Following Hongyan’s gaze, Wanqing’s heart skipped a beat. “You there, getting carried away with your joy—you almost gave yourself away.”
But she quickly regained her composure, feigning confusion as she shook her wrist, as if only just noticing Xiangmei’s odd behavior. She stepped forward and shook Xiangmei, watching as the latter’s eyes burned with intense hatred, though her body remained frozen.
Wanqing then pretended to be startled, taking a step back in alarm before turning to tug at Hongyan’s sleeve, pointing at Xiangmei with lingering fear.
“Ah! Did I knock her out? Xiangmei, Sister Hongyan, I just gave her one punch and she stopped moving. Did I… did I kill her? But her eyes are rolling, and her body won’t move. This is…”
“You—you must have accidentally struck her pressure point, immobilizing her. Honestly, what’s going on in that head of yours? Since she refuses to yield to either kindness or force, how do you plan to deal with her?”
Hongyan had already grown suspicious of Xiangmei’s reaction. Seeing Wanqing’s exaggerated shock and confusion, though still puzzled, she smiled and explained. As for how to handle Xiangmei, she asked out of curiosity—clearly, Xiangmei had been sent by Madam Liu to cause trouble, yet Wanqing still wanted to interrogate her for the mastermind behind it.
“Well, I haven’t thought it through yet. How about we lock her up first—in the same room she was in earlier? I’ll decide what to do with her once I’ve figured it out. What do you think?”
At Hongyan’s question, Madam Liu slowed her steps even more. Wanqing scratched her head, looking troubled as she sought Hongyan’s opinion.
“Do as you please. But have someone clean that room first—it’s an eyesore. You there, tidy it up properly.”
Hongyan sighed at Wanqing’s words, pulling her arm back. Watching Madam Liu leave, she instructed the servants standing idly by. Then she walked over to the stone bench under the shade of a tree, leaning against the pavilion pillar with her sword in her arms, closing her eyes to rest.
“Alright, Chunhong, we’ll keep an eye on her for now. The rest of you, go clean that room thoroughly. Only after it’s spotless will we lock her in. Xiangmei, look how considerate I, your Second Miss, am—not only saving your life but also letting you stay in a clean room so you won’t be upset. And yet you’re still like this… *sigh*.”
Wanqing shrugged at Hongyan’s reaction, making a playful face at Chunhong, who still seemed dazed. Seeing Chunhong’s resigned frown and helpless glance, she gave her instructions. Then, like a little adult, she stood before the motionless Xiangmei, hands behind her back, speaking kindly while shaking her head with a sigh.
Chunhong’s lips twitched slightly at her mistress’s words—clearly meant to taunt Xiangmei but phrased so righteously. Still, she obediently stood aside.
Meanwhile, Madam Liu, who had paused for a moment, finally continued forward. Only then did Wanqing smile and approach Hongyan in the pavilion.
“Sister Hongyan, you said I accidentally hit her pressure point, freezing her in place. Since your martial arts are so impressive, do you know how to perform acupoint strikes?”
Wanqing knew Hongyan was suspicious, though she hadn’t shown it. To dispel her doubts, she scooted closer, tugging at Hongyan’s sleeve with an ingratiating smile as the latter raised an annoyed brow.
If Hongyan could teach her this skill, she’d have another layer of protection.
But Hongyan merely glanced at her, too indifferent to even pull her sleeve back.
“Sister Hongyan, please teach me, won’t you? Pretty please? That way, if you ever leave and someone bullies Qing’er, I can just *zap* them and freeze them in place. Then no one would dare mess with me again. Come on, Sister Hongyan—my kind-hearted, stunningly beautiful, peach-blossom-faced, universally adored, flower-wiltingly charming Sister Hongyan!”
Sweat beaded on Wanqing’s forehead at Hongyan’s lack of response, but she persisted, shaking Hongyan’s shoulders while laying on the flattery.
“Enough. Who praises people like that? Let me think about it first, alright?”
Hongyan sighed at her increasingly exaggerated compliments. Though exasperated by her chatter, she managed a patient look.
“Fine, but think quickly! Qing’er really wants to learn—just *whoosh* and the person can’t move anymore. The more I think about it, the more fun it sounds, hehe!”
At Hongyan’s reluctant reply, Wanqing grinned, mimicking the motion with her hands before covering her mouth in giggles like a madcap.
“*Sigh*…” Hongyan exhaled in frustration at her antics, then stood and leaped onto the rooftop in a single bound.
“Wow! Sister Hongyan, you’re amazing! I want to learn that too—no, wait, both Qing’er *and* Chunhong should learn! Hey, Sister Hongyan, don’t run away! Sister Hongyan… Ugh, she left just like that. *Sigh*. Is the room clean yet?”
Undeterred, Wanqing chased after her, clapping and cheering from below. When Hongyan, visibly irritated, vanished across the rooftops, Wanqing finally dropped the act.
With a put-upon sigh, she turned to the servants emerging from the cleaned room.
“Second Miss, it’s all tidied up. If there’s nothing else, we’ll take our leave.”
“Go on, all of you. Finally, some peace. Chunhong, take her inside. Even though it’s clean, the smell is still… Xiangmei, you’ll have to endure staying here. I’m off to pick flowers. Chunhong, start cooking—it’s almost dark. If you’re not hungry, your mistress certainly is!”
Wanqing waved them off breezily. Once they were gone, she turned to Chunhong, and the two led Xiangmei inside. Though the room was indeed cleaned, Wanqing wrinkled her nose in disdain, remembering what had happened there earlier.
She let go of Xiangmei, leaving her seated on the floor, then cheerfully announced her plans as she headed out.
“Alright, should I cook for Sister Hongyan tonight?”
Chunhong, though disliking Hongyan’s haughty demeanor, still asked—after all, the woman hadn’t been served lunch.
“Do as you see fit. Oh, and Chunhong—when you wash the rice, vegetables, or meat later, put this silver needle in the water. If it turns black, come tell me immediately. Go on now. I’ll pick some flowers to play with.”
Wanqing handed her a prepared silver needle, whispering the instructions. Though puzzled, Chunhong nodded and left.
Wanqing flitted around the courtyard like a butterfly, plucking flowers—some for show, most for practical use.
Unbeknownst to her, Hongyan reappeared on the rooftop, watching her antics with a resigned shake of her head before vanishing again.
“*Whew*, that should be enough.”
Once Hongyan was gone, Wanqing exhaled in relief. She’d been putting on an act—playing the carefree child—to throw Hongyan off.
Satisfied, she gathered her armful of flowers and pushed open Xiangmei’s door.
“Ah—!”
By the time Hongyan returned, Xiangmei’s agonized screams echoed from the room.
“What’s going on? Girl, what did you do to her?”
Alarmed, Hongyan rushed in to find Xiangmei pale-faced and trembling, while Wanqing stood smiling sweetly, flowers in hand.
Hongyan’s guard shot up. She seized Wanqing’s wrist, her other hand instinctively resting on her sword as she demanded coldly, “Explain yourself.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage