"What nonsense are you spouting? Which child in this manor haven't I treated as my own? They are my own grandchildren. How have I treated them badly? I know you're angry that I gave Tong'er to Caiyue to raise this time, and you're upset about the gold-swallowing incident. But you're already a general leading troops in the field. How can you speak so thoughtlessly? Would I, as their own grandmother, intentionally harm them? This was just an accident, and Caiyue was punished, wasn't she? Why are you still coming at me like this? Are you trying to drive me to my death?" Old Madam Ning was still angry. Although she had her own selfish motives, she was also considering the manor's offspring. Ouyang Tong was the only heir in the manor. Originally, since Madam Ning had no son, the general's manor was destined to decline in the future. It was impossible for Madam Ning to adopt Ouyang Tong herself. This time, Madam Ning took the initiative to ask for him, and Old Madam Ning also had the idea of going with the flow, considering the offspring. Of course, there was also the idea of winning some face for the Ning manor.
Who knew such an accident would happen? She never imagined that her good intentions would lead to so much trouble. Old Madam Ning is also furious. Now, being cornered by Ouyang Zhide in Anhe Hall and being reprimanded, she feels like she's about to explode with anger.
Ouyang Zhide pursed his lips, stood up, his anger still burning. He really didn't want to hear Old Madam Ning's long-winded lecture: "Mother, as long as you have a clear conscience, I'll head back now." With that, he left without looking back.
Old Madam Ning glared with her sallow face, gritting her teeth in hatred, a fire burning fiercely in her heart. With a "pfft," she spat out a mouthful of blood. Mama Xi, who had been serving her with her head bowed, was startled and immediately took out a handkerchief to wipe Old Madam Ning's mouth: "Madam, what's wrong? You know that Master's temperament is like yours, both of them are strong-willed. At times like this, even if he intentionally makes a mistake, he can't say it. He's not just talking back to you. Please don't be angry, or you'll ruin your health."
"Pfft!" Upon hearing this, Old Madam Ning coughed up another mouthful of blood, then rolled her eyes and fainted. Mama Xi's expression immediately changed. "Quickly! Help the old lady to bed! Go find a doctor to examine her immediately! Hurry!" The old lady had four maids by her side, but none of them were as respectable or authoritative as Mama Xi, who had always been by Old Madam Ning's side. Green Robe and the others immediately took their places. Green Robe and Blue Robe helped Old Madam Ning into the inner hall, and Mama Xi naturally followed. However, in the next moment, Mama Xi suddenly lifted the curtain of the inner hall and rushed over. She saw a white thing move briefly in the blood that Old Madam Ning had vomited before disappearing.
Mama Xi was startled, her eyes widening in disbelief, her heart pounding. That thing… that thing…
Madam Xi quickly turned and went into the inner hall, telling Green Robe and Blue Robe that she was going to the kitchen to hurry up with the medicine. She then quickly left Anhe Hall and went to the same secluded spot as before. Madam Xi threw down a piece of black iron and rushed to the kitchen, but her heart could no longer calm down. She hadn't seen that thing wrong, had she? Madam Xi felt a faint pain in her forehead, and the veins on her forehead throbbed slightly. She took care of the old lady's daily life, and under normal circumstances, the old lady thought this wouldn't happen. Yes, ever since Rui Yuhuan arrived, the old lady had been acting strangely. Could that thing have been brought by Rui Yuhuan as well? Madam Xi narrowed her eyes, and a fierce glint flashed across her face.
Rui Yuhuan was walking back when she suddenly stopped. Fen Die asked softly, "Miss, what's wrong? You don't look well."
Rui Yuhuan pursed her lips: "Go to Xiangning Courtyard."
"In Xiangning Courtyard, Aunt Liu is now a cripple. Will you still go to see her, Miss?" Pink Butterfly asked with some doubt.
“Even a useless person has their uses.” As she spoke, Rui Yuhuan led her people to Xiangning Courtyard. Xiangning Courtyard was much quieter than before. When Yang’er saw Rui Yuhuan coming, she immediately went to report to her. After a while, she came out and invited Rui Yuhuan inside. Then she and the servants, including Fendie, all came out. Only Aunt Ming, who was lying on the bed, and Rui Yuhuan were left in the room.
