Chapter 24: Shock and Anger
Outside the house, the wind was still and the night was dark, without a sound at all. The coldness in the mountains was even greater at night.
Yunniang took out a cloak from the box and walked into the inner room. She took a look through the open door and saw that the main house was still dark, so she walked straight in.
After putting it on Xie Rongying, he whispered, "Madam hasn't come back yet."
Xie Rongying chuckled as she looked at the picture book and said, "I guess there's something important you want to discuss with Madam Jiang."
"When will the young lady rest?" Yunniang always felt that her young lady was waiting for someone, thinking it was Jiang. "Madam should be back in a while, so there's no need for you to wait. If Madam sends someone to ask, I'll say you've rested."
"Who is waiting for her?" Xie Rongying said softly, without moving her eyes away from the sketchbook.
When Yunniang heard this and was about to speak, footsteps were heard outside, followed by a knock on the door.
Yunniang looked towards the door and saw Gu Xun appear at the door. Yunniang took a breath of cold air when she saw this. If someone saw it at this time, who knows what would happen.
"What are you doing here?" Yunniang said as she looked around the courtyard. Seeing that there was no one around, she let Gu Xun in.
"The master asked me to investigate the matter. Now that I have some clues, I come to report to the master." Gu Xun said.
Yunniang looked at Gu Xun in surprise, and after closing the door, she saw Xie Rongying walking out of the inner room.
"Master." Gu Xun said respectfully.
Xie Rongying sat down in the main seat and asked, "What happened?"
"The Jiang Yin that the master mentioned is not in the courtyard where Jiang Wangshi lives." Gu Xun's eyes were cold and he spoke in a serious manner. Coupled with the scar on his face, he looked weird no matter how he looked at him.
"So it's on the east side of the temple?" Xie Rongying knew that the residences for pilgrims in Kaibao Temple were divided into male and female residences, and there was also a courtyard where families lived.
Because Kaibao Temple was close to Bian Jing and many dignitaries came here, it had very strict control over men and women.
When the Jiang family goes out, they will definitely care about their reputation.
It was normal that Jiang Yin did not go with Jiang Wangshi. Moreover, it was not appropriate for an uncle and sister-in-law to appear alone in such a place.
"Yes, it's on the east side." Gu Xun said.
Xie Rongying's eyes darkened slightly. Jiang Wangshi and Jiang Shi came to the temple to pray for blessings, but they brought Jiang Yin with them...
"Master." Gu Xun spoke with some caution, as if he was hesitant to speak.
Xie Rongying came back to her senses: "What's wrong?"
"Master, is there something wrong with asking me to keep an eye on this Jiang Yin?"
"You know Jiang Yin?" Xie Rongying was a little surprised. If Gu Xun knew Jiang Yin, had they ever had any contact?
If they had come into contact and Jiang Yin discovered Gu Xun's identity, such a good helper would probably not be able to stay in the Yongyi Marquis's mansion.
"I've heard of this person." Gu Xun was not unfamiliar with Jiang Yin, but rather too familiar with him. A few years ago, he took over a business that wanted to kill Jiang Yin, but when he was about to take over the business, someone stopped him.
Seeing Gu Xun staring at her meaningfully, Xie Rongying asked, "What do you want to say?"
"Jiang Yin is too cruel and ruthless. If the master has no grudges against him, it is best not to provoke him." Gu Xun reminded.
Xie Rongying heard this, and a hint of amusement appeared in her deep eyes: "Too cruel and ruthless, for example?"
"For example, countless women died at the hands of Jiang Yin."
Xie Rongying raised an eyebrow. She had thought the Jiang family had kept Jiang Yin's affairs well hidden. "Even yours is known. Does that mean someone paid you to kill Jiang Yin?"
Gu Xun nodded.
"Then why is Jiang Yin still alive?" Xie Rongying asked in confusion.
Gu Xun said frankly: "Later, someone settled the matter, and my subordinates got more money, so they stopped this business."
Xie Rongying chuckled: "Is it really so much about money that you're willing to give up your reputation and the rules of the underworld?"
"What kind of reputation does a ronin need?" Gu Xun said this with his eyelids half closed, hiding the emotions in his eyes.
Xie Rongying retracted her gaze, her eyes lingering on the jade ring on her left index finger, and asked, "Does Jiang Yin recognize you?"
"No." Gu Xun knew what Xie Rongying was worried about: "I just want to remind the master that if there is no grudge, just stay away."
"What if this person is targeting me?" Xie Rongying clenched her hand with the jade ring and stared at Gu Xun: "What should I do?"
Gu Xun was frightened by the murderous intent in Xie Rongying's eyes. He blurted out, "Then get rid of him quickly. We must not let this person have a chance to turn things around."
Xie Rongying sneered.
"Master, if..." Gu Xun wanted to say that if he really wanted to deal with Jiang Yin, he would just kill him directly, but was interrupted by Xie Rongying.
