Wife Doting Addiction：My Abducted Tsundere Husband - Chapter 121

Chapter 121: All That Between Sisters Ji Yuxian pulled out his arm and took a step closer to the bed.

“How is she?” he asked in a hushed tone.

Doctor Gu yawned and said, “She had a scare.

” Su Jiu glanced over at Ren Yu, who was weeping and wiping her tears.

She then walked to the window and leaned over the moistened, punctured paper surface for a better look.

Ren Zhi’er languidly woke up in bed.

Upon seeing Ji Yuxian, her eyes bulged wide and her hand abruptly grabbed onto his sleeve.

“Xie Ying was here! She was here for me!” “It wasn’t me! I wasn’t the one who did her harm!” “I’m innocent! You know I’m innocent!” Grabbing onto Ji Yuxian, Ren Zhi’er screamed in incoherent panic.

Ji Yuxian turned his gaze to Doctor Gu, who thrust an acupuncture needle into a meridian point in Ren Zhi’er’s body.

The girl instantly leaned back, her eyes slowly closing.

Ren Yu walked over to Su Jiu.

“Young Mistress?” she asked in a sheepish voice, seemingly fearful.

Noticing something on the window paper, Su Jiu reached out and picked it up with two fingers for a better look.

Upon hearing Ren Yu’s voice, she turned back to the girl.

“What’s the matter?” .

.

.

“Sister was terrified.

I’m so scared, too.

Would you allow the Young Master to stay the night to keep my sister company?” Ren Yu bit her lip, her innocent face clouded by concern.

Su Jiu peeked over at Ji Yuxian and nodded.

“Alright!” “Thank you, Young Mistress!” Ren Yu beamed with a sweet, grateful smile.

Su Jiu walked over behind Ji Yuxian and whispered, “Go ahead and stay here.

Let’s hope nothing bad happens again.

” The sky was two hours away from dawning.

Ji Yuxian swung his gaze, gave a faint nod and fixed Su Jiu’s robe.

“Go to sleep.

I’ll come back to our room shortly.

” Continue reading on MYB0XN0 V EL.

COM Doctor Gu stretched and rose to his feet.

“I’m going to sleep, too.

Let’s go, girl!” Su Jiu and Doctor Gu exited Plum Breeze Estate together and reached the main courtyard.

Still clutching onto the small item taken from the window paper, Su Jiu entered her room and examined it under the candlelight.

A chilly glimmer flashed across her eyes.

She opened the window and, with a gentle blow of breath, sent the small item fluttering outside.

In Ren Zhi’er’s room, with Su Jiu now gone, Ji Yuxian exited to the outer chamber and sat down in a chair.

Propping his cheek with one hand, he was preparing to take a brief rest.

Ren Yu approached him and handed him a cup of tea.

“Brother Ji, have some tea.

” “No need.

” Ji Yuxian opened his eyes, his lashes fluttering.

His voice was husky and indifferent.

“This tea is made from lotus dewdrops.

Please have a taste.

You can still smell the aroma of lotus leaves.

” Ren Yu stood there, holding the teacup, not intending to give up.

“I said no need!” Ji Yuxian swung an impatient arm and knocked over the cup.

Splat! The cup tumbled, and its contents splashed onto the man’s sleeve.

“Oh no!” Ren Yu gasped and took a step back, seemingly at a loss.

Ji Yuxian’s handsome face turned frosty.

Remaining calm, he retrieved a silk kerchief and began to dry the wet stain on his sleeve.

Ren Yu hurried over to take the kerchief.

Biting her lip, her face riddled with guilt, she carefully wiped down the tea stain for him.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t do it on purpose!” “Take good care of your sister.

” With these cold and aloof words, Ji Yuxian got up and walked out of the room.

Ren Yu stood still and watched his departing figure, clutching tightly onto the kerchief.

A dark shadow gradually flashed across her eyes.

After the scare, Ren Zhi’er’s condition worsened.

She spent most of the day asleep and coughed up blood twice at night.

The Second Mistress came to see her once.

Alarmed by Zhi’er’s deterioration, she had the servants prepare for a funeral and swiftly informed the Ren family.

Madame Ren also came for a visit.

She wept for a long while, lamenting her daughter’s ill fortune, and briefly conversed with Ren Yu before leaving.

The next day.

the sky turned bright past noon.

Soon after Su Jiu had left the mansion, Ren Yu arrived at the Cloud Pavilion, holding her cat in her arms.

Zhang Quandan, who was on gate-keeping duty on this day, stood ramrod at the front door.