Rui Yuhuan surveyed Ming's room. The room had long lost its former elegance. Because of Ouyang Yue's vandalism, it appeared somewhat dilapidated. Although it had been cleaned up, most of the things were broken, and Ming couldn't possibly replace everything at once. So, there was only a bed and a low table beside it. Because Ming's legs were weak and she couldn't get out of bed, the room didn't even have an extra table. The room was unlike any other woman's room; there wasn't even a mirror. Ming's face was half-covered in gauze; it was unclear whether her injury hadn't healed or she was too ashamed to be seen.
Aunt Ming leaned against the headboard, her only remaining eye now bloodshot and lifeless. She glared at Rui Yuhuan with gritted teeth and hatred: "What are you doing here? You're not welcome here. Are you here to laugh at me, or to invite a scolding?"
Rui Yuhuan withdrew her gaze, her face showing just the right amount of concern and worry: "What are you saying, Aunt Ming? How could Yuhuan be laughing at you? We're all in the same boat. If you don't get better, how can I? To be honest, the General has a lot of prejudice against me now, and I'm afraid I won't be able to stay in the General's mansion any longer."
"Doesn't she deserve it? You came into this manor with ill intentions and caused so much trouble. If it were me, I would have kicked you out too. Master did the right thing." Although what happened before was Ming Yiniang's evil plan, she might not have been so ruthless if Rui Yuhuan hadn't pushed her along. Now that she's in this state and has been humiliated by Ouyang Yue, it's too good for Rui Yuhuan to just be disliked. She should be blinded and crippled!
Now, Aunt Ming truly hates Rui Yuhuan to the core. After Aunt Hua's miscarriage was revealed, she initially wanted to expose Rui Yuhuan, hoping to lessen the blame. However, Rui Yuhuan threatened her, saying that if she implicated Rui Yuhuan, she might lose Old Ning as her protector. Later, it was Rui Yuhuan's intervention that saved Aunt Ming's life, making it seem like she hadn't done anything wrong. But these past few days, as she's reflected on it, she feels she was too frightened to think things through that day, and the blame has fallen entirely on her. Rui Yuhuan, on the other hand, continues to thrive in the mansion. She only saved her life; wasn't that what she should do? Rui Yuhuan did it for her sake; that was what she was supposed to do. She was actually tricked into taking the blame alone! Aunt Ming feels like a fool who's been played, and she wishes she had a knife to kill Rui Yuhuan right now.
"Ming-niang doesn't understand Yu Huan, and Yu Huan understands too, but in the end, neither of us is wrong. It's Liu-niang and Ouyang Yue who blocked our path. Hua-niang overreacted too much. This whole thing is Ouyang Yue's fault. She ruined our plans. If anyone should hate someone, it should be her. She's the one who made you like this. Every day, Yu Huan thinks about the suffering Ming-niang has endured, and her heart aches. This Third Miss is truly hateful. Not only did she compete with the Eldest Miss before, but even after the Eldest Miss's unfortunate passing, she still wouldn't let you go, causing you to become so miserable. Didn't Ming-niang ever think of revenge?" Rui Yu Huan's face was filled with hatred, showing a shared anger and indignation with Ming-niang.
Aunt Ming was stunned upon hearing this, nodded blankly, and then angrily said, "Yes, it's all Ouyang Yue's fault. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be in this state. She wasn't killed by me, but she still doesn't know how to behave. She even dared to bring people to smash up my Xiangning Courtyard and embarrass me. Look at the life I'm living now! The servants in this mansion are all a bunch of servile bastards who fawn over the powerful and bully the weak. I have to pay money to buy some good food. It's simply too hateful. I used to treat them with great favor, but I've completely forgotten about it. It's all Ouyang Yue's fault. She deserves to die!" Aunt Ming's face flushed red, her eyes wide and blazing, her face twisted with hatred, making her look terrifying.
But Rui Yuhuan didn't think much of it. Instead, she smiled faintly and said, "Aunt Ming, you are the daughter of the Minister of Revenue. You are different from Aunt Hong, who comes from a humble family. Even if you have made a big mistake, you are being tormented like this by the General's Mansion. People will definitely gossip about the Minister of Revenue's family. Aunt Ming can overlook this for the sake of the General, but what about the Minister of Revenue's family? Can they overlook this? Do they still have any face left?"
Aunt Ming said with a gloomy face, "If Father and Mother find out I look like this, they will definitely seek justice for me!"
