Chapter 86

Chen Cong strode out of Qiushui Garden, exuding a menacing aura.

"Master." Luo Huixiu, having wiped her face clean, stepped forward with a wronged expression.

However, before she could utter a complaint, someone grabbed her by the neck and choked her tightly.

The air was instantly sucked away, and she could no longer breathe.

"Did I tell you to stay put?" The voice was filled with gritted teeth.

Chen Cong's eyes were bloodshot, and the veins on his face and hands were bulging.

"Ugh!" Luo Huixiu struggled desperately, but the hands on her neck tightened more and more, and her feet were even about to leave the ground.

In the blink of an eye, Luo Huixiu's face turned purplish-blue, and her vision blurred. Only Chen Cong's ferocious face remained clear in her mind.

As the fear of death loomed, in a daze, Luo Huixiu remembered that Chen Cong had indeed told her to stay obediently in the courtyard and not to come out casually, but she had long forgotten about those words.

Luo Huixiu was originally a prostitute. One day, she accidentally offended a powerful person and was almost beaten to death. Chen Cong saved her and took her home.

Chen Cong provided her with fine clothes and food, and instructed her in every word and deed.

He appears cold and aloof to outsiders, but always shows a touch of gentleness in her presence.

At first, she was cautious, but with the daily favor she received, the adoration of all the servants in the mansion, and the rumors that she was the future wife, she became more and more confident and arrogant.

In particular, Chen Cong did not dislike her arrogance; on the contrary, his gaze towards her became brighter, as if there was appreciation and affection in it.

Luo Huixiu was overjoyed and went even further, becoming even more certain that Chen Cong loved her.

She eagerly awaited Chen Cong's marriage, but her dream shattered at that moment.

"My lord! Please spare the young lady!" The faint sound of the maid Hongxing crying could be heard.

Just when Luo Huixiu thought she was going to die, Chen Cong suddenly let go.

With a thud, Luo Huixiu fell to the ground, gasping for breath of fresh air.

"Go back to your yard and never step out of it again!" The icy voice was filled with murderous intent.

Luo Huixiu trembled all over, her body ice-cold. It took her a long time to recover after Chen Cong left. With Hongxing's help, she struggled back to the courtyard.

That day, the rumors that Miss Luo was the future wife vanished instantly in the Chen family mansion. Everyone knew that their master had almost killed Miss Luo, and that the forbidden Qiushui Garden also housed a young lady who was very likely the one their master cherished.

With a whoosh, Luo Huixiu swept everything off the table.

Her face was contorted, and the purplish-blue finger marks on her neck were shocking.

"So some slut seduced me!"

Luo Huixiu gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with venom.

She didn't realize that more than half a year of living in luxury and Chen Cong's favoritism had changed her into a different person. She had lost her former caution and became stubborn and bold.

Now, all Luo Huixiu could think about was getting rid of that bitch; Chen Cong would be hers alone.

The Marquis of Jiangyang's residence.

The atmosphere in the main hall was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Xie Tianrui looked at the people kneeling below with a stern expression.

Not long after returning to the Marquis's residence, his eyes were healed, but unfortunately he was unable to see Rong Rong in person.

For the past year, he has sent out countless people to search for Rong Rong's whereabouts, but there has been no news to this day.

His longing became an obsession, gradually consuming his nerves and tormenting his heart.

Xie Tianrui felt like he was on the verge of going crazy at any moment.

That day, fearing the assassins would harm Rong Rong, he deliberately led his men away from Baijia Village to lure the assassins away.

After he dealt with the assassin, he rushed back, only to find an empty courtyard and the corpse of a man in black.

It turns out the assassin still managed to sneak into his and Rong Rong's courtyard.

So, is Rong Rong dead or alive? And where is she?

Xie Tianrui slowly clenched his fists. He couldn't accept it, whether Rong Rong had an accident or was with someone else.

"Keep searching!"

Xie Tianrui's voice was piercing, and his gaze was gloomy.

Qingfeng, standing beside him, looked worried. The Marquis himself didn't notice, but Qingfeng could see clearly that the Marquis had changed completely since returning to the manor.

The once strong and spirited man has become gloomy and lifeless, tormented by love.

Is the Marquis really that concerned about that woman? Is she really just an ordinary village girl? Or is she a spy sent by someone to bewitch the Marquis?

The Marquis was certain that the other party's identity was simple, but Qingfeng didn't believe it. Their master had become like this, how could that woman be simple?

In his opinion, the Marquis should focus more on finding his true savior.

Although the Marquis has also sent people to search, it's nothing compared to the scale of the search for that woman.

Even if that woman was just an ordinary village girl, how could she be a good person who betrayed her friend, killed someone, and took someone else's identity? I really don't understand why their lord would be attracted to such a viperous woman.

Qingfeng's eyes flickered; he didn't want the Marquis to meet with misfortune or fall into a trap.

Rong Rong was unaware that the male lead had been searching for her. In her mind, the male lead already knew she was a liar, and perhaps even sent someone to kill her before he left.

The provocation that day did have some effect; Chen Cong hadn't been to Qiushui Garden for a long time.

Rong Rong sat listlessly on the swing in the courtyard when her maid, Qing Liu, excitedly brought over a food box.

"Miss, this is osmanthus cake that the master sent to you. Please try it."

Chen Cong hadn't come for many days, which made Rong Rong happy, but Qing Liu was extremely anxious, even though Qing Liu had great confidence in her young lady's beauty.

They weren't worried about the adults treating the girls badly, but the servants outside Qiushui Garden didn't know. What they were afraid of was that if the adults didn't come, those opportunists would cut off the girls' daily necessities.

The osmanthus cake that the adults are sending is a signal, telling those outsiders not to underestimate the girl.

Qingliu was happy, but Rongrong wasn't interested. "Let's put it aside."

Rong Rong remained staring blankly at the flowers and plants in front of her.

In the distance, Luo Huixiu ignored the servant guarding the gate outside the courtyard and went straight into Qiushui Garden, where she immediately saw the figure on the swing.

Her expression twisted instantly, simply because the woman was wearing the clothes she usually wore.

"Oh! So this bitch seduced me by imitating me!" Luo Huixiu spat and quickly walked towards the woman.

Although Luo Huixiu was furious, she felt a little happy inside, and her uneasy, fearful and anxious heart finally calmed down.

It's good that this woman is like her. Being like her means that the master still truly cares about her. It's just that she has become too spoiled and willful lately, which displeased the master, causing him to fall for someone else. As long as she returns to her former gentle demeanor, the master will definitely change his mind!

Emboldened by her newfound confidence, Luo Huixiu became even more domineering. She stormed forward and shoved aside the maid who was blocking her way.

"You bitch!" She raised her hand to slap her.

However, as soon as he made a move, he froze on the spot, his face showing extreme shock.

Before them sat a real fairy, her beauty otherworldly and breathtaking, her eyes utterly indifferent, looking down upon all living beings.

At that moment, Luo Huixiu suddenly felt like an ant.

Ugly ants, too ashamed to show themselves.