Chapter 168: Reborn
"She’s still unconscious?"
Xie An’an stared at her maid, her voice carrying an unmistakable edge of urgency.
"Yes, Young Miss..." The maid lowered her head nervously. "This servant heard from the servants outside that Young Madam has yet to regain consciousness."
"Yet?" Xie An’an’s fingers tightened around her sleeve. "How long?"
"Two days." The servant’s voice was weaker.
"Two days..." She repeated the words under her breath before suddenly turning around. "And the physician?"
"He still comes to examine Young Madam every day."
"What did he say?" Her eyebrows furrowed hard.
"This servant heard that the wound has stopped bleeding and that Young Madam’s life is no longer in danger, but she has not woken yet."
Xie An’an’s expression twisted. "Not in danger?"
The maid lowered her head further. "Yes, Young Miss."
"So she is going to wake up." It was not a question.
The maid hesitated. "Most likely..."
"Most likely?!" Xie An’an suddenly swept the teacup from the table.
The porcelain shattered against the floor.
The maid flinched and immediately knelt down. "Young Miss!"
"Why hasn’t she died?!" Her voice cracked with fury. "I saw the blood! I made sure that piece of porcelain was right against her neck!"
Her chest rose and fell rapidly. "How could she still be alive after that?"
"This servant... this servant does not know." The maid trembled in fear.
"Of course you don’t!" Xie An’an began pacing around the room, her hands trembling.
Two days. Two entire days.
Wang Gege had been unconscious for two days, yet she was still alive.
And if she woke up, Yun’er had already told them everything. Their focus would return to Madam Liu’s death, and if Yun’er’s testimony was believed, there would be no way for her to explain herself.
"Where is Yun’er?" Xie An’an asked, narrowing her eyes.
The maid’s expression changed.
"This servant doesn’t know. After the incident two days ago, it seems Young Master made sure she was placed somewhere safe."
Her answer was met with the crash of another cup against the floor.
"Safe?" Xie An’an’s breathing became heavier. "Of course he would."
Her eyes were filled with resentment. "That woman is the only witness left." She suddenly turned toward the maid. "This happened because of you!"
The maid’s body stiffened. "Young Miss..."
"You foolish, useless servant!" Xie An’an’s voice rose sharply. "You couldn’t even clean the place properly! I told you to make sure there was nothing left behind, yet you allowed Madam Liu’s servant to survive and expose everything!"
"This servant did everything Young Miss ordered..."
"Still not enough!"
Xie An’an stepped forward and slapped her hard across the face.
The maid’s head snapped to the side, and she immediately covered her cheek, tears filling her eyes. "This servant is sorry..."
"Sorry?" Xie An’an grabbed the maid by the collar and pulled her closer, her eyes burning with fury. "If you are feeling sorry, then do your job properly this time."
Her fingers tightened around the maid’s collar, "Make sure Shen Taotao never sees the light of day again."
The maid’s face turned deathly pale. "Young Miss..."
"What are you waiting for?" Xie An’an shoved her away. "Do you want this one to remind you what will happen if you fail again?"
The maid stumbled backward, trembling as she bowed.
"Young Miss... Young Master never leaves Young Madam’s side. How could this servant possibly—"
She never finished her sentence.
A cup suddenly flew across the room. It struck the side of her head before shattering onto the floor.
The maid cried out and immediately covered her head, her body trembling from the pain.
"Did this one ask you to tell me what you cannot do?" Xie An’an’s voice was cold.
The maid lowered her head, tears slipping down her cheeks. "No, Young Miss..."
"Then stop making excuses." Xie An’an’s breathing remained heavy as she stared at her. "If he never leaves her side, then find a way."
She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "You don’t need to kill her in front of him."
The maid’s eyes widened slightly. "Young Miss..."
"Think." Xie An’an’s lips curled into a cold smile. "There are servants entering and leaving that courtyard every day. There are medicines being brought in. Food being delivered. Laundry being carried out."
Her gaze sharpened. "Find a moment when nobody is watching."
The maid swallowed hard. "And if this servant is caught..."
Xie An’an stared at her with disbelief. "That means you are stupid!"
The maid immediately lowered her head, not daring to speak.
"If you are clever enough, no one will ever know it was you." Xie An’an stepped closer, her voice dropping into a threatening whisper, "You don’t need to confront the Young Master. You don’t need to enter the chamber while he is there. You only need to wait until the right moment."
The maid’s fingers trembled. "But Young Miss..."
"Enough." Xie An’an turned away from her. "I don’t care how you do it. I only care about the result." She glanced over her shoulder, "Shen Taotao must not wake up."
The maid’s body trembled.
"Yes, Young Miss..." She bowed deeply before turning toward the door.
"Wait."
The maid stopped immediately.
Xie An’an’s eyes narrowed.
"If you fail again, don’t even bother coming back here." She paused, her voice turning frighteningly cold, "Just kill yourself."
The maid’s face paled.
"Y-Yes, Young Miss." She hurriedly left the chamber.
Once the door closed, Xie An’an remained standing in silence, her fingers slowly curling into fists.
She had already made one mistake and she would not make another. As long as Shen Taotao was dead, her chances of getting Xie Rong would be much higher.
Her gaze slowly hardened.
"In my previous life..." A faint smile appeared on her lips. "I couldn’t have Elder Brother." She turned toward the closed door.
"But in this life..." Her smile gradually became colder. "I will have him."
She paused, "No matter what I have to do." Her fingers tightened, "Even if I have to kill everyone who stands in my way."