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Chu Wang Fei

Page 34

by Ning er


  Seeing that the old madam had brought many servants over, Wang mama, worried that Su Qing and Yun Ruo Xue would be at a disadvantage, had earlier sent the yatou from before outside to call all of the servants in the courtyard over. Now that their numbers were even, it felt like a confrontation would break out at any moment!

  Yet Su Qing quieted down at this moment, her pea-sized tears dripping down onto Yun Ruo Xue’s delicate face. With firm determination in her aggrieved voice, she raised her head and looked directly at the old madam and said slowly and unhurriedly, “If laotaitai does not believe nubi, then you can call my second brother to come and judge the case! nubi’s second brother has worked in the Ministry of Justice for many years, and is most experienced in handling and investigating cases. I trust that he will definitely give us justice!”

  Hearing this, the old madam felt a sickening, fishy smell in her heart and angrily slammed her walking stick into the carpet, angrily bellowing, “You dare to threaten me?!”

  But the current Su Qing was not afraid of anything. She only stared back at the old madam with unyielding eyes as her lips curled into a cold smile!

  Both parties seemed to be in a deadlock as the servants all glanced anxiously at their respective masters.

  “da xiaojie has arrived!” At this moment, someone had softly called out, drawing their attention to the sound of footsteps that were drawing closer to the silent room……

  Everyone turned to find Liu yiniang carefully supporting Yun Qian Meng as they quickly entered the room. When the servants saw the eldest miss arrive, they bowed one after another to greet, “Paying respects to da xiaojie!”

  Yun Qian Meng had a serene expression and a calm gaze. At their greeting, she only slightly nodded her head, and then replied with a gentle and graceful voice, “Everyone, please get up.”

  She then moved before the old madam and bent her knee to bow, “sunnü greets zumu!”

  Seeing Yun Qian Meng arrive, the old madam’s expression softened somewhat, but, her heart still swelling with anger, she only lightly nodded her head and asked somewhat absent-mindedly, “Why did you come? You’re still not feeling well, it’s best not to come to an unlucky place like this. Otherwise, it might interfere with your recovery!”

  Mi mama heard the old madam say something so unpleasantly and couldn’t help but get annoyed. Was the old madam really venting her anger towards Su Qing and Yun Ruo Xue on the eldest miss?

  Can’t the old madam think for a bit? If not for the eldest miss showing up at this moment, the old madam would not have been able to get out of her current predicament!

  But Yun Qian Meng did not seem to take the old madam’s attitude to mind. She only smiled like the gentle spring breeze and answered the old madam with the usual courteous respect, “Meng’er knows that zumu cared about sunnü. But just now, Liu yiniang said that zumu was angrily rushing over to Feng He Yuan. Meng’er felt worried, and forced Liu yiniang to bring me here! However, just what is the matter that made zumu so angry? West Chu country is a civilized nation, and His Majesty has produced many filial generations! Who could be so bold, to dare to disregard His Majesty and disregard the teachings and traditions that have been passed down to us?”

  Her musings seemed to be unintentional, but all the people that were in the room knew how the situation had panned out. After hearing Yun Qian Meng’s sermon, all of them couldn’t help but shoot their glances at Su Qing!

  The old madam couldn’t help but sigh in admiration at Yun Qian Meng’s speech. She finally grasped Yun Qian Meng’s tiny hands and lamented, “Girl, do you think all of the people in the fu are virtuous and filial like you? All kinds of dirty, filthy things happen behind the scenes in large families like ours! zumu thought that because your father didn’t have too many concubines, stuff like this would not happen! But I just had to encounter something like this today! Look at Rui mama and Ruo Xue, like this, if outsiders heard about this, won’t they laugh at me for failing to manage the household properly?”

  Actually, Yun Qian Meng had already noticed their blood-covered appearances the moment she had stepped into the room. However, she had pretended not to see anything to first console the old madam, waiting for her to bring the matter up.

  Now, following old madam’s instructions to take a look, Yun Qian Meng slightly pursed her lips with a soft gasp. She then asked tenderly, “What is this? Why are Rui mama and Ruo Xue like this? Liu yiniang, what are you standing around for? Quickly go and get the doctor! So much blood, if they aren’t treated, their life will be at risk!”

