Ouyang Yue was already standing by the window. At this time, Aunt Hong and the others had been placed on the execution ground and would be executed immediately after noon.
Alongside Aunt Hong and her group stood a dozen or so others, both men and women. Their white prison uniforms were now stained with blood, especially their arms and legs, which were torn and tattered, stained with blood. Several days before their execution, their limbs had been severed, and they were not allowed to die; they were given medicine so that the people could see their fate as a warning.
Aunt Hong was pinned to the ground, her head darting around as if searching for someone. After a long search, her eyes showed disappointment. Suddenly, she glanced towards the distant restaurant, frantically searching for something. A flicker of joy crossed her face when she saw Ouyang Yue at the window, but she couldn't find her. Her expression suddenly froze, and as if struck by a sudden thought, she burst into tears, slamming her head against the ground as if only this could release her grief and anger. Immediately, constables stepped forward and pulled her away. Seeing Aunt Hong's agitated state, their shouts and curses were ineffective. The constables then began to punch and kick her, beating her until she was barely alive and unable to cause further trouble. Only then did they retreat, grumbling under their breath.
Aunt Hong lay on the ground, tears streaming down her face, her mouth moving incessantly.
As a special agent, Ouyang Yue naturally knew some lip reading. She watched quietly, her thoughts a complex mix. Aunt Hong had repeatedly schemed against her, and her current predicament was entirely her own fault; she didn't deserve sympathy. If she hadn't possessed such a wicked heart, none of this would have happened. However, seeing her constantly calling out Ouyang Rou's name, she also felt a pang of pity, sorrow, and hatred for Aunt Hong. If it weren't for Aunt Hong, would Ouyang Rou have been such a selfish and ruthless person? If it weren't for her, would the original owner have been killed by Ouyang Rou's schemes? Was this what they called karma? Perhaps it was.
Ouyang Yue gently smoothed her sleeve, her eyes narrowing slightly. She hadn't expected Ouyang Rou to abandon Aunt Hong for her own safety. Because of this, Ouyang Rou was utterly detestable; such a person would do anything for herself. Even though she currently had no opportunity to cause trouble, she couldn't be underestimated.
Ouyang Yue went to the Ministry of Justice partly to provoke Ouyang Rou, but she also knew in her heart that Ouyang Zhide would definitely save someone, but only one person, and that person was obviously Ouyang Rou, who was related to him by blood. She could understand the affair between Ouyang Rou and Aunt Hong, and she could understand Ouyang Zhide as well. When Ouyang Hua committed suicide, Ouyang Zhide led his men to the Hong residence to cause a scene, severing ties with the Hong family and even offending the Crown Prince. One reason was to avoid trouble for himself, but more importantly, Ouyang Zhide acted out of a father's affection for his daughter. Although Ouyang Zhide did not love Ouyang Hua, she was still his daughter. If Ouyang Zhide, a military general, could treat his subordinates like brothers, how much more so would he treat his true family members?
She knew Ouyang Zhide would definitely save Ouyang Rou. She was merely acting as a messenger; the trouble she caused upon returning to the capital was enough to arouse Ouyang Zhide's suspicion, even if he couldn't be certain she was responsible. Therefore, for her own sake, she needed to deliver certain messages before Ouyang Zhide. Those messages, regardless of who delivered them, wouldn't change anything. Only one of Aunt Hong and Ouyang Rou could live, and if Ouyang Zhide went, it would likely make Aunt Hong take the blame more directly. However, by having her go, Aunt Hong would have more time to truly see Ouyang Rou's true nature before her death.
Rui Yuhuan walked over and said, "Aunt Hong is really pitiful. The Second Miss doesn't even look at her. She must be very sad. The Third Miss must be heartbroken too. Yes, anyone would feel heartbroken seeing this. It shows that the Third Miss still has feelings. Otherwise, it would be too ugly."