Tilting her head with a naughty smile, Ren Yu walked over to him.

“Aren’t you hot standing there, little brother?” Surprised to find a cute, young girl talking to him, Zhang Quandan couldn’t help but blush.

“Hot…? Not, hot…not,” he stuttered.

“Which is it? Hot or not hot?” Ren Yu grinned slyly.

Zhang Quandan’s face flushed bright red.

“Not hot!” “How can it not be? The sun is vicious.

” Ren Yu lifted her slender finger and pointed at his forehead.

“See, you’re sweating!” Zhang Quandan tensed up and reflexively reeled back.

“Are you avoiding me? I don’t bite!” Ren Yu gazed at him, wide-eyed.

“Or are you scared of my ugly face?” “No, no!” Zhang Quandan’s face turned purplish, yet his eyes remained glued on Ren Yu, who kept on smiling flirtatiously.

“I’m bored,” Ren Yu sighed, fanning a paper fan.

“Let’s play a game!” “What game?” Zhang Quandan asked with a puzzled look on his face.

“You see that tree?” Ren Yu pointed at an ancient sophora tree before them.

“I heard cicadas chirping when I walked past that tree.

Let’s guess how many cicadas are up there! What do you say?” Bewitched by Ren Yu’s beauty, Zhang Quandan could only manage a nod.

“My guess is there are three cicadas up in the tree!” Ren Yu giggled, tilting her head.

“What about you?” “Me? My guess… only one!” Zhang Quandan stuttered.

“Whoever loses has to bark like a little dog!” Ren Yu again chuckled.

“Go on, go check how many cicadas there are.

” “Oh…” Zhang Quandan waddled to the big tree, mumbling unintelligibly along the way.

Craning his neck to look up, he tried hard to locate the cicadas up in the ancient sophora tree.

Ren Yu covered her mouth with one hand to stifle a laugh.

She glanced around, then hurried into the courtyard.

One, two… Meanwhile, Zhang Quandan continued to count the cicadas, as if his life depended on it.

Ren Yu entered the yard and treaded down a narrow path lined with flowers.

With lithe steps, the girl skipped into the inner courtyard.

It was just past noon and Ji Yuxian was taking a nap.

All the servants didn’t dare to go near the study and disturb him.

The courtyard was eerily quiet.

Outside the study, Jin Feng was nowhere in sight.

Ren Yu walked over and pushed the door open soundlessly.

She turned and looked around for one last time, before entering the room.

Ji Yuxian was napping on a low bed.

Having fooled around with Su Jiu only moments prior, his red robe was half-open, exposing a stretch of fair skin under his delicate clavicle.

His inky black hair fell onto his face, accentuating an air of mischievous, devilish charm.

Ren Yu couldn’t help but blush.

Silently, she approached and sat down on the round stool beside the low bed, unable to take her eyes off the man.

His almond-shaped eyes.

His straight nose.

His red, tender lips.

A specimen more delicate and enchanting than any woman.

Holding her cat, Ren Yu locked her gaze on his handsome face, unable to look away.

Just then, the man abruptly opened his eyes and gazed at the young girl.

A trace of confusion flashed across his face.

Ren Yu found herself tensing up, nervousness instantly turning her face bright red.

She bit her lips and spread a flowery smile.

Within moments, as the man became fully awake, a thin veil of frostiness shrouded his piercing gaze.

“Who let you in?” he asked blankly.

His aura was overwhelming.

Ren Yu hurriedly took out the silk kerchief from that morning and plastered an innocent look.

“I… I’m here to return the kerchief.

I washed it clean.

” Ji Yuxian swiped the kerchief from her and absently tossed it onto the low bed.

“You can go now,” he said, stretching and getting onto his feet.

The kerchief landed on the low bed.

Snowball, the cat in Ren Yu’s arms, was about to leap over and play with it when Ren Yu hurriedly held the cat back and bowed to Ji Yuxian.

“I shall leave then.

” “This is the Ji mansion and we have our rules,” said Ji Yuxian coldly, facing away from the girl.

“If you ever barge in again, you’ll be thrown out immediately.

” Ren Yu felt a chill down her spine.

“Yes! Please forgive me!” She turned to leave the room.

Once outside the study, she turned back with a pout and let out a humph.

Suddenly feeling exhausted, she wandered lazily down the veranda.

Just then, Jin Feng appeared ahead and walked in her direction.

Upon seeing Ren Yu, he frowned briefly.

Again beaming an innocent smile, Ren Yu hurried over.

“Brother Jin, I’m here to spend some time with you.

Where have you been?” Jin Feng’s face showed no emotion.

