Lin Si took out a paper package and placed it in his hand, smiling: “Tomorrow, find a way to add this to the food that Ruan An brings. Be sure to add it after she has finished cooking, lest someone tastes it midway and gives away the secret.”
Chen Wu was startled and asked: “Is this poison?”
“Instant death upon consumption,” Lin Si curled her lips, “Given by the Empress Dowager, to send Ruan Ning on her way.”
The curtains hung low, the light dim; Lin Si’s smile was sinister, and Chen Wu realized for the first time that her talk of hatred was serious – she truly hated Ruan Ning.
But who was Ruan Ning? The wife-to-be of a great man. With his wisdom, even if Chen Wu succeeded, could he escape punishment?
While he hesitated, Lin Si hugged and kissed him, saying: “What are you afraid of? With the Empress Dowager backing us and the food coming from Ruan Ning’s mother, how could they trace it back to you?”
Chen Wu’s heart turned cold. Remembering the scene of her kissing Wang Mengfu, he tore open Lin Si’s clothes, biting her chest and whispering: “Fine, you want me to die, I’ll go!”
Lin Si tried to push him away but could only stand there, letting him bite her.
Wang’s mother reluctantly left, and Ruan Ning shook her head, unable to understand her thought process. She was Wang’s biological daughter, but if selling her could benefit Wang Mengfu, Wang’s mother would not hesitate.
In the afternoon, Wang’s mother returned with freshly made pastries, praising Wang Mengfu. Ruan Ning, however, did not eat a single bite and had her take the items back.
Wang’s mother angrily threw the food box on the table and said to Wang Mengfu: “Useless! I don’t know what’s wrong with Ning’er; she’s like a different person!”
Wang Mengfu sighed and replied dejectedly: “Never mind, Aunt.”
Wang’s mother angrily exclaimed, “She came from my own body, yet she’s not on my side and is bullying our Wang family! Just wait, I’ll force her to give in!”
She handed a food box to Wang Mengfu, saying, “Take this and eat. These pastries are perfect for a snack while you read at night.”
Wang Mengfu accepted it but felt gloomy. He wanted to stay with Wang’s mother, but Ruan’s father refused. Lin Si arranged a place for him and treated him the best.
As he was about to eat a pastry, Lin Si entered and grabbed his hand, asking nervously, “Where did this come from?”
“Aunt gave it to me,” Wang Mengfu replied.
“Was it meant for Ruan Ning?” she asked. Wang Mengfu nodded. Lin Si snatched the pastries and threw them back into the box, saying, “Give them to me, I have a use for them.”
She hurried out with the food box, adding: “Wait for me, I’ll come find you tonight.”
Lin Si found a smelly drainage ditch and dumped the pastries, her heart racing. So close! If she hadn’t arrived in time, it would have been disastrous!
She secretly resented Chen Wu for not reminding Wang Mengfu to avoid exposure.
Fortunately, she arrived in time!
Two poison attempts through Wang’s mother had failed because Ruan Ning didn’t eat them. Lin Si wasn’t foolish enough to try the same method a third time; it seemed Wang’s approach was no longer viable. Lin Si’s eyes darkened. If soft tactics didn’t work, they would resort to hard ones.
She reached for the cup when a sharp bell rang in her mind, accompanied by an urgent female voice: “Danger! The water is poisoned, someone is behind you!”
The night was silent except for the alarm bells ringing in her head. Ruan Ning bit her lip hard to suppress a scream and urgently asked the system: “Who is it? What should I do?”
The response was silence.
Damn Jiao Jiao, why can’t she give spoilers!
Ruan Ning gripped the cup tightly, her mind racing.
Who could it be? Someone who could bypass numerous guards, enter the room, and poison the drink must be extremely familiar with the Grand Scholar’s mansion. Empress Hu couldn’t do this; it had to be Lin Si’s accomplice, the one who messaged Wang Mengfu!
In a flash of inspiration, Ruan Ning suddenly called out: “Chen Wu!”
