The door suddenly opened!

Ji Yunshu stood inside the doorway, both hands still gripping the door without letting go. She clearly didn’t want to let them enter the room. She still wore her veil, having already changed out of last night’s wet clothes into a set of green garments that remained elegant and simple.

At this moment, her gaze looked fiercely at Qiu Shu standing outside the door—that kind of look was like penetrating cold from an ice cellar, making one’s hair stand on end, even causing one’s back to involuntarily tense up.

Qiu Shu had never seen anyone with such a gaze. For a moment, she actually felt somewhat guilty!

Her feet took a small step backward.

Then she swallowed and tried to appear composed, her words still cutting as she said, “So you’re not dead after all. Since you’re not dead, what are you staying in your room for so long for, making all of us wait here for you?”

Her tone carried reproach!

Still so arrogant and overbearing—hearing it made one feel its barbs. Ji Yunshu looked at her coldly with knife-like eyes, as if in this instant countless silver needles would burst forth to pierce the person before her to death. She said, “I didn’t make all of you wait for me, nor did I permit such shouting outside my door, or such improper pounding on the door.”

“You…”

“If you continue to persist, I can’t guarantee I’ll continue treating you with courtesy!” Ji Yunshu’s tone was bone-chilling, carrying a warning. Qiu Shu looked at her—completely different from yesterday—and was truly afraid in her heart. She didn’t know why, but Ji Yunshu’s gaze seemed like it would gouge out her heart if she wasn’t careful, making her inevitably nervous and worried. She said, “I was just… just worried something had happened to you in your room, so I kindly called you. Don’t be like a dog biting Lu Dongbin, failing to recognize good intentions!”

“Good. You’ve seen I’m fine. You can leave now!”

“I…”

“Something else?”

Qiu Shu was clearly at a disadvantage. If she continued confronting her now, she definitely wouldn’t have any good outcome. After all, this was Ning’an Manor. But this grudge—she would remember it. For now, she’d endure it temporarily. Once they descended from Piaomiao Peak, she would definitely teach this person a lesson! She raised her chin and said, “Nothing else!”

With that, she left with her people.

This pre-dawn farce thus ended.

Once those people left, Zhu Yao hurried to ask Ji Yunshu, “Miss Ji, are you alright?”

The fierceness in her gaze gradually receded. She shook her head and said, “I’m fine.”

“Why did you stay here for so long?”

“Just some minor matters.”

Zhu Yao didn’t pry further. Seeing she was alright was good enough. “Shall we go over together now? Today is Lord Li’s grand birthday—everyone’s hurrying over.”

“No, you go ahead. I’ll come later.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Though Zhu Yao was timid, her heart was clear as a mirror. She saw that Ji Yunshu’s hands continuously held both door panels, clearly meaning to prevent anyone from entering. Could it be that inside… She glanced inside, then quickly withdrew her gaze, smiled sweetly, and said, “Alright then, I’ll go ahead.”

Ji Yunshu nodded slightly.

After Zhu Yao left, only she remained in the courtyard. She closed the door and returned to the bedside. Jingrong was still unconscious, but his complexion had improved considerably. She touched his forehead with the back of her hand—no fever. She sat by the bed, tightly gripping his large hands. The palms were full of calluses, more and thicker than before.

Last night, she had been trapped in two emotions—joy and sorrow—unable to extricate herself!

The joy was that she had finally confirmed Li Chuan was Jingrong!

The sorrow was not knowing what exactly happened three years ago, why Jingrong had forgotten her.

But at this moment, she could no longer concern herself with those two emotions.

Because she needed to wait for Jingrong to wake up and then take him away from Ning’an Manor!

Although Jingrong had previously attempted to assassinate the Wen brothers, he had worn a mask. Now that the mask was removed, they naturally wouldn’t recognize him, so he could leave the manor openly and honestly, as long as the Wen brothers didn’t find out.

So she only waited for Jingrong to wake up.

Another knock came from outside the door. It was a maid saying, “Miss Ji, General Wen asked me to tell you that if you’re not feeling well, you can just rest in your room.”

