The Return of the Seventh Young Lady-Chapter 38 - 37

Chapter 37

Over the past month, the Eastern Wing House was notably peaceful and content. The mistress of the house, Seventh Young Miss, was brimming with happiness, her face often breaking into bright smiles, which brought joy to the servants as well.

In the innermost room of the house, two figures, one tall and one delicate, were engrossed in a game of Weiqi, radiating a relaxed aura. Both their faces showed considerable ease and contentment.

"Lu Jiu, don’t hold back against me," Mu Yingying admonished with a slight frown.

She was well aware after years of playing Weiqi with Lu Jiu just how skilled he truly was. Yet, he always seemed to let her win, which irked her despite because her victories felt underserved.

"I’m not holding back, Miss. You’ve simply improved greatly," Lu Jiu chuckled softly, placing a black stone on the board with his robust hand.

"You..." Mu Yingying glanced at the board, already aware of her impending victory, attributing it to Lu Jiu’s usual leniency.

Lu Jiu just smiled and didn’t respond, gathering the black and white stones into their container before putting away the board.

"Here’s your cloak, Miss," Su Su, previously dispatched to fetch the garment, returned with a large cloak in hand.

The young miss rose to accept it, draping it over her shoulders.

"Let’s go," Mu Yingying beckoned the others, and the trio made their way out of the residence.

Today, she had plans to enjoy the day outside with her elder brother and sister, who were already waiting by the carriage at the manor’s entrance.

As they approached the main gate, they encountered a group from the main house, led by Auntie Yang. The encounter seemed particularly timely.

Auntie Yang, who had brought the maids out to bring the snacks for her mistress, eyed the small figure before her with a sly gaze, her lips curling into a smirk.

Misfortune seemed imminent for the young miss, yet Seventh Young Miss remained oblivious, pityingly so...

Originally, Mu Yingying didn’t think of paying attention to those before her, but she sensed the oddity in their gaze. An unusual premonition stirred within her, prompting her to approach with a friendly smile.

"Auntie Yang,"

She greeted her brightly, compelling the group to acknowledge her with proper respect.

"How are Mother, Second Sister, and Sixth Sister? Are they feeling any better?" She inquired innocently, her big, round eyes reflecting genuine concern.

"They are somewhat better now, Miss. You need not worry," Auntie Yang replied dismissively, forcing a smile.

"Oh," Mu Yingying responded, undeterred by the group’s lack of respect, she probed further, "So I can visit them in their quarters soon?"

Auntie Yang’s brow furrowed; allowing Seventh Young Miss into the main house might stir more trouble. She regarded the girl as a harbinger of misfortune!

The first time was four years ago, it was her who had been beaten. This time, it was the Sixth Young Miss who was punished, involving Mu Furen and the Second Young Miss as well.

"It might be best to wait until they are fully recovered before you visit, Miss. I must attend to Mu Furen now, if you’ll excuse me," Auntie Yang suggested hastily, keen to conclude the interaction. And then Auntie Yang and her entourage swiftly departed.

Mu Yingying narrowed her eyes slightly. She was sure of the malicious glint she’d caught in the old woman’s gaze, as if she were looking at someone doomed.

Though it lasted only a moment, Mu Yingying was certain she wasn’t mistaken!

It appeared the Bai Lijun faction was growing restless...

Mu Yingying arched a frosty smile, her gaze trailing Auntie Yang’s retreating back. For a moment, her eyes gleamed with a chilling light. Shortly after, she turned back, facing forward with resolve.

"Lu Jiu, it seems tonight we’ll need to invite a ’guest’ to visit us."

Lu Jiu raised his eyebrows slightly, glancing back at the aged servant they had just encountered. "Understood."

With a nod from Mu Yingying, the pair proceeded towards the carriage at the manor’s entrance, her face now wearing a cunning expression.

If the trio from the main house was unsettled, she was keen to discover their plans—perhaps she could even facilitate their fruition...

Late that same night, while Auntie Yang slept soundly in her room, a shadowy figure using lightness skill stopped beside her bed. He sprinkled sleeping powder over the occupant, ensuring Auntie Yang’s deep, unaware slumber.

Once assured the drug had taken effect, he carried Auntie Yang off to the east wing.

Upon reaching the innermost room there, he unceremoniously dropped her onto the floor, like throwing garbage.

Thump!

Su Su, witnessing Auntie Yang’s harsh treatment, felt a twinge of sympathy. If not for the young miss’s command, Lu Jiu would seldom show such ruthlessness. How much pain, she wondered, would Auntie Yang endure upon awakening? 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Dressed in black, Lu Jiu quickly exited, his expression colder than ever, despising even the clothes that now bore another’s scent, so he hastened to change.

He was unwilling to let his attire carry the trace of another woman, whether child or elder!

He always maintained cleanliness, especially around Seventh Young Miss, fearing it might repel her.

Alone now, Su Su gently positioned Auntie Yang onto a chair before igniting specially prepared aromatic herbs.

Once Mu Yingying finished her private affairs, she entered the room to meet their awaited guest.

Mu Yingying stared at Auntie Yang’s unconscious body for a moment before instructing Su Su, "Wake her up."

