Xue Shengnan’s eyes reddened slightly. She maintained her weak deanor, "I’ll follow whatever Father decides."
Hearing this, Lord Xue’s expression softened a bit. Yet, looking at Xue Shengnan’s beautiful face, a sense of frustration churned within him. He had high hopes for this daughter, but she had turned out to be diocre. When selecting the consort for the Royal Heir, she failed to leave any impression on Empress Xie due to her lack of talents.
The other noble families also found her unsatisfactory, forcing Lord Xue to choose Song Zihan as her husband. Though his family background was modest, Song Zihan was the second-ranked scholar in the imperial examinations and had great potential. But now, just before the wedding, Song Zihan had been gravely hard.
Lord Xue now thought his daughter wasn’t blessed with good fortune but was rather a bringer of misfortune.
"Enough," he said, standing up. "Stop looking so tearful. I’ll find you another good match."
After saying this, he left. Xue Shengnan’s previously sorrowful expression turned cold. She adjusted the hairpin in her hair and murmured, "To think he survived... Is my power insufficient, or is the Ninth Princess simply too formidable?"
Shuang’er sighed in relief, "Miss, fortunately, Master consulted a sage; otherwise, you would have hard yourself with your own actions."
Xue Shengnan looked at her indifferently, "Do you think my father consulted the sage deliberately? I had prepared two plans to ensure success."
Shuang’er’s eyes widened slightly, "So it was... Miss, you are indeed prescient and wise."
Xue Shengnan sat down, her brows slightly furrowed.
"Miss, everything has succeeded, and the Dalisi Procuratorate hasn’t traced anything back to the Xue family. Why do you still look unhappy?" Shuang’er, now relieved, cheerfully poured Xue Shengnan a cup of hot tea.
Xue Shengnan stroked the bracelet on her wrist, which was full of impurities and clearly of little value. She said, "Since Song Zihan had his accident at the Heir’s Palace, the Ninth Princess must have set up her formation there. With her not at the Mansion of Marquis Anyang, now is the perfect ti."
However, the charity sale organized by the Duchess of Yingguo was still several days away.
Shuang’er suggested, "Miss, your talisman skills are so formidable..."
"No," Xue Shengnan’s eyes narrowed slightly, "My Soul-Seizing Charm was imdiately seen through by the Ninth Princess. If I use talismans to harm Xiao Wanyi under her watch, she will surely notice in advance. It would alert her, making it harder for to strike."
Therefore, Xiao Wanyi must die from an "accident" that hit its mark perfectly.
Hearing this, Shuang’er felt her head spin and thought of backing out again, "Miss, perhaps... perhaps we shouldn’t target Lady Xiao. The Mansion of Marquis Anyang is very powerful now, and Master might not object to you becoming a concubine there."
Xue Shengnan turned sharply and glared fiercely at Shuang’er, "I’ve said it many tis: I will never be a concubine! How could being a concubine ever compare to sharing life and death together?"
Shuang’er was startled. At that mont, she genuinely found her mistress frighteningly ruthless.
She took two steps back and said, "I understand, Miss. I’ll do whatever you instruct with all my effort!"
Xue Shengnan sighed and rested her cheek on her hand, "Alright then. I’ll find a way to divert the Ninth Princess’s attention when the ti cos."
She always got what she wanted.
anwhile, as Song Zihan’s fate remained uncertain in the Heir’s Palace, Lord Xue visited the Song family and officially called off the engagent.
Mr. and Mrs. Song, being kind-hearted and honest, knew they couldn’t hold up the Xue family’s daughter when their own son’s life was hanging by a thread. To avoid her gaining a reputation for bringing bad luck, they agreed to end the engagent, saying it was mutual and not out of the Xue family’s ruthlessness.
Lord Xue was satisfied, thinking the Song family sensible. He even assured them that if Song Zihan could return to his official duties, he would treat him like his own son and offer support.
Though the perpetrator hadn’t been found, Qin Zheng had cleared Song’s brother and sister-in-law of suspicion. Returning ho, they saw Lord Xue leaving happily.
Upon learning of the broken engagent, Song’s brother clenched his teeth and fists, "The Xue family is really shaless! They forced my brother into this engagent and now break it off as soon as sothing goes wrong! These noble families, none of them are decent!"
His sister-in-law, wiping her eyes, said, "Second Brother is indeed unfortunate, but seeing the Xue family’s true nature might be a blessing in disguise. If he had married such a cold-hearted wife, life would have been miserable."
Her husband, hearing this, felt slightly better.
Mr. and Mrs. Song, faces somber, said, "Our second son t this disaster right before his wedding. He is simply unlucky; we can’t burden the Xue family’s daughter."
Song’s brother and sister-in-law exchanged looks, not arguing.
For now, they could only hope that Second Brother could get through this trial safely. It had been three days, and their anxiety was palpable.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of carriage wheels outside.
Mr. Song stood up abruptly, his voice trembling, "Is... is it Second Brother returning?"
Song’s brother had already headed outside, while his sister-in-law went to support Mrs. Song.
As expected, it was indeed a carriage from the Heir’s Palace.
Nanli stepped down first, visibly fatigued from nearly three sleepless days. She swayed a bell.
At the sound, Song Zihan poked his head out, appearing stiff and awkward, as if he didn’t know how to disembark. His eyes were empty and vacant, his face expressionless.
The Song family stood frozen at the sight.
Nanli shook the bell again, prompting Song Zihan to clumsily get down from the carriage, almost stumbling. She hurriedly helped him.
Without the bell’s command, Song Zihan stood still, unmoving.
Mrs. Song burst into tears, "Son, what has happened to you?"
Three days ago, Song Zihan had left after eating her homade buns. Now he returned in this state!
Nanli explained, "His soul is damaged, so he’s like a living dead person."
Mr. Song, as the head of the family, imdiately knelt down, "You must be the Ninth Princess. Please, my son is still young and has a long life ahead of him. Can you find a way to save him? Even if it costs my life, I have no regrets!"
Seeing this, the others also knelt, crying and pleading.
Nanli felt sorrow. She could tell the Song family genuinely cared for Song Zihan, not just his future. They wanted him to be safe and sound.
She hurried to lift them up, saying, "Please don’t do this. Let’s go inside, and I’ll explain further."
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