Ouyang Yue silently gazed downstairs, her expression indifferent. Rui Yuhuan sneered, "Third Miss's ruthlessness is beyond my comprehension. Ruthless, ruthless, ruthless—truly too ruthless, and a single blow is fatal. Seeing Aunt Hong like this, I dare not oppose Third Miss any longer. I truly fear my end will be even more tragic." A sinister smile flickered across Rui Yuhuan's face as she stared directly at Ouyang Yue, a complex emotion flashing across her face. She suddenly whispered in Ouyang Yue's ear, "Third Miss, Aunt Hong will become a vengeful ghost, a demon, and come after you. All of this is your fault. If you hadn't returned to the capital, none of this would have happened. Why did you come back? If you die outside, none of this will be averted. Don't you admit you're a jinx? Haven't you caused enough suffering for the General's Mansion? You will die a more tragic death than them sooner or later. If you're smart, you should commit suicide now to atone for your sins; that would be far better than living a wretched life in the future."
Ouyang Yue's eyes were somewhat dazed. Suddenly, a loud bang came from outside. Ouyang Yue was startled, and her eyes suddenly cleared. She turned to look at Rui Yuhuan. Rui Yuhuan's smug smile changed, and she looked at Ouyang Yue with some surprise. Ouyang Yue narrowed her eyes, clenched her fists tightly, and stared at Rui Yuhuan with eyes as sharp as knives.
Rui Yuhuan actually knows hypnosis? No, this is somewhat different from hypnosis; it seems to be soul-controlling magic, a technique from the Miao region used to control people's minds. Even highly skilled martial artists with strong wills can use it. It's similar to some modern interrogation methods, except that interrogations involve psychological manipulation, while hers is more direct, using soul-controlling techniques to directly control people's minds. It's an extremely insidious method. Once someone is under this soul-controlling magic, their soul will be affected. Over time, and with repeated exposure, the soul will be negatively impacted—in the case of becoming a fool or mentally disabled.
However, Rui Yuhuan's skills were clearly lacking; she only knew the basics. Otherwise, when Rui Yuhuan's thoughts were slightly confused earlier, Rui Yuhuan would have had a real opportunity to take advantage of her, and the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Rui Yuhuan hadn't expected Ouyang Yue to suddenly regain consciousness, and while she was furious at the loud noise outside, a smile played on her lips, her eyes gleaming with a venomous light. Although it was regrettable that Ouyang Yue had woken up, it seemed her skills, learned from Pink Butterfly, had improved. With this experience, she wasn't afraid of Ouyang Yue escaping. Moreover, Rui Yuhuan glanced at the execution ground, seeing Aunt Hong exhausted from crying, lying on the ground like a dead dog. Looking at Aunt Hong, a plan suddenly formed in her mind.
Ouyang Yue is just clever enough; she's far from being a match for her. Her schemes against Ouyang Yue aren't just empty words; she has many more tricks up her sleeve. If Ouyang Yue dares to block her path, she'll pay the price.
Ouyang Yue was also startled, carefully examining Rui Yuhuan before lowering her eyes. Did Rui Yuhuan actually know soul-summoning magic? Then she was even more innocent. Now she was very curious about who had taught her. What was Rui Yuhuan's purpose in coming to the General's Mansion? She didn't believe that sending Rui Yuhuan was merely to please Ouyang Zhide. She had a feeling that there was a powerful force behind it all, constantly pushing a conspiracy, and this conspiracy wasn't just aimed at the General's Mansion, or Ouyang Zhide; it seemed to have some inexplicable connection to her as well.
However, you should be careful next time you face Rui Yuhuan. Rui Yuhuan's soul-summoning technique is not yet proficient and will not have much effect on her, but what about the people around her?
As soon as noon passed, the execution ground erupted in deafening cries for mercy and protests of innocence. However, the executioner coldly and mercilessly tossed down the execution plaque. Aunt Hong and the others, powerless to resist, had their heads fall one by one. Thus ended this tomb-robbing case. Judging from the terrified expressions on the faces of the people staring at Aunt Hong and the others, this chilling execution would likely deter them from even considering tomb raiding for several more years.
After the execution, Old Madam Ning led her people back to the General's Mansion. On the way back, Rui Yuhuan rode in the same carriage as Old Madam Ning and Madam Ning. Ouyang Yue called Chuncao and Dongxue to get in the carriage. After waiting for a while, Ouyang Yue suddenly said to Dongxue, "Go and send me a message."
Dongxue immediately leaned close to Ouyang Yue's ear, and Dongxue nodded, "I will take care of it as soon as I return to the manor."
