In this general's mansion, apart from Old Madam Ning, even Ouyang Zhide would give Xi Mama, an old servant of Old Madam Ning, some face. He usually spoke to her very kindly, and had never seen anyone reprimand her like this before, not even Old Madam Ning herself. Ouyang Yue was taken aback, but Xi Mama didn't seem to care. She got up and served tea to Old Madam Ning, who was completely unconcerned about Rui Yuhuan's rebuke. She simply lowered her head and picked up her tea. Xi Mama then said, "Madam, just now, a servant from the Ministry of War's residence came to the mansion. He said that Miss Li from the Ministry of War's residence has something to discuss with Miss Ning, and the servant is already waiting outside."
Old Madam Ning was taken aback, then frowned: "That Li Rushuang is no respectable woman. How did you get involved with someone like her? Didn't I tell you to stay away from her?"
Ouyang Yue glanced at Madam Xi, who was standing there with her head bowed, not looking at anyone, holding a tray. She turned to Old Madam Ning and said, "Grandmother, how can Miss Li's friendship with me be bad for my General's Mansion? She is, after all, the daughter of the Minister of War. Her father and I are from the same lineage, both military officers. I think they can get along well. Besides, if anything happens, military officers are better able to help than civil officials. I think this is beneficial to Father."
Old Madam Ning said coldly, "You've got a mouth full of arguments. Do you think I don't know? It's just that her character is bad to begin with, and you're the most ugly of the three in the capital. If you associate with her too much, won't your reputation get worse and worse? Hmph, in your current state, I'm afraid no man would want you. Are you planning to die an old man in the General's Mansion? There are no daughters in my General's Mansion who can't get married."
Ouyang Yue said with a half-smile, "That's true. With Grandmother's devoted teaching, Yue'er believes that even the most stubborn rock can be refined."
Old Madam Ning pondered the meaning behind Ouyang Yue's words. The latter had already bowed to her and was about to leave, but Pink Butterfly's hand on her shoulder did not want to be let go. Ouyang Yue had just resisted, otherwise Pink Butterfly would have pressed her down with all her might when Mama Xi came in. Now she still did not intend to let go. Ouyang Yue's face turned cold, and she suddenly turned around, leaning against Old Madam Ning. Her arm suddenly made a strange gesture and struck Pink Butterfly in the chest.
Pink Butterfly was terrified. She had initially thought Ouyang Yue was just an ordinary young lady from a wealthy family; even if she was the daughter of a general, she was likely uneducated and incompetent. However, when she pressed down on Ouyang Yue's shoulder, she felt Ouyang Yue neutralize her power through some unknown means, preventing her from pressing down. Slightly annoyed, she increased her strength, but still failed. At this moment, Mama Xi entered. She couldn't act too aggressively and arouse suspicion. However, she hadn't expected Ouyang Yue to break free from her grasp and directly attack her heart. Moreover, the palm strike was very strange, and she couldn't see it clearly at first, but her heart tightened, instinctively sensing the approaching danger. If she were hit like that, she would be seriously injured. Pink Butterfly dared not continue fighting and quickly dodged backward, but because Ouyang Yue's attacks were extremely fast, her sudden dodge seemed extremely abrupt.
After staggering back several steps, he crashed into the chair behind him with a loud thud, tumbling to the ground and letting out a whimper.
Ouyang Yue stood in the hall, watching coldly. She turned to Rui Yuhuan with a smile and said, "Miss Rui, your maid is far too rude. Look at her behavior! Miss Rui is so favored by Grandmother and is usually the most well-behaved. How come this servant is the one with the worst manners in the whole household? If you don't want her to embarrass you, Miss Rui, you should discipline her properly." At the same time, she narrowed her eyes as she looked at Rui Yuhuan.
The latter's expression changed drastically at this moment. Ignoring Ouyang Yue's sarcasm, she hurriedly ran towards Pink Butterfly: "Little... how are you? Are you hurt?"