Rui Yuhuan sighed and gently patted Aunt Ming's shoulder: "Yes, if this happened to any daughter, she would definitely be furious. Not to mention them, even outsiders would sympathize with Aunt Ming's plight. What is Ouyang Yue? She's just a legitimate daughter of the family. She's only your junior. To do such a thing is simply immoral and unforgivable!"
“Yes, Ouyang Yue, her crimes are unforgivable, she deserves to die!” Aunt Ming nodded repeatedly, her face filled with hatred, her mind already racing.
The Minister of Revenue's household only had one daughter, Consort Ming. She was favored in the household from the beginning, but this was all hearsay, and while there was some truth to it, it wasn't the whole story. Consort Ming was, after all, born to a concubine, not the Minister's wife's biological daughter. Although the Minister's wife doted on her because she had no other children, Consort Ming always felt that the Minister's wife couldn't truly confide in her and remained wary. Therefore, Consort Ming was very adept at social maneuvering from a young age, always appearing obedient, sensible, and innocent in front of the Minister's wife, seemingly without any guile. This is what made the Minister's wife increasingly fond of her. From a very young age, Consort Ming understood a principle: don't be afraid to humble yourself. As long as you're with someone useful to you, what's wrong with humbling yourself? If that person benefits you, the reward for humbling yourself will always be doubled.
So she succeeded. As a concubine's daughter, she could only marry a low-ranking official, but she married the righteous and powerful Ouyang Zhide as his concubine. Except for lacking Ning Shi's (her husband's) privileges as a legitimate wife, she lacked nothing. Even after arriving at the General's mansion, she did everything she could to please Ning Shi. It could be said that her life had been smooth sailing since childhood; she never imagined she would stumble over a girl like Ouyang Yue. This was unbearable for Aunt Ming. She had always endured hardship since childhood, only to be ruined by Ouyang Yue in the end. Her life was ruined; how could she accept it! If she couldn't live, Ouyang Yue had to die!
"Yang'er, come in." Aunt Ming suddenly called out to the outside. Her personal maid, Yang'er, entered. Aunt Ming said coldly, "I'll write a letter later. You must secretly take it to the Minister of Revenue's residence and deliver it to Mother." After so many years of effort, the Minister's wife had long treated Aunt Ming like her own daughter. If she simply exaggerated her experiences and relayed them, the Minister's wife would be even more furious than she was. She needed to think about what would happen next.
Rui Yuhuan looked at Aunt Ming, smiled faintly, and narrowed her eyes slightly. Ouyang Zhide's earlier outburst must have been about Ouyang Yue. Old Madam Ning now treated her no differently than Ouyang Zhide, perhaps even more so. Ouyang Zhide must be unhappy with Old Madam Ning's favoritism. However, he lashed out at her for Ouyang Yue's sake, which angered Rui Yuhuan. Even though the man in black forbade her from dealing with Ouyang Yue, it didn't mean no one else in the manor wanted to. If something happened to Ouyang Yue, it wouldn't concern her at all; no one could blame her.
Rui Yuhuan then left Xiangning Courtyard. Fen Die asked curiously, "What did Miss say to Aunt Ming? She seemed very angry."
Rui Yuhuan sneered: "That crazy woman, she became like that herself, so naturally her temper is bad. I originally wanted to make an appearance and go see her, so that the old lady and the general could see her, but I didn't expect that this crazy woman would not appreciate it. She is very stupid. There is no need to pay attention to her."
“Aunt Ming is indeed very foolish.” Pink Butterfly responded, but her eyes flickered. She didn’t believe that Rui Yuhuan was just saying this, otherwise why would she do it behind her back?
Rui Yuhuan did not return directly to Green Willow Courtyard, and Ouyang Zhide did not return to Yihe Pavilion after leaving Anhe Hall. Instead, he went to Aunt Liu's Ningxiang Courtyard. As soon as he entered the house, Aunt Liu was somewhat wary of him. It was no wonder that Aunt Liu was nervous. When she learned that Ning Shi was not pregnant, she knew that Ouyang Zhide had been neglecting her. He also bore responsibility for Ouyang Tong's matter. She could no longer completely trust Ouyang Zhide.
Ouyang Zhide went straight to the bedside and saw the sleeping Ouyang Tong. He looked at his young son deeply and reached out to touch him, but Aunt Liu suddenly appeared and said, "Master must be tired after court. The young master is not awake yet. He will be happy that you came to see him when he is awake. Why don't you let me help you to wash up first?"
