Chapter 104 ROTNDOAHRF

FlamingoBees

Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)

Rebirth of the Noble Daughter of a High Ranking Family

Chapter 104:

A Messenger of King Yama has Arrived

The day before the incense offering, Ouyang Nuan injured her foot.

Fang Mama sent someone to inform the Old Madam. Upon hearing that Ouyang Nuan was injured, Old Madam Li promptly invited a doctor to examine her and prescribed medicinal oil to promote blood circulation and dispel stasis.

After the doctor left, Old Madam Li sat by the bedside, looking at Ouyang Nuan's swollen ankle with a face full of affection, sighing. She said, "You were fine, how did you end up spraining your ankle?" Then she turned her head and angrily reprimanded Fang Mama and Hongyu, as well as others, "How did you take care of her!"

The maids and servants all knelt down upon hearing this, bowing their heads and saying, "Please punish us, Old Madam."

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Ouyang Nuan hurriedly interjected, "It's not their fault, I accidentally twisted my ankle while walking in the garden."

Old Madam Li frowned, "You are usually very cautious. How did you manage to sprain your ankle? Ah, we must not leave any problems behind, it would be terrible if you end up like your sister..."

"Grandmother, it's okay. The doctor said it's just a minor sprain," Ouyang Nuan reassured with a smile.

Li Yiniang also smiled and said, "Yes, the Princess is lucky. It's just a minor injury, surely it won't affect anything. Old Madam, please rest assured." She added. Her words flowed smoothly, and Ouyang Nuan smiled and glanced at her.

Despite their explanations, Old Madam Li's expression remained grim.

"Grandmother, don't blame sister. It was because I suddenly called her that she fell down the steps," Ouyang Jue, dressed in a blue silk robe with various treasures hanging from his belt, such as a jeweled dagger and tassels, said. His dark hair gleamed like ivory, his face tinged with a faint blush, and his bright eyes sparkled like dewy stars. He inherited his parents' outstanding looks, even when not smiling, his face still bore a hint of a smile.

Old Madam Li couldn't bring herself to scold her grandson, but she couldn't remain silent either. She scolded, "You, at your age, still playing around with your sister! Luckily, nothing serious happened this time. If something really happened, how would you compensate the Grand Princess for her daughter!"

Her tone was sour when she said this. Ouyang Nuan had become a princess, strictly speaking, without a title, others should still bow when seeing her. Fortunately, Ouyang Nuan never minded this, maintaining the same demeanor as before. Yet, the sourness in her heart still occasionally surfaced.

Ouyang Nuan smiled, "Grandmother is joking. Jue is still young, how can I not understand if he's a bit mischievous?"

Old Madam Li laughed, "You, just indulging him! Who knows what he'll become in the future!"

Then she scolded her grandson again, "From now on, you must not be reckless like this again!..."

Ouyang Jue lowered his head, "Grandmother is right, it's all grandson's fault, I won't do it again in the future."

Old Madam Li nodded with relief, "Nuan, you were frightened today. Don't go to burn incense tomorrow, just rest at home."

"Yes, thank you for your concern, grandmother," Ouyang Nuan replied softly.

Watching as Old Madam Li was surrounded by everyone and walked out, Ouyang Jue couldn't help but laugh.

Ouyang Nuan glared at him, but he wasn't afraid at all. He quickly walked over and leaned on the bed, his mouth curled up high: "Sister, this way you don't have to go to burn incense."

Ouyang Nuan smiled slightly and said, "That's easy for you to say. But it got you scolded for no reason."

Ouyang Jue laughed with sparkling eyes. "It's okay for me! But sis, you just need to pretend. Why really hurt yourself? This sprain will take at least seven or eight days to heal! How uncomfortable!"

Fang Mama chuckled from the side, "Young Master, the day for burning incense cannot be changed casually. If Miss doesn't go, it's disrespectful to the gods! Haven't you seen that Old Madam specially invited a trusted doctor for her? Do you think she's easy to deceive?"

Ouyang Jue shook his head, laughing, "Sister is really too cautious in her actions. Now that you're a princess, what can they really do to you?"

Ouyang Nuan smiled lightly and said, "Being a princess does indeed carry a lot of weight, but after all, I come from the Ouyang family. If it gets out, people might think I've forgotten my roots and am not on good terms with grandmother, which wouldn't be good for us."

Ouyang Jue nodded, concerned. "Is your injury still hurting, sister?"

