Within seven days of the spring hunt ending, the legend of "a fox spirit descending from the heavens to bless the Great Yong" spread throughout the capital.

People began to worship fox spirits, and fox images and masks were sold in the streets and alleys, which became very popular.

Emperor Jingyuan also sent many ministers to search for signs of the "fox spirit" appearing, but unfortunately there were no results.

While the common people fascinated by tales of fox spirits, the atmosphere in the general's mansion was bleak.

Gu Yurong has been locked in a room copying books for ten days.

Copying books wasn't a very severe punishment; what truly worried her was Song Ziyu's attitude.

The spring hunt went wrong, and Song Shuling was arrested and taken back to the Censorate. Although Song Ziyu did not blame her, he treated her much coldly.

Normally, if she couldn't go out, he would come to comfort her and stay with her every day.

She was the daughter of a merchant, and her ability to establish herself in the household depended most on Song Ziyu's favor.

Song Ziyu was in his prime, and with their intimacy gone, it was hard to guarantee that he wouldn't seek pleasure elsewhere.

Gu Yurong was worried that she would not be able to control her husband's heart.

However, what we fear most in this world is bound to happen...

Walking through the courtyard, Biluo gently closed the door.

"Madam, I've heard that the General has been frequently drinking and socializing at Piaoxiang Tower lately, and has even invited a courtesan to accompany him. The Gu family must know about this as well."

Jiang Wan said, "Perhaps trouble is about to break out."

"Go and remind that courtesan to be careful these days."

Biluo asked in confusion, "But General Song and the courtesan are completely innocent, nothing happened between them."

"Their behavior is innocent, but in the eyes of Gu Yurong, who has been neglected for many days, it may not be so," Jiang Wan said calmly, taking a sip of tea.

In his previous life, after returning to the mansion, he couldn't accept that Song Ziyu had taken a new wife. He blamed himself for being vicious and jealous.

In his eyes, a gentle and charming woman like Gu Yurong was the bright moon in his heart.

Therefore, even though she frequently made mistakes and implicated the General's Mansion, Song Ziyu could not bear to blame her.

Perhaps he will see it soon.

How terrifying it is when his beloved goes mad.

That night, the butterfly brought a message.

"Li Mama, who was by Gu Yurong's side, barged into Piaoxiang Pavilion and splashed green alum oil on the courtesan's face! If you hadn't warned her beforehand, she would definitely be disfigured!"

"This courtesan was invited by the general to curry favor with the Minister of War. But Li Mama's commotion ruined the minister's mood. The general was so angry that he punished Mama Li and went back to the hospital to have a big fight with Madam Gu, which also alarmed Cuizhu Hall."

The butterfly was extremely excited.

"I heard that the general invited the Minister of War to drinks in an attempt to regain control of the patrol battalion, but the Gu family ruined it all. How can he not be angry?"

Jiang Wan turned a page of her book.

"He was angry because he had seen Gu Yurong's ruthless side and found it hard to accept."

In my past life, when I saw Song Ziyu's cruel and heartless side, wasn't my heart also like a thorn in my side?

The saying goes, "To kill someone is to destroy their spirit."

She had experienced this feeling before, and it was time for the two of them to taste it too.

"No matter how deep the feelings are, once a crack appears, they will inevitably fall apart."

She's not in a hurry; she can wait.

Moreover, there are immediate matters that are even more urgent.

"Go to the city's traditional Chinese medicine clinic tomorrow and buy these herbs." Jiang Wan handed a piece of paper to Cai Die.

…

Three days later, news suddenly came from the palace that Emperor Jingyuan had found the so-called "fox spirit".

After being tortured, Song Shuling was imprisoned in the Shenxing Division. One day, when a female physician was applying medicine to her, she accidentally discovered the "fire fox" tattoo on her back and reported it to Emperor Jingyuan.

Her tattoo design was exactly the same as what the Imperial Observatory had described.

Emperor Jingyuan was overjoyed and immediately pardoned her, releasing her from prison and bestowing upon her the title of "Lady Furui".

Song Shuling committed such a disgraceful act during the spring hunt that no one expected she would be exonerated and even become more glamorous.

In the emperor's eyes, a romantic affair was not as important as a "heavenly omen" that concerned the foundation of the state.

Song Shuling became a national omens; when one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.

Lin Zhiquan was thus given more attention, and even the General's Mansion benefited from it.

After recovering from her injuries, Song Shuling returned to her parents' home a few days later.

She used the excuse of wanting to pray for blessings with Gu Yurong to rescue Gu Yurong, who had been confined for many days.

He also acted arrogantly in the General's Mansion, using the pretext of vegetarian sacrifices to heaven to cut off the meat and fish meals from the Xingzhi Courtyard, sending only scraps and leftovers every day.

They even cut back on Jiang Wan's allowance, wanting to make her suffer for a few days.

Nowadays, Song Shuling's words are treated as divine pronouncements, and no one dares to question her under the guise of praying for the royal family.

Biluo, holding the spoiled food, felt like smashing the plate.

"Don't get angry in this hot weather."

Jiang Wan said.

"There's still some dry food in the small kitchen. Take it out and distribute it to the maids and servants in our courtyard. Also, give each of them ten taels of silver and give them a two-month leave. They won't need to come and serve us starting tomorrow."

"How can this be?" Biluo exclaimed in surprise. "If we let everyone go, who will serve the lady?"

Jiang Wan raised her eyes, her expression calm.

“Cutting food is just the beginning. Song Shuling is now riding high and she wants to take revenge on me. She won’t stop at just this.”

Biluo immediately understood.

The lady let the people go because she didn't want the servants to be implicated because of her.

Seeing Jiang Wan focused on preparing the herbal prescription, she asked curiously, "You've been reading medical books for several days now. What kind of medicine are you preparing? No one has been sick lately, has anyone?"

Jiang Wan tilted her head in thought, and wrote down the name of the last medicine on the paper before a slight smile appeared on her lips.

The current calm is merely an illusion.

According to my memories from my previous life, a plague will sweep through the capital city in a month, and countless people will die from this natural disaster.

Emperor Jingyuan was plagued by nightmares, dreaming every night of being chased by ghosts, a fact that even she, who was imprisoned, had heard about.

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