“This courtyard is off-limit.

You better leave!” “I’m just taking a stroll,” said Ren Yu coquettishly.

“No harm is done.

” “Hurry up and leave, before the guards get punished because of you!” Jin Feng’s voice turned even colder.

“All right!” Ren Yu whispered and headed for the exit, still holding her cat.

Reaching a distance away, she turned and stole a glance at Jin Feng’s departing figure.

“Just who do you think you are?” she grumbled under her breath.

“Just you wait.

Wait till I become the madame of the house, let’s see if you still dare to be rude to me!” Mumbling to herself, the young girl reached the courtyard’s entrance, where Zhang Quandan stood with his head lowered, seemingly lost in thought.

“Hey, little brother!” Ren Yu hopped over.

Zhang Quandan jumped, snapping out of his daze, and scratched his head with an embarrassed grin.

“Where did you go? I was looking all over for you.

” “Why were you looking for me?” Ren Yu smiled, tilting her head.

Blushing out of control, Zhang Quandan replied in a husky voice, “I counted three times.

There are indeed three cicadas in the tree, so you won.

I was looking for you, so I could bark like a dog in front of you.

” Ren Yu let out a chuckle and cast him a sideways glance.

“Do it another day.

” She then skipped away, leaving Zhang Quandan standing, dumbfounded with a frown.

He lost the bet after all; why didn’t the girl demand for her prize? “Whoof, whoof, whoof!” He barked aloud and called out after the girl.

“I lost, and I barked.

” And he was happy to do that.

No way in hell would he break his promise and take advantage of a young lady.

Upon returning to Plum Breeze Estate, Ren Yu found Peach on her way into the house, holding a bowl of herbal potion, ready to serve Ren Zhi’er her medication.

“Let me bring it in!” Ren Yu hurried over.

“Yes, Miss.

” Peach handed the bowl to her.

Ren Yu entered the bedroom and parted the hanging net shrouding the bed.

“Wake up, sister.

Time for your medicine,” she called out.

Ren Zhi’er opened her eyes narrowly.

Her vision was still blurry, and her mind was still muddled and hazy.

Ren Yu scooped up the potion and gently blew on it, before bringing the spoon to Ren Zhi’er’s lips.

As soon as Ren Zhi’er took a sip, phlegm suddenly gushed up her throat, causing her to cower to the side of the bed and cough incessantly.

Ren Yu put down the bowl and patted her back with one hand.

With her other hand, she took out the kerchief and gave her sister to cover her mouth.

It took a while for the cough to subside.

Panting feebly, Ren Zhi’er leaned against a soft pillow.

Peeking over at the kerchief, Ren Yu abruptly heaved in horror.

“You coughed up blood, sister!” Ren Zhi’er glanced at the kerchief, which was indeed dyed crimson by specks of blood.

Sorrow and despair instantly overtook her.

“I think… this is the end of me,” her voice turned hoarse as tears welled up in her eyes.

“No! You will recover, sister!” Ren Yu’s eyes also turned moist.

She hugged Ren Zhi’er and began to weep uncontrollably.

The sound of her crying made Ren Zhi’er’s heart sink further.

“Yu, I’ll be gone soon,” she said feebly, caressing her sister’s hair.

“You have to take good care of our parents and complete my filial duties.

Do you understand?” “No, you won’t die.

You won’t!” Ren Yu muttered repeatedly.

Her will to live fast dissipated and Ren Zhi’er felt a wave of fatigue and sorrow washing over her.

“You go now,” she whispered.

“I want to be alone for a while.

” “All right.

” Ren Yu rose to her feet, sobbing with shuddering breaths.

“Don’t think too much, sister, please rest well.

Let the medicine cool down a bit, and I’ll serve you later.

” With a brief nod, Ren Zhi’er shut her eyes and rolled to her side, her face devoid of expression, like that of a corpse.

Ren Yu closed the hanging net and got up.

Just as she was heading for the door, Nian Xiu, who had always been Ren Zhi’er’s most trusted maid, walked into the room.

“How is the Young Mistress, Third Miss?” Nian Xiu bowed with a glum look.

Nian Xiu had been Ren Zhi’er’s servant ever since she was young, and she had followed Ren Zhi’er into the Ji Manor after the marriage.

She had always been very close to Ren Zhi’er, and she was the one who worried the most about the young mistress’s fate.

“Not that good,” Ren Yu sighed.

“How can this be?” Nian Xiu frowned.

“She was on her way to recovery.

How can it suddenly get worse now?” Ren Yu arched her eyebrow.