"It's okay, just a slight twist. I applied some medicinal oil just now, and it doesn't hurt at all." In reality, the injury still throbbed slightly, but Ouyang Nuan didn't want Ouyang Jue to worry, so she answered like this. "You still have to go to school tomorrow. Go back and rest early."

Ouyang Jue obediently nodded, stood up, took a few steps outside, then suddenly stopped. Turning back to Ouyang Nuan, he said, "Sis, there's something strange. Recently, there have been several unfamiliar faces at our doorstep. Every time I see them, they run away. Once, I almost caught one, but unfortunately, he slipped away. It seems like someone is watching us. If you go out, please be careful."

Upon hearing this, a trace of coldness flashed in Ouyang Nuan's eyes, but she maintained a smile on her face. "Now that I've injured my foot, I won't be going out for quite some time. Don't worry."

Only after Ouyang Jue left did Hongyu glance at his departing figure, then express her concern to Ouyang Nuan. "Miss, Young Master Jue makes a lot of sense. Shouldn't we send someone to investigate?"

Ouyang Nuan gave a cold laugh. "No need to investigate. I already know who's causing trouble. Think about it. Cao Rong has suffered so much, but because of my current status, he doesn't dare to retaliate directly. He's been suppressing his anger and is bound to find someone to vent it on. Hongyu, starting from today, assign more people to protect Jue."

"But doesn't Young Master have the guards you hired with great expense? And he's being very cautious now. There shouldn't be any problems for the time being. We should be more concerned about our own safety!" Hongyu still felt uneasy.

Since Cao Rong refused to let go, she naturally had to give him a big gift, but whether he could swallow it depended on his own abilities. Thinking of this, a faint smile curved on Ouyang Nuan's lips, carrying a hint of coldness.

It was already late at night, and a light rain had just fallen. Ouyang Nuan hadn't gone out for dinner, so she hadn't done much with her appearance. She only wore a sparkling plum blossom hairpin in her hair, with a few strands falling gently on her forehead, casting a faint shadow that enhanced her features.

Half of the curtain in the lake-colored tent was pulled up, while the other half hung down like ripples, creating a serene atmosphere. Ouyang Nuan was reclining on the bed reading, while Hongyu sat under the lamp doing needlework. The faint sound of water droplets falling from the corridor could be heard, adding to the tranquility.

Xiao Tianye sneaked in over the wall by the old route, avoiding the night patrols of the maids and mothers. He quietly entered the listening pavilion. His eyes glanced subtly towards a corner of the courtyard, where he saw a maid crouching and fanning the stove, emitting a strong medicinal scent.

Xiao Tianye paused for a moment, then quickly walked around to the back of Ouyang Nuan's room and lightly tapped on her window.

Hearing the faint sound of the window frame, Ouyang Nuan couldn't help but furrow her brows, and it startled Hongyu as well. Ouyang Nuan gestured for Hongyu to go and open the window. Soon, they saw Xiao Tianye jump in through the window, his gem-like eyes sparkling brightly, illuminating the dim room for a moment.

In that moment, Ouyang Nuan felt the world around her become silent, as if time itself had frozen. Only the smile on his face seemed alive. She was momentarily taken aback before smiling herself.

"So, it seems the Prince treats my room like a market, coming and going as he pleases?" Ouyang Nuan's eyes seemed to express annoyance at first glance, but upon closer inspection, they held a hint of amusement.

Hongyu glanced down and noticed that Xiao Tianye's boots were wet from the rain, dripping water onto the floor. However, he seemed oblivious to it. He then asked Ouyang Nuan, "What's the matter?"

Ouyang Nuan was momentarily startled, then quickly covered her foot with a thin blanket and frowned. "It's nothing, just twisted my ankle."

Xiao Tianye's eyes flickered with concern, and he nervously approached, reaching out to grasp her shoulder, his words filled with anxiety. "What happened?"

"Let go! How dare you be so rude!" Ouyang Nuan didn't expect him to approach so suddenly and glared at him fiercely, her eyes seemingly emitting flames as she forcefully pushed him away. Caught off guard, he took a step back, chuckling. "You're so fierce, it seems you're fine."

Hongyu immediately stepped forward to stand in front of Ouyang Nuan, her voice cold. "Please leave, Your Highness!"

Xiao Tianye paused for a moment, then stared at Hongyu, his expression ambiguous. "A mere maid dares to stand in my way?"

