Zhan Feiyu, eavesdropping outside the study, blinked. She hadn't expected the Qin family to devise a way out of this dead end. If Huang Bin and Granny Hao took all the blame, coupled with Madam Qin's self-immolation to prove her innocence, perhaps the Qin family could truly turn the tide.
Seeing Zhan Feiyu's ever-changing expression, Yin Wuyan couldn't help but pinch the little girl's chubby cheek. She was usually so clever, but now she was acting foolish. The Qin family heads weren't fools; they would naturally think of countermeasures. However, even so, after this incident, the Qin family would be severely weakened, if not utterly ruined.
Thinking of this, Yin Wuyan admired Zhan Feiyu's methods. But when he thought about how she used the method of catching someone in adultery, Yin Wuyan's gaze deepened. Could the little girl have been reading some unsavory storybooks?
"Big Brother's gaze is so scary!" Zhan Feiyu shivered, her small body shrinking. Without thinking, she changed the subject, "Big Brother, why don't we go see Madam Qin again?"
Having spent some time at the Qin family's study, Huang Li should be arriving soon.
Yin Wuyan scooped Zhan Feiyu up with one arm. His tall figure swiftly glided from the rooftop to a nearby tree. Using the cover of the trees and the wall, he quickly left the study.
The Qin family's ancestral hall was vast, housing the memorial tablets of their ancestors. Servants cleaned it year-round, and the air was filled with the scent of sandalwood. Madam Qin was imprisoned in a side room behind the ancestral hall.
"How could you have..." Madam Qin looked at her daughter, who was sitting on a worn-out prayer mat, and tears immediately welled up.
Still dressed in white mourning clothes, Madam Qin's disheveled hair was loosely secured with a wooden hairpin. She slowly stood up, her eyes, bloodshot and filled with tears, also streaming with them.
Having been imprisoned since last night, Madam Qin had not had a drop of water. Her voice hoarse, she said, "Mother, after I die, please take care of my two children for me. Then I can close my eyes in the netherworld."
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Madam Qin hugged her frail daughter tightly, her heart overwhelmed with grief, and she couldn't help but cry.
But thinking of Huang Bin's matter, Madam Qin, filled with disappointment, patted Madam Qin's back, crying and scolding, "How could you be so foolish! Meeting a man outside in the middle of the night! You were always so smart, how could you act so stupidly!"
Madam Qin, as the matriarch of the Qin family, was certainly not foolish. Although Madam Qin was framed, she had met Huang Bin in secret first. Otherwise, how could things have escalated to this point?
Resting her chin on Madam Qin's shoulder, Madam Qin's blood-red eyes flashed with hatred and malice. The incident had happened so suddenly; she had no way to defend herself! That wretched Zhan Feiyu was truly ruthless; with one move, she had doomed her!
During her imprisonment, Madam Qin had replayed every event in her mind. She knew she had no way out, but how could she be reconciled? She was still so young. She had married Wan Yunhao and endured for several years, waiting for the day he would achieve success in the imperial examinations, so she could be bestowed with a noble title.
But Wan Yunhao had died, and she had become a widow, destined to live the rest of her life upholding her chastity. Even so, that wretched Zhan Feiyu wouldn't let her go! The more Madam Qin thought about it, the more she hated, her face contorted with rage, wishing she could tear Zhan Feiyu into a thousand pieces!
"Madam." A senior maidservant guarding outside the door reminded her in a low voice, then quickly stepped forward to greet her. "Miss Cousin."
"Get out of the way!" Huang Li raised an eyebrow, letting Granny Lu block the maidservant, and walked forward without stopping. Seeing Madam Qin emerge, wiping her eyes, she called out, "Aunt, I heard Cousin had an accident, so I came to see her."
Her words sounded concerned, but if one ignored the schadenfreude in her eyes, they would seem even more so.
Madam Qin knew Huang Li had come to mock her daughter. Let alone cousins, even sisters often fought in the deep courtyards of noble households. Huang Li was also competitive and strong-willed, but her nature was wild and her methods crude. She had always been suppressed by Qiong'er.
But considering Madam Qin's current predicament, and the potential need for help from the Ming family of Qingya Academy, Madam Qin forced a smile. "Thank you, Li'er. Your cousin has been crying for a long time. Please persuade Qiong'er for your aunt."
"Alright, Aunt, don't worry." Huang Li was almost laughing out loud. That wretched Qin Qiong actually had such a day!
Looking at the gloating Huang Li, Madam Qin suppressed her anger. She needed the help of Qingya Academy now, so letting Huang Li vent her anger on Qiong'er was a last resort. After the matter was settled, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in Madam Qin's eyes.
Inside the room, Madam Qin composed herself and knelt on the prayer mat. The door creaked open, and she remained like a clay Buddha, not even looking up.
