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Jiang Si stood in the shadows of the corridor, her fingertips digging deeply into the red-lacquered pillars.

She watched as Su Ning and Master Zhuang were drinking and chatting happily in the front hall, while the third young lady, known as "Barefoot Ghost," sat quietly to the side.

Her slender, pale fingers held the celadon wine cup, revealing a touch of the dignified grace of a lady from a prominent family.

"Have you seen enough?"

The sudden male voice behind her made Jiang Si tremble.

Su Ning had left his seat at some point and was now leaning against a pillar, playing with a blood jade thumb ring.

The moonlight outlined his sharp features, and the scar at the corner of his right eye glowed with an eerie red light.

"Owner……"

"Go away! We don't need you here anymore."

"Yes! Master."

Suning has opened a bookstore in Beijing, and it's a large five-story bookstore. Now you can sit here and watch the market unfold.

After Su Ning brought Jiang Si back to the Earl of Zhongqin's mansion, he took her to the backyard, and Jiang Si no longer needed to hide in the void.

"Jealous?"

"No...no." Jiang Si's pupils shrank suddenly.

"Jiang Si, are you very resistant to me bringing you out of the 'Like Brocade' dungeon world?"

"No! Jiang Sisheng will be your slave for all eternity."

"Hmph! You're just saying that."

"This servant wouldn't dare! I'm just worried that it might affect Master's plans."

"Plan?" Su Ning suddenly chuckled and pulled her into the side room next door.

The sound of the door latch falling startled the sparrows perched under the eaves, and he untied the jade belt from his waist with one hand.

"Jiang Si, I've changed my mind."

"what……"

"I've raised you for so long, it's time to eat you up."

"Ah... Master..."

Jiang Si was pressed down onto the embroidered stool by him, and a sharp pain came from the back of her neck—it was Su Ning biting her.

This realization sent shivers down her spine, a mixture of fear and secret joy.

"Master, will you really marry Zhuang Hanyan?" Jiang Si asked tremblingly, before being turned over.

The darkness in Su Ning's eyes startled her; it was the look of a wild beast eyeing its prey.

"Of course! Only in this way can we get as much into the story as possible and obtain more essence and fortune when we finally complete the mission."

"Master, what do you need so much world origin and fortune for?"

“A smart girl wouldn’t ask that.” Su Ning slowly stroked the red mark on her collarbone. “But I’m really in a good mood tonight.”

He suddenly ripped open her clothes, revealing the flame-shaped brand on her shoulder. "The reason is that I have my own vast world, and only the origin of the world and its destiny can make my world stronger."

"Wouldn't those worlds that have lost their origin and destiny be in dire straits?"

"It won't have a big impact! At most, there will be no more martial arts masters."

"This……"

Amidst the intense pain and pleasure, Jiang Si vaguely remembered that she was now Su Ning's slave, and there was no way she could ever resist again, for all eternity.

When the second watch gong sounded, Su Ning was already standing neatly dressed in front of the window.

He casually tossed a piece of mutton-fat jade pendant onto the messy bedsheets: "From now on, you are my woman, Su Ning's woman. I hope you can truly forget about Yu Qi."

Jiang Si's knuckles turned white as she gripped the mutton-fat jade pendant, because this pendant was the one Yu Qi had given her years ago.

"Oh, right! I forgot to tell you something. I had already refined Yu Qi into an avatar, which is why he was able to marry Lu Chuchu and Cui Mingyue."

"What? So Yu Qi has completely disappeared from this world?"

"That's right! In order for you to be reborn, he sacrificed his own life. The world he was reborn into became my clone, so he is completely dead."

"..."

"Jiang Si, forget him! There will never be a future for you two."

……

As dusk settled, Zhuang Hanyan stood quietly by the window, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the demonic rune on her wrist.

Chai Jing knelt on one knee behind her, his red dress appearing as blood-red in the candlelight.

"Han Yan, we've found out. Lord Fu brought this back from Danzhou." Chai Jing presented a tattered piece of cloth with both hands, on which dark brown bloodstains were faintly visible.

Zhuang Hanyan took the piece of cloth, and when her fingertips touched the dried bloodstains, the runes suddenly became hot.

She clenched her fist tightly; it was a fragment of the indigo gown her uncle wore before he died.

"How much did he find out?" Her voice was colder than the night wind outside the window.

