Volume 1: Phoenix Hidden in the Northern Territory Chapter 2: The Cause of the Matter

  The news of Second Miss Tang's attempted suicide by jumping into the river has been intercepted by Liu, and apart from the people in the Tang family, no one else knows about it.

  After Tang Mian returned home, she heard about this from Liu's family and thought for a moment before asking: "Is there any great harm? Will it affect her marriage?"

  Liu didn't hide it either, patting his shoulder and saying slowly: "That child's body was never good to begin with. This time she's caught a chill, I'm afraid she won't live much longer. Tomorrow is the day of her wedding, I plan to give her some Soul-Reviving Pills so that she can peacefully marry into the Snow Goose Mountain Manor."

  Tang Miao Yun paused for a moment while drinking tea, then quietly took a sip of the tea water. "I'll do as you said. I was just dragging my life along anyway. This time, getting married is her way of repaying the Tang family for raising her all these years and making some sacrifices for her own sister."

  "Don't worry, sir, I'll take care of it properly." Liu smiled, her eyes full of satisfaction.

  Bei Yuan Li

  Tang Nian was leaning against the edge of the bed at this time, carefully recalling from Shu Lan's words to understand her own identity.

  She is now the second young lady of the Tang family, and the Tang family is the first family in Changlin. They have a certain status in both the Jianghu and Jin country. The Tang family is wealthy from business, and the people in the family are more skilled at using poison and medicine. They have connections with both the imperial court and the Jianghu, and from ancient times to the present, they have always held the noble position of county marquis in Jin country.

  Today, Tang Nian's decision to jump into the river and end her life was because she knew that she would have to replace her sister Tang Qiao Zhi in marrying into the Xue Ying Mountain Villa. Despite her tears and struggles, she could not change this fate, and with a heart as dead as ashes, she harbored a determination to die.

  "Is Snowy Swallow Manor really that scary? Tell me all about it." Tang Nian said to Shu Lan standing beside her. Shu Lan's pale face when mentioning Snowy Swallow Manor, as well as the words Tang Qiao Zhi had just spoken, all revealed a deep-seated fear of this place.

  Shu Lan's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she said in a low voice: "All I know is hearsay. I only know that the Snow Swallow Manor is located on the Xueyao Mountain in the North Domain, where it snows all year round and never thaws. Except for the people inside the manor, no one knows exactly where the Snow Swallow Manor is. What's most terrifying isn't the Snow Swallow Manor itself, but its master..."

  Tang Nian raised her eyes slightly, indicating that she should continue speaking.

  Shu Lan saw her calm and serene, but his heart was even more sorrowful. He said one by one: "I heard that the master of Xueying Mountain Villa is a ruthless monster who has been staying on Xuexue Mountain for years without coming out. From ancient times to the present, he has already married twelve wives, regardless of whether they are peasant girls or imperial princesses. None of them have survived, and it's said that the master of Xueying Villa is a heavenly calamity, born to kill his father, mother, and wife. Some even say... say that the master of Xueying Villa practices evil skills, specializing in absorbing women's yin energy, and all the women who married him were eaten alive by him!"

  He was so startled that he thought the young lady, whom he had watched grow up since childhood, not only lost her memory but also went crazy. "M-miss, you..."

  Tang Nian shook her head slightly to indicate that she was fine. Since childhood, the most common thing she had seen with Lao Guai was evil and poisonous things. It was true that there were people who sucked women's yin energy, and it was also true that there were people who ate human flesh raw. To her, these things were already extremely ordinary and couldn't move her heart or spirit in the slightest. The reason she laughed was because of Shu Lan's very vivid expression. This kind of calm and peaceful conversation with someone, this relaxed mood, was something she had never experienced before, nor could she ever possess.

  Things gradually became clear, and Tang Nian suddenly remembered something and asked: "What is the effect of Xusou Dan?"

  "The medicine in the door is a forbidden drug. After taking it, not only will your body be at peace, but your yuan power can also increase by three times. However, it can only last for three days. Three days later, you will inevitably die with blood flowing from all seven orifices."

  Tang Nian's eyes suddenly cooled and frosted over as she heard the words, and she remembered Liu's mother and daughter even more clearly. She had barely managed to revive herself and obtain everything she had previously longed for; how could she tolerate others plotting against her?!

  Shu Lan saw her like this and was inexplicably shocked. He carefully asked: "Xiao, miss, what's wrong?"

  Tang Nian shook her head and said in a light tone, "According to what you said, this marriage was originally for Tang Qiaoqi to marry out, but she didn't want to go to her death so she switched with me." She paused, "Have my parents agreed on their side? Has Snowy Swan Mountain Villa also agreed?"

  Shu Lan's face revealed a sorrowful expression, shaking her head and suppressing her emotions: "Third Madame passed away when Miss was born, Old Master... should also be gone. Xueyuan Mountain Villa... Miss and Third Miss are only one month apart in age..."

  Tang Nian didn't fool around, and upon hearing this, she already understood the general situation. She had thought that since she was reborn, she should have parents who loved her, which is why she asked those unnecessary questions just now. It seems that she is indeed a pitiful child whose father doesn't love her and whose mother is not around.

  Although there is a little regret in her heart, she has no sorrow. What she asked for was not much to begin with. Having a free and normal body is already satisfying.

  Shu Lan saw that she wasn't speaking and thought she was heartbroken, so he had comforted her early in the morning, but it couldn't change reality. After thinking for a moment, he said to Tang Nian in a low voice: "Miss, I'll go get you some food, including your favorite honey lotus seed porridge."

  Tang Nian looked at her for a moment, seeing the concern and heartache in her eyes. He was taken aback for a moment, then nodded slightly and smiled faintly at her. "I'm fine, don't worry."

  This was the first time she truly felt someone else's care for her.

  This smile, like a gentle and soft trickle of clear spring water, paired with her poetic and picturesque eyebrows and eyes, made even the usually stoic Shu Lan unable to help but stand there dazed and breathless, thinking: truly deserving of being called a heavenly swan, a crystal beauty. Her figure was as lithe as a startled swan, like a dragon swimming in the air. Her face was gentle as jade water, transparent and crystalline, enough to topple cities and kingdoms.

  "What?" wasn't that she couldn't see the astonishment in her eyes, it was just that Tang Nian didn't think of her own appearance for a moment.

  Her face turned slightly red, and then her eyes showed even more pity. She forced a smile and said: "Miss is so beautiful, I'm stunned! I'll go prepare some food for Miss right away." And with that, she quickly walked out.

  Tang Nian left, still lying in bed, because of her words, she slightly came back to herself, lifted her hand with some strength and stroked her face which was still aching, carefully feeling the smooth touch on her hand. "Am I beautiful?" Her eyes showed curiosity and expectation, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve up into a smile.