At this moment, Zhao Shuning really had no mind to wonder what Mo Bai, the person from years ago, was up to.
Because in three days' time, it would be the day when Lin Feng's illness would flare up.
On the next day, Lady Haitang passed away. Miss Shuning of the Lin Mansion was kind - hearted. When the lady died, the miss even changed her into a dark - green long gown sprinkled with the gold powder that Lady Haitang had loved most during her lifetime before burying her.
By the way, Lady Haitang was given a water burial.
Because Miss Shuning said that generally, those who had a water burial wouldn't harbor too much resentment, and it would have less of an impact on the Lin Mansion.
On that day, the bamboo raft floated far, far away.
It was just unknown where the place it finally drifted to was.
On the lake in the ancient and desolate land, a corpse appeared. The old man in charge of collecting the corpses looked at the body emerging from the lake.
He shook his head.
"It's been a long time since there's been a new arrival."
The old man used a long stick to hook the bamboo raft over, then forcefully carried the body off and threw it on the ancient and desolate land. Not long after, a vulture spotted it and swooped down, pecking the body to pieces.
The old man shook his head again. "It seems this woman was another alchemist. What a pity. Before she died, she suffered an attack from other alchemists."
The old man picked up the stick and found that his hand was glittering with gold.
He sighed.
"Alas - it seems she was from a wealthy family. What a sin."
The sky gradually darkened.
Time flew by, and another month passed.
Zhao Shuning looked at Lin Feng's radiant face. She knew that this lecher must be itching inside. If it weren't for his illness before, Lin Feng wouldn't have behaved so properly and refrained from seeking pleasure outside for five months.
"Shuning, don't you think Huan'er is old enough now? Shouldn't we arrange a marriage for her?"
Huan'er shrank behind Zhao Shuning.
Zhao Shuning smiled. "My lord, your illness is cured. You can go out now."
Lin Feng nodded at this, then stood up contentedly and walked towards the gate of the Lin Mansion.
"Miss, is he...?"
"It's okay. It's just a sudden rally before death."
Zhao Shuning looked at Huan'er. "Let's go. Back to the nunnery. We'll have a good show to watch tomorrow."
"What good show?"
Beauty Xiao suddenly appeared, looking at Zhao Shuning warily.
Zhao Shuning put away her smile and assumed the demeanor of a proper young lady.
"Beauty Xiao, what brings you to the main courtyard? My lord has already gone out. You might be a bit late."
There was a hint of disappointment in Xiao Meiren's eyes.
"Has he gone out again?"
"Yes."
"Zhao Shuning, you shouldn't have cured him so quickly. If he goes on like this, his body will break down sooner or later."
Beauty Xiao's original name was Xiao Meiren. Back then, she and Lin Feng had truly loved each other.
She had also been doted on by Lin Feng for many years, but this doting would eventually come to an end.
Looking at the once - hot - tempered Beauty Xiao who had now become such a self - pitying woman, it would be a lie for Zhao Shuning to say she wasn't touched.
"Beauty Xiao, why bother? For a man, to reduce yourself to such a state."
"Zhao Shuning, you don't understand. Back then, he said that he would love me, cherish me, and never leave me for the rest of his life."
Zhao Shuning sighed.
"The vows back then were real, and he really doted on me. But I never thought that his doting on me would have a time limit."
"Beauty Xiao, why don't you leave?"
"Leaving is easier said than done. Now, I just hope to have nothing to do with him. I just want to take my son and retire to the mountains and fields, never to ask about worldly affairs again."
"You will."
Zhao Shuning replied softly, then said, "Beauty Xiao, if there's nothing else, I'll go back first."
"Zhao Shuning, actually I know you're faking it."
"Huh?"
"I know you're faking it. That high - spirited little kid from back then, no matter how much she's changed over the years, her nature couldn't have completely changed."
"Beauty Xiao, you may..."
"But I didn't expose you, Zhao Shuning. Consider it my way of thanking you for clearing my name back then."
"Beauty Xiao, sometimes, you don't have to rely on Lin Feng to realize your value."
Zhao Shuning walked out of the door.
She sighed.
Huan'er said, "Miss, what did Beauty Xiao mean by those words?"
"Before, I thought she was a bimbo. Now it seems I was narrow - minded. Although Beauty Xiao isn't very smart, she can tell right from wrong and is a fair person. That she could say such things today means she must have given up on him."
"Miss, what about our plan?"
"Proceed as usual."
Huan'er muttered, "Love is really heart - breaking."
It's not love that hurts, but the human heart.
As Zhao Shuning was walking on the road, Huan'er got excited and kept chatting with her.
"Miss, do you have someone you like?"
"Yes."
Zhao Shuning answered absent - mindedly.
"I'm really curious. What kind of person does Miss like?"
"Graceful and with excellent temperament. Preferably, there are no other women around him. Miss, this must be the kind of person you like, right?"
Zhao Shuning shook her head.
"Miss, the people I see you interacting with are all beautiful women. You don't... like Miss Lan, do you?"
"Silly girl, what nonsense are you talking about."
Zhao Shuning came back to her senses and tapped Huan'er on the head. "What's in your head all day long?"
Perhaps she was too engrossed in her play with Huan'er. Zhao Shuning didn't notice that there was a person standing in front of her.
When she turned around, she bumped into the man.
Zhao Shuning couldn't stand steadily and instinctively grabbed the man's sleeve.
The man reacted quickly and immediately reached out to support Zhao Shuning.
Zhao Shuning steadied herself and then looked up. "Thank you. Just now..."
The man was actually Wen Bo?
After almost half a year, Wen Bo had become much thinner.
"Zhao Shuning, long time no see."
Long time? But Zhao Shuning didn't think so.
"Thank you."
After simply thanking him, Zhao Shuning grabbed Huan'er and walked away quickly.
She didn't want to waste too much time entangling with Wen Bo. She wasn't very satisfied with this man in her heart and didn't want to provoke such a person.
"Zhao Shuning, wait a minute."
Zhao Shuning seemed not to hear and continued walking forward.
"Zhao Shuning, can't you hear me?"
The man stepped forward and grabbed Zhao Shuning's wrist. Zhao Shuning casually waved her hand and broke free from Wen Bo's grip.
So flexible? Was this still that weak woman?
"Miss."
"Huan'er, this guy is crazy. Let's go quickly. It's getting dark. There will be more bad guys soon."
Everyone could tell who the "bad guys" referred to.
When Zhao Shuning reached the outskirts, Wen Bo's figure appeared in front of her again.
By now, it was already dark.