"Cousin, tsk tsk, in just a few days, how have you become so haggard?" Huang Li giggled, looking down at the pale-faced Qin Qiong, and curled her lips, continuing to mock her.
"Your cousin's husband's body is barely cold, and you're already so eager for men? Caught in adultery by the constables in the middle of the night, tsk tsk. Cousin, aren't you afraid your cousin's husband will crawl back from the underworld to settle the score with you?"
"Zhan Feiyu is a vengeful and malicious person. My current situation is due to my inferiority. " Madam Qin stood up, appearing resigned, and looked calmly at the smiling Huang Li. "I will wait for you in the underworld."
"Pah! Qin Qiong, you wretched woman, who are you cursing?" Huang Li retorted angrily. Seeing Madam Qin's sinister gaze, she stepped forward in a fit of rage and slapped Qin Qiong across the face. "You cheated on your husband, and you deserve this! That wretched girl Zhan Feiyu wants to scheme against me, but it's not that easy. After all, I'm not as cheap as you!"
Her face turned to the side from the slap, Madam Qin wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and smiled at the enraged Huang Li. "Madam Qin and Zhan Feiyu have no enmity. In the end, it was just Yunhao's past conflict with Instructor Zhao. But Zhan Feiyu could be so viciously calculating against me. Huang Li, has the wound on your forehead not scabbed over yet?"
Before Huang Li could retort, Madam Qin continued, "You had a conflict with Zhan Feiyu first. Do you think she would let you off? Moreover, you've always wanted to divorce Young Master Ming the Third and marry Prefect Zhang!"
"Shut up, what nonsense are you spouting! Qin Qiong, you're shameless for cheating, and you want to smear my name!" Huang Li shrieked, enraged, and pushed Madam Qin against the wall. She threatened in a harsh voice, "If you dare to slander me, don't blame me for harming your two illegitimate brats!"
Huang Li did intend to remarry, but only Madam Zhang knew about it. No matter how brainless she was, she knew this matter could not be brought to light. Otherwise, not only would the Ming family not let her off, but the Huang family would also not acknowledge her as their daughter.
If her reputation was ruined, how could Prefect Zhang marry her?
Her body hit the wall heavily, Madam Qin said indifferently, "I can't live, so it's better for those two children to die. At least they won't have to live and be humiliated."
"Huang Li, when a person is about to die, their words are kind. I will advise you to live well with Young Master Ming the Third. Zhan Feiyu's teacher is Scholar Gu, and Madam Zhang comes from the Kong family. Do you know that Scholar Gu and Madam Zhang's father are sworn friends? If you scheme for Madam Zhang's position, how can Zhan Feiyu let you go?"
After speaking, Madam Qin pushed Huang Li aside and knelt on the prayer mat again, closing her eyes as if repenting her sins.
Huang Li looked at the resigned Qin Qiong and panicked. Although she was unwilling to admit it, she knew she wasn't as clever as Qin Qiong. They had fought since childhood, but she had always been at a disadvantage. Now, even Qin Qiong had been dealt with by that wretched Zhan Feiyu.
What about herself? Previously, Huang Li only wanted Madam Kong to be divorced so she could marry Prefect Zhang. But what if Madam Kong sought revenge? And Zhan Feiyu was so ruthless towards Qin Qiong for the sake of a county school instructor; she would likely be the same towards her.
"Qin Qiong, what should I do?" Huang Li suppressed her unwillingness. The matter of her wanting to remarry Prefect Zhang could not be told to anyone else. She could only seek help from Madam Qin. "As long as you help me devise a foolproof plan, and as long as I can successfully marry Prefect Zhang, I can guarantee that your two children will live well in Nanxuan Prefecture."
Madam Qin did not speak. The dark and cramped room was silent. Huang Li grew more uneasy, regretting her earlier conflict with Zhan Feiyu at the Donghu Inn, and annoyed by Zhan Feiyu's meddling. She also thought of Madam Kong's father's relationship with Scholar Gu, and Zhan Feiyu would certainly help Madam Kong take revenge on her.
On the large tree to the left of the ancestral hall, this tree was likely quite old. Its trunk was so thick that it would take two or three people to embrace it. Hidden amidst its canopy of branches were two people. Unless someone walked by and specifically looked up into the tree, they would never discover Zhan Feiyu and Yin Wuyan.
"Am I that bad?" Zhan Feiyu, feeling slandered, rolled her eyes. "Madam Qin has quite a few ways to bewitch people. She's trying to drag two people down with her even as she's about to die."
No matter how the Qin family broke the deadlock, Madam Qin was bound to die. She knew it herself, so she was now bewitching Huang Li. Firstly, she had no one else to use. Secondly, she hoped to use a borrowed knife to kill.
