"Bang bang bang!"
"Bang bang bang!"
"Who is it? In the middle of the night, waiting to be reincarnated?" A roar came from the courtyard. Then the door was flung open, and Old Man Tie poked his head out. He paused for a moment when he saw who was outside. Ouyang Yue said, "I have something to tell you."
"Come in."
The two did not linger in the hall, but followed Old Tie through the courtyard, turning left and right, until they arrived at a secret room. As soon as they entered, Old Tie said, "What's wrong with you? Why are you looking for me so late at night? What happened?"
Ouyang Yue bowed respectfully to Elder Tie: "Elder Tie is not young and is very knowledgeable. I would like to ask you if you know who knows the most about ghosts, monsters, Buddhism and Taoism. I have something to ask you."
Old Tie was taken aback: "You're so young, yet you believe in these crooked and heretical things..." But seeing Ouyang Yue's lowered eyes and serious expression, he said, "If you ask who is the number one Buddhist in the Great Zhou Dynasty, it would be Abbot Minghui of Wuhua Temple, and the number one Taoist would be Celestial Master Liuyun of Baiyun Temple. However, neither of them are easy for you to meet. But compared to Celestial Master Liuyun, you have a better chance with Master Minghui. This is my nameplate, Old Tie. Go to Wuhua Temple and have someone give it to Master Minghui. He should give me some face."
The token that Elder Tie took out was not exquisite, but the material was very special. Ouyang Yue had no time to observe it at the moment, so she immediately accepted it and knelt down to Elder Tie: "Senior, I will remember your kindness today for the rest of my life. If there is anything you need in the future, please feel free to speak." After saying that, she got up and left not long after, but her back was straight and her neck was upright from beginning to end.
Old Tie stroked his white beard and muttered, "Why has this girl suddenly become so polite? It's the first time she's been so respectful to an old man like me. It's really making me uncomfortable." Then he turned to someone and said, "Hey, did you hear that? This maid is in trouble. Aren't you going to help her?"
The side wall of the inner chamber suddenly opened slowly, and a man dressed in black with an iron mask walked out. He looked at the tightly closed stone door of the secret chamber and said, "I owe you this favor."
Old Tie gave a strange smile: "No, no, no, this is between me and the girl. What does it have to do with you? What are you to me?"
Old Man Hei couldn't see the expression on the masked man's face, but he could see that the man's eyes were unfathomably black, and he said coldly and firmly, "She is my woman, of course it's none of my business."
"Tch!" Old Man Hei spat in dissatisfaction, but the black-clad, iron-masked man had already left through the stone chamber door. Old Man Hei stroked his beard, his smile enigmatic...
Baohao Money Shop
Ouyang Yue came over and identified herself, and was then invited upstairs. In the room, Leng Can looked at Ouyang Yue with a dark face and said, "What are you up to today? You've almost made me fall apart. Why didn't you trust me and came over in person?"
Ouyang Yue didn't say much, but said in a deep voice, "I have other things to say. I'll leave my businesses in the capital to you. Continue to operate the other shops besides Meiyige as planned, and please take care of Qiuyue and the others as well."
"Hey, you sound like you're making your final arrangements," Leng Can suddenly said. Ouyang Yue didn't speak. Leng Can frowned: "Your maid just brought over the life-and-death contract you signed. Even if you die, that thing will belong to Baohao Money Shop. Even if you don't die, you're still a member of Baohao Money Shop. Why would I go to all this trouble to take care of these things for you?"
Ouyang Yue said calmly, "My life is not so easy to take. If necessary, I will take my own life, and you will only lose everything."
Leng Canqi's eyes widened, then he pursed his lips and said, "Actually, you should talk to the master directly. Things would be much easier if he gave the order. Why..."
Ouyang Yue stood up: "No need. My relationship with him isn't that good. There's something else I need you to do for me."