Ouyang Zhide was stunned for a moment, looked at Aunt Liu's wary face, and sighed: "This time it was my oversight that caused Tong'er to almost lose his life. You should blame me. I shouldn't have let Ning Shi do whatever she wanted."
Aunt Liu was slightly taken aback. She had never known that Ouyang Zhide was reasonable. No, she should say that she had always thought that Ouyang Zhide did not like the frail and sickly Tong'er. On the contrary, she disliked him because Tong'er was not healthy enough to inherit his great responsibility. Judging from his behavior today, it seems that the master did not dislike Tong'er.
Ouyang Zhide's eyes were fixed on Aunt Liu's mouth, and he hesitated for a long time before saying, "Don't worry, I will assign two martial arts experts to protect you secretly. If you need anything in the future, you can come to me directly. Since Tong'er is asleep, I will come to see him another day." With that, Ouyang Zhide turned and left, but his back seemed somewhat lonely.
Aunt Liu pursed her lips gently, but her eyes reddened. She suddenly understood Ouyang Zhide's thoughts. It was precisely because Tong'er was weak in the past that his neglect made the women in the mansion more careless about them, thus ensuring Ouyang Tong's safe growth. This man was just a rough military general, and perhaps this was the only way he could think of to protect them.
Back at Yihexuan, Ouyang Zhide immediately went to his study, but he had no interest in working. He just sat there in a daze, thinking that he owed Aunt Liu a lot over the years. After all, the reason he had taken a liking to Aunt Liu was because she resembled him in some way. Sometimes, staring at Aunt Liu, he felt a little scared. He had always been indifferent to Aunt Liu over the years, and it seemed that even his own son had been killed. This made Ouyang Zhide suddenly realize the truth.
"Yan'er, you've caused me so much suffering all these years..."
That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high.
The wind whistled through the night sky, rustling the leaves and the hem of clothes, making a soft, whispering sound: "You've done a good job with the mission these past few days, I'm very satisfied, but you need to be even more careful from now on."
A very cold female voice rang out: "Don't worry, once I've received the money and accepted the mission, I will naturally complete the mission completely."
If it weren't for the two people talking, people nearby would have thought there were two ghostly figures standing there. At this moment, a maid dressed in a dark green maid's uniform walked over. She was looking for something along the way when she suddenly heard a faint conversation. She was startled, looked up, and immediately screamed in fright, "Who are you? What are you doing there so late at night?"
The two were startled, then quickly disappeared in two directions. The maid in dark green stared at one of the figures for a moment, then was startled and ran back quickly. The maid ran all the way back to Mingyue Pavilion, heading straight for Ouyang Yue: "Miss, Miss."
Ouyang Yue was not wrong at the moment. She was reading a book on the bed when she saw Chuncao rushing over. She frowned slightly and asked, "What happened now?"
Chuncao, panting, took two deep breaths before urgently saying, "Miss, I was just looking for a pattern that was lost during the day, and not far from Mingyue Pavilion, I saw two dark figures talking, seemingly about a mission. I was startled and asked them, but they were too quick and disappeared. But I noticed that one of them... one of them looks a lot like Dongxue. Miss, do you think Dongxue... she... could she be a spy?"
Ouyang Yue paused in her book-turning, looking up at Chuncao, who immediately nodded: "Miss, I am a servant born into the household, and I am quite familiar with the masters and servants. That figure does indeed look very much like Dongxue." Because Dongxue practices martial arts, she is slightly taller than the average woman, and she often serves Ouyang Yue with Chuncao, so it is indeed difficult for her to mistake her.
Ouyang Yue slammed the book shut: "Call Dongxue in."
Chuncao responded and immediately went to call Dongxue. Although Chuncao didn't like Dongxue and Qiuyue very much at first, her prejudice against them lessened a lot after she found that they were wholeheartedly serving Ouyang Yue. However, if Dongxue was a spy sent by someone else, she could not tolerate it. Her mistress did not need such an ingrate!
☆、085, Baili Chen reappears! (Completed)
Chuncao didn't know what Ouyang Yue and Dongxue had talked about last night. Originally, she also hated Dongxue's betrayal, but she hadn't slept last night. Recalling the time they had spent together, she felt that Dongxue had always tried her best to help Ouyang Yue. Perhaps there was some misunderstanding between them. Seeing Dongxue kneeling with her body stiff and gritting her teeth to endure it, Chuncao felt a little sorry for her.
