After faking my death, the male lead’s cousin went crazy - Chapter 3

Shengjing, the General’s Estate.

The afternoon sunlight was at its brightest, making the room warm and cozy. After Madam Wei woke from her midday nap, two plates of pastries and her favorite Biluochun tea had already been prepared on the table. Wisps of white steam rose from the teapot, and the bitter fragrance of tea completely drove away the haze of sleep.

Having some tea and snacks in the afternoon was a habit among the noble ladies of Shengjing.

Madam Wei did not come from a good background. Back then, in her natal family, she had merely been an unfavored second young lady. Because her mother, who had been a concubine, died early, Madam Wei had been recorded under the legitimate madam’s name. Only then had she barely gained the title of a legitimate daughter.

Legitimate or not, her status was ultimately not entirely proper. When she was still at her natal home, her food, clothing, housing, and daily treatment were all inferior. Even the personal maid beside her legitimate elder sister dressed more respectably than she did.

Fortunately, she had fought for a good future for herself. At that time, Lord Shang had only been a deputy pacification commissioner. Over the years, he rose steadily through the ranks and became the current General Who Guards the State.

Following him, she became the present Madam of the General’s Estate.

Speaking of Shang Huai’an, although he was somewhat cold toward her, all these years he had never brought home any other women, not even a concubine or bedchamber maid.

In all of Shengjing, there was no one who did not envy her good fortune.

But that year, Shang Huai’an returned victorious from campaign carrying an infant in swaddling clothes. He said that after drinking too much, he had fathered the child with a woman.

Unfortunately, the woman had died after giving birth, so this child was to be recorded under Madam Wei’s name, just like her own daughter, entered into the genealogy, and given the name Rongyue.

Gradually, Madam Wei discovered that her husband’s attention all fell upon this Shang Rongyue. She herself had given him two sons and one daughter, yet he was most biased toward that wild woman’s child.

Every time he returned from battle, he would definitely go see that wild child first. And ever since that child appeared, her husband spent even less time with her.

Little by little, Shang Rongyue became a thorn in Madam Wei’s eye.

But it did not matter.

Right now, that thorn would never hurt her again.

Thinking of this, Madam Wei’s appetite improved a little, and she increasingly felt that the tea and pastries on the table were sweet and tempting.

Taking the teacup handed over by the maid, Madam Wei instructed, “Go to the Eldest Young Master’s courtyard and ask whether Wang Wu, who was responsible for sending her away, has returned.”

Meanwhile, Wang Wu, who had caught Shang Rongyue, was practically overjoyed. He quickly smiled and cupped his fists.

“Isn’t that so! As the saying goes, better to demolish ten temples than ruin one marriage. Young Master’s actions today truly have immeasurable merit!”

Gu Wan did not answer. She turned around silently, as though she no longer wanted to get involved in the commotion before her.

Wang Wu offered a few casual, ingratiating smiles. Seeing that the other party had no intention of paying him any attention, he awkwardly withdrew his smile and arranged for his two subordinates to take the struggling Shang Rongyue down the mountain.

Shang Rongyue resisted with all her strength, but the two coachmen beside her were both men who had farmed all year round. They were rough and sturdy. How could a delicate young lady like her possibly fight against them?

Tears slid down her cheeks.

Was she really going to die here today?

The wedding carriage escorting the bride was parked not far away at the foot of the mountain. Shang Rongyue watched as she was about to be pressed back into that red carriage symbolizing the end of her life. It was as though the red silk around the carriage had been dyed with her blood.

Blazing.

Dazzling.

“No!”

Seeing that they were about to force her into this red “hearse,” Shang Rongyue used the last of her strength to struggle desperately. Her sleeve was torn open, producing a hoarse ripping sound.

Seeing that the wedding clothes had been damaged, the people escorting her had no choice but to lighten their movements. They were afraid that if they were not careful, they would end up having to compensate for this bridal outfit, which would not be worth it.

Wang Wu cursed, “Useless,” and personally stepped forward to press Shang Rongyue onto the carriage.

At this critical moment, a strange sound rang out.

A signaling arrow tore through the sunset and struck precisely into Wang Wu’s arm—the very arm pressing down on Shang Rongyue’s shoulder.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. By the time Shang Rongyue turned her head, the female bandit from earlier had not yet lowered the curved bow in her hand. A second arrow was already aimed in their direction again.

It was not aimed at her, but at one of the coachmen.

The burly man cried out in pain and fell. When the other two finally came back to their senses, especially when one of them turned back and saw the arrowhead aimed straight at his forehead, how could he still care about Shang Rongyue? He was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground and scrambled away, crawling and rolling as he fled for his life.

It was only two qian of silver to accompany them on this trip and deliver a person. If he lost his life here too, it would be far too worthless.

