The Cold White Moonlight Desires Me Every Day - Chapter 3

The jewelry box opened to reveal a set of solid gold ornaments. They were heavy, made of substantial materials, and crafted with exquisite detail.

Unfortunately, they were shackles for the hands and feet, part of the same set as the collar around Ni Yunshi’s neck.

“Miss, should I put them on Miss Ni now?” Aunt Yuan asked, her eyes filled with pity as she glanced at Ni Yunshi.

The girl was still recovering from her illness and had only just started eating again. Aunt Yuan feared the ordeal would be too much for her.

Before Ruan Tang could answer, a flicker of excitement flashed in Ni Yunshi’s eyes.

Tangtang gave me gold again! She’s giving me money! She loves me!

But the Pure Prison Wind is so heavy…

No, I can’t betray Tangtang’s kindness!

Setting down her bowl and spoon, Ni Yunshi extended her slender wrists toward Aunt Yuan, her delicate face a mask of defiance beneath the humiliation.

Seeing this, Aunt Yuan reached for the shackles.

But Ruan Tang suddenly rose and snapped the box shut.

Aunt Yuan froze, and Ni Yunshi stared in disbelief.

Hey! What’s going on?! My gold!

“Aunt Yuan, there are some things I need to confirm with you. Come to the study.”

With that, Ruan Tang strode away, ignoring Ni Yunshi’s silent wails.

The study was cold and empty, as the heating hadn’t been turned on yet.

“Aunt Yuan, where are Ni Yunshi’s belongings?” Ruan Tang asked, her voice low and serious.

When Ruan Tang first returned here, Ni Yunshi had been living in the house as an adopted daughter.

She lived a life of luxury, with her walk-in closet resembling a high-end boutique. Even the bedding and pillows were of the finest quality.

To exact revenge, Ruan Tang had locked Ni Yunshi in the basement, but she had also thrown all her belongings down there with her.

For the past six months, Ni Yunshi and her luxury items had been completely isolated from the world. How could she now lack even a blanket or pajamas to keep warm at night?

“And what about her daily meals and expenses? How have you been managing those?” Ruan Tang asked, her gaze fixed suspiciously on Aunt Yuan.

Ni Yunshi was vicious and hateful, so anyone she cursed must have wronged her.

Aunt Yuan had been personally selected by Ruan Tang’s mother as the housekeeper when she was still alive. Even after her cruel father took over the household, Aunt Yuan had managed the estate meticulously and retained her position.

Sensing Ruan Tang’s suspicion, Aunt Yuan quickly produced the household ledgers.

Due to Ni Yunshi’s special status, all expenses related to her had been recorded separately, with even the shopping receipts clipped into the ledger.

Ruan Tang frowned. If Aunt Yuan hadn’t taken Ni Yunshi’s belongings, why would she harbor such intense hostility?

“I purchased Miss Ni’s belongings,” Aunt Yuan explained, “but the household staff—the two maids and the cook—are generally responsible for arranging her personal items and preparing her meals.”

Ruan Tang frowned and rose, clutching the ledger. She headed straight for the kitchen.

It was evening.

In the kitchen, the cook was preparing dinner. She greeted Ruan Tang immediately upon seeing her enter, but Ruan Tang ignored her, walking directly to the double-door refrigerator and pulling it open.

The household’s daily meals were purchased and prepared according to the number of residents. If Ni Yunshi hadn’t eaten, her meal should still be in the refrigerator.

Sure enough, after pushing aside the outermost layer of ingredients, Ruan Tang found two takeout containers tucked behind them—the very lunch that should have been served to Ni Yunshi at noon!

“This… Miss Ni refused to eat it at noon, so I packed it up and put it here for her to eat when she wakes up,” the cook hastily explained.

Ruan Tang had heard this excuse countless times over the past six months, but only today did she realize it was a lie.

If the cook had truly delivered the meal on time, how could she have missed Ni Yunshi’s high fever?

