Yuwen Yan took a deep breath and carefully pondered the appearance of the Third Young Lady Nangong in his memory.
"We haven't met many times, just a few brief encounters. The last time I saw you was at last year's New Year's banquet. You came to the palace with Prime Minister Nangong. I saw you and your sister near the imperial garden. You both curtsied to me and greeted me, but there wasn't any other conversation..."
"You should have been sixteen or seventeen years old, I can't remember clearly. I wouldn't pay too much attention to a minister's daughter, especially since you were born to a concubine."
"Born to a concubine?" Jiang Ning narrowed her eyes, instantly recalling phrases like "struggle between legitimate and illegitimate children" and "favoring a concubine over the principal wife."
"Yes, you are Prime Minister Nangong's daughter by a concubine. You have an elder legitimate brother and sister," Yuwen Yan said.
"Go on," Jiang Ning said, mentally noting down this information.
"As I recall, you seemed very timid. You were always shy when meeting people, never daring to make eye contact when speaking. You were quiet and unremarkable. It's only because you were somewhat pretty and I have a good memory that I was able to recognize you just now..."
"The last time I heard news about you was a rumor circulating that you had eloped with a man..."
Yuwen Yan paused here and glanced at Jiang Ning's expression. Seeing no reaction, he continued, "This incident was quite embarrassing for the Prime Minister's Mansion. Prime Minister Nangong was so angry he didn't attend court for two days. He privately had people suppress the news and forbade anyone in the mansion from discussing it..."
"But as a high-ranking official, he naturally had many enemies. Such family scandals couldn't be completely concealed. So in the Capital City, almost anyone with some background knew that the Third Young Lady of the Nangong family had eloped with a man..."
Eloped? Jiang Ning frowned slightly.
Given how badly the original owner had been tortured, could this elopement story be a cover-up?
Or perhaps the original owner really did elope, but was tricked by her lover, similar to modern human trafficking cases?
But that didn't make sense either. Jiang Ning immediately dismissed this hypothesis. If it was purely for selling her, why ruin her face?
Her injuries, the broken hands and feet, the disfigured face, and the specific instructions to Blind Yang to sell her far away - none of this seemed like it was just for money. It was clearly an act of revenge!
If she hadn't taken over this body, if she didn't have the Blood Lotus Space and spirit spring water, even if that Nangong Ling had survived and been sold, even if she had been fortunately sold to a good person like Liu Ming'an, she would have been bedridden and useless for life, never able to return to the Capital City.
So, the elopement must be an excuse! It was a pretext created by her enemy to explain her sudden disappearance. In this era where a woman's chastity was considered more important than life itself, using such a malicious excuse of elopement after torturing and selling her was also a way to ruin her reputation!
Who could it be?
Their intentions were truly despicable!
These thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant. After sorting out the situation, Jiang Ning continued to ask, "Who did I elope with?"
"I don't know."
"Then when did I elope?"
"Hmm... I heard this news in August, so it must have been before that," Yuwen Yan recalled.
August...
Nangong Ling had died on September 5th, and that was when she, Jiang Ning, had taken over this body. It seemed this prince knew very little about the inside story.
However, at least this saved her the trouble of investigating her own identity. When she returned to the Capital City, she could focus solely on finding her enemy.
At this moment, hurried footsteps could be heard from outside. Jiang Ning knew it was Liu Ming'an returning. With a flick of her wrist, she put away the dagger and quickly leaned down to warn Yuwen Yan, "Don't breathe a word to him, or I'll kill you."
Yuwen Yan nodded and smiled at Jiang Ning, "Don't worry, Miss Jiang. I know how to behave."
"Also, make up an identity for yourself. Don't say you're a prince," Jiang Ning didn't want to see Liu Ming'an kneeling and bowing to Yuwen Yan.
"Understood." Even if Jiang Ning hadn't threatened him at knifepoint, Yuwen Yan wouldn't have wanted to reveal his identity.
"Ah Ning!" The door was pushed open, and Liu Ming'an walked in holding a porcelain bottle. Perhaps because he had been running, beads of sweat had formed on his forehead.