"What is it now?" Leng Can pursed his lips. He was almost exhausted by Ouyang Yue's antics all night. Ouyang Yue had already come over and whispered in his ear. Leng Can was still savoring what she had heard when Ouyang Yue quickly opened the door and left. Leng Can muttered, "She came and went in such a hurry. What happened to her? It's so strange. I have to report to my master first..."
After everything was settled, Ouyang Yue hurriedly returned to the General's Mansion. When she arrived at Mingyue Pavilion, Chuncao and Dongxue were waiting inside. Chuncao marked the page numbers of the book Ouyang Yue wanted to read and placed them on the table. Dongxue had already collected the required silver notes and other items and handed them to her. Ouyang Yue checked them and put them away, saying, "You may all leave now."
Chuncao and Dongxue stared at Ouyang Yue in surprise, but said nothing. Ouyang Yue, on the other hand, hadn't slept all night and had read through all the books that Chuncao and the others had compiled. None of them mentioned what she was looking for, so it seemed she had no choice but to go out and take a look.
The next morning, Ouyang Zhide returned from court and gathered the entire household in Anhe Hall. Old Madam Ning was furious about Rui Yuhuan's matter the day before, and even sitting in the hall, she had a gloomy face. No one dared to speak to her in depth, for fear of being implicated and reprimanded.
Ouyang Zhide, already seated on his high seat, said, "Recently, bandits have been rampant near Tianshan, which may affect Wuhua Temple. His Majesty has sent me to suppress them, and I will set off tomorrow."
"What?! How could this be so sudden?" Ning exclaimed in surprise. Her husband had only been back for a short time, and now he'd been sent away by the Emperor again. Was there no one left in the court? Ning felt a surge of resentment. Since Ouyang Zhide's return, so many things had happened in the household that Ning hadn't been able to spend as much time with him as before. She already felt neglected, and now Ouyang Zhide was probably gone for at least half a month or a month, and by the time he returned, he'd almost be back at the border. Ning was furious.
Concubine Hong, Concubine Hua, Concubine Liu, and Concubine Ming all showed surprise, a hint of reluctance in their eyes. Concubine Hong visibly breathed a sigh of relief. Concubine Hua bit her lip; she still hoped to conceive again while the master was in the mansion. She had been anxious and fearful, but knowing she wasn't infertile, she was even more eager. With Ouyang Zhide gone, would she still be able to conceive if she waited until she was old and frail? Concubine Liu's eyes flickered slightly; she glanced at Ouyang Zhide before looking away, but her grip on Ouyang Tong tightened slightly. Ouyang Tong, oblivious to everything, smacked her lips. Concubine Ming, however, was the most silent, her head bowed, seemingly asleep from exhaustion.
Old Madam Ning's gloomy expression changed, and she asked, "Why did His Majesty send you? There are many capable generals in the palace. You just returned from the border to report for duty and won't be staying long before you have to go back. Why make you work so hard?" Old Madam Ning didn't finish her sentence. Natural disasters and man-made calamities were not uncommon in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Among these man-made calamities were corrupt officials, others, and also bandits and refugees. These people were fearless, and many generals in the Great Zhou Dynasty had died at their hands. The most famous example was the former First General and the consort of Princess Shuangxia, Xuan Yuanhu. The court and the people hated these people to the extreme, but they also feared them. Because these people were desperate criminals, some of them didn't care about life or death. You couldn't reason with them, and even threats were futile. When they caused a few major incidents, the court would send troops to suppress them from time to time, but every time, many generals and soldiers who led the troops died. These bandits and refugees were a malignant tumor in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Now that her son is being sent, how could Old Madam Ning not worry? Her son has indeed not been treating her well lately, but she carried him for ten months and gave birth to him, and she has done so much for him from the inner quarters to the front court. She doesn't want her son to die out there like this.
Ouyang Zhide composed himself and said, "Mother, please be careful with your words. If what I just said gets out, people will accuse me of disregarding the lives of the people and trying to defy the Emperor's decree. We cannot afford to suffer such a punishment."