“Did you forget to close the windows at night? Did you let my sister catch the cold wind?” “No, no, no,” Nian Xiu hurriedly shook her head.

“I have been paying careful attention every day!” “Don’t be afraid.

I didn’t mean anything by it.

” Ren Yu smiled again.

“Go on inside.

Feed the medicine to my sister after it’s cooled down.

” “Yes, I will.

” Nian Xiu entered the room, wiping her tears along the way.

Ren Yu exited the house and yelled out aloud, “Peach!” Peach scurried over from the yard, sweat beading on her cheeks.

“I was giving Snowball a bath, Miss.

” “Hurry up and wash this!” Ren Yu handed the blood-stained kerchief to her.

“Yes, Miss.

” Peach took the kerchief and proceeded to fetch a fresh bucket of water.

Spreading the kerchief, she did a double-take, as she saw the bloodstain.

Wasn’t this the old bloodstain? Wasn’t this the kerchief used by Third Young Mistress a few days ago? Back then, the Third Miss asked her to wash it, but the Young Mistress told her not to.

Why did the kerchief appear once again? Gnawed by suspicion and doubt, Peach soaked the kerchief in water.

“It had been days and the blood was already dry,” she muttered silently.

“It might not be possible to wash it off anymore.

Early in the evening, Ji Yuxian had to go out for an errand.

He told the nanny that Su Jiu didn’t have to wait up for him for dinner.

When Su Jiu returned to the mansion, the sky had already darkened.

After dinner, she went into the study for some reading.

The booklet of opera excerpts she hadn’t finished reading rested on the desk.

She grabbed it, sat down on the low bed, and began flipping through the pages.

Finding her favorite desserts on the low table, Su Jiu took a piece and put it in her mouth.

Out of nowhere, a sweet aroma wafted into her nose.

What a familiar smell.

It seemed to bring back some hazy memories.

Gazing down, she found herself sitting on a kerchief.

She took it and brought it to her nose, and promptly sneezed.

A brocade kerchief.

It belonged to Ji Yuxian, she was sure of it.

Yet this strong fragrance… Frowning, Su Jiu again lifted the kerchief to her nose and sniffed.

Her hazy memory regained focus, and she recalled that it was the perfumed powder used by the Third Miss of the Ren Family.

The kerchief fluttered in her hand, and several strands of white hair floated down to the low table.

Su Jiu picked them up, her eyes glistening.

… When Ji Yuxian returned home, Su Jiu was asleep on the low bed, the booklet covering her face.

With a faint smile, the man picked her up and carried her toward the bedroom.

Leaning on his shoulder, Su Jiu let out a faint whimper.

“Ji Yuxian…” “Yes?” The man’s voice was low and flirtatious.

“You should’ve gone to sleep.

You don’t have to wait for me.

” “I wasn’t,” Su Jiu let out a grunt, her words slurred and barely decipherable.

The man chuckled and said nothing more.

He took a thin shawl and gently wrapped it around her, and strode towards the door.

Su Jiu’s gaze swung over to the low bed.

“Your kerchief fell over there,” she said blankly.

“On your bed.

” Ji Yuxian glanced back absently.

“I don’t need it.

Just toss it.

” “It smells so good,” Su Jiu declared casually.

“It would be such a waste.

” Ji Yuxian froze for a moment.

His lips curled into a knowing smile, and he leaned over to kiss her translucent cheek.

“Are you jealous?” “Come again?” Su Jiu arched a brow.

“Your husband is innocent.

A wife ought to trust her husband.

” Ji Yuxian pressed both of his palms on Su Jiu’s waist.

He bent down and kissed her pink lips, his eyes glimmering with desire.

Su Jiu wrapped her legs around him and leaned back with a chuckle.

“Innocent how? I don’t understand a word you say.

” Ji Yuxian leaned even closer and gently bit her chin.

“My little girl is all grown up now.

You don’t understand? Let me teach you a lesson then!” The two walked down the veranda, both too eager to wait until they reached the bedroom.

Ji Yuxian spun around, pinned Su Jiu to a pillar, and devoured her lips.

Su Jiu reacted and their bodies entwined.

The night was still, with the crescent moon hanging high above the treetops.

The bewitching moonlight engulfed the two figures locked in an intimate embrace, swaying in the faint breeze, silhouetted by the dawning glow.

Begonia flowers bloomed all around them, emitting an intoxicating fragrance.

Nameless insects chirped faintly, accentuating the desire burning up in Su Jiu’s heart.

Soon, Su Jiu was rendered breathless by a cascade of kisses.