“Not many.” Chai Jing looked up, his eyes filled with murderous intent, “but dangerous enough! Han Yan, should I take care of him?”

Zhuang Hanyan turned to look at the bronze mirror. The woman in the mirror had beautiful features, but she couldn't hide the fierce look in her eyes.

The bloody night at Danzhou Port three years ago resurfaced in my mind: my uncle's ferocious face, my aunt's sharp nails, and the blood-dripping dagger in her hand.

“Make it clean,” she finally spoke, her voice barely audible. “Don’t leave any traces! If you find you can’t, get out of here.”

A complex emotion flashed in Chai Jing's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination: "Don't worry! You saved my life, young lady, I would gladly die for you."

"..."

Outside the window, a withered leaf twirled and fell, as if foreshadowing the impending bloodshed.

……

Fu Yunxi walked alone under the moonlight, holding two strings of candied hawthorns in her hand.

Ah Zhi loves this the most, even though Han Qin always says it's too sweet and bad for your teeth.

Recalling his daughter pouting and begging for candy, his stern features softened unconsciously.

"Sir, would you like to buy a skewer of candied hawthorns?" A hunched old man suddenly emerged from the shadows at the alley entrance, his voice hoarse as if sandpaper were being rubbed.

Fu Yunxi paused slightly.

It was late at night, so where would the vendor come from? But he still took out some copper coins: "Two skewers, please."

The old man's hand trembled as he took the copper coin, and the coin clattered to the ground.

By the moonlight, Fu Yunxi could see the flame-shaped brand on the other person's tiger's mouth, which was the mark of the Black Shark Gang!

He suddenly retreated, and almost simultaneously, three crossbow bolts flew past his temples and embedded themselves deeply in the wall behind him.

The old man had vanished without a trace, and the surroundings were eerily silent.

"Come out." Fu Yunxi slowly unfastened the sword at her waist. "Zhuang Hanyan's shadow."

The woman in red gracefully descended from the eaves, her curved blade gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

Without uttering a word, she aimed the blade straight for Fu Yunxi's throat.

Amidst the flashing blades, Fu Yunxi's left arm was slashed open, leaving a bloody gash.

He grunted, but then gave a meaningful smile: "You're quite skilled, young lady, but you're still a bit short of killing me?"

"Hmph! Arrogant!" she said sharply, her attacks becoming even more ferocious.

As Fu Yunxi fought and retreated, she unknowingly led Chai Jing into the Fu residence area.

Just as Chai Jing slashed at his face, he suddenly stepped on a mechanism, and the ground suddenly sank!
Chai Jing reacted quickly, dodging the trap with a somersault, only to see Fu Yunxi standing calmly under the eaves, a rope appearing in her hand at some point.

"Tell that Miss San that if she wants to kill me, she should come in person."

"..."

Chai Jing gritted his teeth and threw three darts, then leaped onto the wall while Fu Yunxi dodged.

Before leaving, she threw a tinderbox towards the main house.

In an instant, flames licked at the window frame and spread rapidly.

Fu Yunxi did not chase after them, but simply watched the towering flames quietly, a faint smile playing on her lips.

……

The farmer's backyard.

"Father, what did you say?" The teacup in Zhuang Hanyan's hand fell onto the Persian carpet, leaving a dark stain.

Zhuang Shiyang sighed and took out a yellowed letter from his pocket: "This is the betrothal letter from the Fu family back then, and your name is clearly written on it."

Zhuang Hanyan took the letter, her fingertips trembling slightly.

The writing on the paper had faded, but the four characters "Zhuang Shi Han Yan" were still legible. She suddenly remembered that when she was a child, her aunt often scolded her as a "worthless returned item," and she realized that there was such a hidden story behind it.

"Back then, after you were labeled a 'barefoot ghost,' the Fu family wanted to break off the engagement. It was your sister Yuqin who volunteered to marry in your place, which saved face for both families."

Zhuang Hanyan felt as if a huge rock was pressing on her chest.

She always thought that her eldest sister's marriage into the Fu family was a perfect match, but she never knew that there were such twists and turns behind it.

"Why is Father telling me this now?" she asked, forcing herself to remain calm.

Zhuang Shiyang hesitated for a moment, then finally patted her shoulder and said, "Fu Yunxi's return this time is probably not simple. So you'd better be careful."

After he left, Zhuang Hanyan held the letter close to the candlelight.