After speaking, Old Madam Ning realized she had gone too far. Her expression changed slightly as she nodded and said, "Since you have been ordered to be besieged, then you should ask the Emperor for more troops. You must be careful in everything you do. Those people are reckless, but you still have the General's Mansion and so many people in it. You absolutely cannot let anything happen to you."
Ouyang Zhide nodded and said, "Mother, rest assured, I will protect myself." After speaking, he looked up at everyone in the hall and said seriously, "I have something to say to everyone I have called here today. First, I want to tell you that I am going out of the capital to carry out a siege. The other is to remind you that this General's Mansion cannot withstand any more turmoil. Everyone, you must behave yourselves. If anyone causes trouble again, don't blame me for turning my back on you. During my absence from the capital, if I hear that anyone in the manor is causing trouble for Yue'er or doing anything to harm her, when I return to the manor, no matter who it is, I will not let them off easily."
As Ouyang Zhide spoke, his gaze swept from Old Madam Ning to everyone in the hall: "Listen carefully, it's the same for everyone. Whatever Yue'er does, I will naturally deal with it when she comes back. The rest of you should just stay put and tend to your own fields, and rest and recuperate."
Everyone was stunned. Old Madam Ning's eyebrows twitched, and she said in a low voice, "What do you mean? Are you threatening me? Who do you take me for?"
Ouyang Zhide lowered his eyes and said, "Of course I wouldn't dare, but Mother should know that as long as Yue'er is in my sight, I naturally want to ensure her safety. I have no other intentions, it's just a request."
"That's easy for you to say. I think you're just saying this on purpose. How come Ouyang Yue is your beloved daughter, yet you've forgotten that I'm the mother you should respect most? It's true what they say, you forget your mother once you have a wife. You, on the other hand, have a daughter now, yet you dare to be unfilial to your own mother. Ouyang Zhide, why don't you look back and see what kind of person you've become? I'm ashamed for you if word gets out." Old Madam Ning stared at Ouyang Zhide with dark eyes. She felt that since her son, whom she had always been so proud of, returned, everything had changed, becoming something she could no longer control, which was something she couldn't tolerate.
Previously, Ouyang Zhide would never argue with her. Although he treated Ouyang Yue well, he didn't interfere much in the affairs of the inner quarters; everything was decided by her. Thinking of all the efforts she had made for Ouyang Zhide in the past, and of his current wariness towards her, Old Madam Ning felt a surge of anger with nowhere to vent it, even causing her chest to swell and feel unbearably uncomfortable. It was all Ouyang Yue's fault. She had never liked this granddaughter. She simply couldn't understand why Ouyang Zhide liked this kind of daughter. Her deceased eldest granddaughter, Ouyang Hua, in every aspect—behavior, manners, talent, and appearance—surpassed Ouyang Yue. That was a true lady of a prominent family, the daughter Ouyang Zhide should have been most proud of and loved. Even Ouyang Rou, whom she looked down upon, was a hundred times better than Ouyang Yue in her conduct and manners. Her loss of virginity was understandable, after all, it was a setup, wasn't it? Which one of them could Ouyang Yue compare to?
The more Ouyang Zhide valued Ouyang Yue, the angrier Old Madam Ning became, the more she looked down on Ouyang Yue, and the more she wanted to cause trouble for her. Now, she even harbored malicious intent. Ultimately, a general in the field is not bound by military orders, and Ouyang Zhide's words held no deterrent effect on her. Even if they existed, Old Madam Ning wouldn't take them seriously. She refused to believe that once Ouyang Zhide left, this general's mansion would be her domain. She could do whatever she wanted to whomever she wanted, and no one could stop her. She also didn't believe that if she really harmed Ouyang Yue, Ouyang Zhide would be angry, but would he really kill his mother in anger? At that time, Ouyang Zhide would pay the price for his actions—the price of his life. She still understood her child to some extent; Ouyang Zhide wasn't that irrational.
