Lan Xue walked quickly through the long marble hallway of the Lan estate with a tight, serious look on her face. Her heels tapped sharply on the polished floor. She looked like she was in a hurry, but deep inside her chest something darker simmered.

She muttered to herself under her breath.

"Who the fuck saved me back then?" Her voice was low, irritated. "When I was getting attacked in my hideout… who the hell was that? That silver haired bitch walking on thin air..."

She frowned deeper. She had replayed the memory dozens of times. A shadow. A burst of some unfamiliar power. Someone interfering in her fight. Someone helping her. And she hated every second of it despite how much it helped her.

"I still got no clue," she muttered. "But at least I know now who sent people after me."

She clenched her fist.

"Asashi family. Just like I suspected. That was obvious. They choose the worst moment to attack us."

Her eyes turned cold.

"Those Asashi bitches have crossed every limit. I need to get rid of every single one of them." Her breath came out harsh. "And I still do not understand how powerless this country's government is. A family goes against the government, openly breaks laws, and they still walk around doing business like nothing happened."

Her lips twisted. "Does it even matter having a government when it is actually us families running the country instead? What a joke."

She sighed. "At least my neck is safe now from mother now that I know who is responsible for this."

She tapped her own throat as if checking it was still attached.

"Mother was not bluffing. If I failed to find out who attacked me, she really would have removed me from the family. And being removed from the family means death. Immediate. No ceremony. No second chance."

She felt a chill run down her spine at the thought.

Even she feared her mother.

Anyone with a functioning brain feared any Lan mother because the least scary person among Lan mother are actually the most powerful one.

Then a certain face flashed in her mind.

A man's face.

Ren's face.

Lan Xue clicked her tongue.

"And you. You little bastard." Her voice dropped to a low growl. "You are definitely going to answer for why you have imperial qi. And you will pay for everything you did to me. Including that little girlfriend of yours. Meiling, my fucking sister?"

Her irritation rose again, but suddenly she stopped.

Her eyes narrowed.

Because someone was walking down the hallway toward her.

A man she had never seen before.

Slightly tall. Well built. Black hair cut neatly. Carrying several large bundles of folded clothes in his arms. His walk was elegant. Calm. His presence felt strangely… refreshing.

Lan Xue blinked.

"Who is that?" she whispered.

He looked handsome. Very handsome. Ridiculously handsome.

Actually… more handsome than Ren.

Her lips parted slightly. Her mind blanked for a moment.

"I have not done anything in weeks…" she murmured and unconsciously licked her lips, as if she had just spotted prey.

She quickly straightened her posture and walked up to him with confidence, blocking his path.

"You there," she called.

The man lifted his head and the sunlight from the window brushed across his face.

Lan Xue's eyes widened.

It felt like her heart stopped for a second. This man was genuinely the most handsome man she had ever seen.

Even Ren did not match this.

She stared too long before catching herself.

He gave her a warm smile. Not seductive. Not arrogant. Just soft, polite, and gentle.

Her breath hitched.

Lan Xue actually stepped back half a step.

She never stepped back.

She always stepped forward.

But right now she felt something she did not usually feel toward men.

Shyness.

"Good afternoon, my lady," the man said in a polite tone.

Lan Xue swallowed once.

"Are… are you new here, boy?" she asked, thinking her voice sounded normal, but it came out almost shaky.

The man smiled again. A bit brighter this time.

"Yes, my lady. I am newly assigned here."

Lan Xue's heart thumped loudly.

Normally, by now, she would already have cornered him, teased him, touched his face, or whispered something filthy just to see him blush or panic.

But instead, she felt her cheeks warming.

Why am I shy? What is happening to me?

She avoided his eyes for a moment before forcing herself to look again.

"Wh… what is your name?" she asked.

"I am Lee Yeng, my lady."

She nodded, still trying to regain her composure.

"I have not seen you before. When did mothers employ you?"

Lee Yeng replied gently.

"Not too long ago, my lady. I was hired to take care of Lady Lan Xinyue."

Lan Xue blinked. Her mind paused.

"What?"

Lan Xinyue?

No servant was even allowed to see Lan Xinyue except the highest, most vetted inner servants.

Something was off.

But she was too shaken by the beauty of this man to think clearly.

"Oh… is that so?" she asked, still flustered.

He nodded.

Lan Xue tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, an uncharacteristically shy gesture.

"If you want… I can introduce you to the other servants. You know, so you can get used to the place."

She wanted to spend more time with him. The words slipped out before she could even stop them.

Lee Yeng's face lit up with a grateful expression.

"If it is not too much trouble, my lady… could you accompany me to Lady Lan Xinyue? I am struggling to carry all these clothes by myself."

He gestured at the huge pile of clothes in his arms.

