NOVEL WEB Chapter 132 - A Hypocrite
Chapter 132: A Hypocrite
It was already a few hours past midnight. A rainstorm had just subsided, but the weather remained gloomy, and the breeze was chillingly cold.
The cold was so frigid that one could feel it permeate into their bones. It felt like winter had arrived right after summer came to an end.
There was no time for anyone to catch their breath.
Ji Yuxian removed his outer coat and covered Su Jiu’s body with it, before carrying her bridal style. Carefully, he walked into the bedroom.
Although his face was ashen, there were no traces of sorrow or anger. Su Jiu gazed into his jet-black eyes that were as boundless as the night sky. She seemed to see dark billows rippling through them, which gradually drowned her pain away.
Back in the bedroom, he removed his outer robe and laid on the bed. Ji Yuxian held her tightly and whispered, “The sun’s going to rise very soon, you should go to sleep!”
Su Jiu was not tired at the slightest. With wide eyes, she admired the cloud patterns embroidered on his inner robe, and she asked, “Was the wound on Jin Mi’s leg inflicted under her instructions as well?”
She thought about it – Jin Mi suddenly got hurt on her leg, and the wound never healed. The Second Mistress must have orchestrated this entire plan.
Gullible, Jin Mi believed her words. She assumed that doing this would attract Ji Yuxian’s attention and at the same time, ruin the Young Mistress’ reputation. Hence, she was very willing to comply.
And the Second Mistress’s true intention was to summon the Nanny into the manor.
She must have wanted the Nanny to administer the Blood Worm herself. If she tasked Jin Mi to do it, she might become suspicious, and cracks will appear in the plans she had concocted.
Therefore, the Nanny needed a reason to enter the Manor, so Jin Mi’s injury became the perfect excuse.
The Second Mistress could not wait for Ji Yuxian to be dead!
Her urgency must have originated from Zhu Hecheng’s desire to take revenge for Zhu Zhi. Furthermore, Ji Ze had already passed the imperial examinations and was now qualified to manage the Ji Manor. Ji Yuxian was no longer needed.
It was such a pity that the Nanny, who had been groomed as a tool for so many years, was still living in hatred. Even then, she held no regrets and she refused to repent.
The Nanny was adamant that Jin Feng’s father died because of Ji Yuxian’s father. Such reasoning must have had something to do with the Second Mistress as well.
The Second Mistress had planned this move for so many years, pouring her blood, sweat, and tears into it!
She was originally a member of the Zhu family. She grew up watching her father and elder brothers scheme against their business competitors, and as a result, she learned from their scheming ways. She was not as simple as other ordinary women.
Ji Yuxian had an idea of who Su Jiu referred to as “her”, and he nodded his head. He gently stroked her cheeks and muttered, “My father and mother had a very close relationship. The Second Mistress only married into our family because there was a shift in the Chamber of Commerce, and the Ji family needed to collaborate with the Zhu family in order not to be excluded. Zhu Hecheng’s father, as well as our patriarch, discussed a marriage arrangement to cultivate mutual trust between both parties. As a result, the Second Mistress was married to my father, to solidify the relationship between both families.”
Ji Yuxian paused for a brief moment, before continuing, “My father did not like her, and kept his distance from her. The Second Mistress has always been a lofty and arrogant person. She was naturally unwilling to be a concubine, and she began to harbor hatred in her heart!”
Ji Yuxian was unsure whether the Second Mistress had ever truly loved his father, but he knew that the Second Mistress was not content. She was used by her family clan, and she had no say over her marriage. She was even ignored and ill-treated by her husband, causing her resentment over the years to slowly evolve into hatred.
“Then how do you plan to deal with her?” Su Jiu asked.
She had a vague feeling that Ji Yuxian had no intention to touch the Second Mistress. Otherwise, seeing his temperament, how could the Second Mistress be allowed to live to this day?
“Nothing much!” Ji Yuxian’s lips curled into a faint smile. “When the Second Mistress was still a member of the Zhu family, she once helped her father manage the business. She was a woman who was unhappy that she was resigned to the rear court. She has already spent the past twenty years in bitterness, and the more she needs to put on the façade of indifference, the greater her misery. As long as I’m living well, she will neither eat nor sleep well. So, this is the best arrangement!”
Su Jiu understood and giggled. “This is like slowly slicing off her flesh bit by bit!”
“Do you believe me? She will go mad one day!” Ji Yuxian’s words were as light as a cloud.
Su Jiu nodded her head, she rested her head on his chest and said with a smile, “I believe you!”
They would wait for that day.
However, she was going to add a handful of salt on the Second Mistress’s raw and open wound, to inflict on her a pain worse than death.
She had to admit that when she heard of everything the Second Mistress had done to Ji Yuxian, she was itching to stab that evil and poisonous woman right away.