  Even though Yun Qian Meng was urgently asking Liu yiniang to do something, she did not neglect the old madam’s expression. Noticing the old madam glare coldly at Su Qing and Yun Ruo Xue, she turned around and helped the old madam to sit beside the table, then patiently said, “zumu, you should let them treat their wounds first! After all, one of them is your granddaughter, while the other is someone who that has been like a sister to you for so many years. No matter how great the conflict, you should wait until their condition is stable first! Otherwise, even if you manage to extort a confession, Rui mama might also end up fainting like meimei! What’s more, if father gets the news, do you think he will side with meimei or mama?”

  Yun Qian Meng only whispered the last part of the sentence into the old madam’s ears. The old madam’s expression changed immediately; her unwillingness becoming a heavy frown as she finally nodded.

  Yun Qian Meng quickly sent a glance towards Liu yiniang, prompting her to send the servants beside her to hurriedly withdraw from the room and rush out of the courtyard……

  After placating the old madam, Yun Qian Meng quickly moved to Yun Ruo Xue’s side, intending to help Su Qing carry her up.

  But Su Qing was not appreciative of her gesture, coldly saying, “Don’t dare to trouble da xiaojie!”

  Saying that, she pulled Yun Ruo Xue up with Wang mama and carefully laid her down on the bed.

  Despite being coldly rebuffed by Su Qing, Yun Qian Meng only smiled and paid it no mind. She then turned to Rui mama and personally helped her up from her kneel, kindly comforting her, “mama’s head injury needs to be treated carefully, otherwise it won’t heal easily.”

  Rui mama had already received fifty liang of silver. To her, a little bit of pain was still worth it!

  Rather touched by the concern Yun Qian Meng was showing her, her wrinkled eyes reddened as she choked with emotion, “nubi thanks da xiaojie for your care!”

  Yun Qian Meng only patted her hands and smiled faintly, “zumu has never treated you like an outsider. So, in Qian Meng’s eyes, you are also family! mama should stop treating yourself like an outsider, otherwise, you’ll make us feel bad!”

  At these warm words, not only were Rui mama’s eyes brimming with touched tears, even the old madam was expressing a faint, kindly smile.

  Liu Han Yu noticed that the old madam was no longer wearing her previous ferocious expression and couldn’t help but give Yun Qian Meng a thumbs up. In her heart, she only praised the eldest miss for being capable; managing to calm down the old madam with several words. If she had tried the same thing, perhaps she would only have wasted her own breath!

  Also noting the importance the old madam had placed on Rui mama, Liu Han Yu got someone to prepare a stool for Rui mama. She then came to the bed and looked at the still unconscious Yun Ruo Xue, sighing regretfully, “It will be such a pity if er xiaojie’s flower-like face will be left with scar!”

  Su Qing had originally planned to lay low until Yun Xuan Zhi’s arrival. But, hearing Liu Han Yu curse Yun Ruo Xue like that, the anger in her heart surged as she couldn’t help but retort coldly, “Liu yiniang should just keep your good intentions to yourself! Our Ruo Xue has a blessed life and will not have any regrets! Instead, san xiaojie has such a low status, I’m afraid that she can only find a partner from some small family or village! If Liu yiniang has time to casually curse others, you should instead spend some more effort on san xiaojie! Don’t let it be so tha
t she can’t find even a presentable husband!”

  Liu Han Yu had known from the start that her maternal family could never compare to Su Qing’s and had long come to terms with this fact!

  However, having Su Qing lay the facts bare in front of everyone here, she only felt like she was not being given any face!

  Especially while she was still in charge of the xiangfu, she had already replaced quite a number of servants over the weeks. But if Su Qing’s words were passed around, and everyone knew that she was a daughter from a rather small family, she worried that nobody would respect her when she handled the household matters!

  The power and influence of the maternal family had a direct effect on a daughter’s fate!

  Yun Yan was already just a concubine’s daughter. If she was known to have a yiniang that lacked power and influence as her birth mother, then she could only live the rest of her life as a nobody!

  Her thoughts reaching this point, Liu Han Yu only wished she could rip Su Qing’s jeering face to shreds!

