Reborn and married in a swapped marriage, my aloof husband is too ruthless.

"Sister, I know you still blame me." Su Xiaoxiao bit her lip, her eyes slightly red. "But back then... I had no choice."

Su Jinxin sneered, interrupting her: "Forced to do something? Sister, you make it sound so easy. You stole my marriage and pushed me into a fire pit, and you call that being forced to do something?"

Su Xiaoxiao's face paled, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes: "Sister, let me explain..."

"No need," Su Jinxin coldly interrupted her. "I don't want to bring up the past anymore. From now on, our sisterly bond is severed." With that, she turned and left, leaving Su Xiaoxiao standing there alone, her face pale.

After returning to the Yan residence, Su Jinxin did not take immediate action.

She knew that to bring down her stepmother and Su Xiaoxiao, she needed solid evidence.

And this evidence is hidden in the Su residence.

She began to frequently visit the vicinity of the Su residence, disguised, to secretly observe the activities within.

Granny Liu seemed to have sensed something and strengthened the security in the mansion. Su Jinxin felt like she was walking on thin ice with every step she took.

Su Jinxin did not rush to start with the servants in the mansion. She knew how formidable Liu Mama was. The servants in the mansion had long been trained by her to be obedient, and it would be difficult to get them to talk.

One day, Su Jinxin disguised herself as a beggar and lingered at the back gate of the Su residence.

Li Si followed her from a distance, looking at her like this, feeling very puzzled.

What is my wife up to?

Su Jinxin was dressed in rags, her hair was unkempt, and she held a broken bowl in her hand, looking exactly like a beggar.

She was hunched over, walked with difficulty, and coughed every now and then, looking very weak.

Li Si observed from the shadows, his brow furrowed. Why would such a clever woman resort to such a drastic measure? Was she trying to lure someone out?

Just as Li Si was racking his brains trying to figure it out, the back door of the Su residence creaked open.

An old woman dressed in coarse cloth came out; she was none other than Liu Mama, the stepmother's confidante.

After looking around and making sure no one was around, Granny Liu threw a package into the trash heap.

Seeing this, Su Jinxin had an idea. She walked calmly to the garbage heap and pretended to rummage through it for food.

Seeing this, Granny Liu frowned in disgust and walked away grumbling.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Su Jinxin picked up the package and hid it in her arms.

"Cough cough..." She pretended to cough and turned to leave.

Seeing this, Li Si quickly followed.

"Madam, what's wrong?" Li Si asked, puzzled.

Su Jinxin did not answer, but quickened her pace.

"Madam, wait for me!" Li Si hurriedly chased after her.

Su Jinxin walked to a quiet alley and stopped.

“Li Si,” she said in a low voice, “go and find out what’s in this package.”

Li Si took the package, opened it, and found some scraps of cloth and dregs of medicine inside.

“This…” Li Si looked at Su Jinxin with a puzzled expression.

A cold glint flashed in Su Jinxin's eyes: "These things might be the evidence we're looking for." She paused, looked towards the alley entrance, and whispered, "Someone's coming..."

Just as Li Si was about to take a closer look, Su Jinxin grabbed him and slipped into a deeper alley.

A slightly hunched figure appeared at the alley entrance; it was Widow Li, who lived near the Su residence.

Carrying a vegetable basket, she muttered to herself, "What a tragedy! Such a fine girl, ruined like this... I wonder whose daughter is so unlucky..." She shook her head and sighed as she walked away, completely unaware of the two people deep in the alley.

"Madam, is she referring to... the Su family?" Li Si asked tentatively.

Su Jinxin's eyes flashed. Although Widow Li's words were vague, they were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples.

She gave Li Si a look, signaling him to continue following Widow Li.

Li Si accepted the order and left, while Su Jinxin carefully hid the package again and quickly left the alley.

She knew this was just the beginning, and there was a much more difficult road ahead.

But she was fearless. For the truth and for revenge, she was determined to overcome all obstacles and forge ahead.

Upon returning to the Yan residence, Su Jinxin changed out of her beggar's attire and took a bath.

A faint scent of sandalwood lingered around her nose, but it couldn't dispel the gloom in her heart.

Pushing open the window, a tall and straight figure came into view.

Yan Cheng'an, dressed in a moon-white long robe, stood quietly in the courtyard, like a traditional Chinese ink painting.

Upon seeing Su Jinxin, a gentle smile appeared on his lips, and the food box he was carrying swayed slightly: "You're back? I made some osmanthus cakes, have a taste."

Su Jinxin stepped forward, took the food box, opened it, and saw that the delicate osmanthus cake was emitting an enticing aroma.

She picked up a piece and put it in her mouth. It was soft, sweet, and fragrant with a faint osmanthus scent, as if a warm current flowed into her heart.