Hongyu lowered her head, her body trembling slightly, but she refused to back down, and the room fell into a tense standoff.

Finally, Xiao Tianye suddenly smiled and shrugged. "I mean no harm, there's no need to be so tense. Since you won't let me see it, I'll leave." With that, he gestured to turn around, and Hongyu relaxed slightly. However, Xiao Tianye swiftly took a step around her and abruptly lifted the thin blanket, only to be surprised by the sight of the swollen ankle. "How did it swell up like this?" Without waiting for Ouyang Nuan's response, he quickly took out the ointment he carried with him and said with concern, "This is all I have on me. You'll have to make do with it for now. I'll bring better medicine tomorrow."

Ouyang Nuan was momentarily taken aback, forgetting her anger as she looked at the bottle with some curiosity. "Why do you carry this with you?"

"Too many people want me dead. I have to be cautious," Xiao Tianye replied with a slight furrow of his brow, but still smiling.

"You're right, this is a medicine for external wounds, not for sprains. Take it back," Ouyang Nuan said, but she didn't reach for the medicine bottle, just stating her decision.

Xiao Tianye smiled charmingly. "It's okay. The medicine in this bottle is a rare treasure from the palace. It's a potent blood-activating and stasis-resolving medicine, better than what the doctors in your household prescribe."

Seeing his insistence, Ouyang Nuan stopped refusing. She spoke gently to him, "It's not convenient to talk in the inner chamber. Please wait outside for a moment while I tidy up, then I'll come out and talk to you."

Xiao Tianye smiled brightly, revealing his neat white teeth with a slightly mischievous childishness. "Alright, I'll wait for you outside."

As he walked out, Ouyang Nuan relaxed. Seeing the beads of sweat on Hongyu's forehead, she couldn't help but smile and ask, "What's wrong?"

Hongyu took a deep breath. "Miss, despite the smiling demeanor of this prince, this servant can't help but feel that he's very frightening."

Ouyang Nuan thought for a moment, then suddenly remembered the scene when she first met Xiao Tianye, when he was so angry that he wanted to kill her brother and herself. She tilted her head slightly, smiling, "Don't worry, it's fine."

Hongyu then helped Ouyang Nuan change into a moon-white patterned jacket, a light purple soft silk trailing long skirt, and adjusted her hair bun, straightened the white jade hairpin, and carefully helped her put on embroidered shoes before supporting her to walk out.

As Ouyang Nuan's foot touched the ground, she was hit by a wave of intense pain. However, she grit her teeth and didn't show any signs of discomfort. She walked out step by step and gracefully sat down at the table, looking at Xiao Tianye, who was casually leaning against the beauty couch. "I've kept you waiting."

Xiao Tianye looked at Ouyang Nuan and smiled warmly. "You don't need to dress up for me. Just be yourself."

Ouyang Nuan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. "Courtesy is always necessary."

Xiao Tianye raised an eyebrow. "I snuck in over the wall in the middle of the night. I'm not exactly a formal guest, am I? So don't force yourself too much. Just be comfortable. It must be difficult to endure the pain in your foot."

Ouyang Nuan sighed softly. "If you hadn't come suddenly, I wouldn't have exhausted myself."

Xiao Tianye chuckled. "So it's all my fault then. Why don't you say you worry too much and can't let go of anything?" He looked at Ouyang Nuan, feeling a subtle and indescribable tenderness in his heart. "But if you were the type to let go of everything without worry, you might have killed me back then. Strictly speaking, I should thank you for saving my life. You didn't abandon me to die back then."

Ouyang Nuan thought of Xiao Tianye's distressed appearance at that time and smiled faintly. "Actually, on that day, I really wanted to do that. It's just that my status got in the way." She paused for a moment, deep in thought. "I still regret it a little now."

Xiao Tianye slowly revealed a hint of gentle smile, like a child who has uncovered someone's secret. There was a bit of shyness and a hint of cunningness in his smile, rippling gently at the corner of his handsome lips, his eyes bright and shining. "Regret comes too late," he said, gazing into her eyes, his own eyes sparkling. The emotions on his handsome face, like the clear moonlight, shone clearly into her heart, casting a faint shadow.

His gaze made Ouyang Nuan involuntarily want to lower her eyes, hesitating for a moment before she calmly asked, "Did the prince have urgent business for suddenly visiting tonight?"