  However, seeing her own aggression reflected in Su Qing’s eyes, Liu Han Yu remembered that the woman before her was the beloved of Yun Xuan Zhi. Not having obtained the old madam’s favor yet, if she was to collide with Su Qing at this moment, coupled with Yun Ruo Xue’s current state, there was no way xiangye would not side with Su Qing and her daughter!

  Hence, although the veins on Liu Han Yu’s hands were close to bursting, she maintained an appropriate smile. Not bothering to reply to Su Qing’s challenge, she turned and moved to the door, lifted the curtains and coldly shouted at the servants outside, “Why has the doctor not arrived yet? Just what are you all doing?”

  Watching Liu Han Yu retreat defeated, Su Qing laughed coldly in her heart and continued to pour her attention over Yun Ruo Xue.

  Yun Qian Meng only calmly watched the two of them cross swords. Seeing how Liu Han Yu was forcefully wringing the door curtains while Su Qing was as calm as usual, it was not hard to see which one of them had come out on top!

  The old madam, however, just pretended that Su Qing did not exist, and suddenly asked about Yun Qian Meng’s forehead.

  Yun Qian Meng answered properly, but suddenly paused to think about something for quite a while. Then, she somewhat cautiously asked, “zumu, Meng’er has a request, but I don’t know whether to say it or not!”

  Having interacted with Yun Qian Meng for a few days, the old madam knew that Yun Qian Meng was not one to ask for favors lightly. Seeing her difficult expression, she only felt extremely curious, and gently questioned, “zumu knows that you are an earnest person and won’t make any ridiculous requests! Just say it, as long as zumu is able, zumu will allow it!”

  A cold chill streaked across the depths of Yun Qian Meng’s eyes at the old madam’s cautious response.

  The old madam was quite crafty, planning to present a magnanimous attitude before everyone while hinting at her not to make any excessive requests!

  It was almost baffling how such a petty and miserly person had managed to convince Gu laotaijun to wed her beloved daughter into their family!

  While she was held the old madam in contempt in her heart, on the surface, she continued to smile with composure. Looking tenderly at the bedridden Yun Ruo Xue with teary eyes, Yun Qian Meng gently said, “zumu, sunnü wishes to give the Ning Zhi cream, that will aid in the recovery of wounds, to meimei!”

  As soon as Yun Qian Meng said that, the old madam and Su Qing both turned to stare at her. Their expressions were one and the same; completely shocked!

  However, they were shocked for completely different reasons!

  The old madam was shocked that Yun Qian Meng would be so generous, even willing to give away such a treasure that could heal wounds to Yun Ruo Xue, and only wondered what Yun Qian Meng could be thinking!

  But Su Qing was only feeling deep hatred!

  When Qu Ruo Li had passed away, she had searched her rooms for the entire day, but was not able to find any trace of the miraculous Ning Zhi cream! She had thought that Xia mama must have stolen it and left the fu, and sent some people to find her for over half a year, but still ended up with no leads!

  She had never expected that that bottle on Ning Zhi cream had been in the old madam’s possession all along!

  And now, this old madam actually took something that she had taken from Yun Qian Meng’s mother and presented it as a gift to Yun Qian Meng. Without spending a penny, she made her granddaughter grateful, and even drew praise from the crowd! It was truly a brilliant and cunning plan, especially from such a stingy and petty old fart!

  But Yun Qian Meng’s intentions were even more curious. Being nice for no good reason, it can’t be a good omen!

  Yet Yun Qian Meng only calmly received their gazes, the smile on her lips not even stirring at their pressing stares.

  Finding nothing but a generous expression in Yun Qian Meng’s eyes, both of them retracted their stares with slight disapppointment.

  The old madam narrowed her eyes and tapped on the table, pausing for a bit before answering, “Girl, that was something bestowed by the Emperor. Are you seriously willing to just give it away?”

  The old madam was actually very unwilling, and did not want to see Yun Qian Meng pass the Ning Zhi cream to Yun Ruo Xue!

  Yun Qian Meng did not immediately respond, instead smiling to look at Su Qing’s expression. Seeing her lower her eyes, she finally said, “Of course! After all, Meng’er’s wound can be covered by my sleeves, but meimei’s wound is on her head. If there was really a scar left, wouldn’t it be a fate worse than death? What’s more, for wai zumu’s birthday feast, Meng’er also plans to bring ermei along! After all, when Meng’er had poor health in the past, ermei had always attended in my place! If Meng’er were to show up on my own this time, other people might start to make wild guesses. That won’t be good for the xiangfu’s reputation!”

