Nangong Mo raised his hand to lightly press his eyebrow, a trace of helplessness flashing in his eyes, and teased with a smirk, "Aren't you afraid that Ding'an Marquis will come with a knife to end your little life?"
Yun Ran rolled her eyes at him and mimicked a pinching gesture, "Not afraid, after all, as they say, the wife's debt is repaid by the husband! The one who should be worried is you, Prince!"
Nangong Mo: "..."
Little brat, does she think he can't see her little gestures?
A flurry of footsteps approached, and Lin Yanran hastily arrived, surrounded by several illegitimate young ladies and a group of handmaidens and nannies.
After greeting Lin Qianqiu, she rushed over to Mrs. Qin's side, "Mother, what happened? Who did this to you?"
"Do you still need to ask? It must be that jinx Lin Wanyue!"
Before Mrs. Qin could speak, Lin Zhu'er had already rushed to speak, storming angrily towards Yun Ran.
Her head was still wrapped in gauze, and after being knocked out by Yun Ran earlier, she woke up in a rage, ready to settle accounts with Yun Ran.
Lin Yanran was about to follow her over but was tugged back by Mrs. Qin, who shook her head at her.
"Mother?"
Lin Yanran was a bit puzzled. Could it be that they were actually afraid of that worthless Lin Wanyue?
Mrs. Qin held her hand, lowering her voice, "Earlier, I underestimated her. For so many years, right under my nose, she hid so well!"
"However, from this incident, at least we've gauged her depth, and we must plan carefully in the future!"
Mrs. Qin's words shocked Lin Yanran. She looked up at Yun Ran, her eyes sweeping past Lady Zhen, Nanny Tang, and those fallen thugs, filled with astonishment, "Mother, all of this? Was done by her? Not by Nangong Mo's guards?"
Just as Lin Yanran finished speaking, Lin Zhu'er screamed like a ghost and plunged into the lotus pond.
"Ah! Help... I can't... swim... *cough cough*... please save... me..."
Yun Ran stood by the lotus pond, stunning in profile, her figure graceful, the wind lifting her red dress hem, her garments fluttered, beautiful like a painting.
Lin Qianqiu looked at this daughter, who seemed both unfamiliar and exceptionally dazzling, and only felt a headache.
"Quick! Quickly, get down and save the young lady!"
After a chaotic scramble, Lin Zhu'er was rescued from the water, her hair tangled with a few strands of waterweed, making her look extremely bedraggled.
But unfortunately, Lin Zhu'er couldn't learn her lesson and dared to think of going after Yun Ran again, only to be tightly restrained by her nurse and personal maid.
"My lady, please calm down, a wise person avoids present danger! We have plenty of time for revenge in the future!"
Lin Zhu'er was still angry, glaring vehemently at Yun Ran's back, imagining ways to dismember her in her mind!
Yun Ran suddenly bent down to pick up a brick from the ground, weighing it in her hand, and turned back with a shallow smile.
Lin Zhu'er shivered all over, shrinking into her nurse's embrace, looking at Yun Ran with a face full of wariness.
And as Yun Ran's gaze swept over them, everyone's hearts shivered in unison: What's she planning to do with that brick now? Who's she targeting?
"As people often say, trouble comes from the mouth, I advise you all to watch your tongues, know what's appropriate to say and what's not. Or else, one day you might end up in Yama Hall and not even know how you died."
The clear and pleasant female voice, with an air of nonchalance, floated into their ears on the wind.
Under her gentle yet chilling gaze, everyone almost instinctively nodded vigorously.
Then, they saw the brick in her hand suddenly split into two with a 'crack'.
Everyone: "!!!"
Just like that, without any warning, it suddenly split...
Not only split, but shattered into pieces, scattering on the ground...
Everyone's expressions shattered too... It felt as though it wasn't the brick but their brains that had shattered...
Nangong Mo lightly rubbed his temples, closed his eyes slightly, looking as if he couldn't bear to look and didn't know her.
However, the slightly upturned corners of his mouth clearly carried a hint of suspicious laughter, vaguely tinged with indulgence.
"Sir, wake up, I'm here to send you off on your journey!"
"..."
Nangong Mo's mouth twitched slightly, opening his eyes to look at the girl in front of him, speaking in a deep tone:
"You're so arrogant, you'll get beaten to death."
"Sir, what are you thinking?" Yun Ran pouted, spirited and lively, with confidence, "If someone were to be beaten to death, it would be me beating others to death, right?"
Nangong Mo pressed his thin lips together, advising her earnestly, "You're a girl."
[What's wrong with being a girl? I can still twist your dog's head off, believe it or not?]
Nangong Mo: "..."
Then, under the various gazes of everyone, Yun Ran pushed Nangong Mo, followed by the dashing and imposing Four Great Guards, striding away in high spirits.
Lin Yanran watched them for a long time, until Nangong Mo and Yun Ran's figures disappeared completely, she slowly withdrew her gaze.
Her eyes were dark, and the silk handkerchief in her palm had unknowingly been crumpled into a ball.
Looking at them seemingly so much in love, the harmony of their relationship, her heart felt like a heavy stone was lodged in it, stifled, oppressive, leaving her nowhere to vent.
...
Half an hour later, on the long street of the Imperial City.
Yun Ran lifted the curtain of the carriage, glancing at the bustling and lively street outside, then turned around with a bright smile at Nangong Mo.
"Sir, how about you head back with them first? I'll go out and take a walk?"
The man quirked an eyebrow lightly, a teasing smile on his lips, "What? Are you going to beat someone to death again?"
Yun Ran: "..."
"Sir, what are you talking about? How could that be? Am I such a violent person? I just want to casually stroll and buy some food or something."
"Are you a pig? All you do is eat."
"..."
[This wretched man! Does he not want his head anymore? What's wrong with me eating a bit? Am I eating your rice?]
[To be fair, you probably did eat his rice... kinda...]
[...shut up, you annoying bird!]
"Sir, you're mistaken! If a person doesn't even know how to eat, wouldn't she become an idiot?"
Nangong Mo propped his chin up with one hand, pondered for a moment, and nodded, "That's true, but..."
"What?"
"Do you have money?"
Yun Ran: "..."
[Heartless and shameless bastard! And he dares to talk to her about money? Who got tricked into losing all her money, huh?]
"Sir, there's no need to worry. With my wisdom and talent..."
"Scamming, extorting, or robbing?"
Yun Ran: "..."
[Such a handsome face! Such a charming voice! Why can't it say something decent?]
While grumbling internally, she saw the man waving a handful of golden leaves in front of her eyes, a dazzling array of shimmering light, nearly blinding her.
Without thinking, Yun Ran reached out to grab them.
But the man dodged cunningly, and she caught nothing.
Yun Ran: "..." Nangong Mo, you're too much!
The man curled his lips alluringly, "Do you want them?"
"Mm-hmm!"
"Here's the deal, sing a little tune for me, and if I'm happy, the money is yours."
Yun Ran: "..."
[I'll sing to your damned head! I knew you weren't so kind! You bastard! An ass! Even dogs are cuter than you!]
Nangong Mo: "..."
Dogs... are cuter than him? He's... not even as good as a dog?
The man narrowed his eyes, looking at Yun Ran with a deep gaze, "If you don't want to sing, how about you bark like a little dog for me to hear?"
Yun Ran: "..."
What to do? She didn't want to bark like a dog, she wanted to bite like a dog, bite to death this black-hearted shameless dog man!