Chapter 3

After a long time, Xia Zian heard the sound of sobbing. She slowly opened her eyes. She saw a face that was round and mottled with bruises in front of her. She knew who this person was. “Xiao Sun?”

Xiao Sun was the real Xia Zian’s maid.

“I’m sorry, my lady. I wasn’t able to protect you!” Xiao Sun cried miserably.

Zian endured the searing pain she felt all over her body and slowly got up. She walked toward the chair where Madam Linglong had sat earlier with great difficulty. Her legs and back were severely injured. It felt as though she was sitting on pins and needles when she sat on the chair. However, it was also this pain that allowed her to remain clear-headed.

A sharp voice echoed in her mind. “I won’t spare any of you even after I become a ghost.” She knew this was the real Xia Zian’s voice.

She clenched her fists and felt an ice-cold metal object on her middle finger. She quickly looked down. “The Soul Command Ring? It followed me here?”

The Soul Command Ring was a weapon developed by scientists during her stint with the Secret Service. It would automatically absorb electric currents in the sunlight and air before turning into a weapon.

“When’s the wedding?” Zian asked the distressed Xiao Sun as she indifferently spun the Soul Command Ring around her finger.

Xiao Sun sobbed as she replied, “It’s tomorrow, my lady.”

Tomorrow! Zian slowly closed her eyes. Everything that had happened earlier replayed in her mind like a movie. Just thinking about this, the rage she felt increased. Apart from that, she was also overcome with a desire to avenge the real Xia Zian.

“Where’s mother?” Zian asked in a hoarse voice.

“When Madam Linglong grabbed you, Madam rushed to Old Madam’s home and caused a fuss. Out of anger, Old Madam locked Madam in the darkroom,” Xiao Sun replied through gritted teeth.

Old Madam? An old but stern face flashed across Zian’s mind. An old woman who could abandon all familial ties for the sake of glory.

“Tell Old Madam and Master that I will get on the bridal sedan, but they have to let my mother go first,” Zian said in a steady voice.

When Xiao Sun heard this, she cried even more profusely. She knew her Young Lady had no other choice. She would only die if she refused to marry.

In less than half an hour after Xiao Sun left, Yuan Shi finally returned. She was carried inside. Old Madam ruled the mansion with an iron fist. Naturally, she would not tolerate Yuan Shi kicking up a fuss. She ordered her to be beaten half to death.

Madam Linglong personally sent Yuan Shi back. She stared at Zian placidly. “You’d have to agree sooner or later. If you had only agreed a little earlier, you could have lessened some of this physical agony. Why didn’t you? Lowly to the bones!”

Zian stared at Madam Linglong’s placid expression as information about Madam Linglong appeared in her mind.

Madam Linglong’s name was Chen Linglong. She was a widow. She married into the Prime Minister’s mansion as a woman who was married once. She gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, after entering the Prime Minister’s mansion. The girl was Xia Wan’er and the boy was Xia Lin. She was now highly favored by Prime Minister Xia. She was clearly a concubine but shamelessly claimed the title of Madam Linglong, stripping Yuan Shi of her position as the mistress of the house.

Earlier, Madam Linglong was the one who had meted out the punishment. She gave the real Xia Zian and her a painful beating.

Zian glared at Madam Linglong maliciously. Suddenly, she raised her hand and slapped Madam Linglong fiercely across the face with all her strength.

Madam Linglong shook. An expression of disbelief appeared on her face. She could not believe that Xia Zian had slapped her.

“Do you want to die?” Violent anger filled her vicious eyes as though she wanted to swallow Zian alive.

“This slap is just an interest. This is what you owe Xia Zian. I will collect the debt bit by bit,” Zian spat out coldly.

“I see. You’re revolting. Come on then…” Madam Linglong was about to summon someone when Zian pulled a hairpin from her head and pointed it at Madam Linglong’s neck with a swift move.

“You dare?” Madam Linglong gasped, staring at Zian in disbelief.

Zian laughed maliciously. “I’m going to die anyway. Would you like to use your honorable life, Madam, and join a lowly person like me?”

Madam Linglong’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want?”

“Summon a doctor to treat my mother. Otherwise, I will never get on the bridal sedan. I would rather die!” She put her hairpin down after she finished speaking. Then she slowly put up her hair that had cascaded down her shoulders in a simple hairstyle.