Because of Aunt Hong's matter, the entire General's Mansion suddenly fell silent. Whether it was the masters or the servants, everyone seemed to be walking with their tails between their legs, but this did not include Rui Yuhuan.
She stayed in her room that day. It was nap time, and Old Madam Ning had already gone to bed. She had time, but she didn't take a nap. She stayed in bed with her brows slightly furrowed.
Something's not right. That day, she almost used the soul-summoning technique on Ouyang Yue, but ultimately failed. Yet, Ouyang Yue returned without any reaction whatsoever. Wouldn't most people be terrified of such things? If it were her, she would definitely have gone back to the manor and immediately started causing trouble, plotting to get rid of her. Ouyang Yue's calm demeanor is definitely abnormal.
"Whoosh!"
"who!"
Rui Yuhuan was startled and suddenly turned her head. A person flashed out of the room. When Rui Yuhuan saw the person, her eyes suddenly flashed and she was stunned on the spot. The person sneered: "What, you've forgotten me after only a year?"
Upon hearing this, Rui Yuhuan immediately jumped onto the bed and knelt down: "Miss...you're back." The person who came was none other than Fen Die. Fen Die had suddenly received a mission from the black-clad messenger to leave the capital to find and protect Ouyang Yue. However, at that time, she was already far away from Ouyang Yue and couldn't catch up in a short time. Ouyang Yue was also constantly on the move, so she naturally missed her target. But she didn't dare to return easily before completing her mission, so she had to continue searching. It was only recently that she heard the news that Ouyang Yue had returned to the capital, so she rushed back.
When Pink Butterfly left, she didn't say goodbye to Rui Yuhuan at all. Rui Yuhuan thought Pink Butterfly had some other mission, but since she had already died outside, she had long since stopped caring about Pink Butterfly. Now that she suddenly saw Pink Butterfly return, she was naturally a little panicked.
Pink Butterfly sneered at her: "Looks like you're doing well. You're happy I didn't come back, aren't you?"
"No, no, no, I've been eagerly awaiting your return, Miss. I was just too happy and that's why I lost my composure," Rui Yuhuan immediately explained, bowing her head.
Pink Butterfly snorted coldly: "Fine, I'm a little tired now. Help me rest first, and I'll come back to question you when I wake up."
"Yes, Miss." Rui Yuhuan quickly undressed Fen Die and helped her rest. Looking at Fen Die lying on the bed, a sinister glint appeared on Rui Yuhuan's face. That wretched woman, Fen Die, had actually returned! Wouldn't she suffer even more then? A cold glint flashed in Rui Yuhuan's eyes. It seemed things couldn't be delayed any longer. She had to get rid of Ouyang Yue first, and then find a way to kill Fen Die. Once she controlled the General's Mansion and completed her mission, no one would question her anymore. Yes, that's it!
The next morning, Ouyang Yue had just finished breakfast and went to Anhe Hall to pay her respects to Old Madam Ning. However, she did not expect that Anhe Hall would be so lively today. Except for Ouyang Zhide, who had not yet returned from court, everyone, including Aunt Ming who had difficulty walking, was carried to Anhe Hall.
After Ouyang Yue bowed and stepped aside, Old Madam Ning glanced at everyone in the hall and said, "You all know how much impact this incident involving Concubine Hong has had. Although we managed to get through this safely without implicating the General's Mansion, is that really the end of it? De'er is probably not having an easy time in court now. Concubine Hong is, after all, from the General's Mansion, and she will likely be viewed with some suspicion. As members of the General's Mansion, we share the same responsibility of sharing both glory and loss."
Everyone listened with their heads down, wondering what Old Madam Ning was trying to do by suddenly saying all this. Old Madam Ning said with a gloomy face, "The matter of Concubine Hong must not happen again in the General's Mansion. You all need to be vigilant and make sure nothing else happens that affects the General's Mansion. Concubine Hong wasn't trained by me personally, which is why she caused such a big trouble for some personal gain. Now it seems that I have no choice but to keep an eye on you."
Ning Shi, sitting at the lower seat, frowned. Was Old Ning Shi implying that she was incompetent at managing people, and that the matter of Concubine Hong was related to her negligence?
Old Madam Ning immediately said, "Starting tomorrow, all of you must come to my Anhe Hall early in the morning to sign the rules. If I am not satisfied, none of you are allowed to leave."