  Su Qing momentarily froze at Yun Qian Meng’s response, her eyes immediately darting to Yun Ruo Xue’s forehead!

  Sure enough, as Yun Qian Meng had said, Yun Ruo Xue cared very much about her appearance. Usually, she would throw a tantrum at the slightest blemish. If a scar was really left behind this time, she only feared that Yun Ruo Xue would never forgive her!

  After all, the Ning Zhi cream should have come into her possession long ago! She was only claiming back something that she should have owned after all; what right did the old madam have to get involved?

  However, Su Qing still had heavy doubts in her heart. She only feared that Yun Qian Meng had done something to the Ning Zhi cream!

  The old madam heard Yun Qian Meng’s reply and noticed that all the servants in the room seemed to be waiting for her response. Hence, she only, somewhat stiffly, grunted in agreement, granting Yun Qian Meng’s request.

  After all, everyone was watching. As a grandmother, no matter how much she hated Yun Ruo Xue, she could not conceal all the good things in her pockets and let her granddaughter have her appearance ruined!

  Otherwise, if Yun Xuan Zhi came to know about it, Yun Yi Heng and Yun Yi Jie’s careers might not go so smoothly!

  Since the matter was brought up by Yun Qian Meng herself, she was only a middle-man, and did not need to mind too much!

  However, thinking that Su Qing and Yun Ruo Xue had been gifted with such a good deal, the old madam did not feel good in her heart, and only had an extremely ugly expression on her face!

  She was especially opposed to letting Yun Ruo Xue attent the birthday feast, as she stubbornly said, “Seeing her condition, it’s better to let her rest at home. If she went crazy at Fu Guo gongfu, it will be a loss of face for our xiangfu!”

  Su Qing heard the old madam try to sideline her daughter once again and was just about to make a sarcastic remark when an old doctor was brought in. Su Qing and Wang mama immediately lowered the drapery around the bed for the doctor to take Yun Ruo Xue’s pulse.

  After taking Yun Ruo Xue and Rui mama’s pulse in order, the doctor stood before the old madam an
d carefully said, “xiaojie and mama have only suffered flesh wounds. I will prescribe some medicine to help them recover their blood and restore vitality. Additionally, there will be some external medicine that will need to be applied daily! However, xiaojie’s wound on her forehead is a bit more serious, and will need gentle care!”

  Hearing the doctor’s diagnosis, the old madam’s expression only darkened as she pursed her lips tightly and refused to speak.

  Liu Han Yu saw this and quickly smiled in response, “Thanks for the hard work, doctor! Lian’er, bring the doctor to the side room to write his prescription!”

  After the doctor left, Liu yiniang and Yun Qian Meng exchanged a glance and spoke considerately, “laotaitai, er xiaojie will probably not be waking up for quite some time! Why don’t you go back and rest first? Tomorrow, when er xiaojie wakes up, we can come and properly question her again. Besides, Rui mama is also not young any more, it would be better for her to go back and rest earlier! Rest assured, nubi will personally bring the medicine to Bai Shun Tang!”

  The old madam also felt that the place was unlucky. She had come here to condemn Su Qing with a huge group, but was unexpectedly beaten back by her. Having not gained anything and instead, being treated like a fool in front the servants, she also did not want to stay there any longer. She resentfully stood up and clutched her walking stick to leave the room while being supported by the servants.

  Noticing that Yun Qian Meng was standing in place and seeing her off, she called out in reminder, “Meng’er, you should go back too! This is not a good place for a proper xiaojie like you!”

  Hearing this, a fire was lit in Su Qing’s eyes. But Yun Qian Meng only smiled and obediently answered, “Meng’er understands.”

  The old madam saw that she was obedient and nodded, bringing Rui mama and the rest of her servants with her as she quickly left……

  Now, only Su Qing, Yun Ruo Xue, Wang mama, Yun Qian Meng, Mi mama and Mu Chun were left in the room while the doors were already guarded by Yun Qian Meng’s people. After sending off the old madam, Yun Qian Meng only straightened up and looked at the three people opposite her with a mocking expression.

 

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