The images were mottled and blurred, and Deng Youning seemed to have returned to her past life, to the day she was beaten to death with clubs.
Not long after her death, while her soul had not yet dissipated, she saw a man—a man as handsome as an immortal descending from the heavens.
That man was dressed in dark black robes, radiating an intense killing intent, like a rakshasa from the netherworld.
Yet when he picked up her corpse, beaten into a lump of mud, he was exceptionally gentle.
He seemed heartbroken over her death, roaring in anguish, his hair turning white in an instant.
Deng Youning did not recognize him.
It was not until he produced half a jade pendant similar to the one she carried that she realized who he was.
Alas, it was far, far too late; she no longer had the strength to acknowledge him.
During the time her soul wandered near the State Protector Estate, she also heard that the man had plotted a rebellion together with the current Ninth Prince.
Unfortunately, they were ultimately no match for the Crown Prince and were hacked to death with spears.
Their appearance in death was too horrific to behold.
For some reason, though she could not be certain, deep down she felt that his rebellion was because of her, that he wanted to avenge her...
"Li Tianzhuo—"
This time, she was jolted awake by pain once again, but this time it was an ache in her heart.
Her heart pounded wildly, feeling as though a massive boulder were pressing against her chest.
"The jade pendant, where is my jade pendant?"
Deng Youning searched frantically over her body and across the bed.
The blood-soaked garments she had worn had long since been changed by Han Qiongyue's maidservants, and the items she carried had naturally been placed elsewhere.
Finding no sign of the pendant nearby, she disregarded her injuries, got up, and stepped out of bed.
The moment she stood up, a wave of dizziness washed over her, and she collapsed flat to the floor.
The loud crash startled the person outside the door.
The wooden door creaked open, and Yingshi walked in carrying a bowl of medicinal soup.
Seeing Deng Youning collapsed on the floor, she hurriedly set down the bowl of medicine and helped her up.
"Miss, you are covered in injuries—new wounds piled on old, major wounds alongside minor ones. The physician said you must not get out of bed for three days."
She supported Deng Youning back to the bed, her heart burning with anxiety as she gazed at Deng Youning's snow-white, pale face.
"Yingshi, where is my jade pendant?"
"It's that half of a jade jue."
Fearing that Yingshi might not recognize it, Deng Youning described it in detail.
Hearing this, Yingshi immediately went to fetch it and handed it to Deng Youning.
Clutching the jade jue, Deng Youning's heart finally felt much more at ease.
"By the way, how is grandmother?" Deng Youning asked with concern.
"The Old Lady wasn't hurt, just a bit tired, and she is still resting," Yingshi answered truthfully.
Hearing this news, the heavy stone in Deng Youning's chest finally settled completely.
"Then... the people who saved us...?"
She continued probing cautiously.
"Those people belong to the Silver Dragon Guard. I heard they came to Nanxin State on official business, and on their way back after finishing the case, they ran into us and saved us along the way."
Deng Youning nodded.
Yet she did not believe there were such coincidences in this world!
Still, managing to escape alive from the clutches of the Ten Thousand Serpents Valley, bandits, and the Crown Prince's men could truly be considered cheating death.
"Their people are currently staying at this inn as well, saying they'll wait for us a few days to escort us back to the capital together."
Yingshi added.
Deng Youning knitted her brows tightly. In her past life, there had been no such pursuit, nor had she encountered the people of the Silver Dragon Guard here.
It seemed that even though she had been reborn, there were still many unpredictable circumstances.
Feeling that she was largely recovered, Deng Youning made another trip to the Ten Thousand Serpents Valley.
With the Valley Master dead and the group leaderless, Deng Youning shared the antidote formula with everyone and told them to go down the mountain and return home.
Some truly had nowhere to go and wished to follow her.
Deng Youning thought it over carefully.
Her return to the capital was also to seek revenge, and having these people help her from the shadows was far better than facing the wolves and tigers of the capital all by herself.
However, their lives were their own; if they no longer wished to serve, they could leave at any time.
The remaining group she left behind in the Ten Thousand Serpents Valley to guard the Pavilion of Scriptures for her.