How considerate!

She responded through the door, “Alright.”

The maid withdrew.

Ji Yunshu kept watch by his side.

…

Throughout the manor, everywhere was lively and festive. Firecrackers kept going off continuously. From early morning, people kept coming to wish Lord Li longevity, presenting treasures round after round.

Lord Li was naturally beaming with joy.

How lively a sixtieth birthday celebration was!

At this time, in an abandoned small courtyard at the back of the manor—this place had been deserted for many years. The buildings had all been leveled, with only some old wooden stakes still nailed in place. Surrounded by large trees, each taller than the last, this area was also covered with dead leaves, piled heap after heap. As the cold wind blew through, they lifted layer after layer. During the bright daylight it was fine, but once night fell it became eerie. No one even passed through here normally, except occasionally during broad daylight when someone would come sweep the leaves. Today, with the manor hosting a celebration, a servant had come early in the morning to clean up, lest so many dead leaves fly everywhere.

The servant was using a broom to sweep the surrounding dead leaves into a pile when he heard several dog barks from behind the wall, very intense, as if several dogs were fighting over something to eat. Moreover, the tearing sounds grew louder and louder.

“Damn dogs, barking here again!”

So the servant took his broom and went around to the back of the wall. Sure enough, he saw four dogs kept by the manor tearing at each other, several dogs fighting over a piece of meat.

It must be meat given to them by some chef from the kitchen today!

“Go, go, go somewhere else!”

“Woof woof woof…”

“Still daring to bark!” The servant raised his broom to strike. Strangely enough, these dogs had always been very gentle in the manor, never fighting over meat like this before. When the servant got closer to look, he discovered that piece of meat still had blood on it, even connected with tendons. As the dogs tore at it, that fresh red blood was still dripping down, terrifyingly gruesome, making one’s hair involuntarily stand on end!

But the servant still struck them repeatedly with the broom.

The dogs barked frantically, finally abandoning that piece and quickly scattering in all directions.

“How strange!”

That piece of meat fell to the ground, covered with bite marks, very disgusting. It didn’t look like pork, nor like beef or mutton.

The servant was curious and simply squatted down to examine it. His eyes widened as he looked, even poking it a few times with his hand. The meat was elastic, with very clear patterns on it.

This seems like… not animal meat!

His heart tightened. Suddenly a gust of wind blew through the courtyard, scattering a pile of dead leaves around, revealing something underneath. The servant slowly turned his head to look.

When he clearly saw what that thing was…

“Ahhh!”

A piercing scream.

It startled several birds from the treetops.

At this time, in the manor’s front courtyard reception hall, the honored guests had all taken their seats. Seated above was this occasion’s birthday celebrant, Lord Li. He was raising his wine cup to toast everyone.

“This old man has not concerned himself with court affairs for many years, nor meddled in martial world matters anymore. I didn’t expect so many people to come celebrate my birthday today. Everyone has honored me with their presence—this old man toasts you all.”

“Thank you, Lord Li.”

Everyone raised their cups.

Just then—

A voice came from outside, “Some… something’s wrong!”

The servant who had just been sweeping leaves burst in from outside, directly kneeling on the ground, covered in sweat, his eyes filled with endless terror, extremely flustered, his body also trembling.

He prostrated on the ground, his face deathly pale, his lips quivering as he said, “Something terrible has happened!”

The surrounding people didn’t understand what was happening and all put down their wine cups.

Everyone looked at each other in confusion. The originally lively hall became silent as a grave in this instant. Almost everyone held their breath looking toward that servant.

Seeing this, the manor’s steward quickly stepped forward and slapped the servant across the face, scolding, “Xiao An? How can you be so lacking in manners? Is this a place where you can make such a commotion? Get out now!”

“Uncle Zhang, I…”

“What ‘I’!” The steward immediately called people in. “Take him away.”

Two servants came in from outside and were just lifting Xiao An from the ground when Lord Li suddenly said, “Wait!”

So the two servants released him.

He collapsed back onto the ground, his whole body still trembling.

Lord Li asked him, “Speak, what has happened?”