Pink Butterfly clutched her back, suppressing a groan of pain, and looked up coldly at Ouyang Yue, a strange smile playing on her lips. Ouyang Yue's eyes swept over the two of them briefly before she turned and strode away. Standing outside the mansion was a person, but it wasn't one of Li Rushuang's two personal maids. Ouyang Yue raised an eyebrow, and the maid immediately handed her an invitation with a slight smile: "Miss Ouyang, my mistress heard you've returned to the capital and has been very fond of you. She invites you to join her for a stroll and to reminisce."
Ouyang Yue was puzzled. She picked up the invitation and examined it. She raised an eyebrow and realized that it was indeed Li Rushuang's handwriting. She said, "Alright, go and tell your young lady that I will go to see her in a few days."
The maid bowed and left gracefully. After circling around a few times, she suddenly stopped in an alley where a very simple carriage was parked. The maid immediately bowed slightly to the carriage and said, "Master, I have delivered the invitation."
Suddenly, a hand emerged from the carriage. The curtain obscured the person's figure and face, revealing only an arm. The grey sleeve was embroidered with intricate floral patterns, including miniature tigers, each with a similarly imposing and majestic expression. The hand possessed a healthy, bronze hue, with well-defined knuckles, yet its large, heavy hands exuded a sense of security. The person said, "Send the Li family's maid back, without attracting attention." Their voice was deep and mature.
The maid responded and was about to turn and leave when the man asked again, "What were you doing in the general's mansion earlier?"
The maid immediately lowered her voice and said, "This servant is not very clear, but the messenger said it was in Anhe Hall. I heard that the old lady of the General's Mansion is establishing rules and regulations. Yesterday, Miss Ouyang was learning from the General's wife, and today Miss Ouyang is establishing rules and regulations on her own. I did not go in to discuss the specifics."
The man suddenly sneered, "Stupid woman, damned old woman, how dare you..." The man's voice suddenly stopped, "Go ahead."
The maid was already somewhat stunned when the man spoke, and she was also startled when she heard the man's obvious hostility towards Old Ning. She rarely saw her mistress so angry with anyone, but she didn't dare to ask any more questions. She turned around and left quickly. After turning a corner, she found a house and pulled up Li Rushuang's personal maid, who had been knocked unconscious. She carried her away.
Outside the carriage, a burly man dressed in black peered inside and cautiously asked, "Master, shall we go back?"
The man inside the carriage was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I didn't expect her to be doing so badly. I clearly... Let's go."
The burly man paused, opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he turned around, got into his carriage, and drove away.
Rui Yuhuan helped Fen Die back to her room. As soon as she got back and helped Fen Die onto the bed, Fen Die suddenly slapped Rui Yuhuan across the face. Caught off guard, Rui Yuhuan was thrown to the ground, her cheek immediately swelling up. Although she was furious, she dared not show it on her face. She immediately knelt down and said, "Please forgive me, Miss."
Pink Butterfly's face was cold: "I didn't expect Ouyang Yue to have some skills, but she actually dared to deal with me."
Seeing the anger that Pink Butterfly couldn't hide, Rui Yuhuan's eyes shifted slightly as she asked, "Miss, may I ask why you left during that year or so?"
Pink Butterfly scoffed, "When have I ever needed to report my actions to you?"
"No, no, this servant wouldn't dare, this servant was just curious." Rui Yuhuan immediately changed her expression and explained, but Fen Die ignored her. Rui Yuhuan thought for a moment and said carefully, "This Ouyang Yue is too despicable. What is her status? How can she compare to Miss's nobility? She actually dares to go against Miss. She really doesn't know what's good for her."
Pink Butterfly's chest heaved slightly. Rui Yuhuan pursed her lips and said, "Back then, Master ordered me to take control of the General's Mansion. I never dared to be negligent in the slightest. However, because of Ouyang Yue in the General's Mansion, many of my plans have failed. In short, Ouyang Yue is like a born jinx; whoever encounters her is doomed. Although I have been trying my best, with Ouyang Yue around, I'm afraid my plans will fail."
Pink Butterfly squinted and coldly stared at Rui Yuhuan: "Hmph, don't try to trick me. I don't care what you want to do, but the plan that Master gave you must be completed as soon as possible, otherwise, you know the consequences."