Old Madam Ning stared coldly at Ouyang Yue, a sneer flashing across her face before she hid it. She then gave Ouyang Zhide a cold snort, as if she had given in.
Ouyang Yue sneered. She could somewhat guess what Old Madam Ning was thinking, but she was truly sorry; she hadn't intended to stay in the manor anyway. Ouyang Yue stroked the gold bracelet on her wrist. She had been startled by Ouyang Zhide's words earlier, because they were going to the same place—that was absolutely unacceptable. Did she have to change her plans? But what about Su'er? She clenched her fists slightly, her mind in turmoil.
Even so, she couldn't encounter Ouyang Zhide. She couldn't let anyone know about this, otherwise it would only cause unnecessary trouble, and might even bring real danger to Su'er. Only she could know about Su'er's situation. Originally, Ouyang Yue was going to Wuhua Temple, which was located within the Tianshan region. With Ouyang Zhide leading troops there, there would likely be many spies nearby. To avoid unnecessary trouble, it seemed she really had to change her plans. If she couldn't see Master Minghui, then she would go to Baiyun Temple to find Master Liuyun. Ouyang Yue strongly suspected that Ouyang Su's situation was related to the compass He Yun had held. If so, wouldn't it be perfect for a Taoist to seek help from a Taoist?
However, even though she has left, she will not be merciful to those in the General's Mansion who caused her trip. Do Old Ning and the others want to be hostile to her while she stays in the mansion? Well, they'll have to have their time. She will naturally make things lively for them, just make sure they don't get exhausted or annoyed to death!
Aunt Hong and Aunt Hua exchanged a glance, both sneering. Although Ouyang Zhide had said those words, once he left, things would be completely out of his control. Even if they were afraid of Ouyang Zhide and wouldn't do anything, it didn't mean others wouldn't. Ouyang Yue had offended many people in the capital; if they didn't cause trouble, wouldn't they? He could manage the people in the General's Mansion, but outsiders? What a joke! There would be a good show to watch then.
Aunt Liu looked worried. Ouyang Zhide had already called Ouyang Yue and left Anhe Hall. As they walked, Ouyang Zhide sighed, "Father knows you've suffered a lot these past years. It's my fault, really. Your personality is like this because I spoiled you too much, making you only care about having fun and not interested in anything else. Your grandmother is just like that, proud and particular. I don't think she really meant to make things difficult for you. Try to understand her. Now that I'm back, I'll definitely find you the best teachers. You're not a child anymore; you should learn some things that women should learn." Ouyang Zhide stroked Ouyang Yue's dark hair, but his eyes held a complex mix of emotions. "I also owe you a debt, but I don't know when I'll be able to repay it."
Ouyang Yue's eyes flickered slightly as she pulled down Ouyang Zhide's hand. "Father is a brave general who has never been afraid to fight on the battlefield. You are a hero who protects our country, and I have always admired you. Father has never owed me anything; this is just father-daughter affection, which I will always remember." Then, Ouyang's hand trembled, and a small package fell from her sleeve, which she handed to Ouyang Zhide. "Father is skilled in both literature and martial arts, especially in spear fighting and weapon handling. This hidden weapon is for you, Father. I hope it can protect you in critical moments."
Just as Ouyang Zhide was about to open it, Ouyang Yue stopped him: "Father, let's save this for when it's most important. Now is not the time to fight. Go outside the manor and take a look."
Ouyang Zhide was somewhat puzzled, but he nodded nonetheless and patted Ouyang Yue's hand: "Although my words were somewhat useful today, you should keep them safe. I will assign you a ten-man squad to protect you."
Ouyang Yue smiled, a hint of tenderness flashing in her eyes: "Although my martial arts skills can't be described as top-notch, Father, as you've seen before, I was too lazy to practice lightness skills when I was young, but after years of wandering around the capital, my self-defense skills are pretty good. No one in the manor can touch me. Hei Da and the others will naturally be taken by Father; they are all experienced soldiers. Yue'er hopes you will return safely, but Father can send a few men to protect Tong'er. He is the male member of the manor, and he is the one who should not be harmed."