After helping Ouyang Yue change her clothes, Chuncao hesitated for a moment, but finally gritted her teeth and said, "Miss, I might have been mistaken last night. And it seems that Dongxue knows she was wrong. Can you forgive her?" As she spoke, she opened her big eyes and looked at Ouyang Yue expectantly.
Ouyang Yue sat before her dressing table, glancing at her reflection in the mirror. Chuncao, seeing this, immediately knelt down, staring intently at Ouyang Yue in the mirror, her eyes stinging with tears. Ouyang Yue coldly observed Chuncao in the mirror, her neck hunched, her lips pursed in a pleading expression. Ouyang Yue's expression grew even colder, but a smile flickered across her face. She turned and stood up, saying, "Help Dongxue up."
Chuncao was stunned for a moment, then ran over excitedly to help Dongxue up. However, she almost fell to the ground herself, dragged down by Dongxue. It took a lot of effort for her to lift Dongxue up, but she had been kneeling all night without a cushion, and her legs were so cold that she had no feeling in them. Even when she lifted Dongxue, her legs were bent, and her face was pale. Seeing this, Ouyang Yue remained expressionless: "This time, you should thank Chuncao. That girl is too kind-hearted. Just remember her kindness."
Dongxue looked at Chuncao and nodded heavily to her. Chuncao felt a little embarrassed. She was also very angry with Dongxue yesterday, but after spending some time together, she had developed feelings for her, and Dongxue had not committed any real betrayal, so she was able to forgive her.
"Let Dongxue go down and rest."
"Yes, Miss." Chuncao helped Dongxue limp out, while Ouyang Yue narrowed her eyes. She could tell Dongxue was a very upright person. Even last night, when discussing the mission, she had deliberately emphasized investigating Qiuyue as a kind woman, using Qiuyue to explain. She was afraid Ouyang Yue would doubt Qiuyue's loyalty and cause her trouble. Now, making Dongxue owe Chuncao a favor was far more effective than simply forgiving Dongxue. Because even if she didn't forgive Dongxue, the First Assassin Alliance wouldn't complete the mission and would send others. If they sent a stranger, she might as well have used Dongxue. But she couldn't let Dongxue feel easily forgiven; after all, Ouyang Yue still needed Dongxue's help with many things. Ouyang Yue was reluctant to let go of such an obedient subordinate.
There's been something quite interesting happening in Beijing lately. A shop called Meiyige quietly opened a few days ago. Beijing has countless shops; some profitable ones without connections usually sell quickly, while others are just average and unremarkable. But Meiyige opened on Langhuan Street and Chenghua Street within five days of each other. Its business model is also peculiar: two very elegantly dressed women hold up two wooden signs every day, offering a 'prize-winning quiz' activity using short poems, couplets, and riddles.
At first, this didn't attract much attention. People even thought that Meiyi Pavilion was a filthy place like a brothel, since in the capital, apart from brothels, no other shop had two beautiful women standing outside soliciting customers. But this so-called solicitation, being so novel, still aroused some people's curiosity. Moreover, Meiyi Pavilion had a rule that men were not allowed to enter. Men accompanying women to Meiyi Pavilion would be arranged to stay in the same room. Since ancient times, all professions had restrictions only on women, so this sudden difference in treatment, especially towards men, made people even more curious.
Several young ladies with considerable literary talent, driven by curiosity, guessed the riddle correctly. The Beauty Clothes Pavilion actually gave away several exquisitely crafted, unique, and delicately designed items, including a halter top. Although these were private items, the ladies' desire to flaunt their uniqueness led to rapid word-of-mouth spread, and the Beauty Clothes Pavilion suddenly became very popular. However, the Beauty Clothes Pavilion differed from ordinary clothing shops; all its styles were made to order. As unique and exquisite items, they were naturally not easily obtained like in ordinary clothing shops. People are like that; the rarer something is, the more it arouses their desire to possess it. Therefore, even though a halter top or a pair of embroidered shoes sold for the price of some fine outer garments, many young women still eagerly placed orders.