Xiao Tianye chuckled lightly and said, "You really know how to kill the mood. Well, today I indeed have legitimate business with you. Are you going to the Water Moon Ancestral Temple to offer incense tomorrow?"

Ouyang Nuan listened, her eyebrows slightly raised, a hint of amusement on her lips as she quietly listened to him.

"Madam Cao is on good terms with the abbot of the Water Moon Ancestral Temple. It would be very easy for Cao Rong to lay an ambush there," Xiao Tianye said succinctly. "If it were someone else, now that you have the status of princess, he should keep his tail between his legs and behaved, fearing that you might cause trouble for him. But this guy is a fool. He holds a grudge against you from the last incident and has been itching for revenge. This time, he finally found an opportunity."

Ouyang Nuan lowered her head, her expression surprisingly calm. "Is the prince so sure because someone from the Cao family arranged it?"

"Exactly. The informant reported that Cao Rong found out you're going to the Water Moon Ancestral Temple tomorrow and is preparing to strike there," Xiao Tianye frowned.

Ouyang Nuan nodded. "That's good," she said, her anticipation matching exactly.

"What scheme are you plotting now?" Xiao Tianye raised his eyebrows slightly, unable to fathom her thoughts.

"Thank you for the prince's kind reminder. Unfortunately, I won't be able to go there tomorrow," Ouyang Nuan said, lowering her eyes.

"Not going?" Xiao Tianye's gaze also fell on her feet, then he raised his palm and smiled. "Good, very good."

"Is the prince's man only monitoring Cao Rong?" Ouyang Nuan suddenly asked, her gaze fixed on Xiao Tianye.

"Indeed, I can't hide anything from you. Yes, I also arranged for Cao Rong to take the elixir of immortality. In the short term, he may regain some of his former vigor, but sooner or later... he will die a painful death," Xiao Tianye's tone was affirmative and relaxed. Hongyu, standing nearby, trembled with fear, feeling that this prince, though handsome on the outside, was terribly frightening inside, capable of taking lives without making a sound.

Ouyang Nuan's smile shone brightly in the dim light for a moment, like a faint radiance: "Only the prince could come up with such cunning methods."

"If it were ordinary poison, wouldn't it be too cheap for him? Dealing with audacious individuals requires fighting fire with fire," Xiao Tianye chuckled.

Hongyu watched her mistress and the prince converse so naturally, feeling increasingly puzzled. She couldn't understand how her usually gentle mistress could deal with such a frightening figure. But as she watched the two of them in the candlelight, she faintly sensed a strange harmony between them, as if they were meant to be this way.

After a while, Ouyang Nuan brushed away the strands of hair falling on her temples and said softly, "With this, the game is set in motion."

Hongyu couldn't understand what her mistress meant by these words and was deeply puzzled. But when she saw the smile of understanding on Xiao Tianye's lips, she felt even more perplexed.

The next morning, Ouyang Ke heard that Ouyang Nuan had injured her foot and couldn't go on the trip. She was almost unable to contain her joy. Her plan was to have as few people as possible. Ouyang Nuan, with her keen insight, was always troublesome for her. So she dressed carefully and followed Old Madam Li onto the carriage, leaving the Ouyang Mansion with ease.

Arriving at Water Moon Temple, Old Madam Li and Ouyang Ke stepped out of the carriage. The abbess of the temple, Jiting, greeted them with a smile, followed by two young disciples. Old Madam Li exchanged a few polite words with her, and then Jiting turned his gaze to Ouyang Ke and exclaimed, "Oh my, Old Madam is truly blessed! This young lady is as beautiful as a goddess from the heavens!"

Ouyang Ke had rarely ventured outside since her confinement, so she had become somewhat forgotten by the public. Therefore, Jiting mistook her for Ouyang Nuan, the renowned daughter of the Ouyang family.

Old Madam Li chuckled modestly, "You flatter me, Master Jiting, please don't say that." With that, she led the way into the temple, followed by others. Behind the statue of Maitreya Buddha was a long path paved with goosefoot stones, flanked by short fences made of bamboo branches. The path was lined with peach and apricot trees, and the ground was covered in damp moss. Butterflies fluttered around the garden, and there were even two cranes, giving the place a serene and idyllic atmosphere.

Compared to the grandeur of Ningguo Temple, Water Moon Temple was much smaller. However, being closer to the capital, it attracted many high-ranking officials and nobles, resulting in a thriving temple with a bustling incense trade.