"I won't let you kill people easily." Xie Rongying, who was reborn, took every step with the mentality of rather killing the wrong person than letting him go. Even if Jiang Yin really came to Kaibao Temple just to burn incense, pray and have fun, she would not leave any harm, because she saw calculations in Jiang and Jiang Wang.
Gu Xun stared at Xie Rongying in confusion.
"Killing people is boring. I prefer to kill with someone else's knife." Xie Rongying leaned back in her chair nonchalantly, her eyes half-closed. Suddenly, a cold light flashed in her eyes, and the words were clear: "For example...dog bites dog."
Gu Xun frowned slightly, still staring at Xie Rongying in confusion. In his understanding, the solution to all troubles was to kill someone.
Otherwise, there will definitely be disaster.
"Just keep an eye on Jiang Yin. Remember, don't alert the enemy." Xie Rongying said.
Gu Xun clasped his fists and bowed: "I will take my leave."
After Gu Xun left, Yunniang asked timidly, "Miss, when did you arrange for Gu Xun to keep an eye on Jiang Yin?"
"Just stay with me during your time at Kaibao Temple and don't ask anything else." Xie Rongying said.
Yunniang knew that Xie Rongying didn't want to tell her, but was afraid that she would worry too much and reveal her flaws: "Yes, young lady."
"It's late, take a rest."
——
The next morning, Mother Yuan came to the west wing where Xie Rongying lived.
At this time, Xie Rongying had just finished dressing up and had not yet put on makeup. When Mother Yuan walked in, Xie Rongying had just finished washing up.
"Young Madam, Madam has just instructed us to go to the Main Hall today to listen to the monks chanting sutras, so she asked you to dress appropriately and not be too ostentatious." Mother Yuan said.
Xie Rongying, who was wiping her hands with a handkerchief, paused for a moment, then seemed to understand something before asking, "When are we going to the Great Hall?"
"Si time."
Xie Rongying threw the handkerchief in her hand into the copper basin, walked out, and glanced at Mother Yuan: "It's still quite early."
"You must be sincere in everything you do, and I hope the young lady will be careful with her words." Mother Yuan was puzzled as to why the eldest daughter of the Xie family, who used to be so well-behaved and sensible, became so strange in character after marrying into the Yongyi Marquis's mansion.
"Mother Yuan is really getting better at lecturing me now." Xie Rongying stared at the startled Mother Yuan with a half-smile, then added, "Just one sentence and you know I'm not sincere?"
Madam Yuan felt uneasy when Xie Rongying looked at her. She said, "Young Madam, you are embarrassing me. How dare I teach you a lesson?"
"It's better that Madam Yuan doesn't dare to lecture me. Otherwise, I'd think she's displeased with me and sent a servant to lecture me, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Marquis of Yongyi." Xie Rongying said casually, with a hint of sarcasm in her tone: "Isn't that right, Madam Yuan?"
Mother Yuan glanced at Xie Rongying and immediately lowered her head: "Young Madam is right."
"Is there anything else, Mother Yuan?" Xie Rongying made no secret of her dissatisfaction.
Mother Yuan was worried. She originally wanted to teach Xie Rongying a lesson, either openly or secretly, to vent her anger. Unexpectedly, Xie Rongying didn't give her face. It seemed that she didn't care about the lady's opinion of her at all. Instead, she almost forgot the important thing.
"Madam asked me to invite the young mistress to the dining hall for a vegetarian meal."
Xie Rongying stood up after hearing this and said, "From now on, if there's anything wrong, just tell me directly. There's no need to lecture me. After all, my mother is still here. Why would a servant like you say anything?"
Mother Yuan's expression changed slightly, and she gritted her teeth: "Yes, Madam."
Despite her dissatisfaction, Mother Yuan remembered Jiang's instructions and walked to the door, making a 'please' gesture: "Young Madam, please."
There was only the main house and the left and right wing rooms in the courtyard. When Xie Rongying left the west wing room, she glanced at the main house. Seeing that there was no one in the main house, she knew that Jiang had already gone to the dining hall.
Originally thought that Jiang Shi went to meet Jiang Wang Shi so early because she could be closer to her mother's family here. It was not until she met Jiang Yin on the curved corridor after passing the bamboo forest that Xie Rong realized that this was arranged by Jiang Shi and Jiang Wang Shi.
"Rongying." Jiang Yin, dressed in black, blocked Xie Rongying's way with a smile.
Xie Rongying stared at Jiang Yin standing in front of her, her heart slightly tense, but her expression normal. She also noticed that Mother Yuan had disappeared without a trace.
Yunniang's face darkened as she said, "Uncle Jiang, even if you are the young marquis' uncle, you shouldn't call her Young Madam by her name."
Jiang Yin smiled and said, "So elders can't call younger ones by their names. It's my uncle who is being rude. I hope Rongying won't blame me."
"Uncle, if you really feel it's rude, please move aside and let me leave first." Xie Rongying didn't want to have too much contact with Jiang Yin in such a place. Although she didn't want to deal with people in the Yongyi Marquis's Mansion, she also didn't want her reputation to be ruined by such a person, even if nothing happened.
