Chapter Nineteen: Collateral Damage

“This is only natural.”

The two returned separately to their meditation rooms, as if nothing had happened.

Qing’er couldn’t help but say, “It seems the madam and her daughter don’t just target the young lady; no one escapes their schemes!”

“Xue Shoucheng, the nephew who inherited the title, benefits the Qiao family, so naturally, she puts effort into plotting on their behalf. But Fifth Sister will definitely inform Third Aunt, and she’s not one to be trifled with. I helped her daughter this time, so she’ll owe me a favor.”

Though Third Madam wasn’t necessarily a good person, she wouldn’t harm others without reason—that was enough. After all, who was truly innocent?

At midday, after having their vegetarian meal in the dining hall, Lady Qiao and Third Madam Cheng went ahead to accompany the matriarch to listen to the sutras.

Jiang Yu asked, “Where shall we take a walk?”

As she spoke, she poured tea for Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan instinctively considered where to go, reaching for her tea.

Jiang Nian gently squeezed her fingers; Jiang Yan suddenly realized and broke out in a cold sweat down her back!

Yet she quickly recovered, turning to Jiang Li and saying, “Second Sister, would you mind getting me a piece of pastry?”

Jiang Li, whose mother had died and father neglected her, lived a troubled existence and had been gloomy; all eyes were on her. She finally snapped out of it and slowly handed the pastry plate to Jiang Yan.

Taking advantage of Jiang Yu turning away, Jiang Yan poured all the tea in her cup onto the floor. When Jiang Yu looked back, Jiang Yan smiled and said, “Thank you, Fourth Sister.”

Jiang Yan ate two bites of pastry but dared not stay there any longer. “Third Sister, let’s go look around somewhere else.”

Jiang Nian stood up accordingly and looked at Jiang Yu. “Fourth Sister, will you come?”

Jiang Yu said, “You two go ahead; I’ll stay with Second Sister.”

Hearing this, Jiang Nian nodded and left the dining hall with Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan had only been pretending to remain calm until now; her fingertips trembled slightly. “Luckily, Third Sister warned me, or I would have been caught…”

Jiang Nian comforted her by patting her arm. “Fourth Sister is truly meticulous; one slip and you forget to stay on guard…”

Jiang Yan bit her lip tightly. “She’s just like her mother—smiling with a dagger hidden beneath! Third Sister, I know you can’t meddle in this, but I will handle what comes next.”

Jiang Nian understood she didn’t want to implicate her, and since Third Madam would surely arrange things, she need not worry.

Still, she warned Jiang Yan, “Fifth Sister, don’t kill Xue Shoucheng outright. He must live, so the hatred can last longer.”

Jiang Yan’s eyes brightened. She nodded and left.

Qing’er patted her chest. “I nearly lost my composure. How come every girl in the Jiang family is so scheming?”

Jiang Nian said, “Good that you know. Be careful with your words and deeds; don’t give others a chance to exploit you. Lianqiao, quietly go back and keep an eye on things. We won’t intervene, but we must stay informed.”

She glanced around and noticed a lush Bodhi tree atop a nearby hill. “Let’s meet there.”

“Yes, Mistress, I understand.”

After Lianqiao left, Jiang Nian and Qing’er strolled leisurely toward the pavilion.

The forest was serene; the wind rustled gently, creating a soothing atmosphere.

Jiang Nian sat beneath the great tree. Qing’er noticed one of her earrings was missing. “It was here just now; it should be nearby. You rest here for a moment; I’ll look along the path and return quickly.”

Jiang Nian nodded.

The Bodhi tree grew on the cliff’s edge; below, the river curved like a jade belt, winding through the gorge.

Sitting on a large stone, Jiang Nian recalled the original owner of this story—who had traveled alone to the capital and was pushed into the river by Hong Lian’s poison powder.

The river was furious in the storm, water flooding into the lungs like needles piercing flesh.

Though the original survived by fate, a broken branch pierced her abdomen, leaving a long scar and preventing her from entering the palace again. Eventually, she was married off to the Qiao family, living under their control for half her life.

Lost in thought, suddenly two sharp whistles cut through the air; arrows grazed the strands of her hair and embedded themselves in the ground ahead!

Startled, Jiang Nian stood up but accidentally stepped on a stone and slipped backward toward the cliff’s edge!

This scene, by sheer coincidence, was witnessed by Qing’er, who had hurried back searching for the earring.

“Miss!”

Qing’er screamed and lunged forward, trying to grab Jiang Nian’s wrist, but she too was dragged toward the cliff!

Jiang Nian’s heart pounded—below the cliff was the Yuan River. Had her transmigration not spared her from the original owner’s fate of falling into the water?

Everything happened too suddenly; she had no time to devise an escape.

Just as she was about to fall, an iron chain soared through the air, wrapping around her waist and pulling her back from the edge!

Then, a young child’s voice rang out, innocent yet clear: “Master Guoshi, there’s a young lady here.”

Jiang Nian caught her breath. Hearing “Master Guoshi,” her lashes trembled sharply.

Not far off lay many lifeless bodies in disarray; the air was thick with the stench of blood.

Master Guoshi Lu Moran stood holding a sword, his long hair flowing, wide sleeves billowing. His striking features framed by pale eyes exuded a cold, aloof aura—untouchable, like the moon in the sky.

Yet surrounded by corpses and blood, he bore an eerie air difficult to describe.

A chill rose over Jiang Nian’s skin.

She had encountered Master Guoshi again.

In the story, Jiang Yu had been favored by Master Guoshi and entered the Astronomical Observatory, becoming a “scripture attendant.”

As his trusted servant, she wielded considerable influence in the capital; even royal relatives dared not show disrespect.

Everyone greeted Jiang Yu with a smile and the title “Lady Jiang’s Envoy.”

Soon after gaining power, Jiang Yu appeared before Jiang Nian, holding a sharp knife and smiling as she said, “Master Guoshi is gravely injured and needs the heart’s blood of a Mercury spirit for medicine. You are the perfect candidate.”

“My dear sister, the Jiang family will remember this favor!”

With a swift strike, Jiang Nian’s chest was pierced, blood gushing out and staining the ground.

After taking the blood, Jiang Yu did not spare her; she ordered her to be buried alive!

Lying at the bottom of the pit, weakened by blood loss, Jiang Nian could neither call for help nor escape. She could only watch helplessly as the earth slowly swallowed her.

The original owner’s suffocating fear returned vividly.

Jiang Nian instinctively curled her fingers, stiffly meeting the curious gaze of the one in front of her.

“Who are you? Surely you don’t intend to assassinate Master Guoshi too!”

The young Daoist boy who had saved her looked no older than seven or eight, yet his strength was immense. An iron chain as thick as an arm hung from him, yet he moved with ease. Seeing her expression change, he immediately became alert.

Jiang Nian’s heart jolted.

So someone was trying to assassinate Master Guoshi—that explained the earlier sounds of battle and the sea of corpses. She had been caught in the crossfire just by sitting here.