.
She also cursed her as a lowly merchant household attempting to climb into the family of a powerful official, resorting to seductive and disgraceful behavior.
Faced with her cries and pleas, Liu Shi looked down on her with contempt, dismissing her words as the ravings of a madwoman, not to be trusted.
Now, the tables had turned, and Liu Shi had become the madwoman crushed under power.
Jiang Yu took her time appreciating Liu Shi’s disheveled hair and deranged appearance before speaking innocently, “Madam, why are you falsely accusing me? I was with His Highness all last night. Has something happened to Young Master Xue?”
Liu Shi, disregarding the Princess’s presence, shouted curses, “You’re still pretending! My son died here—it must be connected to you! Even the Princess can’t cover for your lies—”
“Liu Shi, silence!”
Old Madam Xue hurried over and, hearing her daughter-in-law’s words, nearly fainted from fright!
She quickly stopped her and apologized to the Princess.
“Your Highness, please forgive her! Liu Shi is just speaking out of desperation. After all, the person was in Eldest Young Lady Jiang’s room…”
The Princess impatiently cut off Old Madam Xue, “Enough! Jiang Yu was with me all last night. Are you doubting me as well?”
Old Madam Xue immediately bowed in apology, “Your Highness, this humble woman wouldn’t dare.”
A faint, mocking smile appeared at the corner of Jiang Yu’s lips as she gently said to the Princess, “Your Highness~, this is a Buddhist temple, and it’s a prayer ceremony. How could a man die in the courtyard where the women are staying? Perhaps the Madams saw wrong, and it’s all just a misunderstanding?”
Her words instantly awakened everyone present.
The Princess’s gaze turned icy as it fell upon Old Madam Xue.
Sweat beaded on Old Madam Xue’s forehead.
This was a prayer ceremony presided over by the imperial Princess herself, meant to honor the souls of fallen soldiers. Such an inauspicious incident would be a stain on the imperial family’s reputation.
Moreover, it had happened in the courtyard where the women were staying.
If word got out, the imperial dignity would be damaged, and the reputations of all the women present would be ruined.
The Princess looked at Old Madam Xue and said coldly, “The Xue family’s sons should be staying in the guest meditation rooms in the front courtyard, under the monks’ care. They couldn’t possibly die here, could they, Old Madam Xue?”
This was a reminder to the Xue family that they had more than just Xue Ji, a wastrel—they had other sons with brighter futures.
Upon hearing the Princess’s words, Liu Shi’s eyes widened in horror, her throat seemingly choked, unable to even let out a wail.
She knew that Xue Ji was far inferior to the other children in the family. If they were to protect the others, her son would have to die under mysterious circumstances.
Old Madam Xue immediately said, “Your Highness is absolutely right. My daughter-in-law must have been mistaken. There’s no death here—it’s all a misunderstanding.”
Rage surged in Liu Shi’s heart, and she suddenly lunged toward Jiang Yu, “No, it’s not a misunderstanding! My son is dead, killed by this wretched woman! I’ll kill her!”
But Jiang Yu was standing right beside the Princess. Before Liu Shi could get close, the Guards seized her and threw her aside.
Old Madam Xue, terrified out of her wits, quickly ordered people to restrain Liu Shi.
Jiang Yu’s gaze fell upon the deranged Liu Shi, and she flashed a provocative smile at her.
In her previous life, Liu Shi had humiliated Jiang Yu to the extreme in order to defend Xue Ji. Now, the tables had turned, and because of Xue Ji once again, Liu Shi had become that madwoman.
Jiang Yu's mockery drove Liu Shi even more insane, and she began to curse wildly, heedless of her words.
Seeing the Princess's displeased expression, Old Madam Xue gave a servant a meaningful look. With a swift chop to the neck, the servant knocked Liu Shi unconscious.
The old madam trembled as she knelt to apologize: "Liu Shi has lost her mind. I beg Your Highness not to hold it against her."
The Princess waved her hand: "Very well. Since she has lost her mind, send her down the mountain as soon as possible. Oh, and make sure to pack up all your family's belongings."
As for what those so-called belongings referred to, the old madam understood perfectly well.