CHAPTER 599: 232 SILENT GARDEN_2

She raised her hand and waved it, as if trying to disperse the lingering smell of smoke around her.

Shen You’an glanced at him, just one faint glance, and the man immediately behaved himself.

Shen You’an pulled open the rear car door and got in.

"Uh, boss, you’ve had a rough trip, how about we grab some food first?"

The man ventured cautiously.

Beside the seat lay a black luggage bag.

Shen You’an unzipped it, revealing a full set of makeup tools, wigs, and clothes inside.

She lowered her head and rummaged through it without looking up, saying coldly, "Xu Jikang was assassinated half a month ago, almost lost his life. What were you doing at the time?"

The man forced a dry laugh. "It wasn’t my shift back then, how would I know he’d get targeted then? It’s already lucky he survived. You don’t know, that Xu brat’s a complete scumbag—many people would want him dead..."

"What is the first rule of the organization?"

The girl’s voice was as cold as ice.

The man, who had been lounging lazily, instinctively straightened his posture.

"The first rule of the organization: Unconditionally ensure the personal safety of the employer..."

"Your employer’s life was jeopardized due to your negligence. What responsibility should you bear?"

"Twenty lashes, half-year bonus deduction... Boss, please spare me! I know I messed up. Just give me another chance—it’s hard for me to save up money..."

He was met with a pair of icy, unyielding eyes.

The man awkwardly rubbed his nose. Fine, there’s no point pleading for leniency with the boss, since she’s basically a cold-blooded maniac.

"When the mission ends, claim your punishment yourself."

The man obediently responded, "Okay."

With those words, he took a kraft envelope from the passenger seat and handed it to Shen You’an in the back.

Shen You’an opened the envelope, which held a stack of documents and several photographs.

In the photos, a woman was dressed in a white coat. Her facial features were sharp and lean, her skin slightly dark, and she looked into the camera with a blank expression. She appeared very ordinary, as if her vitality had been entirely drained, exuding an air of dullness and fatigue.

"Boss, your current identity is a physician at a private clinic. Your name is Zhu Keke, twenty-eight years old, a clinical doctorate graduate from Mingren University’s medical school..."

Shen You’an took out the makeup tools and began applying them to her face.

A drop of bronze-toned liquid was enough to turn her fair skin into a dusky, tanned hue. In mere moments, the stunning beauty transformed into an unremarkable figure.

The black sedan cruised through the traffic, and the neon lights along the road reflected in her eyes like fleeting streams of light.

~

On the western outskirts of Jingzhou lies Wansui Mountain. During the previous dynasty, the royal family indulged in extravagance and built a grand manor there, which was the origin of Four Seasons Manor.

Sang Kunrou, as the heir of the prince’s estate, enjoyed Emperor Hui’s favor greatly. After his military triumphs, Emperor Hui bestowed Four Seasons Manor upon him as a reward to draw him closer. From then on, Four Seasons Manor became Sang Kunrou’s private residence. Later, when his cherished daughter Sang Ziming married, the manor was included as part of her dowry.

The past faded like smoke; the Sang family’s glory vanished, their reputation plunged into disgrace, and the dazzling Miss Sang herself met an untimely demise. One could only sigh at the cruel fate of a beauty.

All that remains is Four Seasons Manor, quietly sitting atop Wansui Mountain, bearing witness to the passage of time and the transformations of the years.

Nowadays, everyone in Jingzhou knows that Four Seasons Manor was transferred decades ago to the Yu family. It is now Old Madam Yu’s private garden, where she resides for most of the year.

Four Seasons Manor consists of four courtyards—Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum—each boasting breathtaking scenery regardless of the season. However, beyond the scenery, the architectural artistry underlying these courtyards is what truly makes them priceless. Many have scrambled to gain access to admire this masterpiece, a pinnacle of Hua Country’s architectural heritage. Unfortunately, the manor remains off-limits to the public, accessible only through invitation from Old Madam Yu or the Yu family. To receive such an invitation, one must undoubtedly be rich or powerful—ordinary folks wouldn’t dare dream of it.

Under the night sky, Four Seasons Manor exudes a profound serenity. From a distance, it resembles an elegant, slumbering beauty.

In truth, there’s also an outlandish rumor about Wansui Mountain.

It is said that beneath Wansui Mountain lies a dragon vein. Years ago, a geomancy master discovered its exceptional feng shui and proposed that the emperor build a manor there and reside periodically to fortify the dynasty’s fortunes.

The Yue Dynasty did indeed persist for three hundred years, until its decline under Emperor Hui.

When Emperor Hui had no heirs and faced the empire’s imminent collapse, his decision to gift the manor to Sang Kunrou was, in fact, a significant signal.

Later, Sang Kunrou seemed to be blessed with great fortune and appeared on the verge of success, but everyone knows how it ultimately ended.