The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 283: Not Necessarily an Ally

Chapter 283: Not Necessarily an Ally

Fan Guizong waved his right hand, and a giant python appeared in the dream. The snake, as thick as a person, hissed and lunged at Nanli, its jaws wide open, ready to swallow her whole.

Nanli stood her ground, her expression calm. "Everything in a dream is an illusion. Who dares stop me from breaking this dream?!" she declared with determination, her eyes sharp.

She brought her fingers together, creating a sword-like gesture. As she slashed downward, the fierce python turned into a wisp of smoke, vanishing instantly.

Fan Guizong was taken aback. He had assumed that women feared snakes. Why didn’t she? Realizing Nanli was more formidable than expected, he decided to exit the dream instead of continuing the fight.

But Nanli swiftly grabbed him by the collar, using her strength to slam him to the ground with a resounding crack— the sound of bones breaking.

Fan Guizong coughed up blood, staining his face and clothes. Looking at Nanli in disbelief, he muttered, "Why... This is my dream!"

Nanli smirked. Though she had entered his dream, her conscious mind remained clear, rendering the dreamscape only partly under Fan Guizong’s control. With her firm resolve, she could harm him within the dream.

Without wasting words, she prepared to strike again. Fan Guizong, already severely injured, knew another blow would be fatal.

The next punch missed its mark, hitting the ground instead, causing it to crack. Fan Guizong had vanished.

Nanli withdrew her fist, noting the minor scratches on her knuckles, and narrowed her eyes. "Out of the dream, huh?"

Resigned, she stood up. Xiao Wanyi remained dazed, her consciousness not yet fully restored. Nanli gently tapped her forehead, sending her out of the dream and following soon after.

Sitting up on the bed, Nanli heard Xiao Wanyi’s panicked cry, "Husband!"

"Big Sister-in-law, don’t be afraid," Nanli reassured her, lighting a candle in the room with a fire talisman. The flickering flame illuminated Xiao Wanyi’s pale face and the blood seeping from her arm, which she didn’t even seem to feel in her worry for Chu Ye.

Seeing Nanli in the room, Xiao Wanyi asked in confusion, "Sixth Sister, why are you here?"

"I sensed you were injured and came immediately," Nanli explained. All the Chu family members, including Xiao Wanyi, carried special talismans she had given them.

Xiao Wanyi, still disoriented, instinctively touched her belly. The dream lingered in her mind, causing her to feel pain both from fear and from the wound on her arm.

"Big Sister-in-law, you’ve moved the fetus," Nanli said, concerned. "Where did you put the fetal protection pills?"

Xiao Wanyi, shaken, shook her head. "I don’t want to take them. Sixth Sister, my husband said our child is destined to bring calamity, endangering our family..."

She clutched Nanli’s hand, desperately seeking reassurance.

"Big Sister-in-law, someone deliberately lured you into that dream to deceive you," Nanli explained. "The intention was to harm you and the child. You don’t need to worry; Big Brother’s talisman hasn’t activated, meaning he’s safe."

Hearing this, Xiao Wanyi sighed with relief, her anxiety melting away into tears and laughter. "Thank goodness, thank goodness..."

But the emotional turmoil worsened her abdominal pain, her face contorting in distress. Luckily, the maid on night duty rushed in, hurriedly fetching the fetal protection pills upon seeing Nanli.

After taking the medicine, Xiao Wanyi’s pain subsided. Still feeling guilty, she cradled her belly, fearful that the child might resent her.

"Young Mistress, how did you get hurt?" the maid asked, bringing over the first-aid kit.

"Let me handle this," Nanli said, taking the kit. She cleaned Xiao Wanyi’s wound, disinfected it, and applied healing powder.

During this time, Xiao Wanyi and the maid learned that Nanli had been exorcising ghosts when she sensed Xiao Wanyi’s injury and rushed over.

Having bandaged Xiao Wanyi, Nanli added, "Big Sister-in-law, close your eyes. Let me check something."

Xiao Wanyi complied, and Nanli placed two fingers on her forehead, channeling her energy through her body.

After a moment, Nanli withdrew her hand, her brows furrowed.

Xiao Wanyi opened her eyes, seeing Nanli’s serious expression. Worried, she asked, "Sixth Sister, what’s wrong?"

"The talisman I placed on you alerts me to any harm or bloodshed, but it didn’t warn me about this dream intrusion," Nanli said, her eyes thoughtful. "However, someone else placed an even more intricate protective talisman on you, which detected the danger and used a red thread to stop you from harming the child."

Because Xiao Wanyi had been injured and bled, Nanli was able to arrive in time.

Xiao Wanyi was astonished. "Someone else placed a talisman on me? How? I didn’t notice anything. Could it harm my child?"

Nanli was equally puzzled, unsure how someone had managed to place such a talisman unnoticed. "I don’t know who did it, but the talisman is very sophisticated. It protects both you and the child. There’s no need to worry."

Xiao Wanyi questioned, "If this person is helping me, why don’t they reveal themselves?"

"They might not dare to show themselves. They might not be an ally," Nanli said, her gaze deep. "Better to be cautious."

Xiao Wanyi nodded, "You’re right, Sixth Sister."

Despite the mystery, Nanli made the best of the situation. Using the protective talisman as a model, she modified it and placed a more refined version on Xiao Wanyi to prevent any further incidents.

The maid suggested informing the elder madam and Mrs. Shen, but Xiao Wanyi stopped her, "There’s no need to alarm Grandmother and Mother-in-law. I’m fine."

"But tomorrow is the fifteenth. You still have to pay respects to Madam," the maid reminded her. If they informed them of tonight’s events, Xiao Wanyi might be excused from the visit.