"Please continue the feast. Our third young lady has always been very filial, so I'm afraid she won't be able to come to the banquet today. Let's enjoy ourselves to the fullest."
The courtyard became lively again, filled with eating, drinking, playing, and chatting. Even without Hai Ling and Du Caiyue, the banquet seemed even more harmonious.
In the darkness, Hailing led Rouge, Kexin, and several maids serving in Qinfang Courtyard in a grand procession toward the back. The further they went, the more secluded and quiet it became. At this point, Hailing calmed down. Tonight's events were indeed a bit strange. Her mother's health had always been good, and she rarely needed to relieve herself due to a cold stomach, let alone faint. Even if she had been given laxatives like croton, she wouldn't faint so quickly unless she had diarrhea all night or half the night. That's pretty much the situation.
So this is a trap. With that thought, Hailin's eyes shone brightly and pierced Kexin, who was leading the way. Although Kexin didn't look behind her, she still sensed Hailin's gaze as soon as it fell on her. She immediately became extremely nervous, and her palms were covered in cold sweat.
What to do now? Hai Ling's mind raced, and suddenly a smile appeared on her lips. No matter what, did she still have to be afraid of the people sent by Miss Jiang and Madam Liu?
Hai Ling had thought it through. She followed Ke Xin silently toward Qin Fang Courtyard, listening carefully to the sounds around her. Sure enough, she sensed an unusual aura in the shadows and heard the branches swaying without any wind. It seemed that someone had been sent. Good, very good.
A bloodthirsty glint flashed in her eyes, but the words that came out of her mouth were gentle.
"Kexin, did Fourth Madam really faint? Is she really unconscious?"
"Miss, this servant?"
Hearing Hailing's words, Kexin almost blurted out in fear that it had nothing to do with her. It was Madam who sent Sister Hongba to give the order, and if she didn't do it, she would die.
However, her inner monologue lasted only a second before she calmly replied, "Yes, Miss, the Fourth Madam has indeed fainted. I helped her to Qinfang Courtyard. Don't worry, Miss, the doctor will be here soon."
"Hmm," Hai Ling stopped talking. It wasn't that she didn't give Ke Xin and the others a chance; she did. But they didn't cherish it, so they shouldn't blame her.
Perhaps she should let the people of the Jiang family know what kind of Jiang Hailing is the real Jiang Hailing.
The group walked through the dark path and returned to Qinfang Courtyard. After they entered Qinfang Courtyard...
Hailing immediately sensed something unusual. The maid following behind them closed the door to Qinfang Courtyard as soon as she entered, and the entire courtyard was quiet without a sound. Not only Hailing, but also Yanzhi, who was following closely behind her, felt the different atmosphere and couldn't help but become nervous. She quietly reached out and grabbed Hailing's hand to remind her mistress that there might be a trap. Hailing grabbed her hand in return, and she immediately understood that her mistress knew everything.
Once the master and servant had made up their minds, they carefully began to observe their surroundings.
Suddenly, a powerful aura of malevolence surged up from the surroundings, and several beams of light flew in from outside the low courtyard wall, heading straight for Hailing and Yanzhi.
At the same time, Kexin, who was walking in front, and Xiaoxiang, Xiuying, and Yelan behind her suddenly retreated and quickly ran to the side, making room for each other.
Hailing and Yanzhi could tell at a glance that these girls all knew about tonight's event, and the two of them couldn't help but sneer.
Hai Ling reached out and pulled Yan Zhi away quickly from the beams of light. Once they were in position, she commanded in a deep voice, "Yan Zhi, take care of yourself."
"Yes, Miss."
Rouge responded and quickly moved to the side, finding a good spot to stand. She knew that as long as she didn't become a burden to her mistress, everything would be fine.
Hai Ling pursed her lips and let out a cold laugh: "Fire Cloud Boots, Wind and Thunder Gloves."