“Su Jiu…” Ji Yuxian blinked and stroked the girl’s brows. In the darkness, his eyes met hers. “I never intended to let you know all these. I was unwilling to let you see all the filth that has accumulated behind me, but I can’t help it. I still want you to stay by my side.”
No matter how dirty the Ji Manor was, no matter how many layers of hypocrisy were hidden, she was still pure. He would scramble forward like a flock of ducks just so he could protect her with his life. Her existence was the only flicker of light, and the only sliver of warmth in the darkness he was living in.
Su Jiu hugged him snuggly. “I am willing to stand right next to you! Thank you for letting me know all this!”
For allowing her to share his sorrows and loneliness.
Ji Yuxian smiled faintly, his eyes shining. “In this life, I thank the heavens for one thing – for sending you to my side.”
Su Jiu raised her head and pecked him on his lips. Smiling radiantly, she proclaimed, “I will always remain by your side!”
Ji Yuxian gripped her shoulders, and he locked onto her lips. The kiss was desperate and full of desire. He flipped his body and pinned Su Jiu underneath him. His tongue entangled with hers, carrying a devastating force that threatened to merge with her body.
Su Jiu responded zealously and followed the movements of his tongue. Her kiss was comforting, dissolving all the suffering and pain that he grew up with.
In the end, they were the same. They grew up in vicious environments, and every step they took was ridden with blood. That night, his tumultuous emotions were calmed, and he could only thank the heavens for allowing them to embrace as such.
Their heavy breathing shattered the silence of the night. Su Jiu’s black hair cascaded like a waterfall. Her watery eyes were just like ripples of spring water as she wrapped her arms around the man’s neck and kissed him passionately.
The man looked like a demon in his red robe, and his beautiful eyes captivatingly dazzling. His breathing was rough and urgent as he grunted in a husky voice, “Su Jiu, I want you!”
His voice was firm, and there was no room to refuse any longer.
Their thin inner robes were torn off and tossed below the bed. The girl’s supple and delicate body was carried into the man’s embrace. Her slender waist was like a cluster of clouds that had been surrounded by him, awaiting his entry.
The panting filled the quiet night. The temperatures were raised by the heat of passion, and the air was enshrouded with a sense of ambiguity.
The man held her, and he left a trail of kisses on her body. He had to keep reminding himself not to hurt her and to control his strength. The agony of having to hold back was evident between every breath he took.
Su Jiu’s arms had wrapped tightly around the man’s sturdy body. All the worries that had plagued her mind were soon forgotten, and at that moment, her senses were clouded. Only the enticing fragrance of lotus remained.
Just as everything began to spiral out of control, Su Jiu suddenly opened her eyes and grasped the man’s hand. “Ji Yuxian, hold on!”
Ji Yuxian looked up, chaos manifesting in the depths of his phoenix eyes. He held her chin, breathing roughly as he groaned, “Be good this time. Please don’t say that you’re not willing!”
He would rather die than stop at this point.
Su Jiu furrowed her brows. The intense emotions in her eyes had already faded. She turned over and put on her outer robe before stalking to the bathroom.
Ji Yuxian knitted his brows as he watched on. He suddenly thought of something, and a tinge of annoyance flashed past his turbulent eyes.
Just as he expected, Su Jiu returned after a short while, appropriately dressed. She shrugged her shoulders. “This time, we can just go to bed!”
Ji Yuxian brought her into his arms and gnashed his teeth. “Su Jiu, are you doing this on purpose? Your husband is going to be tortured to death at your hands!”
His tone of voice was unpleasant, but he continued to rub her stomach tenderly.
Su Jiu chuckled. Even she thought it was too much of a coincidence. She never bothered to count the days, but this day ended up being the day.
Strangely, however, she was a little disappointed.
She had finally chosen not to refuse any longer, and yet, the matter was still not completed.
Getting both of them to share a bed was such an arduous process!
“Does it hurt? Why don’t I get the servants to boil some ginger soup!” Ji Yuxian asked her tenderly as he held her. He knew that when a woman gets her period, it would be very uncomfortable.
Su Jiu was becoming drowsy. She shook her head. “It doesn’t hurt, let’s go to sleep!”
“Mm!”
Ji Yuxian acceded softly and laid down, with Su Jiu locked tightly in his arms.
They slept till the sky was bright. When Su Jiu woke up, Ji Yuxian was no longer on the bed.
She stretched her aching body. When she saw that the red marks that lined her chest had already turned purplish, her face flushed red. Her blush stained both of her cheeks, like a sunrise.
She pulled her undergarment upwards to cover it, before putting on her clothes.
The Nanny knocked on the door and entered with a dish of water in her hands. She smiled. “Miss, this servant will help you wash up!”