She knew that it wasn't just the sweetness of the osmanthus cake, but also Yan Cheng'an's love.

"Is it delicious?" Yan Chengan asked gently, his eyes full of doting affection.

Su Jinxin nodded, a smile unconsciously spreading across her lips. "Mmm, delicious." She suddenly remembered Widow Li's words, and a thought struck her. "Cheng'an, today..."

She was about to speak when she saw Yan Cheng'an's expression change slightly. He pulled her behind him and whispered, "Be careful!"

Before Su Jinxin could finish speaking, a dark shadow flashed past and headed straight for Yan Chengan.

Yan Cheng'an reacted quickly, dodging to the side and simultaneously striking back with a palm, knocking the man in black back several steps.

The person in black was masked, so their face was obscured, but judging from their figure, they were a woman.

Su Jinxin was startled; the man in black was clearly after them.

"Madam, be careful!" Li Si appeared on the courtyard wall at some point, holding a dagger in his hand, watching the man in black warily.

Seeing that his whereabouts had been exposed, the man in black gave up the fight and disappeared into the night with a few leaps.

"Chase!" Yan Cheng'an ordered coldly, and Li Si immediately flew off in pursuit.

Su Jinxin was still shaken. This sudden attack made her realize that she had touched a nerve with some people.

"It seems someone doesn't want me to continue investigating," she muttered to herself, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

Yan Cheng'an returned to her side and asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

Su Jinxin shook her head, "I'm fine, it's just..." Remembering what Widow Li had said earlier that day, she felt even more uneasy, "I saw something near the Su residence today..."

"The Su residence? What are you doing there?" Yan Cheng'an frowned.

Su Jinxin told him the whole story, including what Widow Li had said and how she hid the package.

Upon hearing this, Yan Cheng'an's expression turned serious. "It seems that Granny Liu has already realized that you are investigating her."

Su Jinxin felt a chill run down her spine. Granny Liu was her stepmother's confidante, a treacherous and cunning woman. If she were to target her, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"I must find evidence as soon as possible," Su Jinxin said firmly.

Just then, Li Si returned, looking rather grim. "Madam, we've lost them."

Su Jinxin frowned; it seemed this man in black was no ordinary person.

“However, I noticed that there are quite a few more servants patrolling around the Su residence, as if… they are looking for someone,” Li Si added.

Su Jinxin and Yan Chengan exchanged a glance, realizing that this must have been arranged by Granny Liu.

"It seems Granny Liu is determined to stop us," Su Jinxin sneered. "However, the more she acts this way, the more I'll investigate to the bottom of this!"

She remembered a hidden alley near the Su residence from her past life, which she discovered when she and Su Xiaoxiao were playing hide-and-seek as children. Perhaps she could make use of it.

"Li Si, come with me." Su Jinxin led Li Si, and following her memories from her previous life, they found the alley.

Sure enough, the alley was hidden and difficult to find; once inside, no one outside could spot you.

They hid in the alley, listening to the footsteps of the servant outside approaching and then fading away, before finally breathing a sigh of relief.

"Madam, how did you know there was a small alley here?" Li Si asked curiously.

Su Jinxin smiled faintly, "I was just playing around when I was little, and I discovered it by accident."

Li Si didn't ask any more questions. He knew Su Jinxin had many secrets, but he only needed to do his job.

Su Jinxin looked at Li Si and slowly said, "Li Si, what do you think Widow Li meant by those words?"

Li Si pondered for a moment, "Madam, do you suspect... that there are other people hiding in the Su family?"

Su Jinxin didn't answer, but stared at the exit of the alley, her eyes deep and unfathomable. "Li Si, help me find someone..."

“Li Si, help me find someone,” Su Jinxin’s eyes flashed with a sharp light, “a woman who used to be a lowly maid in the Su household, and was later sold to the countryside, named… Dongmei.” The widow’s words implied that she was “disposed of,” and combined with her act of hiding the package, Su Jinxin boldly speculated that her stepmother was not simply punishing a servant who had made a mistake, but rather killing her to silence her!

And this Dongmei likely knows something.

Li Si accepted the order and left. Su Jinxin stared at the dark alley entrance, her thoughts churning.

The stepmother hid Dongmei's whereabouts so secretly, clearly out of fear of being exposed.

It seems that the truth hidden behind this is far darker than she imagined.

The following morning, Su Jinxin received news that Li Si had found out Dongmei's whereabouts and that she was currently hiding in a remote village on the outskirts of the city.

Su Jinxin made a quick decision, "Prepare the carriage, we're leaving immediately!" However, when they arrived at the village, they found that things had taken a turn for the worse... A group of constables were aggressively surrounding a dilapidated thatched hut, led by Constable Zhou, who shouted sternly, "Listen up, you inside! Come out and surrender at once!" Su Jinxin's heart sank, and an ominous premonition welled up inside her...