Chapter 28: And the entire Ruan family will be buried with my mother. [Three updates]

Chapter 28: "The entire Ruan family shall serve as burial sacrifices for my mother. —Third Watch"

Peilan was utterly horrified.

Though she considered herself superior, arrogant, and rude, she was not excessively foolish. In an instant, she had regained her composure.

She had been outwitted by Ruan Hanzhang and fallen into her trap.

Yet, the clearer her mind became, the more terrified she grew. Her eyes instantly became bloodshot, brimming with sheer panic.

Since entering the household of Count Nan'an and becoming the eldest young lady's first-class maid, she had never been in such a disgraced state.

Her lips and teeth were agape, drool spilling uncontrollably as she struggled to make a sound and beg for mercy.

But the Jingsi poison was potent; even the slightest exposure rendered one completely weak, even paralyzing the tongue, leaving one to collapse like a corpse, utterly incapable of uttering a sound.

For the first time in her life, Peilan felt despair.

Because she clearly understood that no one could save her—the last person who might have, Qing Dai, had been sent away from the palace by her own doing.

She had dug her own grave.

Ruan Hanzhang smiled charmingly and reached out, slowly unbuttoning Aunt Peilan’s garments.

"Auntie, are you wondering how I found out? And why I planned ahead to ensnare you?"

Peilan’s eyes widened in terror, her fear unmistakable.

Ruan Hanzhang continued without pause, her expression turning serious as she swiftly helped Peilan change into her own clothes.

She went on, "Do you think it was a coincidence that Ruan Hanzhen fell ill? Or that I just so happened to be seen by the Ruan family’s servants, looking so similar to Ruan Hanzhen?"

Peilan’s breath hitched.

Ruan Hanzhang sighed, her tone even tinged with mock pity. "Did she break out in rashes all over, with red marks that wouldn’t fade, no matter how many doctors she saw?"

Peilan: "..."

Using her last ounce of strength, Peilan struggled to speak: "It was you!"

Ruan Hanzhang replied with a smile, "Yes, it was me."

She sighed. "Enough of that. Originally, swapping identities would have required considerable effort on my part. After all, the Blazing Stone is extremely rare. For months, I searched everywhere without success and had almost resolved to acquire it at a high price from Cloudtop Pavilion. But then, my dear father and mother, out of their concern for me, went through the trouble of sending this item worth a fortune into the palace."

"Of course, I couldn’t waste their supposed affection. I had to graciously accept it. I’m truly thankful to them."

Peilan’s chest heaved violently, clearly overwhelmed by fear and unable to control her emotions.

She even felt a trace of resentment.

Having been played for a fool for three months, thinking she was succeeding, only to be checkmated and utterly defeated in the end.

By now, Ruan Hanzhang had finished changing Peilan’s clothes and began taking down her hair, meticulously styling it.

She worked with great care, showing no disgust, and within moments, had Peilan fully dressed and groomed.

Now, Peilan wore hairpins identical to Ruan Hanzhang’s, and the sachet and jade pendant at her waist were bestowed by Jing Huayan. From head to toe, she was an exact replica, without a single flaw.

Ruan Hanzhang had rehearsed this plan a hundred times in her mind. Even though it was her first time executing it, she was neither unfamiliar nor clumsy but instead efficient and skilled, clearly demonstrating her confidence and long-standing preparation.

Finally, Ruan Hanzhang removed the five-colored bracelet made by Cai Nu Su from her wrist and took off the mutton-fat jade consort's bracelet she wore daily, carefully fastening them onto Peilan.

"Auntie, with this makeover, you still possess quite the charm."

Ruan Hanzhang said with a laugh, bending down to scoop Peilan up effortlessly and carrying her to the bedside, where she placed her on the low couch in front of the bed.

She even arranged her in a crawling position, as if Consort Zhuang Ruan, sleeping lightly, had been startled awake by the fire, fallen to the ground, and been unable to get up.

