On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, the couple visited the Yang Residence again. Madam Yang informed them that her husband had not yet returned and asked them to come back in a few days.
Jiang Ning and Liu Ming'an patiently waited for seven or eight days before returning, finally meeting the so-called "Blind Yang."
The same old woman opened the door silently and led them to the pavilion. As Jiang Ning walked past the rockery, she immediately spotted Madam Yang nestled coquettishly in a man's arms, speaking in a flirtatious tone.
"Madam Yang," Jiang Ning called out, drawing their attention.
Blushing, Madam Yang rose from the man's embrace, gently pushing him as she said, "Husband, these are the two people who want to ask you some questions."
Blind Yang turned his head, allowing Jiang Ning to clearly see his face.
He was in his fifties, with dark skin, old enough to be Madam Yang's father. His left eye was peculiar; upon closer inspection, one could see that where the pupil should have been, there was a layer of white opacity, cloudy and without focus.
It must be congenital cataracts, Jiang Ning thought.
She asked Liu Ming'an to wait outside the pavilion while she entered, placing a tael of silver on the stone table and offering a polite greeting: "Mr. Yang, it's a pleasure to meet you!"
Although he was a human trafficker, addressing him as "Mister" seemed appropriate.
Blind Yang's good right eye scanned Jiang Ning's face, revealing a mix of amazement and greed, with a hint of infatuation. He then grinned and deliberately softened his voice, asking, "What do you want to know?"
Jiang Ning frowned slightly. She was familiar with this kind of gaze from her previous life – it was a man's lustful desire for a woman's body, nauseating and beastly.
Murderous intent welled up in her heart, but Jiang Ning tried to control herself, only asking, "You used to drink and gamble with Zhao Qiang, the martial arts instructor from Lingshan Town. You must remember him, right? You sold him a woman whose hands and feet were all severed and whose face was rotting. Do you recall this?"
Blind Yang hadn't expected Jiang Ning to ask about this. He hesitated before answering, "I remember."
Then, as if suddenly realizing something, Blind Yang's expression grew tense as he asked, "Why are you asking about this? Is the woman dead?"
Jiang Ning didn't answer, instead continuing her questioning: "I just want to ask Mr. Yang where you got that woman from? Do you know her name? Where she lived? Do you know why she was sold? And do you know how she got those injuries?"
Blind Yang instantly became wary, his voice turning unfriendly: "Who are you? Who sent you to ask these questions?"
Jiang Ning narrowed her eyes, estimating from Blind Yang's reaction that the matter was not simple.
Who exactly was the original owner of this body? Who were her enemies?
"Mr. Yang, just answer the questions," Jiang Ning said, placing another piece of silver on the table.
"Hah!" Blind Yang glanced at the silver on the table with disdain. "You think you can get information from me with this little money?"
"How much do you want, then?" Jiang Ning was willing to negotiate. If money could solve the problem, that would be ideal.
"Heh heh heh..." Blind Yang suddenly laughed meaningfully, his eye moving from Jiang Ning's face downward, his gaze almost tangibly sweeping over her jaw, neck, and settling on her chest.
"Why need so much money? There are many things in this world more enjoyable than earning money." Blind Yang licked his lips, lowering his voice as his gaze returned to Jiang Ning's face. "Young lady, don't you agree?"
Liu Ming'an stood outside the pavilion, and Madam Yang stood behind Blind Yang. Neither of them noticed the undercurrent of tension in the conversation.
Jiang Ning curled her lips, her eyes filled with coldness. She reached out, grabbed the silver from the table, put it back in her pocket, and walked towards the main gate, pulling along a confused Liu Ming'an.
"Ning, aren't we going to ask anymore?" Liu Ming'an thought they had simply failed to reach an agreement.
"Let nature take its course," Jiang Ning said softly.
Since he couldn't understand polite conversation, she would use her most proficient method to get answers.
Jiang Ning's eyes darkened, murderous intent surging in her heart.
If she were alone, Blind Yang would already be a dead man. But she had to consider Liu Ming'an; she couldn't act on her whims. She could be a murderer or a fugitive alone, but she couldn't ruin Liu Ming'an's future.
Although it felt somewhat restrictive, not as free as when she was an assassin before, but...
When you're in love, you have to be responsible for your boyfriend, Jiang Ning told herself.
Meanwhile, inside the pavilion, Madam Yang saw the silver disappear and walked to Blind Yang's side with some reproach, gently punching his shoulder. "Husband, it was just a matter of answering a few questions. Why did you let that silver slip away?"
Blind Yang was still staring at Jiang Ning's retreating figure until she disappeared from sight. He smacked his lips, muttering, "Beautiful! Such a beautiful person, truly too beautiful!"
"Husband, what are you saying?" Madam Yang saw Blind Yang mumbling to himself, ignoring her, and playfully punched him a few more times.
Blind Yang suddenly turned around, grabbing Madam Yang's hand and then gripping her chin with his other hand, pulling her close to examine the face that once fascinated him.
"Husband, why are you looking at me like this?" Madam Yang lowered her eyes shyly, her cheeks flushed. However, Blind Yang's words made her heart sink.
"It seems you've aged a lot since having the child. Your face isn't as white or as soft as before, and there are wrinkles around your eyes..." Blind Yang spoke without regard for her feelings, focused solely on his observations.
"Husband..." Madam Yang's face froze, disbelieving.
"I'm going out for a drink. Take care of Xuan'er at home."
Blind Yang released her hand disinterestedly and walked towards the door.
Madam Yang stood stunned in the pavilion, her face pale. She knew Blind Yang was definitely heading to the Spring Breeze Tower.
She wasn't Blind Yang's original wife, but his second. After Blind Yang's first wife and two children died of consumption, she had schemed in every possible way to entangle this old widower. In the prime of her youth, she married this man older than her father. If anyone claimed it was out of affection, even ghosts wouldn't believe it.
What she had always wanted was not Blind Yang, this blind and ugly old man, but his money and the comfortable life it could provide.
She didn't care how many women Blind Yang had outside, she only feared the appearance of a vixen who might sweet-talk her way into the Yang Residence, ending her good days.
"Mother~" A child came running, hugging Madam Yang's leg, snapping her out of her chaotic thoughts.
"Xuan'er, be good!" Madam Yang crouched down, looking at her child with a loving smile.
Fortunately! She still had her child.
As long as she had her child, even if Blind Yang found countless mistresses, she would always be the mistress of the Yang Residence!
Realizing this, a smug smile spread across Madam Yang's lips as she stroked her son's face. "Xuan'er, let Mother take you to study."
"Where's Father?" the child asked in a spoiled tone.
"Never mind him! Mother is enough." Madam Yang said forcefully, picking up the child and heading inside.