"The pharmacy near the wonton stall was closed too, but luckily I asked a passerby who directed me to another pharmacy. I ran there to buy this. It's top-quality wound medicine," Liu Ming'an said, panting.
Jiang Ning took the medicine bottle and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead with her sleeve.
Lying on the bed, Yuwen Yan watched as Jiang Ning, who had been cold and stern just moments ago, suddenly became so gentle and tender. His feelings were quite complex.
"How much was it?" Jiang Ning asked Liu Ming'an, holding the medicine bottle.
"Um... one tael of silver," Liu Ming'an answered honestly.
Jiang Ning nodded and then said, "Go downstairs and ask the inn keeper for another room. We'll let him have this room tonight."
Liu Ming'an glanced at Yuwen Yan, smiled at him, and then left again.
Jiang Ning walked to the bedside, opened the bottle, and sprinkled the pale yellow powder onto the stitched wound.
"You heard everything?"
Yuwen Yan was lost in thought and was caught off guard by Jiang Ning's sudden question. "What?"
Jiang Ning waved the medicine bottle in front of his eyes and said, "One tael of silver. This kind-hearted fool of mine doesn't earn money easily. It's all hard-earned. You're a prince, surely you won't take advantage of a poor scholar?"
Yuwen Yan was stunned for a moment, then chuckled.
This Miss Jiang, who was so calculating and could change her demeanor faster than the weather, was far more interesting than the timid and shrinking Third Young Lady Nangong.
"Rest assured, Miss Jiang. This prince is not one to forget kindness and gratitude," Yuwen Yan said solemnly.
He could actually see that the man was the one who truly wanted to save him. This amnesiac Third Young Lady Nangong in front of him was a cold and ruthless person. If it weren't for that man's sake, even if he died in front of her, she might not have batted an eyelid.
Jiang Ning applied the medicine powder to the wound just as Liu Ming'an returned.
"Help him sit up. I'll bandage his wound," Jiang Ning said to Liu Ming'an.
"Alright." Liu Ming'an stepped forward to the bedside and carefully propped up the weak and powerless Yuwen Yan.
Jiang Ning took a roll of clean gauze and wrapped it around Yuwen Yan's waist twice, then tied it securely. Liu Ming'an then gently lowered him back down.
"Thank you for saving my life, kind sir. My name is Yan Wenyu. May I know your esteemed name?" Yuwen Yan asked Liu Ming'an after lying back down.
Liu Ming'an smiled and said, "You're too kind, Mr. Yan. My name is Liu Ming'an. Our meeting is fated, and being able to save you is your good fortune. There's no need to address me so formally."
"Very well, Mr. Liu," Yuwen Yan replied with a smile.
"Mr. Yan, how did you end up stabbed and collapsed in the wilderness? Do you need us to report this to the authorities?" Liu Ming'an asked sincerely, looking at the wound on his abdomen.
Such a severe injury was clearly intended to be fatal.
A strange look flashed quickly through Yuwen Yan's eyes, but he still smiled and declined, "Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Liu, but even an upright official can't adjudicate family matters. The authorities can't handle my case."
Jiang Ning raised an eyebrow. It seemed there was a royal family feud.
"Very well then. It's getting late, and you're injured. Get some good rest, and we'll come check on you tomorrow," Liu Ming'an tactfully didn't ask further. After all, they were strangers who had just met. Saving his life was enough to clear their conscience. As for the rest, everyone had their own way of living.
Liu Ming'an helped Yuwen Yan cover up with the blanket and placed a cup of water on the stool beside the bed, within easy reach. Then he blew out the candle and took Jiang Ning to the adjacent room.
The room was pitch black. Yuwen Yan moved his fingers, feeling the bandage wrapped around his waist, recalling his near-death experience that day.
The thick blanket on his body brought waves of warmth, enveloping his body that had been frozen in the bitter cold.
"Liu Ming'an... truly is a good person!" After a long while, a soft exclamation came from the darkness.