Volume One, Chapter 15: A Commoner's Accusation—The Concubine and Fifth Miss of the Marquis's Residence Poisoned Someone to Death

Page 1/3

Lu Jia’an is coming to the family school?

Because of this matter, Wen Yunmu had nightmares all night, but unlike usual, she dreamed of Lady Lu.

Lady Lu came from a minor official family in the capital and was considered an upward match when she married into the Lu family. Although Lu Jia’an had not yet passed the imperial exams at that time and his prospects were uncertain, he was the eldest son of the Minister, so everyone said Lady Lu had married well. Wen Yunmu had heard several times that Lu Jia’an doted on Lady Lu, with the most widespread tale being that he once knocked on the door of Ping Si’s preserved fruits at night for her.

Out of curiosity, Wen Yunmu had deliberately kept an eye on Lu Jia’an and Lady Lu during incense offerings on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month. Lady Lu was fair-skinned, lively and adorable, seeming innocent and guileless, like a carefree little bird sheltering under her husband's umbrella on a rainy day.

Yet, in Wen Yunmu’s dream, Lady Lu appeared disheveled, blood streaming from her eyes, and said: “I am so wronged!”

Wen Yunmu suddenly woke up, breathing rapidly, unable to calm her heart for a long time. Recalling the humiliating scene when she met Lu Jia’an yesterday, she realized it was not Lu Jia’an herself she could not face, but the pain, threats, and shame that followed him like a shadow.

Lying in bed, Wen Yunmu felt utterly powerless.

“Miss, get up to practice stance,” the bed curtain was yanked aside. Bai Hong appeared at the bedside, carrying the chill of the half-dark dawn. Though her tone was cold and harsh, seeing Wen Yunmu sweating, it softened a bit. “Had another nightmare?”

“Yes.”

“You seem to have nightmares every night.”

Wen Yunmu got up. On the table was a basin of cold water. Since her rebirth, she had switched from washing with hot water to cold water before bed, instructing the maids to prepare ice-cold water every night. The biting chill instantly woke her up.

Awake, she could forget the bloody scenes of her dreams.

“Not every night, only sometimes,” she said.

“No, it’s every night,” Bai Hong said confidently, handing her a handkerchief. “You call out Lu Jia’an in your sleep.”

Wen Yunmu’s body stiffened. She turned to look at Bai Hong in disbelief and blurted, “Really?”

“Just kidding, fooling you. The prince had me check what Lu Jia’an did to you, but I saw no contact between you two, just messing with you. Seems there is indeed some karma between you. Is Lu Jia’an your enemy?”

Wen Yunmu was silent, wiping her face for a long time before replying, “I’m a sheltered girl who never leaves home; how could I have any karma with a stranger?”

Page 2/3

Bai Hong said nothing, watching Wen Yunmu. At first, she looked down on her, but since the prince treated Wen Yunmu like a sister and entrusted her with this task, over time, her contempt faded.

Wen Yunmu was a good person—except she was less polite to her stepmother and third sister, she was tolerant, treated servants generously, was decisive, and even practiced martial arts earnestly without cutting corners.

Seeing her tormented by nightmares nightly, Bai Hong, who thought herself hard-hearted, surprisingly felt some sympathy. “I used to have nightmares too, but then they stopped.”

Wen Yunmu took her clothes and went behind the screen, glancing at Bai Hong to continue.

“I was born beyond the borderlands. My parents died early, and a tavern owner bought me when I was very young. I worked at the tavern, and when I grew older, the owner violated me and forced me to entertain guests.”

Wen Yunmu paused untying her belt, but Bai Hong’s voice remained steady and indifferent, as if recounting a trivial story. “Every night I had nightmares of those men stripping me and abusing me. I couldn’t see their faces clearly, but I knew who they were.”

“What happened then?” Wen Yunmu asked, taking a deep breath behind the screen.

“Then a band of desert outlaws came, captured the owner, tore down his tavern, and took his money. Their leader asked if I wanted to come with them. I said yes, but I wanted to kill the owner myself. The leader agreed and gave me a knife. The owner’s blood was warm, and when it splattered on my face, it felt like sparks igniting—painful but exhilarating. After that, I never had nightmares again.”

