She remarried a cold-faced, powerful man, and the scumbag regretted it and cried his heart out.

Chunlan is dead? But yesterday I sent her to find Brother Zijin. How could she be dead?

She was completely confused and didn't understand what was going on.

Granny Chen walked to Song Wan's side and whispered, "Madam, I asked around, and Chunlan left the mansion around yesterday afternoon."

Song Wan sat up straight, her gaze falling on Xie Wanqing. Seeing her like this, she first had a maid help her up and sit down, and then asked, "Where did you send Chunlan?"

"Go, go buy gold thread and red satin. I'm thinking I'll have to embroider my wedding dress eventually..." Xie Wanqing's eyes flickered, and she hurriedly made up an excuse.

After all, a woman must embroider her wedding dress before she gets married. As for where Chunlan went, she's already out of the manor; what right does she have to care?

Song Wan looked at her quietly for a while, and then nodded. "She was murdered in the dark alley of the brothel. She must have encountered some bad people."

Upon hearing this, Xie Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief and secretly rejoiced, thinking that it was just Chunlan's lowly fate and her own bad luck.

Once the initial panic subsided, she immediately adopted a grief-stricken expression, tears streaming down her face. She sobbed, "Aunt, it's all my fault! I let Chunlan go out. She didn't return for a long time, and I just assumed she was playing around again. But... but who would have thought..."

As she spoke, she leaned over the table and began to sob.

By the time Shen Zizhong arrived, it was already broad daylight. A large crowd had gathered at the entrance of the beaded curtained gate. The servants cleared a path, and Uncle Fu and the yamen runners hurriedly stepped forward to pay their respects to the Marquis.

Shen Zizhong waved his hand and asked directly, "What exactly happened?"

The constable said, "The shop assistant came to report to the authorities. We came to investigate immediately after receiving the case and found your household badge."

As he spoke, he presented the waist tag with both hands, and then said, "The coroner has conducted a preliminary examination of the body, and this young lady..."

Following his words, Shen Zizhong looked into the alley. Chunlan was lying on the ground, her body covered with bruises and welts on every exposed part of her body. The marks and welts were shocking to behold.

"No need for further explanation, I understand."

The constable quickly replied, "Your Excellency, rest assured, we will investigate thoroughly and ensure that the true culprit does not escape justice."

Chunlan's body was eventually placed on a simple cart, covered only with two rough straw mats, and was thus taken back to the Marquis's residence.

She was originally a servant in the Marquis's household, with her parents and brothers all working as servants. When Madam Wu received the news, she cried her heart out. Song Wan couldn't bear it, so she sent Granny Chen with one hundred strings of cash to comfort her.

The government sent officials to accompany her back to the mansion. During the routine questioning, they learned that Chunlan had gone to buy cloth and then claimed that they would inspect each of the cloth shops.

Xie Wanqing didn't take it seriously; after all, they wouldn't be able to find out anything. Since it didn't involve her, there was no need to worry.

The commotion in the mansion reached Shen Jingshu's ears. She sat in front of her dressing table, staring intently at her reflection in the bronze mirror, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Shen Jingshu thought that by being reborn, she could defy fate, redeem herself, and protect others.

Although she harbored resentment towards Chunlan, Chunlan was ultimately not heartless and her crime did not warrant death.

Having met a tragic end in her previous life, she meticulously planned to turn Chunlan against her and bring her to her side in this life, hoping to pave a different path. However, Chunlan still couldn't escape death, and even many years earlier than expected. How could she accept this?

It's all her fault.

Shen Jingshu rested her hand on her dressing case and murmured to herself, "If I hadn't let Chunlan provoke Fu Zijin, she wouldn't have suffered this calamity. It was me, I was too arrogant."

Yaoqin and Jinse stood guard by her side, their hearts filled with worry as they watched her like this.

Jinse gritted her teeth, turned around and quickly walked into the courtyard. She looked around and, seeing that no one was paying attention, lowered her voice and called out, "Wuchen! Wuchen, are you there?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a dark figure appeared—it was Wuchen.

Jinse frowned, her face showing worry. "Go and ask the Commandant to come and comfort the young lady. She is still feeling guilty, and if she continues like this, she may harm her health."

Wuchen glanced into the room, then vanished in a flash, rushing towards the palace gate.

Lin Yu was standing under the palace wall when he saw Wu Chen rushing over. He asked, "Why are you here? Is something wrong with Miss Shen?"

Wu Chen nodded slightly. "Chunlan is dead."

Lin Yu's eyes widened in shock. "How could he have died out of the blue?"

Wuchen shook his head.

A moment later, the court session ended, and the officials walked out of the palace one after another.

Lin Yu and Wu Chen rushed forward to greet Jiang Jin'an, leaning close to him on either side and whispering the news to him.

Jiang Jin'an's eyes instantly turned cold. He quietly gave some instructions to the two of them, then mounted his horse, pulled on the reins, and the horse neighed loudly, heading straight for the Marquis of Pingyang's residence.

Chunlan's death was temporarily ruled as a result of being kidnapped and murdered by villains. Madam Wu took the body away and awaited burial.

Halfway there, Shen Jingshu saw Wu Niangzi wiping away tears and pushing away the cart. Under the straw mat, a small section of her arm was covered in bruises. Shen Jingshu turned around and went back to Shaoguang Courtyard to get the soft whip.

Yaoqin and Jinse dared not ask any more questions and followed along at a brisk pace.

When the two maids from Luoying Courtyard saw the young lady barging in aggressively, they were greatly alarmed and hurriedly stepped forward to stop her. "Young lady, the young lady was questioned by the officials and was frightened. Please don't go in now."

Shen Jingshu lashed out with her soft whip and shouted sharply, "Get out of the way!"

The soft whip slashed through the air with a loud "crack," and the two maids swayed, no longer daring to stop it.

She kicked open the door, and the newcomers, Biyi and Feiyun, rushed out upon hearing the noise. Upon seeing Shen Jingshu, they bowed in unison and said, "Greetings, Miss. What brings you here?"

"Bring your cousin out here!"

Bi Yi and Fei Yun exchanged a glance, and Bi Yi said, "Please wait a moment, Miss."

Shen Jingshu sat down on a stone bench in the courtyard.

A short while later, Xie Wanqing came out, her eyes still swollen, looking pitiful. Her face was full of sorrow, and she forced a curtsy and called out, "Sister."

Shen Jingshu raised her hand and lashed out with a whip.

Xie Wanqing was hit in the arm and was so shocked that she couldn't even scream.

The four maids in Luoying Courtyard were dumbfounded. Feiyun was the first to come to her senses and wanted to run to find the madam, but Yaoqin stopped her in a flash.

Shen Jingshu said, "Yaoqin and Jinse, anyone who dares to run away, beat them up!"

As he spoke, he lashed out with the whip again.

Only after the whip struck did Xie Wanqing react, letting out a scream as she clutched her arm and staggered back a few steps, shouting, "Sister Jing Shu! Why did you do this!"

“Chunlan and I grew up together. She went to live with you when she was ten years old, and now, only a few years later, she has brought back a corpse!”

Shen Jingshu's eyes flashed with coldness, her tone was aloof, but her actions were swift and ruthless, showing no mercy.

Another lash came down, and Xie Wanqing's face turned pale with pain. She retorted angrily, "What's wrong with you! Chunlan is just having bad luck, what does it have to do with me?!"

Shen Jingshu laughed angrily, "She's unlucky to have such a heartless and ungrateful master like you!"