Usually, if any servant even dared ask her something like that, she would scream at them, slap them, or order their execution.

But right now she blushed again.

"O… of course I can."

She felt ridiculous.

She felt like a maiden in love.

She wanted to smack herself.

But she still walked with him.

Along the way, she talked to him and tried to get to know him.

"So, Lee Yeng, where are you from?"

He paused for a millisecond before smiling.

"A village far from here, my lady."

"What village?"

He hesitated again.

"The southern one," he said.

"Which southern one? There are nine."

"Oh. The… third one."

Lan Xue narrowed her eyes.

Third? There was no village simply called "third."

She frowned slightly.

"Who hired you again? You said my mother?"

"Yes, second mother hired me."

Lan Xue almost tripped. Her eyebrow twitched.

"Second mother? Are you sure?"

"Yes, my lady. She said she needed someone diligent to help care for Lady Lan Xinyue."

Her suspicion grew stronger.

It was always Third Mother who handled household matters. Second Mother never hired servants. Never. Not once.

Was this man mistaken? Or lying? Or something else entirely?

But every time she looked at his stunning face, her brain short circuited again.

He smiled kindly.

"I am honored to work here. I wish to serve Lady Lan family, our protectors well."

Lan Xue's heart kept betraying her instincts.

Still, she followed him toward Lan Xinyue's secured area.

Two women guarded the door. Elite guards. Both strong, alert, and trained to kill without hesitation.

One of them raised her hand.

"Halt. State your purpose."

The other guard looked shocked when she noticed Lan Xue.

"Lady Lan Xue, what brings you here?"

Lan Xue lifted her chin.

"I am taking this servant to deliver Mother Xinyue's clothes."

The guards exchanged uneasy glances.

"No one is allowed to enter right now," the first guard said.

Lan Xue's eyes narrowed.

"Who do you think you are talking to? Do you know who I am?"

The guards stiffened but still did not move aside.

Meanwhile Lee Yeng bowed politely.

"Please forgive the inconvenience. These new clothes are for Lady Lan Xinyue. I wish only to serve her. She is the most gracious woman and deserves the utmost respect."

Lan Xue blinked.

This man's words changed instantly.

He complimented smoothly.

Too smoothly.

Both guards visibly softened. They even blushed lightly.

One guard asked politely, "May we see your identification?"

The man froze.

Completely froze.

The guards' eyes narrowed.

"Your identification please."

Lee Yeng did not move.

Lan Xue frowned.

"What is wrong with you? Just show them your ID."

The guards stepped forward, their powers flaring.

Something was very wrong.

"This is suspicious," the second guard said.

"Lady Lan Xinyue is not supposed to receive a servant at this hour. And we have never seen you before."

Lan Xue raised her voice.

"What are you two doing? You are trying to hurt an innocent man. Are you crazy?"

But before she finished speaking, something strange happened.

A golden light burst out of Lee Yeng's body.

"Wh… what is that?" Lan Xue gasped as she shielded her eyes.

The guards screamed.

Not in fear, but in pain.

When the light faded, a different figure stood where Lee Yeng had stood.

A woman.

Her face was familiar enough to make Lan Xue's blood run cold.

Lan Jia. The same Lan Jia who aused chaos in the family.

The two guards did not even have time to think.

Golden tentacles had already pierced their chests.

Blood dripped slowly. Their bodies slumped forward in silence.

Lan Xue gasped and stumbled back.

Lan Jia stared at her with genuine hatred.

"I will come for you soon, you fucking bitch who dared to touch my man."

Her voice was cold and sharp.

"But I have a job to finish first."

Lan Jia bent down, grabbed the keycard from the dead guard, and swiped it across the door panel.

The door unlocked with a soft beep.

She stepped inside.

Lan Xue stared in horror.

"Wait, what are you doing? Mother is in there. You crazy woman…"

But she stopped.

Because the moment Lan Jia entered the room, her expression changed.

From confident

to confused

to pure rage.

She realized too late.

She had walked straight into a trap.

The entire room lit up with crackling blue lines.

A massive surge of electricity exploded outward and wrapped around Lan Jia's body.

Lan Jia screamed as her body convulsed violently.

Then she fell to the ground, unconscious.

Lan Xue stood frozen, unsure if she should feel relieved or terrified.

Footsteps echoed.

A calm, elegant voice followed.

"I see the rat entered the cage."

Third Mother walked forward with composed grace. Her expression was cold as winter steel. She approached Lan Xue and offered her a hand.

"We were waiting for you," she said.

Lan Xue slowly grabbed her hand and stood up, still shaking.

Third Mother glanced inside the room at the unconscious imposter.

"Welcome, Lan Jia's imposter," she said with quiet satisfaction.

The trap had worked.

And now everything was about to change.

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