Chapter 99: They have been secretly communicating, intimate for over a year.

Chapter 99: They had long been secretly involved, their intimate relationship spanning over a year.

Winter in Yujing was bone-chilling.

The wind from Baimo carried ice shards, stinging faces painfully.

If one dressed lightly, a single gust of cold wind would send shivers down their spine.

As soon as winter arrived, the price of firewood and charcoal in Yujing soared.

Common folk lit their stoves early to brave the long nights, and every morning, piles of coal ash could be seen at alley entrances.

Those struggling in poverty would collect these, sifting out unburnt coal bits for reuse.

The Ruan residence in Camphor Lane, however, had no such worries. Even the servants' quarters were warm and pleasant in winter.

Early that morning, the Ruan household was bustling.

Servants prepared carriages, older female servants sorted out the personal effects Mrs. Liao would take to the palace, and personal maids attended to Mrs. Liao's washing and dressing, all with downcast eyes and humble demeanors, respectful and obedient.

It was a court holiday, so Ruan Zhongliang was still at home.

He was an early riser and had already finished a set of Five-Animal Exercises in the courtyard before returning to his room to wash his face.

Seeing Mrs. Liao applying makeup, he smiled gently and said, "My dear, you must give our daughter sound advice during your visit to the palace."

Liao Shuyan glanced at him through the bronze mirror, her gaze blurred in its reflection.

"Yes, my lord," Liao Shuyan replied. "Rest assured."

Husband and wife exchanged a look, understanding passing wordlessly between them.

Just then, Auntie Xing entered from outside and bowed to them.

Ruan Zhongliang spoke warmly, "Auntie Xing, you have worked diligently. Your contributions are remembered in my heart."

Auntie Xing hurriedly said she didn’t deserve such praise.

Ruan Zhongliang smiled, his demeanor still calm and gentle.

"Your entire family has served with dedication, and you have been diligent in the palace. I am truly grateful," he said, taking a sip of tea to moisten his throat. "Our daughter has been spoiled by us and is quite spirited in temperament. We rely on you, Auntie, to guide her, especially since my wife cannot always be in the palace with her."

Auntie Xing stiffened slightly and quickly replied, "This servant will do her utmost."

What exactly she would strive for, she did not elaborate.

Ruan Zhongliang nodded with satisfaction. "Your son is clever and capable. He has been transferred to manage the estate as a steward. Your daughter is graceful and intelligent—my wife mentioned the butler’s eldest son seems a fine match. What do you think?"

The Ruan family’s butler was not bound to servitude; with Ruan Zhongliang’s support, his eldest son had studied in a school since childhood and was said to be quite talented.

This marriage proposal was far better than any position as an estate manager.

Auntie Xing’s eyes lit up, and she felt more assured. She said, "Thank you, my lord. Thank you, madam."

Liao Shuyan rose, supported by her maid, and smiled warmly. "We have been together for thirty years; our bond is unlike any other. I have watched your daughter Hong grow up, and it brings me joy to see her find a good marriage."

Hearing this, the attending maids couldn’t help but show envy.

What a great fortune it was.

Auntie Xing also broke into a happy smile.

There was no end to her expressions of gratitude.

Amid the winter chill, the Ruan residence was filled with warmth and joyful laughter.

Before long, the couple made their way to the dining hall for breakfast.

Ruan Zhongliang served Liao Shuyan a bowl of spicy soup and said, "You love this dish the most. Once you enter the palace, the rules are strict, and you won’t be able to enjoy it for days. Eat heartily today."

"Thank you, my lord."

The couple’s affection for each other was the envy of all around them.

Nanny Zou, who had recently begun attending to Mrs. Liao, smiled and said, "In all the capital, you won’t find another master who cherishes his wife as much."

Auntie Xing, standing to the side, shot her a cold glance but said nothing more.

In the midst of breakfast, Butler Geng entered with bowed head and said softly, "My lord, madam, the young master did not finish his reading last night and rose early to continue his studies. As time is short, he said he would not come to see madam off."

Liao Shuyan looked concerned. "Dong’er is so diligent, but he must remember to rest occasionally to avoid exhausting himself."