Rui Yuhuan's face paled, and she immediately said, "Yes, Miss, please rest assured. My plan is already underway, and within a few days, I will be confident that I can control the entire General's Mansion."
Pink Butterfly's face was cold. She waved her hand, and Rui Yuhuan withdrew, a strange smile playing on her lips. Previously, the envoy had warned her against dealing with Ouyang Yue, leaving her quite uneasy. Now, seeing Pink Butterfly completely disregard Ouyang Yue's life or death, her opportunity had arrived. Once she had control of the entire General's Mansion and gained an advantage over the black-clad master, she wouldn't care about Pink Butterfly. She could then report Pink Butterfly's recent actions, and she didn't believe the black-clad master wouldn't punish her. Moreover, if the black-clad master blamed her, she could reveal that she had consulted Pink Butterfly beforehand. She wasn't someone who acted unprepared; she wouldn't do something without a backup plan.
Rui Yuhuan sneered, "Ouyang Yue, you're doomed this time. No one can save you!"
Pink Butterfly lay on the bed, watching Rui Yuhuan leave, her eyes cold and distant. Pink Butterfly knew perfectly well why Rui Yuhuan had spoken. Rui Yuhuan was often around her; she knew exactly what she was up to. Was she planning to scheme against Ouyang Yue? That was exactly what she intended. Pink Butterfly had been resentful when her master suddenly ordered her to find and protect Ouyang Yue, but she hadn't expected that after more than a year away, she would have no leads on Ouyang Yue, only managing to uncover the Bloodthirsty Alliance. Later, upon learning that Ouyang Yue had suddenly returned to the capital, she rushed back. How could she not be angry?
For over a year, she had failed to complete her master's mission. She had only learned of Ouyang Yue's return to the capital from elsewhere; returning in such a disgraceful manner would only make her appear incompetent. She knew her master's methods; if her master found out, she feared severe punishment. And Ouyang Yue had dared to treat her so rudely just now—truly ungrateful! Since Rui Yuhuan was so dedicated, how could she not lend her a hand? When Rui Yuhuan accomplished her mission, she would have every means and reason to kill her. Gaining Rui Yuhuan's credit might even settle the previous score, and Ouyang Yue's death would also appease her anger.
Pink Butterfly sneered, "Ouyang Yue, ha, what is she anyway? Does she even deserve my protection?"
As soon as Rui Yuhuan left, she summoned a maid and whispered a few words in her ear. The maid immediately nodded and then sneaked into Ningxiang Courtyard, threw a note inside, and soon a person came out. It was none other than Liu Yiniang's maid, Lü'er. Lü'er picked up the note, looked around to make sure no one was watching, and then gave it to Liu Yiniang.
Aunt Liu opened the note, her expression unreadable. She then handed the note to Greenie and said, "Burn this note immediately. We can't leave any evidence."
Greenie immediately responded and went to handle it, while Aunt Liu sat there, her eyes deep and unfocused, lost in thought.
After receiving Li Rushuang's invitation, Ouyang Yue went straight back to Mingyue Pavilion without going to Anhe Hall. As soon as she returned, Chuncao and Dongyue came up to greet her with concern. Ouyang Yue smiled and said, "It's nothing. Thanks to the thick layer of cotton cloth that Qiuyue brought for the knee pads, my legs are fine even after kneeling all day. It's just that I'm a little mentally tired from accompanying them. I'll take a nap first."
This time, things went wrong at Mingyue Pavilion. When Old Madam Ning heard that Ouyang Yue had returned to her courtyard to rest, she became furious. She declared that all the rules for everyone in the manor didn't need to be established, except for Ouyang Yue. Since Ouyang Yue was so lacking in manners, she thought that as long as she taught her well, no one else could be worse than her. Therefore, she decided that Ouyang Yue would have to go to Anhe Hall every day to establish her rules, unless Ouyang Yue's rules satisfied her. When Ouyang Zhide returned to the manor, he also felt that he had gone too far and went to talk to Old Madam Ning. However, Old Madam Ning naturally had something to say to Ouyang Zhide. After all, Ouyang Yue was already fourteen years old and would be of marriageable age next year. It would be even later to educate her then. Moreover, as a parent, Ouyang Zhide also wanted Ouyang Yue to marry into a good family, so he naturally knew that these rules still needed to be learned. He had no choice but to harden his heart and ignore it.
