Jiang Wei’s expression nearly faltered. “Yes… yes.”
She cursed inwardly, a flash of malice in her eyes.
That damned wretch—her words sounded like an insult directed at her! Yet she couldn’t refute them.
Seeing Jiang Wei’s stifled expression, Jiang Yu felt a surge of satisfaction.
She couldn’t be bothered to engage further with Jiang Wei and pretended to be tired, leaning against the carriage wall and closing her eyes to rest.
Only when Jiang Wei thought she had fallen asleep did she allow her resentment to show.
With many carriages descending the mountain and the journey slow, it was already early in the Shen hour when the two sisters returned to the Jiang residence.
Lady Miao, Jiang’s second wife, came out personally with her trusted Nanny Fang to greet them.
As they stepped down from the carriage, Lady Miao affectionately took Jiang Yu’s hand. “A’yu, you’re finally back. Were you tired from the journey?”
Nanny Fang chimed in with a smile, “Madam has been thinking of you every day since you left, Eldest Young Lady.”
Looking at Nanny Fang’s fawning face, Jiang Yu slowly smiled. “Aunt truly dotes on A’yu.”
She then turned her gaze to Lady Miao.
Lady Miao’s features were merely delicate, but she had a gentle and amiable demeanor, always wearing a smile that earned her a reputation for kindness and benevolence.
Jiang Yu studied Lady Miao’s face carefully, her tone soft and unhurried. “A’yu has missed Aunt dearly as well. I will surely take good care of you in the future.”
Lady Miao found Jiang Yu’s tone somewhat odd, but seeing no change in her expression, she dismissed it as her own imagination.
She patted Jiang Yu’s hand affectionately. “Hot water has been prepared in your courtyard. Rest early today. You’ve grown thinner after these few days away.”
Jiang Wei coquettishly clung to Lady Miao. “Mother, why do you only have eyes for Elder Sister? I’m tired too.”
Lady Miao lightly tapped her hand. “If you’re tired, go and rest. If you were even half as obedient and sensible as your sister, I would naturally dote on you too.”
Jiang Wei pouted. “Fine, fine. My parents are Elder Sister’s parents too.”
Jiang Yu merely smiled, but a layer of frost gathered in her eyes.
If not for dying once, she would still be kept in the dark, unable to see the schemes hidden behind that benevolent facade, believing that Lady Miao truly loved and cherished her.
She had been obedient, sensible, giving everything, clinging to that tiny bit of kindness, yearning for familial affection, only to be schemed against until not even her bones remained.
In her previous life, she had only managed to burn down the marquis’s estate and kill Jiang Wei, with no chance to seek revenge on the others.
Fortunately, Heaven took pity and allowed her to return.
A gentle smile surfaced on her face. “Aunt, I am truly tired today. I’ll return to my courtyard first.”
Lady Miao said tenderly, “Alright, go ahead. I’ve prepared bird’s nest porridge for you. I’ll have it sent over shortly. Drink it before you rest.”
Jiang Yu looked at her, her smile growing even gentler. “Thank you, Aunt.”
As Jiang Yu left with Lan Xiang, Lady Miao’s tender expression shifted to one of disgust.
She brushed her sleeves and frowned. “What ill fortune. Every time I face this jinx who brings calamity upon her kin, I feel nauseous.”
“Mother, let’s go find Father. Since we failed this time, we need to discuss our next steps with him.”
Lady Miao cursed, “That little wretch is truly tough to kill!”
In the Green Pine Courtyard.
Jiang Huaiyi was painting in his study. After hearing Jiang Wei’s account, his brush paused, and he sighed. “What a pity, such an opportunity…”
“Father, what should we do next?”
Jiang Huaiyi set down his brush. “We originally intended to spare her life. Since she refuses it… then increase the dosage of that medicine.”
Jiang Huairong had given both his children a foreign secret medicine, making them immune to all poisons.
It can withstand deadly poison, but not hallucinogenic toxins.
With a sufficient dose, it can still drive her mad.
Lady Miao hesitated slightly: "But… if Jiang Yunze returns and discovers it, it might be hard to explain."