Ruan Zhongliang patted her hand. "Isn’t he striving to excel in the spring imperial examinations to bring you honor? Besides, he is a young man—what does some hard work matter?"

It made sense.

With only three months left until the spring examinations, time was indeed tight, and success or failure depended on this effort.

Liao Shuyan turned to Ruan Zhongliang and said finally, "My lord, you must also take care of your health."

After breakfast, Ruan Zhongliang personally saw Liao Shuyan to her carriage.

Auntie Xing followed close behind, meek and submissive, earnestly agreeing to everything Ruan Zhongliang advised.

Seated in the carriage, Liao Shuyan lifted the curtain and said softly to Ruan Zhongliang outside, "My lord, you may return to your duties."

Ruan Zhongliang nodded, his gaze passing through the narrow carriage window to rest on Auntie Xing’s face.

"Madam, may you have a smooth journey."

"Auntie Xing, I entrust my wife and our daughter to you."

The carriage rattled along the bluestone-paved road, surrounded by vendors who had already set up their stalls. The air was filled with the smoke of cooking fires and the lively bustle of the crowd.

The route from the Ruan residence to the palace necessarily passed through this busy alley. Whenever they traveled this way, the carriage slowed, and the noise from outside seeped in relentlessly.

Liao Shuyan frowned slightly.

Auntie Xing comforted her in a low voice, "Madam, endure it for a few more years. Once the young master achieves prominence, the family can move to Wutong Lane, and you will no longer be bothered by this noise."

Liao Shuyan sighed.

"Five years, ten years—now twenty years have passed," she said. "Yet we still live in Camphor Lane."

This was something Auntie Xing could not respond to.

Liao Shuyan was the eldest daughter of a noble house, born with a silver spoon in her mouth. She had grown up in Wutong Lane, and when it came time to choose a marriage, she had no other choice than Ruan Zhongliang.

In those days, the Ruan family was humble and obscure, with only Ruan Zhongliang showing exceptional promise—a young man with a future.

After moving from the quiet Wutong Lane to the noisy Xuancao Lane, Liao Shuyan couldn't sleep well for the first few years.

Later, Ruan Zhongliang did pretty well for himself, rising step by step until they finally moved into Camphor Lane.

With its sprawling home, fancy clothes, and rich food, it seemed just like back in Wutong Lane.

Yet this noisy lane leading to the palace still displeased Liao Shuyan.

This kind of lowliness and disorder remained a burden she could never shake off. Even after twenty years, it hung over her, refusing to go away.

Soon, the carriage left the chaotic lane and entered the tree-lined avenue before Dongping Gate.

In an instant, everything went quiet.

The two in the carriage did not speak again.

It wasn’t until the carriage stopped at Dongping Gate that Liao Shuyan’s expression softened.

She had once again become the gentle and amiable Mrs. Liao.

There weren’t many officials' families entering the palace today—only four or five carriages ahead. A short wait of half an hour would suffice for entry.

Liao Shuyan had originally intended to wait quietly, but unexpectedly, a familiar face appeared at Dongping Gate. The woman's aunt spoke a few words to the eunuch guarding Dongping Gate, and the eunuch promptly went to the carriage in front of theirs, preparing to let them jump the line.

Liao Shuyan was annoyed, her eyelids immediately drooping.

Auntie Xing forced a smile, "Perhaps it’s on account of the Imperial Consort that they’re allowed to enter early."

"How thoughtful of them. Not like our Nannan, who only knows how to act coy and spoiled, doesn't have a practical bone in her body."

The mother was scolding her daughter, a subject a servant like me couldn't easily jump into.

Auntie Xing, at this moment, was stewing over Liao Shuyan's earlier arrangements. The longer they waited, the more anxious she grew.

Liao Shuyan, distracted and irritated, didn’t notice and only said, "That girl is even more thoughtless."

Noble Consort Yao had the sense to send someone to arrange for her family to enter the palace early. Ruan Hanzhen had received the news early on, yet she didn’t think to make arrangements ahead of time, leaving them waiting here.

Auntie Xing was spacing out and didn’t hear her.

After what felt like forever, it was finally the Ruan family’s carriage’s turn.

The eunuch in charge had this sycophantic smile plastered on his face, his attitude exceptionally respectful. After politely having the palace attendants inspect the carriage, he said, "Sorry for the inconvenience, ma'am. Please convey my greetings to Concubine Hui."