Gasping softly, she leaned against the pillar and closed her eyes.

Ji Yuxian withdrew his tongue from between her lips.

“Now you’ve learned your lesson?” he asked in a lurid tone as he kissed the corner of her lips.

Su Jiu’s mind was hopelessly muddled, and she couldn’t for the life of her recall what they had been discussing.

She leaned forward and rested her head on the man’s shoulder as if all of her bones had melted away.

The night breeze brushed across the eaves of the mansion, the windows of the veranda, the begonia flowers swaying around them.

The world had turned soundless.

Tranquility and joy swarmed up against their quickening breaths and sank into their pounding hearts, like waves lapping up a beach, taking with them the finest of cascading sand.

Ren Zhi’er’s ailing health deteriorated further as the days passed.

Gradually, she could no longer keep down food, nor could she swallow the medicinal potion.

The Second Mistress visited her daily.

Seeing the emaciated and barely conscious Ren Zhi’er, she wiped her tears and whispered, “Ill fortune has befallen our household.

Ying’er left us in such a heartbreaking way, and now Zhi’er is about to follow suit.

” Nian Xiu stood aside and listened.

An ominous reckoning rose in her heart, and a dark shadow descended in her tear-drenched, bloodshot eyes.

Not two days had passed before rumors began to spread among the servants.

Everyone was speculating that the Young Mistress must have brought ill fortune to the household.

With one young Miss having lost her life and another one about to, compounded by the fact that Su Jiu had flown up into the sky and kicked Xie Ying, a consensus was soon reached among the gossipmongers, painting Su Jiu with a demon-like presence.

As rumors spread throughout the mansion, fear and panic ignited like wildfire.

On the other hand, Su Jiu practiced calligraphy in the study every morning and went out of the mansion every afternoon.

It was only natural that she was spared of those vicious, stabbing words.

Of course, she sensed the awkwardness in the air and noticed how everyone avoided her gaze, but she didn’t bother to pay them much heed.

Old Housekeeper Yu soon caught two lowly servant boys uttering the rumors in private, and he promptly and harshly scolded them.

He then announced that anyone spewing such venom would be caned and thrown out of the mansion.

As a result, the servants no longer dared to talk about Su Jiu behind her back.

The mere mention of her name became taboo.

One day, just as Su Jiu was about to leave the mansion, she bumped into Ren Yu who was returning home, followed by Peach the servant girl and several old maids of Plum Breeze Estate.

Ren Yu took a step forward and bowed.

“Good to see you, Young Mistress.

Sister is gravely ill.

I went to Lianyun Temple to pray, and brought back an amulet for good fortune.

” She took out a yellow purse embroidered with the pattern of an amulet.

Before Su Jiu could utter a word, the white cat held by Ren Yu suddenly tensed up and leaped forward.

Biting the amulet between its teeth, the cat lunged at Su Jiu with bared fangs, claws swiping at her cheek.

It all happened so suddenly, too sudden for anyone to react.

Yet Su Jiu swiftly hopped back and, with an agile spin-kick, sent the cat flying.

The white cat tumbled across the yard and slammed into a tree.

It let out a piercing shriek, dropped down aground and turned motionless, with blood seeping out between its teeth, the amulet still clenched in its paws.

The abrupt and ghastly death shocked everyone.

An old maid yelped and collapsed onto the ground.

“Snowball!” Screaming, Ren Yu rushed over and held her dead cat.

“Don’t die, Snowball! Snowball!” she bawled uncontrollably.

All eyes turned to Su Jiu.

Everyone took a step back, horrified.

Su Jiu had only reacted instinctively.

The killing of the cat also came as a surprise to her.

“I’m sorry…,” she took a step forward, about to apologize to Ren Yu.

Hugging the dead cat, Ren Yu simply could not stop crying.

“Snowball has been with me for over five years.

I can’t believe she’s dead!” “Don’t cry, young Miss,” Peach hurried over to her.

“The cat is gone.

Please don’t let sorrow damage your health!” Among the old maids, someone grumbled in a low voice, “The cat was behaving strangely!” “Indeed.

The Third Miss has been living here for such a long time, and the cat has always been very docile.

What on earth got into it today?” “People say cats are clairvoyant.

They can see things we humans cannot.

It must have seen some evil presence.

” “The cat grabbed the amulet before lunging forward…” … Whispers multiplied and all eyes peeked over at Su Jiu.

Their eyes were filled with fear, suspicion, and apprehension.

Su Jiu frowned.

As her glacial stare swept across, the servants promptly clamped up and hurried over to console Ren Yu.