"He's been away all this time, and the household is filled with our people. How would he know? I'll have a way to handle it when the time comes."
Jiang Huaiyi looked at Jiang Wei: "We must also keep an eye on Lan Xiang. Don't let her say too much."
Jiang Wei nodded: "I've already arranged it. However, she wouldn't dare—we still have evidence of her selling Jiang Yu's jewelry."
Jiang Huaiyi was pleased: "Good."
Just as they were speaking, a servant rushed into the courtyard and knelt outside.
"Second Master, Second Madam, something has happened at Hibiscus Courtyard."
Hearing this, Jiang Huaiyi frowned slightly, while Lady Miao and Jiang Wei both rose to their feet.
Lady Miao snapped sharply: "What's all this panic? What happened?"
"Lan Xiang… Lan Xiang seems to be possessed."
Lady Miao exclaimed: "What?"
Jiang Huaiyi's expression darkened. He said to Lady Miao, "Go and see what's happening."
Lady Miao and Jiang Wei hurried over with a few maidservants.
Jiang Huaiyi lowered his gaze to the unfinished painting of plum blossoms braving the snow on the table, a sense of unease rising in his heart.
It seemed something had slipped beyond his control.
Hibiscus Courtyard was now in chaos.
As Lady Miao and Jiang Wei stepped through the courtyard gate, they were startled by the woman's shrill, piercing screams.
The two hurried over.
The door to the main room was suddenly pushed open.
Jiang Yu's head maid, Nanny Gui, was shielding her as they retreated from the room.
With the door wide open, the scene inside was fully visible.
Lan Xiang seemed to have gone mad, smashing and destroying everything in sight.
Clothes and jewelry were scattered across the floor, the incense burner overturned—a complete mess.
When Jiang Yu saw Lady Miao, she immediately ran toward her, grabbing her hand and weeping pitifully: "Aunt, Lan Xiang… Lan Xiang has gone mad."
Lady Miao looked at Jiang Yu, crying as if her heart would break, and then at Lan Xiang, who was wrecking the room inside, utterly bewildered.
Nanny Gui, who had been protecting Jiang Yu, also approached: "Second Madam, quickly have someone restrain Lan Xiang. If she continues like this, she might hurt the young ladies."
Before she finished speaking, Lan Xiang charged out the door, scissors in hand, heading straight for them.
Jiang Yu screamed and hid behind Lady Miao and Jiang Wei.
In the chaos, Jiang Wei felt someone shove her hard from behind. Caught off guard, she stumbled forward a few steps.
By the time she regained her senses, Lan Xiang, eyes bloodshot, was already right in front of her.
Lan Xiang's eyes were crimson, and she thrust the scissors toward Jiang Wei.
Jiang Wei instinctively raised her arm to block.
With a tearing sound, blood splattered as the scissors slashed Jiang Wei's hand.
"Wei'er!"
Lady Miao screamed in alarm and rushed forward!
Jiang Yu stood behind them, a cold smile curling her lips.
Jiang Wei, terrified, fell to the ground, her hair disheveled and her appearance utterly disgraced.
Lan Xiang was pulled away by the maidservants who had finally reacted and pinned to the ground.
"Wei'er, are you all right?"
Hearing her mother's voice, Jiang Wei snapped back to reality and felt the pain in her hand. Lifting it, she saw a horrifying sight: from the back of her right hand to her forearm, a deep gash had been slashed by the scissors, the flesh torn open.
Jiang Wei cried out: "Ah, my hand! Mother, it hurts so much…"
Lady Miao rushed forward, pressing a handkerchief to Jiang Wei's wound.
She shouted at the maidservants beside her: "Go and fetch the doctor!"
Lady Miao glared furiously at Lan Xiang. "What is wrong with this girl? Has she gone mad…"
Halfway through her words, Lady Miao abruptly stopped.
Lan Xiang, pinned to the ground by several maidservants, continued to struggle desperately.
Her eyes were bloodshot, like those of a madwoman. This state… could it be that she had taken Fusheng Powder?