Su Jiu sprayed a handful of water onto her face to wash away her tiredness. She sat before the dressing table and allowed the Nanny to comb her hair.
“Early this morning, a few managers paid a visit. The Eldest Master had to leave, and told the servants not to disturb your rest.”
Su Jiu nodded her head. “I slept a bit later last night.”
The corner of the Nanny’s lips hooked into a meaningful smile. As she brushed her hair, she stared in the direction of the bed, as though she was looking out for something.
“The kitchen boiled some red bean bird’s nest porridge, which I’ll serve it to Miss later. Even though it’s normal for a girl’s first night to be like that, it’s not a big issue. But the Eldest Master still made these arrangements, so you should drink more to nourish your body, Miss.” The Nanny’s voice carried a sense of ambiguity.
Su Jiu stared at the Nanny through the reflection in the mirror as she asked, “What first night?”
The Nanny grinned and whispered, “You shared a bed with the Eldest Master last night, am I right?”
Early that morning, Ji Yuxian had declared that the Young Mistress was tired and needed to sleep in. He ordered his servants to stay away from the bedroom to avoid disturbing the Young Mistress. He even requested the Nanny to brew some blood-nourishing red bean porridge for the Young Mistress.
The Nanny had thought through all these peculiar instructions, and she had concluded that they must have had their first night together last night.
Even though she was doubtful as to why the two of them would take so long to spend their first night together since they were already cohabitating, she was happy. Su Jiu had finally become the proper Young Mistress of the Ji family, and they wouldn’t have to leave in the future.
However, when Su Jiu heard the Nanny’s words, she laughed embarrassedly. “Ah… what do you mean? My period came last night.”
The Nanny fell completely silent. “…”
Her happiness was all in vain!
Nanny lowered her head and asked with a faint smile, “Then have Miss and Eldest Master done it?”
Su Jiu’s pupils turned as she asked, “What?”
Nanny knew that this lady was dense and couldn’t understand such riddles. She could only ask bluntly, “Have you slept with him before?”
Su Jiu suddenly understood and was about to deny it, but she realized that the Nanny was going to nag at her again. Instead, she just nodded her head.
Nanny’s face instantly swelled with joy, and she harped, “Good, very good!”
Su Jiu looked at her reflection in the mirror guiltily, as her brows twitched.
“Oh right…” The Nanny suddenly said, “Something very bizarre happened. This morning, Mo Yu told me that Jin Mi has gone missing. Last night, she was still in her room, but when I went to visit her this morning, she was not there. Even her mother disappeared with her!”
Su Jiu nodded her head vaguely. It looks Jin Feng had sent them back last night.
It was such a pity for Jin Feng!
“There’s nothing strange about that. The wound on Jin Mi’s leg was not healing, so Ji Yuxian got Jin Feng to send the mother and daughter back home to recuperate!” Su Jiu explained.
There were too many intricacies in this matter. Su Jiu did not want the Nanny to overthink and only gave her such a simple explanation.
The Nanny replied with an “Oh” and did not pursue the matter any further. She tied Su Jiu’s hair and went out to prepare the red bean porridge.
Ji Yuxian was not in the manor, so Su Jiu did not need to go to the study to practice her calligraphy. Instead, she got Er Mao to bring her to the trading company right after her meal.
In the study room, Su Jiu and Chang Huan exchanged a few words. Chang Huan understood and ordered his men to prepare a carriage for him to depart.
At Dong Cheng District, where the impoverished commoners reside, Zhao Liu’er brought Madame Zhao back.
Previously, Zhao Wenshuan had cheated Zhu Zhi off his money, and he bought a huge villa in another area. He had brought both Zhao Liu’er and Madame Zhao over and hired a few servants to serve them.
Now, Zhao Wenshuan had already been dead for ten days. Those servants knew that their employer had murdered someone, and they were afraid of being involved in the case. Hence, they resigned there and then.
Zhao Liu’er knew that that villa was obtained illegitimately, and he did not dare to continue residing in it. So, she brought Madame Zhao back to their old residence.
It had been raining cats and dogs for the past few days. Madame Zhao had another coughing fit, and Zhao Liu’er had no choice but to leave the house to get medicine. When she returned, she bumped into “Eunuch Liu” who lived along the same alley by chance!
Eunuch Liu’s real name was Liu Hu. When Zhu Zhi died, the Zhu family’s fury was all concentrated on Zhao Wenshuan and had completely forgotten about him.
On the other hand, Liu Hu did not dare to act ostentatiously. Even the portion of the money he gained from Zhao Wenshuan was not spent flippantly, to avoid being caught by the Zhu family.
When he heard that Zhao Wenshuan was executed, Liu Hu was frightened out of his wits and spent the past few days hiding in his home. It was his first time leaving his house that day.