The Meiyi Pavilion opened quietly and did quite well, naturally attracting the attention of some merchants in the capital. They began sending people to inquire about the power behind the Meiyi Pavilion, but the trail ended with the Ghost-Faced Young Master. No matter how they investigated, they couldn't find anything, which made them uneasy. There were only two possibilities: either the person's backing was so powerful that they couldn't possibly find out about it, or he had no background at all and there was nothing to investigate. But if the Ghost-Faced Young Master had no background, how could he have seized the shop that the Fu family was interested in and still be able to operate smoothly? Therefore, everyone unanimously thought of the first possibility, and their restless hearts turned into a wait-and-see attitude.
Anyway, this Meiyi Pavilion only sells small trinkets like women's undergarments, embroidered shoes, and sachets. Even if it were popular, it wouldn't steal their business. But just as that matter settled down, news suddenly spread that Meiyi Pavilion had donated 100,000 taels of silver for the upcoming grand ceremony of the Five Elements Temple in the capital. This amount wasn't much among some wealthy families, but it was certainly not small either. Meiyi Pavilion's generous donation right after opening naturally became a topic of conversation, attracting even more people. Strangely enough, every woman who entered Meiyi Pavilion left with an item in each hand, regardless of size, as if she felt uneasy if she didn't buy something. Some envious people said that these women were bewitched and had been cheated without realizing it, and they were immediately bombarded with criticism from Meiyi Pavilion's customers, who said that they had no taste, that they could mistake pearls for fish eyes, and that it was no wonder their business wasn't doing well, and they could only watch others being envious.
This war of words was so intense that in just three days, everyone in the capital knew about the existence of Meiyi Pavilion. Naturally, even more customers came after hearing the news, and they praised Meiyi Pavilion's products highly. Meiyi Pavilion's reputation spread like wildfire!
In the main house of the backyard of the Meiyi Pavilion on Langhuan Street, Ouyang Yue was reviewing the pavilion's income records for the past few days. Because of the prize-winning riddle-guessing event the pavilion had held a few days prior, giving away three to five items a day, plus the 100,000 taels of incense money—no small sum—the returns were quite significant. That 100,000 taels was originally obtained by Ouyang Yue through deception from Fu Meier; it was essentially ill-gotten gains, and donating it to maintain a good reputation was only fair. As for the few items given away that day, the accounts showed that the profits had already been covered, with a net gain.
Watching from the side, Chuncao couldn't stop smiling: "Miss is so clever! In such a short time, Meiyi Pavilion has become a famous shop in the capital. Meiyi Pavilion is simply a legend." Chuncao's words were not untrue. Let alone Ouyang Yue's shop making profits so quickly, even if the Fu family opened a new shop, they would have to rely on their accumulated connections to spread the word beforehand, and they would have to make a profit in the early stages to gain publicity. It can be said that Ouyang Yue's Meiyi Pavilion suddenly became the talk of the capital in a short period of time, and by no means a scandal. That is what makes it a legend.
Leng Can sat to one side, sipping tea, his mouth almost twisted in disbelief. He should say that if Meiyi Pavilion didn't become popular according to Ouyang Yue's plan, it would be a miracle. Leng Can was utterly speechless at Ouyang Yue. Lately, he'd been wondering if she was even a woman. Shouldn't good women be gentle and virtuous, spending their days in their boudoirs, sipping tea and embroidering? She was cunning enough, but also full of wicked schemes. Trying to take advantage of her was practically impossible.
Take the opening of Meiyi Pavilion for example. Do you think those reserved and elegant young ladies would easily get into a fight and end up acting like shrewish women? It was all because Ouyang Yue herself paid some scoundrels to pose as merchants and gossip in teahouses and restaurants. First, she made people pay close attention to the matter, and then the rumors became increasingly vicious, directly accusing those who came to Meiyi Pavilion of being brainless, blind, and ugly women from small, uncultured families. This angered the women who had shopped at Meiyi Pavilion, and they united in their hatred and fought back. That's how the war of words started, and that's how Meiyi Pavilion's reputation spread far and wide.
Ouyang Yue deliberately let those scoundrels spread rumors, which were half true and half false. Those people were indeed deceived and tricked. However, the only thing that was true was that the items in Meiyi Pavilion were indeed of extremely high quality, with each style being one-of-a-kind, and no one who had bought from them had ever complained. So, even if some clever people realized they had been tricked, they were willing to accept it? In any case, this made Leng Can feel a lump in his throat, and he cursed Ouyang Yue's cunning inwardly. She was truly a petty person and a woman, possessing both of the two most unapproachable traits.
