This sudden news left Bai Zhi and the others both angry and shocked, yet Jiang Ruan remained unhurried, even still in the mood to continue drinking porridge. Little Yuan couldn’t help saying: “Miss should make plans early. Those people seem very confident, as if… as if they’re certain Miss killed someone.”

These words were skillful, seeming to contain some deliberate hint. Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: “It’s nothing. Right and wrong in this world—surely they won’t remain forever unclear. What is, is; what isn’t, isn’t. I haven’t done it, so I’m not afraid when the officers come.”

Little Yuan bit her teeth and steeled herself: “To be honest with Miss, this servant has worked on this estate for many years and knows something about these matters. Miss doesn’t know the depths of this—this… is truly a dead end. Once guilt is determined, even if Miss is truly innocent, she would still be guilty. Miss might as well make early plans—perhaps inform the Master.”

Bai Zhi also nodded: “That’s right, Miss. This time they come with great momentum—better to seek help from the Master. The Master surely won’t stand by and watch.”

Lian Qiao also nodded: “Miss, urgent matters come first.”

Under everyone’s gaze, Jiang Ruan gently shook her head: “No need. Little Yuan, thank you for the reminder, but the officers are already coming this way, and it’s inconvenient for you to stay long, lest you also become implicated. You should leave first. If there’s anything requiring your help, I’ll have Bai Zhi find you.”

Little Yuan looked out the window and nodded: “Miss needn’t be so polite. Miss is the master—servants following master’s orders is natural. This servant will leave now. If Miss has use for this servant, I will certainly do my utmost.”

After Little Yuan left, Jiang Ruan tapped the table and said indifferently: “When the officers come later, no matter what happens, you must not reveal even a hint to the Minister’s mansion, and certainly must not actively seek Father’s help.”

“Why?” Bai Zhi didn’t understand: “Miss is after all the Master’s own daughter—blood is thicker than water. If the Master can help, Miss can avoid some suffering. Miss, this isn’t the time to be angry with the Master. There are no overnight feuds between family members.”

Jiang Ruan shook her head: “You’re thinking too simply. If I really get into trouble and you seek Father’s help, what we might get isn’t assistance but burden.”

Lian Qiao frowned: “What does Miss mean?”

“Think about it,” Jiang Ruan stared at her fingertips: “If I’m really falsely accused of killing someone, what would Father do when he learns of it? He probably wouldn’t clear my grievances, but rather find people to smooth things over and suppress this matter. But now everyone inside and out knows officers were sent to arrest me—this matter can no longer be suppressed. Even if it’s suppressed on the surface, once rumors start, people will only say I killed someone and used Father’s influence to settle the matter. From then on, my evil reputation would be fixed.”

Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao both broke out in cold sweat, both feeling lingering fear. Lian Qiao asked: “If seeking help from the Master won’t work, what should we do?”

“This situation appears to be a dead end, but actually has vitality everywhere. It’s nothing—put oneself in mortal danger before finding life. Who the final winner will be is still unknown. I have a plan—you needn’t worry.”

With Jiang Ruan’s words, Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi gradually calmed down. Bai Zhi said: “Understood, Miss. Then we’ll just act as if nothing happened.”

Jiang Ruan pulled out a paper from a nearby book and handed it to Lian Qiao: “Tomorrow you give this to Qiu Yan.”

Lian Qiao nodded, thought for a moment, then poured tea for Jiang Ruan. Jiang Ruan wasn’t in a hurry to drink, only gently smoothing her sleeve.

The matter of seeking help from Jiang Quan that the two maids mentioned was rejected by Jiang Ruan from the start. Besides her explanation, there were other reasons. To be honest, even without writing herself, the Minister’s mansion would learn this news immediately. Zhang Lan’s family would surely report this matter to their superiors. Xia Yan and Jiang Susu couldn’t wait to see her misfortune—naturally they wouldn’t let this opportunity pass, adding fuel to the fire and kicking her when down. They could do plenty, and Jiang Quan certainly wouldn’t stand up for her. Ever since seeing her father’s cold eyes in the previous life when he announced during the palace coup that she was a nation-destroying witch who had harmed the emperor and should be imprisoned, she knew Jiang Quan had never considered her his own flesh and blood. His only daughter was Jiang Susu.

Even unto death, she wouldn’t seek help from the Minister’s mansion and Jiang Quan. Moreover, after this matter, she still had a great gift to send to Jiang Quan and the mother-daughter pair Jiang Susu—as repayment for their gift of sending her to five years of inhuman life on this estate.

The play must continue, but the players had long since changed.

While lost in thought, noisy sounds came from outside the courtyard. Before Lian Qiao could react, the door was burst open with a crash. Several bailiffs wearing sabers at their waists walked in, roughly calling out: “Where is Jiang Ruan?”

Jiang Ruan stood up and curtsied slightly.

The lead bailiff looked up and examined Jiang Ruan. Seeing she was a delicate young girl, he was somewhat surprised, but still said seriously: “Miss Jiang, forgive us—someone reported seeing you kill a person.”

Jiang Ruan looked at him with slight surprise: “Oh, who might that be?”

Her voice was soft and gentle, like spring willow catkins lightly brushing past one’s heart with an unconscious charm. The bailiff’s voice couldn’t help softening, as if afraid of startling this crystal-like person: “It’s the steward’s younger son on this estate, Chen Zhao.”

Lian Qiao finally couldn’t help retorting: “Our Miss is gentle and weak—how could she possibly kill anyone? This is clearly those villains causing trouble, wanting to splash dirty water on Miss!”

The bailiff was also somewhat hesitant. Seeing Jiang Ruan looking at him with a smile, her upturned eyes naturally carrying an indescribable charm—clearly a young girl still wet behind the ears, yet possessing a mature woman’s grace, but her thoroughly gentle temperament also had an inexplicable coldness. Such contradictions merged in her, making her like a fairy who had wandered into the wrong realm, attracting gazes that couldn’t help looking at her.

Jiang Ruan said: “Lian Qiao, no need to say more. Right and wrong—the magistrate will make fair judgment. We just need to watch.”

Hearing this, the bailiff’s impression of Jiang Ruan improved by three points. He cupped his hands: “Disturbing Miss shows our rudeness. A search is ongoing outside—please Miss leave the room to facilitate our investigation.”

Jiang Ruan smiled and had Bai Zhi and the other follow her out.

Upon leaving the room, she saw bailiffs everywhere outside. The small courtyard was instantly crowded to the point of being cramped. Chen Zhao stood beside Zhang Lan. Seeing Jiang Ruan, his gaze flickered.

Before Chen Zhao could speak first, Lian Qiao jumped up, pointing at Chen Zhao’s nose and cursing loudly: “You’re clearly the one who killed someone, yet you want to blame our Miss—your heart is blinded by lard! Bah, you beast with a human face and animal heart!”

Zhang Lan sneered: “What are you saying, Lian Qiao? You can eat carelessly, but you can’t speak carelessly. You want to frame our Zhao’er? Be careful you can’t handle the consequences!”

Chen Zhao also looked at Jiang Ruan with apparent heartbreak: “Miss, Zhao didn’t want to speak of this matter, but Zhao cannot go against his conscience. I hope you won’t resent Zhao.”

Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: “Conscience? Naturally I won’t resent you. After people die they have souls, especially those who die unjustly—they will surely find those who harmed them to seek revenge. I’m not afraid of ghosts seeking vengeance—I wonder if you are afraid.”