“Is feeling guilty just a cover for your anger, and now you want to scold me?”
Mu Zhenfeng’s attitude made Wan Qing stop in her tracks. She turned to him with a cold gaze and retorted.
“Qing’er, can’t we, as father and daughter, have a calm conversation? You claim that the poison on your mother was administered by her—do you have any proof?”
Faced with Wan Qing’s sharp questioning, Mu Zhenfeng’s aged face showed a trace of regret and disappointment. After a pause, he softened his tone and looked at her before sitting down to ask.
“Honglian, step outside and keep watch.”
Hearing her father inquire about her mother’s death, though inwardly cursing him as a heartless scoundrel, Wan Qing clenched her delicate hands and spoke to Honglian, who stood by the door behind her, before turning her gaze back to Mu Zhenfeng.
“You all may leave as well.”
Seeing that she intended to speak to him privately, Mu Zhenfeng sighed, stood up, and walked to the door, dismissing the maids stationed there.
“Wait—what was just said, I expect you all to bury it deep in your hearts. If word gets out, don’t blame me for not warning you.”
Though there were only two maids present, and despite the hushed tones of her earlier conversation with Mu Zhenfeng, Wan Qing considered the potential consequences. She rose and walked to the door, addressing the two maids standing with Honglian outside.
“We heard nothing, miss.”
The two maids, intimidated by her warning and mindful of the second young miss’s recent changes, looked up fearfully and replied.
“Good.”
Seeing their compliance, Wan Qing smiled faintly before turning back inside.
“This letter was left to me by Granny Liu, and this is something my mother specifically instructed me to give to you—take them both. Whether you believe it or not is up to you. I’ve said all I needed to say. The key to the box is my mother’s hairpin.”
Now alone with her father, Wan Qing retrieved the final letter Granny Liu had entrusted to her from her sleeve and handed it to him. She also passed him the box she had earlier placed on the table before standing up and opening the door to leave.
“Miss…”
Honglian, waiting outside, saw Wan Qing emerge quickly and, recalling what she had overheard, stepped forward with concern to comfort her.
“I’m fine. Let’s go back. Let him deal with it himself.”
Meeting Honglian’s reassuring gaze, Wan Qing forced a smile and motioned for her to follow. However, as they walked through the front courtyard, she suddenly stopped and whispered something into Honglian’s ear.
“Miss, you…”
Honglian was puzzled. Moments ago, her mistress had warned the maids not to speak of what they’d heard, yet now she was instructing her to ensure they reported everything to Madam Liu. Confused, Honglian looked at her questioningly.
“I have my reasons. I want to see how my father handles this matter. And as for all the things Madam Liu has done to me, my mother, and Granny Liu—it’s time to settle the score.”
Seeing Honglian’s confusion, Wan Qing smirked coldly. Previously, she had been preoccupied with playing mind games with Leng Mingye. But now, with everything in place, she no longer needed to hold back.
It was time to settle both old and new grudges.
“This servant understands.”
Hearing her words and sensing the hidden killing intent beneath her composed expression, Honglian gave her a sympathetic glance before turning to leave.
Not long after Wan Qing returned to her courtyard, Madam Liu’s side quickly stirred into action.
“What? Are you certain of what you heard?”
Seated in the prayer hall, Madam Liu listened to the two maids’ report with visible panic and shock.
“Madam, we heard it clearly. The second young miss also brought a box to see the master, but she left without taking it with her.”
The two maids respectfully recounted everything they had seen and vaguely overheard.
“I see. Keep your visit to Youming Courant a secret. If word gets out to the second young miss or the master, don’t blame me for failing to protect you. Here’s some silver for your trouble. If there are any further developments from the master’s side, report to me immediately. Now go. Oh, and if you see the eldest or third young miss, remind them not to provoke the second young miss unnecessarily.”
Though her initial panic had subsided, Madam Liu maintained a composed expression as she dismissed the maids, slipping them some silver from her sleeve. Watching them leave happily, she couldn’t resist one final warning.
Once they were gone, Madam Liu collapsed onto a nearby prayer mat, her face pale with fear.
“Does he know? No, I can’t stay passive. What was in that box the girl gave him? Could it be what the sect leader ordered me to find? I…”
She stood up and paced anxiously, muttering to herself as she considered the sudden turn of events. Then, recalling another matter, her brows furrowed with suspicion and unease.
“Madam, let me handle this. I’ll investigate for you.”
Just as Madam Liu was lost in her troubled thoughts, the curtain behind the Buddha statue fluttered in the wind. A figure emerged—the black-clad man, Hei Ya, who had previously appeared before her.
“You’re here. How is your master these days?”
Hearing his voice, Madam Liu composed herself and greeted him calmly before rising with a mix of sorrow and concern.
“The master is well, though he’s been temporarily confined by the sect leader after the last failure. Madam, leave this matter to me. For the master’s sake, you mustn’t hesitate any longer.”
Hei Ya’s expression darkened slightly at her question, but he quickly refocused on the matter at hand, his eyes pleading.
“Very well, I’ll leave it to you. Wait—Hei Ya, though the sect leader permits any means to achieve the mission, I beg you, for your master’s sake, do not harm my daughters.”
Madam Liu hesitated before nodding in agreement. As Hei Ya turned to leave, she called out anxiously, her eyes filled with entreaty.
“Rest assured, Madam. I’ll remember.”
Hei Ya paused, then met her gaze before departing.
“Cuishan, what’s happened to you? Why does Hei Ya make it sound so dire? But don’t worry—for you and our daughters, I’ll find a way to retrieve that item. I hope Hei Ya succeeds in uncovering its whereabouts.”
Once Hei Ya was gone, Madam Liu’s face twisted with grief. Clutching a green jade pendant around her neck, she sat down and began murmuring prayers as she fingered her prayer beads.
Meanwhile, shortly after Wan Qing returned to her courtyard, not only Honglian but also Hongyan arrived.
“Sister Hongyan, your timing is perfect. I was just short on hands. There’s trouble brewing around my father—someone may be targeting him. I need you to protect him. Will you help?”
After briefly introducing Honglian to Hongyan as another servant who would assist her alongside Wan Chun, Wan Qing made her request, her eyes earnest.
“Fine. I’ll go.”
Hongyan thought of how her master had gradually softened since meeting Wan Qing, even smiling occasionally—something rare before. Though he never spoke of it, they all knew it was Wan Qing who had broken through his defenses, allowing him to show his true self. This newfound humanity in their master was a relief to them all.
Yet, upon returning to his estate, he had angrily split a tree in half with a single palm strike.
Though he never voiced it, Hongyan knew his fury was over Wan Qing. Seeing her maintain her engagement with Sun Fengyu despite clearly having no feelings for him, Hongyan couldn’t help but resent the injustice on her master’s behalf.
She had intended to confront Wan Qing about her choices, but faced with the sincerity in her clear, pleading eyes, Hongyan reluctantly agreed before turning to leave.
“Sister Hongyan, wait. I need you to stay hidden near my father—don’t alert anyone. After this, I’ll make sure the prince knows of your contributions.”
Noticing Hongyan’s hesitation and unspoken words, Wan Qing stopped her with a light smile, sweetening the deal.
“No need. I just hope you’ll talk to my master soon and clarify things between you, Sun Fengyu, and him.”
Hongyan coldly rejected Wan Qing’s flattery before striding away.
“Sister Hongyan, I… *sigh*.”
Wan Qing wanted to explain, but thinking of Leng Mingye’s anger and her own actions, she swallowed her words and sat down with a sigh.
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