Mrs. Liao now wore a gentle smile. "The hard work's appreciated, sir."

She offered a tip. The eunuch’s smile remained unchanged, though he discreetly weighed it in his palm.

"Let them through."

The carriage drove through the East Peace Gate.

It moved forward until it stopped in a secluded palace alley.

Auntie Xing’s face turned pale.

"Madam, I—"

Mrs. Liao’s face was like thunder. She said icily, "Don't you forget about your family."

Auntie Xing clenched her jaw, her arms trembling.

Seeing how truly frightened she was, Liao Shuyan thought for a moment and then reassumed a gentle demeanor.

"Just take a quick look—that's all you need to do."

"Once you've seen it, return to Changxin Palace immediately," Liao Shuyan reassured her, "for your own good as well," she added.

Auntie Xing took a deep breath, her hands still shaking as she stepped down from the carriage.

Liao Shuyan personally placed the food box in her hands: "Her Highness's favorite is the locust flower cakes from the imperial kitchen. Bring some back to lift her spirits."

"Yes."

The carriage moved forward, leaving emptiness in its wake.

Stepping out of the warm carriage, Auntie Xing was struck by a biting cold.

She stood before the empty palace alley, scanning her surroundings, completely bewildered.

She didn't want to go, but if she didn’t, she was truly afraid.

Auntie Xing stood there drawing deep breaths, originally intending to gather courage, but the icy air filled her lungs, triggering a sudden coughing fit.

"Cough, cough, cough."

Just then, she heard a low growl, and a dark shadow darted past her feet and vanished.

"Ah!"

Auntie Xing let out a terrified scream.

When she regained her senses, the echo still rang of her own cry in the palace alley.

"Ah, ah."

Her heart hammered in her chest, and for some reason, after the scare, she felt less afraid than before.

It was just a damned little beast, messing with me.

Let's get this over with.

Auntie Xing took a deep breath, stamped her numb feet, and turned toward another alley.

This place was even more remote than the Guanghan Palace. The deep palace alley was covered in fallen leaves; no one had bothered to sweep them, and they crunched underfoot with every step.

Auntie Xing walked swiftly, almost jogging past the dry leaves, stirring up clouds of dust.

Soon, she arrived before a secluded courtyard.

This place was originally a stable for palace attendants to water the horses, but after the imperial stables were moved to the front court, it was abandoned.

Auntie Xing pushed open the door; the dilapidated door creaked, making her jump, her heart seizing.

A cold wind blew past, whipping up countless dried leaves from the ground.

Auntie Xing let out another breath and stepped through the doorway.

She walked forward a few steps, her attention entirely focused on her surroundings, completely missing the unusual movement behind her.

Behind her, the door did not close by itself.

Crunch, crunch.

Footsteps echoed in the deserted courtyard, and Auntie Xing felt disoriented, as if the sound had a double layer, overlapping here, and time rewound to that snowy day.

Step by step, she moved forward until she reached a tight stone well.

The well was covered by a stone slab, as if sealed shut.

Steeling herself, Auntie Xing reached out to push the slab aside.

She had to see whether that wretched woman was truly dead.

But before her hand could touch it, a cold finger suddenly closed around her neck.

A sudden, tightening pain left Auntie Xing no time to struggle. Her breath caught, and she could only let out guttural, choking noises.

"Is this how you killed me?"

"I’ll let you taste the pain of being murdered."

An icy, spectral voice spoke from behind.

Auntie Xing shook with terror.

With a clatter, the food box fell to the ground.

Her eyes bugged out, blood vessels bulging grotesquely, making her look horrifying.

"Hel…"

"Help?"

A frigid aura swept over from behind, seeping into her very bones.

"I pleaded for my life just like this, begging you not to kill me," the apparition behind her hissed, "and what did you do?"

The pressure on her throat made it impossible to breathe. Now, her will to survive overpowered her fear. She reached up, trying to break the grip.

But before she could touch those icy hands, a sharp pain exploded across her forehead.

Thump.

Auntie Xing’s eyes fluttered shut, and she slumped unconscious.

