The two guards dragged Consort Ming out. These two guards were no ordinary people; they were soldiers brought from the border by Ouyang Zhide. They only obeyed Ouyang Zhide and showed no mercy to those who made mistakes. Each of them drew a large sword, their faces expressionless, and directly slashed at Consort Ming's ankle!
"Ah! No!" Aunt Ming's eyes widened, but she saw blood gushing out and legs separated, a scene of utter devastation. Her eyes widened, unsure whether it was from pain or fear, and with a "bang," she collapsed to the ground, unconscious!
In the entire Liucui Courtyard, even the softest breathing could be heard. They hadn't expected that the master would punish Concubine Ming so severely upon his return. Although he hadn't killed Concubine Ming as requested by the old lady, he also hadn't released her as she had asked!
Old Madam Ning felt a tightness in her chest from anger. With her eyes sullen, she pushed Xi Mama, saying, "Let's go! Back to Anhe Hall!" happy Mama didn't dare to delay and immediately helped Old Madam Ning out. If they stayed any longer, the old lady would surely faint from anger!
Rui Yuhuan naturally followed her out, but as she walked away, she passed by Ouyang Yue and chuckled, "Third Miss, you have some impressive skills. I admire you!"
Ouyang Yue smiled faintly, "Thank you for the compliment. This is just to give Miss Rui a sneak peek. We have much more to see, so Miss Rui, be prepared!"
Rui Yuhuan sneered: "Miss Ouyang, it's too early to say anything. We'll see who comes out on top in the future!"
Ouyang Yue curled her lips and said nothing more.
When Ouyang Zhide returned, he naturally took charge of the household. He ordered his men to take the unconscious Consort Ming back to Xiangning Courtyard, but didn't send any servants to fetch a doctor. Li Cuier and Tian Niu were both dead, so Ouyang Zhide vented his anger on Xi Que, ordering his men to drag her to the General's Mansion and beat her until she was barely alive in front of all the servants. Then, he sent all her relatives in the mansion to the most desolate and impoverished estate of the General's Mansion to do the lowest-paying farm work.
Ouyang Zhide's swift and decisive action immediately stopped the rumors from spreading within the manor. However, he couldn't forget the ambiguous smile on Ouyang Yue's face as she left, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. Ouyang Zhide clenched his fists, his expression growing even colder!
No! He needs to talk to Yue'er!
Rui Yuhuan accompanied Old Madam Ning back to Anhe Hall, helped her lie down on the bed, and couldn't help but sigh: "I didn't expect such a thing to happen in the manor. Old Madam, please don't be angry. You know that the General loves the Third Miss the most. It's understandable that the Third Miss was so stubborn after being wronged. After all, you are the Third Miss's elder. The Third Miss is still young and doesn't understand human relationships well enough. Please don't be angry with the Third Miss."
Upon hearing this, Old Ning felt her chest rise and fall even more violently.
Madam Xi said with a stern face, "Miss Rui, the old lady must be tired today. I think you should go home first. You must have been exhausted and frightened just now. You should go back and get some rest. If you are interested, you can go and take a look at the ritual at the Five Elements Temple in a few days to get rid of your bad luck!"
"You!" Rui Yuhuan frowned immediately, but then quickly realized something was wrong and smiled, "Thank you for your concern, Aunt Xi. I was really frightened by the bloody scene just now. I need to go back and rest."
Mother Xi said expressionlessly, "Please!"
Rui Yuhuan left Anhetang with a cold face, gritting her teeth: "That happy Mama is really difficult to deal with. I can't let her ruin my plans!"
Looking at the sleeping Old Madam Ning, a flicker of something flashed in her eyes. Something was definitely wrong with the old lady! After thinking it over and making sure Old Madam Ning was asleep, she quietly left Anhe Hall, then made her way through a maze of turns to a very secluded abandoned garden. She pretended to casually throw something away and then hurriedly left.