Ren Yu cried for a while longer, then took the dead cat to Plum Breeze Estate.

Ever since this day, the rumors about Su Jiu continued to spiral out of control, and soon reached Ji Yuxian’s ears.

Enraged, he ordered Old Housekeeper Yu to track down the origin of the rumors.

But gossips are ripples, always spreading in all directions, leaving no trace of its source.

In the end, Ji Yuxian had no choice but to randomly select several gossipmongers and cane them fifty slashes each, which suppressed the spread of the rumors for the time being.

That very night, moments past four o’clock, the mansion was pin-drop quiet.

A deathless silence engulfed Plum Breeze Estate.

Half-asleep and barely conscious, Ren Zhi’er suddenly sensed someone sobbing in the room.

She opened her feeble eyes and saw Ren Yu sitting by the bed, weeping.

In the dim, swaying candlelight, the younger sister’s sorrowful figure brought inexplicable chills to Ren Zhi’er’s heart.

With tears running down her cheeks, Ren Yu lifted her head and placed something before Ren Zhi’er.

“My cat is dead, sister.

” The cat had been dead for more than a day, its lifeless eyes bulging.

Its fangs protruded eerily, with dried blood caked at the corners of its mouth.

Horrified, Ren Zhi’er opened her eyes wide.

She wanted to scream, but no sound came out.

With a jolt, her rigid body fell back and she passed out again.

When Ren Zhi’er woke up again, it was already in the wee hours of the night.

“Yu…” she sprung up and hollered, “Yu!” Ren Yu hurried into the room, a bowl of herbal potion in her hands.

“Are you feeling better, sister?” she exclaimed with joy.

A hint of rouge had indeed appeared in Rze’s pale cheeks and she seemed somewhat more energized.

As if in a daze, she gawked at her younger sister.

“Drink the medicine, sister,” Ren Yu handed the bowl to her.

“And you’ll get better.

” “I had a dream,” said Ren Zhi’er feebly.

“In the dream, you told me Snowball was dead.

” Eyes glistening an ambiguous light, Ren Yu said nothing.

She quietly sat down beside the bed and began to feed Ren Zhi’er the potion with a spoon.

It was late and the night was dark.

The candlelight flickered weakly as the two sisters sat next to each other in silence.

The medicine bowl was soon emptied.

Ren Yu wiped Ren Zhi’er’s mouth and let out a chuckle.

“After this dosage, sister, you won’t need to take any more medicine.

” A dull heaviness suddenly rose in Ren Zhi’er’s chest.

“What do you mean, Yu?” she asked.

“Haven’t you heard about terminal lucidity?” Ren Yu beamed a sly smile.

“When deathly ill patients suddenly turn lucid, it means they are about to die.

” “You…!” Ren Zhi’er’s eyes bulged wide.

“What… what did you just say?” “You’re truly useless after all, sister.

” Ren Yu placed the bowl on the low table and heaved a sigh.

“Having married into the Ji Manor for so long, yet you couldn’t even keep a man under control.

I’m not like you, and I will never be!” Utterly stunned, Ren Zhi’er glared at her.

The dull pain in her chest stifled her words.

“Don’t blame me, sister.

The day we came to the Ji Manor, I overheard father and mother’s conversation.

They said I was to take your place and marry into the Ji family if you were dead.

Open your eyes! Everyone thinks you’re useless.

Everyone is hoping for you to die.

Even our parents found you intolerable.

Even they wish you would perish.

And you know what? Here comes my grand entrance!” Ren Yu’s voice remained sweet and soft, innocent as always.

Agonized, Ren Zhi’er opened her mouth to gasp for air.

Pain and despair quickly filled her eyes, mingled with impenetrable hatred.

At this moment, she seemed to have understood everything.

Ever since her sister had come to the mansion, her health had deteriorated day by day.

Then there came the child’s crying in the middle of the night.

She had thought it to be the ghost of Xie Ying’s unborn baby, but at this moment, she realized the truth: it had merely been Ren Yu’s cat.

And that one night, the face that peeked in from outside the window, it was also her sister’s doing! Ren Yu had been encouraging her demise, and death was all she had to look forward to now.

It had always been her sister.

The sister whom she had grown up with together! … Now she understood everything, yet she could no longer speak a single word.

All she could do was stare at her younger sister’s misleadingly innocent face, which was turning more blurry in her field of vision.

Out of nowhere, an eerie, chilling smile curled at Ren Zhi’er’s lips.

Nian Xiu had told her about the happenings in the mansion in the past couple of days.