Su Su nodded, then picked up a bucket of water and splashed it at Auntie Yang with full force, soaking her entire body. Eyes that were once closed suddenly widened in shock.

“Cough, cough,”

Auntie Yang continuously coughed up the water that had gotten into her mouth while trying to adjust her sight to see exactly what was happening in front of her.

But before Auntie Yang could understand, the medicinal aroma from the incense burner had hit her nose.

Confusion began to take over her mind again, her whole body felt light and comfortable, as if she were lying on a soft bed.

Both eyes were vacant, like a mindless person. Auntie Yang was now in a trance, not recognizing anything anymore!

Observing Auntie Yang’s stupefied state, she unveiled a sly grin. The effort to procure this particular hypnotic substance had not been in vain.

Beforehand, she had dispatched four loyal maids to follow the Mu family’s carriage convoy back to the capital, instructing them to subtly administer the hypnotic drug to Auntie Yang daily.

Colorless, odorless, and hard to detect, this drug, consumed gradually yet continuously, would accumulate within Auntie Yang’s body.

Once exposed to a specific herbal aroma, paired with the hypnotic drug, Auntie Yang would fall into a trance, becoming suggestible, revealing her thoughts under interrogation, akin to being hypnotized.

Letting Auntie Yang survive the carriage ambush at that time was strategic; Mu Yingying intended to exploit her later!

As long as the hypnotic effect held, Auntie Yang would serve as a vital secret pawn, ensuring Bai Lijun and Mu Luofei would face dire futures, potentially sealing their downfall.

Thus, she had to let this secret pawn continue living...

"Now, do you remember who you are?" Mu Yingying asked calmly. Auntie Yang responded, pride seeping through her disoriented tone,

"I am Yang Yifei, the wet nurse to the Mu family’s Furen."

"Humph! Good that you remember," Mu Yingying retorted with derision. Even in her befuddled state, Auntie Yang’s arrogance was unmistakable.

"What plan have you concocted?"

"What plan?" Auntie Yang queried, puzzled. Mu Yingying elaborated, "What malicious scheme have you planned for the near future?"

"A revenge plan," Auntie Yang responded evenly.

Mu Yingying’s smile widened upon hearing this; it matched her predictions precisely. The trio couldn’t resist plotting once more.

"What kind of revenge plan?"

"On the day of the ancestral worship ceremony at Shi Miao Temple, while returning, the plan is to switch Seventh Young Miss’s carriage to the end of the convoy. A middleman we’ve contacted will then specifically ambush that carriage, intending to kidnap her and take her out of the city..."

As Auntie Yang’s voice trailed off, a sound of wood snapping echoed from the doorway. Mu Yingying turned to see Lu Jiu entering with a tray of tea.

The wooden tray in his grip was cracked from the force he had applied just moments before, his eyes darkening visibly.

These people were planning to kidnap the young miss and sell her to bandits?

Unforgivable!

Lu Jiu’s icy stare fixed on Auntie Yang, the murderous aura around him intensifying, but his consciousness was regained because of a tug on his sleeve from below.

"Don’t worry about it too much. I’m fine," Mu Yingying tugged his sleeve to bring him back to his sense and reassured him.

She understood that Lu Jiu’s reaction stemmed from his concern for her.

Lu Jiu glanced down at the delicate hand holding his sleeve, his expression softening, the murderous intent dissipating.

Mu Yingying turned her attention back to Auntie Yang, incredulous that Bai Lijun would plan such an extreme act of kidnapping her.

The intention was to make her disappear forever...

Hah!

Then let them have their wish fulfilled!

"Where is this middleman located?" Mu Yingying asked while silently thinking of the plan.

"At the third house on the fourth alley in the center of the commercial district."

Mu Yingying exchanged a knowing glance with Lu Jiu before smirking subtly. "Now that we’re done here, Lu Jiu, please escort our guest back."

"Understood."

Lu Jiu promptly knocked Auntie Yang out again before carrying her back to her quarters.

Once alone with Su Su, the maid asked, "What will you do next, Miss?"

"Nothing much, just help Bai Lijun achieve her wish," the petite figure turned to sit on the daybed beside the window, sipping her tea to quench her thirst.

"Achieve her wish?" Susu echoed, puzzled.

"Yes," Mu Yingying affirmed with a smile. "She wants to kidnap someone, so we’ll help her succeed in that."

"But who will be kidnapped? That’s another matter..."

Mu Yingying’s eyes sparkled maliciously, her smile turning scornful.

Playing games with others meant being prepared for the repercussions, ready to be struck back!

Shortly, Lu Jiu returned to the Eastern Wing House, displeased that his attire once again tainted with the lingering stench of Auntie Yang.

"Lu Jiu, dispatch our men to find those middlemen. I have matters to settle with them," Mu Yingying instructed, her demeanor relaxed and unworried.

"At your service," he complied willingly. Without needing further instruction, he was already intent on locating the middlemen.

Daring to target his young miss was audacious indeed!

As Mu Yingying indulged in her late-night snack, she chuckled to herself. The thought of witnessing Bai Lijun’s foolishness when knowing that her plan succeeded filled Mu Yingying with exhilarating satisfaction.

Bai Lijun, oh, Bai Lijun...

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