*
Three days later.
Under the escort of the Silver Dragon Guard, the Deng family grandmother and granddaughter finally set off on the road back to Dongji Capital.
The trees and mountain rocks still bore the desolation of lingering winter, but the warmth of the sun radiated spring in full bloom.
Dongji Capital, a certain aristocratic estate.
A cluster of corchorus flowers bloomed in a courtyard of white fragrance, a gentle breeze stirring the spring shade like water.
A pair of knobby-jointed, slender, clean yet ghastly pale hands reached out from a brocade-lined marten fur coat, catching a falling corchorus petal about to hit the ground.
"Isn't it about time for her to come back?"
The youth murmured softly.
"My lord, the carriage is ready."
Not far away, a page reported.
Hearing this, the youth strode away, walked up to the page, and took off his fur coat to hand it to him.
The page frowned, somewhat worried about his health.
The youth, however, simply shook his head.
It was already spring, yet he was still wearing so many clothes; he had no desire to become the butt of a joke.
State Protector Estate.
A landscape of gentle mountains and clear waters, the entire city adorned with vibrant brocade flowers.
Today, the State Protector Estate was bustling with activity, filled with lively chatter and laughter—all gathered to celebrate the birthday of a sixteen-year-old maiden of the inner chambers.
Deng Xuexian had been taken in by the State Protector and his wife on this very day, which was why they had fixed her birthday on this date.
A brilliant and serene spring, compared to Deng Youning who was born in a winter of swirling snow.
It was as if she were born noble and radiant, destined to enjoy all things beautiful.
"Little birthday star, aren't you ready yet?"
Lady Gu looked at Deng Xuexian's fair and beautiful reflection in the mirror, exceptionally happy.
As long as her precious daughter could be happy and joyful, she would be the happiest of all.
"Mother, grandmother and younger sister will be back soon; I'm in no mood to play."
Deng Xuexian's face, however, was filled with anxiety.
Lately, for some unknown reason, she kept dreaming of bizarre things.
She wondered if the assassins she had sent ahead to ambush Deng Youning had succeeded.
"What does it matter if they come back?"
Lady Gu retorted in disapproval.
"Lian'er, though you are born of a concubine, you have grown up by my side since childhood. You are my very own flesh and blood."
Sixteen years ago, the states of Dongji and Nanxin were at war. The State Protector fought the enemy on the front lines, but the Nanxin people proved treacherous and cunning, sending a force to raid their military camp.
After their biological daughter "tragically died," the grieving State Protector and his wife discovered Deng Xuexian, then half a year old, abandoned on the battlefield.
They firmly believed this child was heaven's compensation to them, sent to replace their daughter.
To make her position even more legitimate, they even announced to the outside world that she was the daughter of a concubine, whose birth mother had died blocking an arrow for the State Protector on the battlefield, and she had been adopted under the primary wife, Lady Gu, enjoying supreme glory.
"Rest assured, once that wild girl comes back, she won't dare do a thing to you. If your grandmother plays favorites, your mother will never let her off easily."
"Besides, whether she truly belongs to our State Protector Estate remains to be seen by anyone."
With these two remarks from Lady Gu, Deng Xuexian had nothing left to worry about.
However, her words truly gave her an idea.
"Mother, when younger sister comes back, should we have her do a blood test with father to verify parentage?"
"Grandmother is getting older; mistakes are bound to happen."
"The bloodline of the State Protector Estate cannot tolerate the slightest taint."
Deng Xuexian knitted her brows slightly, looking deeply concerned.
As long as they performed the blood test, she would certainly be able to tamper with it and drive Deng Youning out.
Hearing this, Lady Gu thought it was a wonderful idea, and the mother and daughter walked out arm in arm.
Truly living up to the saying: not born of one's flesh, yet closer than blood.
In today's State Protector Estate, she, Deng Xuexian, was the undisputed center of attention, surrounded by stars like the moon.
After three rounds of toasts, the atmosphere was filled with joy and laughter.
Suddenly, a flustered page rushed in to report.
"Lord Protector, this is terrible! Li Tianzhuo, Commander of the Silver Dragon Guard, has arrived!"