Ouyang Yue closed the ledger, looking at Leng Can, who was sitting to the side with a half-smile but whose expression kept changing, and asked: "Leng Can, what do you think?"
Leng Can glanced at Ouyang Yue, his lips twitching slightly: "Not bad." Now, besides Ouyang Yue, Chuncao, Qiuyue, Dongxue, and the three female managers of Meiyi Pavilion, he was the only man in the room. How could he dare say it wasn't good? He had been running around with those scoundrels and figuring out how to carry out the plan. He had witnessed firsthand how fierce the quarrels between women could be. Would he be so stupid as to invite trouble for himself here? Although he didn't want to admit it, he had indeed handled things very well.
Ouyang Yue smiled at Leng Can, who suddenly felt a chill run down his spine: "What do you want to do?"
Ouyang Yue withdrew her smile and said, "As you can see, Meiyi Pavilion is all women. It wouldn't be appropriate for them to run away from something. Didn't I ask you to donate 100,000 taels to Wuxing Temple before? You will naturally be the representative to go and see the ceremony in a couple of days." The so-called grand ceremony is a very large-scale ceremony to deliver souls and purify the mind. Donating money to support it at this time is also a kind of merit. On the day of the ceremony, Meiyi Pavilion should naturally send someone over.
Upon hearing this, Leng Can's expression changed: "I'm just running errands for you on my master's orders. What right do I have to represent Mei Yi Ge?" In the end, Leng Can was just an errand runner and couldn't be considered a member of Mei Yi Ge. There were many speculations about Mei Yi Ge in the outside world. As soon as Leng Can appeared, he was immediately labeled as a member of Mei Yi Ge, and no one would listen to his explanations later.
Ouyang Yue said with a sullen face: "Are you going to send Qiuyue and Chuncao? The annual Grand Ceremony in the capital is a chaotic affair, who knows what kind of people might be inside? Besides, the Meiyi Pavilion incident has spread so widely, how many people are watching? If something unexpected happens, can you accompany two good girls to me? A grown man, yet more fussy than a woman, you should really tell your master to send me someone with more responsibility."
Leng Can's lips twitched. This was clearly Ouyang Yue forcing him, so why was it all his fault in the end? Leng Can's face darkened, and he glanced at Qiu Yue standing next to Ouyang Yue, and snorted: "Since you've begged me, I'll reluctantly agree, but only this once, and never again."
Ouyang Yue suddenly revealed a sly smile: "Don't worry, Leng Can, you've been a great help. I'm so grateful to you, I wouldn't want to cause you any trouble."
"Uh... I have a feeling I've been tricked..." Leng Can said to Ouyang Yue with a twitching lip, but the latter had already continued looking at the ledger, pretending not to hear him. Leng Can rubbed his forehead, but then glared fiercely at Qiu Yue. The latter was stunned by his gaze. What was wrong with Young Master Leng? Did he hate her that much? She didn't seem to have offended him at all. Maybe she should stay away from him in the future...
When Leng Canzhen actually participated in the Grand Ceremony as the external manager of Meifang Pavilion, he realized that he had been completely deceived. Ouyang Yue had clearly used this method to tie him and Meifang Pavilion together. Of course, it was too late for him to regret it, but that's another story.
Two days later, early in the morning, Ouyang Yue changed her clothes, ate breakfast, and went to Anhe Hall to pay her respects before heading to Wuxing Temple. However, to everyone's surprise, Old Madam Ning allowed Ouyang Yue into the hall. Ouyang Yue raised an eyebrow and walked in, only to see Old Madam Ning and Rui Yuhuan both there. Ouyang Yue politely bowed and said, "Yue'er greets Grandmother."
Old Madam Ning looked at her coldly: "Get up. I heard you're going to the Five Elements Temple today."
Ouyang Yue nodded and said, "Yes, Grandmother, Yue'er wants to go to the Five Elements Temple to pray for Grandmother, Father, and Mother."
Old Madam Ning's expression softened slightly: "It's good that you still remember that you have a grandmother like me. It's good that you're going to the Five Elements Temple. Yu Huan has been staying in the mansion and hasn't gone out lately. This Grand Ceremony is a grand event, so you should take Yu Huan with you. It'll be good to have someone to look after you along the way. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask Yu Huan. There will be quite a few dignitaries from the capital attending this Grand Ceremony, so don't embarrass the General's Mansion."