She knew better than anyone that prejudice and rumors could cost a life.
Seeing Xie Rongying trying to leave past him, Jiang Yin blocked her way. Xie Rongying nearly bumped into Jiang Yin's arms. Jiang Yin suddenly grabbed Xie Rongying's shoulders and asked with concern, "Are you okay?"
Xie Rongying quickly took two steps back, looked coldly at Jiang Yin's hands still hanging in the air, and sneered: "What are you doing?"
Jiang Yin saw that Xie Rongying's expression was not what one would expect from someone her age, especially the coldness emanating from her eyes. At this moment, she seemed to be enveloped by a cold and chilling aura. He laughed, "I didn't expect the eldest daughter of the Xie family to be so imposing."
Xie Rongying stared at Jiang Yin coldly and sneered: "I didn't expect the Jiang family to be so disgusting."
After saying that, Xie Rongying glanced at him coldly and walked straight past Jiang Yin.
Jiang Yin frowned, realizing that Xie Rongying wasn't as easy to fool as his elder sister and sister-in-law had claimed, and smiled playfully, "It must be very fun to play with her."
Just as he finished speaking, Jiang Yin saw a group of people passing by on a small path in the bamboo forest, and they snorted and laughed again.
Mother Yuan appeared only after the group of people had completely left her sight.
"Are you sure, Sixth Master?" said Mother Yuan.
Jiang Yin crossed his arms and said, "Just go and tell my elder sister and elder sister-in-law that as long as we deal with everyone around Xie Rongying tonight, I'll be able to do it."
"Don't worry, Sixth Master. I will definitely take care of the people around the young lady." After saying this, Madam Yuan bowed and said, "I will take my leave first."
——
As soon as Xie Rongying arrived at the dining hall, Madam Xue and Zhang Ruru arrived.
When Mrs. Xue and Zhang Ruru sat down, they both glanced at Xie Rongying.
Xie Rongying pretended not to notice the two people's gazes.
Because of yesterday's incident, no one talked during the vegetarian meal, even Mrs. Jiang and Mrs. Jiang Wang did not greet Mrs. Xue.
Only after everyone had put down their chopsticks did Jiang and Jiang Wang start talking to Mrs. Xue.
"What a coincidence! I thought Madam Xue wouldn't come to the dining hall." Jiang Wangshi seemed to be in a good mood.
"Aunt, it's a good thing that my aunt and I are here, otherwise we wouldn't have encountered any good things on the road." Zhang Ruruo emphasized the word "good things" and glanced at Xie Rongying.
Xie Rongying looks at her nose with her eyes and her heart with her nose, and acts as an outsider.
Madam Xue scolded Zhang Ruru, "Ruru, don't be rude in front of your elders."
Zhang Ruruo snorted in dissatisfaction and retreated behind Madam Xue.
Jiang Wangshi asked curiously, "Did you encounter something good on the way to the dining hall? Can you tell me what it was?"
Madam Xue smiled faintly: "It's just some insignificant things. Maybe they are good things in the eyes of the little girl. It's better not to tell them and pollute the ears of the Marquise."
Seeing that Madam Xue had no intention of continuing, Jiang Wangshi changed the subject: "We are going to the Great Hall to listen to the masters chanting sutras. Madam Xue, do you want to go?"
"I won't go. I have an appointment with the eldest princess to sit in the back mountain." There was a hint of smile in Mrs. Xue's eyes when she mentioned the eldest princess.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wangshi's tone became much more respectful: "Since the eldest princess has an appointment, I will not try to keep you, Madam."
Zhang Ruruo said playfully, "Aunt, can Shu'er and Hua'er come with me to see the princess with my aunt today?"
"Of course I can." Mrs. Jiang Wang was delighted and immediately warned her two daughters, "You must be obedient and listen to Madam. Don't talk nonsense or behave in an unbecoming manner in front of the princess."
Jiang Huaer and Jiang Shuer stood up and responded obediently: "My daughter has made a note of this."
Jiang Wangshi smiled gently: "Then Madam, we will go to the main hall first."
"Okay." Mrs. Xue nodded in response.
Xie Rongying didn't say a word to anyone from beginning to end. When she left, she walked at the end, keeping some distance from Jiang Wangshi and Jiang Shi. Perhaps the people behind her also noticed that Xie Rongying had kept some distance from the elders in front of her.
Then he said provocatively: "How shameless! She came to a place like the temple to have a secret meeting. Only a merchant family could raise such a daughter. As expected, merchants are merchants. No matter how rich they are, no matter how hard they try to pursue a career in politics, they can't cover up their lowly nature."
Xie Rongying stopped and looked back at the owner of the voice. Her deep eyes dimmed in the backlight, and the murderous aura hidden in them was like a sharp blade aimed at Zhang Ruru.
Zhang Ruru, who had been so arrogant just now, stared at Xie Rongying in astonishment, her face filled with shock and anger.
What was shocking was that Xie Rongying dared to look back.
What made her angry was that Xie Rongying dared to look at her like that.
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