Just as the flames were about to engulf the paper, a soft sound came from outside the window.

She turned around alertly and met Chai Jing's pale face.

"Han Yan, I failed this time." Chai Jing knelt on the ground, a sword wound on his shoulder still bleeding, "but I still managed to burn down his house."

Zhuang Hanyan's hand trembled, and the letter fluttered to the ground.

In the firelight, the expression on her face was chillingly complex.

The next morning, Zhuang Hanyan was bandaging Chai Jing's wounds when a maid rushed in, saying, "Third Miss, Lord Fu and the Eldest Miss have returned! They said there was a fire at the mansion and they need to stay for a while."

Zhuang Hanyan tightened her grip, causing Chai Jing to groan softly as the bandage constricted.

She composed herself: "Which courtyard should we arrange it in?"

"Originally, the Second Miss wanted to give up the East Wing, but Master Fu insisted..." The little maid glanced at her, "...and insisted on staying at the Bamboo Rhyme Pavilion next to our courtyard."

The wound medicine in Zhuang Hanyan's hand fell to the ground with a "bang".

The Bamboo Rhyme Pavilion was separated from her boudoir only by a bamboo grove; it was clearly aimed at her.

Before she could think it through, a commotion of voices came from the front yard.

Through the window, she saw Fu Yunxi in a dark blue long robe, bending down and saying something to Azhi.

The little girl held a delicate rocking horse in her arms, her eyes crinkling with laughter.

"Third Aunt!" Ah Zhi, with her sharp eyes, broke free from her father's hand and ran towards her. "The little horse that Daddy made for me!"

Zhuang Hanyan subconsciously squatted down, but Azhi grabbed her wrist.

The girl innocently stroked the rune on her wrist: "Third Aunt, do you have little bugs here too? Daddy drew a lot of these bugs last night."

Fu Yunxi rushed forward and picked up Azhi, but it was too late.

Zhuang Hanyan suddenly looked up and met his eyes.

In those usually unfathomable eyes, a fleeting emotion she couldn't decipher flickered.

"Azhi, what nonsense are you talking about?" Fu Yunxi patted her daughter's back gently, but her voice was unusually clear. "Last night, Father was investigating a case, not drawing insects."

Zhuang Hanyan felt a chill run through her body.

The mark of the Heart-Eating Gu throbbed on her wrist, as if reminding her that this man knew far more than he showed.

At this moment, Zhuang Yushan's sharp voice broke the eerie silence: "Brother-in-law, are you injured? Are you alright?"

Fu Yunxi smiled slightly, but her gaze remained fixed on Zhuang Hanyan: "It's alright! In fact, thanks to this fire, I had the opportunity to revisit this place."

Zhuang Yuqin stood to the side, her handkerchief twisted tightly in her hand.

Her gaze toward Zhuang Hanyan was complex and difficult to decipher, containing both guilt and a hint of inexplicable jealousy.

In fact, she knew very well that she was just a substitute for Zhuang Hanyan.

The wind rustled through the bamboo leaves, as if telling a secret buried deep within the family for many years.

Zhuang Hanyan suddenly realized that she was standing at the center of a huge vortex, and the one who stirred up this storm was the very person she thought she hated the most.

……

Chai Jing knelt on one knee in front of the embroidered stool, her fingers unconsciously stroking the curved knife at her waist: "Does Miss really intend to keep Fu Yunxi in the courtyard? He clearly let his subordinate go on purpose that night."

Zhuang Hanyan was inserting a sprig of white plum blossom into a celadon vase when she heard this, her wrist paused slightly, and the petals fell softly onto the dressing table.

The bronze mirror reflected her half-smile: "Since he dares to burn down his own house to set up this scheme, let's see who this fire will burn down."

The sound of light footsteps came from outside the window, and Chai Jing instantly disappeared into the shadows of the curtains.

Zhuang Yushan, accompanied by two rough-looking old women, pushed open the door and entered. The gilded armor clanged against the door frame. "Third sister, you have quite the airs. Your brother-in-law has come to inquire about the case, and you're hiding inside."

"Second sister, watch your words." Han Yan slowly arranged the broken plum blossoms into a cross. "Lord Fu is now the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and you keep calling him brother-in-law..."

She suddenly looked up. "Wouldn't it be heartbreaking if my older sister heard that?"

“You…” Zhuang Yushan’s expression changed drastically.