The moment he stepped out of his door, he caught sight of Zhao Liu’er walking along that very alley with a packet of medicine in her hand. Her head was lowered, and her body was so emaciated that a single gust of wind would be able to blow her away.
Liu Hu walked a few steps forward and blocked Zhao Liu’er’s path. He raised his eyebrows slightly and said with a faint smile, “Isn’t this little sister Liu’er?”
Zhao Liu’er knew that Liu Hu was a frivolous person, and was not a good influence on her brother whenever they hung out. She had always regarded Liu Hu with contempt, so this time, she gave him the side-eye, and she completely ignored him by walking around him.
Liu Hu was offended and shifted his body to obstruct Zhao Liu’er once again. He smirked while saying, “Little sister Liu’er, don’t go!”
Zhao Liu’er was so angry to the point that her complexion paled. She retorted hatefully, “What are you doing?”
“Why is little sister Liu’er angry? In the past, your older brother and I were like blood-brothers. Now that Brother Wen Shuan has passed, it should be my responsibility to take care of you, right? Why don’t you and your brother move over to live at my house.” Liu Hu spoke. His white face was predatory, while his beady eyes were lascivious.
Even though he had already been castrated and was incapable of participating in worldly affairs, his heart was still eager. He had always yearned for a girl to accompany him, and he regularly had questionable associations with other women.
Regardless, Zhao Liu’er was still an unmarried maiden. When she heard his suggestion, she was diffident and furious. Raising her hand to slap Liu Hu, she bellowed indignantly, “You a*shole!”
Liu Hu caught Zhao Liu’er’s hand with one swipe and caressed the dorsum of her hand, chuckling menacingly. “Your family has been reduced to an orphan daughter and a widow, how pitiful. As long as you follow me, I guarantee that you will spend the rest of your life eating good food and drinking good wine!”
Zhao Liu’er was so humiliated that she wished she could just bury herself in a hole. She jerked her hand back and flung the packet of medicine at him.
Liu Hu was about to grab her hands again when a masked man suddenly vaulted from the roof of the building. He brandished his sword and swung at Zhao Liu’er’s head.
He approached viciously, the blade in his hand polished and sharp.
Zhao Liu’er lifted her head and she shrieked, before threading back in retreat. Liu Hu, who was standing in front of her, had failed to detect the man standing behind him. He was overcome with lust, and he lunged forward to grip Zhao Liu’er’s shoulders.
“Splat!”
The blade landed directly on the occipital region of Liu Hu’s head. A spew of blood splattered out, and half of Liu Hu’s head was sliced off. His body slumped onto the ground like a pile of mud.
Blood sprayed all over Zhao Liu’er and stained her clothes. She was petrified, her arms flailing in a fluster. When that masked man realized that he had slaughtered the wrong person, a hint of atrocity flashed past his eyes as he brandished his sword once again to strike Zhao Liu’er.
Zhao Liu’er’s legs turned to jelly, and she instantly plonked herself on the ground. She kneeled and hugged the masked man’s legs to plead, “Don’t kill me, don’t kill me!”
The masked man snapped coldly. “Someone paid to take your life!”
“Who… Who wants my life?” Zhao Liu’er shuddered as her body trembled with fear, rendering her unable to speak.
“Since you’re going to be a ghost very soon, I will let you know! It is the Second Mistress of the Ji family!” After he said this, he raised his arm and struck his sword at the girl.
Zhao Liu’er widened her eyes in shock as she watched the sword descend towards her.
Right before the blade brought her to the gates of Hades, a gust of wind whistled by and hit the sword with a ‘ding’. The sword was smacked away.
The man in black was pushed backward by the force and he hurriedly retreated. He turned back abruptly and asked in alarm, “Who’s there?”
Another man in black appeared right behind him, wearing a mask that only revealed a pair of eyes. The man remained silent and leaped forward to deliver a kick onto the assassin’s chest.
The assassin was sent flying, before colliding onto the wall. He knew that he was not a match for the other party, and was afraid of revealing his identity. As a result, he fled from the scene.
The man in black who appeared from behind glanced at Zhao Liu’er, who was sprawled on the ground in utmost fear. He said dismissively, “Hurry and go back home!”
Once he said this, he chased after the assassin who had fled ahead.
Zhao Liu’er’s vision blurred, and she almost fainted right over. When she caught sight of Liu Hu lying on the ground, she hastily got up and staggered back home.
She dashed back home in one breath. She boarded up the old and broken wooden door and leaned against the gate, her entire face as white as a sheet, as though she had just been petrified by a ghost.
“The Second Mistress wants me dead!”
“The Second Mistress wants me dead!”
Despair was written all over the girl’s eyes. She muttered the same words over and over again, and her heart was about to burst out of her chest.
“Liu’er, is that you? Have you bought the medicine?” A frail voice was heard from inside the room.
