"Yuan'er, why did Nan Shiying come back?"
Seeing Nan Shiying whispering affectionately with Ji Jinmo, Liu shi wished she could rush forward and peel off her affectatious skin to expose her dirty, vile heart, which was worse than a stink bug.
Hearing Liu shi's question, Nan Yuan'er couldn't help but frown. Why the rush? If the person is back, it means something went wrong in the middle. What are you asking now? If you ask her, can she foresee and explain everything?
"How would I know!" Nan Yuan'er's tone was clearly impatient. Although Liu shi was her mother, as Nan Yuan'er grew, she increasingly found her mother's vision to be narrow-minded and petty.
"What attitude is that?" Liu shi's eyes widened, and she angrily rebuked.
Nan Yuan'er took a deep breath, suppressing the irritation welling up in her heart, and said softly to Liu shi, "Mother, please don't worry, just wait a bit longer."
With that, Nan Yuan'er signaled to the maid behind her. The maid, understanding her intent, curtsied to Nan Yuan'er and then walked out of the pavilion, heading towards the dilapidated courtyard where Nan Shiying used to live.
After about half an hour, the maid returned.
"Miss, there are signs of a struggle in the room, and the person has disappeared." The maid whispered into Nan Yuan'er's ear. She had examined the room carefully. There were hidden silver needles on the windowsill, and some animal fur was faintly visible in the corners of the room. Although the floor was messy, there were clear signs of someone having slept on the bed.
Those wild dogs were still locked in the woodshed and had not been released.
Therefore, the conclusion was obvious.
The other party had made a move, but it had also failed.
Nan Yuan'er's brows furrowed tighter, not because the two people she hired had failed, but because she couldn't draw a definitive conclusion from this test.
Yes, a test.
Nan Yuan'er's seemingly supportive act for Liu shi was actually more about verifying her own guess – that this Nan Shiying was not the original Nan Shiying.
But this experiment made Nan Yuan'er even more confused.
If the current Nan Shiying was not the real Nan Shiying, how could she know the origin of the Osmanthus Tofu Soup, let alone understand the reason why this dessert was served at the banquet? But if she was... how could one person undergo such a drastic change in such a short time? Even if Ji Jinmo had the means to reach the heavens, he couldn't do something so defiant of nature.
Wait—
A lightning flash suddenly crossed Nan Yuan'er's mind.
What if the real Nan Shiying had been providing information to the fake Nan Shiying all along?
So the fake Nan Shiying knew everything about Nan Shiying?
Yes, that's it.
That's it!
A smile of sudden realization appeared on Nan Yuan'er's face. A wise light of "peering into the essence of things through their appearance" flickered in her eyes. Holding her wine glass, her gaze, which roamed over Nan Shiying, held a look of seeing through, filled with disdain and contempt, and she chuckled faintly.
Nan Shiying noticed Nan Yuan'er's gaze and paused slightly.
Then, she sneered.
When she was still Nan Fengluan, those who looked at her with such eyes were now beneath trees as tall as the sky grown over their graves.
She turned sideways and leaned closer to Ji Jinmo. "My lord, help me with something."
Ji Jinmo lowered his head slightly and leaned in to listen.
Nan Shiying whispered into his ear, "My lord, it's like this..."
...
Midway through the toasts, the Princess of Dali suddenly stood up and bowed to Nan Chaoyin. "Prime Minister Nan, I came down with a cold a few days ago and am unfortunately not very tolerant of alcohol. If I stay any longer, I might spoil everyone's mood, so I must take my leave. I hope Prime Minister Nan will not blame me."
Upon hearing that she was leaving, the young gentlemen present breathed a sigh of relief.
This Princess of Dali knew she was unwelcome, she was quite self-aware!
"Your Highness, how can you say that? It is Nan who has not hosted you properly... If Your Highness is feeling unwell, then please return and rest." Nan Chaoyin wore a mask of fake concern, as if he truly felt sorry for his negligence.
"Then I shall take my leave."
The Princess of Dali nodded gracefully, lifted the hem of her skirt, and turned to leave the pavilion with Baolan.
"Nan will escort the Princess." He said, and before the Princess of Dali could refuse, he quickly walked over.
"Thank you."
Wei Yuan arrived late and bumped right into the Princess of Dali, who was about to leave.
Nan Chaoyin glanced at Wei Yuan, nodded at him, and Wei Yuan stepped aside, clearing the way. He watched the receding figures of the Princess of Dali and Nan Chaoyin before stepping into the pavilion.
As soon as he entered, he saw Ji Jinmo sitting beside Nan Shiying and nearly cursed out loud.
He unfurled his fan, covering his slightly parted lips to maintain his gentle demeanor of a refined scholar.
The young ladies from various households' eyes lit up when they saw Wei Yuan. The young gentlemen around him gritted their teeth with envy.
You scoundrel, the insult of stealing a wife is unforgivable!!
Yin'er belongs to everyone, not just you. Hurry up and return Yin'er to us!!!
Fierce flames erupted from the eyes of the young gentlemen. Suddenly, it seemed as if currents of air were clashing and surging within the pavilion. Nan Shiying looked at Wei Yuan, whom the young gentlemen regarded as a formidable enemy, and then at the young ladies from various households whose eyes seemed to twinkle with starlight. She couldn't help but tut.
"My lord, why is he more popular than you?"
Her tone was quite indignant.
In Nan Shiying's opinion, no one in Linyuan could stand shoulder to shoulder with Ji Jinmo. This Wei Yuan was far inferior to Ji Jinmo.
Hearing Nan Shiying's dissatisfied murmuring, Lvwǎn couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh. "My lord, is the madam fighting for you, or is she dissatisfied that others are so blind and have stained the madam's vision for no reason!"
Nan Shiying's eyes widened, and she turned to glare fiercely at this impudent girl who dared to tease her.
"My lord, the madam is angry from embarrassment!" Lvwǎn not only did not restrain herself, but added with a smile.
She was quite bold.
Nan Shiying raised an eyebrow and glanced at Ji Jinmo.
Ji Jinmo coughed and reprimanded, "Lvwǎn, is this how I taught you your manners?"
Lvwǎn demurely lowered her head, hiding the corners of her mouth that were about to split to her ears, and quickly apologized, "Your Highness is right to reprimand me, this servant knows her mistake."
Nan Shiying: "..."
I think you two, master and servant, are playing me!!!