She walked through a side wall from the right, moving lightly and avoiding the occasional maids and servants passing by.
There weren’t many servants in the Duan Mansion. Firstly, it was just a temporary residence for Duan Lan, who would leave after some days, so there was no need to make a fuss. Secondly, Duan Lan was very vigilant and sensitive, unwilling to let anyone into the mansion who wasn’t a confidant. Many offered their service with diligence, but Duan Lan didn’t keep a single one.
The guard of the mansion was also very casual. It seemed that Duan Lan didn’t care much about the mansion, and perhaps he thought there was nothing of value for others to covet.
To Duan Lan, it was just a place to stay. There was no special meaning or hidden secrets inside, so he was naturally relaxed.
His relaxation just provided Ji Xinhe with an opportunity.
Xinhe smoothly entered the inner courtyard and quickly arrived at the corner outside the door of the East Wing.
She peeked around the corner and saw two old women guarding the East Wing. They were chatting, not paying much attention to other movements.
Xinhe made a gesture to Xiao Chaihuo, who tiptoed and moved onto the roof beam of the corridor.
"Outsiders envy Madam Duan for maintaining her position as Madam Duan for six years without children and without any other beauties by Minister Duan’s side. Pfft! Some things really only outsiders see as glamorous."
"Isn’t that the truth? News has spread all the way from the capital city to Yu State, making everyone envious of Madam Duan. But who can know that she’s carefully obedient in front of Minister Duan every day, always trying to curry favor with him, only to be ignored. Now, she has secretly come from the capital city, making him furious, and he’s put her under watch. I doubt Princess Pingyang of Yu State has it any better."
"But didn’t she give Prince Pingyang a princess? I heard that Prince Pingyang dotes on the princess very much."
"Who knows if that’s true or not? Hmph, men, there’s no good in any of them!" The woman chatted while eating melon seeds.
Just as she finished speaking, she suddenly felt a force on her neck, and her vision went black as she lost consciousness.
As the two women fell to the ground, Xiao Chaihuo jumped down from the roof beam without making a sound. He nodded to Xinhe, who was hidden in the corner. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
Xinhe walked out from the corner, glancing at the two unconscious women on the ground. She remembered their conversation but didn’t take it to heart, for she had experienced all kinds of vicious and sarcastic words. She didn’t care about these gossiping women.
The only information she got was that there seemed to be a rift between Duan Lan and Li Junyan.
Xinhe’s lips curled into a slight smile, considering it good news.
"Open the door." Xinhe whispered.
Xiao Chaihuo took a key from the chubby waist of one of the women and opened the door for Xinhe.
The East Wing was very dark, almost no light inside due to the absence of windows. When the door was pushed open with a creak, Xinhe almost thought she had entered the wrong place.
Li Junyan was sitting at the table, her face pale. Even as the door opened, she didn’t show any reaction, just sitting there blankly.
Maybe she thought it was just someone bringing food.
Only when Xinhe chuckled and spoke did she react: "I thought Madam Duan was living quite a glamorous life, but I didn’t expect..."
There was a hint of mockery in those words.
Li Junyan’s head shot up upon hearing that voice, her already pale face turning even paler, as if it would become transparent any moment. Her eyes were filled with a mix of shock, shame, and anger, which threatened to overwhelm her.
Finally, she shouted, "How are you here?!"
Xinhe laughed lightly, nonchalantly taking a seat: "Of course I’m here to see you. Why else would I come to such a dilapidated room?"
Those words, "dilapidated room," were like a slap on Li Junyan’s face, causing a burning pain.
"You!" Li Junyan was on the verge of breaking down, "Who allowed you to come here?! Don’t you see where this is? You think you can just barge in as you please? Get out! I’ll call for help, I’ll call for help!"
Xinhe didn’t seem to care at all: "You want to call for help? Go ahead, see how many people will respond and who would stand up for you."
Xinhe spoke, a strange smile curving at the corner of her lips. She leaned in slightly towards Li Junyan: "You’re asking who allowed me to come here, but who should know the answer better than you? Whose mansion is this? My ability to come and go as I please can only mean it’s his idea."
Li Junyan’s face changed colors again as she shrieked, "Impossible!"
Xinhe raised an eyebrow, her voice low, "Why is it impossible? Perhaps you don’t know what his plans have been for all these years. It’s all been for me. Now that he’s come to Yu State, the first person he saw was me. He even asked me if I regretted not choosing him..."
After pausing, she continued with a smile, "I said times have changed, what’s the point of bringing that up? He said that, whether it was six years ago or six years later, he still keeps me in his heart."
As Xinhe spoke, Li Junyan’s face went deathly pale, her eyes full of murderous intent, and her body trembling, "You’re already married to Mu Houchu! You even have a child!"
Ji Xinhe scoffed lightly, "So what? King of Victory, Loser of War. Do you expect me to carry on living a difficult life with a failed man? What’s more... It’s uncertain whether Mu Houchu can survive today. Naturally, I must plan for myself first. Duan Lan has done all this for me, so why can’t I choose him?"
"I am his wife! What are you, daring to act so arrogantly in front of me!?" Li Junyan raised her hand to slap her.
But Ji Xinhe easily caught her wrist, biting back with a smile, "Wife? Madam Duan’s living conditions are quite shabby. Given Minister Duan’s status, no one would know that his so-called wife lives like this... If not for her presence here, one might think this is just a servant’s room."
Li Junyan, shaking with anger, raised her hand to strike Ji Xinhe but was caught again. With clenched fists and gritted teeth, she yelled, "I don’t believe it! You’re lying! Guards! Guards!"
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