Chapter Eighty-Seven: On the Brink of Death

  Lin Zhaoyan saw Liu's pale face and looked at Lu Yan with a hint of dissatisfaction.

  She didn't want the Liu family to worry about this, what's the point of spreading it out? Without evidence, can they still rush to the Chengnan Bo Mansion and catch Zhou Tengchen?

  If it can't be helped, then knowing one more person is one more worry.

  Lu Yan ignored Lin Zhao's anger and did so with his own reasons.

  He knew that Lin Zhaoyan was not favored in the Hou Mansion, but Liu still had a good heart and said that after she left, she would no longer ignore Lin Zhaoyan and would secretly send someone to protect her.

  Although he promised not to trouble her again, it was also not letting her be in a dangerous situation without caring.

  As long as she is safe, he can sacrifice anything.

  She just needs peace and safety too.

  As for the murderer, he will go and investigate himself!

  Liu's emotions calmed down, and she didn't say much else. She just nodded lightly and said: "Xiang Ge, thank you so much today! You go back to the manor and help me ask your mother how she is doing. Tabo will head back first."

  Lu Yu nodded and didn't say anything else, then bid farewell to Liu's family and left.

  Only Liu and a few others were left on the spot. After looking at Lin Zhaoyan for a while, Liu sighed and said, "Let's go!"

  Lin Zhaoyan followed closely behind.

  All the way, Lin Zhaoyan remained silent and speechless. Several times he wanted to speak up, but seeing Liu's solemn expression, he had to shut his mouth.

  Finally, after passing through the hall and courtyard, when they arrived at the foot of the Jade Hall, Madame Liu spoke up softly, "Don't tell your father about this for now, he will worry."

  Lin Zhaoyan nodded in agreement, which was exactly what she had hoped for.

  Liu sighed and said: "Tomorrow, Mother will go to Lingyun Temple to pray for you by burning incense. You should not leave the house for these two days."

  Lin Zhaoyan's eyes suddenly became blurry.

  Liu had never cared about her, even when she was down with a cold or fever, he rarely came to see her in person.

  Going to the temple to pray and burn incense was something she only did for Lin Ruoyan, and she never thought that one day Liu would run around for her.

  Lin Zhaoyan covered her chest with a sour and swollen feeling, nodding heavily.

  What you give out will eventually come back to you.

  Back in the courtyard, Man Shuang, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up, "Miss, is there something between you and Young Master Bao?"

  She had just heard it all the way on the horse carriage, and if she couldn't hear anything else, she would be a fool.

  But shouldn't Young Master be with Fifth Miss?

  Lin Zhaoyan knew she would ask, and had thought of a way to respond. "Nothing, just what you see. Even if there was something in the past, there won't be anything in the future. You just need to understand that Ruoyan and I are close sisters, for life."

  It's a great shame for sisters to have an affair with the same man, this is not a beautiful story of a group of women serving one husband.

  Man Shuang nodded dazedly.

  She suddenly felt a bit sorry, since Wen Xuan left, the girl had been indifferent to everyone. She was worried about the girl's future marriage, Lu Shao Ye was a good person, if not for Wu Niang, maybe it could have...

  It's just no if!

  "Was that girl really with Xiao Gongzi that day?"

  "I suppose so!"

  "That girl should be careful!" Man Shuang immediately widened her eyes, "You see how many rumors spread out after he saved the fifth daughter, and you've been with Xiao Gongzi in the mountain valley for so long. If people find out, your reputation will be completely ruined! Who knows, maybe you'll even have to marry him!"

  Man Shuang thought it was a terrible thing to marry Xiao Gongzi who had a reputation for being promiscuous.

  Lin Zhaoyan couldn't help but laugh at Man Hua's tense appearance. However, she felt a sense of unease in her heart, for Lu Yan Zhi had spoken about Xiao Xi on the carriage with more than just the usual revulsion that Man Hua and others showed towards Xiao Xi.

  He... is fear.

  Yes, it's fear. When he talks about Xiao Qi, his eyes are filled with fear.

  But why? As a young master of the Duke's mansion, what is he afraid of Xiao Qi doing? Besides, it seems like he has nothing to do with Xiao Qi anyway?

  Lin Zhaoyan couldn't figure this out and shook his head, throwing all these irrelevant thoughts to the back of his mind.

  Afterwards, Lin Zhaoyan stayed in the Hou Mansion to recover from his injuries, telling outsiders that he had caught a chill and was feeling unwell.

  Lin Chen had seen her twice and found that although her face was pale, she spoke quickly and clearly, so he thought there was nothing seriously wrong with her and didn't think much of it.

  Liu sought a peace charm from the temple and had her wear it close to her body, saying that it could ward off evil and avoid disaster.

  Mrs. Lin several times wanted to ask her about what happened when she went to Chengnanbo's mansion that day, but was repeatedly rebuffed with excuses.

  She is now extremely disgusted with the four words "Chengnan Bo Fu", and doesn't even want to think about it, let alone report "military information" to Old Lady Lin.

  So, Lin Zhaoyan stayed at home all day because of her injured hand, she couldn't write or paint, so she lay in bed reading books. Liu's family even sent someone to take care of her, and she spent a quiet and comfortable few days.

  This was probably the most comfortable period for her in the Hou Mansion all these years.