Ouyang Yue looked up at Rui Yuhuan, who stood like a willow branch, her eyes slightly darkening. She didn't want to bring Rui Yuhuan along; there was no guarantee there wouldn't be trouble. Besides, Old Ning's words made Ouyang Yue feel uneasy. But Ouyang Yue's silence had already displeased Old Ning: "What, you're still unwilling? I only gave you this opportunity because I saw that Yuhuan needed someone to accompany her. With Yuhuan giving you pointers, I'm sure you won't act so recklessly and cause trouble like before. What else could you possibly be unwilling about?"
Ouyang Yue smiled and said, "Grandmother, Yue'er has already made an appointment with someone. Why don't we let Miss Rui go with someone else? I didn't make an appointment with anyone beforehand, and I'm afraid some people might find it inconvenient to suddenly have another person."
"What's the inconvenience? It's just that there's one more person to talk to. Who did you invite? Why all this trouble?" Old Madam Ning frowned even more deeply.
Ouyang Yue smiled and said, "Grandmother, you have met her before. She is Li Rushuang, the eldest daughter of the Minister of War. We met at the birthday banquet at the Ning Mansion that day. Miss Li and I hit it off immediately. Today we are going to the Five Elements Temple, and we plan to ride horses there."
Hearing this, Old Madam Ning's expression changed slightly. Few in the capital knew that Li Rushuang preferred martial arts to literature; otherwise, she wouldn't have been ranked as one of the three ugliest women in the capital. Rui Yuhuan, always quiet and refined, would never ride with them; it would damage her image as a gentle young lady. Some noble families, to highlight their status, would never allow their women to learn uncouth things, and even despise it. Old Madam Ning was one such person.
"What are you doing messing around with Li Rushuang? Your reputation is already bad, and you're doing something that damages it even more. It's outrageous. We'll postpone it. You can go with Yu Huan."
Ouyang Yue looked at Old Madam Ning with a mocking expression: "Grandmother, our General's Mansion is not a noble family, do you think we don't even respect a second-rank minister? Yue'er has already discussed this matter with Father, and Father has agreed."
Old Madam Ning's face stiffened for a moment before she realized what she meant: "Never mind, Yu Huan, you and Rou'er go together. Take more guards with you. Since Yue'er is going too, she can lead the way. You and Rou'er can follow behind in the carriage."
Rui Yuhuan said softly to Ouyang Yue, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Miss Third."
Ouyang Yue looked at her with a half-smile: "Not at all, as long as Miss Rui can keep up."
Rui Yuhuan didn't quite understand Ouyang Yue's words, but she asked someone to invite Ouyang Rou. Then Ouyang Yue led a horse and she led the way. Rui Yuhuan and Ouyang Rou sat in a carriage and followed behind. Later, there were servants who rode in the remaining carriage. Old Madam Ning was still worried and assigned more than ten guards to follow. The group then arrived outside the city gate.
Upon reaching the city gate, Ouyang Yue saw Li Rushuang dressed in a light gray riding outfit, her hair pulled high, hands gripping the reins. She sat on her horse with a unique and dashing air, even her naturally dark face glowing with a beautiful radiance, making her appear spirited and heroic. Two well-dressed maids followed behind her, also on horseback. As soon as Li Rushuang saw Ouyang Yue approaching, she lightly spurred her horse forward, naturally noticing the caravan behind her: "And that's…"
"It was instructed by my elders in the household; there was no other way."
Li Rushuang frowned: "You promised to race horses with me, how can you run now?"
Ouyang Yue said nonchalantly, "What's there to be afraid of? We'll race, they can take their time."
Li Rushuang's eyes lit up: "Okay, then I'll be going now." After saying that, she raised her whip, and her horse galloped away in a gust of wind.
"Wait for me!" Ouyang Yue called out, then slapped her horse's rump and galloped off to catch up with Li Rushuang. Dongxue, who had also ridden a horse to match Ouyang Yue, naturally followed after seeing Ouyang Yue go far away.
Ouyang Rou and Rui Yuhuan, sitting in the carriage, were stunned for a moment. Ouyang Rou immediately said angrily, "Third sister is simply too outrageous. Grandmother asked us to go to the Five Elements Temple together, and she just ran away and abandoned us. I'll tell Grandmother how I'm going to complain."