Chapter 5: Lin Suwan

Xiao Min ran and ran, finally feeling as though she were about to be surrounded. Seeing a courtyard filled with trees ahead, within which a crude wooden hut loomed in and out of sight, she sighed inwardly, "Damn it, heavens, is this really necessary? I finally managed to survive, only to be saddled with a disability that leaves me blind and unable to walk!"

As she cursed in her heart, she truly felt she had reached the point where calling to the heavens brought no response, and crying to the earth yielded no help.

Not only had she failed to find the main gate, but she had also walked right into a trap—the woodshed!

She cursed under her breath; weren't those places in movies where torture took place always in some evil woodshed?

Looking back at the approaching guards, she refused to accept her fate until the very last moment!

The thought of losing her eyes and legs sent a chill down Xiao Min’s spine. It was hard to imagine if she could continue living if she suddenly lost these two things in a strange place.

The thought made her heart race, and she quickly picked up her pace and ran inside. She absolutely could not give up!

Remembering her time as a police officer, she was usually the one chasing others. And now? Now it was her turn to be chased. Was this what they called karma?

A bitter smile appeared on her face.

There was no time to think; she had already reached the depths of the woods.

She felt as if no one was chasing her anymore.

Curious, Xiao Min turned her head back. Those guys were actually standing stock-still outside the courtyard, as if they had been frozen in place. Not a single one dared to approach. Even the arrogant girl in pink and the handsome man in snow-white robes were just standing there, watching Xiao Min with wide eyes.

She twitched her lips. Could this be the legendary forbidden ground?

That was the first thought in Xiao Min’s mind. She turned back to examine the wooden hut in front of her more closely.

It was a simple wooden structure. As she walked closer, she discovered a natural spring behind the hut, with plumes of white mist steaming into the air, making the already secluded hut appear even more mysterious.

It was hard to imagine that among the luxurious and exquisite pavilions she had just passed through, there existed such a place that looked like a fairyland on earth.

Seeing that no one was following, Xiao Min swaggered a few steps closer.

The group outside the courtyard was so angry they were stomping their feet. Seeing the girl in pink hesitate repeatedly, she bit her silver-white teeth, looking as if she were ready to risk it all, and prepared to step inside.

Xiao Min clearly didn't miss the strange look that flashed in the handsome man's eyes as he watched the girl in pink attempt to rush in. But just as the girl in pink took two steps forward

"Xue'er!" A soft voice, full of doting, called out.

Lin Suwan, dressed in regal attire, walked over gracefully...

"Second Mother!" The handsome man, Xiao Ruochen, gave a cold, indifferent greeting, his expression unreadable.

"Mother?" A bit surprised and even stuttering, Xiao Ruoxue looked at her feet, which she had lifted to head toward the wooden hut. She swallowed hard and quickly pulled them back. She walked toward Lin Suwan with a flattering expression, took her arm, and acted spoiled.

"Mm," Lin Suwan replied in a low voice. Her beautiful eyes glanced at the indifferent man, ripples forming in her dark pupils, making them appear unfathomably deep.

"Mother, why are you in such high spirits today to come to this wooden hut?" Xiao Ruoxue’s cunning eyes darted around. She glanced nonchalantly at the figure in the wooden hut and asked with suspicion.

In truth, Xiao Ruoxue really didn't understand. Her mother was such a shrewd person; why was she so good to that ugly girl?

And why did she take the initiative to bring her into the manor?

Today’s events were no coincidence. It wasn't that she, Xiao Ruoxue, disliked the woman just because they had met once; it was that she could not tolerate her mother caring more about an outsider than her.

Thinking this, Xiao Ruoxue rubbed against Lin Suwan’s arm, acting spoiled while taking the opportunity to interrogate her.

Looking at the petite figure by the wooden hut, Lin Suwan’s beautiful eyes were deep, and she did not answer Xiao Ruoxue’s question.

"What’s wrong, Mother?" Seeing her mother remain silent, Xiao Ruoxue asked, full of curiosity.

"Forget it—let her be!" Lin Suwan looked at Xiao Min’s figure and muttered to herself, completely unaware of Xiao Ruoxue’s intense concern.

She turned to face the others.

"All of you, go back. Do you want to be punished by the Master when he returns?" Her voice was soft, yet it lacked no authority.

"Yes, Madam... yes, Madam..." The large group of guards, who were already tired of the young mistress's pranks, felt as if a burden had been lifted. Once their superior had spoken, they ran faster than the wind. In an instant, only a few people remained.

Watching these guys who seemed to have greased their feet, Xiao Ruoxue stomped her feet in annoyance. She cursed under her breath, but out of fear of Lin Suwan, she didn't dare act out.

Remembering her mother’s daily teachings—not to be too impulsive and to stay calm in the face of trouble—Xiao Ruoxue took a deep breath, her face already returning to calm.

Lin Suwan gently touched the hair bun on her head and gave a meaningful look at the cold, nonchalant Xiao Ruochen. Her dark eyes shimmered with light, making them impossible to read.

A moment later, her gaze fell back on Xiao Ruoxue. "Xue'er, I bought a new bottle of rouge. Come with me and try it out!"

Xiao Ruoxue hesitated. "But—Mother, isn't Brother Chen back? I wanted to learn horse riding from him." A happy smile bloomed on her face like a vibrant cinnabar flower in a garden.

Lin Suwan paused as she looked at her happy daughter.

A moment later, she returned to her doting expression. "Fine, go ahead!" With that, she walked away on her own.

Although Xiao Ruoxue felt a myriad of unpleasant emotions, seeing her mother come personally, she knew she had almost been impulsive again.

Last time, it was because she had disturbed the peace of the person in the wooden hut that she had been confined to her chambers for three whole months. Ever since she could remember, she had known this place was forbidden.

Later, she learned from her mother that the person living in the hut was the former wife of the Prime Minister’s manor.

The current Emperor’s own younger sister—Qian Huayue.

As for why she lived in such seclusion at a young age, that remained a mystery.

However, Xiao Ruoxue didn't care about that. As long as this woman couldn't shake her mother’s status, she could do as she pleased.

Thinking of this, Xiao Ruoxue’s gloomy mood instantly improved. She grabbed the handsome man beside her. "Let’s go, Big Brother, let’s go riding!"

As Xiao Ruochen was pulled away by Xiao Ruoxue, he turned his head and glanced into the wooden hut...

Xiao Min cautiously watched the crowd outside the courtyard scatter like birds and beasts. She turned to look at the crude wooden hut, a thousand thoughts swirling in her mind.