Chapter 128: Ruxin

In her previous life, this person served by Meng Qinghe's side; she was a maid given to her by the Jiang family, Ruxin.

When she first entered the residence, her temperament was subdued and her appearance was ordinary, so she drew no attention; even while serving Meng Qinghe, few people cast their eyes on her, and among those was Chi Nan Yi.

Until the Crown Prince ascended the throne, she—now clad in night‑clothing as dark as night—went to Chi Nan Yi's sleeping hall, threw a man into her own chamber, and knocked herself out; only before she fainted did she realize she had been looking down on this inconspicuous maid.

The last thing she saw before losing consciousness was her own silhouette, so in this life Chi Nan Yi will recognize her at a glance when he sees her back.

How could she be here?

Could it be that…

Heh

Meng Qinghe, you truly have a thief's heart that never dies; even though you've already left Jingcheng, you still intend to hunt her down to the end.

Coincidentally, I'm also preparing to return to the capital; the debts of past and present lives can finally be settled properly.

"Miss, shall I go kill her right now?"

"No rush, let's first see what she actually intends to do."

Chi Nan Yi and his companion followed behind her; Ruxin arrived at the Chi Family courtyard and leapt inside.

Ruxin groped around the courtyard and eventually entered Chi Nan Yi's room.

The room had no lanterns; it was pitch black.

Ruxin tiptoed cautiously toward the inner chamber.

Just as she stepped into the inner chamber, the door behind her slammed shut, the room suddenly lit up, and a long sword thrust toward Ruxin's throat.

Ruxin's eyes hardened, she swiftly dodged, drew the twin daggers at her waist, and collided them with Ji Bai's long sword.

The sound of close‑quarters combat quickly echoed outward.

The members of the Chi Family were all startled awake.

"What's going on?" Ruan Qin said, covering her belly anxiously, "Sir, is someone fighting outside?"

"Don't worry, I'll go take a look." Chi Zhiqiu put on his outer robe and walked out, and the lights in the other rooms lit up one by one.

"The sound came from the younger sister's courtyard."

"Isn't the younger sister not at home? How could there be fighting sounds in her courtyard?"

A Chi Family man picked up a pickaxe head and an iron shovel and headed toward Chi Nan Yi's courtyard.

At this moment, Ruxin was tangled in combat with Ji Bai.

Ji Bai's martial skill was superior to Ruxin's, but he did not strike a killing blow; he merely toyed with her as if teasing a kitten.

"Miss said, you must not kill her."

Seeing Ruxin becoming increasingly frantic, her attacks losing form, Ji Bai sneered, and taking advantage of the flaw in her technique, kicked her in the chest.

Ruxin's body fell from mid‑air and slammed hard onto the ground.

This scene was just witnessed by the Chi Family members who happened to arrive.

Chi Huai Qian circled around her, hurried to Chi Nan Yi's side, and stood in front of her.

"Third brother."

"Little sister, don't be afraid; with Third brother here, no one will bully you."

Chi Nan Yi, seeing the situation, laughed and said, "Third brother, if there truly is danger, it's better to hide in a secluded spot; if you stand in front of me, we can't even tell who would protect whom!"

Chi Huai Qian's face flushed red from her words.

Ji Bai reached out, seized the twin daggers from her hands, bound her limbs, and then dislocated her jaw; now, even the poison packet hidden in her mouth was useless.

Chi Nan Yi watched his fluid, graceful movements and couldn't help but nod approvingly.

The Dark Guard that the outer master gave her is indeed more than a little useful.

At this moment, she had already thrown the Yun Shan that Mo Junyan left her into the farthest clouds, and had even decided that once she returns to Jingcheng, she will conceal Yun Shan again.

If Yun Shan learned of her plan, he would probably be crying himself unconscious in the outhouse by now.

Chi Nan Yi looked at Ruxin, smiled, and said, "Should I say you're from the Meng family or the Jiang family?"

Ruxin was startled; how did she know?

She was clearly dispatched only after Miss Qinghe returned to the Minister's Residence, so she shouldn't have seen her before to guess correctly.

Chi Nan Yi's question wasn't without reason.

In fact, in her previous life, although Ruxin was by Meng Qinghe's side, she reported every detail of the Crown Prince's Residence affairs to the Jiang family. After Mo Junyan ascended the throne, he took the Jiang family's legitimate daughter into the harem; Ruxin then became a spy while staying with Meng Qinghe. Officially she was Meng Qinghe's person, but in reality her heart always belonged to the Jiang family.

Having said that, the Jiang family really has deep scheming!

It seems that, had Meng Qinghe not returned in the previous life, this Ruxin would have been assigned to the original owner's side as a spy.

After all the twists and turns, she still ends up making wedding dresses for others.

Chi Nan Yi examined her mouth, found no poison packet, and pressed down forcefully, fastening the hook onto her.

"If you seek death, it's best not to think of biting your tongue to kill yourself; in fact, cutting off your tongue won't kill you," Chi Nan Yi said calmly. "Unfortunately, my medical skill is decent; even if you cut off your tongue, I can find a way to make you speak."

Ruxin looked into her deep eyes, and a chill rose around her.

"What do you want to ask?"

"Who exactly sent you? Meng Qinghe or the Jiang family?"

The Chi Family members frowned tightly upon hearing Meng Qinghe's name.

"Yier, you mean this person was sent by Meng Qinghe?"

Chi Nan Yi nodded; now that she has left the Meng Family and has no quarrel with the Jiang family, the Jiang family truly has no reason to send a killer all the way to Yuping Village to kill her, but Meng Qinghe is a different matter.

She, too, is a reincarnated person, and likely harbors deep hatred toward herself, eager to eliminate her for satisfaction.

Earlier, she had just returned to the Meng Family and could not immediately reveal murderous intent.

She knows well that the Meng Family's desired legitimate daughter must not only be a woman who can win the Crown Prince's heart, but also someone the Meng Family can control and dominate.

If Meng Qinghe, once back at the Meng Family, were to shout for her to be beaten and killed, Meng Hui would only think she is difficult to control, and perhaps would therefore be unwilling to let her go.

If Ru Xin can appear here tonight, it shows she thinks she has already firmly secured the position of the legitimate eldest daughter in the Meng Family.

"Is she actually sent by Meng Qinghe? Just ask her and you'd know, right?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ru Xin tilted her head to the side. "I literally have no idea who the Meng Qinghe you mention is."

"No problem," Chi Nan Yi smiled. "Whether you admit it or not is irrelevant; once we escort you back to the Meng Family for a first trial, it'll be clear."

Ru Xin saw her so certain and couldn't help feeling even more puzzled.

How on earth does she know she's a member of the Meng Family?

Chi Nan Yi stepped beside her and lowered her voice: "I advise you to confess truthfully. Yuping Village is a poor, remote place. If I have someone strip you of your martial skills and lock you up, believe me, you'll never get out in your lifetime. Moreover, our village is extremely poor; there are plenty of bachelors without money who can't afford a bride. You, with your delicate skin and tender flesh, if…"

"How dare you!"

"See whether I dare!" Chi Nan Yi recalled what they had done to the original host in a previous life, and indeed she carried out such deeds; she felt no burden in her heart.