After the Cold and Aloof Husband's Mask Falls - Chapter 2

By the time Gu Wanlan finished reading the imperial decree, the Second Madam was completely paralyzed, slumped on the ground without a shred of her usual dignity.

Ordinarily, the Second Madam handled her husband’s “stray blossoms” from the countryside like stepping on ants. Had Gu Wanlan shown the decree from the start, the Second Madam would never have dared to act so brazenly. Seeing the meaningful smirk on Wanlan’s face, she realized the truth: Gu Wanlan had done this on purpose. She had intentionally baited her into a trap to deliver a crushing blow the moment she set foot in the capital.

“Madam, the decree is here. Accept it! Quickly!” Nanny Wang hissed in panic.

The Second Madam’s eyes burned with a desire to skin Wanlan alive, but she forced herself to stretch out her hands. “This humble woman… accepts…”

Just as her fingers were about to touch the bright yellow silk, Wanlan pulled it back. Her expression was mockingly sincere. “Wait. Didn’t Second Aunt say just now that unless I beat you to death, you’d never let me enter? We mustn’t let Second Aunt commit the crime of deceiving the Emperor.”

“Gu Wanlan! Don’t push me too far!” The Second Madam roared, her eyes bloodshot. If Nanny Wang hadn’t been pinning her down, she would have lunged at Wanlan to tear her face apart.

Wanlan’s smile remained, but her eyes were shards of ice. She turned to the Embroidery Uniform Guard (the Emperor’s secret police) standing nearby. “Sir… did you hear what Second Aunt said earlier?”

Even facing the terrifying secret police, Wanlan was calm, as if asking about the weather. The leader of the guards looked slightly uncomfortable being addressed so casually, but he straightened his face and replied sternly, “Indeed.”

“In that case,” Wanlan said, holding up a finger, “if Second Aunt doesn’t want to be a liar in the eyes of the Emperor, I have two options. One: I beat you to death so you aren’t a ‘deceiver’.”

“Gu Wanlan, what do you want…” the Second Madam whimpered.

Wanlan leaned down and whispered in her ear, “The power to manage this household needs to return to its rightful owner. Don’t you agree, Second Aunt?”

The Second Madam almost jumped. That power was her lifeblood! If she lost it, she’d have to beg that “lowly merchant daughter” from the first branch for everything. But seeing the glint in Wanlan’s eyes, she deflated like a defeated rooster. “The Old Madam is the one truly in charge. I can’t give you that.”

Wanlan gently tucked a stray hair behind the Second Aunt’s ear. “I’m just a niece feeling ‘anxious’ about new faces in the capital. It’s only natural that you’d help me replace the current servants with my own trusted people, right?”

Panic-stricken and humiliated, the Second Madam could only squeeze out a hoarse “Fine.”

The Secret of General Ji Lin

Once the Second Madam left, Xiao Chen, the Deputy Commander of the secret police, looked at Wanlan with disbelief. He still found it hard to believe that this seemingly obedient girl was actually the fierce General Ji Lin.

Four months ago, after the King of Roulan died, the border was in chaos. The new Roulan King attacked the Great Xia empire, only to be crushed by the meteoric rise of a commoner general named Ji Lin. After winning the war, Ji Lin did the unthinkable: he traveled to the capital and confessed to the Emperor that he had “deceived the throne” because Ji Lin was actually a woman.

Fortunately, it was discovered that she was the daughter of the late Protector Duke Gu, the Emperor’s dearest friend. To protect her, the Emperor spread a rumor that “General Ji Lin” was recovering from battle wounds at Qiu Mountain Villa, while Gu Wanlan “returned” to her family as a lady.

“Lord Ji…” Xiao Chen began.

Wanlan put a finger to her lips, her fox-like eyes narrowing. “Shh—here, please call me Miss Gu.”

Xiao Chen quickly corrected himself. He warned her that Cui Qiong, the Imperial Monitor, had filed a report accusing her of identity theft and fraud. “He’s a mad dog that won’t let go once he tastes blood,” Wanlan laughed softly.

Cui Qiong and Ji Lin were famous enemies. Cui had executed three of Ji Lin’s men; Ji Lin had retaliated by reporting Cui for corruption. One was a war hero, the other a powerful head of the prestigious Cui family. Neither was easy to cross.

Xiao Chen handed Wanlan a jade identification token. “I admire your courage, Miss Gu. If you need me, bring this to Songyan Studio on the Imperial Street.”

The Encounter at the Mountain

After Xiao Chen left, Wanlan opened a secret note from her guard, Tianxuan.

[Cui Qiong has appeared on the outskirts of the city with a mysterious guest. They are heading to Qiu Mountain.]

Qiu Mountain? That was where her “Ji Lin” persona was supposed to be hiding! If Cui Qiong found an empty villa or brought a witness to identify her, her “pardon” from the Emperor would become a death sentence.

Wanlan rushed out of the manor, ignoring the servants, and hopped into a carriage. As they sped toward the mountain, Tianxuan asked about her father, the Protector Duke.

“He is… an unexpectedly interesting man,” Wanlan said, closing her eyes. “You’ll see tomorrow. It’s no fun if I tell you now.”

They caught up to Cui Qiong’s luxury carriage at the foot of the mountain. Cui Qiong was there, dressed in magnificent furs, looking every bit the powerful noble. But even his presence was overshadowed by the man standing next to him.

The stranger was dressed in white fox fur, his black hair held back by a simple willow branch. He looked like a “lonely pine tree on a snowy peak.” As the man turned, Wanlan saw his face: cold as jade, with a high bridge and a small beauty mark beneath his right eye.

Wanlan’s heart hammered against her ribs. Her appreciation for his beauty vanished instantly, replaced by sheer shock.

Tianxuan watched in horror as her master—the supposedly “hiding” General—leaped out of the carriage and sprinted toward their mortal enemy, Cui Qiong.

Just as Tianxuan braced for a bloodbath, she saw Wanlan grab the mysterious man’s arm and utter a line that made the guard nearly trip:

“This young master looks so familiar. Have we met somewhere before?”