Zhao Liu’er was shocked back to her senses and realized that she had carelessly tossed the medicine aside in the alley. However, she no longer had the guts to retrieve it.
She took a few deep breaths, and just as Zhao Liu’er was about to reply, she heard the sound of someone knocking on the door. “Bang! Bang! Bang!”
This scared the living daylights out of her. Zhao Liu’er plopped onto the ground and stared at the door in trepidation. Her voice was shaking as she stammered, “Who’s there?”
A clear and pleasant voice resonated from behind the door. “Does Lady Liu’er live here?”
Zhao Liu’er froze. She seemed to have heard this voice somewhere before.
She straightened her trembling body and cautiously opened the door. A pretty and charming man was standing outside the door, clad in a brocade robe. He smiled and said, “It wasn’t easy to find you, Lady Liu’er!”
Panic-stricken, Liu’er stared at the man blankly. “You… You are…”
Chang Huan smiled and continued, “I’m a manager who works for the Ji Manor. The Second Mistress wants to meet you, so she sent me to bring this lady over to the Ji Manor, Liu’er!”
Zhao Liu’er’s complexion changed abruptly as she shook her head in a fluster. “I won’t go, I won’t go! I don’t know anything!”
Chang Huan frowned. “Lady Liu’er, you do not need to fear. The Second Mistress only wants to talk about the old days, there’s no other reason. May I trouble this lady to pay a visit with me? If you don’t want to, this servant will be put in a tight spot!”
It must have been the man’s warm and gentle demeanor that caused Zhao Liu’er to gradually calm down. She knew that hiding was not a solution, and she decided that it would be best if she clarified the situation with the Second Mistress. Her brother was already dead, and she would no longer use the matter regarding the Stone Flower Powder to blackmail her. She complied and nodded her head. “Okay, I’ll go!”
“Lady Liu’er, this way! The horse carriage is waiting along the alley!” Chang Huan’s handsome face broke into a smile.
Zhao Liu’er nodded her head faintly, and she ambled out of the door.
In the alley, she realized that Liu Hu’s body had completely disappeared. Even the bloodstains on the ground had been buried under the dirt.
Skepticism sprouted in Zhao Liu’er’s heart, but she did not dare to question further, and could only walk briskly towards the alley.
It had just poured, and the alley was still somewhat slippery. A chilly gale blew by, and the faint smell of blood slowly drifted into their nostrils.
After sitting in the horse carriage, Zhao Liu’er felt restless the entire journey. She hoped that the horse carriage would reach the Ji Manor soon, and at the same time, wished that it would never arrive.
After half an hour, the horse carriage came to a stop, and Chang Huan brought her through the gates of the Ji Manor.
They did not enter the rear courtyard. Instead, Chang Huan led her straight to the East Pavilion located within the frontcourt. He paused in front of the door and explained gently, “The Second Mistress is inside waiting for the lady. This lady may head in!”
Zhao Liu’er’s heart was pounding at an even faster rate. After hesitating for a second, she pushed open the door and stepped in carefully.
The room was furnished ordinarily. Rosewood chairs carved with flowers were arranged on both sides. There was a bookshelf on the left of the room, while a table was placed on the right, with halcyon and white jade ornaments arranged on the tabletop. A sheer silkscreen divided the room, embroidered with spring flowers. Beyond the sheer silkscreen, the faint silhouette of a coach could be seen. A woman clad in a tangerine-yellow dress was reclined on the couch, while a maidservant kneeled beside her to massage her legs.
“Second Mistress, this servant was wrong. In the future, this servant will not beg you to help me, and will not bring up the matter of the Stone Flower Powder anymore. I plead with you not to kill me! Please spare my life!”
Without waiting for the Second Mistress to question her, Zhao Liu’er dropped to her knees and prostrated herself as she pleaded for mercy.
“This servant will not use the Stone Flower Powder matter to threaten the Second Mistress. This servant will keep her lips sealed till the day she dies!”
“This servant still has an aged and sickly mother back at home, I beg the Second Mistress to be merciful. Please consider all that this servant has done for you, and spare this servant’s life!”
“This servant was wrong, this servant realizes her mistake!”
…
Zhao Liu’er had been agitated by the attempted assassination and the murder of Liu Hu. She was noticeably panic-stricken and nervous, and she did not wait for the Second Mistress to question her before kneeling to plead.
After babbling on for half a day, she realized that the person behind the silkscreen had yet to respond. She could only raise her head and call out, “Second Mistress?”
At that moment, Old Yu led a few managers and maidservants out from behind the bookshelf. He stared at Zhao Liu’er solemnly and questioned her coldly, “Was whatever you said just now true? Was it the Second Mistress who instructed you to add the Stone Flower Powder to the Young Mistress’ soup?”
Zhao Liu’er was stunned there and then. In her bewilderment, she could not understand what was happening.