As luck would have it, all the palace maids in Tangli Pavilion were absent today, leaving no one to save Consort Zhuang Ruan. Helpless and alone, she would meet her end in the flames.

This was originally the script the Ruan family had prepared for Ruan Hanzhang, but now, it had become Peilan’s solo performance.

Lying on the ground, Peilan now realized that Ruan Hanzhang possessed such immense strength.

She had never displayed it before, and only today did Peilan come to understand.

But it was too late.

This wretched woman was too adept at deception, having fooled everyone. Now that Peilan understood everything, she knew Ruan Hanzhang intended to kill her and use her as a substitute, to be the Consort Zhuang Ruan who perished in the fire.

The Ruan family, the master and lady, and she herself had schemed for months, only to have the prize snatched away by the very person they believed was trapped like a turtle in a jar.

Why? Why?

What would she do after the swap?

Peilan’s heart pounded, her mind reeling with shock.

Her face pressed against the cold carpet, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes.

Yet she still struggled, writhing in a desperate bid to survive.

Like a dying fish out of water, flailing uselessly in the mud, ugly and contorted.

She didn’t want to die, she didn’t want to die!

Ruan Hanzhang began changing into a palace maid’s attire.

"Auntie, why the tears?" she said with a smile. "Weren’t you so delighted when you gouged out someone’s eyes back then?"

"I remember you saying that sparing a wretch’s life was an act of mercy on your part."

Peilan’s eyes snapped wide open.

She... she!

Ruan Hanzhang changed into the bamboo-green palace dress that Qing Dai usually wore, re-styled her hair into the palace maid’s twin-looped hairstyle, swapped in a pair of silver earrings, and tucked a silver hairpin into her bun.

This was the standard attire for a third-class palace maid. Except for the distinctive hair accessories, everything else was ordinary.

Once dressed, she took an identification waist token from the dressing case and hung it directly on her belt.

Peilan’s tears continued to flow. Through her blurred vision, she made out that waist token.

How had she even gotten her hands on that? When did she manage it?

Pressed for time with much to do, Ruan Hanzhang had no leisure to engage with her. She turned and sat before the mirror, applying ointment to the edges of her face.

"Yes, you guessed correctly. I am Xuan Ruoning’s daughter. Back then, when my mother brought me to seek recognition, Ruan Zhongliang refused to acknowledge his original wife. Whether Liao Shuyan was deceived by him or truly malicious, she ordered us, mother and daughter, locked in the woodshed. We were given only water daily, left to starve for ten straight days."

"Later, Liao Shuyan originally only intended to kill my mother and me, but it was you who said my mother was still beautiful—wouldn’t it be a pity to simply kill her? So, she ordered you to blind my mother, and finally sold us both to Chun Fang Garden."

"And even sold for a good price in the end."

Ruan Hanzhang spoke of this deep hatred, yet her eyes and tone remained so calm—so calm it made your blood run cold with fear and trembling.

"Aunt Peilan, if it were you, would you be resentful?"

How could she not?

If it were her—if it were her—she would surely make her enemies beg for death.

Peilan struggled to open her mouth wide, but could only let out terrified whimpers.

She was crying and sniveling, a pitiful mess.

At this moment, Peilan clearly realized she would certainly not survive.

Fresh hatred and old grievances, with her life at stake—this little wretch hated her to the core.

Ruan Hanzhang worked on her face, and after a moment, gently peeled off the mask, applying Pearl Revival Cream meticulously.

With one less layer of constraint on her face, she felt much more comfortable.

Ruan Hanzhang let out a breath, her voice still completely flat: "Peilan, my mother is gone, but I am still here. I'm glad you're all doing so well."

She suddenly let out a light laugh: "Because I will send every one of you to hell—I alone will take your lives."

Peilan strained to open her mouth, gasping for air with great effort, but after a moment, she could not produce a clear sound.

At this moment, her mind was filled with nothing but questions.

How is this bitch still alive?

How did she survive?