  Lian Man Shuang and Man Hua both laughed at her good fortune amidst misfortune.

  Only she herself knew that her inner fear was stronger than ever before.

  At the end of May, the sky was already shining brightly, and hot air was swirling everywhere. The servants in the Hou Mansion had all changed into thin shirts, holding silk fans and constantly fanning their faces.

  It's relatively more comfortable for the masters, although it's also hot, but the Hou Mansion has an underground ice cellar, and every summer day, each room's madam and young lady will receive enough ice to cool down.

  In the past, Lin Zhaoyan always got the least every year, but this year he unexpectedly got two thick blocks of ice.

  Man Shuang and Man Hua, her two personal maidservants, burst out laughing.

  On a sweltering summer day, Lin Zhaoyan lay on the fragrant imperial couch reading a book, while Man Shuang sat beside her doing needlework. Man Hua went to the small kitchen to bring her a bowl of chilled mung bean and lotus seed dessert, and the second-class maid Bai Nian held a beautiful round fan to gently fan her.

  A gentle coolness wafted in, and the scent of flowers drifted in from outside the window. Lin Zhaoyan let out a comfortable sigh, closed his eyes, and began to meditate.

  It was also unknown how long it took for Lin Zhaoyan to be awakened by the heat.

  "...White years..." She subconsciously opened her eyes and found that the room was empty, with no one in sight.

  Lin Zhaoyan furrowed her brow, looking somewhat puzzled. She sat up straight and called out towards the outside: "Man Shuang?"

  No news.

  "Manhua?" she shouted again.

  Still no news.

  What's going on? Lin Zhaoyan shook his head and decided to go out and take a look.

  At this time, the door curtain was lifted, and a small maid with clear eyebrows and eyes entered the house, smiling at Lin Shuang: "Madam, you're awake?" She smiled, and there were still two dimples on her cheeks, which was quite lovely.

  Ke Lin didn't catch her smile, but instead broke out in a cold sweat from her words.

  Madam? Who is madam?

  "You, what are you calling me?" Lin Zhaoyan's voice was trembling with fear of the unknown.

  That maid still smiled sweetly, "Madam! What's wrong, madam? Are you thinking of the master? Eldest sister-in-law is ill, the master has gone to see her. You just wait a bit longer, the master will come to see you soon."

  Lin Zhao's fear grew even more intense.

  She hastily looked around, no mistake, this was her boudoir. The pear-wood wardrobe placed on the right side of the house, the elm-wood bed frame in the center, the round table with the Eight Immortals crossing the sea pattern, and even through the half-open window, she could see the red plum tree in the courtyard, with a red silk ribbon tied to its withered branches for her wish that it would thrive!

  This is indeed her boudoir in Jian'an Marquis's manor.

  But why did she become Mrs.?

  Looks like she's still an unfavored wife!

  "Mirror, give me a mirror!" Lin Zhaoyan now urgently needs to know what she has transformed into!

  The maid nodded although she didn't understand.

  Before she could even reach the dresser, the door curtain was lifted again and several stout women burst in, each with a ferocious face.

  "The old master has already found out, the reason why the eldest sister is seriously ill is because the lady used witchcraft to curse her!" As he said this, he took out a doll filled with silver needles from his pocket and threw it heavily on the ground.

  Lin Zhaoyan's heart skipped a beat.

  The woman continued: "Master said, such a vicious and poisonous woman is not worth pitying!" As she spoke, her cold eyes turned to Lin Zhao Yan, with a sly smile, "Madam, sorry."

  As soon as the words were spoken, those women rushed forward and pinned down Lin Zhaoyan's limbs. The leader of the group pulled out a red-stoppered white porcelain bottle from her sleeve and walked towards her with an ominous air.

  Lin Zhaoyan didn't know what was going on and subconsciously started struggling.

  Those old women held her down firmly and said loudly: "Madam, I advise you to cooperate a bit, otherwise it will be you who loses in the end!"

  Lin Zhaoyan refused to listen, and the fear of death made her extremely frightened. She struggled with all her might, punching and kicking, and finally managed to knock over the poisonous wine bottle held by the old woman.

  Lin Zhaoyan hadn't even had time to catch her breath when the lead woman's face changed, and she slapped Lin Zhaoyan hard on the ear, "You cheap woman! You don't know how to behave! Master said you'd die at the third watch, but you didn't have the luck to live until the fifth watch! I'll strangle you to death!"

  Rough fingers grasped Lin Zhaoyan's neck, and then slowly applied force, causing Lin Zhaoyan to choke instantly.

  The old woman continued scolding, "Who made you so stupid and foolish? You clearly know that Master and Big Sister..."

  Lin Zhaoyan only felt more and more short of breath, her vision began to blur, and she couldn't hear what the old woman was saying behind her.

  Suddenly, Zhou Tengchen's eyes filled with hatred flashed through her mind. He said: "You wait, I will definitely..."

  She couldn't hear what he was saying, but at that time there were also a pair of hands tightly grasping her neck, getting tighter and tighter, compressing all the air in her chest cavity.

  She could only desperately twist and struggle, a faint cry for help barely escaping her throat.

  "Save me, save me, save me..."

  Thank you for the reward from Tiankong Yimianlan and Re'ai ^^ ~rs