At this moment, there was a sudden movement behind the silkscreen. The lady on the coach stood up and emerged from behind the screen. Her exquisite face was stern as she sternly spoke, “Zhao Liu’er, the Second Mistress was the one who ordered you poison me with Stone Flower Powder. I’ve already heard everything! Do you have anything else to say?”
Back then, everyone in the manor knew that she did not get along with Xie Ying. The Second Mistress had purposely recruited a servant from the Lotus Pavilion to push the blame to Xie Ying.
Even though Zhao Liu’er had already confessed that it was her doing, and admitted that it had nothing to do with Xie Ying, the servants in the manor still believed that Xie Ying was the one who orchestrated this.
If Xie Ying found out that she had been used by the Second Mistress, she might just spring back to life in anger.
At that point, everyone in the room was shocked, including Old Yu and the other managers. They had heard Zhao Liu’er’s every word. They had not expected that something that had happened so long ago would be hiding such a secret.
Additionally, the Second Mistress was someone who adopted a vegetarian diet and constantly chanted the scriptures. She had always put on a kind and benevolent appearance, and she was also exceedingly gracious to the servants in the manor. How could she have done such a thing?
Zhao Liu’er’s expression was like an ever-changing scenery. Her entire being was flabbergasted as she collapsed onto the floor in a daze. She opened her mouth and mumbled, “This… this servant…”
“If the Second Mistress was present, would you dare to point her out as the instigator?” Old Yu asked seriously.
Zhao Liu’er shook her head in fear and kept mum.
Su Jiu took a few steps forward to close the distance. “You know the Second Mistress’ secret, do you think she will tolerate you? If you admit it, the Ji Manor will promise to protect your life.”
Zhao Liu’er’s heart thumped as she heard those words. The Second Mistress had already hired people to kill her. Whether she confessed or not, her only path led to death.
The situation had already developed to this point. She had no other choice.
She could only blame herself for greedily eyeing the one hundred taels of silver that the Second Mistress offered her. Because of that, she had done such a despicable thing. As a result, her brother was dead and her life was now hanging precariously by a thread – all these were her retributions.
Zhao Liu’er remained prostrated on the ground as she sobbed, “This servant has wronged the Young Mistress. I am willing to testify against the Second Mistress. I will not insist that the Young Mistress show mercy! I only beg the Young Mistress to let this servant see her mother. Only then will I die without regrets!”
Su Jiu replied curtly, “As long as you testify that the Second Mistress was the one who instructed you to add the poison, I promise that you won’t die!”
Zhao Liu’er brought her head to the ground in succession. “I thank the Young Mistress! This servant will never forget the grace and mercy you have shown to me!”
Old Yu had already summoned a few servants over and instructed, “Go to the rear courtyard and invite the Second Mistress over!”
“Yes!” The servants sounded in acknowledgment before taking their leave.
At the Jinglan Pavilion, the Second Mistress was feeling unsettled, not because of Zhao Liu’er but rather, because of Ji Yuxian.
She had gone to the main estate the previous day and ordered the Nanny to make a move as soon as possible.
Her instructions contained both threats and enticement. She was sure that the Nanny had understood her, but it seemed like there were no movements in the main estate at all. Early that morning, Ji Yuxian had left the house in one piece, completely fine. Moreover, there was no other news on the Nanny and Jin Mi. Could it be that Madame Jin Gu no longer heeded her words?
The Nanny’s family had left at night, and the Second Mistress was not informed of their departure. Naturally, she had no idea what happened that night.
As the Second Mistress made wild guesses, just as she was about to get her servants to summon Nanny Jin from the main estate, Yuan’er walked over to say, “Second Mistress, the front estate has sent servants over. They mentioned that Housekeeper Yu had invited the Second Mistress over!”
The Second Mistress furrowed her brows. Nothing had happened in the manor, so why was Housekeeper Yu looking for her?
“Did they mention what the matter is?” The Second Mistress asked.
“This servant asked, but the servants who brought the message have no idea!”
The Second Mistress nodded her head and stopped speculating. She stood up and walked towards the front estate.
Those servants brought the Second Mistress directly to the East Pavilion. When she opened the door and walked in, she saw that there were a few other important managers present in addition to Old Yu. Su Jiu was there as well.
The Second Mistress’ eyes turned. Just as she was about to inquire about the situation with a smile, she lowered her head and saw Zhao Liu’er kneeling on the ground. Her head instantly hummed.
In the end, she was still a woman who had experienced many things in life. The Second Mistress expression only betrayed a tinge of shock, before she restored her complexion. She smiled, “What’s going on here? Why is there a maidservant kneeling on the ground? Did she do something wrong?”
Zhao Liu’er turned her head. She was both frightened and fearful when she met the Second Mistress’ eyes. She stammered, “Second Mistress, it’s… It’s this servant!”
