The weather had been gloomy for days.
It was like the oppressive atmosphere within the Wangfu at this moment, a somber stillness before a storm. Yet, the servants within the estate remained oblivious, not even Green Wan sensing anything amiss.
The only perceptible change was the unusually frequent rotation of the estate guards.
"Miss, the master wishes to see you."
That evening, a maidservant, secretly planted within the Wangfu, found Nan Shiying again, bringing this news.
"Father wants to see me?"
Nan Shiying appeared agitated, but her excitement was quickly followed by a flicker of fear and unease. She bit her lip, timidly asking, "Did Father say anything?"
The maidservant, disdaining Nan Shiying's timid demeanor, replied outwardly, "The master is merely worried about you, wanting to see if you are well. Miss need not worry."
"Really?"
Nan Shiying's voice lifted slightly with a hint of joy, but her mood immediately dampened. "But, but I'm confined to my residence and cannot go out."
The maidservant grew somewhat impatient, her tone losing its usual gentleness. "Your servant has her ways."
Nan Shiying clutched the corner of her quilt and softly acknowledged this.
The maidservant instructed, "Miss should rest early tomorrow. After the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), I will take you out of the estate."
"Alright, I understand." Nan Shiying nodded obediently.
"Then, Miss, your servant shall take her leave."
With that, the maidservant carefully and cautiously departed from Xin Yuan Pavilion. She believed her actions were well-concealed, unaware that the scene had already been witnessed.
...
The following day, at the hour of Xu.
The entire Wangfu was so tranquil that only the chirping of insects and birds could be heard. The servants in Xin Yuan Pavilion had all fallen into a deep sleep when a figure pushed open the door to Xin Yuan Pavilion, tossing a bundle before Nan Shiying. "Miss, change into these clothes."
They were coarse linen garments worn by the low-ranking maids of the Wangfu's laundry department.
Nan Shiying quickly changed. The maidservant then led her towards the garden in the back of the Wangfu. As she followed this familiar path, Nan Shiying fell into a contemplative silence.
After exiting the Wangfu, Nan Shiying boarded a carriage that had been waiting in the back alley.
The maidservant drove the carriage, heading out of the city.
...
Behind Lin Yin Temple, outside the city.
Deep within a bamboo grove.
The ground, still damp from the rain, was muddy and uneven. Nan Shiying stepped through the thick mud, her feet sinking with each stride. From afar, she saw a figure standing in the darkness.
Nan Chaoyin.
She lowered her gaze, a glint of coldness flashing in her eyes before quickly disappearing.
"Ying'er!"
Nan Chaoyin, hearing the commotion behind him, spun around abruptly. The face he turned towards Nan Shiying was filled with paternal worry and self-recrimination. His voice, quivering with suppressed affection, conveyed a vivid image of a doting father.
If Nan Shiying hadn't known Nan Chaoyin's true nature, she would have been utterly deceived by his masterful performance. He was wasted as an official; he should have been on the stage. What an act!
"Father."
Nan Shiying wept, biting her lip and twisting the hem of her clothes. Her trembling eyes dared not meet Nan Chaoyin's gaze, portraying timidity and apprehension to perfection.
Yet, Nan Chaoyin sensed the suppressed resentment hidden deep within her eyes.
His anxious heart finally eased by half. If his daughter harbored no hatred towards him, he would indeed need to reconsider.
"My child has suffered."
Nan Chaoyin reached out and steadied Nan Shiying's arm, his gaze brimming with profound paternal concern. Nan Shiying sobbed, too overcome by grief to speak, only shaking her head vehemently.
It was a picture-perfect tableau of filial piety and parental love.
"Ying'er, after you married into the Wangfu, what exactly happened?" Nan Chaoyin finally lost his patience for the pretense and asked the question he most wanted answered.
As Nan Shiying continued to sob, she recalled the events of the recent period. A look of fear flickered across her face, and her body trembled. "Father, on our wedding night..."
She fabricated her story without a shred of guilt, weaving a tale of three parts truth and seven parts falsehood, leaving no room for scrutiny or suspicion. The informant beside her had only recently infiltrated the Wangfu and knew less than the low-ranking maidservants in her own pavilion, making it impossible for them to discern truth from lies. Furthermore, what she had heard and seen in recent days was merely what Nan Shiying had deliberately shown her.
Nan Chaoyin listened, frowning, his gaze fixed on Nan Shiying, filled with contemplation and probing. Only after Nan Shiying finished did he speak, "So, the rumors outside are all false?"
Nan Shiying raised her head in feigned surprise, appearing utterly unaware of any external gossip. "Rumors? What rumors?"
Nan Chaoyin glanced at her. "The outside world is abuzz with rumors that you punished Consort Qin Yurou as soon as you arrived."
"I, punish Qin Yurou?"
Nan Shiying gave a mournful smile. "How would I dare."
Nan Chaoyin said no more. He knew how timid and cowardly his daughter was. Otherwise, she wouldn't have boarded the sedan chair and entered the Wangfu, knowing it meant certain death. He sighed, seemingly in genuine sympathy for his daughter, "Ying'er, you have truly suffered. Rest assured, your father will take good care of Granny Wang for you."
Nan Chaoyin's sudden mention of Granny Wang was a test of Nan Shiying's reaction.
Nan Shiying's eyes lit up. This was not the feigned joy of before, but genuine happiness. She bowed to Nan Chaoyin, thanking him earnestly, "Your daughter thanks you, Father."
Seeing Nan Shiying's reaction, Nan Chaoyin's heart settled. It seemed that Ji Jinmo had not rescued Granny Wang; Yuan'er had killed her! He couldn't help but feel a flicker of anger, not because she had eliminated the prop controlling Nan Shiying, but because she had lied to him. However, none of that mattered now. He no longer needed the expendable pawn, Granny Wang.
Nan Chaoyin stroked Nan Shiying's head, sighing softly, "Ying'er, do not blame your father. Blame that Daoist priest from years ago who gave you such a fate." Despite his sighing tone, his voice was cold and devoid of emotion. He then gave a subtle signal to the maidservant standing beside him.
In the damp air, a scent seemed to spread. As Nan Chaoyin finished speaking, he turned and walked towards the edge of the bamboo grove.
"Father?"
Nan Shiying stared, bewildered, at Nan Chaoyin's receding back.
"Miss, please see yourself out."
The maidservant suddenly moved, blocking Nan Shiying's view. Her icy voice carried a naked killing intent.
"Boom~"
Thunder cracked through the sky, and instantly, the heavens opened, unleashing a torrential downpour. The maidservant pulled a dagger from her embrace and advanced on Nan Shiying, step by deliberate step.
"No, no..."
Nan Shiying shook her head in terror, scrambling backward and fleeing towards the depths of the bamboo grove. The maidservant followed at a leisurely pace, relishing her fear.
The rain soaked Nan Shiying's clothes. Cornered at the edge of a cliff deep within the bamboo grove, she looked down at the sheer drop, tears and rainwater mingling, blurring her vision.
"Spare me, please, spare me. I don't want to die yet," she begged, her voice small and humble, standing at the precipice.
The maidservant merely smiled. "Fifth Miss, this is your fate."
Nan Shiying's pleas suddenly ceased. Realizing the truth of everything that had transpired today, she erupted into a piercing, wild laughter. Her sharp voice seemed to be swallowed by an boundless hatred, each sound echoing with tears, each word a cry of blood: "Father, no, Nan Chaoyin, Nan Yuan'er, Nan family, I curse all of you! I curse you all to die a terrible death, to never find peace. I await you in hell!"
With that, she leaped into the abyss.