If Huang Li succeeded, Zhan Feiyu would surely die, and Madam Qin could die with peace. Even if Huang Li failed, Zhan Feiyu would surely retaliate, and Huang Li would suffer a terrible fate. Madam Qin intended to harm one if she could, and it would be best if Huang Li and Zhan Feiyu could perish together.
Yin Wuyan gently stroked Zhan Feiyu's little head, his gaze towards the side room turning icy. Having spent many years in the Imperial Guards, Yin Wuyan never underestimated anyone, not even women and children. The number of deaths in the back courtyards of noble families was no less than in the imperial court.
"Li'er." After leaving Huang Li to wait for a while, Madam Qin slowly said, "I will think of a way for you. You help me get rid of Zhan Feiyu, and I can die with peace."
"Okay, I promise!" Huang Li eagerly agreed. As long as Zhan Feiyu was dead, no one would be able to stop her from marrying Prefect Zhang.
Although Madam Qin had left the ancestral hall, she had people guarding the courtyard. Therefore, Madam Qin never expected that Zhan Feiyu, whom she intended to scheme against, was eavesdropping in secret.
"You mean Uncle Di?" Huang Li looked surprised. She was willful and not well-liked by her elders in the Huang family.
Madam Huang the Second was gentle and always told Huang Li not to be too competitive. Her father, Master Huang, was devoted to medicine and had no time to discipline his daughter. The person who treated Huang Li best in the entire Huang family was the Uncle Di she mentioned.
When she was young, Huang Li had naively asked why Uncle Di wasn't her father.
Madam Qin nodded. "Pharmacist Di has some sleeping drugs that can cause people to die without a sound. Pharmacist Di dotes on you so much; I'm sure you can get these sleeping drugs. Then, even if Zhan Feiyu is poisoned to death, no one will be able to trace it back to you."
"Impossible! The Huang family's ancestral rules forbid descendants from making poisons!" Huang Li's first reaction was denial. She looked at Madam Qin suspiciously. "You don't know Pharmacist Di well, so how do you know he can make poisons?"
Madam Qin couldn't help but smile. "In recent years, haven't those who offended me all met with some accidents? Do you remember the day before your engagement, when many rashes suddenly appeared on your face?"
"You poisoned me?" Huang Li looked at Madam Qin, who nodded, with anger. How could she forget that incident? She had never been so embarrassed in her life.
After Madam Qin married Wan Yunhao, Huang Li had mocked her for marrying a nobody and having to live by pawning her dowry. Huang Li herself had chosen Young Master Ming the Third, although she had used some means to do so.
Young Master Ming the Third was the object of desire for all unmarried young ladies in Nanxuan Prefecture. Huang Li was extremely proud on her engagement day. Those wretched women who usually mocked her for being wild and crude, but in the end, she was the one marrying Young Master Ming the Third.
However, at the engagement banquet, Huang Li was smugly showing off to a group of female guests, making them almost tear their handkerchiefs in anger. Huang Li was so pleased. But her joy turned to sorrow when, as she was smiling, her mouth suddenly became crooked, she couldn't stop drooling, and dense red rashes appeared on her face. A few timid girls screamed and ran out in fright.
"I forced Pharmacist Di to give me that medicine," Madam Qin said, having reached a dead end and no longer needing to hide anything. "I have leverage over Pharmacist Di, so he can only prepare some poisons for me. However, Pharmacist Di didn't know I would poison you at your engagement."
Huang Li no longer cared about being angry. After all, Qin Qiong was bound to die. What she was thinking about now was dealing with Zhan Feiyu. "Alright, I'll go back to the Huang family now and ask Uncle Di. You'd better not lie to me!"
Watching the hastily departing Huang Li, Madam Qin curled her dry lips and smiled silently. If only the Qin family and the Huang family could die together. Why should she die while these people could live well!
After leaving the Qin family, the carriage slowly headed towards the Donghu Inn.
"You don't need to worry about this matter. You should stay at the inn and study diligently during this period." Yin Wuyan didn't want the little girl to stage another adultery scene. Whether it was Madam Qin or Huang Li, the little girl didn't need to dirty her hands for them.
Nodding like a pecking hen, Zhan Feiyu put on a well-behaved expression. "Mmm, I promise to stay indoors and study hard!"
Seeing Yin Wuyan's expression seemed less cold, Zhan Feiyu tentatively asked, "Big Brother, how do you plan to handle this? I'm just asking, I promise not to interfere."
"What do you want to say?" Yin Wuyan was amused by her cautious demeanor, but his handsome face remained coldly stern, looking very imposing.
"Huang Li wants to make a move against Madam Zhang. Why don't we use her own methods against her?" Zhan Feiyu grinned, her little face looking as innocent as possible. She just wanted to watch the excitement.
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