Jiang Yunran stood amidst the carpet of dead leaves, sneering at the dark stain spreading across Auntie Xing’s skirt.

"With courage like this, you dared to kill?"

"Absolutely deranged."

————

When Auntie Xing woke, her head pounded with agony.

It was a struggle to open her eyes; the world swam before her, darkness pressed in on her, leaving only a bone-deep chill.

She felt sick to her stomach, as if she needed to vomit. She wanted to pat her chest but found herself completely unable to move.

Her hands were tied behind her back, ropes also tied around her ankles. Like a wretched, ugly maggot, she could only writhe helplessly on the ground.

Unable to escape this predicament.

Only then did she notice the dampness at the hem of her skirt, a cold that fueled her humiliation.

How could this be?

How could she have done something so humiliating?

As these thoughts crossed her mind, grit from the floor pierced deep into her lungs with each breath, making her cough.

"Hack-hack-hacking."

"Awake, are we?"

A sinister voice slithered through the dark—cold, disembodied, unsettling.

Auntie Xing was startled, and her coughing ceased abruptly.

"Who are you?"

"Why have you tied me up?" Auntie Xing postured. "Do you know who I am?"

The person said coldly, "Who are you?"

"You’re a dog of the Ruan family, an accomplice to their murder and arson. If the Ruan family are great villains, you’re their willing accomplice."

A chill ran down Auntie Xing’s spine.

She finally realized why this cold voice sounded so familiar—she had heard it before, weeping and begging for mercy.

What had she been doing then?

She had coldly picked up a stone, smashing it again and again against the other’s head until blood flowed and tears of blood filled her eyes.

Was an avenging spirit here to claim her life?

Auntie Xing shivered uncontrollably. The room was utter blackness; she could see nothing, only a darker patch in the shadows.

That shadow stared gloomily at her, as if ready to kill her for revenge at any moment.

"You’re not dead?"

"*Impossible*, *impossible*, *impossible*!"

She had killed that person herself—watched her take her last breath, and personally thrown her into that well.

Though the stone slab covering the well wasn’t heavy, climbing out from inside was impossible.

"*Impossible*…"

Auntie Xing spun into hysteria.

The shadow sighed. "Of course I’m dead."

She laughed coldly. "Didn’t you kill me with your own hands? Auntie Xing, your memory’s selective."

Auntie Xing stopped trembling.

"You're not Yin Zhui, you're deceiving me," she forced herself to stay calm. "You're playing ghost to scare people. Who are you really?"

Compared to her, Ruan Zhongliang and his wife have taken more lives. If vengeful spirits truly exist in this world, why are those two still enjoying wealth and status, sleeping soundly at night?

The shadow didn't speak, but Auntie Xing could sense pity in her gaze.

That kind of pity was deeply unsettling.

"Release me," Auntie Xing blurted out. "Let me go, and I'll give you all my money. I won't report this to Concubine Hui either."

She was actually threatening the other party.

The shadow suddenly let out a cold laugh. "What is Concubine Hui?"

"Auntie Xing, I really pity you. Even as you became the Ruan family's scapegoat, you still expect them to show mercy and save you."

"Otherwise, why do you think they sent you alone to confirm whether Yin Zhui is dead?"

The other party didn't hide the fact that they were pretending to be a ghost.

Auntie Xing was stunned. Dizzy and confused, she couldn't grasp the meaning behind those words.

The shadow sighed. "You're so foolish."

"That day, when Beauty Wei made a huge scene, the palace servants didn't dare talk about it openly, but privately they said it was Ruan Concubine Hui who harmed Yin Zhui."

"Otherwise, why would Beauty Wei single out Ruan Concubine Hui?"

"And you, refusing stubbornly to reveal where Yin Zhui's body was hidden."

Auntie Xing prided herself on her intelligence. She had hidden this matter just to protect herself, and Liao Shuyan hadn't pushed further. Who would have thought that Beauty Wei would cause a scene, claiming over and over she knew where Yin Zhui was?

This made Liao Shuyan suspicious.

She pressured Auntie Xing to confirm whether Yin Zhui was dead or alive.

Only Liao Shuyan knew about this matter, so the one who attacked her...