Ouyang Zhide suddenly smiled and hugged Ouyang Yue tightly, saying, "My Yue'er has grown up so much. Father knows all this. Don't worry, Father will definitely come back safely." He felt somewhat relieved. He wasn't stupid; how could he not see that from Old Madam Ning and Madam Ning to Concubine Ming, Concubine Hong, and Concubine Hua, none of them were on good terms with Ouyang Yue. Ouyang Yue wasn't happy living in this mansion. Ouyang Hua and Ouyang Rou also seemed to have quite a few conflicts with her. Such a large mansion showed no warmth towards a child like Ouyang Yue. He was afraid that she would leave heartbroken and not befriend anyone. As long as there were still people in this mansion she cared about, people Ouyang Zhide still held hope for, he naturally felt comforted.
To him, Ouyang Hua and Ouyang Rou were merely children born to his concubines, nothing more!
Finally, Ouyang Zhide patted Ouyang Yue on the shoulder and returned to Yihexuan to rest and tidy up his belongings. Ouyang Yue, however, stared at his retreating figure for a long time. Ouyang Zhide, he really was quite good...
The next morning, Ouyang Zhide packed his things and left the mansion for the palace, seeing off by a group of people from the General's Mansion. He would only gather his troops and leave after attending court.
No sooner had Ouyang Zhide left than the back gate of the General's Mansion suddenly opened, and a lightly dressed woman walked out. As soon as she came out, she saw the two people standing outside the gate, and her eyes narrowed slightly: "What is the meaning of this?"
Outside the door, Chuncao and Dongxue were dressed in light clothing, with Chuncao carrying a small bundle on her shoulder, looking like she was about to embark on a long journey. Dongxue was dressed more simply, but she held a sword in her hand and had it tucked into her waistband. They both looked back at Ouyang Yue, who was dressed in gray, with her hair neatly combed up, and she carried nothing else.
Chuncao said, "Miss, I know what happened that you had to go out. There are things I shouldn't ask, and I won't ask. But once you leave, I will never stay in the General's Mansion. Please let me go with you, so I can look after you along the way."
Dongxue nodded in agreement, her face showing determination: "Miss should know my situation. I will not leave your side. Please allow me to accompany you."
Ouyang Yue lowered her brows and gazed intently at the two. Seeing the serious expressions on their faces, she said, "You should know that going out on this trip is a matter of life and death. I didn't take you with me because I was thinking of your safety."
Chuncao immediately said, "Chuncao is not afraid. Even if I die following Miss, Chuncao is not afraid. Chuncao is willing to go."
Dongxue nodded earnestly, expressing her agreement. Unexpected events were common when traveling, especially in the turbulent Great Zhou Dynasty; who could guarantee the safety of her journey? Of course, Ouyang Yue didn't explicitly say this, but she also intended to test the two maids, a final test of their loyalty. It seemed her personal charm had been effectively demonstrated in these two maids. Ouyang Yue's lips curled slightly: "Then let's set off."
"Yes, Miss."
"Yes, Miss."
Chuncao and Dongxue exchanged a glance, a hint of joy on their faces. In truth, even if they stayed in the manor, Mingyue Pavilion wouldn't be peaceful; naturally, someone would cause them trouble. It was better to go out. Of course, this wasn't their main purpose. Chuncao was genuinely worried about Ouyang Yue. She thought that although her young mistress was sometimes impulsive, she had never traveled far alone before. She was a noble lady; what if she encountered danger or thugs on the road? How could she manage alone?
Dongxue naturally had her own mission: to protect Ouyang Yue. Ouyang Yue knew all this, and she also discovered that Ouyang Yue was a very protective person who wouldn't easily trust anyone. This recognition of her following was a kind of affirmation and trust in her, which made Dongxue happy.