After leaving Anhetang, Rui Yuhuan was sullen the whole way. The more she thought about it, the more indignant she became. She felt that ever since she and Ouyang Zhide returned to the capital, she had been suppressed by Ouyang Yue. Moreover, time and time again, Ouyang Yue had escaped from her plans. Ouyang Yue was talented, beautiful, and intelligent. When had she ever encountered such an embarrassing and frustrating situation? She would never let this go!
However, the moment she stepped into her room, Rui Yuhuan's face suddenly turned pale. At the same time, large beads of sweat appeared on her face, and she immediately knelt heavily on the ground with a "thud." Her body convulsed in pain, and she trembled, her eyes wide, completely bewildered. Why was her body suddenly in so much pain!
Just then, a person walked out of the room. She only saw a pair of boots embroidered with strange patterns, slowly approaching her.
"you……"
☆、078, smash it!
For some reason, as the man approached, Rui Yuhuan felt her heart tighten inexplicably, her throat grew drier and drier, and finally she could only widen her eyes and strain to look up. All she saw was a man dressed in black, staring at her expressionlessly.
This man also had a very sinister appearance. His eyes were very narrow and long, not very big, but they were sharp and piercing. He had a hooked nose and thin, bloodless lips. These features combined to give him a terrifying and vicious look.
"You... how did you get here..." Rui Yuhuan gasped in pain, each word seeming to be uttered with the agony of exhausting all her strength.
The hook-nosed man sneered, then suddenly stretched out his leg and kicked Rui Yuhuan, who was in excruciating pain, hard in the face!
"Wow!" Rui Yuhuan was already surprised by the man's behavior, let alone the fact that the man's kick was so fast and ruthless. Rui Yuhuan was kicked and rolled on the ground, vomiting a mouthful of blood. It took her a long time to recover.
Rui Yuhuan's face was extremely ugly. She shouted at Pink Butterfly and Bean Sprout, "What are you all standing there for? Help me up right now!" Bean Sprout was startled and immediately came over to help Rui Yuhuan sit up. Pink Butterfly was a little slow and only managed to stand behind Rui Yuhuan.
Rui Yuhuan glared at the hook-nosed man and hissed, "What are you doing? I have a business relationship with your master, how dare you disrespect me? Are you out of your mind?! I will definitely sue you for disrespect and punish you severely!" Rui Yuhuan was already holding a grudge because her plan had failed today, and she didn't expect to be bullied as soon as she returned to Green Willow Courtyard. She was furious and almost lost her temper!
The man with the hooked nose, however, wore a mocking expression and said coldly, "Tell me a story? Ha, my master is very angry about what you did. Not only are you disobedient, but you also like to do things that are not your own business. This time, it was my master who sent me here."
After speaking, the hook-nosed man approached Rui Yuhuan. Looking at the latter's face and hearing his words, Rui Yuhuan's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help but feel afraid. He kept shrinking back, but the hook-nosed man moved extremely quickly, reaching him in a few steps. He raised his leg and kicked him again. The hook-nosed man's strength was very strange; the kick to Rui Yuhuan's face caused him great pain. Strangely, although Rui Yuhuan coughed up blood, his face wasn't seriously injured.
Rui Yuhuan collapsed to the ground in agony. A sudden, excruciating pain shot through her stomach. She clutched her stomach and rolled around on the ground, large beads of sweat rolling down her face. Her expression was contorted with pain as she cried out, "It hurts, it hurts, it hurts so much!"
The hook-nosed man sneered, "The master is very dissatisfied with your actions."
Rui Yuhuan cried out in disbelief and anger, "It was you! It was you! Why? What did you feed me? Why am I in so much pain?" Then she softened her tone, "Don't forget, we're partners. What do you mean by this? How can you expect me to continue working for you? This isn't a rational thing to do."
The hook-nosed man gave a mocking look: "You're wrong. Who is our master? He can find countless obedient subordinates to do his bidding. You just happened to be a good fit, which is why you were sent here. Unfortunately, you're becoming increasingly unaware of your place. Our master is very angry. This small punishment is just a warning. If there's a next time, the suffering will be far more severe!"