Ren Zhi’er was puzzled at first.

How could Ren Yu’s little tricks possibly fool everyone in the Ji Manor? At this moment, she finally understood: it was Ji Yuxian who had indulged Ren Yu; it was Ji Yuxian who had been using the young girl to get rid of her.

Just like how she had helped him get rid of Xie Ying.

Ren Yu thought she was so smart, not knowing she was nothing but a disposable tool, easily manipulated by another man.

Ren Zhi’er had always realized that she would have to die.

Ever since the day Xie Ying had passed away, death had become her inescapable fate.

Now her only regret was that she couldn’t live long enough to witness Ren Yu’s comeuppance.

Nevertheless, she knew in her heart, surer than anything in the world, that Ren Yu would eventually suffer a much darker fate than that of her own.

“Just let go, sister.

Whatever you couldn’t manage to achieve, whatever you could get, I’ll get them in your stead!” Squinting a satisfied smile, Ren Yu pulled the blanket over Ren Zhi’er’s face and pressed down hard with both hands.

Under the blanket, Ren Zhi’er heaved and panted.

She struggled in vain.

Soon, she became motionless.

Ren Yu waited a moment longer, then pulled the blanket down and tossed it aside.

“My Snowball is dead,” she let out a faint sigh, as she closed Ren Zhi’er’s eyes with her fingers.

“You go keep her company, sister.

” Fixing the bedspread and lowering the hanging net, the teenage girl then stepped out of the bedroom.

The moon hid behind dark clouds, and the sky was pitch black.

The wind had stopped at some point.

Not a sound could be heard in the entire mansion.

The girl closed the bedroom door behind her and skipped back toward her room, smiling joyfully.

The next day, Nian Xiu came to help Ren Zhi’er wash up, only to find the young mistress dead.

Stunned speechless, the servant girl collapsed onto the floor and broke into tears.

Hearing the sound of crying, Ren Yu hurried into the bedroom.

She threw herself on top of her deceased sister and bawled, calling out her name with immense sorrow.

The news soon spread throughout Plum Breeze Estate.

Someone hurried to Cloud Pavilion and informed the Second Mistress.

Old Housekeeper Yu also sent his men to inform the Ren family.

Ren Zhi’er had been ill for a long time, so the funeral preparation had long been arranged.

It was to take place in an orderly, preordained manner.

All the Ren family elders made their appearance at the funeral.

So did several aunties and siblings.

Everyone wept and sobbed.

“Our family failed to take care of Zhi’er,” the Second Mistress wiped her sorrowful tears.

“She died at such a young age!” “Zhi’er never had any luck,” said a tearful Madame Ren.

“She didn’t even leave behind a child.

” Kneeling aside, Nian Xiu was all tears and swollen eyes.

“The young Miss was doing well,” she was all choked up.

“But the more medicine she took, the worse she became.

Her death… was not at all natural!” “What do you mean, Nian Xiu?” asked the Second Mistress harshly.

“Are you saying someone meant to do her harm? Someone in our household?” “I wouldn’t know,” Nian Xiu whimpered, lowering her head.

“All I know is that both the young Miss and the Second Young Mistress have offended the Young Mistress, and then they both ended up dead!” Her words instantly silenced the room.

Everyone could tell it was a direct accusation aimed at Su Jiu.

Kneeling in silence, Ren Yu kept on sobbing.

“Your eyes remained open even after you’d passed away, sister.

Why? Was there something you still could not let go?” Madame Ren shot Nian Xiu with a harsh glare.

“What do you know?” Her voice turned glacial.

“Tell us everything you know! The Ren family is by no means the richest or the most powerful, but it doesn’t mean we would allow our daughter to be wronged without doing anything about it!” Nian Xiu hurriedly cowered down, trembling.

“I… I don’t know anything! I was only guessing!” “Then you should keep your mouth shut, insolent girl!” The Second Mistress hollered in anger.

“Someone take her outside and slap some sense into her!” “Forgive me, Second Mistress!” Nian Xiu panicked.

“I’m not making things up.

The Young Mistress kicked the Third Miss’s cat to death.

She hated the young Miss, and she took it out on a cat!” She babbled on in distress.

Madame Ren’s face dropped.

“It sure seems that our daughter did not die of natural causes,” she said as she looked over at the Second Mistress.

“Someone needs to get to the bottom of this.

Our lovely daughter deserves an explanation!” Although Ren Zhi’er had married into the Ji Manor as a mistress, everyone in the world of commerce fully understood the close ties shared between the two families.

Everyone knew the Rens were granted the most special of treatments by the Ji family, in all possible aspects.

