The weather was fickle; monts ago, the skies had been clear and boundless, radiant beauty like a painted scene. But suddenly, dark clouds obscured the sun, signaling an imminent storm.
People leisurely strolling through the streets quickened their pace to return ho, afraid of becoming drenched.
Street vendors, too, began moving their stalls to safer locations.
Soon enough, the once bustling and lively streets beca sowhat deserted.
Inside the Ran Mansion, the atmosphere remained tranquil.
Housekeeper Li finished his simple breakfast and changed into clean clothes, preparing to et the Inner Guards stationed outside the courtyard to discuss whether more food supplies could be purchased for the mansion’s use.
Ideally, he hoped to procure more nourishing ingredients for Old Madam Ran.
Having served the Ran Mansion for over thirty years, Housekeeper Li harbored deep affection for this place.
Witnessing the decline of the once-thriving Ran Family into such desolation, his heart was filled with mixed emotions, tinged with sorrow.
Still, though he felt distressed, his optimism endured.
In his view, as long as Old Madam Ran—the only Different Surna Princess of Dazhou—remained alive, the Emperor would not forget past ties and would not be overly harsh toward the Ran Mansion.
The Ran Mansion’s crisis would eventually pass.
Just as he arrived at the front door, he caught sight of a few cold-faced Inner Guards approaching.
Leading them was a middle-aged commander surnad Zhao.
Thinking the group was there for another routine inspection, Housekeeper Li quickly put on a smile and stepped forward, saying, "Mr. Zhao, this morning, apart from two workers heading out to empty chamber pots, no one else has—"
"Pfft!"
Before Li could finish, a sharp blade had already pierced through his chest.
Housekeeper Li stared blankly at Mr. Zhao, his face full of disbelief.
"His Majesty has issued a decree: the Ran Family has colluded with the Demon Clan. Exterminate the entire household!"
Without sparing a glance at the fallen corpse of the housekeeper, Inner Guard commander Mr. Zhao withdrew his bloodstained blade and coldly ordered his subordinates, "Leave no one alive!"
"Yes!"
The Inner Guards, blades in hand, stord into the courtyard.
Several unsuspecting servants were imdiately cut down.
Soon, chaos engulfed the Ran Mansion’s courtyard.
Screams, cries, and pleas for rcy echoed intermittently.
Splattered blood painted every corner, transforming the once lively estate into a slaughterhouse.
Mr. Ran, Ran Jinyi, hearing the commotion, furrowed his brows, rose to his feet, and opened his door to shout, "What’s the matter? Why is everyone in such a panic?"
Yet the sight of the Inner Guards rampaging and slaughtering his household froze him in place, as if turned to stone.
Whoosh—
An arrow shot through the air, precisely piercing his heart.
The impact sent Ran Jinyi reeling back into his room, his legs giving way from the pain and shock. He stumbled backward, crashing into a nearby chair.
The man’s face remained vacant.
It was as if he was struggling to comprehend the sudden calamity.
He touched the arrow in his chest and, staring blankly at the blood on his hand, turned his dazed gaze to the bloody turmoil outside, his face filled with confusion.
"Why... is this happening?"
Ran Jinyi murmured to himself, the light fading from his eyes.
In his dimming vision, he saw his wife, Zuo Su, standing at the dressing table, her expression complex as she looked at him.
The woman’s arm was half-raised, seemingly wanting to reach out for him, though hesitation lingered.
"Run..."
Ran Jinyi painfully uttered the word before taking his final breath.
Zuo Su silently approached her husband.
Looking down at the lifeless corpse of the man she had been married to for over twenty years, now reduced to cold flesh, the woman clenched her delicate fists tightly, unsure of how she felt inside.
Joy?
Sorrow?
Neither seed fitting.
She pulled at the corners of her mouth, trying to smile but failing.
At that mont, a blood-soaked Inner Guard burst into the room, and upon seeing Zuo Su, he raised his stained blade without a mont’s hesitation to strike at her head.
But the very next mont, the sharp blade was caught by a jade-white hand.
Before the guard could react, Zuo Su flicked her wrist, snapping the blade into two pieces.
She then swiftly drove the broken blade into the man’s neck!
Blood gushed out like a fountain... The guard clutched his throat, staring incredulously at the seemingly frail woman before collapsing with a thud.
Zuo Su closed her eyes and took a deep breath before turning to leave the room.
In the mansion, the remaining maids and servants were still frantically fleeing, while countless bodies were strewn across the inner courtyard.
At this mont, no one had ti to care about the bedridden and ailing Old Madam Ran inside her chamber.
Hearing the intermittent screams from outside, Old Madam Ran’s lips trembled slightly, and tears rolled down her cheeks.
What was destined to co had finally arrived.
Perhaps, from the mont the Ran Mansion was placed under house arrest, she had foreseen this outco.
No, in truth, she had anticipated the Ran Family’s tragic fate ever since Jiang Wan married into the Ran Mansion years ago.
She vividly rembered the Emperor’s visit on her youngest son’s wedding day. When departing, the Emperor turned back to gaze at the plaque hanging above the Ran Mansion.
In that mont, his eyes held no warmth, only chilling coldness and hatred that struck fear into her heart.
It was at that very instant that the Ran Family’s fate was sealed.
To outsiders, it seed she and her daughter-in-law had always been at odds because Jiang Wan was a child of the Jianghu, and, as a traditional and noble Commandery Princess, she looked down on people of such origins.
But the true reason, only she knew.
It wasn’t that she disliked her daughter-in-law; she was simply afraid—afraid that the Ran Family would provoke a calamity because of her.
Ti and again, she wished to drive that harbinger of misfortune away.
Yet, as ti went on, she had grown sowhat attached to her daughter-in-law. Though her scolding continued, deep down, she contemplated drawing closer to her.
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