“If Elder Brother truly thinks so poorly of me, you are welcome to speak to Father about it. There is no need to waste your breath here with me.”
Lingyun had clearly ordered him to leave. If Cao Lingcheng still refused to go, then she would have no choice but to take other measures.
“I will not leave until you give me a proper explanation today,” Cao Lingcheng declared.
He sat down to one side, making it obvious he intended to stay. It was truly pathetic for a grown man to behave so shamelessly and stubbornly.
How ironic!
“Do not think I cannot deal with you. You are only a weak young woman what could you possibly do to me?”
Lingyun remembered her past life. Several times she had tried to return home to seek help, but Cao Lingcheng had blocked her every time, lecturing her on how she must abide by the duties of a wife and never complain.
If not for him back then, she would never have suffered so much for so long. What a wonderful elder brother he had been!
Lingyun ignored him completely and walked straight into the inner room. “Bring the fish soup in here and close the door. If Elder Brother wishes to wait, he may wait as long as he likes. We will simply have the servants feed and entertain him well while he waits.”
The Art of War teaches: The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. The inner chambers and household were just like a battlefield; using military strategy here was only natural. She wondered what Zhou Hongbai would think if he knew how she handled things.
“Miss, if we leave him waiting outside, what if something happens? If he faints or falls ill, Aunt Peng will surely come running and tear us apart!” Rouge said, worried.
“We will be leaving shortly anyway. If something happens, what does it have to do with us?” Lingyun replied. She turned her attention to the fragrant bowl of soup and finished it off in moments, leaving nothing behind.
“Miss, where are we going now?” Rouge asked. She had changed into plain clothes, dressed like an ordinary maid. Lingyun had also changed, wearing simple linen robes that gave no sign she was a wealthy nobleman’s daughter.
“Of course, I am taking you to eat roasted rabbit. Have you not been wanting to try it for ages?”
Bao Yan did not eat rabbit meat, so it would just be the two of them. Besides, they had secretly slipped out together to enjoy food many times before; they knew exactly how to do it without being caught.
“Really?” Rouge climbed eagerly into the carriage. And so, mistress and maid slipped quietly out of the manor to enjoy their meal.
At the Young Duke’s residence:
“That girl really is mischievous. The area near Taiping Bridge has been unstable lately. Send men to keep watch there. If anything happens, report to me immediately,” Zhou Hongbai said.
He had a headache from dealing with all the court officials and censors. As a military man, he was terrible at these verbal debates and arguments, and was no match for those officials who loved to endlessly criticize and argue.
“It was unstable a few days ago, but it has calmed down these past two days. We have already sent guards to protect them, so you need not worry,” his assistant replied.
Ever since Lingyun’s attitude toward him had changed, Zhou Hongbai had been working day and night to clear his official duties, hoping to finish his work quickly so he could marry her and bring her home.
“That may be true, but the rebellions have been quelled when will the banditry and unrest end? It seems the world is never truly at peace,” Zhou Hongbai said, standing up and stretching.
When he looked up, his eyes fell upon a painting of Lingyun hanging on the wall.
She was painted smiling brightly and charmingly. Only art could capture and preserve such beauty forever.
“Your concern for the nation and the people is truly admirable, Young Duke.”
Meanwhile, Lingyun and Rouge were already out in the countryside, roasting a rabbit over an open fire. The delicious aroma drifted through the air and filled the entire forest. The guards sent to protect Lingyun were standing nearby, their mouths watering, nearly driven mad by the smell.
How could anyone eat such a cute animal as a rabbit?
“Miss, is it ready yet? It smells absolutely heavenly!” Rouge said, standing nearby and almost drooling.
“Go and check did I remember to bring the chili powder in the bundle?”
Rouge hurried over to look, but suddenly stopped. Standing a short distance away was a figure she recognized very well.
She ran back quickly, grabbed Lingyun, and pulled her down into the tall grass to hide.
“What is it, Rouge? What’s wrong?” Lingyun asked, thoroughly confused by her sudden actions.
“Miss, it’s Zhu’er! What is she doing here?” Rouge was certain she had not made a mistake. She looked at Lingyun, nodding firmly, convinced of what she had seen.
Lingyun frowned. “What would she be doing out here?”
“I just saw her clearly. She was holding a small porcelain bottle and gave it to a young man. I have no idea what was inside it,” Rouge said, sounding anxious.
Zhu’er was Aunt Peng’s most trusted and capable maid. She would never leave the manor without good reason, let alone come all the way out to this desolate place. What was she up to?
“Let’s finish eating the rabbit, then return to the manor quickly,” Lingyun said. She sat down and opened the lotus leaves wrapped around the meat. The scent became even richer and stronger, making Lingyun’s stomach growl with hunger.
“Miss, how can you think about eating rabbit at a time like this? If Zhu’er being here is just a coincidence, then we should return immediately to investigate and prepare ourselves. But if it is not a coincidence if she deliberately let us see her then what is her true purpose?”
Lingyun ignored her, tore off a large leg of the rabbit, and sniffed it appreciatively.
“Whether she is here on purpose or not, if we rush back to the manor the moment we see her, we will only make people suspicious. It is better to finish our meal here, avoid getting dragged into anything unnecessary, and deal with things once we are back.”
Lingyun was certain there was something hidden behind this, but she did not yet know exactly what it was.
She handed the rabbit leg to Rouge. “Eat quickly. Once we are done, we will go back.”
They did not return until late afternoon. They were perfectly fine, but Bao Yan, who had been waiting anxiously outside, was nearly frantic with worry.
“Miss! Why have you taken so long to come back?” Bao Yan asked, pacing back and forth in distress.
Lingyun was completely unconcerned. “What is the matter? We ate two whole rabbits all by ourselves quite impressive, don’t you think?”
At that moment, Lingyun had no idea how serious the situation had become. Bao Yan pulled her arm urgently.
“Miss! Why did you stay away so long? I have been worried out of my mind!”
“What is wrong?” Lingyun looked at her. The maid was sweating profusely from running and stress something very serious must have happened.
But in this household, nothing was ever truly urgent or important enough to panic over.
“Aunt Peng suddenly fainted today! The Master summoned several doctors, and they all say she has been poisoned. But who in this household would ever want to poison her?”
Hearing the word “poisoned,” Lingyun was shocked. She looked sharply at Bao Yan. “Poisoned? Have they investigated yet to find out who did it?”
“The Master has ordered an investigation, but there is no news or result yet.”
“Go and fetch Mother immediately. I fear this is no simple matter. It is either a frame-up to incriminate someone, or else…”
Lingyun instinctively sensed the danger. She stopped and changed her mind. “No do not bring her here. Go quickly and tell her to check her own quarters carefully. See if anything has been added or is missing from her room.”
“Yes, Miss!”
Bao Yan ran out quickly. Lingyun sat alone, feeling uneasy and anxious. For some reason, she felt something was very wrong.
Half an hour later, Bao Yan finally returned. “Miss, I have told the Mistress. She has checked everything thoroughly. Nothing is missing, and nothing new has appeared. But she told me to warn you be very careful, in case Aunt Peng is trying to frame you for this crime.”