“And after that?”

“Nothing much. The leader took me as an adopted daughter and taught me martial arts. After several years of ruthless fighting, he died, leaving a letter telling me to come to the prince.” Bai Hong came over and tightened Wen Yunmu’s waist belt so hard she nearly couldn’t breathe. “Miss, the person you hate is your inner demon. You must face it yourself. Blood for blood is the only way to sleep peacefully.”

Bai Hong’s iron-like hand patted Wen Yunmu’s chest firmly. “Next time tighten it two more loops so you don’t miss your jump.”

“All right.”

Those words from Bai Hong plunged Wen Yunmu into deep thought. Even by noon she remained dazed. Xia Wei opened the windows to air the clothes, chattering, “It’s rare the family school has a day off, and Miss doesn’t even go out for a walk.”

Wen Yunmu murmured in response, turned in her lounge chair, lazily holding a script in her hand, her mind elsewhere. Lu Jia’an had never attended the family school in his previous life, and they had no connection. How could he appear at the family school in this life?

Her father was away from the capital and would have to approve it through Qin Weishu. The Lu and Wen families were not particularly close. Whose gate did he enter through?

“Something’s happened!” Bai Hong strode in. “News came from the Fifth Miss’s courtyard. The yamen came to arrest someone. Someone beat the grievance drum, accusing Madam Zhao and the Fifth Miss of causing a death. The Fifth Miss went out to the pharmacy today and is not home. The officials took Madam Zhao away.”

“Nonsense! Even if they were taking someone, they wouldn’t come into the inner residence. Are the people in front ghosts or what?”

Page 3/3

Bai Hong smirked faintly. “Your lady happened to return to her maiden home, so no one was in charge. Today happened to be the village head delivering grain. Everyone at the front courtyard went to watch the commotion, leaving only a gatekeeper. And he just happened to kindly lead the officials into the inner residence—”

What a perfectly connected coincidence.

“Xia Wei, go to my brother’s courtyard and get Xiao Chai to fetch my brother’s letter of introduction. We’ll take a carriage to the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen.” Wen Yunmu instructed. There were elders in the family, but given her status, her presence would be of little use. As her brother, he could wield some influence.

“Second sister—” As she turned, Wen Yunxiu dashed in, dressed as a pageboy, led by Chun Rong, panicked and reckless, even bumping into the half-open door. “Second sister, save my mother!”

“Sit down and talk.” Wen Yunmu pushed a cup of tea to Wen Yunxiu. “I know your mother has been taken to Jingzhao Prefecture. If you have nothing else to say, I’ll go there first to investigate. Surely, Qin Shi will intervene to escalate the matter. I need to act before her and see if I can rescue your mother.”

Wen Yunmu fell silent at this, realizing all this must be a trap by Qin Weishu. Capturing an insignificant Madam Zhao was pointless. The real target was Wen Yunxiu. The yamen intended to arrest two people, and if Wen Yunxiu was caught, with their father far away on his autumn inspection tour, who knew what might happen. It would be too late to rectify afterward.

Wen Yunmu hurriedly wrote a letter and handed it to Bai Hong, instructing her to find the fastest way to send it to their father. Even if Qin Weishu succeeded, their father would not stand by and watch harm come to their mother and sister.

“Who were the two people who died?”

“I overheard on the road. It should be those two who died recently. Only Madam Lü knows about their family situation, so even my sister is completely unaware!”

Now the Marquis’s mansion and the pharmacy were undoubtedly under surveillance. Wen Yunxiu could only hide temporarily disguised as a pageboy, but even hiding in her own courtyard was unsafe. Qin Weishu would surely devise a way to search the yard.

“Yunxiu, we’re going out.” Wen Yunmu changed into a pageboy’s outfit as well. “Lead the way to the dog hole.”

Qin Weishu had laid the trap well; the mansion was surely surrounded like an iron barrel. Not to mention Wen Yunxiu, Wen Yunmu herself could not leave the courtyard gate.

“Second sister, where are we going?”

“To the Tang Prince’s residence.”