Xiang Wan was quite bold; she had just dealt with Shi Liefeng, yet she came over and persuaded him. Xiang Wan guessed that Shi Liefeng himself probably didn't want to continue aiding and abetting evil, which was why she persuaded him so easily.
To guard against this poison, Xiang Wan gave the order that everything eaten and drunk must be boiled in hot water before consumption. At the same time, they were to be vigilant for anything suspicious and report it immediately if discovered.
No matter how careful Xiang Wan was, someone still broke the rules. Something happened at the place where Shi Yuanyuan was being watched over; apparently, one guard went in to deliver food and never came out. Another guard, worried, searched the area but couldn't find him, only spilled food on the floor. He didn't dare delay and immediately reported it to Xiang Wan.
"Could it be that Shi Yuanyuan also possesses such a mysterious method?" Xiang Wan wondered to herself, but she dared not let her guard down any longer. She took the drug that could cause someone to fall into a coma from Xuan Yuanlan and poured it into Shi Yuanyuan's mouth.
"Girl, what are you still worried about?" This was the question she was asked by Xuan Yuanlan when she asked for medicine.
Xiang Wan knew she was being asked why she hadn't killed Shi Yuanyuan, but instead spared her life, and the ensuing trouble. Xiang Wan had considered doing so, but she didn't want to deal with Shi Yuanyuan so quietly. If Shi Yuanyuan was to be punished, her crimes should be exposed in public before she received the appropriate punishment. Dying like this would be pointless. Those she protected should know her reasons for doing this, to avoid any unpleasantness later. And most importantly, she wanted to lure out the people behind the siblings; leaving no future trouble was the right thing to do.
With the month-long deadline fast approaching, Xiang Wan's eyelids twitched uncontrollably, and she felt uneasy, sensing that something big was about to happen. She dared not be alone, either accompanying Master Li or following Xuan Yuanlan, refusing to let herself be by herself.
To prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, Xiang Wan instructed her servants to find white phosphorus, which she stored in a water-filled porcelain bottle and carried with her, along with a dagger for self-defense. She also ordered that each servant's quarters must have torches and kerosene lamps, but they were forbidden from being lit.
Xuan Yuanlan had been researching Gu (a type of poisonous insect). According to her theory, only by killing the mother Gu could the offspring Gu be expelled from the body under the influence of medicine. In modern times, surgery could be performed to remove them, but it would be extremely troublesome, not to mention that this era lacked advanced technology.
Although he didn't explicitly tell Li Yuanwai these things, he seemed to have already sensed something and was silently supporting Xiang Wan from behind.
Some people in the manor started to cause trouble, so Xiang Wan took decisive action and dealt with several ringleaders. The rest of the people also became obedient.
On the day of the one-month anniversary, everything in the manor was normal during the day, but at night, only the rustling of falling leaves could be heard. As instructed beforehand, everyone stayed in their rooms and were not allowed to move around. Xiang Wan pulled Master Li and stayed with Xuan Yuanlan.
"Xiao Wan, did something happen today?" Master Li finally couldn't help but ask.
Xiang Wan and Xuan Yuanlan exchanged a glance, then lowered their heads and whispered in response, "Father, if anything happens, be sure to protect yourselves."
"As expected!" Master Li seemed thoughtful, his expression somewhat solemn.
"Master Li, don't worry, I'm here, nothing will happen to you," Xuan Yuanlan comforted him in a low voice.
However, these words did not comfort Master Li; instead, they made him even more worried.
Xiang Wan didn't want to explain any further and said, "Father, believe me. We'll explain everything after tonight."
The room fell silent as the three of them faced each other in silence, no longer speaking.
After a moment of silence, a long, mournful howl came from outside.
"Coming." Xiang Wan immediately stood up, pushed open the door, and walked towards the source of the sound.
The long howls echoed one after another, sounding quite eerie. The servants who heard the commotion had already lit torches; some walked towards the evening, while others ran towards the source of the howls.
"Miss, Master, it's coming from the side courtyard. It seems to be the room where Shi Yuanyuan is being held." Fuquan ran over and said to the group.
Has Shi Liefeng arrived yet?
"When he heard the sound, the young master couldn't sit still anymore. He should have arrived at the side courtyard by now."
Why didn't you stop him?
"My son-in-law suddenly gained a lot of strength, and I couldn't stop him."
"Alright, gather everyone and come with us."
A large crowd had already gathered in front of the room where Shi Yuanyuan was being held. When they saw Xiang Wan and the others approaching, they made way for them.
After the group stood still, Li Quan kicked open the half-closed door, only to be terrified by the sight before him, turning pale with fright.
Blood was everywhere in the room, and a mangled corpse lay in the center. Shi Yuanyuan was clinging to the body, tearing at it with her teeth. Shi Liefeng crouched behind her, trying to hold her back, but he couldn't budge the irrational Shi Yuanyuan.
The noise of the door opening attracted Shi Yuanyuan. She looked up, and blood and flesh fell from her mouth with her screams, making her look like a demon who had just come out of hell.
The crowd was so frightened that they retreated one after another, but a few brave ones still held their torches and did not move. Master Li stood in front of Xiang Wan, fearing that Shi Yuanyuan would suddenly get up and come forward.
"Father, don't worry, everything will be alright." Xiang Wan patted Li Yuanwai's arm reassuringly and stood at the front with Xuan Yuanlan.
"Lie Feng, do you have a way to subdue her?"
Given Shi Yuanyuan's condition, Xiang Wan didn't know if she could still understand human speech, so she had to ask Shi Liefeng first.
"Don't hurt Yuanyuan. She's just having trouble controlling what's inside her body. She'll be fine after this episode."
"You do that too?"
"If their needs are not met, they will lose their reason."
Is there any way to restore it?
"…have."
Shi Liefeng answered reluctantly, but Xiang Wan suddenly didn't want to ask any further. Whatever Shi Yuanyuan became, if it meant using a human life to restore her sanity, what difference would that be from murder?
"You all deserve to die!" Shi Yuanyuan suddenly revealed a ferocious look, staring at the crowd with the eyes of a hungry wolf.
"Yuanyuan, stop doing this. Wan'er has a way to help us, we can be saved." Shi Liefeng pleaded with her from behind, but Shi Yuanyuan didn't listen to a word he said.
"Ah Feng, my Ah Feng, you're helping them, not me. Are you betraying me too? I've suffered so much for you, and this is how you treat me?"
Shi Yuanyuan slowly turned her head to look at Shi Liefeng, her voice hoarse, as if it were being squeezed out of her throat.
"Yuanyuan, wake up! Haven't you always wanted to break free from this control? Now there's a way to free us from this misery. Wake up, Yuanyuan!"
No matter how Shi Liefeng tried to persuade her, Shi Yuanyuan could no longer hear him. Her gaze slowly moved down from his face to his neck, where she stared intently. Suddenly, she lunged at Shi Liefeng and bit his neck hard.
"ah--"
A piercing scream echoed through the sky.
"Devil!" "Witch!" "Get out of here!" "Kill her!" "Kill her!"
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