Accompanied by Old Madam Li, Ouyang Ke walked with a filial demeanor. After passing through a hundred paths, they ascended the steps to the temple. The Buddha hall was illuminated with bright candles, and there were several nuns wearing robes, striking bells and drums.

Old Madam Li, with dignified composure, solemnly paid her respects before the Buddha and instructed Ou Yang Ke to do the same. After paying respects to the Buddha, Old Madam Li, as usual, prepared to go to the meditation hall to listen to the teachings of Jiting. She instructed Ouyang Ke to wait in the guest room and specifically instructed her not to wander off, assigning two maids to accompany her.

In the meditation hall, after exchanging a few words with Old Madam Li, Jiting stood up and said, "Madam will stay for the meal today. I need to personally instruct the kitchen to prepare some vegetarian dishes." Old Madam Li, enjoying being treated with reverence, nodded in agreement. Jiting then left, not heading to the kitchen but secretly instructing a close disciple, "You go and lead Miss Ouyang to the guest room in the backyard."

The young nun nodded in understanding and quickly departed. Ouyang Ke strolled around the temple, and when she reached an old elm tree, she casually touched her head and suddenly exclaimed, "Where's my hairpin? How did I lose it?"

Yurong and Yumei, who were assigned to accompany Ou Yang Ke, exchanged glances. Yumei chuckled, "Did Miss Ou Yang lose her hairpin? Where did you lose it?"

"Oh no, I don't know, perhaps I lost it where we got off the carriage! What should I do? This hairpin was given to me by my grandmother, if I can't find it..." Ouyang Ke's face showed an anxious expression, looking at the two of them with a worried look. "Xia Xue is clumsy, so could you two sisters help me look along the way we came?"

Yurong hesitated for a moment, looking visibly uneasy. "But Old Madam instructed us to stay close to Miss at all times..."

Ouyang Ke laughed. "Why would that be? I asked for your assistance, and grandmother wouldn't blame you if she knew. Moreover, this is a nunnery, with no outsiders around. What is there to fear? Hurry along now."

Before Yurong could respond, Yumei quietly tugged at her sleeve, causing Yurong to start. Yumei then chuckled softly, "In that case, we'll just retrace our steps back the way we came. Miss, please do not wander off. We'll be back soon." With that, she took Yurong's hand and led her away.

Seeing them depart, Ouyang Ke couldn't hide her anxious expression any longer. She absentmindedly looked around, while Xia Xue behind her lowered her head, concealing a faint smirk at the corner of her lips.

As Ouyang Ke fretted, she suddenly heard footsteps behind her. Instantly perking up, she turned around, only to see Lingmiao, her forehead glistening with sweat, catching up to her. "Miss Ouyang!"

Ouyang Ke felt impatient inwardly but maintained a smiling demeanor on her face. "What is it, Junior Disciple? Is there something you need?"

Lingmiao's eyes darted around as she smiled. "The abbess was worried you might not know the way, so she asked me to take Miss to the guest room in the backyard to rest."

The guest room in the backyard? Ouyang Ke was taken aback and asked, "Do ordinary guests usually go there to rest?"

Lingmiao chuckled. "Ordinary guests don't usually come to the Nunnery. Only female guests are allowed. Miss, you can relax."

However, Ouyang Ke didn't share the same sentiment. She thought that Su Yulou would find a way to enter, but being a male guest, he couldn't brazenly appear in the Nunnery. If he had already arrived, he must be in one of the guest rooms. With this in mind, she smiled and said, "Then please lead the way, Junior Disciple."

Lingmiao led Ouyang Ke into the backyard, where a row of neatly arranged guest rooms stood quietly. It seemed deserted, as if no one was around. Lingmiao guided her to one of the rooms and said, "Please, Miss, go inside. There will be someone to serve tea. The abbess will need to speak with the junior nun later, so she asked me to leave first."

Ouyang Ke absentmindedly agreed, failing to notice the peculiar expression in Lingmiao's eyes.

Shuiyue Nunnery appeared pristine on the surface but was actually full of corruption, especially with its abbess being greedy and fond of wealth. The nuns under her command followed suit. Cao Rong could bribe Jiting, while Ouyang Nuan could easily make Lingmiao loyal to her. However, it was a case of mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

"You wait outside!" Ouyang Ke saw a figure flash inside the room and couldn't contain her joy. She instructed Xia Xue.

"Yes," Xia Xue replied obediently, bowing her head and staying in the courtyard.