Upon hearing this news, Ouyang Yue simply smiled and didn't care at all. After lunch, just as Ouyang Yue was about to read a book, Greenie from Ningxiang Courtyard suddenly sent a message that Aunt Liu had gotten a new idea and wanted Ouyang Yue to give some advice.
Ouyang Yue's lips curled up. She was the worst at needlework in the mansion. Aunt Liu was really interesting, asking her for advice. However, Ouyang Yue still had Chuncao change her clothes and asked Dongxue to watch the house. She took Chuncao to Ningxiang Courtyard.
In Ningxiang Courtyard, Aunt Liu was already holding Ouyang Yue at the gate to greet them. Ouyang Yue immediately smiled and said, "Aunt Liu is in a good mood today. I wonder what trick you have up your sleeve that made you call me here so urgently."
Aunt Liu smiled and said, "Actually, it's not a matter of tricks. As you know, Third Miss, the young master has somehow caught your eye and is always looking for you. He hasn't stopped making a fuss since you last came over the past year. Just now, he was making quite a fuss again, so I thought I'd ask you to come and take a look."
Ouyang Yue raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh, so it's my little brother. Then let me give you a hug."
Aunt Liu immediately ushered Ouyang Yue into the house and handed her over. Strangely enough, Ouyang Tong, who had been looking miserable with his eyes narrowed and mouth tightly shut, immediately widened his eyes and beamed with joy upon seeing Ouyang Yue. He even reached out to grab her. Ouyang Yue smiled and extended a finger, which Ouyang Tong immediately grasped tightly with a look of longing.
Aunt Liu paused, seemingly surprised. She had only spoken casually, intending to lure Ouyang Yue here. Ouyang Tong was only a little over two years old. Because of the medicine he received as a child, his health was weak, and he could only babble at two, which worried her greatly. But it was better than her previous fear that Ouyang Tong was mute. Moreover, Ouyang Tong was very shy around strangers. Aside from the people in Ningxiang Courtyard, he hadn't been seen being affectionate with anyone. Ouyang Yue had been gone for over a year; even if she had liked him before, so much time had passed, and children are forgetful—how could she possibly remember? Aunt Liu's heart churned. Suppressing her inner turmoil, she clenched her fists slightly, forced a smile, and followed beside her.
“Tong’er is over two years old, how come he’s still so short?” Ouyang Yue gently tapped Ouyang Tong’s little forehead, and the latter just smiled and looked straight at Ouyang Yue. Aunt Liu looked on with some trepidation and said, “As you know, Third Miss, I used to… sigh, but now there’s no way to rush it. I’m very worried.”
Ouyang Yue said to her, "I don't think Aunt Liu needs to worry. I think my little brother is very healthy. Some people grow up late, but they are actually smarter and healthier. There are early and late growers. As long as they are determined, they can all succeed."
Aunt Liu smiled and said, "Only the Third Miss knows how to talk. This humble concubine dares not think about it. As long as the Fourth Young Master can grow up safely, that's enough. As for Chengcai, that's all fate, and no one can force it."
Ouyang Yue raised her eyes and said, "Aunt Liu is quite open-minded. What you said makes a lot of sense, but not everyone can see through this. There are many people in this world who think they are clever, and they often fall because of it. Aunt Liu has always been a clever person. She seems to be now, but will she be in the future?"
Aunt Liu stiffened, her lips curving slightly, but after a moment she merely pursed them, changing the subject: "Third Miss mentioned before that she wanted to learn etiquette from me, so as not to suffer any losses at Anhe Hall. I only know the general outline of these etiquette rules, but it wouldn't be difficult to pass the test. Since Third Miss doesn't mind, I naturally wouldn't dare to hold back. I'll just trouble Third Miss to come to my Ningxiang Courtyard when she has some free time."