As soon as Old Ning finished speaking, everyone was shocked and rushed to Anhe Hall to establish rules!
Whom does the old lady plan to target first?!
☆、118、Playing around!
Inside Anhe Hall, apart from the executed Concubine Hong, the others, including Concubine Ning, Concubine Ouyang Yue, and Concubine Ouyang Rou, Concubine Hua, Concubine Liu, and even the crippled Concubine Ming, were all slightly taken aback and looked at Old Madam Ning with some confusion.
Old Madam Ning was a very strict person, at least in the past. She was strict with both outsiders and herself. Back when she took good care of Consort Ming (Ouyang Hua), Consort Ming knew best how strict Old Madam Ning's rules were. As for others, she didn't necessarily have the same energy to discipline them. Would they oppose her if they were taught well? Old Madam Ning had always ignored the others in the household, and over the years, things had been peaceful.
But at this moment, her sudden talk of establishing rules seemed rather inexplicable, causing a strange feeling to pass through everyone's hearts.
Ning smiled and said, "If Mother wants to establish rules, it's for our own good, and that's only right."
Aunt Hua and Aunt Ming looked at Madam Ning, their expressions changing slightly. Why did Madam Ning answer so readily? This was unlike her usual self; outwardly she flattered Old Madam Ning, but secretly she enjoyed opposing her. However, as soon as Madam Ning said this, the others naturally echoed her sentiments.
Ouyang Yue glanced calmly at Old Madam Ning. Seeing everyone's understanding, the latter's expression softened considerably. She sighed, "This matter concerning Concubine Hong has indeed dealt us a significant blow. Concubine Hong has been in this household for over a decade. Although her actions were sometimes a bit out of line, overall she was quite decent. Who knew she would secretly do something so foolish, ultimately costing herself her life? While she may seem pitiful, this incident doesn't elicit sympathy. To try and challenge the authority of the court and the imperial family single-handedly—that was the biggest mistake Concubine Hong made. This incident should serve as a warning to you all. I hope you will listen more, observe more, and think more carefully in the future. Otherwise, one wrong step will lead to another, and the consequences will fall on you. If anyone makes another mistake that implicates the General's Mansion, don't blame me for being cold-blooded and ruthless."
"Yes, Mother."
"Yes, Grandmother."
"Yes, Madam."
Everyone immediately responded in unison. Old Madam Ning nodded in satisfaction: "Alright, you can arrange your own schedules from now on, one person per day. But as for Aunt Ming... Aunt Ming has difficulty walking, so she'll have to skip it. The others can each take one day. If anything comes up, just put it aside and don't complain to me about this pain or that disaster. I can't listen to that. Trying to escape won't work."
Madam Ning nodded and replied, "Then I will make the allocation. In my opinion, it should be based on age. Rou'er and Yue'er are young, so the older ones can set a good example for them and let them learn from them so that they don't make mistakes later."
Ouyang Yue glanced at Ning Shi with a half-smile, and Aunt Hua immediately said, "What you say makes sense, Madam. However, the General's Mansion is a place that is very particular about rules and regulations. The Old Madam is also very particular about these things. So, the order of precedence must be taken into account. The Third Miss is the legitimate daughter of the mansion. According to the rules, we concubines should be ranked after her."
Ouyang Rou chimed in, "Yes, Aunt Hua is right. Second place should naturally go to Third Sister, and Rou'er should be third." Her eyes were slightly cool as she gazed indifferently at Ouyang Yue. There was indeed some knowledge involved in establishing rules and regulations. Ning Shi, being from the Ning family, received the best education in her childhood. Before her marriage, the household hired tutors to teach her etiquette, so she was exceptionally well-mannered. Ouyang Rou, having often been by Ning Shi's side, naturally followed suit and was no less skilled than the other young ladies.
However, Ouyang Yue is different. From childhood to adulthood, she has never been favored by Old Madam Ning and Madam Ning. The more Ouyang Zhide pampers her, the less he cares about her behavior. Therefore, her behavior and manners are the worst in the mansion. If she is placed between Madam Ning and Ouyang Rouyin, it will only make her seem more unruly. Given Old Madam Ning's temper, how could Ouyang Yue possibly get along with anyone?