Sweat poured down Rui Yuhuan's face even more, her expression shifting strangely: "Warning, I... what did you feed me?"
The man with the hooked nose chuckled, his voice surprisingly softer, but combined with his cold tone, it sent chills down one's spine: "Just to make you obedient, does it feel good? You should know that the master's methods are not limited to this. If you disobey again, the master can make you wish you were dead at any time!"
Rui Yuhuan felt her whole body trembling: "I, I understand, I will definitely not do it again, please rest assured, my master..." Rui Yuhuan was having a fierce internal struggle. She was very unwilling, but the pain in her body did not allow her to be stubborn anymore, so she had no choice but to give in.
The hook-nosed man then revealed a faint smile: "The master instructed you to take control of the General's Mansion, but not only have you failed to do so, you've also done unnecessary things. You're only alerting the enemy! And the master's latest order is that Ouyang Yue cannot die; the master wants her alive!"
Rui Yuhuan's body stiffened. When she arrived, she had indeed been instructed to only control the General's Mansion; further instructions would follow, and she was told not to act rashly. However, Rui Yuhuan had already harbored her own agenda when she left, and she had her reasons for doing so. She hadn't expected that person to know so much about the situation. Wait, Rui Yuhuan suddenly turned and coldly stared at Pink Butterfly, a fierce resolve forming in her heart, her teeth clenched slightly. How could she forget that this bitch? She was sent by those people; the traitor was definitely her!
Rui Yuhuan knew the wisdom of not fighting a losing battle, so she smiled slightly and compromised, saying, "I was just trying to complete the mission, but Ouyang Yue was too disobedient, so I wanted to teach her a lesson. I will naturally do my job well in the future, please rest assured, sir, I will pay attention in the future."
The hook-nosed man nodded in satisfaction, but Rui Yuhuan said softly, "Now you can stop feeling pain, right?"
The man with the hooked nose nodded and slowly walked towards Rui Yuhuan. Just as the latter was filled with anticipation, the man with the hooked nose stretched out a foot and kicked Rui Yuhuan in the neck. Rui Yuhuan stared wide-eyed in disbelief and said, "You..." Then she fainted. Douya was startled, but only felt a pain in the back of her neck, and then everything went black and she also fainted.
Then only two conscious people remained in the room. Pink Butterfly immediately bowed to the hook-nosed man: "Your Excellency, Envoy."
The hook-nosed man nodded, glancing at Pink Butterfly with satisfaction, and said, "You did a good job. The master will reward you handsomely after it's done."
Pink Butterfly immediately showed a joyful expression: "Thank you for the important task, Master, and thank you for the trust of the Envoy. Pink Butterfly will live up to the high expectations of Master and the Envoy and will definitely complete the mission well." She glanced at Rui Yuhuan and Bean Sprout on the ground, Pink Butterfly's expression turned slightly cold, "But this Rui Yuhuan is a useless fellow. Can she really do it? I'm afraid she will ruin Master's plans."
The hook-nosed man sneered, "She's just a smokescreen put up by our master in front of others. She's nothing to worry about. But there's something I need you to investigate secretly."
Pink Butterfly immediately knelt down: "Your subordinate will obey Your Excellency's orders."
“Recently, our men have entered the Great Zhou Kingdom multiple times, only to be inexplicably killed. We don’t know where these people came from, and they are extremely ruthless, leaving no survivors each time. This matter has greatly angered our master. I have already sent people to investigate openly. With the General’s Mansion as your cover, you are now to investigate in secret. You must find these villains.” The hook-nosed man’s expression was indescribably sinister.
Pink Butterfly was startled, for no one knew better than her how capable the organization's members were. Someone had killed them all without anyone noticing. If the envoy hadn't said it himself, Pink Butterfly would have thought it was all a joke. Her expression was more serious than ever before: "Yes, Your Excellency, Pink Butterfly will do everything in her power to find out who is behind this and will not disappoint my master and Your Excellency."