Auntie Xing had done so many dirty deeds for the Ruan family. She had taken more than one life, yet for some reason, Yin Zhui's eyes filled with blood and blood-curdling curse at the moment of death always made her blood run cold.

She was naturally malicious and never assumed the best about others. She understood Liao Shuyan's true nature better than anyone.

Now, Auntie Xing seemed to realize something. She shouted in disbelief, "Is Madame trying to kill me to keep me quiet?"

The shadow sighed again.

"Auntie Xing, you've finally shown some intelligence. It's a shame..."

"It's a shame you chose the wrong path, helping evil people."

Auntie Xing's eyes also turned red with anger. Her face contorted with rage: "How many things have I done for Liao Shuyan? How many people have I killed? How could she treat me like this?"

"Because you didn't handle this properly, allowing Beauty Wei to show up."

"Auntie Xing, the Ruan family has no use for people who mess up."

Auntie Xing trembled. She tried to see the person in the darkness clearly and said, "Did Liao Shuyan send you? Why not just kill me directly?"

This truly wicked Auntie Xing still possessed a bit of intelligence.

Even in such a situation, she could still weigh her options.

Jiang Yunran slowly stood up. She stepped out of the darkness, slowly appearing before Auntie Xing.

Auntie Xing's eyes widened. She stared at Jiang Yunran in disbelief, her lips trembling, unable to utter a word.

Jiang Yunran's smile was gentle, like spring blossoms, warmth coming from her.

"Auntie Xing, do you still recognize me?"

She directly sat down on a nearby stool, calmly looking at Auntie Xing.

Auntie Xing stuttered, "Beauty Jiang?"

Jiang Yunran smiled and said, "It's me. Seems your mind is still sharp."

"So you should understand why I am here," Jiang Yunran sighed. "Because I saved you."

Auntie Xing didn't speak immediately. After thinking for a moment, she said, "You saved me from the Ruan family, but then tied me up here. You want to..."

"You have questions for me?"

Jiang Yunran clapped her hands approvingly. "As expected of the Ruan family's most outstanding Auntie Xing. It would be wonderful if you could work for me."

Auntie Xing wasn't swayed by her praise. She simply watched Jiang Yunran quietly, trying to appear composed.

"What does Your Ladyship wish to know? I will tell you everything. I only beg Your Ladyship to spare my life."

She knew when to cut her losses. Now that she was in Jiang Yunran's hands, if she said nothing, Jiang Yunran could easily kill her and send her to the well to join Yin Zhui.

Since the Ruan family had already made their move, Ruan Zhongliang's assurances this morning were no longer valid.

No wonder she hadn't seen her son and daughter in the past few days since returning home. Every time she asked, she was told they were working at the estate.

Perhaps...

Thinking of the Ruan couple's blood on their hands, Auntie Xing was filled with hatred. She had done so much for the Ruan family, yet they didn't even spare her young children.

Auntie Xing looked at Jiang Yunran, her eyes pleading: "Beauty Jiang, I will tell you everything you want to know."

"I only beg you to spare my life."

Jiang Yunran smiled and said, "That can be arranged. I appreciate those who know how to adapt, and coincidentally, Auntie Xing, you are one of them."

She didn't immediately ask about the past, only saying, "Auntie Xing, how did you kill Yin Zhui?"

Auntie Xing paused, then finally sighed.

"Liao Shuyan had long noticed the close bond between Beauty Wei and Yin Zhui. She wanted me to kill Yin Zhui when she left the palace and discard her body in a busy palace corridor."

"At that time, Yin Zhui's death would trigger Beauty Wei's illness. With the severe cold and her frail health, it would certainly do permanent damage."

Jiang Yunran interrupted her: "Did Yin Zhui discover something beforehand?"

Auntie Xing was taken aback and said, "Your Ladyship is truly prescient."

"Yes, when Yin Zhui went to the Imperial Hospital to fetch medicine, she happened to discover that I had been ordered to replace Beauty Wei's medicine there. At the time, I didn't know who had found out. Later, Beauty Wei stopped having her medicine decocted at the Imperial Hospital, and Yin Zhui avoided eye contact, so Liao Shuyan figured she knew the truth. Naturally..."

Auntie Xing's voice turned cold: "Naturally, she had to be silenced. This is the Ruan family's usual method."