Looking at Ouyang Yue, who had not objected, Ning said, "Since no one has any objections, I think it's settled then. The five of us—me, Yue'er, Rou'er, Aunt Hua, and Aunt Liu—will rotate every five days. Let's follow this order. What do you think, Mother?"
Old Madam Ning nodded: "Let's do it this way. Let's get ready and start tomorrow."
Ning and the others immediately responded and withdrew. Before leaving, Ning walked up to Ouyang Yue, looked at her and sighed slightly, saying, "Ah, Yue'er, your grandmother is only doing this for your own good. You are the one who is most worrying in this matter. You must study the rules and regulations well, understand? If you don't understand anything, come and ask your mother."
Ouyang Yue smiled faintly, "Mother, don't worry, Yue'er will definitely learn the rules very well." A strange light flashed in Ouyang Yue's eyes, but Ning Shi was preoccupied with her own thoughts and did not notice her expression.
As everyone left, Ouyang Yue quickly caught up with Aunt Liu and said, "It's been over a year since I last saw you, Aunt Liu, you haven't changed at all."
Aunt Liu bowed to Ouyang Yue and said, "I am sorry to have troubled you, Third Miss. I am well. I am grateful for your concern."
Ouyang Yue narrowed her eyes slightly, then smiled and said, "Oh, why is Aunt Liu being so polite? I thought we were friends and allies in this General's Mansion. It's better for Aunt Liu and me to be more intimate."
Aunt Liu said frankly, "The Third Miss is the noble eldest daughter of the household, while I am merely a concubine and dare not presume to be worthy of her."
Ouyang Yue said nonchalantly, "What are you saying, Aunt Liu? We're all family in this General's Mansion, so we should take care of each other. I won't beat around the bush. Aunt Liu knows I've never learned these rules before. My grandmother hired tutors and headmistresses for the mansion, but nothing came of it. If I were in front of my grandmother like this, I don't know how she would scold me to death. I'm also afraid of embarrassing my mother, and I can't find anyone else. I'll have to trouble Aunt Liu to give me some guidance on learning these rules."
“This… Miss Third is, after all, the legitimate daughter of the household. How could I, a lowly concubine, be qualified to teach you?” Aunt Liu said hesitantly.
Ouyang Yue waved her hand: "If I say I can teach, then I can teach. Do you think Aunt Liu's etiquette is any worse than mine?"
Aunt Liu hesitated for a moment before finally pursing her lips and replying, "Since Miss San insists, this humble concubine will respectfully comply."
Ouyang Yue smiled with a hint of sarcasm: "You certainly deserve it, Aunt Liu."
Not far away, a figure watched the two talking, then turned and slipped into Anhetang.
Inside Anhe Hall, Rui Yuhuan helped Old Madam Ning back to her room to rest. Old Madam Ning smiled at Rui Yuhuan with increasing satisfaction, saying, "Yuhuan, you've thought things through so well. This General's Mansion should have established rules long ago, otherwise, the incident with Concubine Hong might not have happened. She died cleanly, and De'er wasn't implicated, but there's a lot of discontent towards him in the court. If this continues, even if De'er is favored by the Emperor, it's hard to guarantee his promotion or even if he can stay in his current position. At this time, we should indeed start by taking action within the mansion and absolutely not let them cause any more trouble."
Rui Yuhuan smiled and helped Old Madam Ning lie down on the bed, saying, "Old Madam, you flatter me too much. You dote on me so much, so it's only right that I do more for you."
Old Madam Ning lay there with a smile, her face almost blooming into a chrysanthemum: "You are too modest. Even Caiyue, who is of the same background as my Ning family, is not as good as you. You are the one in this mansion who pleases me the most."
Rui Yuhuan smiled faintly: "Madam, you should go to sleep, or you'll be sleepy again during the day."
Old Mrs. Ning smiled, lay down on the bed and closed her eyes. As soon as she lay down, she began to breathe slowly and gently, clearly indicating that she was very sleepy.
Rui Yuhuan immediately turned and left the inner room. Outside, Xi Mama was standing there. Rui Yuhuan looked at Xi Mama with a cold glint in her eyes: "Xi Mama, why are you still standing here? The old lady doesn't need to be served now. I think the outer courtyard of Anhe Hall should be cleaned. Seeing everyone else busy, Xi Mama, why don't you lend a hand and help clean it up first? Otherwise, the old lady might get angry when she sees it."