"Okay, I'm leaving." The hook-nosed man finished speaking, turned, and left without even glancing at Rui Yuhuan and Douya, who had fainted to the side. Although what he wanted to discuss with Rui Yuhuan earlier was on his master's orders, it was clearly irrelevant to them; this second matter was his primary objective. Otherwise, he could have easily sent anyone to order Rui Yuhuan around; there would have been no need for him to come all this way.
Pink Butterfly respectfully saw the hook-nosed man off, then returned to see Rui Yuhuan lying on the ground. She gave a cold smile and thought, "What an ignorant woman!"
Aunt Ming, having broken both legs, was escorted back to Xiangning Courtyard by Granny Qi and the others, who were trembling with fear. However, upon arriving at Xiangning Courtyard, they learned that the master had forbade the servants from finding a doctor to treat Aunt Ming's injuries. This greatly alarmed Granny Qi and the others. Although the master had shown leniency to Aunt Ming in public, broken legs were no small matter; wasn't this tantamount to trying to kill Aunt Ming?
Madam Qi's heart trembled. She knew the master was furious, but she couldn't just watch Concubine Ming die! She had followed Concubine Ming from the Ministry of Revenue's residence. If Concubine Ming died, she would either not return to the Ministry of Revenue, or even if she did, she would be blamed for failing to serve her mistress. If she remained in the General's Mansion, and Concubine Ming's misdeeds were exposed and punished by the master, Madam Qi, as Concubine Ming's most trusted servant, would be letting down the other masters if she wasn't severely punished. Madam Qi understood all this perfectly, so she absolutely couldn't let anything happen to Concubine Ming.
Qi's mother paced anxiously around the room, then said to Yang'er, "Go quickly! There are some good wound medicines in the small storeroom that are good at stopping bleeding. The master forbade calling a doctor, but he didn't say we couldn't get medicine. Get some medicine to help the wound heal, and also get some hot water and some white cloths. Go get them quickly!"
Yang'er immediately wrote it down and ran out of the mansion to prepare. She soon returned with the medicine and she and Xiao'er divided the work and busied themselves. When everything was ready, Qi Mama trembled as she pulled up Aunt Ming's trouser legs. When she saw the two bloody severed legs, she, Yang'er, and Xiao'er all gasped in shock.
Deep within the inner quarters, they hadn't witnessed such a horrific scene. Even the servants who had been beaten to death for their mistakes were not as shocking to them as Aunt Ming. Her legs were severed from the ankles, and blood still seemed to be seeping out. The gore was so gruesome that it made them want to vomit.
With clenched teeth and trembling hands, Aunt Qi first cleaned Aunt Ming and then applied the medicine.
"Ah, it hurts..." However, what kind of wound medicine was that? Applying it to the wound would naturally cause pain. Aunt Ming woke up in pain, covered in sweat: "It hurts! You lowly servants, what are you doing!"
Madam Qi whispered, "Auntie, please bear with it. I'm about to apply the medicine for you. Just bear with it a little longer."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Ming struggled violently: "What medicine? I'm fine! What medicine? I'm fine! Even you want to humiliate me! I'm fine! I don't want medicine!" Aunt Ming immediately recalled the various humiliations and injuries she had suffered at Anhe Hall. Her heart hardened, yet she desperately tried to deny what had happened. It was as if if she didn't admit it, those things could be as if they had never occurred!
"Aunt... Aunt..."
Little did Aunt Ming know that her sudden awakening and frantic screams caused blood to seep from her blind right eye again, trickling down from the inner corner of her eye, a sight even more horrifying than her broken legs. Mama Qi, Ming'er, and Xiao'er watched, their hearts pounding with fear, too terrified to even look at Aunt Ming.
Finally, Madam Qi gritted her teeth and said, "Go, call a few more maids over to hold Aunt Ming down. We must apply the medicine quickly, otherwise, if she bleeds too much, she will be in even greater danger."