At lunchtime, a maid from Mingyue Pavilion suddenly rushed into Anhe Hall in a panic. Old Madam Ning was eating, frowning. "De'er just left, what trouble has Ouyang Yue caused now? I won't see her." She hadn't even figured out how to deal with Ouyang Yue yet, and this maid had already started making a scene—it was truly outrageous. De'er, she didn't know what had possessed her, actually speaking up for Ouyang Yue and even daring to threaten her. Humph, she'd see if Ouyang Yue would blame her when he returned after causing trouble himself. But for now, she had to ignore Ouyang Yue, otherwise Ouyang Yue would think she was easy to manipulate.
Madam Xi went out to chase people away, but when she returned, her expression changed slightly. She was holding a letter in her hand. Old Madam Ning was drinking soup and asked in confusion, "Where did this letter come from?"
"Reporting to Madam, it was brought by a servant from Mingyue Pavilion just now. It says it's a letter from the Third Miss saying she's run away from home," said Mama Xi respectfully.
"What!"
"Bang!" Old Madam Ning slammed her hand on the table, causing the soup on the table to spray out. "What did you say? Run away from home? Who? Ouyang Yue? What did the letter say?"
Madam Xi immediately took out the letter and handed it to Old Madam Ning. Old Madam Ning angrily tore it open, took it out and examined it closely, her face becoming even more gloomy: "That unruly brat, she can't stand me being alone for even a day, and now she's causing all this trouble again. Does she really think that just because De'er is gone, I can't do anything about her? Go, send someone from the manor to chase after Ouyang Yue. Once she's brought back, lock her in the woodshed for half a month, giving her food and water only once every three days. I want to see if she dares to cause any more trouble. Humph, then I will naturally return De'er to her as a whole person. This time, I'm going to teach this wretched girl a lesson." Old Madam Ning spoke these words through gritted teeth, clearly very angry.
Madam Xi picked up the letter handed to her by Old Madam Ning and read its gist: Ouyang Yue felt there had been too much chaos in the manor recently and needed to sincerely worship Buddha to bless the entire household. She planned to walk to Wuhua Temple, and if she encountered Ouyang Zhide along the way, she would naturally return to the manor with him. Madam Xi was taken aback, but immediately said, "Old Madam, you don't need to worry too much. I heard from the maid who delivered the message from Mingyue Pavilion that the two maids by the Third Miss's side, Chuncao and Dongxue, have disappeared. They must have gone with the Third Miss. One of them is meticulous, and the other knows martial arts. The Third Miss will definitely be alright."
Old Madam Ning snorted coldly, her eyes gleaming with icy light: "Why should I worry about what happens to her? It's just that if she causes me any trouble because of this, what will others think of me? Forget everything else, send someone to bring her back to me first."
Madam Xi immediately nodded and went out to give instructions, but as she turned around, her brows furrowed slightly: "The Third Miss is likely to suffer a lot this time she returns, alas..."
At the same time, all the courtyards of the General's Mansion naturally knew about Ouyang Yue's move.
Ning was drinking tea when she raised an eyebrow and asked Lin's mother, "Is this news accurate?"
Madam Lin replied, "Madam, it is absolutely true. Even Mama Xi, who serves the Old Madam, has sent people out of the mansion to look for her. The Third Miss is indeed not in the mansion."
Ning chuckled mockingly, "Looks like this girl isn't completely stupid after all. She knows to leave the manor now because she's afraid of being punished by the old lady. But her little bit of cleverness is misplaced. The more afraid she is of leaving, the angrier the old lady will become. Once she's caught and brought back, punishment alone won't be enough." Ning smiled coldly. She might as well help her aunt out then; things would definitely be more interesting.
