Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

That day, she sat alone in her study, facing a sea of ​​flowers outside the window.

The wind was strong that day, and petals fell one by one from the branches. She was restless and thought about the strange circumstances surrounding Manager Liu's death.

Suddenly, the jade pendant emitted a strange light once more. The light flickered eerily, beckoning her to look at something.

This time, the light was brighter than ever before, as if it were about to burst forth from her palm.

Gu Jinyan closed her eyes, letting this force guide her.

She felt a warm current flow into her consciousness, and then a blurry image gradually became clear in her mind.

She saw a dark night sky, and vaguely, a figure stood high up, wearing a black cloak, surrounded by several guards holding long swords.

The man seemed to be issuing orders, directing the unfolding of some conspiracy.

She tried hard to see the person's face clearly, but the person remained hidden in the shadow of the cloak and could not be clearly seen.

Suddenly, the man raised his head, his eyes flashing with a cold light like cold stars.

Gu Jinyan was startled, realizing that the gaze seemed familiar, and was extremely similar to the mysterious man she had seen in her dream!

The scene suddenly shattered, and Gu Jinyan abruptly opened his eyes, finding himself still sitting in the study, surrounded by silence, with only the light of the jade pendant gradually fading away.

She rubbed her temples, feeling incredibly conflicted.

Was that hallucination a harbinger of the future, or some impending danger?

She had seen visions of the future more than once under the power of the jade pendant. These visions seemed to warn her of some major event that was about to happen, and the source of all of this seemed to be related to that mysterious man.

"No matter what, I can't let anyone else know about the jade pendant's unusual phenomenon," Gu Jinyan silently resolved in his heart.

She knew that the power of this jade pendant was her only reliance, but it was also her most dangerous secret.

If this secret were exposed, it would likely attract countless covetous eyes. Her enemies would not let go of any opportunity to weaken or control her.

In the following days, Gu Jinyan turned his attention back to the affairs of the manor.

While secretly investigating the cause of Manager Liu's death, she appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly she was constantly on high alert.

She kept a close eye on the movements in the mansion, especially those seemingly loyal servants, who were already on guard.

In the evening, Gu Jinyan received news that a Taoist priest claiming to be an old acquaintance of Steward Liu had come to the outer courtyard, saying that he had important matters to report.

Gu Jinyan felt a chill run down her spine, sensing something was amiss. She ordered Hongyin to take the Taoist priest to the side hall, while she herself secretly observed him to see what he intended to do.

The Taoist priest was about fifty years old, thin, with a somewhat weathered look on his face. He wore a gray robe and looked quite ordinary.

But Gu Jinyan immediately noticed that his eyes held an unusual sharpness, as if he could see through people's true intentions at a glance.

"I have some old acquaintance with Steward Liu, and I have come today to pay my respects to you, young lady." The Taoist bowed, his attitude seemingly respectful, but his tone carried a hint of subtle inquiry.

Gu Jinyan nodded slightly, his face remaining expressionless, but inwardly he was already on high alert: "May I ask what important matter brings you here, sir?"

The Taoist smiled slightly, his gaze sweeping over Gu Jinyan's wrist, lingering for a moment as if intentionally or unintentionally.

He then said, "I have been observing the stars lately and have noticed an unusual phenomenon in the mansion. I fear it may be an ominous sign, so I have come to warn you to be careful, young lady."

"An unusual phenomenon?" Gu Jinyan was startled, but remained calm on the surface. "What do you mean, sir?"

The Taoist nodded slowly: "Indeed. When I observed the celestial phenomena, I discovered a strange aura above the Prince's mansion, as if a powerful force was lurking within it. If this force is benevolent, it will naturally help the Prince's mansion prosper; if it is malevolent, it may bring unnecessary disasters."

The strange image of the jade pendant instantly flashed through Gu Jinyan's mind, but she remained calm and composed: "I appreciate your reminder, sir. But I wonder where this power you speak of comes from?"

The Taoist priest pondered for a moment, then suddenly whispered, "Young lady, if I am not mistaken, this power is related to ancient artifacts."

And this thing may already be in the girl's hands.

Gu Jinyan's heart sank, and his gaze turned slightly cold: "What makes you say that, sir?"

Seeing her cold expression, the Taoist priest sighed and said, "Miss, there is no need to be nervous. I have no ill intentions."

However, this force is too powerful; if not properly controlled, it may be difficult to manage.

Gu Jinyan secretly gripped the jade pendant in her hand. She already knew that the Taoist obviously knew some secrets about the jade pendant, but she must not let him pry too deeply.

"Thank you for the reminder, sir. I will consider it carefully later." Gu Jinyan's tone was calm, but he had already decided to avoid the topic for the time being. "Hongyin, please have the Taoist priest arrange for some tea and snacks."

The Taoist priest looked surprised, but then nodded and accepted the order.

Although the exact whereabouts of the jade pendant were not known during this trip, this hint may have successfully alerted Gu Jinyan.

As for her next move, that depends on her reaction.

After seeing the Taoist priest out of the side hall, Gu Jinyan returned to his study, his mind heavy with worry.

The appearance of this Taoist priest made her realize that the secret of the jade pendant was gradually being coveted by others.

I must be extra careful and not let anyone succeed.