At that moment, Ouyang Ke's mind was solely focused on Su Yulou! She hurried into the room. As soon as she entered, someone hugged her tightly! Ouyang Ke's heart was filled with joy, but when she looked up, she was dumbfounded. The person before her wasn't the exceptionally handsome Su Yulou, but her cousin's husband, Cao Rong! Cao Rong was also stunned! He thought the person entering was Ouyang Nuan, but he never expected it to be someone else!

On the day Lin Yuanrou got married, Ouyang Ke had once peeked at the groom through the veil, feeling sorry that her cousin was marrying such a person. But now, she found herself being embraced by him. She almost screamed on the spot! Cao Rong quickly covered her mouth and gave her a hard slap! He had initially thought that Jiting, the old nun, had deceived him. But then he suddenly remembered Ouyang Nuan telling him about her exceptionally beautiful sister. So, the so-called Miss Ouyang who had come today must be her! He glared fiercely at Ouyang Ke, thinking that her appearance didn't live up to the hype. She was nothing more than plain.

But then, he suddenly saw Ouyang Nuan's exquisite and ethereal face in his mind, and a flame of hatred and anger surged from his heart. Gasping for breath, his facial muscles contorted as he lunged forward. A voice echoed in his mind: "There's not a single decent person in the Ouyang family. It's all the same whoever comes."

Meanwhile, Old Madam Li had been listening to scriptures in the meditation room all morning with Jiting. When her hunger grew unbearable at noon, she prepared to have her meal and sent Zhang Mama to find Ouyang Ke.

At that moment, Ouyang Ke stumbled out of the guest room, pale and disoriented. Seeing Xia Xue still standing at the door, her face turned a mixture of pale and red. Without asking anything, she delivered a slap straight to Xia Xue's face, causing her to stagger. "Useless!" she spat.

Xia Xue immediately lowered her head, her voice trembling with fear. "Miss, what's wrong with you?"

"You... didn't you hear anything just now..." Ouyang Ke's voice trailed off.

Surprised, Xia Xue responded, "Wasn't Miss resting inside? I didn't hear anything at all."

Ouyang Ke suddenly burst into tears.

Just then, there was a loud noise from outside the courtyard door. Yumei rushed in, looking sweaty. She glanced at Ouyang Ke and said, "The nuns in the courtyard are so irresponsible. How could they bring Miss here without informing anyone? Madam is frantic looking for you everywhere. Luckily, I just saw that little nun a moment ago and realized you were here! Miss, you really scared me. Come on, let's go back quickly!" Seeing it was Yumei, Ouyang Ke was suddenly overwhelmed with fear and followed her almost as if being dragged.

Upon entering the meditation room, Old Madam Li frowned and stared at her, asking, "Where have you been?"

Ouyang Ke stammered, unable to speak, her eyes filled with panic. Yumei smiled and said, "Old Madam, don't worry. Miss went to the guest room to rest."

Old Madam Li nodded, grunted coldly, and didn't inquire further.

When they returned to the Pear Fragrance Courtyard that day, Ouyang Ke looked disoriented, her face pale as a ghost, as if she had lost her soul.

Xia Xue knew exactly what had happened but pretended not to, while Rui Mama, concerned, came to visit Ouyang Ke. She bombarded her with questions, and upon hearing that Ouyang Ke was ill, she immediately rushed into the room without any hesitation. She touched Ouyang Ke's head; it wasn't warm. Holding her hand, she felt it was ice-cold.

Rui Mama was shocked. "Miss, what's wrong with you?"

Ouyang Ke remained silent, staring at Rui Mama. Suddenly, she burst into tears and uttered, with deep sorrow, "It's over, it's all over!" After saying this, she sobbed uncontrollably.

Rui Mama's suspicions grew stronger, but no matter how much she asked, Ouyang Ke refused to reveal the reason. Just as they were at an impasse, they heard a servant report that Ouyang Nuan had arrived. Rui Mama gritted her teeth and quickly wiped away Ouyang Ke's tears, urgently saying, "The messenger of King Yama has arrived. No matter what grievances you have, you mustn't show them in front of the young miss!"

Ouyang Nuan walked slowly because her ankle was still injured. Despite applying the medicine Xiao Tianye had sent, her injury had healed for the most part, but she still found it difficult to walk in front of others. As she entered, Fang Mama smiled and said, "Miss Ouyang, the young lady insisted on coming to see you herself when she heard you weren't feeling well!"