Aunt Hua and Aunt Hong were embroidering in their room when they heard the news. Aunt Hong was startled, but excitedly asked, "Is what you said true?" How could Aunt Hong not be excited? The previous incident involving He Yun and Jing Yun had terrified her. Although Rui Yu Huan had taken the blame for them and they were safe, it didn't mean they would be safe forever. Rui Yu Huan had been sent to live in the outer courtyard, but given Old Madam Ning's favor towards her, she and Ouyang Rou feared things might change. They were sure to be in big trouble then. These past few days, they had been living in constant fear, afraid that their secret would be exposed. Now, Ouyang Yue had run away from the mansion, which was good news for them.
With her departure, the matter was immediately diverted. Moreover, Ouyang Yue's actions would not only fail to earn her praise for filial piety, but would also be seen as immature, impulsive, and reckless. And what if she encountered any unexpected events on the way? Heh...
Aunt Hua gave a cold laugh at the same time.
Meanwhile, Aunt Liu of Ningxiang Courtyard held Ouyang Tong and sighed, "Third Miss, how could you leave like this? You'll definitely suffer when you come back."
The various courtyards in this mansion behaved differently, but none could be complete without Concubine Ming from Xiangning Courtyard.
Compared to the state of Xiangning Courtyard after Ouyang Yue and her men ransacked it, it was much better now. Concubine Ming's room had been gradually repaired, but it couldn't regain the tranquility it once possessed. There wasn't a single mirror, not even any cosmetics. Concubine Ming, crippled and unable to get out of bed, was half-sitting on the edge of the bed, half her face wrapped in a cloth, only her left cheek exposed. The sight was chilling, even for Qi Mama, who was already familiar with such sights. She couldn't help but shudder, lowering her head and clenching her fists to avoid being too nervous and letting Concubine Ming notice. Concubine Ming's temperament was becoming increasingly unpredictable, and Qi Mama dared not provoke her in any way.
Aunt Ming was silent for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Good, good, good! Good! Ouyang left just fine!" Aunt Ming stretched out her hand and slapped her leg hard, the sound "bang bang bang" echoing in the room, the sound making people tremble. Qi Mama lowered her head and took a deep breath, wishing she had the magic of invisibility and could disappear from Aunt Ming's sight.
Aunt Ming's voice was cold and stern: "Hasn't Ouyang Yue caused me enough suffering?"
Although Consort Ming came from the household of the Minister of Revenue and was more capable, of higher status, and more powerful than the other concubines, money didn't grow on trees. After Ouyang Yue had swindled out over ten thousand taels of silver, she and Ouyang Hua were strapped for cash. Every aspect of the household required money for favors and bribes. Consort Ming still had some savings, which was enough, but as their conflict with Ouyang Yue escalated, she spent money bribing people, ultimately leaving her with almost nothing. When Consort Hua's Xiangning Courtyard was ransacked by Ouyang Yue, Ouyang Zhide forbade the household management to spend any money, so she could only use her meager savings to buy essential items. For everything else, Consort Ming wrote letters home crying about it, and her family sent money. She still vividly remembered the servants from the Minister of Revenue's household arriving and seeing the dilapidated state of the place, their eyes filled with disbelief, confusion, mockery, and contempt.
She, the illegitimate daughter of a high-ranking official, had grown up pampered and spoiled. When she returned to the mansion, she boasted arrogantly about how wonderful her life was in the General's mansion, how much the General doted on her, how much the Old Madam trusted her, and how unique Ouyang Hua was in the household. Ouyang Hua's scandalous affair had directly damaged the reputation of the Minister of Revenue's mansion, and the Minister was so angry he almost severed ties with Consort Ming. It was only stopped by his wife. However, the Minister's mansion refused to inquire about anything concerning Ouyang Hua, and didn't even ask a single question when she died. But no one expected Consort Ming to live so poorly in the General's mansion. Her room, aside from being slightly larger than a servant's room, was probably even less furnished than a servant's room in the Minister's mansion. Yet, the servant still accepted the letter Consort Ming wanted to deliver and reported the situation back home.