Shang Rongyue also fell sitting on the ground, gasping heavily.

Good.

Good.

It seemed this time, she had gambled correctly.

A dark mass of people surrounded them. Seeing that the situation was bad and that his men were fleeing one after another, Wang Wu ignored the wound on his hand. He pulled out the curved blade hidden in the carriage, turned around, and pressed it against Shang Rongyue’s neck.

“Fourth Miss doesn’t really think that pretty boy you’ve never met before can change your fate, does she?”

“Fourth Miss, think carefully. If you obediently marry into the Zheng family, you’ll still be the proper legal wife. The only person you’ll serve is Master Zheng. But if you follow that bandit… this lowly one has heard that in a bandit den, there aren’t so many rules. When that time comes, Fourth Miss, how will you be any different from a prostitute?”

Wang Wu did not say the rest. The cold blade seemed to explain all the thousand unspoken words in full.

“I sincerely hope Fourth Miss will think it over carefully. It’s better for you to obediently get into the carriage with me.”

Wang Wu thought that as long as he spurred the horse quickly, he might still be able to break through the encirclement.

But the people coming down the mountain moved very efficiently. In the blink of an eye, they had surrounded them completely.

“You can’t leave.” Gu Wan walked out from behind the crowd. The hand behind her back still held that bow. In a neither cold nor warm tone, she announced her decision regarding the people before her.

“Leave the person and the things behind.”

The soldiers behind her were not merely there for show. In addition, Wang Wu was wounded. The “bandits” closed in one by one and directly restrained Wang Wu’s body.

Only after regaining her freedom did Shang Rongyue finally let out a breath of relief.

But at that moment, Wang Wu, who had already been subdued, suddenly raised his head viciously, his gaze fixed firmly in Gu Wan’s direction.

“Pretty boy, when your grandfather here was making his way in the underworld, you were still at home drinking milk!”

Wang Wu was not willing to give up at all, because he still had one final trump card.

Before he left, Madam had instructed him that with the current situation so chaotic, if any accident occurred halfway, he had to guarantee one thing: leave no one alive.

Shang Rongyue could marry into the Zheng family, or she could die on the road. But as long as she stepped out of the Shang family’s gate, there would be no turning back.

Madam Wei would absolutely not allow her to set even half a foot inside her home again.

At this moment, hidden beneath the root of his tongue was a tiny bamboo tube. As long as he used force, a poison-coated silver needle would shoot out from his mouth.

But right now, he did not want the bandit before him to gain every advantage.

Originally, this hidden weapon had been reserved for Shang Rongyue. Now, Wang Wu had another plan.

If the bandit leader died here, Shang Rongyue’s ending would certainly not be good.

Simply killing Shang Rongyue instead would only let that treacherous bandit off too easily.

Having made his decision, Wang Wu found the right angle and aimed in Gu Wan’s direction.

At that very moment, the sharp silver glint reflected in the sunset, and a dazzling flash swept across Shang Rongyue’s clear eyes.

Wang Wu, who had been restrained, suddenly lifted his chin, his Adam’s apple shifting slightly.

As though she had instantly guessed the other party’s intention, Shang Rongyue thought, Not good.

Right now, the woman standing opposite Wang Wu was the only person who could protect her. If anything happened to this woman, then her own fate would be…

As the hidden weapon shot out, there was no time to think. Shang Rongyue ran toward the woman in the ink-colored brocade robe.

“Be careful!”

At that moment, a breeze happened to blow past. The hidden weapon that had originally been flying straight toward Gu Wan trembled slightly. Its tip forcibly shifted direction, and in the end, its angle tilted, turning toward Shang Rongyue’s shoulder beside Gu Wan.

In the next instant, the cold, sharp object pierced through her skin. The fabric of her once-festive bridal clothes gradually grew wet.

It hurt.

It really hurt.

It was like ten thousand ants gnawing at the wound, a pain that pierced to the bone and drilled into the heart.

Shang Rongyue collapsed. Fortunately, an arm caught her and did not let her suffer a second injury.

Just now, Gu Wan had noticed Wang Wu’s small movement. With a lift of her arm, the sleeve arrow shot out, piercing straight through Wang Wu’s neck.

He died on the spot.

If not for that gust of wind, Gu Wan probably would not have had time to dodge. But at that moment, the girl in wedding clothes had already run in front of her and forcibly blocked that danger on her behalf.

Amid her shock, Gu Wan did not forget to catch the person falling down.

At this moment, the wound had already turned a dark red. The girl’s originally hibiscus-like face lost its color bit by bit, becoming deathly pale. Her long lashes also seemed to weigh a thousand jin. Once, twice—finally, they closed completely.

And before her eyes shut entirely, Gu Wan seemed to hear the other party use the last of her strength to murmur:

“Good…”

“Good thing you’re all right…”