Chapter 161 You… Didn’t Die?

Chapter 161 You... Didn't Die?

The moment the name left her lips, the Dowager Princess Consort's expression shifted: "What nonsense are you spouting?"

She fixed her gaze on Shang Yin's face, as if suspecting the person before her had been replaced. Yet, no matter how closely she scrutinized, she found not a trace of abnormality.

But how could Zhao Yin speak to her like this? She had raised him since childhood, knew his every habit; he lacked the ability to have maintained such a deception for over a decade.

"Did someone tell you something?"

Shang Yin scoffed: "What does the Dowager Princess Consort imagine someone might have told me? That the Zhao family colluded with the King of Northern Wilderness to annihilate the Shang clan? Or that you personally murdered Grandfather to secure your position as Princess Consort of Northern Wilderness?"

The Dowager Princess Consort's face darkened. These past events hadn't been mentioned in years, and hearing them from Shang Yin's mouth now ignited an extraordinary fury within her.

She had to concede that, for some inexplicable reason, the person before her had slipped from her grasp.

Her hand, hidden behind her back, gripped the Golden Page suspended in the air as she calmly inquired: "Are you seeking justice for the Shang family?"

Shang Yin did not deny it: "I only wish to obtain justice from the Dowager Princess Consort."

The Dowager Princess Consort narrowed her eyes, her voice cold: "Justice? What kind of justice do you seek? The Shang family never raised you. It was I who painstakingly nurtured you to adulthood. And now you would turn against me for the sake of Shang family members you've never even met? Is this how you repay me?"

Every word was a searing indictment of the person before her.

Shang Yin remained silent, listening as her voice steadily rose. He thought: If this were Zhao Yin, he would surely waver. Alas, Zhao Yin could not hear her words.

"They are your blood relatives, but am I not?" The Dowager Princess Consort's accusatory voice echoed through the dilapidated temple, each word resonating with force.

"Of course we're relatives," Shang Yin retorted with a sneer. "If not for this familial bond, how else could you have discovered the Shang family's whereabouts? And how else could you have used that information to attain your current exalted status?"

"Who told you this?"

"Has the Dowager Princess Consort forgotten? Back then, to extract the Shang family's ghost-controlling secret art from my mother, you threatened her with my life. Each time she complied, you allowed me a single visit." Shang Yin spoke each word distinctly: "When she died, you even specifically arranged for someone to take me to bid her farewell."

The Dowager Princess Consort indeed barely remembered. To her, it had been an utterly trivial matter.

That she had spared Zhao Yin's life was already an act of immense mercy on her part. As for that unsatisfactory daughter-in-law, she had merely been a stepping stone. Once her utility ceased, there was no longer any need for her to live.

The Dowager Princess Consort finally understood: "So you've resented me since childhood for causing your mother's death?"

"Yes," Shang Yin's gaze shifted from the Dowager Princess Consort to the cowering father and son.

"Besides you, there's Zhao Xun. Why should my mother die while you all live freely and happily? How unjust." Looking at the terrified expressions of Zhao Xun and his son, Shang Yin continued: "Today, I originally intended to seek revenge only against you two. Who knew Father would insist on bringing little brother along? I couldn't very well disappoint you."

Zhao Xun's lips trembled: "I am your biological father. If you dare lay a hand on me, you are utterly unfilial!"

Shang Yin merely twitched the corner of his mouth, ignoring him, and shifted his gaze back to the Dowager Princess Consort: "All that needed to be said has been said. The Dowager Princess Consort may now embark on her final journey with peace of mind."

"Indeed, it's time to depart." The Golden Page in the Dowager Princess Consort's hand suddenly began to glow with a blood-red light. Unbeknownst to her, the page had absorbed her blood, turning completely crimson.

With a fierce grip, pulses of energy radiated from the Golden Page. Only the Dowager Princess Consort holding it remained unaffected—Shang Yin, Zhao Xun, and his son all clutched their chests in agony.

As the waves from the Golden Page intensified, Zhao Xun and Zhao Zeqian collapsed simultaneously, their fates unknown. Shang Yin, his face contorted in pain, clutched his chest and vomited two large mouthfuls of blood. With immense effort, he shattered the wall behind him and fled into the distance.