Ignoring the cook’s explanation, Ruan Tang turned to Aunt Yuan, who had followed her. “Where does the maid on duty today keep her personal belongings while working?”

“The small guest room on the left side of the first floor,” Aunt Yuan replied, and Ruan Tang strode forward again.

The maid on cleaning duty was slacking off in the small guest room when Ruan Tang entered. Startled, she hastily stood up and tried to hide something behind her back.

But Ruan Tang’s sharp eyes immediately spotted it: a designer handbag.

“How did Miss Ni’s belongings end up here?” Aunt Yuan demanded sternly.

I snatched it to sell secondhand for money, the maid thought, but she couldn’t possibly admit that aloud.

Seeing the maid stammer and unable to answer, Ruan Tang suddenly realized: It’s not just me. Everyone is taking advantage of my temperament to bully her!

Instead of the satisfaction she expected from punishing the maid, a burning rage surged through Ruan Tang, nearly suffocating her.

Ni Yunshi was detestable, but as her former victim, Ruan Tang hadn’t yet resorted to extreme measures against her. How dare these outsiders!

“Aunt Yuan, call the police,” Ruan Tang ordered. “We’ll handle the stolen property through legal channels. Let the law decide what happens.”

The maid panicked, nearly collapsing to her knees in desperation. “Miss Ruan! I—I just had a moment of weakness! This is my first offense! I’ll apologize to Miss Ni right away! I’ll return the bag to her immediately…”

Ruan Tang didn’t bother responding. Aunt Yuan had already called the police.

Within fifteen minutes, flashing red and blue lights illuminated the villa’s entrance.

The chef and two maids were handcuffed and taken away.

It turned out the three had conspired to steal Ni Yunshi’s belongings under Aunt Yuan’s name, intending to sell them for profit.

With the farce over, the foyer fell silent once more.

“I’ll arrange for a new chef and part-time workers tomorrow. I’ll keep a closer eye on Miss Ni’s affairs to prevent such incidents from recurring,” Aunt Yuan reported, outlining the new arrangements. Ruan Tang merely nodded, offering no further response.

Observing Ruan Tang’s expression, Aunt Yuan cautiously ventured, “Miss, perhaps it’s time to release Miss Ni?”

“What?” Ruan Tang’s brow furrowed sharply.

“Miss Ni has been confined for half a year now. The punishment for driving you out should be sufficient,” Aunt Yuan said gently, trying to persuade her.

Ruan Tang slammed her hand on the table, her voice cold with mockery. “Sufficient? Do you even know what she…”

She stopped abruptly.

In this lifetime, Ni Yunshi hadn’t hired assassins overseas to kill her.

To outsiders, Ni Yunshi appeared genuinely innocent, while Ruan Tang seemed to be acting like a madwoman.

“Miss, Miss Ni might have had her reasons for kicking you out. Now that you’re back, why not have a proper talk with her?” Aunt Yuan ventured cautiously.

“Enough! One more word and you’re out of here!” Ruan Tang snapped, her anger bristling like a cornered cat.

Aunt Yuan had watched Ruan Tang grow up and was like a half-elder to her, which was why Ruan Tang trusted her. If Aunt Yuan was siding with others, then there was no reason for her to stay.

“Miss, even if you can’t forgive others, you must forgive yourself,” Aunt Yuan persisted, undeterred. “If you truly wanted her to suffer, why go through all this trouble today?”

“Because she’s my enemy! Of course I want to deal with her personally!” Ruan Tang declared, her voice ringing with righteous fury.

That’s right. In this life, she would avenge the wrongs of her past life. She would personally witness Ni Yunshi’s living hell. She would hear her heart-wrenching screams and desperate pleas.

The more Ruan Tang thought about it, the more violently her chest heaved.

Suddenly, her peripheral vision caught sight of a jewelry box on a nearby shelf. Inside lay the pure gold shackles and manacles.

A dark impulse surged through Ruan Tang. She pointed sharply with her backhand. “Go! Weigh all of that and exchange it for gold beans. Make her count them. If the number is wrong, she gets no food and no sleep!”