With a flash of golden light, two pieces of equipment appeared on her body. The men in black were already close. Hai Ling dodged with a swift movement, her fist flashing out like lightning, fast as lightning, its dark light gleaming. With one punch, a painful cry rang out; one man, already struck, was sent flying, his tall body tumbling three meters away before crashing to the ground with a thud, spitting out a mouthful of blood and losing two teeth. Hai Ling, having landed a blow, didn't stop. She spun like a flower, the Fire Cloud Wheel beneath her feet moving at will, swift as the wind. She raised a foot and kicked another man in black. The Fire Cloud Wheel's power was no less than the Wind and Thunder Gloves. The golden wheel beneath her feet spun in the wind, instantly transforming into a sharp dagger, striking the man in the chest. A muffled groan followed, and the man groaned in pain. As Hai Ling withdrew her foot, his body hit the ground, struggled a few times, and then died.
Everyone was stunned. They thought they had easily subdued the Third Miss and her maid, but who knew she was so powerful? Everyone was terrified.
Hai Ling didn't stop. She quickly flashed over, slashing, striking, slapping, kicking, and hacking. After a few moves, several men in black lay sprawled on the ground in the Qin Fang Courtyard. Some were dead, some were seriously injured, and none of them were unharmed. They all stared at Hai Ling with terrified eyes, as if she were a demon.
Hailing subdued the man in black, while Kexin and her three maids, seeing the situation was dire, turned and prepared to run away.
Rouge had already found a thick, sturdy wooden stick and was secretly watching Kexin and the others' movements. When she saw them trying to run away, she swung the stick without mercy, using all her strength. The stick struck Kexin's leg with a dull thud, and a figure fell to the ground with a thud. Large beads of sweat rolled down her face, and she cried out in pain.
"Miss, it's none of our business, it's none of our business."
At this moment, Xiao Xiang, Xiu Ying, and Ye Lan realized that running away was impossible, so they quickly knelt down and begged for food.
Madam Liu once said that women are all soft-hearted, and if they were discovered, they would only ask the Third Miss for help, and she would certainly not lose her life.
A chorus of pleas for mercy echoed through Qinfang Courtyard, but the secluded location meant no one heard them.
Hai Ling walked up to Ke Xin and the others and shouted coldly, "Shut up."
Everyone fell silent, kneeling with their heads bowed in fear, not daring to utter another word.
Hailin, her face grim, slowly asked, "Where is my mother?"
Upon hearing that the question was directed at the Fourth Madam, Kexin, fearing that her mistress might take her anger out on her, quickly replied, "The Fourth Madam is fine; she's just being held captive in the bamboo grove behind the housekeepers."
"Hmm," Hailing was relieved to hear that her mother was alright. At a time like this, Kexin probably wouldn't dare to lie to her.
"Speak, are you acting on the orders of the First Madam and the Eldest Miss to deal with me? What do you intend to do?"
---Aside---
Ugh, my dears, is anyone reading this? *sweatdrop* It feels like nobody's reading...
Chapter 20 Luring the Fish into the Bait
In the darkness, Hai Ling narrowed her eyes, her pupils gleaming with a chilling light. Ke Xin and the others didn't want to tell her, but seeing her gloomy face, they dared not hide anything anymore.
“It was Sister Hongyun who came to design it herself. She said it was the Madam’s idea, so we servants were able to tamper with it. Otherwise, even if you gave us ten thousand lives, we wouldn’t dare to do such a thing.”
"They wanted to kill me?"
Hai Ling narrowed her eyes, her expression filled with murderous intent. Liu Shi, Jiang Feixue, Hong Yun, very well, they actually wanted to kill her. If anything happened to her, her mother, Du Caiyue, would probably be next.
These vicious women don't care about the lives of her and her daughter at all, so why should she be polite to them?
"No, no, the First Madam ordered me to lure Miss over. Someone will deal with Miss, but not to kill her. They will knock her unconscious and then make it look like she's with a man. As for the others, we don't know anything."
Kexin spoke in a panic, her voice filled with a murderous aura that made it impossible for anyone not to speak.
Hai Ling's eyes flashed even colder. What a sinister intention! They didn't kill her directly, but humiliated her, letting her fall into the hands of the royal family. This would both humiliate the royal family and take the opportunity to get rid of her. Even if the Jiang family didn't make a move, the royal family would kill her. She was now the Crown Princess. If she were discovered with another man, one could imagine the damage to her reputation and her life.
The mother and daughter were far more vicious than she had imagined.