Haitang Courtyard.
Nanny Li stood at the door, looking around anxiously, and finally caught sight of Nanny Wan and ng Qianqian.
After ng Qianqian returned to the mansion, she first instructed Qing Shuang to escort Ban Xia and Tan’er back to Haitang Courtyard, while she brought Nanny Wan to the old madam’s quarters.
"Watch out!"
Nanny Li stepped forward to assist.
Nanny Wan gestured, "The curtain, the curtain!"
"Yes, yes!"
Nanny Li rushed to lift the curtain for the two. Nanny Wan carried ng Qianqian into the room.
Despite her burly build and her clumsy, loud way of working, she was exceedingly cautious when it ca to her own young lady.
She carefully and gently placed ng Qianqian in a chair.
Nanny Li was beside herself with worry. "Young Madam, why such haste?"
ng Qianqian gasped for breath, "Halfway through the journey, I ran out of strength. How are Ban Xia and Tan’er?"
Nanny Li quickly fetched a hand warr and brought a cup of freshly brewed ginger tea from the small kitchen. "Tan’er is sleeping soundly, and I’ve told Ban Xia to rest as well. There’s no need to worry about them. What about you, Young Madam..."
"I’m fine."
ng Qianqian took a sip of ginger tea, her body ward considerably.
That Lady Yan was truly remarkable. Gravely injured yesterday and afflicted by cold penetrating her organs, yet after rely a night’s rest, she could already walk again.
Nanny Li handed a bowl of ginger tea to Nanny Wan as well. "What did the old madam say?"
Nanny Wan, holding the bowl at her waist, snorted, "Ah, that old witch!"
She recounted everything she had witnessed at the Fushou Courtyard.
Nanny Li nearly fainted with anger. "How could she humiliate Young Madam like that?"
Nanny Wan guzzled down a large mouthful of ginger tea and exclaid coarsely, "Exactly! That shaless old hag! I tell you, for the Lu Family to have married the Eldest Young Madam, their ancestors must have blessed them from their graves! Want to kick the Eldest Young Madam out? Damn it, did their ancestors’ graves get leveled?"
Nanny Li rebuked softly, "Watch your language in front of the Young Madam!"
Nanny Wan hastily smiled sheepishly, "Oh dear, bla my loose tongue!"
Though reprimanding her, Nanny Li inwardly felt satisfied—she had long wanted to curse out the old madam herself.
"Please, continue."
"Alright!"
Nanny Wan, seeing ng Qianqian had not interrupted, recounted her conversation with Lu Lingxiao as well.
Upon hearing her Young Madam had proposed divorce, Nanny Li’s reaction was unexpectedly calm.
In the beginning, Nanny Li did hope the Young Madam could win over her husband, but after many disappointnts, she had long abandoned any sentints toward him.
"But did the ng Family truly lose the bulk of its wealth?"
ng Qianqian smiled and shook her head. "Not at all. That was said deliberately for the Lu Family to hear. Only when I seem devoid of value will the old madam resolutely decide to cast off."
Nanny Wan’s face filled with terror.
Uh... Was this kind of secret even ant for her ears?
Should she leave?
But she really wanted to keep listening... What to do?
No, she must embrace the understanding of a servant—not permitted knowledge must not be known—
"Nanny Wan, hand a pair of scissors."
"Eldest Young Madam, what are you cutting? Let !"
Nanny Wan stayed in the room and began cutting fabric strips for ng Qianqian, snip by snip.
Nanny Li set out breakfast and served ng Qianqian a bowl of red bean and coix seed porridge. "Young Madam, while I support the divorce, isn’t this thod too risky?"
She referred to the matter concerning Changchun Palace.
Having raised the Young Madam since childhood, she knew her personality changed slightly after surviving the near-drowning incident—but only toward becoming steadier and wiser.
If the Young Madam wanted to refuse Consort Li, there were ways to do so without offending her. ng Qianqian had deliberately chosen the boldest path.
"Using Consort Li to intimidate the old madam is indeed a strategy, but should Consort Li, in a fit of rage, issue an order for your death—"
Even the thought of it filled Nanny Li’s heart with dread.
ng Qianqian took a spoonful of red bean and coix seed porridge. "Consort Li and Lu Yuan—one plays the villain, the other the hero. Lu Yuan is a Great Traitor whom everyone wishes to destroy, while the Imperial Concubine wishes to ascend as the chief matron of the harem. She dares threaten , but she won’t dare execute ."
If anyone killed her, it would be by Lu Yuan’s hand.
And she was gambling that, at least for now, Lu Yuan would not kill her.
Her original plan had been to endure quietly for so ti, accumulating sufficient ans of self-preservation in the Capital City before seeking an escape from the Lu Family.
But Consort Li’s sudden hostility made her realize that this was a rare opportunity to sever ties with the Lu Family.
Her father often said, one must learn to plan, but also learn to seize opportunities.
If one waits for everything to be ready, the mont often slips away.
Because while you prepare, your enemies may be growing stronger.
"Only Ban Xia and Tan’er suffer alongside ."
Nanny Li said, "Ban Xia is clever—she brought several layers of kneepads when she entered the palace to kneel!"
ng Qianqian chuckled, "She told to wear them too."
Nanny Li smiled as well.
She understood that even with kneepads, kneeling for over two hours in the snow was beyond endurance for most, especially given the Young Madam’s chronic cold syndro.
"As for Tan’er—who could’ve predicted she’d head for the Imperial Palace to find you... That girl has nerves of steel, daring even to assault the concubine’s attendants... Let wake her up for so food; sleeping for an entire day and night might leave her starving."
Nanny Li muttered cheerfully as she left.
ng Qianqian smiled and redirected her gaze. She glanced up and locked eyes with Nanny Wan.
Nanny Wan quickly looked left and right!
ng Qianqian laughed and asked, "Nanny Wan, if I leave the Lu Family one day, will you follow , or—"
Nanny Wan imdiately stood, pounded her chest and pledged, "Wherever the Young Madam goes, I go! I may lack anything else, but I’ve got strength aplenty! Rest assured, Young Madam, I have nothing but loyalty for you! I’d serve as a mule, a horse, face fire and water, and die ten thousand tis!"
In her fervor to express devotion, she even changed how she addressed her.
ng Qianqian laughed until her stomach hurt. "It’s serving as an ox or a horse, facing fire and water, and dying without regret."
Nanny Wan suddenly realized, "Ah... I didn’t morize it properly."
Governor Mansion.
Lu Yuan had been recovering from his injuries within the mansion, refusing to leave.
The assassins captured during the temple incident had confessed under torture—soone had leaked Lu Yuan’s whereabouts, indicating his entourage included a spy.
This spy could be anyone within the estate.
As for the mastermind, the assassins were unaware, only revealing they belonged to a secret assassination organization operating on commission without concern for their clients’ identities.
The Commander of the Imperial Guard entered with a cold expression, bowing and saluting, "My lord, we’ve identified the culprit. It’s one of the coachn, Zhao Si, who received five thousand taels to pass on your whereabouts. The person who paid him was masked, so Zhao Si does not know their identity."
Lu Yuan nonchalantly gestured.
The Commander imdiately understood and left, instructing the Jinyi Guard outside, "Summon everyone to the Back Lake to witness the execution by scorching iron! Anyone who dares close their eyes—dig out their eyeballs! Anyone who dares cover their ears—cut them off!"
Fortunately, Miss Bao Shu was not present today.
As the Commander departed, Yu Zichuan and Qing Shuang returned.
"Urgent report from the border."
"The Lu Young Madam has completely fallen out with the Lu Family."
Both spoke simultaneously.
Reviews
All reviews (0)