That evening, Consort Fan spent her time quite easily. For her, the Lu family entering the capital wasn’t troublesome at all. No one knew better than she what the Lu family represented in the Crown Prince’s eyes. The Crown Prince detested the Lu family so much he wished he could keep even his own biological son far away where he couldn’t see him—what more the Lu family themselves? With the Lu family people coming forward at this moment, he would only dislike Zhou Weizhao even more. At this time—at this moment when she had just made a grave mistake and the Fan clan was also feared by the Crown Prince—the Lu family’s appearance was simply the best contrast, and would thoroughly push the Crown Prince toward her and the Fan family’s side.
That same evening, Chen Mingyu went from life to death and then retrieved a life from the King of Hell’s palace, so frightened that she clenched her teeth. Even with her mouth full of the metallic sweetness of blood, she couldn’t control her chattering teeth.
Just two hours ago, she had been tossing and turning, unable to sleep, carefully sewing a set of clothes by lamplight—those clothes were prepared for her future husband. Every stitch and thread carried her joy and delight at gaining a new life. Grandmother had given her a path, had found her a final way out: traveling far to Yingyang to marry the legitimate eldest grandson of the Fan clan, to become a clan wife of the Fan family. As long as Consort Fan didn’t fall, the Fan family would stand firm and steady. Her entire life would go smoothly, and she might even personally help the Fan family in striving to push Prince Dongping onto that position. She was still fantasizing—if one day in the future, if she truly got her wish, if Prince Dongping truly defeated the Crown Prince, and she was Consort Fan’s own niece-in-law, how she would grind Song Chuyi into the mud then.
Maiden Aunt Chen lay on the bed opposite her, watching with a smile, saying softly: “Even after you go there, you’ll still have to observe three years of mourning first. These things—you’ll have time to make them then. Why be so anxious now?”
If she didn’t do this, she really couldn’t control the joy in her heart. She pinched the seal hanging around her neck, tucked inside her clothes, and let out a soft breath. Smiling back at Maiden Aunt Chen: “Don’t laugh at me, Maiden Aunt. I’m just thinking of preparing early. In the future, you’ll also have to leave my side, and there won’t be a close elder beside me. Who will be willing to teach me then? Better to take advantage of you being here now, learn more, and prepare everything properly.”
Maiden Aunt Chen felt heartache hearing this. Unable to sleep anyway, she simply got up and put on her shoes, draped on a garment, and sat down opposite her: “What you say is also very true. Good child, your maiden aunt has no choice either—I can only accompany you to Yingyang before I must return.”
Chen Mingyu hurriedly nodded. She was now very grateful toward this maiden aunt: “I know, Maiden Aunt. You also have matters at home. That you’re willing to send me to Yingyang—I’m already deeply grateful.”
Discussing marriage naturally required an elder. Old Madam Chen had specially requested Maiden Aunt Chen, who had always been kind-hearted and upright, to go to Yingyang with her. First, to ask Maiden Aunt Chen to settle the wedding arrangements with the Fan family; second, to have an elder escort her there so it wouldn’t be improper and would accord with propriety.
Maiden Aunt Chen smiled at her, deeply feeling she was obedient and sensible. She lowered her head to look at her needlework, occasionally teaching her some small techniques.
The change happened in an instant. The boat swayed, and strange sounds rang out on the boat that had been so quiet you could only hear insects chirping on both banks. Maiden Aunt Chen immediately stood up, first patted awake Rushuang and Ruqian who were sleeping beside her, then tentatively called out: “Dagen?”
Dagen was the boat owner. This boat wasn’t large—there were only three boatmen in total. Dagen was personally keeping watch tonight.
No one answered. Maiden Aunt Chen had an ominous premonition and instructed Rushuang to go look: “Go outside and see why no one’s answering.”
Rushuang had been sleeping groggily. She raised her eyes, rubbed them, and upon hearing Maiden Aunt Chen’s words clearly, responded and quickly walked out. But after just a few steps, the boat suddenly swayed again. This time several of them clearly heard the sound of something falling into the water.
Chen Mingyu was so startled she jumped up, eyes wide with terror, clutching her collar. Her heart was full of panic and unease—she had never traveled far from home, but she had heard that the waterways weren’t peaceful, and countless traveling merchants had lost their lives encountering river bandits in the middle of the night.
Before they could react, the cabin door was kicked open with a bang. Several masked men in black burst through the door, carrying knives in their hands, and without a word strode toward them at full speed.
Both Rushuang and Ruqian were scared senseless. After retreating several steps, they began uncontrollably screaming. Rushuang retreated faster and was tripped by a table at her feet. She fell flat on her back on the floor, her head hitting the deck. Her eyes rolled back and she fainted.
Ruqian didn’t even have a chance to scream. The leading tall and burly man struck her heavily on the head with the handle of his knife, then hoisted her up and threw her out the boat window.
Chen Mingyu was already too frightened to speak, nearly scared to death. She shrank into the corner, not even knowing she should cry.
Maiden Aunt Chen reacted more quickly. She actually walked two steps toward those people, strengthening her voice to ask them: “Heroes, do you want silver? However much you want, we’ll give it—”
She couldn’t finish the rest of her words. The leader placed his gaze on Chen Mingyu, who was curled up in a ball, and hacked down with his knife on Maiden Aunt Chen’s shoulder.
Maiden Aunt Chen was already old. With such a large blade cutting down, she immediately fell to the ground without a sound.
Chen Mingyu had never been this frightened in her life. Even when waiting to die in prison back then, there had still been Grandmother and family members. This time when Grandfather had his incident, Grandmother had arranged everything extremely well for her—she had only felt somewhat unhappy inside. Being this close to the Grim Reaper was a first.
That group of people pressed several steps closer to her. The blood-stained large knife was placed at her neck. She could almost smell the bloody stench of human blood, and immediately felt her entire body begin trembling uncontrollably.
“Hand over the item!” The person holding the knife to her neck looked at her coldly, the words he spoke making her unable to help but raise her head.
“If you don’t want to die, hand over all the valuable things on you!” That person was somewhat impatient and pushed the knife forward. She immediately felt a cut being opened on her delicate neck, blood seeping out.
Her face was deathly pale. She stared dully at the person before her, but her brain strangely could still turn.
Valuable things? What were they referring to? A thousand thoughts flashed through her mind. Trembling, she stood up and moved to the window, pulled out a chest, opened it to reveal a small box inside. She opened the small box, revealing bright golden bars neatly stacked inside. Trembling, she carried it before that group of people.