Where did she acquire these skills? How did she know about the Ruan family’s schemes? Was there a traitor in the Ruan family, or was she truly powerful and knowledgeable?

Countless questions raced through Peilan’s mind. She could no longer voice them, and even if she did, Ruan Hanzhang wouldn't have answered.

There was simply no need.

When Ruan Hanzhang turned back again, Peilan’s eyes suddenly widened.

The Ruan Hanzhang before her now wasn't Ruan Hanzhang at all.

The beauty before her was of peerless elegance—willow-leaf brows and cherry lips, a tall and straight nose, and bright, phoenix-shaped eyes. She was three times brighter, three times more dignified, and three times more beautiful than the previous Consort Zhuang Ruan.

The final touch was the light in her eyes.

Only now did the pearl regain its brilliance, with boundless radiance.

Their faces were slightly similar, but their temperaments were completely different.

All traces of coy charm had vanished, all vulgarity had disappeared, replaced by the grace that comes from a cultivated mind.

Now Peilan finally realized—this bitch had been planning this. From the very beginning, what she had seen was not the little wretch’s true face.

Peilan closed her eyes, tears streaming down, soaking into the wool carpet beneath her.

Ruan Hanzhang glanced down, thinking what a shame.

The carpet was tightly woven, plush and comfortable, with an elegant pattern—she had always liked it.

What a shame it would have to be buried with Consort Zhuang Ruan today—such a waste of a rare treasure.

Ruan Hanzhang, without a speck of makeup, was naturally stunningly beautiful in her natural state. She sat back down before the dressing mirror and began to apply her makeup once more.

In just a short while, a plain and unremarkable young face appeared again in the clear multi-panel mirror.

Ruan Hanzhang curled the corners of her lips, giving her reflection a meek, humble smile.

The figure in the mirror had now transformed into a timid, inexperienced young maid.

Ruan Hanzhang nodded in satisfaction and quickly left the bedchamber. Moments later, she returned carrying a heavy wooden bucket in one hand and diligently began splashing its contents around the Tang Li Pavilion.

The rich, mellow aroma of wine spread, permeating the entire Tang Li Pavilion.

Ruan Hanzhang worked meticulously and with great efficiency. Only after she had soaked the entire bedroom with fine wine did she clap her hands and place the wine bucket beside the arhat bed.

After making simple arrangements, Ruan Hanzhang reapplied the face skin she had removed onto Peilan’s face.

"Auntie, see how kind I am to you? I'm letting you die beautifully—you should thank me."

Peilan closed her eyes, having already lost all will to resist.

Ruan Hanzhang smiled faintly. She took one last look around the Tang Li Pavilion where she had lived for two months, then took out that precious Blazing Stone from her bosom.

She placed the Blazing Stone on Peilan’s back and looked down at her.

"Let me reintroduce myself. My surname is Jiang, given name Yunran."

Fear spread through Peilan’s bones, but she could not move at all, forced to listen to her ghostly voice.

"Jiang is my maternal grandfather’s surname, and the name was given by my mother," Jiang Yunran checked the items she carried. "And Ruan Zhongliang is indeed my biological father."

"My mother never deceived anyone. The heartless and ungrateful Chen Shimei is none other than Ruan Zhongliang."

Peilan’s breathing grew rapid, almost suffocating.

Jiang Yunran looked down at her, taking out a flint from her sleeve.

"Don’t worry, you won’t be the only one in the Ruan family to die by my hand. Liao Shuyan, Ruan Zhongliang, Ruan Handong, and your loyal Ruan Hanzhen—I will not leave a single one of them."

"You go first. I’ll send them to meet you slowly, each one dying happy and joyful."

Jiang Yunran opened the fire starter, gave it a light blow, and a faint flame lit up her plain, unfamiliar features.

But that appearance, in Peilan’s eyes, was like a demon.

The last thing she heard in her life was Jiang Yunran’s cold words.

"From today onward, there will be no more Ruan Hanzhang in this world."

"And the entire Ruan family will serve as burial sacrifices for my mother."