Even after Shang Yin's figure vanished, the Dowager Princess Consort's hand, clutching the Golden Page, continued to tremble uncontrollably, so stiff it could not be straightened.

She stood silently in the dilapidated temple for a moment, unable to ascertain the full extent of the Golden Page's effect on Zhao Yin. For now, she had to return to the capital with utmost speed.

With this thought, the Dowager Princess Consort strode quickly toward the exit. As she passed through the temple gate, she glanced back at her biological son and grandson lying in the corner, then stepped out without hesitation.

Currently, she had no time to concern herself with the lives of others. She could only ensure her own safety first. Once back in the capital, she could send help. If they didn't survive until then... that would simply be their misfortune.

Holding the Golden Page, the Dowager Princess Consort first went behind the temple, where all the tethered horses lay on the ground—evidently not spared from the Golden Page's attack either.

Unable to ride away, the Dowager Princess Consort scanned the surroundings and then noticed the small estate across the way.

Without further hesitation, she walked briskly toward the estate.

As she descended the mountainside, Shang Yin emerged from behind a tree at the back of the dilapidated temple. Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he watched as the Dowager Princess Consort headed toward the estate.

The estate was unusually quiet today. Because A Chan had requested rest and privacy, the estate manager had instructed all tenants to return to their homes and refrain from moving about.

The tenants were quite obedient, shutting their doors early. Moreover, their dwellings were situated toward the rear, so any noise at the front would go unheard.

Thus, when the estate's main gate was knocked upon, no one answered for quite some time.

Just as the Dowager Princess Consort began to think the estate might be uninhabited, the gate creaked open.

Chen Hui looked at the Dowager Princess Consort, adorned with jewels and dressed in luxurious attire, her face showing surprise: "Madam, how may I assist you?"

The Dowager Princess Consort's gaze swept over Chen Hui. Her manners were proper, her speech and bearing polite. Judging by her attire, her family background wasn't too humble—likely comfortably well-off but not of official nobility.

She initially intended to immediately reveal her identity, but after a slight hesitation, she changed her mind: "I encountered some trouble on the road and noticed your estate. I wish to purchase a horse for travel. Might your estate have horses available?"

"I see..." Chen Hui nodded. "We do keep two horses, though they are ordinary mounts and may not suit Madam's discerning eye."

"No matter. Might they be brought out for inspection?"

"Of course." Chen Hui agreed readily and led the Dowager Princess Consort into the estate.

After walking a short distance, they came upon three adjacent rooms. One stood with its door open, with chairs and a table arranged outside where a woman sat.

The Dowager Princess Consort looked over. The seated woman was petite with exquisite features, though her expression carried a hint of lazy indifference. Even upon noticing the Dowager Princess Consort's approach, she merely lifted her eyelids to glance over without further reaction—her manners less refined than her guide's.

As the Dowager Princess Consort pondered their relationship, Chen Hui said: "Madam, the horses are kept at the rear. Please rest here briefly while I fetch them."

"Very well." The Dowager Princess Consort nodded. Though remaining cautious, she reasoned Zhao Yin had no acquaintances in the capital and couldn't possibly have conspired with anyone here.

Moreover, she still held the Golden Page for protection. Even if these two women harbored ill intentions, they couldn't harm her.

The Dowager Princess Consort was guided to a chair beside A Chan. After Chen Hui left, A Chan lifted the teapot to refill her own cup, then placed it near the Dowager Princess Consort, as if indicating she should serve herself if thirsty.

The Dowager Princess Consort found this behavior rather unimpressive. After sitting silently for a while, she finally asked: "Are you the mistress of this estate?"

"Indeed," A Chan replied languidly after sipping her tea.

"Might I inquire your name?"

A Chan's eyes sparkled as she turned her head to smile at the Dowager Princess Consort: "My surname is Ji. Ji Chan."

The Dowager Princess Consort's previously relaxed body suddenly stiffened. Her head seemed to swell as a buzzing filled her ears.

Ji Chan. This was actually Ji Chan.

The Dowager Princess Consort rarely remembered names of unimportant people, but this one had stuck in her mind after hearing it just once—because it reminded her of that fox spirit.