Naturally, as Ren Zhi’er had become ill, the Ren family had been gnawed by the growing possibility of her untimely death, which would be detrimental to the special bond between the families, as well as all the benefits that had come with it.

The idea of marrying Ren Yu into the Ji family had long been contemplated by the Rens.

However, it was not a matter that warranted an open declaration.

At this moment, hearing Nian Xiu’s shocking accusation, Madame Ren found her mind spinning, quickly weaving a scheme that could somehow guarantee Ren Yu’s successful entry into the Ji Manor.

The Second Mistress pondered for a moment.

“Since Madame Ren is suspecting something, we will have to get to the bottom of the whole matter.

However, since Zhi’er was Yuxian’s mistress after all, and now that the Young Mistress is also implicated, we ought to bring Yuxian and Jiu here.

” A servant was sent to the main court to invite Ji Yuxian over.

Everyone waited in uncomfortable silence, engrossed in their thoughts.

The only audible sound was Ren Yu’s intermittent weeping.

Before long, Ji Yuxian and Su Jiu entered Plum Breeze Estate, followed by Doctor Gu.

In the courtyard stood Ren Zhi’er’s father and several brothers, who hurried to sidle up and bow to Ji Yuxian.

“Our greetings, sir.

” “That’s not necessary,” Ji Yuxian’s said with a blank expression.

“Zhi’er is dead and I’m heartbroken.

Her body deserves a prompt burial, yet a servant girl is now making accusations against my wife.

To unearth the truth, I’ve brought along the doctor, who will immediately inspect the cause of death.

After which, if you still suspect foul play, feel free to report to the authorities!” Ren Zhi’er’s father was taken aback, knowing in his heart that, if this matter ever got out of control, it would mean an irreconcilable grudge between them and the Ji family.

Their daughter is already dead.

Long term benefits, on the other hand, could live on far into the future.

Predictably, upon hearing Ji Yuxian’s words, Ren Chang Ming hurried over to placate him.

“It won’t go that far, sir.

My wife has been overcome by grief and it led to unfounded suspicions.

Surely we don’t mean any disrespect to you or your wife!” “In any case, since someone is suspecting something, we are obliged to provide an adequate explanation.

” Ji Yuxian’s voice remained blank.

With a sharp light glistening in his eyes, he took Su Jiu’s hand.

“Let’s go in and take a look together!” “I have nothing to hide.

” Su Jiu nodded.

“If someone really did the Third Young Mistress harm, heavens surely will do justice and punish the culprit.

” Just then, the Second Mistress, Madame Ren, and Ren Yu came out from the bedroom.

Upon hearing Su Jiu’s words, panic and gloominess flashed across Ren Yu’s face, and she quickly lowered her head, feigning sorrow and wiping her tears.

“Yuxian and Jiu, it’s so good to see you two.

Zhi’er’s servant girl is suspecting foul play with Zhi’er’s untimely death.

Come in and take a look!” Holding hands, Ji Yuxian and Su Jiu entered Ren Zhi’er’s room.

Instinctively, Su Jiu peeked over at the window through which Zhi’er had seen the ghost the other night.

That night, the paper on the window had been wetted by Ren Yu, and the face of a ghost had poked its way in through the gaping hole.

The window paper had since been replaced.

Not a trace of the night had been left behind.

The pungent aroma of medicinal potion filled the room.

Doctor Gu approached the bed and reached a hand to open Zhi’er’s eyes.

Panic flashed across Ren Yu’s face.

She hurried over to block the doctor’s way, her eyes red from crying.

“Don’t touch my sister! She’s dead, but she is still a lady.

No one is to desecrate her body!” Doctor Gu squinted in silence, his eyes glimmering, seemingly lost in thought.

“Such inhibition does not apply to a doctor,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Besides, don’t you want to know how she died? Even if you don’t allow me to inspect, once the authorities are informed, I will do my examination one way or another.

” “Say what you want, but I won’t let you touch my sister!” Ren Yu pouted like a stubborn child.

“I’m the one accused of foul-play,” Su Jiu interjected calmly.

“Even I don’t fear the doctor’s examination.

Why should you?” Ren Yu froze for a moment, as if she had been wronged, and turned to Su Jiu.

“My sister already died.

Why do you have to keep on insulting her?” Her statement was nothing short of a verdict.

A confirmation of Su Ju’s crime.

Ji Yuxian’s eyes turned cold.

“Step aside,” he said plainly.

“Your sister married into the Ji family.

She was one of us and therefore subject to my discretion!”