The Minister's wife sent some silver over to help her furnish her room, but it wasn't much. Aunt Ming knew the Minister's household was angry with her. If it weren't for the fact that she was a daughter of the Minister's family, and that her miserable life was a disgrace to the family, probably no one would care whether she lived or died.
Aunt Ming was disabled and had a tragic background. Even her own family resented her for not being a good person. Didn't Aunt Ming harbor resentment in her heart?
No, she hated Ouyang Yue to the core.
All her current miserable misfortunes are Ouyang Yue's fault, aren't they? She doesn't know what possessed Ouyang Yue; where did the silly, naive Ouyang Yue go? These past few times, she's suffered greatly at Ouyang Yue's hands. She could accept minor suffering, but her right eye is blind, and her face is completely disfigured because of it. She's so disgusting now that she can't even bear to look at herself. How could she possibly expect Ouyang Zhide to favor her again? It's fair to say that Old Qi's mother blinded her, cutting off her lineage, and Ouyang Yue was the culprit. Every time she thinks of this, she wants to tear Ouyang Yue apart, but even that wouldn't alleviate her hatred and resentment.
Was she destined to spend her entire life in Xiangning Courtyard? How could she accept that? It wasn't that no one had sought her hand in marriage with the Minister of Revenue's household. Although none of them possessed Ouyang Zhide's prestige, many still offered to marry her with the rites due to a principal wife. Why did she choose Ouyang Zhide? It was because of his great potential and room for growth. She believed Ouyang Zhide would surely achieve great talent and power in the future, which is why she agreed to enter the General's Mansion as a concubine. Otherwise, with her pride, why would she submit to Ning Shi? Even though Ning Shi's background was more noble, Aunt Ming was unconvinced. Compared to Ning Shi's cunning and talent, she believed she was no less capable. Over the years, she had never given up on dethroning Ning Shi and securing her position as the General's Mansion's principal wife. Unfortunately, after so many years of effort, she ended up blind and crippled. All her efforts in the first half of her life had been in vain. Aunt Ming could no longer express her feelings at this moment.
There was only one thing she hated: Ouyang Yue. It was a matter of life or death for Ouyang Yue, but now Ouyang Yue was digging her own grave, so she had no one to blame but herself.
Aunt Ming gave a cold smile: "Go and fetch me paper and pen." Aunt Ming wrote the letter and handed it to Mama Qi. "Take this to the Ministry of Revenue Minister's residence. Make sure it reaches the Minister's wife. Absolutely no one can lose it."
Madam Qi immediately nodded in agreement. Aunt Ming sat on the bed and burst into hearty laughter: "Ouyang Yue, Ouyang Yue, you have a path to heaven but you choose not to, you have no gate to hell but you insist on barging in! This time you dared to leave the manor without permission, I will make sure you never return to the General's Mansion. I want to see what kind of seventy-two transformations you have this time to escape this danger." Aunt Ming clenched her fists and laughed loudly, then touched her right eye, which was bandaged by a cloth, somewhat maniacally. "Look at my face, look at my legs! I will make you die a very, very miserable death, a million times worse than mine. I will make you so miserable that even the King of Hell dares not take you! Hahaha, Ouyang Yue, you dare to fight me? I will let you taste the consequences of fighting me! I will make you the biggest joke in the world, a despicable wretch despised by everyone!"
Outside Aunt Ming's room, her two personal maids, Yang'er and Xiao'er, shrank back in fear upon hearing Aunt Ming's maniacal laughter. Aunt Ming was here again; she had been laughing like this lately, each time more chilling than the last. They both felt that Aunt Ming was becoming somewhat abnormal.
When Qi Mama returned, she whispered a few words in Ming's ear, and Ming immediately sneered: "Mother's plan is very good. Have you thanked me for me?"
Madam Qi replied, "The Minister's wife was furious when she heard about what happened to the concubine. It's definitely the right thing to do to leave this matter to her."