The legitimate daughter returns to the capital and embarks on a splendid life, tearing apart the fak

The others acknowledged and withdrew. Yun Jin then offered Chu Wanqing a few more words of advice before returning to her own room.

Yun Jin lay on the bed with her eyes closed, her breathing steady, seemingly already fast asleep.

Around midnight, she quietly opened her eyes, changed into her night clothes, climbed out the window, and headed straight for the woodshed where Zijuan was imprisoned.

The woodshed was located in the northwest corner of Qingshui Garden, a secluded and cold place, with not even a night watchman around.

This was something Chu Wanqing specifically instructed, to give the person behind her a "chance" to "silence" her.

Upon arriving at the woodshed, Yun Jin did not go inside, but instead lightly leaped onto the roof of the woodshed to wait for the person who was bound to come.

Just after the third watch drum sounded, a dark figure crept over stealthily.

Based on the figure and the way he walked, Yun Jin realized that it was Yun Heting who had come in person.

This is perfect; it will allow Zijuan to experience heartbreak firsthand.

After confirming that no one was around, Yun Heting quietly crept to the door of the woodshed and called out in a low voice, "Zijuan, say something, it's me!"

Zijuan hadn't been asleep either. Hearing the noise, she suppressed her resentment and said agitatedly, "What are you doing here? I don't need your fake kindness."

Yun Heting took out his key, unlocked the door, pushed it open, and went up to her, looking at her with "heartache": "You've suffered."

Zijuan bit her lip, tears streaming down her face, and turned her head away from him.

Yun Heting grasped her hand and explained in a low voice, "Zijuan, what I said in front of Madam just now was all an act. You know Madam is soft-hearted, and I was certain she wouldn't really take your life. As long as you're alive, I'll find a way to get you out of here."

He paused, his tone becoming increasingly "earnest": "You saw it yourself, she's angry right now. If I didn't say that, she'd definitely become suspicious. I can't afford to fall out with her yet, Zijuan. You're sensible, you'll understand my good intentions, right?"

Yun Jin, who was on the roof, felt disgusted when she heard these words.

But Zijuan, who was in the woodshed, gradually felt her grievances, resentment, and despair ease after this "confession."

She threw herself into Yun Heting's arms, her voice choked with sobs: "Master... I thought you really had abandoned me..."

Yun Heting put his arm around her, gently patting her back with one hand, while his other hand quietly reached for her waist. When he raised his hand, there was a thin hemp rope in his hand.

"How could I?" he said softly, his voice as gentle as if he were coaxing a child. "How could I not want you? You've done so much for me..."

The rope silently wrapped around Zijuan's neck.

"...I'm so grateful to you."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly tightened his grip on both hands!

Zijuan's eyes widened suddenly as she stared at Yunheting in disbelief, desperately trying to grab his wrists with both hands, making strange "hoarse" sounds in her throat.

Yun Heting gritted his teeth, clenching them tightly, and said through gritted teeth, "I'm sorry, don't be so foolish in your next life!"

Zijuan kicked her legs a few times on the ground, the movements becoming smaller and smaller until she finally stopped moving completely.

He checked her breathing and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming she was no longer breathing.

He then hung Zijuan's body on the roof beam, straightened his clothes as if nothing had happened, slipped out of the woodshed, and quickly disappeared into the night.

After he walked away, Yun Jin gently fell from the rooftop, landing silently.

She pushed open the door, quickly walked to Zijuan's side, put her down, laid her flat on the ground, and checked her carotid artery to confirm that she was still breathing.

She placed her hands on her chest, pressing down hard once, twice, three times...

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a commotion came from the direction of the woodshed, mixed with the exclamations of the old women.

Soon, the old woman on night duty rushed in to report: "It's terrible, Madam! Zijuan... Zijuan has hanged herself!"

Chu Wanqing came out wearing an outer robe, her face showing no surprise. She simply ordered Qinghe expressionlessly, "Throw him into the mass grave outside the city."

Qinghe responded, called Chai Hu, and hurriedly left the mansion carrying "Zijuan's body".

Upon hearing the news in his study, Yun Heting finally let out a long sigh of relief.

The mouth of a dead person is the most reassuring.

The next morning, after Yunheting went to court, Bitao, along with Chunxi and several old women, went straight to the west courtyard.

Liu Zhixue was directing the maids to pack things up; several large boxes were neatly stacked in the courtyard.

Seeing Bitao enter, she put down the things she was carrying and gave a wry smile: "Miss Bitao has arrived."

Bitao bowed, her tone polite but distant: "Mr. Liu, Madam sent us to see you out of the manor."

Liu Zhixue nodded, her gaze falling on the boxes, and suddenly said, "Miss Bitao, I have a favor to ask..."

"Please speak, sir."

"Mother Qi has been with me for many years and is getting old. I don't want her to suffer with me." Liu Zhixue looked at Granny Qi beside her. "Could we let her stay in the mansion and follow the eldest young lady? She has watched the eldest young lady grow up, and she will definitely serve her wholeheartedly."

Bitao glanced at Granny Qi and said, "I can't make that decision myself. I have to go back and ask Madam before I can give you an answer."

Liu Zhixue nodded: "Then I'll have to trouble Miss Bitao."

Bitao returned to report, and Chu Wanqing thought for a moment, then looked at Yun Jin: "What does Jin'er think?"

Yun Jin's lips curled slightly: "This old woman Qi must know a lot of things. Liu Zhixue is willing to keep her by Yunxiu's side simply because she is afraid that Yunxiu will have some undecided decisions and wants her to give her advice."

She paused, a cold glint in her eyes: "Mother, it's better to keep her. Without her by Yunxiu's side, how can she cause trouble?"

If they don't stir up trouble, how can we deal with it?

Chu Wanqing nodded and said to Bitao, "Tell her she can stay, but the indenture must be given to the eldest young lady."

Bitao was about to leave when Yunjin suddenly called out to her, "Aunt Bitao, does Liu Zhixue have a lot of things?"

"Many, several large boxes."

Yun Jin smiled slightly: "Investigate! Don't even think about taking anything that doesn't belong to her. After all, we caused such a scene yesterday, so let's avoid any future misunderstandings."

Bitao understood and turned to go to the west courtyard.

Upon seeing her return, Liu Zhixue hurriedly asked, "Did Madam agree?"

Bitao nodded: "Madam agreed, but Madam said that the indenture must be kept in the hands of the eldest young lady."

Liu Zhixue nodded without hesitation: "Of course."

Bitao continued, "There's one more thing, which I hope Mr. Liu will understand. You must know about the big incident that happened in the manor yesterday. To avoid suspicion and to prevent anyone from blaming you for something going missing in the manor, we need to check your trunk."

Liu Zhixue's face turned pale, then flushed bright red.

"You...you're humiliating me!"

Bitao's smile remained unchanged: "Mr. Liu, you flatter me. It's just a formality, and it's for your sake. You're innocent, so what are you afraid of?"