"Xiaoyu! What have you done to Gu Ji! If anything happens to him, I will haunt you even as a ghost!"
Xiaoyu pouted, "Sister, you're so easily teased. I was just kidding."
"However, there is indeed someone you really dislike lying in this grave. Can you guess who it is?"
Su Ruanruan gritted her teeth and said, "I won't guess, I'm asking you, is Gu Ji in your hands? What exactly did you do to him?!"
"Sister, guess whether the person in this grave is male or female?" Xiaoyu's eyes seemed to be churning with turbulent waves.
Su Ruanruan asked again, "Is Gu Ji really in your hands?" She pushed the hairpin in her hand a little further in.
Xiaoyu clicked her tongue, her eyes blazing with anger. "Shut up! The game has started, and I'm the one who sets the rules. You answer my questions! If you dare to do this again, don't blame me for being rude!"
He asked several times, but Su Ruanruan remained silent and did not answer any of his questions. She simply pushed the hairpin in her hand a little further in.
Xiaoyu suppressed her anger and said, "Didn't you want to know where your Uncle Gu Yong and Brother Gu Ji went? I can tell you!"
“Gu Yong has been locked up by us. As for where your brother Gu Ji has escaped to, I don’t know at the moment.” A hint of madness flashed in Xiao Yu’s eyes. “However, his life is now in your hands.”
"If you die here today, I will send someone to find him and tear him to pieces."
"But if... you behave yourself, I might consider letting him live and not pursuing him anymore. What do you think?"
"His life or death depends on your choice, sister. You should think it over carefully."
Su Ruanruan threw the blood-stained hairpin on the ground, smiling bitterly and helplessly, "Why did you force me? Did I have any other choice? You must have guessed that I didn't want Gu Ji to die, right?"
Su Ruanruan clutched her chest. Although the hairpin had only pierced her skin and hadn't caused any more serious damage, she felt immense pain inside. She was saddened that she couldn't have a free and unrestrained life.
Xiaoyu was quite pleased with her demeanor. He pointed to the grave again, "This is where your weasel-faced grandmother is buried. I know she always mistreated you, but I've already—I've already avenged you." He leaned closer, his tone carrying a chilling madness: "Sister, I tortured her to death. See how good I am?"
Compared to Wang's death, what shocked Su Ruanruan even more was Xiaoyu, who was simply a madman with unpredictable tempers.
"Who exactly are you?" Su Ruanruan's voice was filled with undisguised fear.
Xiaoyu simply shook her head, a mysterious smile on her face: "Sister, I can't tell you who I am."
"Sister, aren't you curious about who Gu Yong is? And why was he locked up?" Xiao Yu's voice seemed to come from hell, making Su Ruanruan's heart beat faster instantly.
"Don't call me sister! It makes me feel disgusted!" Su Ruanruan said angrily.
Xiaoyu blinked and said aggrievedly, "Although I'm a few years older than you, I just like to call you 'sister'!"
"Sister, I have a big gift for you, and I'll tell you a secret..."
"However, you'll have to come with me."
...
Winter arrives as promised, like an elegant dancer, gracefully dancing in the air with the first snowflakes.
In the cold wind of the capital, Princess Jingyi held a silver-plated hand warmer with flying flowers in her hands, standing gracefully under the winter plum tree in the courtyard, like a plum blossom braving the snow.
As soon as Granny Shu stepped into the courtyard, her gaze was drawn to the princess. She hurried forward and helped the princess into the house, saying with concern, "Princess, why did you come out? Come inside and warm up."
After the princess sat down, she asked impatiently, "How is the matter progressing?"
As Granny Shu covered her with a blanket, she replied, "Still haven't found it."
Upon hearing this, Princess Jingyi slowly closed her eyes, her heart filled with mixed emotions, unsure whether to feel joy or sorrow.
Su Ruanruan has been missing for over a month, like a kite with a broken string, without any news.
Ever since she was splashed with strong liquor in Qingshan County, revealing her true face, her stunning beauty was painted and sold to the capital by those with ulterior motives.
These portraits, like wild geese that have crossed mountains and rivers, reveal her beauty to the world. Even Qingyu's charm pales in comparison.
When Princess Jingyi caught a glimpse of the woman in the painting, she was startled, for the woman in the painting bore a striking resemblance to herself in her youthful days.
When she learned that the person in the painting was Su Ruanruan, she was also stunned.
Then she thought again and assumed it was just a coincidence of names. But when she inquired again, she learned that it was not a coincidence of names, but the same person with the same name. This was what her daughter originally looked like.
She had always presented herself as ugly. She thought to herself, how could she have given birth to such an ugly woman, given her own beauty in her youth and Su Zhen's handsome appearance?
She had initially feared that Tinghan would search for her in Qingshan County in the Northwest, so she tricked him into returning home. She also pretended to be sick for several days, keeping him at home.
Later, the emperor entrusted him with an important task and sent him to other places to provide disaster relief, which finally won him over and made him want to go to the northwest.
Unexpectedly, another portrait was sent from the capital.
This daughter was like an insurmountable chasm, always standing in her heart.
And since the painting had reached her, it would naturally soon be seen by Su Zhen.
The story begins with Su Zhen's first encounter with that painting.
It turned out that the day after Princess Jingyi saw the portrait, Su Zhen saw it at his colleague's place.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
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