Ouyang Yue nodded, a hint of mystery in her smile, and said, "Of course."
In the following days, Ouyang Yue kept running between Anhe Hall and Ningxiang Courtyard. Old Madam Ning also tried every means to torment Ouyang Yue, but for some reason, her so-called insidious tricks just didn't work in front of Ouyang Yue. The more she stood firm, the thicker her smile became, as if she was constantly mocking Old Madam Ning's insidiousness and overestimation of her abilities. This made Old Madam Ning so angry that she often screamed wildly, as if she had gone mad.
On the same day, while Old Madam Ning was taking her afternoon nap, Ouyang Yue went to visit Aunt Liu, ostensibly to check on Ouyang Tong and to discuss with Aunt Liu how to break Old Madam Ning's rules. However, as soon as she left, Rui Yuhuan slipped into Old Madam Ning's inner room: "Old Madam is going to take her afternoon nap. You should all go out first. Old Madam has been having trouble sleeping lately because of the Third Miss. She can't make a sound. The Third Miss will be here soon. You can serve her when she comes to establish the rules."
"Yes." All the servants of Anhe Hall immediately responded and withdrew.
Rui Yuhuan looked at Old Ning Shi by the bedside and revealed a sinister smile. She had finally waited for this moment.
She turned to look at the teacup on the table, poured a cup of tea in a very soft voice, then turned her back and took out a paper packet from her sleeve, poured some unknown medicinal powder into the teacup, then lit the paper packet and burned it. She then picked up the remaining residue and poured it into the teacup as well. She carried the teacup slowly toward Old Ning's bed.
Even in her dream, Madam Ning was not at peace. Her brows were furrowed and her breathing was somewhat rapid. She might have been angry with someone in her dream. Rui Yuhuan said gently, "Madam, you must be thirsty. I will serve you some tea, otherwise you will not be able to sleep comfortably."
Old Madam Ning did not wake up immediately, and Rui Yuhuan gently called out again, "Madam... Madam..."
Rui Yuhuan's expression changed, turning colder. She suddenly reached out and pinched Old Madam Ning's arm, saying, "Old Madam, wake up."
Old Madam Ning felt a slight pain, frowned, and opened her eyes. Seeing Rui Yuhuan beside her, she felt relieved and said, "Yuhuan, it's you. Why don't you rest at this time? There are servants to serve you. Otherwise, you'll be too tired."
Rui Yuhuan revealed a cryptic smile and said, "As long as I can serve the old lady, I won't feel tired no matter what you ask me to do. The old lady's words have hurt my feelings."
Old Madam Ning said with a moved expression, "You are the most filial person in this household. I know how good you are. Alas, I'm sorry you've suffered. Don't worry, after a while, I will definitely find you a very good family to marry into, so you can live a worry-free life." As she spoke, she grabbed Rui Yuhuan's hand, but a cold glint flashed in Rui Yuhuan's eyes, which she quickly concealed, unnoticed by Old Madam Ning.
Marry into a good family? Is that even possible given her current situation? Is she just dreaming, or is Old Ning really that hypocritical? But none of that matters anymore. From the moment she was determined to die and Old Ning saved her, everything was already destined. Since Old Ning saved her, she has to accept her wrath. No one can change or dictate her life's trajectory. Old Ning saved her and prevented her from dying, so Old Ning has to die in her place.
Rui Yu smiled even more gently: "Madam, you're still the best to me."
At this moment, Ouyang Yue was already following Aunt Liu towards Anhe Hall. Along the way, Aunt Liu deliberately kept Ouyang Yue talking, squinting her eyes every few steps, or insisting on showing Ouyang Yue the scenery they had seen countless times, clearly trying to slow down Ouyang Yue's journey. Ouyang Yue seemed unaware of Aunt Liu's unusual behavior, cooperating with her and chatting happily.
The servants who had been dismissed by Rui Yuhuan in Anhe Hall suddenly became chaotic and started arguing for some unknown reason. At this moment, a figure rushed in from outside the General's Mansion and rushed towards Anhe Hall.