Ouyang Ke hurriedly wiped away her tears and stood up. "Sister..."

Ouyang Nuan sat down on a chair and glanced at Ouyang Ke. Seeing her looking dull and lifeless, with red eyes and a pale face, completely different from her usual arrogant and willful self, Ouyang Nuan couldn't help but inwardly sneer. However, her face showed concern as she asked, "What's wrong, sister? You were fine when you went to offer incense. Why are you feeling unwell now?"

Ouyang Ke didn't dare to say anything. She hated Ouyang Nuan to the core but feared that she might catch on. She forced a smile and said, "I just caught a chill. I'll be fine after resting for a while."

Ouyang Nuan smiled faintly. "That's good. You came back late and missed Master Su and Madam Su. They only left a moment ago."

"Young Master Su's family?" Ouyang Ke's heart skipped a beat, unable to control her question, "How come?! Grandmother isn't at home, and mother..." She stopped halfway. Madam Lin had already been confined, so why would Madam Su come looking for her? And how could they have stayed until just now?

Ouyang Nuan, however, seemed unhurried. She sipped her tea before calmly saying, "They know that Father and Magistrate Zhou are on good terms. They came specifically to ask Father for help in interceding and saving Young Master Su."

"Young Master Su?!" Ouyang Ke was suddenly wide-eyed and speechless, momentarily forgetting her intense hatred for Ouyang Nuan.

Trembling, she asked, "What happened to Young Master Su?"

Seeing Ouyang Ke being led around like this, Rui Mama glared at her with frustration, but Ouyang Ke completely ignored her, only staring at Ouyang Nuan with wide eyes.

Ouyang Nuan had been waiting for this question. She sighed theatrically and said, "Sister, you have no idea. Young Master Su is truly pitiful."

"What exactly happened?" Ouyang Ke felt extremely nervous, her face flushing with urgency. However, seeing Ouyang Nuan's ambiguous smile, she suddenly realized her own loss of composure. She hurriedly went to the side, picked up a glass of cold tea from the table, and took a gulp to steady herself. Summoning her courage, she asked, "What happened?"

Ouyang Nuan's voice was filled with regret. "I've never heard of such a terrible thing. Young Master Su was captured in a room at an inn in the capital. Officials found a female corpse under the bed in his room. It's said that the woman was a singer from a brothel."

The songstress was arranged by Ouyang Nuan early on. She was a young woman who fell ill and died in a brothel. As long as the autopsy was conducted properly, it would be clear that the singer's death had nothing to do with Su Yulou. Unfortunately, even if it had nothing to do with him, Su Yulou couldn't simply walk away. The magistrate of the capital would want to make an example out of the Su family and wouldn't easily let him off the hook.

Hongyu kept her head down and remained silent. In truth, she found it very strange. They had gone to great lengths to find a female corpse, originally having one that had been murdered by a customer at the brothel, but Ouyang Nuan refused to use it. Instead, she insisted on using the one who had died of illness. This way, wouldn't Su Yulou eventually be released? However, since Ouyang Nuan didn't explain, Hongyu couldn't figure out what she was thinking.

"You're talking nonsense!" Ouyang Ke felt like she had been struck by lightning. Her eyebrows shot up, and her eyes emitted a chilling glare.

Rui Mama quickly grabbed Ouyang Ke's hand, forcing her to calm down. Ouyang Ke became furious, pushing Rui Mama away. Rui Mama staggered back a few steps. When she looked up and saw Ouyang Nuan coldly smiling at her, her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly knelt down. Ouyang Ke's eyes were blazing as she approached Ouyang Nuan, but just then, Changpu stepped in front of Ouyang Nuan and said, "Miss Ouyang, what are you planning to do?"

Ouyang Ke's face turned pale as she shouted, "Ouyang Nuan, you're lying!"

Ouyang Nuan smiled faintly. "Why would I lie about this? The Su family has nothing to do with ours. Father even mentioned it during dinner as a joke to lighten the mood. I didn't expect you to get so angry... Now, because such an embarrassing incident happened right under the nose of the magistrate, he didn't want to make a big deal out of it. He quietly detained Young Master Su for investigation. Sister, please don't be angry. Blame my straightforwardness. Some things can't be hidden. Just stop asking about it now..."

•••

**A Note From the Author**

"Ouyang Nuan and the Prince of Qin are really despicable, aren't they?" Ouyang Ke muttered, rubbing her chin.

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