Chapter 26: Coughing Up Blood

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Sensing the bitterness in Cui Mingzhu’s tone, Ji Yunchuan immediately wrapped his arm around her waist.
He coaxed her gently, “Alright, alright, there’s no need to be jealous. Shen Ningyuan is deeply infatuated with me; doesn’t that actually make our plan easier?”
“Why are you jealous of her now?”
Ji Yunchuan patiently comforted her for quite some time before Cui Mingzhu finally calmed down.
Outside, Shen Ningyuan stood listening to their tender voices, her heart pounding faster and faster.
Before she married Ji Yunchuan, he had never coaxed her like this.
In fact, when they quarreled, it was usually Shen Ningyuan who yielded first.
Yet now, he was patiently soothing Cui Mingzhu.
So, love and indifference truly are so starkly different.
After Ji Yunchuan had appeased Cui Mingzhu, his tone grew colder when speaking of Shen Ningyuan.
“It’s just that Shen Ningyuan staying at the Shen family isn’t good... We have to find a way to make her leave for the Ji family!”
Holding her breath, Shen Ningyuan’s expression grew grave.
She pricked up her ears and continued to listen.
“Brother Yunchuan, have you thought of a plan?” Cui Mingzhu asked.
“Mm.” Ji Yunchuan nodded.
But cautious as he was, Ji Yunchuan didn’t reveal any details of the plan.
Clearly, he feared Cui Mingzhu might slip up in front of the Shen family.
Shen Ningyuan hadn’t expected Ji Yunchuan to be so careful, not even willing to share a hint with Cui Mingzhu.
Since that was the case, staying here any longer wouldn’t gain her any useful information.
So, Shen Ningyuan turned and started to walk away.
But no sooner had she taken a few steps than a blush-inducing voice came from behind.
She stopped, clenched her fists tightly, and her chest filled with hatred.
That pair of scoundrels...
They truly deserved to die!
If they really loved each other so much, why did they have to come and provoke her in the first place?
Back at the Shen family, Shen Ningyuan remained unsettled for a long time.
She never expected that after her rebirth, she would still hear the sounds of those two’s illicit affairs!
Even though she had already endured such sounds in the Chastity Archway for three whole years!
Yet now, hearing their joyous noises again made her heart race uncontrollably, and hatred grow within her!
That night, Shen Ningyuan slept very restlessly, repeatedly dreaming the same dream.
In the dream, she saw herself and everyone in the Shen family made into human pig jars.
And Ji Yunchuan and Cui Mingzhu were right there before these jars, indulging themselves in pleasure.

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She was stuffed into a narrow jar, eyes bloodshot, staring at that writhing, twisting white braid.
Even in the dream, it inflamed her blood so much that she coughed up a mouthful of blood!
“Miss, you’re vomiting blood!”
Before Shen Ningyuan could recover from her rage, a startled voice rang out beside her ear.
When she opened her eyes, Lv Ying was standing by the bed, worry etched on her face.
Shen Ningyuan parted her lips, tasting a metallic sweetness in her throat, her chest feeling stifled.
Following Lv Ying’s gaze, she saw the originally white bed curtains stained with bright red blood.
Her pupils contracted sharply as she hurriedly sat up.
She found the quilt also soaked with blood.
She...
Had coughed up blood from the nightmare!
Lv Ying stood by anxiously, asking, “Miss, how come... you suddenly vomited blood?”
“No, I must notify Madam immediately!”
With that, Lv Ying was about to rush out.
“Lv Ying, come back!”
Shen Ningyuan called after her.
“The fact that I vomited blood today must not be spread!” Shen Ningyuan warned coldly.
Lv Ying turned around, looking troubled, “But Miss... if we don’t tell Madam and your condition worsens, what then?”
Hearing this, Shen Ningyuan glanced at Lv Ying.
“Did you forget what I told you yesterday?”
“You are my maid; you only obey me!” Shen Ningyuan reiterated firmly.
Upon hearing this, Lv Ying had no choice but to yield, lowering her eyes to the bloodstains on the quilt.
“But Miss, what should we do with these blood-stained bedding and curtains?”
Shen Ningyuan shook her head, her expression chillingly composed.
“It’s fine. Collect them and throw them in the woodshed. When night falls and no one’s around, just dispose of them...”
“Miss, are you sure?”
Lv Ying hesitated, looking worried. “What if Madam or Master sees us when I’m throwing them away?”
Shen Ningyuan shook her head. “It’s okay, just be careful... If you really get caught, just say it’s my monthly blood.”
Having said that, Lv Ying no longer argued.
“Alright, I’ll help Miss change and wash up first.”
Afterward, Lv Ying helped Shen Ningyuan wash up, then began dealing with the bloodied bedding and curtains.
Fearing Lv Ying couldn’t handle it alone, Shen Ningyuan joined in to help.
After about half an hour, the two had cleared all the bloodied items and stored them in the woodshed.

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Then, Lv Ying found clean bedding and curtains to replace the soiled ones.
She even carefully scented the room with herbs.
Only after confirming there was no trace of blood or stench did Lv Ying relax.
She looked at Shen Ningyuan and asked, “Miss, everything is cleaned up. Please smell if there’s still any odor.”
Shen Ningyuan sniffed carefully and indeed detected no blood smell.
She praised, “Well done, you handled it very well.”
Lv Ying was overjoyed at the compliment.
Her round face blossomed with a bright smile.
“Hehe, I’m glad to earn Miss’s approval... But Miss, are you really alright? After all, you vomited so much blood just now.”
Lv Ying looked at her with genuine concern.
Seeing this, Shen Ningyuan smiled and shook her head, “Don’t worry, it was just anger overwhelming me. A day’s rest will make it better.”
“Anger overwhelming you?”
Lv Ying was even more surprised, her small face puffing up in indignation.
“Miss, who dares make you so angry? You coughed up blood! Tell me who it is, and I’ll take care of him for you!”
Seeing her sulky expression, Shen Ningyuan chuckled softly but said nothing.
Lv Ying wisely closed her mouth and quietly stayed by Shen Ningyuan’s side.
The surroundings fell silent, with only their breathing audible.
Suddenly, Cui Jin’s urgent voice shattered the quiet in the courtyard.
“Ningyuan, something’s happened!”
“Mother, don’t worry, don’t let your health suffer!” Song Yan’er soothed Cui Jin.
Hearing their exchange, Shen Ningyuan immediately stood and walked outside.
“Mother, sister-in-law, what happened?”
“Ningyuan, rumors are flying everywhere outside, all about yesterday’s funeral at the Ji household!” Cui Jin said in distress.
Shen Ningyuan’s face darkened.
For her mother to be this upset, the rumors outside must be extraordinarily severe.
“Mother, calm down first,” she said, then looked at Song Yan’er, “Sister-in-law, what’s going on?”
Song Yan’er sighed helplessly, pressing her lips together. “The funeral yesterday was such a big scene, and the common folk don’t know the truth, so rumors naturally spread. But none of us expected the rumors to be this serious!”
“This... is pushing you and the Shen family to the brink!”