One night passed.

From early morning the next day, various noisy sounds arose from the temple. The door was banged loudly, and Li Mi’s voice carried some urgency: “Miss Jiang, Miss Jiang!”

Jiang Ruan struggled to sit up from bed, instructing Bai Zhi and the others to go out and see while quickly getting dressed. When she put on her outer garment and went outside, a heavy smell of blood hit her face.

Seeing Jiang Ruan was safe, Li Mi breathed a great sigh of relief and nervously inquired: “Miss, are you alright?”

Jiang Ruan looked at him in confusion: “Why does Sir ask this? Has something happened?” After speaking, she looked behind Li Mi, exclaimed in shock, and turned her head away, saying somewhat fearfully: “This…”

Bodies lay scattered across the snowy ground, blood flowing everywhere, like a Shura battlefield that had just experienced slaughter. Bai Zhi and the others quickly and inconspicuously positioned themselves in front of Jiang Ruan.

Li Mi shook his head: “Bandits came here last night. This morning it was like this. I was afraid Miss Jiang might have met with an accident. Fortunately, you’re safe.”

Jiang Ruan frowned: “Then… why am I unharmed?”

“They probably weren’t after you,” Li Mi said seriously. “It might have been ordinary revenge. They didn’t harm the innocent. But I must stay to investigate this matter. Miss Jiang, it’s my duty. I apologize, but I must remain here today. The remaining journey isn’t far—Xiao Ma will escort you back to the capital.”

Jiang Ruan quickly returned the courtesy: “Sir need not worry about me. Rather, the matter here is urgent. Lives are at stake. Since a murder occurred here, inevitably everyone in the temple cannot escape involvement. I wonder if I can be of any help.”

Seeing her speak with sincere feeling, Li Mi comforted her: “Miss Jiang worries too much. This matter has not the slightest relation to Miss Jiang. The temple does need thorough investigation, but Miss Jiang should depart early and not delay your return to the capital.” These words weren’t false. Though everyone in the temple had reasons to be suspected, Jiang Ruan was the least suspicious one. First, she was merely passing by and staying overnight by chance. Second, all the bodies on the ground showed the handiwork of martial artists. Last night’s slaughter didn’t disturb anyone in the temple, indicating the killer had superior martial skills—it definitely couldn’t have been four weak women like Jiang Ruan and her maids.

Having said this much, insisting on staying would only cause trouble. Jiang Ruan had Bai Zhi and the others pack up, followed Wang Yushi onto the carriage, and bid farewell to Li Mi.

The remaining journey was already very close to the capital. Around noon, the carriage reached the city gates.

Lu Zhu had never been to the capital before. She curiously lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and exclaimed: “So this is the capital! I always heard people say the capital was prosperous. Seeing it now, it’s truly not false—so beautiful!”

Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao also looked outside. The two had been away from the capital for five years. Returning again, their hearts held indescribable excitement, feeling happy for Jiang Ruan with the thrill of surviving hardship to see better days. Jiang Ruan, however, had none of their joyful spirit. She slowly lifted a corner of the curtain on her side, just in time to see a black stallion brush past their carriage. The stallion was a rare precious horse, and she couldn’t help taking another look. By then she could only see a faint retreating figure, feeling the rider’s bearing was matchless.

Jiang Ruan smiled faintly and surveyed the surroundings. The capital’s streets were prosperous, with crowds of people shoulder to shoulder, coinciding perfectly with her memories. She remembered when she initially left the capital for the estate, it was also a mourning carriage with a few lonely attendants—just like that, she had left the capital. Coming and going, separated by a lifetime and a generation. When she returned, she was no longer the same person as before.

She lifted her head, feeling the outside wind slowly blow against her face, experiencing the capital’s sparse winter breeze. Lian Qiao was about to advise Jiang Ruan to lower the curtain lest she catch cold, but turning to see the expression on Jiang Ruan’s face, she couldn’t help being startled. She felt her mistress’s gaze was cold and indifferent. Though showing no particular expression, there was an extremely sinister aura, like an evil ghost returning from hell, making people shudder just looking at her.

When the carriage reached not far from the direction of the Jiang residence, Wang Yushi parted ways with Jiang Ruan. Having just impeached Jiang Quan, he already held him in great contempt and was unwilling to see him. He had Xiao Ma drive the carriage to send Jiang Ruan and the others back to the Jiang residence while he left first.

The closer they got to the Jiang residence, the more nervous Bai Zhi and the others in the carriage became. The Jiang residence might mean improved living conditions for them, but it also meant the beginning of struggles. Jiang Ruan appeared to be the calmest one, but only she knew the surging hatred in her heart.

The Jiang residence was located on the most prosperous street in the capital. Having received notice from a young servant’s report, people from the Jiang residence all came out to welcome this legitimate daughter of the Jiang family. With Jiang Quan absent, Xia Yan personally came out to greet her. Facing the Emperor’s anger and the people’s gossip, only by showing that the Jiang residence greatly valued this legitimate daughter could they gradually calm this storm.

Some common people, seeing Xia Yan personally come out with maids and servants, understood the whole story of this affair. Some actually stood at the Jiang residence gate refusing to leave, waiting to watch the excitement. Coming and going, quite a crowd gathered at the Jiang residence gate. Xia Yan didn’t order the household guards to drive them away either—the more people, the easier it was to provide witness.

The carriage rolled along and finally stopped at the Jiang residence gate.

“The eldest miss has returned!” a matron standing beside Xia Yan called out loudly. Immediately, a layer of gentle smile appeared on Xia Yan’s face.

The watching crowd all curiously looked at the carriage. Jiang Ruan’s behavior in court had already spread throughout the capital. Everyone wanted to see what this high-principled yet ill-fated legitimate daughter of the Jiang family actually looked like.

Soon two maids got down from the carriage. One maid, after alighting, helped lift the curtain, while the other extended her hand as if to support the person in the carriage.

“Elder sister!” a delighted voice rang out. A white-clothed young girl walked out from behind the Jiang residence gate. This girl was about ten years old but already born with national beauty, graceful and elegant like an ink painting. Her wonderful eyes seemed to contain clouds and mist. Wearing a rouge-colored jacket embroidered with lilies over a white brocade skirt, her fair skin appeared even more jade-like. Her lips were pink and tender as cherries. Most beautiful was a teardrop mole beneath her eye, pitiful and touching, like a fairy from the clouds. She wore no ornaments except for two azure satin ribbons in her hair, making people’s hearts soften just looking at her—pure and otherworldly.

Someone recognized her. Though the legitimate eldest daughter of the Jiang residence wasn’t favored, so very few knew Jiang Ruan’s name, Jiang Susu’s great name was known to everyone in the capital. The Jiang family’s precious pearl, born with stunning beauty and outstanding talent, worthy of being the capital’s foremost beauty.

With this stunning little beauty nearby, fewer people looked toward the carriage.

“Miss, go slowly,” a crisp voice suddenly came from inside the carriage.

In an instant, a slender jade hand extended out. This hand was born fair as jade, appearing too delicate to grasp, soft as if boneless. Just this one hand somehow made everyone present feel their hearts skip a beat. The gazes attracted by Jiang Susu unexpectedly returned to the carriage again.