In late spring, with a gentle, warm breeze, the Wang Family Courtyard is immersed in an atmosphere of tranquility and luxury. Lush wisteria flowers climb freely along the carefully constructed trellises, clusters of large blossoms cascading down like purple waterfalls. The petals sway gently in the breeze, like countless dancing butterflies, exuding an elegant and enchanting fragrance, adorning the entire courtyard with a dreamlike atmosphere.
Surrounded by a profusion of flowers, Old Lady Wang sat leisurely on a carved nanmu chair, her maidservant waiting at her side. Holding a lychee in her hand, Old Lady Wang peeled it slowly and methodically. The layers of wrinkles on her face clung together, and at first glance, she resembled a blooming old chrysanthemum. When she saw Su Jinli and her companions enter the courtyard, a smile instantly spread across her face, a smile as stiff and false as a mask. "Oh, isn't this the wife of the top scholar? How did you find time to visit my humble abode today?" Her voice was sharp and feignedly cordial, standing out in the quiet courtyard.
Su Jinli's face was gloomy as she walked straight towards Old Lady Wang, each step carrying a tremendous force. She reached the table and, without a word, slammed the blood-stained letter bearing her mother's grievances onto it. She stared intently at Old Lady Wang, her gaze as sharp as a torch, as if she could see through her soul. Her voice was as cold as winter frost: "How did my mother die? You must give me a clear explanation today!"
Old Lady Wang's face, once brimming with smiles, turned pale as a sheet the moment she heard these words, a flicker of panic in her eyes. But she was a seasoned woman, and in an instant, she adopted a look of deep grief. She slapped her thighs and burst into tears, "Oh my god, my mother-in-law passed away so young. I've been so heartbroken all these years! Every time I think of her, my heart feels like it's being torn apart by a knife..." She pretended to wipe away tears that didn't exist, mumbling to herself, attempting to confuse the audience with this exaggerated performance.
"Sad? You're not even qualified to say you're sad!" With a roar, Young Marquis Su stormed in like an angry little lion, carrying a wooden sword. His eyes widened, burning with rage, as he stared intently at Old Lady Wang and demanded, "Did you, old man, poison my sister's mother? Stop pretending!"
"Little kid, don't talk nonsense here! Don't spit bloody insults at me when nothing happened!" Old Lady Wang's eyes flickered as she pondered a plan. She subtly winked at the maid beside her, who understood. A fawning smile immediately spread across her face. She quickly brought two cups of brewed tea and whispered, "Madam, Master, you must be tired from all the traveling. Try this freshly brewed tea; it's the best way to soothe your nerves and relieve fatigue."
Su Jinli had sharp eyes and inadvertently caught a glimpse of the bright red dot on the maid's cuff - that was the unique mark of the Wang family's assassins. Alarm bells suddenly rang in her heart, realizing that danger was imminent. Almost instantly, she reached out without hesitation and overturned the teacup. With a crisp "splash", the scalding hot tea splashed out like a sharp arrow, splashing all over Old Lady Wang's skirt. Su Jinli glared at her and shouted loudly: "You old thief, how dare you try to silence me! Your conspiracy will not succeed today!"
"Catch the assassin! Someone's trying to kill me! Hurry, help!" Upon seeing this, Old Lady Wang let out a sharp scream, the sound piercing the quiet of the courtyard, like the wail of an owl at night. Following her shout, eight servants rushed in from all directions like wolves and tigers, their long swords flashing coldly, their faces full of ferocious menace.
Young Marquis Su showed no fear. With a roar, he swung his wooden sword and slashed at the servants. For a moment, the flashes of swords and the cries of killing filled the courtyard. Though Young Marquis Su was valiant, the servants were numerous and well-trained, quickly surrounding him, making escape impossible. The servants' long swords rained down, and Young Marquis Su could only dodge left and right, struggling to resist, beads of sweat streaming down his forehead.
Seeing the situation was not good, Jiang Yan quickly protected Su Jinli behind him, and while vigilantly observing the situation around him, he slowly retreated. At this moment, he suddenly smelled a strange tea fragrance in the air, which was faintly mixed with a pungent smell. Jiang Yan was shocked and thought to himself, this is not good - there is a drug in this tea!
Jiang Yan was fully aware of the dire situation. While he tightly protected Su Jinli, his mind raced with countermeasures. The servants pressed on, their swords flashing with cold light, ready to strike them dead at any moment. And the cup of tea laced with the drug exuded a sickening odor, like a demonic temptation, ready to devour their will.
Su Jinli sensed Jiang Yan's nervousness and clutched the corner of his clothes tightly. Although she was afraid, her eyes revealed a hint of determination. She knew that only by relying on Jiang Yan could they escape danger. Jiang Yan whispered soothingly, "Don't be afraid, Madam. I'm here." However, he knew in his heart that the situation was extremely serious. The Wang family had clearly prepared for this, and a fierce battle was unavoidable.
Old Lady Wang hid behind the servants, a smug sneer on her face: "Hmph, Jiang Zhuangyuan, Su Jinli, you actually dared to come to my Wang family to cause trouble today. You are really courting death! This is the end of going against my Wang family!" Her eyes were full of viciousness and cruelty, like a poisonous snake hiding in the darkness, ready to launch a fatal blow at any time.
Jiang Yan glared at Old Lady Wang and shouted, "Old Lady Wang, you have poisoned someone's life. Now your crime is about to be exposed, yet you still dare to be so arrogant! Do you think you can easily silence us today? You evil woman, you will pay a heavy price for what you have done!" Jiang Yan's voice was firm and powerful, echoing in the courtyard like a huge bell, shocking the hearts of those present.
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