Shen Quan immediately tore up the note after reading it. The veins on his hand popped out from clenching his fist. He kicked the table over, and the teacups on it crashed to the floor. Qi Wei, seeing Shen Quan's actions, asked fearfully, "My Lord, what did the note say?"
After calming down, Shen Quan asked Qi Wei, "Do you know who injured you? Did you see their face?"
Qi Wei recalled the scene, a look of shame on his face. "This subordinate is foolish and didn't see the villain's face. This subordinate finds it very suspicious. That person's martial arts were much higher than mine. If they wanted to run, I definitely wouldn't have been able to catch them. But they seemed to have deliberately let me catch up. During the fight, I spoke to them several times, but they didn't say a word. If they weren't mute, then they were afraid of being recognized if they spoke."
Shen Quan understood after hearing Qi Wei's words.
"It's Gu Chen!"
Qi Wei thought for a moment after hearing Gu Chen's name and agreed.
"Indeed, it's possible. Besides Gu Chen, no one in the capital could have injured me like this in just a few moves."
Shen Quan ground his teeth, making a creaking sound. A fire raged within him, with nowhere to vent. Shen Quan wanted nothing more than to kill Gu Chen right now, but the feeling of wanting to kill but not being able to was driving him mad.
At this moment, within the Regent's Manor, Jian Yu returned after completing his task and reported to Gu Chen.
"My Lord, the task is complete."
"Go to the military camp and find Wu Jie and Shao Feng. Have them supervise the burial of the fallen soldiers and then investigate why Jiang Wan has become estranged from Shen Quan. What happened during this time? Or is Jiang Wan and Shen Quan colluding to put on an act for me, with marriage being a means to another end? Also, have Qian Ling return as well."
"Yes, My Lord. However, this subordinate has something he doesn't understand. If you suspect Miss Jiang, you could simply refuse the marriage. Why did you agree to the marriage?"
Gu Chen knew of course, but he just didn't want to admit it since he wanted to marry Jiang Wan.
"I have my own plans, no need for you to say more. Step down."
Jian Yu bowed his head and retreated. Gu Chen took a box from the shelf behind him. Inside was a jade pendant, engraved with the character "Yu (Forgiveness)". There were also spots of blood on top of the "Yu (Forgiveness)" character, which had turned dark reddish-brown over time. If one didn't look closely, they might mistake it for a stain.
Gu Chen stared blankly at the jade pendant, his eyes no longer possessing that imperious look. He watched as a tear rolled down his eye and landed on the stain on the jade pendant.
The sun gradually set in the west, and a rare display of sunset appeared in the sky, purple, red, pink, and gold, it was beautiful. Jiang Wan rested her chin on her palm, gazing up at the sunset. Jiang Wan's beauty and the sunset seemed like a painting bestowed by nature, captivating the eye.
"Sister, be careful of mosquito bites while resting in the courtyard."
A familiar female voice came. Upon hearing this detestable voice, Jiang Wan's mood for appreciating the beautiful scenery instantly vanished. She frowned and got up, but after turning around, she regained that gentle appearance. Jiang Wan had no choice but to deal with it.
"It's so late, does my sister have something to say?"
Jiang Nianzhu went forward and took Jiang Wan's arm, her voice coquettish.
"Sister, Zhuer saw a very pretty hairpin on the street today, which suits Sister's looks the best, so I came to give it to you."
After speaking, Jiang Nianzhu's maid, Ting'er, brought out a red wooden box, inside which was a delicate silver hairpin.
A butterfly rested on top of the silver hairpin, and two pearls adorned the butterfly's antennae, with some tassels hanging from the butterfly's tail.
Jiang Wan looked at the hairpin, a look of joy on her face, and her voice was filled with delight.
"It's really beautiful, thank you, sister, for thinking of me so much."
Jiang Nianzhu saw that Jiang Wan seemed to like the hairpin, so she acted like she was caring.
"It's good if Sister likes it, then Sister should put it on and see if it suits you."
Jiang Wan smiled slightly, her face full of joy.
"Xi Tao, help me put on the hairpin."
Xi Tao nodded and said "Mm," then took the hairpin. Just as she was about to put it in Jiang Wan's hair, the hairpin brushed past her nose, and she caught a whiff of fragrance. Xi Tao held the hairpin in front of Jiang Wan, looking surprised.
"Young miss, this hairpin has a scent. Smell it, please."
Jiang Wan was about to pick it up and smell it when Jiang Nianzhu spoke, a little anxiously, her tone hurried.