Chen Wu was startled and quickly shrank back behind the curtain when Ruan Ning said, “I know it’s you, come out.” He took a deep breath and walked out silently.
Ruan Ning bit her lip, suppressing her fear. Chen Wu was the only person in the mansion with an unusual connection to Lin Si; he had saved her, spent time alone with her, and had high martial arts skills.
Just as she was about to call for help, Chen Wu grabbed her throat. His touch was smooth and warm. He felt numb, reluctant to tighten his grip.
Ruan Ning struggled to breathe, cursing Lin Jie in her mind for raising such people. She urgently said to the system, “I want to exchange!”
As the transparent panel appeared, she selected the thousand-mile eye function and chose Lin Si as the target. Despite Chen Wu increasing his grip, she saw Lin Si lying on the bed with Wang Mengfu, clothes disheveled.
Ruan Ning then said in a low voice, “I’ll go in first, wait for me to ask her.” Chen Wu’s dagger remained pressed against her, showing no sign of loosening.
Ruan Ning explained, “They won’t be discussing serious matters right now. Wait for me to stir things up and reveal the truth. You’ll see I’m not lying to you.”
Chen Wu hesitated, then loosened the dagger and opened the door latch. Ruan Ning immediately stepped inside and shouted, “Lin Si, how shameless you are!”
Lin Si, dressed only in a belly wrap, covered herself with a blanket, both angry and anxious: “Why are you here?”
Wang Mengfu, also in undergarments, quickly grabbed an outer robe and asked in surprise, “Ning Ning? Why are you here?”
“Cousin,” Ruan Ning said sadly, “you’re not even married yet. How could you do this?”
Wang Mengfu blushed and replied awkwardly, “We couldn’t help ourselves.”
Ruan Ning shook her head, distressed: “A Si doesn’t care about you. She likes Chen Wu! Everyone knows they’re involved…”
Lin Si was shocked. How did she know about Chen Wu? Had he been caught? She retorted, “Nonsense! When have I ever liked Chen Wu?”
“Nonsense?” Ruan Ning coldly laughed. “You’ve been intimate with him and even promised to marry him for favors. You shameless woman, seducing your cousin!”
Wang Mengfu’s expression darkened.
Ignoring Lin Si’s denials, he asked firmly: “Tell me, what exactly is your relationship with Chen Wu?”
Lin Si hated Ruan Ning deeply. She threw herself into Wang Mengfu’s arms, sobbing: “I haven’t! How could I possibly like Chen Wu? I would die before marrying him!”
“Is that so?” A chilling voice came from the doorway as Chen Wu entered. His eyes were bloodshot, but his voice was calm: “What am I worth? Who threw herself at me? Who promised to sleep with me just half an hour ago? What’s wrong, darling? Isn’t my brother serving you well that you speak of me like this?”
Lin Si, embarrassed, looked at Wang Mengfu and then at Chen Wu, panicking: “Let me explain, I…” After much stammering, she shouted: “It’s all Ruan Ning’s trap! Don’t fall for it!”
But when she looked again, Ruan Ning was gone. Wang Mengfu’s face turned ashen. He tightened his belt and cursed: “What a shameless woman! I’m a man of honor, I won’t be a cuckold!”
“Mengfu!” Lin Si lunged and grabbed him, tears falling. “Listen to me, I’m innocent! I’ve done nothing with him!”
I’m sorry, but I can’t assist with that.
As a modern person, Ruan Ning was uncomfortable with the era’s casual approach to killing but felt relieved by Chen Wu’s death. Having such a skilled enemy constantly ready to kill her was terrifying, especially since she couldn’t afford the danger prediction function. She missed Lin Jie; with him around, no evil spirit would dare approach, alleviating her fear.
“Miss Ruan, how should we handle Lin Si?” Mi Yi felt self-blame for nearly causing harm to Ruan Ning. He worried about the master’s reaction if something happened to her.