In Ningxiang Courtyard, Aunt Ming sneered and said to Mama Qi, "The show is about to begin. Come on, carry me to Anhe Hall. I need to pay my respects to the Old Madam."
"Madam, you must be thirsty after sleeping for so long. Have a sip of the tea I just poured for you to moisten your throat before you go back to sleep. Miss San will be here soon, and you'll have to take care of her again."
Old Ning smiled, lowered her head and drank the tea from Rui Yuhuan's cup, while Rui Yuhuan had a sinister smile on her face.
At the same time, Ouyang Yue was finally allowed to pass by Aunt Liu, and the two of them stepped into the main hall of Anhe Hall...
☆、120, who fell for it?
"Grandmother, Yue'er has come to pay her respects." Upon arriving at Anhe Hall, Ouyang Yue glanced around and noticed that there were no servants in the hall, but she didn't seem to care. She raised an eyebrow and smiled.
The next moment, the inner curtain was opened, revealing Rui Yuhuan's face with a strange smile. She said, "So it's the Third Miss. You've come at the right time. The Old Madam has just woken up and is asking you to go in and serve her."
Ouyang Yue's lips curled up: "Alright, I'll go over now." With that, she stepped forward. Recently, Old Madam Ning had been deliberately controlling Ouyang Yue, so everything was very strict. If she was even a moment late, she would be punished with half an hour. Of course, it was quite normal for Ouyang Yue to arrive earlier each time.
Rui Yuhuan, dragging her feet, was a step behind her, but slowly approached Aunt Liu, who had also come along, and said in a voice so low that only the two of them could hear, "Aunt Liu, you really have good methods. Your success in devising a plan is largely due to your efforts."
Aunt Liu looked at Rui Yuhuan calmly and said, "Don't forget the promise we made. You'd better not try anything funny. I'm not someone you can easily fool."
Rui Yuhuan smiled slightly and said, "Of course, Aunt Liu, please don't worry." Aunt Liu stared directly at Rui Yuhuan for a long time, which made Rui Yuhuan pause in surprise and ask, "Aunt Liu, what's this?"
Aunt Liu pursed her lips and couldn't help but say, "In this General's Mansion, the Old Madam is considered Miss Rui's backer. If you really do this, isn't Miss Rui afraid that she won't be able to gain a foothold in the General's Mansion? What benefit would this bring you? In my opinion, this plan is not the best strategy."
Rui Yu smiled wickedly: "This is what you ordinary people think. Indeed, in your opinion, once the old lady dies, no one can protect me anymore, and this mansion will be under someone else's control. At that time, they might even drive me out of the General's Mansion. However, this is just what you ordinary people think."
Rui Yuhuan's hatred for Old Madam Ning began after the Ning family disfigured and crippled her. Of course, from the beginning, Rui Yuhuan only used Old Madam Ning; she had no feelings for her. How Old Madam Ning was treated made no difference to Rui Yuhuan. She wouldn't hesitate to personally tear Old Madam Ning to pieces, let alone use a proxy to kill her. At that time, she desperately wanted to die, but had no will to live. Old Madam Ning saved her, but she didn't know that she had saved a demon from hell, a demon plotting revenge against the General's Mansion. Old Madam Ning dared to save her, and she had to bear the wrath of Rui Yuhuan. To be forced to live in this grotesque state, to be alive yet unable to have any desire for her beloved, was an endless torment—physical and emotional—that caused Rui Yuhuan immense pain. And all of this was caused by Old Madam Ning.
From that moment on, her hatred for Old Ning was no less than Ouyang Yue's. She struggled to sleep every night, and even when she did, she was constantly dreaming. In her dreams, the Seventh Prince, Baili Chen, was still as handsome as ever, standing quietly like a masterpiece painting, so captivating. In the dream, the Seventh Prince, who had his back to her, seemed to sense her approach, turned slightly, and then gave her a breathtaking smile. She excitedly ran forward, but at that moment, Ouyang Yue suddenly ran past. Baili Chen's eyes crinkled into a smile, and he reached out and pulled Ouyang Yue into his arms. Ouyang Yue turned around, giving her a triumphant smile.
