I was pampered like a treasure after being married off to the young marshal, but my father and broth

She showed no sign of it on her face, but instead appeared to be relieved: "It's good that Mother-in-law is alright. I studied at the Medical Academy for a few years before, so I can take care of common colds and flu. If Mother-in-law is feeling unwell in the future, please have Granny Yan call me. Although doctors outside are good, they are not as caring as family."

"Okay, I feel much better knowing you have such filial piety." Si Nan nodded with a smile, picked up her chopsticks again, and said, "Eat quickly, the porridge is getting cold."

The two ate in silence for a while longer.

After finishing his breakfast, Shang Sheyu didn't linger and got up to take his leave.

Watching that slender figure disappear behind the curtain, Si Nan's smile vanished instantly.

She threw her chopsticks on the table and turned to look at Granny Yan: "How can you be so careless? Are you getting old?"

Granny Yan quickly bowed: "Please forgive me, Madam, this old servant did not know what time the Third Young Mistress returned to the manor last night..."

After all, she was his old woman who had been with him for decades, and Si Nan couldn't bear to see her groveling. He raised his hand to interrupt her: "Has the situation at the East Garden been resolved?"

"Don't worry, it was all cleaned up last night. The bloody gauze and medicine bottles were burned, leaving no trace."

The old lady turned to look out the window, her gaze fixed on the high-walled courtyard to the east, her brows furrowed, and she remained silent for a long time.

Once outside Beiyuan, a gust of cold wind cleared Shang Sheyu's head considerably.

She wrapped her cloak tighter around herself, her steps neither hurried nor slow.

My mother-in-law's words just now were clearly an attempt to cover up the truth.

She came this morning to find out what was going on, and it turned out just as she expected.

Whether it was Granny Yan's overreaction or her mother-in-law's lie, it all confirmed one thing—there was a "ghost" in the East Garden.

Before we knew it, we had reached the fork in the road leading to the West Garden and the East Garden.

Shang Sheyu stopped in his tracks.

To the left is the road back to the West Garden, and to the right is a bluestone path covered with fallen leaves that leads directly to the abandoned East Garden.

At this time, the sky was bright, and although the sun was not warm, it shone brightly all around.

The main gate of the East Garden was deserted, without even a gatekeeper.

If it's truly wasted, then so be it.

But if there are people hiding inside, how come there isn't even a guard?

Unless, the mother-in-law deliberately left herself unguarded, intending to use this "empty city stratagem" to deceive others.

The less people guard it, the more they think it's just a pile of junk and they don't think too deeply about it.

"Xi'er".

Xi'er, who had been following closely, quickly asked, "Miss, what's wrong?"

She looked around and lowered her voice: "Keep an eye out at the alley entrance for me. If anyone comes, cough loudly."

Xi'er followed her gaze to the East Garden, her face instantly turning deathly pale: "Miss, where...where are you going?"

After hearing that the young master of Huai'an had set a trap for the young lady, Xi'er had inquired about it in the mansion.

The East Garden was once the son-in-law's old residence, and unauthorized personnel were not allowed to enter.

Moreover... it's rumored that the son-in-law is a madman, and the old house looks eerie.

Xi'er shrank back. "Miss, it looks scary over there. Who knows what might jump out? Let's go back."

"What could possibly jump out in broad daylight?" Shang Sheyu glanced at her. "Just keep an eye on it."

After saying that, she lifted her skirt, looked around to make sure no one was around, and then tiptoed toward the East Garden.

Seeing that her mistress was determined, Xi'er had no choice but to huddle trembling against the wall, her eyes darting around like a thief.

The closer you get to the East Garden, the heavier the desolate atmosphere becomes.

The snow on the ground was unswept, and it crunched loudly when stepped on.

The withered grass in the corner of the wall poked its yellow head out of the snow and trembled in the wind.

Shang Sheyu walked to the front door and took a deep breath.

Besides the cold wind, there was also a faint, yet undeniable, fishy smell in the air.

Her heart was pounding, and her palms were covered in cold sweat.

She knew she shouldn't go in; there might really be some strange things inside, but curiosity overcame reason.

She reached out and gently pushed the heavy door.

The door wasn't locked.

He quickly slipped into the courtyard and left the door slightly ajar behind him.

The courtyard was even more desolate than the outside, with withered branches and fallen leaves covering the ground.

In the very center was a two-story building, with its windows boarded up tightly.

Shang Sheyu held his breath, tiptoed, and walked step by step toward the small building.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the whistling sound of the wind blowing through the bare branches.

As he approached the carved door, Shang Sheyu leaned closer, squinted one eye, and peered through the crack in the door.

It was pitch black inside, and you couldn't see anything.

Just as she was about to look at it from a different angle, a pair of dark eyes suddenly appeared!

Those eyes were bloodshot, filled with violence and murderous intent, staring intently at her through the crack in the door!

Their eyes met unexpectedly through the crack in the door.

"what!"

Shang Sheyu was so frightened that she let out a short scream and instinctively tried to back away, but a large hand suddenly reached out from inside the door, grabbed her collar, and pulled her inside.

boom!

The door closed behind him.

In a dizzying moment, she was grabbed by the neck by that cold, rough hand and slammed against the door.

"Well!"

My throat felt like it was being crushed, and all the air in my lungs was being squeezed out.

The room was dark, with no lights on.

Using the faint light filtering through the crack in the door, Shang Sheyu opened her mouth wide and stared in horror at the person who had pinned her against the door.

He is very tall.

The person was shrouded in shadow, making it impossible to see their face.

But the strong smell of blood on him, mixed with the smell of medicine, went straight into Shang Sheyu's nose.

The hand gripping her neck continued to tighten.

The fear of suffocation made Shang Sheyu's vision begin to black out, her scalp throbbed, and tears streamed down her cheeks to her chin, finally dripping onto the man's arm.

She struggled desperately, kicking her legs wildly and scratching at the man's arms with her hands.

But the arm was as hard as iron and did not move an inch.

"court death."

The man's deep, husky voice sounded in my ear, yet it seemed to drift from afar.

The lack of oxygen to her brain caused her vision to gradually blur, but her dark pupils gradually enlarged in her eyes.

In her past life, she was humiliated by that group of beggars and then wrapped in a straw mat and thrown into a stinking ditch.

In the last moment before her consciousness faded, she vaguely saw a tall and imposing figure crouching down beside her.

The man took off his military green cloak and covered her battered body with it.

She struggled to open her eyes, trying to see who was covering her.

But in his last moments before dying, he only saw that the man was wearing a military cap and a black mask, with only his eyes showing.

There was no disgust for her broken body in his eyes, only endless pain, regret, and heartache.

The feeling of suffocation caused Shang Sheyu's consciousness to begin to dissipate. Her survival instinct gave her a burst of strength, and she gripped the man's arm tightly, her nails digging deep into his flesh.

"I...I am...the third young mistress of the Quan family."

"I am... Shang, Shang Sheyu."

"I accidentally intruded... Please..."

Intermittent pleas escaped her lips, and the large hand gripping her neck suddenly froze for a moment.