Aunt Ming roared, "You lowly servants! A bunch of lowly servants! You've gone too far! How dare you force me! Ahhh! I'll kill you all!" However, the next moment, Aunt Ming was restrained. Mama Qi had something stuffed into Aunt Ming's mouth and began cleaning her eyes and the wounds on her broken leg. One after another, soaked white cloths were thrown down. Mama Qi and the others struggled greatly to subdue the struggling Aunt Ming, apply medicine, and bandage her wounds. After all this, not only had Aunt Ming fainted from the pain, but Mama Qi and the others were also exhausted, collapsing to the ground, panting heavily.
So no one noticed that something white seemed to be moving around on the cloth used to wipe Aunt Ming's blood-stained face, but after a while, it disappeared. Those who saw it probably thought it was just an illusion...
Ouyang Yue returned to Mingyue Pavilion with Chuncao and Dongxue. The servants, seeing the three women's grim expressions, trembled with fear. Those who were originally on good terms with Xique and Li Cuier didn't dare raise their heads, fearing Ouyang Yue would use this as an excuse to vent her anger on them. They harbored resentment; Xique and Li Cuier's betrayal of their young mistress was a grave matter. Fortunately, they were punished by the master, otherwise they would never have let them off the hook—it concerned their own safety.
Upon entering the inner room, Chuncao said with dissatisfaction, "The old lady is so muddle-headed, she's a complete old hag! The evidence is so conclusive, even a fool would know what happened, yet she insists on protecting Aunt Ming. It's utterly despicable!" As she spoke, her eyes reddened. "She was ruthless enough to harm Miss before. She's Miss's own grandmother, how could there be such a person? She's vicious and heartless, why doesn't she just die!"
Dongxue immediately reminded her, "Keep your voice down, or outsiders will hear you."
Chuncao, however, felt embarrassed and said, "So what if I heard it? Even if the old lady were here, I would still dare to say it. She is clearly unable to distinguish right from wrong and is senile. How many people were watching at Anhe Hall before? I am not the only one who thinks so. She is just a senile old idiot who doesn't understand human affairs!"
Dongxue's expression was also not good: "I know you're angry, but you have to suppress it, otherwise it will only cause trouble for Miss."
Ouyang Yue was deep in thought. She felt that Old Ning was also very strange. Although she disliked her very much before, she would never have gone to this extent. Now it seemed as if she wanted to kill her on purpose.
Chuncao pursed her lips and said, "Miss, are we just going to let this go like this? This is a great opportunity to deal with Aunt Ming. If we miss this chance, wouldn't we be leaving ourselves a future problem?"
Ouyang Yue said in a deep voice, "How could I not know this principle? It's just that my grandmother is absolutely against it, and my father has already punished her. If I were to take action now, wouldn't I be going against the two of them? This would not do me any good, but would only give those villains an excuse to make trouble."
“Then…” Chuncao’s face showed resentment.
A cold glint flashed in Ouyang Yue's eyes: "However, if I don't use this to kill Aunt Ming, I have other ways to vent my hatred!"
"What does Miss want to do?" Chuncao perked up again, and even Dongxue turned to look at her.
Ouyang Yue smiled meaningfully and said, "Go and find all the strong and healthy servants of Mingyue Pavilion. Have Zhang Mama prepare some delicious food today so that everyone in Mingyue Pavilion can enjoy it. After dinner, I will take them to digest their food."
"To aid digestion?" Chuncao and Dongxue exchanged glances, still unsure of what their young mistress was up to. However, judging from her expression, they knew they couldn't let Aunt Ming benefit. Chuncao immediately responded and went to gather the servants from Mingyue Pavilion. She even found a few maids from the manor. Although she trusted her young mistress, she was still worried that her mistress might suffer a loss.
For dinner, Mingyue Pavilion had a much better meal today. The servants in the manor ate a lot of fish and meat, which they had longed for but could not get before. They ate with their mouths full and their bellies bulging.