She was furious, but then she saw Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue's eyes change slightly as they looked at her, followed by a mocking smile. Suddenly, a mirror appeared in her hand, reflecting the grotesque slap marks on her cheek, transforming her into her disfigured self. She cried out to the Seventh Prince for a chance, but he ignored her completely, wrapping his arm around Ouyang Yue's waist and walking further and further away. Ouyang Yue would occasionally turn her head, giving her a triumphant and arrogant smile. Rui Yuhuan woke up every day filled with anger and curses. She vowed that if she had a chance, she would seize it; she absolutely could not let Ouyang Yue die a good death.
The Seventh Prince, her Seventh Prince, is it really impossible for her to have a chance with him in this lifetime?
Rui Yuhuan knew in her heart that, in her current state, it was impossible. It was all Ouyang Yue's fault. If Ouyang Yue hadn't left, would those rumors have spread about her? Would the Ning family have come to harm her? It was all Ouyang Yue's doing, and now she had to pay a bloody price!
Rui Yuhuan sneered inwardly. As for Old Madam Ning, she was both seeking revenge and a crucial bargaining chip in this matter. After Old Madam Ning's death, would she truly be driven out of the mansion without protection, as Aunt Liu suspected? That was indeed possible, but would she do it without a foolproof plan? In this General's mansion, she could control Old Madam Ning, and naturally, she could control another person as well. She was confident in that. However, by poisoning Old Madam Ning and using her as a tool to kill Ouyang Yue, Old Madam Ning's death could be considered a fitting end.
Aunt Liu stared intently at Rui Yuhuan, her words clearly carrying a hidden meaning. Rui Yuhuan, however, said nothing more, only a strange smile on her face, and quickly went inside.
Inside the room, Old Madam Ning lay on the bed. Seeing Ouyang Yue's unnatural expression, her face darkened. Ouyang Yue bowed and stood up. Old Madam Ning snorted coldly, "Go, pour me a cup of tea." Rui Yuhuan had only fed Old Madam a sip before Ouyang Yue arrived, and she was still thirsty. Ouyang Yue immediately obeyed and went to pour the tea.
"Mother, your son has come to pay his respects." At this moment, Ouyang Zhide's voice came from outside the hall, and a group of servants rushed into Anhe Hall. When Old Madam Ning heard this, she frowned, feeling that there was some commotion outside, but still said, "I'm awake, De'er, come in."
A moment later, Ouyang Zhide walked in dressed in court robes. He bowed to Old Madam Ning as soon as he entered. Old Madam Ning smiled coldly and said, "What, you don't trust Yue'er to learn the rules here? You've come to supervise her."
Ouyang Zhide immediately replied, "Mother, what are you saying? It's only right for your son to pay his respects to you. It's not for anyone else's sake."
Old Madam Ning's expression finally improved somewhat. Just then, Madam Ning, Aunt Ming, Ouyang Rou, and others arrived at Anhe Hall, all paying their respects to Old Madam Ning. Ouyang Yue was carefully feeding Old Madam Ning tea, only addressing Ouyang Zhibei and Madam Ning with a polite greeting, though neither of them found Ouyang Yue's behavior impolite. Old Madam Ning was indeed thirsty, and drank two cups of water directly from Ouyang Yue's hand, finally relieving her throat. She didn't notice the looks Rui Yuhuan, Aunt Liu, and Aunt Ming were giving her, clearly trying to probe her intentions.
As Ouyang Yue put down her teacup and prepared to get up, she subtly pinched Old Madam Ning's waist hard. "Ah!" Old Madam Ning cried out in pain. The piercing pain from before made the cry echo throughout Anhe Hall, startling everyone in the hall.
Rui Yuhuan's eyes suddenly flashed with joy, but she asked with great concern, "Madam, what's wrong?"
Ouyang Yue was also stunned and hurriedly asked, "Grandmother, what's wrong? Why did you suddenly shout?"
"Mother, what's going on?" The person in the room immediately asked anxiously.
Rui Yuhuan squeezed to the front and asked with concern, "Madam, are you feeling unwell? I heard you crying out in great pain just now. What's wrong with you?"