Now that her secret has been exposed, she suddenly grabbed the jade hairpin from her vanity case: "Zhuang Hanyan, don't think..."

Suddenly, Granny Chen rushed back in a panic, "Second Miss! Lord Fu is coming this way!"

While everyone was scrambling to tidy their clothes, Fu Yunxi's figure had already appeared outside the moon gate.

Today he wore a light blue robe, but at his waist hung an iron ruler from the Dali Temple, its black iron gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

"This humble official has disturbed you." His gaze swept over the jade hairpin clutched by Zhuang Yushan. "Second Miss, this hairpin... seems to be a style from the palace of the previous dynasty?"

Zhuang Yushan panicked immediately.

This was indeed stolen from the old lady's storeroom. Just as he was about to explain, he saw Fu Yunxi turn to Han Yan: "Is it convenient for you, Miss Third? We still need to ask about the case in Danzhou Port."

"Please proceed, sir." Han Yan stepped aside to make way, and suddenly felt the rune on her wrist faintly burning.

She instinctively pressed her wrist, meeting Fu Yunxi's unfathomable eyes. She always felt that Fu Yunxi was very strange.

In the side hall, Fu Yunxi took out an oil paper package from her sleeve: "Want to try some? It's a new osmanthus pastry from West Street."

However, Zhuang Hanyan kept everyone at arm's length, saying, "Sir, if you have something to say, why don't you just speak frankly? What have you found out?"

“The cause of your uncle and aunt’s deaths is quite interesting.” Fu Yunxi suddenly leaned forward, the scent of ambergris mixed with the stench of blood wafting towards her. “It’s like they were hacked to death by a novice.”

A crisp "click" sounded outside the window.

Han Yan's pupils contracted slightly; it was the sound of Chai Jing snapping a tree branch.

"So what? Aren't there any inexperienced pirates?"

“What the Third Miss said makes sense! But we at the Dali Temple still feel that this matter is not simple, and there must be some unknown secret.”

"This is a matter for your Dali Temple! Lord Fu doesn't need to explain anything to me."

Han Yan abruptly pulled her hand back, and the teacup overturned on the bluestone ground.

The loud noise attracted the attention of the servants outside the courtyard.

Fu Yunxi, however, had already resumed her businesslike expression: "Third Miss, you've been frightened! I'll come to consult you again tomorrow at noon."

Once the footsteps had faded into the distance, Chai Jing finally climbed down from the beam: "Miss, would you like to..."

"Hmph! Fu Yunxi did this on purpose." Han Yan stared at the winding tea stains on the ground. "First she burned down the house and moved in, then she brought up the case in public. She's trying to force me to lose my composure."

Just then, a young maid came running up, panting: "Third Miss, the Old Madam requests your immediate presence at Songhe Hall!"

In the courtyard filled with pine and cypress trees, Zhuang Hanqin was kneeling on the bluestone slab.

She held the sleeping Ah Zhi in her arms, her plain white dress stained with mud.

The old lady, Madam Wei, shouted angrily through the bamboo curtain: "Yuqin, the Fu family has treated you well, yet you allow your husband to covet your sister-in-law!"

A wild goose stood frozen under the eaves.

It turns out that Fu Yunxi's behavior just now was calculated so that it would reach the old lady's ears.

Just as she was about to go in, she suddenly saw Ah Zhi open her eyes groggily and reach out her little hand to her: "Third Aunt."

The servants in the courtyard gasped in shock.

"Grandmother, did you call me for something?"

"Hanyan, Lord Fu and your sister are staying at our house temporarily now. You must remember to keep your distance from Lord Fu."

"Grandmother, it's always Lord Fu who comes to me to inquire about matters in Danzhou. Should I refuse?"

"Hmph! Danzhou! Danzhou! When will this ever end?"

“Grandmother, to be honest, I also find it very puzzling. It seems that in Lord Fu’s eyes, the fact that I was able to return to the capital alive means that I have some unknown secret. According to his wishes, I should have died along with my uncle and aunt.”

"Uh... Han Yan, you don't need to overthink it! Lord Fu is probably just investigating the case."

“Grandmother is right! However, to avoid suspicion in the future, whenever Lord Fu comes to investigate a case, I will bring Lord Fu with me to bother you, Grandmother.”

"Well, that's good! Also, Yushan, you should stay away from Lord Fu from now on."

"Yes, Grandmother."

...(End of chapter)