The Second Mistress pretended to be surprised and exclaimed, “You are the servant from the Lotus Pavilion, Liu’er!”
After this, her voice became cold. “Weren’t you chased out of the manor for poisoning the Young Mistress? Why are you here?”
As Su Jiu watched as the woman put on a show, her exquisite face remained calm while raising her eyebrows. “This maidservant said that she poisoned me under your instructions. Second Mistress, do you have anything to say about this?”
The Second Mistress was stupefied and immediately altered her expression to one of fury. “This girl, you harmed your master and did such a despicable deed. Now that Xie Ying is dead and there is no one to refute your words, you have even decided to push the blame on me. How black is your heart? Who on earth are you to have brought such chaos to our Ji Manor!”
By saying this, she had essentially pushed all the blame on Xie Ying. It seemed like it was orchestrated by Xie Ying because Zhao Liu’er would only dare to frame someone else so frivolously once Xie Ying was dead.
If you read between the lines, she made it seem as though someone else had wanted to vindicate Xie Ying and hence decided to take revenge on the Ji Manor.
However, the managers in the room were all bright people. They had a few qualms before, but after listening to the Second Mistress’ words, they had solidified their opinions. Their lips hooked into a cold smile as they stared at the Second Mistress.
Zhao Liu’er sobbed, “This servant is not lying. The Second Mistress offered this servant one hundred taels of silver to add the Stone Flower Powder into the Young Mistress’ soup while her Nanny was out of the kitchen. She said that if I was caught, I should explain that I had added the poison to take revenge for the Second Young Mistress. She even told me that at most, I would only be subject to a few beatings and that my life would be spared!”
“This servant’s mother was sick, and my older brother was burdened with gambling debts. Because of that, this servant did such a stupid thing in a moment of folly. I beg the Young Mistress and these managers here to forgive me!”
Back then, the Second Mistress had sought her out and offered a sum of one hundred taels of silver. She was tempted; after all, she only earned three taels of silver a month, and it would take her a few decades to earn that amount of money!
But now, she was plagued with regret.
“You’re… You’re talking nonsense!” The Second Mistress could no longer hold back her anger, clenching her teeth. “Who on earth is the person who asked you to shift the blame on me? You cheap woman! Not only did you attempt to poison the Young Mistress, but you’re also trying to frame me. You’re a scumbag with no conscience! No one will believe a word you say!”
“Everything this servant has said is the truth, there is no lie in it. Should there be any untruth in it, this servant is willing to be struck by lightning and die a painful death!” Zhao Liu’er kneeled on the floor and sniffled as she swore an oath.
The Second Mistress’s complexion paled, and her face betrayed a trace of panic. She looked up at Old Yu and begged, “Old Yu, I have been wrongly accused! Why would I want to harm the Young Mistress? I have no reason to do so! This girl must have been bribed by someone to sow discord in our Ji Manor. You are not to listen to this low born trash!”
Old Yu’s expression darkened. “This old servant thinks that wind does not come from an empty cave without reason!”
The Second Mistress froze abruptly. She asked apathetically, “To all of you, are my words less trustworthy than that of a servant?’
Su Jiu opened her mouth to speak, “Second Mistress, if you do not want to admit your guilt, I have another person for you to meet!”
Once she said this, she turned to the door and shouted, “Bring him in!”
The door was opened and two guards walked in, restraining a man clad in black. They gave the man a mighty kick in his legs, causing him to instantly kneel onto the ground.
He appeared to have been tortured. Although there were no visible wounds on his body, his complexion was haggard and his forehead was dripping with sweat.
The Second Mistress’s expression changed immediately.
When Zhao Liu’er saw the man in black, her complexion also changed as she retreated in fear.
“Go on and tell everyone. Who are you?” Su Jiu ordered.
The man in black kneeled on the ground and did not dare to raise his head. He only divulged, “This lowly one is unemployed. I used to help beat people up to earn some spare change. The Second Mistress looked for this lowly one. She wanted this servant to kill… To kill a lady. She gave this lowly one two hundred taels of silver.”
“A few days ago, Zhao Liu’er came to plead for her brother and she brought up the matter regarding the Stone Flower Powder to threaten the Second Mistress. The Second Mistress must have been worried that the truth would be leaked, and hence hired an assassin to kill her.” Su Jiu summarised the situation coldly, before turning to Zhao Liu’er to ask, “Am I right?”
Zhao Liu’er hastily nodded her head repeatedly. “Today, this servant went to buy medicine. It was this person who tried to murder me! He mentioned that it was the Second Mistress who hired him!”
Old Yu and the other few managers glanced at the Second Mistress simultaneously.