After having dinner in her room, Ouyang Yue came out with Chuncao and Dongxue. Seeing a courtyard full of servants resting comfortably, she smiled and said, "Looks like you've all had your fill."
Upon hearing this, all the servants immediately stood up and knelt down to pay their respects to Ouyang Yue. One of them excitedly said, "Third Miss is so generous. This servant is deeply grateful. This meal was so delicious. I can still feel the aroma in my mouth."
"Yes, yes, it's so delicious, thank you, miss."
Ouyang Yue waved her hand, "You are all loyal servants, so as your mistress, I naturally have to take care of you. It's all only right, no need to thank me." But after glancing around, she said softly, "However, I need to go somewhere now. Would you be willing to accompany me?"
The servants, without any suspicion, said, "We will definitely accompany you!"
Ouyang Yue nodded: "Alright, take your weapons and come out with me."
"Huh?" Everyone was puzzled, wondering what they were going to do with the weapons. But before they could ask, Chuncao had already ordered, "What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and get ready! Do you want to keep Miss waiting?"
Startled, the people dispersed. When they returned, some carried wooden planks, some carried scissors, and others carried rattan canes, feather dusters, and other items. Ouyang Yue nodded in satisfaction: "Let's go!" She turned and led the way.
The servants behind her were somewhat confused. Where was the Third Miss going? They had been in the manor for so many years, and they had never seen a mistress let a group of servants armed with weapons roam around the General's mansion. Had the Third Miss been treated unfairly today, and gone mad? These servants murmured to themselves, but they could only follow. Not only were most of them servants of Mingyue Pavilion, and they were all to Ouyang Yue's utmost respect, but they had also just had a hearty meal at Mingyue Pavilion. No matter what, the Third Miss had given orders, and they had to obey and follow!
Before long, Ouyang Yue arrived at the entrance of Xiangning Courtyard with her servants. The servants suddenly realized that the Third Miss was indeed indignant and had come to cause trouble for Aunt Ming.
The servants of Xiangning Courtyard had just finished applying medicine to Consort Ming and were exhausted. When they saw Ouyang Yue arrive, they looked nervous and were even more afraid. One of the maids came over and said tremblingly, "Third...Third Miss, Consort Ming just took the medicine and fainted. She can't see you today."
Ouyang Yue ignored her, coldly staring at Xiangning Courtyard, a chilling smile curving her lips: "Guards, smash it!"
"Huh?" Not only the servants from Xiangning Courtyard, but also the servants from Mingyue Pavilion who followed behind were stunned. This Third Miss leading her servants to smash up her aunt's courtyard was absolutely unprecedented. They had never heard of it before, nor had they ever imagined it!
Everyone gaped, but no one dared to step forward. The rivalry between the Third Miss and Concubine Ming was a matter between masters; they were just servants. Wouldn't it be easy for Concubine Ming to cause them trouble later? They were already starting to regret their actions. They had accepted the Third Miss's invitation today, but even if they wanted to, they felt a little uneasy!
"What are you standing there for? Anyone who dares to hesitate even a fraction of a second today will be kicked out of Mingyue Pavilion immediately." Ouyang Yue's voice was very stern.
The servants were shocked. The Third Miss was going to send them away? Right now, the most favored mistresses in the manor were Concubine Hua and the young lady. Concubine Hua had just miscarried, so even though she was favored, it didn't mean anything. The Third Miss was the legitimate daughter of the manor. If they left Mingyue Pavilion, not only would they be ridiculed, but more importantly, if they offended the Third Miss, the consequences would be extremely bad.
They were struggling internally. At that moment, Dongxue was the first to rush out, kicking the door to Aunt Ming's room. The door creaked and nearly collapsed under her kick. Chuncao also rushed out, grabbing a heavy wooden stick. Despite its weight, she gritted her teeth and smashed it against a wooden chair outside Xiangning Courtyard, shattering it into four pieces. Only then did Lady Mingyue realize the gravity of the situation. Since things had already come to this point, she knew she would be resented by Aunt Ming regardless of whether she acted or not. So why not vent her anger?