Madam Xi stared blankly at Rui Yuhuan, then turned and left coldly. Rui Yuhuan watched her go, spitting out a curse: "What a piece of trash! Now she has to obey my orders, thinking she's some kind of precious person in this mansion? Just a dog of a servant, daring to defy me." Over the past year, Rui Yuhuan had worked hard, and Old Madam Ning trusted her more and more. Even the entire Anhe Hall, from top to bottom, big and small, was handled by Rui Yuhuan. Rui Yuhuan had never liked Madam Xi, and Madam Xi always liked to oppose her. Now that Rui Yuhuan had gained power, one could imagine how those former servants of Anhe Hall were faring.
At this moment, a maid came over and whispered a few words in Rui Yuhuan's ear. Rui Yuhuan's face immediately lit up with joy. She turned to the maid and said, "Go and keep an eye on Mama Xi. Tell me everything about her where she goes and who she meets, without missing a single detail, understand?"
"Yes, Miss Rui."
Rui Yuhuan smiled. "Ouyang Yue, why did you come back? Wouldn't it have been better if you had just died out there? You had to come back and fall into my hands. You really deserve to die."
The next morning, Ouyang Zhide left the General's Mansion with a smile on his face. Ning Shi led a group of people to Anhe Hall to pay their respects. Next, Ning Shi should have followed Old Ning Shi to serve them. However, just as everyone was about to leave, Old Ning Shi suddenly said, "Yue'er, stay here. You are the one with the worst manners in the mansion. You should stay by your mother's side and learn more, so that you won't keep causing problems."
The others were taken aback. Ouyang Rou sneered. Ouyang Yue was learning from Madam Ning, which meant she wouldn't just have to follow the rules every five days; she was effectively getting an extra day off. And given Madam Ning's temperament, it was unlikely she'd be allowed to get away with it in the next couple of days. Madam Ning was the most vengeful person. For the past year, she hadn't dared to leave the manor, fearing being gossiped about behind her back. She hadn't made a move since Ouyang Yue's return, but it turned out she was waiting here. She was just waiting to see the show, to watch how Ouyang Yue was tortured.
Aunt Hua gave a cold laugh, while Aunt Liu simply stared calmly at Ouyang Yue, her expression unreadable.
Ouyang Yue, however, showed a relieved expression and said, "Grandmother is so thoughtful. I was worried about finding someone to teach me these things, but Grandmother thought of that for me. Grandmother really loves me the most. I thank you in advance. With Mother's guidance, my etiquette will definitely improve by leaps and bounds. I will definitely not embarrass you, Grandmother. Just wait and see."
Old Ning was taken aback, then snorted coldly: "Don't talk big. When you actually do a good job, then you can come and be proud of yourself."
Ning Shi's lips curled into a meaningful smile as she gazed at Ouyang Yue. Was she truly naive or feigning ignorance? Anyone could see that Old Ning Shi was deliberately manipulating her. Old Ning Shi had previously spoken to Ouyang Zhide about the situation. No one had special privileges; if Ouyang Yue were to complain to Ouyang Zhide, she would appear to be in the wrong, since Old Ning Shi's actions were originally for the good of the household and for Ouyang Zhide's benefit. However, Ouyang Yue was about to suffer. Ning Shi looked intently at Ouyang Yue, who smiled sincerely and frankly. Ning Shi was taken aback; she had indeed encountered a fool.
Ouyang Rou, Aunt Hua, and Aunt Liu all left Anhe Hall with some reluctance. As soon as they left Anhe Hall, Ouyang Rou laughed and said, "I want to see how long Third Sister can last. She is still laughing so heartlessly. I really don't know what to say about her. Only someone like her can treat this kind of thing as a good thing. Hahaha, I'm waiting to see her cry."
Aunt Hua smiled as well, but looked at Aunt Liu and said, "Aunt Liu seems to have a good relationship with the Third Miss. Why do you seem so indifferent now? Was it all just an act in front of others?"