Yin Zhui's death truly achieved two goals at once.

"It's just that Yin Zhui was too clever. After she realized I was following her, she deliberately avoided going to Dongping Gate and instead headed straight toward the old stables. I had no choice but to kill her there."

The old stables were in a remote location. Nanny Xing couldn't have moved her body to a heavily trafficked palace alley after killing her. The plan to use Yin Zhui's death to provoke Beauty Wei had clearly failed.

Yin Zhui had to die, so Nanny Xing had a spur-of-the-moment idea: she killed Yin Zhui right there and threw her into the well.

Her disappearance would achieve the same goal.

Speaking of this, Nanny Xing even seemed proud: "You see, Beauty Wei was driven to despair over Yin Zhui. She went out searching in the heavy snow and harmed her health."

It's just a pity...

It's just a pity that Beauty Wei only fell ill for a few days before recovering completely.

Because of this, Mrs. Liao was very dissatisfied and frequently rebuked Nanny Xing.

The events that followed were known to everyone in the palace.

Jiang Yunran nodded; now she understood Yin Zhui's intentions.

She had guessed that Nanny Xing intended to kill her in a public place, so she deliberately chose a remote palace alley to prevent Nanny Xing from carrying out her plan.

Disappearance was far less damaging than a public killing. Even if Nanny Xing was ruthless enough to kill her and dispose of the body, she couldn't move the corpse near the Eastern and Western Six Palaces.

The more remote the palace alley, the later the body would be discovered. If the discovery happened after the new snow, the blow to Beauty Wei would be lessened.

If she was lucky, and Nanny Xing hid her to protect herself, then that would be the best outcome.

In hopes of her reappearance, Wei Xinzhu could hold on to life and keep surviving.

Even in her final moments, she was still thinking of Wei Xinzhu.

Jiang Yunran fell silent for a moment before asking, "There's one more thing I want to know."

Nanny Xing was eager: "You may speak, Your Majesty."

She was extremely uncomfortable and wanted to escape this predicament as soon as possible.

"Why did Mrs. Liao take a liking to Lord Ruan back then?"

Jiang Yunran was somewhat puzzled: "Mrs. Liao was of noble birth. Although Lord Ruan was indeed talented and renowned from a young age, his social standing was truly beneath her."

She used this question to slowly lead into the story of the past.

Indeed, as Mrs. Liao's personal handmaiden, Auntie Xing knew Liao Shuyan intimately.

"Liao Shuyan had a very difficult life at the House of Nan'an. Although she was the eldest daughter by the first wife, her mother passed away when she was young. The old Count soon remarried, and the entire household was controlled by the stepmother," Auntie Xing said. "For the sake of appearances, the stepmother wouldn’t choose a terribly poor match for Liao Shuyan, but she also wouldn’t choose a particularly good one, lest Liao Shuyan turn against her later—it wouldn’t be worth the risk."

"Because of the Second Young Master Liao?"

The Second Young Master Liao was Liao Shuyan's biological younger brother, who died at the age of twelve after falling from a horse. From then on, the House of Nan'an could only be inherited by the Third Young Master, the stepmother's son.

Auntie Xing wasn’t surprised that Jiang Yunran had investigated in such detail. She nodded: "Not only in the House of Nan'an, but throughout the entire capital, people suspected that the stepmother was behind it. Liao Shuyan firmly believed it too."

"To escape the stepmother's control, Liao Shuyan needed to secure a good marriage for herself," Auntie Xing said. "Back when Ruan Zhongliang first passed the imperial examination at the local level and earned the rank of scholar, Liao Shuyan had already set her sights on him."

Jiang Yunran's heart clenched, as if something exploded in her mind, with clues suddenly falling into place.

"So their beginning wasn’t 'snatching a groom from the rankings'?"

Auntie Xing sneered: "How could it be?"

"Liao Shuyan and Ruan Zhongliang had been secretly entangled since the provincial exams. Their connection was close all along," Auntie Xing said. "Otherwise, how do you think Ruan Zhongliang managed to achieve such a high rank in the palace examination?"

"The Ruan family didn’t have that many scholarly texts, nor did they have enough money to hire famous tutors."

"They had been in a clandestine relationship for over a year, maintaining a close relationship."