She disliked this name, and naturally its bearer as well, though she'd never known what its owner looked like.

Now she was seeing her in person. This couldn't possibly be a coincidence.

She watched as the seemingly delicate and harmless woman before her parted her red lips and said to her, "Or the Dowager Princess Consort can call me by another name—A Chan."

The Dowager Princess Consort stood up, her face ashen, her eyes wide as if deeply shocked. The chair crashed to the ground, but no one even looked at it.

"A... Chan?"

A Chan's eyes curved, her smile beautiful. "The 'Chan' meaning 'entwined.' Because I have a younger sister named A Mian, so I'm called A Chan."

The last faint hope in the Dowager Princess Consort's heart vanished completely with A Chan's words. Though she looked completely different from that fox spirit, she was undoubtedly that same fox spirit!

When they first met, A Chan had introduced herself exactly like this.

"You... you're not dead?"

At this moment, the Dowager Princess Consort finally realized why Zhao Yin had betrayed her—it must have been because of A Chan. This fox spirit had somehow turned Zhao Yin to her side.

Before, A Chan had used such methods to seduce her son, and now she had done the same to Zhao Yin.

A Chan adjusted the cloak around her shoulders, her fingers playing with the ties, the dangling fur pom-poms swaying slightly.

"Thanks to the Dowager Princess Consort's... kindness, I nearly died, yet here I am." A Chan's eyes curved into crescents. Though her current appearance wasn't as striking as before, to the Dowager Princess Consort, she was just as revolting.

"A fox spirit daring to possess a human—if this gets out, your death will be certain."

"Indeed, I'm deathly afraid of dying." A Chan remained languid, without a trace of fear. "So, I can only ask the Dowager Princess Consort to keep my little secret."

The Dowager Princess Consort sneered and was about to use the Golden Page in her hand again when she suddenly realized she couldn't feel her hand.

"What did you do?" she snapped, furious and shaken.

Just then, Chen Hui's voice rang out nearby, calm as ever. "Nothing much. Just gave you a little dose of corpse poison."

After reaching the second rank, Chen Hui had long since gained control of her corpse poison and no longer needed to use her own blood.

Only then did the Dowager Princess Consort remember—Zhao Yin had once told her that Ji Chan was accompanied by a second-rank living corpse.

This woman, who looked indistinguishable from a living person, was a living corpse?

Now, she had no time to dwell on it. She realized not just her hand but her entire body was growing numb. The faster her heart raced, the less control she had over herself.

Chen Hui stepped forward, righted the chair, and gently pressed the Dowager Princess Consort back into it.

A Chan propped her cheek on one hand, watching the rigid Dowager Princess Consort, who now resembled a lamb to slaughter. "Dowager Princess Consort, it's been so long. Over this past year, I've often thought of you."

The Dowager Princess Consort could only watch helplessly as Chen Hui took the Golden Page from her hand, knowing she was defeated. Despair gripped her. "What do you want?"

"Don't be afraid. I won't harm you." A Chan's voice was soothingly gentle. "I hate violence, and besides, you're the Dowager Princess Consort of the Northern Wilderness King. Killing you would mean my own death, and I'd like to live a little longer."

The Dowager Princess Consort didn't believe a single word.

Under the Dowager Princess Consort's knife-edged glare, A Chan continued leisurely, "Of course, I'm going to hand you over to your grandson. He's been waiting for this opportunity for a long time."

As soon as A Chan finished speaking, knocking sounded at the door again.

Chen Hui didn't move. A Chan tilted her head slightly. "Come in."

Shang Yin, who had been repelled by the Golden Page earlier, now leaped over the wall as if nothing had happened, carrying two people in his hands.

They were none other than Zhao Xun and Zhao Zeqian, whom the Dowager Princess Consort had abandoned earlier.

Seeing Shang Yin, the Dowager Princess Consort suddenly understood. "You... did this on purpose?"

Shang Yin dumped the two men onto the ground and looked up at the Dowager Princess Consort. "The Dowager Princess Consort has never stopped thinking about A Chan. Since you missed her so much, I naturally had to fulfill your wish. You must be absolutely delighted to see her today, aren't you?"