Aunt Liu's expression changed slightly, and she said, "Aunt Hua, instead of wasting your time, why don't you learn more about etiquette? In our General's Mansion, there are only two people who are a cause for concern."
Aunt Hua's face immediately darkened: "What do you mean by this? Are you mocking me?"
Aunt Liu curled her lips slightly: "I had no such intention, but if that's what Aunt Hua thinks, there's nothing I can do. I'll be going now." With that, Aunt Liu turned and left. Aunt Hua gritted her teeth in anger. In this General's Mansion, weren't there two people with the worst manners? One was Ouyang Yue, who had no one to teach her from childhood, and the other was Aunt Hua herself. Coming from a brothel, she knew how to flatter men; she knew nothing of the proper etiquette of the inner quarters. Everyone else, without exception, had a tutor to teach them manners before marriage—even Aunt Liu, whose family had fallen on hard times, was still from a scholarly background. Although Aunt Liu didn't say it explicitly, she was subtly mocking Aunt Hua for her lack of manners.
Ouyang Rou watched the two bicker, gave a cold smile, and turned to leave. However, a strange feeling crossed her mind. This Aunt Liu used to be someone who would easily make enemies. How could she dare to go against Aunt Hua now and even argue with her? She has changed quite a bit.
Inside Anhe Hall, Old Madam Ning sat in the hall, with Rui Yuhuan standing to the side. Madam Ning then solemnly handed a cup of tea to Old Madam Ning to drink. Old Madam Ning simply picked it up, took a small sip, and put it down, saying to Ouyang Yue, "Alright, your mother has already made it. Now you try and see how it goes."
Ouyang Yue held the teacup with steady steps and a calm demeanor. Her movements as she served the tea were exceptionally graceful and disciplined. Ning Shi was slightly taken aback. When had Ouyang Yue learned such manners? She had deliberately refused to have a tutor in the manor to wear her down. Could it be that Ouyang Yue had secretly learned them on her own? Ning Shi's expression darkened slightly. That would truly be a miscalculation on her part.
A strange glint flashed in Old Madam Ning's eyes, and Rui Yuhuan was even more surprised. Her eyes darkened, and she suddenly coughed. A maid who had been standing perfectly still suddenly stretched her legs out to Ouyang Yue's feet, whether by slipping or something else. Ouyang Yue, with her keen eyesight, naturally saw the maid's action. She suddenly ducked, as if about to fall, and cried out in surprise, "Ah!" The tea in her hand flew out with it. "Pfft, splat!" Ouyang Yue turned around and straightened up, then patted her chest violently. "Oh, oh, that scared me to death! I really thought I was going to fall! Luckily, the tea is fine. Huh, where's the tea?" Ouyang Yue, still looking extremely frightened, smiled and was about to offer the tea to Old Madam Ning when she suddenly realized the teacup was gone and looked up in surprise.
"Oh dear, Miss Rui, what happened to you... why do you look like a drowned rat? Did the dew on the roof of Anhe Hall soak you like this? You look terrible." Ouyang Yue blinked, looking at Rui Yuhuan with a teacup on her head, her face and clothes wet and covered with teacup scum. Her eyes were wide with surprise, her mouth slightly open, and a yellow leaf was still hanging on her eyelashes. She looked as disheveled as could be.
Rui Yuhuan glared angrily, and upon hearing Ouyang Yue's words, she sneered in anger: "Third Miss, don't you know why I'm in such a sorry state? Can't you see what's on my head?"
Ouyang Yue stared wide-eyed at the sight, then exclaimed in surprise, "Ah! This... how did my teacup end up on Miss Rui's head? What a coincidence!" She rushed over, grabbed the lid, and looked at the shattered teacup on the floor. "What a pity," she sighed, "the teacup is broken. Miss Rui, since you're so capable of catching it, why didn't you catch it completely? What a waste of a whole set of cups."
Who caused all this? That bitch Ouyang Yue actually turned around and accused her. It was clearly her own fault for not holding on properly; the teacup was slammed onto her head. The knife was hit because it was too fast and she didn't have time to react. And yet she still dares to say such things to her.
Old Madam Ning was also taken aback for a moment, then turned to slight anger: "You still dare to talk about Yu Huan? You can't even walk carefully and you actually stumble. Look at any lady from a respectable family, how do you walk? It's simply not proper. Never."