Ex-Wife is a Big Villainess
Chapter 161 - 111: The Lady’s Gift

Chapter 161: Chapter 111: The Lady’s Gift

The night sky hung low, and a faint ink fragrance filled the study.

Behind a desk piled with scrolls, Ran Qingchen, holding a fine brush made from purple wolf hair, rubbed her slightly sore wrist and glanced at the sky outside the window before continuing to bury herself in the documents, constantly making annotations.

Occasionally, when encountering difficult problems, she would pause, frown in thought, and unconsciously bite the end of her brush.

The sheer moonlight filtered through the curtain and slanted across her body, enhancing her ethereal allure even further.

As the new head of the institute, she had plenty of matters to handle, especially since the institute was still in its formative stage. Even with the capable assistance of Yuan Anjiang, Ran Qingchen still often felt overwhelmed and exhausted.

However, her naturally resilient nature compelled her to persevere despite the immense pressures.

Her resolve stemmed not only from the great expectations of the Ran Family and the Sect but also from a personal desire. She hoped to one day reach the heights her mother had achieved and tell the world in the guise of a righteous leader that if her mother, Jiang Wan, could dance high above the nine heavens, so could her daughter.

Due to the warmth provided by the stove in the study, Ran Qingchen was not dressed in her usual formal attire but wore a simple undergarment with a thin shawl casually draped over it. Her slim arms were vaguely visible beneath the sleeves, suggestively hidden yet exposed, and even the whiteness of her neck was clearly visible.

Without the restraint of her usual attire, she truly demonstrated a majestic presence.

Indeed, she embodied the saying, "Mountains rise fiercely like rainbows, and a majestic figure shakes Jiuzhou."

"Knock knock..."

The door to the study was abruptly knocked.

Ran Qingchen spoke lightly without raising her head, "Come in."

Maiden Jinxiu poked her head in and whispered, "Miss, your father-in-law is outside asking to see you."

Ran Qingchen was momentarily stunned, "Who?"

It was no wonder she was astonished, given that Jiang Shouzhong, for the sake of propriety, never approached the Ran mansion, especially not at such a sensitive time in the evening.

"Your father-in-law."

Jinxiu added, "It seems he has some urgent matters."

Ran Qingchen knitted her brows, "Bring him here."

A moment later, Jinxiu ushered in the hurried Jiang Shouzhong into the study.

"Jiang Mo visits—"

"There are no outsiders here." Ran Qingchen rolled her eyes in irritation.

Jiang Shouzhong gave an awkward smile, looked up intending to speak, but caught sight of her somewhat revealing attire, especially the parts not covered by the thin shawl, which were enchantingly appealing.

For some reason, Jiang Shouzhong was reminded of a past moment when he had stood close to her to view a sword manual and had accidentally glimpsed the jade-like skin beneath her garment.

He was then reminded of the sight of Hong’er.

Comparison is truly the thief of joy.

To say Hong’er was standard was an understatement, but compared to the luxurious ’mansion’ before him, it indeed felt a bit shabby.

Seeing the man lost in thought, Ran Qingchen grew puzzled and, upon realizing her inappropriate attire belatedly, quickly grabbed a coat from the nearby screen and wrapped it around herself.

She was immensely annoyed with herself internally.

She had been preoccupied with the purpose of his visit and had neglected her own attire.

Jiang Shouzhong diverted his gaze, cleared his throat, and said softly, "There are some official matters I’d like your help with tonight, though they might be tricky. If you’re unwilling, it’s okay."

"What is it?"

Ran Qingchen donned her robe, her cheeks flushing a brilliant red, further enhancing her charm.

Jiang Shouzhong seriously said, "I’ve discovered that Xichu Pavilion is secretly storing a large amount of Demon Energy and has imprisoned many young girls, using them for experiments."

"Xichu Pavilion?"

Ran Qingchen looked surprised.

Jiang Shouzhong nodded, "Currently, I plan to raid Xichu Pavilion, but I fear that the evidence we unearth might be concealed, so I need someone to back me up."

Ran Qingchen, having calmed her embarrassment, asked with a frown, "Jiang Mo, do you know the background of Xichu Pavilion?"

Jiang Shouzhong grimaced, "Of course, it belongs to the Luo Family, the foremost in-laws of the court, and I also know about your Ran Family’s grudge against them. It really isn’t wise for your family to get involved in this turmoil. I was just... hoping this might be an opportunity to confront Xichu Pavilion."

Confront Xichu Pavilion?

Ran Qingchen’s brow flickered with surprise, wondering if she had heard wrong.

Knowing she was only an egg against a mountain, recognizing the stark difference in strength between them, yet still thinking of going head-to-head... was he foolish, or was his courage commendable?

Perhaps sensing her doubts, Jiang Shouzhong calmly continued:

"I’ve thought about yielding, about backing down, but I feel that the more you retreat, the closer you get to the cliff’s edge. Since the enemy is eyeing you, don’t expect them to show mercy."

"I’m not overly concerned about my own life and death; living is merely about clinging to some hopes. I just want to fight a battle for my friends and brothers, trying to carve out a slim chance of survival for them."

"The reason they dare to threaten and coerce us is simply because in their eyes, I am but an insignificant grasshopper, not a threat. Therefore, they dare to manipulate me."

"However, if I can make them feel pain, make them feel fear, will they still dare to look down and find me under their feet?"

"Perhaps they will become furious and kill me, perhaps they will be wary and no longer dare to bully me. But whatever the outcome, it’s better than waiting to die. Sometimes, fighting doesn’t necessarily offer a chance of survival, but not fighting guarantees there isn’t one."

Ran Qingchen stared at her resolute husband, lost in thought.

She suddenly realized she hardly knew this man. Despite their frequent interactions recently, they still felt like strangers.