By then, the Second Mistress’s complexion was full of contempt. She gritted her teeth, and after a pause, suddenly burst out in laughter. “How wonderful! First, you find a maidservant to testify against this Mistress, now you get some random person to impersonate an assassin from who knows where just to match her confession. I see that you intend to send this Mistress straight to her grave! Why? Is the Ji Manor unable to tolerate me anymore? If that’s the case, I’ll just take Ji Ze and leave! You don’t have to expend so much energy just to kick me out!”
Su Jiu’s frosty eyes observed the Second Mistress’s pitiful and frustrated expression. It was as they say, ‘a duck before the slaughter will still be as stubborn as before’. Even at this point, she was not willing to confess her crimes!
This old woman was so crafty and cunning!
Old Yu was deadpan as he spoke, “Both of these people have already testified against you. Are you sure they are lying?”
“As long as someone is controlling them, it doesn’t matter if there are two people. They could even arrange a crowd of people to spew lies and untruths, am I right?” The Second Mistress’s resolute gaze brushed past Old Yu and the other managers.
She made it seem as though the people in the room had colluded with someone to frame her deliberately.
Su Jiu sneered. “Alright then, since the Second Mistress is unwilling to admit, we’ll just report this matter to the authorities. We’ll explain everything to the magistrate!”
The Second Mistress stood straight, refusing to show any sign of fear. “Even if you bring this to the court, the truth is that this Mistress has been wrongly accused. I will not admit to anything about this crime even if I die!”
“Second Mistress, you are so determined, how admirable! But I’m not sure if you’ll be able to remain so dedicated to upholding justice when the court orders you to be tortured!” Su Jiu raised a brow and smirked. She moved closer to the Second Mistress and whispered, “The authorities use quite cruel methods to force out the truth. If the Second Mistress is unable to bear such hardship, oh dear, it won’t just be a domestic dispute. Second Mistress, if you are found guilty of a crime, I’m afraid Ji Ze will be dragged into this mess as well! Ay, Ji Ze has such a promising future, what a pity that it’ll be destroyed at the hands of the Second Mistress!”
At this moment, the color drained from the Second Mistress’s complexion. Panic surged through her as she stammered, “Ze’er… What does this have to do with Ze’er?”
“Of course it has something to do with Ze’er! His Majesty places great importance on the background of his officials. It wasn’t easy for Ji Ze to do well in the imperial examinations, and I heard he is even serving by His Majesty’s side. Tell me, assuming that Magistrate Lin submits a memorandum to the Emperor, and the Emperor finds out that Ji Ze has such a wicked mother, would his impression of Ji Ze change?” A strange glow was eluded from Su Jiu’s eyes as her lips hooked into a smile.
The Second Mistress clenched her teeth and glared at Su Jiu. That one glare seemed to send daggers. “Su Yuejiu!”
Su Jiu raised her eyebrows and continued, “If the Second Mistress wants to harm me, must I pretend to be ignorant of everything? You are not the only venomous person in this world!”
The Second Mistress closed her eyes, a sense of resolution blanketing her face. She gave in nonchalantly and said, “Alright, I admit, it was my doing. I was the one who instructed Zhao Liu’er to poison the Young Mistress, and I was also the one who hired an assassin to eliminate Zhao Liu’er to silence her!”
Old Yu asked austerely, “Second Mistress, why did you do this?”
“I’ve already confessed to everything. You all don’t have to squeeze a reason out of me. Even if you question further, I will not answer. Just deal with me as you wish!” The Second Mistress sneered, and she spoke as though she was one step away from death.
Old Yu only looked at Su Jiu. “Young Mistress, the Second Mistress has already confessed. It’s up to you to decide how you want to deal with her!”
Su Jiu’s gaze brushed over her. “The Second Mistress is still my elder. This is quite a serious matter, so I’ll discuss this with Ji Yuxian when he gets back. Send the Second Mistress back first,! She is not to leave the manor without my permission!”
“Yes,” Old Yu nodded his head in acknowledgment. He viewed Su Jiu with even more respect.
The Second Mistress had used the Stone Flower Powder to harm and scheme against her. He initially assumed that since the Young Mistress was young and hot-blooded, she would immediately retaliate fiercely for revenge once she caught the perpetrator. He did not expect her to behave as she did, considering the whole picture and speaking so magnanimously. She eluded the image of the manor’s Mistress perfectly.
The other managers were only present as witnesses. Naturally, they did not have any authority to make decisions. When they heard what Su Jiu said, they all nodded their heads in agreement.
However, they could not hide their disdain every time they looked at the Second Mistress. They never expected the woman to have so many layers to her. They had all been deceived by her in the past and had always assumed she was a kind and benevolent woman.
The Second Mistress simply ignored their judgemental eyes and turned around with a cold grunt.
It was as though poisoning someone and eliminating the witness to silence her was something to be proud of!