"Sister, this hairpin is hard to come by. The shopkeeper said he specifically sent someone to the Western Regions to buy it. It was originally a treasure of the shop, but Zhuer wanted to give it to you. The shopkeeper couldn't resist Zhuer's constant requests, so he sold it to me. The scent of this hairpin comes from the butterflies on it. It's a special fragrance from the Western Regions. The butterfly ornaments are soaked in the fragrance for a month to get this scent."
Hearing Jiang Nianzhu's introduction to the hairpin, Jiang Wan's face became even more delighted and surprised.
"A hairpin is so exquisite. Sister, you've put in so much effort. I will certainly wear it with care and not disappoint your kindness."
Jiang Nianzhu's heart swelled with pride when she heard Jiang Wan promise to wear the hairpin properly.
"The shopkeeper said that the butterflies on this hairpin, if worn for a long time, will bring you what you wish for. Because of this magical meaning, it's called the Western Regions Gu Butterfly."
"Then I'll wear it all the time."
Jiang Nianzhu felt relieved to hear that Jiang Wan would wear it every day.
"It's getting dark. The gift has been delivered, so I'll go back first, sister."
Jiang Wan's smile became even more genuine when she heard that Jiang Nianzhu was leaving.
"Take care on your way back, sister."
After seeing Jiang Nianzhu off, Xi Tao said to Jiang Wan, "Miss, the second young miss is really kind to you. Let me help you put it on."
Jiang Wan took the hairpin from Xi Tao and sniffed it. The fragrance wasn't the usual light scent; it seemed to have a hint of medicinal herbs. Why would Jiang Nianzhu be so kind? Jiang Wan seemed to have realized something.
"Xi Tao, Xi Guo, give me the handkerchiefs."
Xi Tao and Xi Guo handed their handkerchiefs to Jiang Wan. She folded Xi Tao's handkerchief into a long, butterfly-width strip and wrapped it around the butterfly on the hairpin. Then, she folded Xi Guo's handkerchief into a thinner strip and wrapped it around the pearl.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Jiang Wan took the two handkerchiefs down and sniffed them. Her eyes grew serious.
Xi Guo asked worriedly,
"Is there anything different, Miss?"
Jiang Wan looked at the hairpin and the handkerchiefs, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, her eyes dark. She said coldly,
"I wrapped these two handkerchiefs around the butterfly and the pearl on the hairpin respectively, and then smelled the two handkerchiefs. But the handkerchief that wrapped the butterfly didn't have as strong a fragrance as the one that wrapped the pearl. Therefore, Jiang Nianzhu lied. It's the pearl that has the fragrance, not the butterfly."
Xi Tao scratched her head, unable to understand.
"But why would the Second Miss lie?"
Jiang Wan knew Jiang Nianzhu's scheming nature, but her heart still ached. Coldly, she said:
"To harm me, of course!"
Xi Guo also didn't understand why the Second Miss would harm her mistress for no reason. She then said:
"Then I'll throw away the hairpin. I shouldn't wear it."
A plan formed in Jiang Wan's mind, and she instructed Xi Guo.
"No need to throw it away. Since she sent it, if I don't wear it, she won't let it go so easily. Xi Guo, go to the storeroom tomorrow and get a silver ingot. We'll take it with us when we go to the streets."
Xi Tao still couldn't figure it out, looking like she was determined to get to the bottom of things.
"Miss, how did you know the Second Miss wanted to harm you?"
Seeing that Xi Tao and Xi Guo didn't understand how she knew, Jiang Wan patiently explained.
"If it's really as Jiang Nianzhu said, then why was she so nervous when Xi Tao asked me to smell it? And she said a lot of things to explain herself, afraid that I wouldn't believe her words. Tomorrow, I'll go to the street to find a doctor to check it out properly. If there's really a problem, this silver ingot will be a treasure to pay her back in her own coin."
Xi Tao still didn't understand and continued to ask.
"Could it be that the Second Miss likes the Regent?"
Xi Guo grabbed Xi Tao's arm, afraid that asking too much would annoy their miss.
"Xi Tao, don't ask anymore, lest you bother Miss."
Xi Tao pouted, acting cute with Xi Guo.
"Oh, but I'm curious."
Jiang Wan found Xi Tao's appearance adorable and patted her head.
Jiang Wan picked up the handkerchief on the table and handed it to Xi Guo.
"Don't use the handkerchief anymore, just in case something harms your body. Burn it later and don't let anyone see it."
"Okay."
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